2. Ground Rules 1. Punctual attendance
2. The whole book/article of the month must be read
3. Come with an open mind
4. Share your learning and listen to others
5. Keep the discussion relevant
6. Respect each others’ confidentiality

3. Guru Nanak: His Status and Salience by Sirdar Kapur Singh

4. Why did Guru Nanak manifest on Earth?
Major shift in human thinking
Maritime travel opened the world
Predominant thinking based on rationalism and materialism
Military might and science put power in the hands of Europeans aiming to subdue the East
Critical point in history
Hindu perspective was that there was a cosmic moral imbalance
European perspective was that Guru Nanak was the founder of a sect, who reinterpreted Hinduism
Guru Nanak’s revelations were directly inspired from God and was independent prophet in his own right

5. The concept of the Guru Was Guru Nanak a reformer?
A reformer is one who restores an already established religion to its original purity, accepting allegiance to that religion
Was Guru Nanak an avtar?
Avtar is a descendant of God - but God is beyond birth.
Avtars descend to earth and restore order from chaos - a stabilising force, not a revolutionary
Avtar is only activated when order is threatened with corruption, re-establishes tradition rather than creating new or higher values (Maryada Purshotam)
Was Guru Nanak a prophet?
Prophet Muhammed says he was the last of the prophets, Christians believe Jesus was the last prophet
Prophets rejuvenate the religion already preached. He inserts himself into history and changes its course.
The concept of the Guru

6. The Guru revealed a new value-system for mankind, inserted Himself into history to initiate genuine revolution in the form of a new destiny for man.
The word Guru (Sanskrit) is a source of confusion
Different types of Gurus
Teachers, instructors of arts
Concept of Guru in other orders - Sufi (personal relationship between two individuals), one who practices what he preaches, disciplined introvert.
These definitions adopted by the Nirankaris and Radhaswamis - must have a human Guru.
True definition of Guru - God operating in human sphere, guiding and enlightening human mind.
The concept of Guru

7. Mental climate - Nature and everything else can be explained by science
Therefore the human mind can be similarly understood
This approach only explores biological needs and subjective needs - not universal purpose
Things outside of this sphere are dismissed
Physics only discusses the structure of the world but the teachings of Guru Nanak go beyond this
Modern reality versus Absolute reality - responsible for the collapse of societies and deviant movements
Guru Nanak Dev Ji clears the smog
The need for the Guru

8. The Guru Basic human situation - looking for a higher purpose
Cure is through rapport with God
“Without fear of God, there is no redemption of man”
Holy men have left and are no longer guiding society
Guru Nanak attributed blame to these inviduals as being responsible for the state of society
The Guru's teachings hold the answers to man's problems and offer previously unheard of levels of attainment
The Guru