PHIL 202-3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Akal Purakh, Guru Nanak, Guru Angad
PHIL 202
Ch. 9 Sikh Traditions (pt. 1)
Overview
Sikh Traditions
• “ikh: disiple Pujai
• Akal Puakh Tieless Beig, God
• Adi Gath Oigial Book
• 10 Sikh Gurus
• Guru Nanak (1469–1539)
o Can achieve spiritual liberation in this life
• Through meditation on the divine Name
• Keeping Akal Purakh in the heart
• Living ethically in the world
• Diversity of traditions: Buddhists, Jainas, Hindu communities, Muslims
Guru Nanak
• Born in Talwandi in the Mughal Empire
• Janam-sakhis (birth narratives)
• Three life phases:
1. An early contemplative period
2. A mystical enlightenment and pilgrimage
3. Conclusion that establishes the Sikh community
• Disappeared into the water, and came out three days later
1. Thee is o Hidu, thee is o Musli
Guu Naak, ot’d
• Emphasizes common humanity
• Immersion in the waters
o Metaphor—dissolution, transformation, spiritual perfection
• His ministry began at age 30:
o I as a istel out of ok: the Lod assiged e the task of sigig the Diie
Word day and night. He summoned me to his Court and bestowed on me the
robe of honour for signing his praises. On me he bestowed the Divine Nectar
(amrit) in a cup, the nectar of his true and holy Name (M1, Var Majh 27, Adi
Granth/AG 150)
Foundation of the Sikh Panth
• Guru Nanak founded the village of Kartarpur in 1519
o lived as the spiritual guide
• Message of liberation
o Hymns (974)
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• Central to congregational worship
• Nanak-Panth (Path of Nanak)
• Ethial pophet
o Message derived from Divine Reality
o Work was divinely commissioned
• Spoke to Muslims and Hindus
Foudatio of the “ikh Path, ot’d
• Community supported selves through agriculture
o Shared through the langar (communal meal) that is offered at the gurdwara
(place of worship)
o Meal preparation is a community service (sangat)
o Preparation and eating in a status-free community
• Egalitarian
• Belonging
• “uesso as his disiple Leha, eaed Agad y o li
The Ten Gurus
• Guru Angad
o Guuukhi sipt fo the Guu’s outh
o Rejection of Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian
o Reinforced identity of Sikhs
o Spiritual language
• Preservation of Sikh cultural heritage
The Te Guus, ot’d
• Third Guru, Amar Das (1469–1574)
o Established Goindval and two annual festivals (Divali and Baiskhi)
o Collected compositions of gurus and poet-saints
o Made copies of texts for distribution
o Abolished the veil and sati
o Permitted widows to remarry
o Appointed women as missionaries
o 22 manjis (seats of authority)
• Women originally held about half of the seats
o Women had equal rights in prayer and ceremonies
The Te Guus, ot’d
• Fourth Guru, Ram Das (1534–81)
o Fouded Aitsa eta of iotality
• Constructed a large pool there
• Contributed 679 new hymns
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