Nearly 550 years ago, Guru Nanak put forward a new spiritual path. He called upon his followers to conform to a more practical way of life, reflecting a new social order. Guru Nanak wanted to empower the common man to seek and realize God, while living an honest family life, free from rituals, renunciations, and pilgrimages. His teachings were designed to promote equality among all humans. Nanakian Philosophy's governing belief in virtuous conduct is the guide to reach the ultimate reality. (...) Pride, infatuation, greed, maliciousness, and other temptations are contingent; one should not cling to them, but embrace an altruistic life. Moral rejuvenation and regeneration was the aim of Guru Nanak. He stated that life is a trust and it is to be spent in the love and service of humanity. Service to humanity is service to God. Truthful living is the essence of God-consciousness and in achieving this, one's company and association play an important role. One achieves and grows into the supreme position by joining the congregation of holy persons, but one who is in the bad company stands to face trial in the court of God. In this article, various aspects of the new social order, as envisaged by Guru Nanak will be brought to light. Emphasis shall be laid on, his three fundamental precepts - "Kirat Karo, Naam Japo and Vand Chhako". A practical approach to applying these ideas in everyday life is suggested. (shrink)

Although 550 years have passed since the birth of Guru Nanak, his life and teachings still hold great power and meaning for humanity in the 21st century. He was not only the founder of the Sikh religion but was a great poet, an eminent philosopher, a notable humanist, and a leading social reformer. His philosophy for a social revolution and universal brotherhood is relevant more than ever before. He not only propounded a new way of life but a realistic and (...) optimistic worldview. Quintessentially, his most penetrating insight is that the ultimate goal of human life, to be a sachiara (truthful being), can be achieved by following the path of truthful living. He envisaged the emergence of a race of gurmukhs (God-conscious beings). The teachings of Guru Nanak focus on the upliftment of the weaker sections of the society and their empowerment to live a life of dignity. Love of God (who is the epitome of virtues), egalitarianism, altruism, harmony with nature, cultivation of scientific temper, Interdependence, impermanence, inter-faith harmony, multiculturism, lifelong learning, pro-active social justice, and peaceful co-existence are the lodestars of Guru Nanak’s message to humanity. Three cardinal points of his teachings: Kirat Karo (honest living), Naam Japo (devotion to God) and Vand Chhako (sharing with others) have become an integral part of the lives of Sikhs all over the world. The crux of his teachings found expression by the establishment of daramsals (gurdwaras) and the development of langar (community kitchen), pangat (sitting in a row on the same level) and Sangat (holy congregation) traditions among his followers. Thus even in the contemporary world, Guru Nanak's universal teachings are as relevant as ever. (shrink)

Guru Nanak was born 550 years ago, yet his life and teachings still hold great power and meaning for humanity. He not only propounded a new way of life but a realistic and optimistic worldview. His teachings focus on the upliftment of the weaker sections of society and their empowerment to live a life of dignity. Love of God, egalitarianism, altruism, lifelong learning, Interdependence, impermanence, harmony with nature, cultivation of scientific temper, freedom, and justice for all are the lodestars of (...) Guru Nanak’s message to humanity. Three cardinal points of his teachings: Kirat Karo (honest living), Naam Japo (devotion to God), and Vand Chhako (sharing with others) have become an integral part of the lives of Sikhs all over the world. His teachings found expression in the establishment of various institutions e.g. Dharamsalas (gurdwaras) and the development of langar (community kitchen), pangat (sitting in a row on the same level), and Sangat (holy congregation) traditions among his followers. Importance of Guru or Mentor: All of us have felt18 the necessity of a mentor in our lives at one time or the other. A good mentor inspires us, expands our knowledge base, connects us with others (helps in networking), and opens our minds to new situations. A mentor provides a safe space to learn, experiment, and ask questions. In Sikh theology, for a mentor, the term Guru is used. Guru means a teacher, the one who removes mental and spiritual darkness (ignorance) with his teachings and conduct. Enunciating the importance of Guru (mentor) in one's life, Guru Nanak asserts; O Brother! without the Guru, there is no knowledge and understanding (spiritual wisdom). [Mehl 1, SGGS: 59]. (shrink)

Guru Nanak was born 550 years ago, yet his life and teachings still hold great power and meaning for humanity. He not only propounded a new way of life but a realistic and optimistic worldview. His teachings focus on the upliftment of the weaker sections of society and their empowerment to live a life of dignity. Love of God, egalitarianism, altruism, lifelong learning, Interdependence, impermanence, harmony with nature, cultivation of scientific temper, freedom, and justice for all are the lodestars of (...) Guru Nanak’s message to humanity. Three cardinal points of his teachings: Kirat Karo (honest living), Naam Japo (devotion to God), and Vand Chhako (sharing with others) have become an integral part of the lives of Sikhs all over the world. His teachings found expression in the establishment of various institutions e.g. dharamsals (gurdwaras) and the development of langar (community kitchen), pangat (sitting in a row on the same level), and Sangat (holy congregation) traditions among his followers. (shrink)

Earth consciousness involves an understanding of our relationship with earth. It involves the study of earth forms, their life processes and inherent needs. The concept has created a field of frameworks and knowledge systems permeating into the day to day lives of humans including their political-economic-cultural spaces. The expression earth consciousness can be interpreted in many ways to include human awareness of nature & its processes, or the bond with mother earth and all its forms . Earth consciousness or the (...) universal respect for nature and all of its forms is manifesting in different ways. The multidisciplinary approaches that build the idea of Earth consciousness have added much weight to building frameworks for protection & preservation. One can see an influence of cultural, ethical, legal, philosophical, religious, & spiritual perspectives in the realization of a deep & meaningful relationship between humans with nature. This document sheds light on the diverse frameworks evolved and evolving to give effect to the growing earth consciousness. Much emphasis also placed on the "Rights in Nature Framework" and the "Post 2020 Bio-diversity Framework". (shrink)

Mountains have gained global recognition for their sacredness and biodiversity. Over the years, scientists, researchers, local bodies and states have made efforts to protect and preserve the mountains. Perrigo, Hoorn and Antonelli call them the cradles of diversity, which need to be studied in order to understand nature and mountain biodiversity. (2019). The growing work on the mountains can be located in the awakening of earth consciousness in the world. Earth consciousness or what may also be called the universal respect (...) for nature and all of its forms is manifesting in different ways. The multidisciplinary approaches that build the idea of earth consciousness have added much weight to the end outcomes in the forms of frameworks for protection and preservation. One can see an influence of cultural, ethical, legal, philosophical, religious, and spiritual perspectives in the realization of a deep and meaningful relationship between humans with nature. (shrink)

Guru Nanak reports that there are three cardinal principles for walking upon the path of truthful living. These are Kirat Karna, Vand Chakna and Nam Japna. Kirat Karna means to earn righteously through one's own efforts. Vand Chakna is to share one's abundance and talents with others. Nam Japna means the contemplation of Truth. In his hymns, Guru Nanak exhorts Sikhs to imbibe love of God and his creation in their life, earn their living by honest labour, and (...) share it with others as; “Sing, and listen, and let your mind be filled with love (for God and His Creation).”[SGGS, 2] “One who earns by honest labour, and shares some of what he has with others, - O Nanak, he knows the true way of life.” [SGGS: 1245] In this second part of the article further elaboration on the path of truthful living is described. (shrink)

The Sikh identity, represented by the Khalsa, is deeply rooted in unity, equality, and selfless service. Sikhs, known for their resilience, spirituality, and commitment to justice, have historically taken leading roles during challenging times. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and complex, the need for a Global Sikh Renaissance has become more urgent. A key driver of this renaissance can be "Khalsa Synergy"—the collective unity and action of the global Sikh community. Through Khalsa Synergy, Sikhs can reconnect with their roots (...) while addressing modern challenges, ensuring that the core principles of Sikhism—Naam (spirituality), Kirat (honest living), and Vand Chhako (sharing with others)—are both preserved and adapted innovatively to meet contemporary needs. Understanding Khalsa Synergy: Khalsa Synergy refers to the harmonious collaboration among Sikhs worldwide to leverage their collective potential. "Khalsa," introduced by Guru Gobind Singh, embodies the virtues of purity, courage, and selflessness, representing a collective spirit that transcends individualism. On the other hand, Synergy emphasizes that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This concept allows Sikhs from diverse social, economic, or geographical backgrounds to work together toward common goals, such as addressing inequality, promoting education, advocating for environmental sustainability, and striving for global peace. (shrink)