All in Good Faith

Author(s): Jean Potter, Marcus Braybrooke
Publisher: World Congress of Faiths

Page 62

11. INTERFAITH COOPERATION - A MATTER OF FAITH FOR SIKHS
Ranbir S Sandhu
The Principles of Sikhism as given by Guru Nanak, the founder, and his successors up to Guru Gobind Singh, emphasize equality of all people, respect for all faiths, and interfaith tolerance, understanding and cooperation as fundamental beliefs. All humankind is recognised as one. Plurality of faiths simply reflects divine revelation in different lands to different people in the language, idiom and metaphor best suited to them. Supreme faith consists of remembering God and being pure in conduct. God pervades all creation and all act in accordance with His will. A Sikh is always conscious of the nearness of God and believes in universal brotherhood. This realization can only come through love. Hatred has no place in Sikhism. A Sikh is selfreliant and believes in honest living and sharing the fruits of his labour with others. Service in humility is a basic principle. Men of God see God in everyone, their hearts are filled with love, and they do not see anyone as bad or evil. People call each other good or bad only in their ignorance. Sikhs not only respect the right of others to freedom of worship but, in line with the concept of the saint-soldier as the human ideal, they would be ready to die to protect that right for all.
The lifestyle of a Sikh is based on prayer and praise of God (Naam Japna) along with pure conduct consisting of selfless service in humility (Kirt Karna) and sharing the fruits of labour with others (Waand Chakhna).
Sikh Concept of God
(a) One God, Creator and Doer, pervades all.
The Sikhs believe in One God, Eternal, Creator Who pervades all; Without fear and enmity; Timeless; Never born; Self-existent, (realized) through the Guru's grace. This statement of belief, in full or in an abbreviated form, appears at the head of every collection of verses in Siri Guru Granth Sahib. While stating that no man can ever describe all the attributes of God, there are numerous verses praising God as the Creator, the Doer, and All-pervading.
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