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THE SIKH DOCTRINE OF LIBERATION
195
But this God's blessing is possible only for those who work in accordance with the order of God. The Guru says that "the blessing of the Master is on those who have meditated on Him with single mind, and they have found favour in His heart" 34
Thus the Sikh theory of karma requires of a man complete submission to the hukamu of God. Liberation can be achieved by God's blessing which is expressed by the guru in the word, and by one's own effort to cleanse oneself from all evils; one can purify one's life through devotion to God.
INTEGRATION OF KARMA, BHAKTI AND JÑANA
In Sikhism we find an integration of the three modes of yoga well known to older religions. Already the Buddha had stressed knowledge (jñāna) and good karma. The Bhagavadgītā had sought to integrate and harmonize jñāna, karma and bhakti. The older Upanisads also contain seeds of these three paths. Some Upanisads stressed knowledge of the atman or brahman as sufficient for reaching the Brahmaloka. Śamkara also emphasized knowledge and held that one could attain release by knowing the Self. The Sikh Gurus, while laying special emphasis on bhakti, sought to effect an integrated approach (mārga) to ultimate release.
The Sikh conception of a yogin is found in the following words:
"Make contentment and modesty thine ear-rings, self-respect thy wallet, meditation the ashes to smear on thy body; make they body, which is only a morsel for death, thy beggar's coat, and faith thy note of life and thy staff".35
According to the Sikh Gurus, bhakti is the real pathway to God. It is a type of yoga which unites a true devotee with God. The sayings of the Guru are the source of divine inspiration and devotion. One who follows the Guru with full devotion, realises God. Devotion (bhakti) demands complete self-surrender unto the teacher and the will of God. A devotee does not question the Will of God. He is fully satisfied with the love of God.
True devotion needs complete faith in guru and God and Sikhism demands frofound faith in both God and guru. An eminent Sikh scholar says that "Absolute faith in the guru is the first requiste of Sikhism".36 The principle of love is closely associated with faith and
34. Ibid., vol. I, p. 20.
35. M.A. Macauliffe, op. cit., vol. I, p. 212.
36.
Bhai Jodh Singh, Lectures on Sri Guru Granth Sahib, p. 52.
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