Religious Problem in India

Author(s): Annie Besant
Publisher: Theosophist Office Adyar

Page 68

SIKHISM. BROTHERS: In dealing with Sikhism we are in face of what may be called a double movement. Fundamentally religious in its beginnings, it was forced by the pressure of circumstances into a militant organisation. Most people in thinking of the Sikh think of a gallant warrior, of a splendid fighter. But we shall err very seriously if we look on him, we, who are students of religion, as only, or even fundamentally, a fighter. That came by the pressure of circumstances, by the pressure of his environment; but the movement itself, in its lasting character, is fundamentally a religions movement. It is, a movement which grew up in the midst of Hinduism, having in the mind of its great founder, Gmu Nānak, the idea of joining together the Hindus and the Musulmāns in one league of love to God and service to man. The thought of Guuu Nanak-as we find it expressed not only in his words, but far more in his life—was to join together these warrig elements of the Indian people on a platform that both could accept.
That platform is fundamentally love to God, Bhakți, devotion-Bhakti to God and also to the Guru, the Teacher, for the very name Sikh comes from the word Shishya, disciple, and this idea of love to God and to the Teacher is the very basis and the very root of Siklusm. It is a movement,