guru nanak

An important aspect in the world religions is the aspect of renunciation. Most of religions and the Peers propagated that complete physical renunciation is not necessary and neither it is essential to attain truth. Persons such as Prophet Mohammed ( PBUH), Guru Nanak( Sikhism), lived family lives, They were married and had children. Lord Krishna who is considered as the manifestation of Lord Vishnu was married and led a normal life lie any one although he was the most illustrious and the prophet and very widely revered by a large section of humanity. When we use the word truth, it also means, Brahman, self knowledge, bliss, salvation, Nirvana, union with God and similar terms. However we also find that all the prophets who came down on to the earth were illuminated only when they left everything, wandered or went into seclusion away from the society. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) was only Mohammed when he stayed with his family. He became a Nabi only when he went into seclusion in the cave at Mecca and got revelation from Allah. Lord Jesus got realization when he went into oblivion in the younger days and returned illuminated. Lord Buddha (Siddhartha) renounced the world and finally attained truth and became a Buddha at Gaya. Guru Nanak of Sikhism too realized truth when he went away from his house for few days. This indicates that knowledge was revealed to these great men only when they went away from the family and were in the state of renunciation (1).

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Man in his journey on the earth encounters many challenges. One of the most important aspects that he faces in the world is comparison with others. He compares himself with another human being. As the society grew in civilization, man’s wants have also increased. His capabilities to produce and innovate also grew. Craving for material goods and comforts have also increased by leaps and bounds and shot up without any limits. The standard of living has increased and this is varied in each society and in each country. Ease of travel, communications and television has entirely transformed the life on earth. Comparison in a man’s life never ceases. At every stage, there is always some one above or below in all walks of life. Comparison could be in educational achievements, wealth, and materialistic possessions, status in office and society and even spiritual achievements (1). Comparison gives rise to unhappiness and leads to jealousy. Jealousy leads to hatred and even bitterness on failures and inability to match or exceed the contender. The religions have identified vices such as anger, jealousy, passion (lust), arrogance and miserliness that torment mankind. All religions preach love and compassion towards others, fellow beings and even animals and birds and other living beings (Buddhism and Jainism). Love and compassion can not be exhibited if a person is a victim of jealousy and hatred (as an outcome of jealousy). Thus jealousy becomes paramount trait in human beings. How one should overcome it? Is it possible? Or, one has to suffer? Christian teachings and Holy revered Bible is a store of knowledge on love and compassion. These aspects have been given very great importance in these religious scriptures. Entire life of Lord Jesus is a saga of love and compassion and sacrifice. Other examples are Lord Buddha and Guru Nanak. They practiced what they preached. These great prophets never spoke any offensive word towards others in their lives and thus can be truly associated as apostles of peace. It however does not mean that others are no way less.

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Men (including women) have been following some religious order or other in all parts of the world after civilization has dawned on the human beings. Theory of Evolution by Professor Darwin has claimed that man has evolved from an ape like species over a period of time in the struggle for existence. However Biblical teachings are different and claim that man and woman were created by the God along with Universe and all its creatures in a span of 6 days. Hinduism also claims that human beings and the world were created by Lord Brahma, one of the trinity. Islam also claims that the entire Universe with all its beings was created by Allah, the supreme. Thus, the major religions subscribe to the religious belief that the universe has been created by the God and therefore these beliefs do not go along with Darwin’s theory of evolution that has been claimed to be scientific and has been more or less accepted in the scientific world. Thus, there is a fundamental clash between science and religion at the stage of birth of the universe and man leaving apart the other religious beliefs and incidents recorded in scriptures of various religions (1). Religions always claimed their founding to some super natural power and origin that can not be understood easily for a rational brain. The origin of religions in general can be claimed to ancestral worship and in the powers of nature as discussed earlier.

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