Sikhwithin Episode 56

May 11, 2010

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Welcome to the latest episode.

Welcome to Episode 56 of Sikhwithin

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• Part 1: Understanding Sikhism – We look at Sikh Virtues and what are the five main vices?
• Part 2: This week’s Shabad Translation is sung by Ishmeet and is listed as Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Ek Noor and also as
  Awwal Allah
• Part 3: In the final part of the programme we have a inspirational song performed by Clare Teal. Just before this song we have an interview with the Director and Producer of the Film, ‘Ocean of Pearls’, i.e: Dr Sarab S Neelam

Part 1 Understanding Sikhism

Q. What are the five virtues, according to Sikhism?

The Virtue, of having the ability to do good, is a great aid to the achievement of peace and happiness. Self control itself is a great virtue, because the mind usually turns to brooding on evil. Control over the organs of action (Karm Indries) is really necessary. The mischief of the tongue and the eye must be assessed or controlled. Bhai Gurdas insisted on the cultivation of sweet speech, toleration and charity. Truth occupies the first place in the virtues recommended by the Sikh Gurus. According to Guru Nanak, “Truth is the remedy for all ills, it washes away all sins.” Truth includes righteousness, honesty, justice, impartiality and fair play. A ‘Truthful living’ is actually a life lived according to the pattern set by the Sikh Gurus. Contentment is another virtue. A contented mind is free from ambition, envy, greed and jealousy. Without contentment, it is impossible to acquire peace of mind. Patience is another quality which a Sikh ought to cultivate. Patience gives courage to put up bravely with all the slings and arrows of outraged a fortune. Forbearance, particularly when one is in a position to punish one’s opponent, is a great asset. Perfect faith in the Guru is the fourth virtue which the Sikh has to cultivate and develop. Faith implies considering the Guru’s teaching as infallible and following it in daily life. The Guru often tests the devotee. A True Sikh will never lose faith or follow any one except his Guru. Those whose faith is diluted or deficient cannot serve the Guru truly or gain the goal of their heart’s desire. Another virtue is compassion (Daya). This implies considering anothers difficulty or sorrow as one’s own and helping to relieve it as far as possible. Compassion also includes the overlooking of imperfections and mistakes of others, for to err is human. The Gurus admired those Sikhs who observed others’ faults, but did not expose them to their disadvantage. The Sikh regards the practice of virtue as a means to an end. His goal is the integration of the human personality with spiritual realization.

Q. What are the five main vices?

Each religion has its own set of vices which its followers are enjoined to avoid. In Christianity, there are seven deadly sins. Sikhism, regards as sin any willful disobedience of God’s law or principle of natural morality. Sin is a defiance of the Moral Law. In order to avoid vice, we must be able to recognize vice itself than develop the will to overcome it. In Sikhism, there are five cardinal vices: Kam(Lust), Krodh(Anger), Lobh(Greed), Moh(Worldly attachment), Ahankar(Pride). These are the great enemies of man and cause much suffering. While they reside in the human body, how can the Name of God find a place in it. Lust is sinful and produces nothing but shame and misery. Sikhism allows the householder normal, marital sex but any other indulgence is forbidden. Both promiscuity and sex perversion are absolutely forbidden. Anger is an excitement of the mind which leads to quarrels and violence. Anger is overcome by patience and forgiveness. God dwells in every human heart, so one should not hurt the God in another man. Greed is the desire for wealth or the love of gain. Money rightly used and earned by honest labour, is permitted. What is objected to, is an excessive love of money – especially money obtained by fraud or other unfair means. Avarice can be overcome by contentment. All too often excessive wealth creates an ongoing desire for luxury and the admission to vice. Attachment is the excessive love of a wife, children or material goods. Regard your near and dear ones as objects of trust and service. They cannot remain yours for long. Any earthly love can only ever be transient. Pride is the worst of the five vices. It implies conceit, vanity, jealousy or arrogance. It is the Ego, thinking aloud. The remedy for pride is humility. Humility, forgiveness and compassion go together. The true Sikh regards himself as being the dust of the feet of other people. With the Guru’s grace, these five vices may be turned into the humble servants of a devotee. Instead of their controlling the individual, they may do him service at his bidding.

This episode’s Shabad Translation:

Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Ek Noor by Ishmeet Singh. Also listed as Awwal Allah
The translation was taken from Sri Guru Granth Sahib

Awwal Allah Noor Upaya
(God Created Light Of Which All The Beings Were Born)

Avval Allah Noor Upaya Qudrat Keh Sub Banday
(God Created Light Of Which All The Beings Were Born)

Aik Noor Keh Sub Jag Upajiya Kaun Bhale Ko Mandhe
(From The Light, The Universe. So Who Is Good And Who Is Bad

Logaa Bharam Na Bhoolahu Maahi
Khaliq Khalq Khalaq Meh Khaaliq Poor Rahio Sarab Tha’eee
(The Creation Is In The Creator, And The Creator Is In The Creation…)

Maatii Aik Anaik Bhaanth Ker Saaji Sajan Haray
(The Clay Is The Same, But The Designer Has Designed It In Various Ways)

Na Kash Poch Maatii Kay Bhanday Na Kash Poch Kunbharay
(There Is Nothing Wrong With The Pot Of Clay. There Is Nothing Wrong With The Potter)

Sub Meh Sacha Aiko Soee Dis Ka Keya Sub Kuch Hoyi
(The One True Lord Abides In All. By His Making Everything Is Made.)

Hukm Pachanay Saee Ko Janay Banda Kahiyeah Soee
(Whoever Realizes The His Command, Knows The One Lord. He Alone Is Said To Be The Lord’s Slave)

Allah Alkh Na Jaee Lakhiya Gur Gur Dheena Meetha
(The Lord Allah Is Unseen. He Cannot Be Seen. The Guru Has Blessed Me With This Sweet Brown Sugar)

Kahay Kabir Mair Sanka Naase Sarab Niranjan Deetha
(Says Kabir , My Anxiety And Fear Have Been Taken Away. I See The Immaculate Lord Pervading Everywhere)

Thanks for tuning in. Please feel free to email me for requests or if you’d like to help produce further programmes or submit some of your content.

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Dr Savi