Guru - The Divine Light
>> July 1, 2009
While at the public library I was reading a book on Sikhism, a book entitled "Sikh Religion: God is One but One" produced by the Sikh Missionary Center. Upon reading the first few pages I found these very interesting words in which I will share with you.
Start Book Quote:
The word Guru is so popular in India that in order to understand the fundamental concept of 'guru' in Sikhism, one must first completely drive out of one’s mind the prevalent popular notion of a guru. The popular term ‘guru’ often used for a Brahman, a yogic teacher or a guide or even a school teacher, has made the Guruship so cheap that a scholar describes these gurus as 'wicks which small foul after the lamps are extinguished.'
The term 'Guru' in Sikhism is not used for a teacher or a guide or an expert or even a human body.
The word Guru is composed of two terms-
GU- means darkness and
RU- means Light
In Sikhism the word 'Guru' is, thus, defined as the Light that dispels all darkness, and that is called JOT (Divine Light). Guru Nanak was, therefore, the Embodiment of Divine Light.
End book quote.
Symbolism of light and dark, good and evil is of course paralleled in so many different texts, but I had never seen it referenced in relation to the Sikh religion before.
Digging further in to the entomology of Guru we find its origins in Sanskrit.
The syllable gu means shadowsThe syllable ru, he who disperses them,Because of the power to disperse darknessthe guru is thus named.– Advayataraka Upanishad14—18, verse 5
The word comes from Sanskrit Gu, darkness, and Ru, light (prakash [1]); literally a preceptor who shows others knowledge (light) and destroys ignorance (darkness).
[1] Prakash is a common Indian/Sri Lankan/Nepali name derived from Sanskrit - Prakasam, literally meaning "Bright light" or "Sun light" or "Moon light" or simply "Light".
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1 comments:
Brother - I am a born Sikh . I am a mason as well. I can add - whatever I know of Sikhism - I wonder - were all the Guru's , masons ?? . This though comes to my mind , as whatever is mentioned in the ritual book , is also mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib , five points of fellowship is just an example ... I know for fact , that Guru's were not aware about masonary ...so what could be the reason of similarities...I guess ... the reason is ...because TRUTH is ONE... so it can be said that Guru's ( indeed saints and men of GOD ) were/ are born masons , they had it within them , what makes an ideal mason - W Bro M.S.Oberoi , WM Lodge Irish Friendship No. 128, New Delhi , on Rolls of Grand Lodge of India.
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