How does Sikhism reconcile the concept of a formless, omnipresent, and transcendent God with the importance of Guru Granth Sahib as the living embodiment of the divine?
How does Sikhism reconcile the concept of a formless, omnipresent, and transcendent God with the importance of Guru Granth Sahib as the living embodiment of the divine?
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What is written in SGGSJI is SHABAD, BANI , DIVINE MESSAGE THAT IS GOD, GURU. THIS DIVINITY IS MANIFESTED IN EVERY HEART. EVERY THING, EVENT HAPPEN UNDER DIVINE SYSTEM, HUKAM. THIS SHABAD GURU IS FORMLESS, PERVADES IN THE UNIVERSE , OMNIPRESENT, AND BEYOUND COMPREHENSION, THE TRANSCENDENT.
Respected Brother/Sister,
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh!
The Guru Granth Sahib starts with Jap Baani of First Guru Person, Guru Nanak Sahib, and the Baani starts with, what is called Mool Mantar, which defines the attributes of the One God (Akalpurakh), with whom a person can become one, with the help of Shabad Guru:-
ੴ (Ik Onkar) (One Universal Creator God);
ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ (Sat Naam) (The Name Is Truth);
ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ (Karta Purakh) (Creative Being Personified);
ਨਿਰਭਉ (Nirbhau) (No Fear);
ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ (Nirvair) (No Enmity or Hatred),
ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ (Akal Moorat) (Image of the undying);
ਅਜੂਨੀ (Ajuni) (Beyond Birth);
ਸੈਭੰ (Saibhang) (Self-existstant);
ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ (Gur Parsad) (By Guru’s Grace).
In Sikhism, Shabad is the Guru, as was clarified by First Guru Person, Guru Nanak Sahib, in his discussion with Yogis, when he said Shabad Guru Surat Dhun Chela (ਸਬਦ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਧੁਨਿ ਚੇਲਾ).
As you may see from the Gurbani stanzas and their meanings given below, that, at spiritual level, the Guru Persons were one with Akalpurakh and thus embodiment of each other:-
ਗੁਰੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਕਰਣੈ ਜੋਗੁ ॥ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਰਮੇਸਰੁ ਹੈ ਭੀ ਹੋਗੁ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਇਹੈ ਜਨਾਈ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਭਾਈ ॥੪॥੫॥੭॥ {ਪੰਨਾ 864}
ਅਰ੍ਥ: ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ! ਆਖ-ਗੁਰੂ (ਆਤਮਕ ਅਵਸਥਾ ਵਿਚ ਕਰਤਾਰ ਨਾਲ ਇਕ-ਸੁਰ ਹੋਣ ਕਰਕੇ ਉਸ) ਕਰਤਾਰ ਦਾ ਰੂਪ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਸਭ ਕੁਝ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਸਮਰਥ ਹੈ। ਗੁਰੂ ਉਸ ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਦਾ ਰੂਪ ਹੈ, ਜੋ (ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਭੀ ਮੌਜੂਦ ਸੀ) ਹੁਣ ਭੀ ਮੌਜੂਦ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹੇਗਾ। ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਗੁਰੂ (ਦੀ ਸਰਨ ਪੈਣ) ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ (ਮਾਇਆ ਦੇ ਮੋਹ ਦੇ ਅੰਧਕਾਰ ਤੋਂ) ਖ਼ਲਾਸੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੀ।੪।੫।੭।
ਗੁਰੁ ਪਰਮੇਸਰੁ ਏਕੋ ਜਾਣੁ ॥ ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ (ਪੰਨਾ 864)
ਅਰਥ: ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਗੁਰੂ ਅਤੇ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ ਰੂਪ ਸਮਝੋ। ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਨੂੰ ਚੰਗਾ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਹੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਭੀ (ਸਿਰ-ਮੱਥੇ) ਕਬੂਲ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।੧।ਰਹਾਉ।
In view of the above position, at spiritual level, Akalpurakh and Shabad Guru are embodiment of each other.
Hope it helps. If you have any further questions, please do ask. If you find any deficiencies, please point out the same, for improvement in future.
Regards,
Your Brother
ਕਰਨ ਕਰਾਵਨ ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਤੁਮ ਹੀ ਤੁਮ ਸਮਰਥ ਨਾਹੀ ਅਨ ਹੋਰੀ ॥ ਤੁਮਰੀ ਗਤਿ ਮਿਤਿ ਤੁਮ ਹੀ ਜਾਨੀ ਸੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਜਿਨ ਭਾਗ ਮਥੋਰੀ ॥੧॥
You are the Doer, the Cause of causes – You are everything. You are All-powerful; there is no other than You. You alone know Your condition and extent. They alone become Your servants, upon whose foreheads such good destiny is recorded. ||1||
ਅਪੁਨੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਸੰਗਿ ਤੁਮ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਰਾਤੇ ਓਤਿ ਪੋਤਿ ਭਗਤਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਜੋਰੀ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਿਉ ਪ੍ਰਿਉ ਨਾਮੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਚਾਹੈ ਜੈਸੇ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਓਹ ਚੰਦ ਚਕੋਰੀ ॥੨॥
You are imbued with Your servant, God; Your devotees are woven into Your Fabric, through and through. O Darling Beloved, they yearn for Your Name and the Blessed Vision of Your Darshan, like the chakvee bird which longs to see the moon. ||2||
ਰਾਮ ਸੰਤ ਮਹਿ ਭੇਦੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਏਕੁ ਜਨੁ ਕਈ ਮਹਿ ਲਾਖ ਕਰੋਰੀ ॥ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਹੀਐ ਪ੍ਰਗਟੁ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਹੋਆ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਰਸਨ ਰਮੋਰੀ ॥੩॥
Between the Lord and His Saint, there is no difference at all. Among hundreds of thousands and millions, there is scarcely one humble being. Those whose hearts are illuminated by God, sing the Kirtan of His Praises night and day with their tongues. ||3||
-(SGGSJ Ang 208)
God made all things and all things are made of God. The goal of every Sikh is to escape the cycle of reincarnation by merging the soul with God and returning to the source of creation. All 10 Gurus achieved this goal. Yet, their teachings continue to guide us today through Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Merging with God means the Guru’s identities are no longer separate from God. Therefore when we read the SGGSJ for guidance, we’re no longer reading the words of the Gurus, but the words of God.
I hope this helps. Forgive me for any mistakes I made in this response.