Is the real purpose of Sikhism to experience the Divine within, rather than just follow religious practices?

Respected Simran ji,
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh!

In response to your question the undersigned wants to say that Guru Granth Sahib teaches spirituality and, therefore, Sikhi is not following religious practices but realising Divine within, which should be the ultimate purpose or goal of human birth. In other words, it would be necessary to reunite the mind with Akalpurakh.

According to Prof. Sahib Singh ji, who has given meanings of all the Shabads included in Guru Granth Sahib, the entire Guru Granth Sahib is the vyakhya (explanation) of the following two Pangtis of the first Pauri of Jap Baani:-

ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥

Therefore, the basic principles of Sikhi are to become a righteous/ virtuous person and to remain in the Hukam (Divine Law) of Akalpurakh.

Gurbani teaches us psychology, which is the study of the mind and behavior. Most of the Gurbani in Guru Granth Sahib addresses the mind, which is the manager of one’s life.

Whatever deeds a person does, during the life (after birth), the results of these deeds become part of consciousness of one’s mind and drive his behavior.

The mind is nothing but accumulation of good and bad deeds and their invisible images in the mind. These invisible images are not only witness of the deeds done in the present life but also keep on motivating the person to do similar deeds.

Since the universe came into being or will continue to exist, as per rules of the nature, the psychological makeup of the human mind has been and will remain the same. However, this psychological makeup of the mind can change, as per special rules, and continues to change.

What happens is that a fight between, accumulated good and bad deeds, continues to take place in one’s mind and the stronger side makes all out efforts to suppress the weaker side. Therefore, it depends on the person, whether the good deeds or bad deeds part gets strengthened.

The Guru, however, with his teachings, helps a person to become one with Akalpurakh and as the person moves further in this direction, the good deeds become stronger and the bad deeds slowly and steadily become weaker and finally get erased.

Such a person, in his life, then takes directions from the Guru and becomes a Gurmukh, instead of taking directions from the mind and remaining a Manmukh. In other words, the Gurmukh takes spiritual birth, in the house of Guru.

This is what happened in the case of Bhai Lehna ji, who erased the Hindu Sanskars accumulated since birth, from his mind, with the teachings of the First Guru Person, Guru Nanak Sahib and took a new birth in the house of the Guru. He thus became eligible to become our Second Guru Person, Guru Angad Sahib. Same happened in the case of our Third Guru Person, Guru Amardas Sahib.

The Guru teaches us that every Sikh can also follow the example of Guru Angad Sahib and Guru Amardas Sahib and become one with Akalpurakh and Shabad Guru, who are spiritually embodiment of each other:-

ਗੁਰੂ ਸਿਖੁ ਸਿਖੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਏਕੋ ਗੁਰ ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ਚਲਾਏ ॥ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਮੰਤੁ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਦੇਵੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਮਿਲਣੁ ਸੁਭਾਏ ॥੮॥੨॥੯॥ {ਪੰਨਾ 444}

ਅਰਥ: (ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਦੀ ਬਰਕਤਿ ਨਾਲ) ਗੁਰੂ ਸਿੱਖ (ਨਾਲ ਇਕ-ਰੂਪ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ) ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰੂ (ਵਿਚ ਲੀਨ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ) ਹੈ, ਸਿੱਖ ਭੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਵਾਲੇ ਉਪਦੇਸ਼ (ਦੀ ਲੜੀ) ਨੂੰ ਅਗਾਂਹ ਤੋਰਦਾ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ! ਜਿਸ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਨੂੰ ਗੁਰੂ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਦਾ ਮੰਤਰ ਹਿਰਦੇ ਵਿਚ (ਵਸਾਣ ਲਈ) ਦੇਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਦਾ ਸਦਕਾ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਮਿਲਾਪ (ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਨਾਲ) ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।8।2।9।

This way, the Sikh, instead of going for religious practices, can realise the Divine within and meet the goal of his birth.

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