Was it a good use of money to spend on nagar kirtans? What did you learn from going to them, or could the money have been better used for starting Gurmat Vidyalas and sharing Gurmat materials?
Was it a good use of money to spend on nagar kirtans? What did you learn from going to them, or could the money have been better used for starting Gurmat Vidyalas and sharing Gurmat materials?
Share
Respected Avtar ji,
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh
In response to your question, the undersigned is giving below two Pangtis from Baani Sukhmani Sahib and their meanings, in which Shabad Guru is teaching us that a person, who serves without any expectation whatsoever, is able to become one with Akalpurakh:-
ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਤ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਹਕਾਮੀ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਕਉ ਹੋਤ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਸੁਆਮੀ ॥ ਅਪਨੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਆਪਿ ਕਰੇਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੋ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਮਤਿ ਲੇਇ ॥੨॥ {ਪੰਨਾ 286-287}
ਅਰਥ: ਜੋ ਸੇਵਕ (ਗੁਰੂ ਦੀ) ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਕਿਸੇ ਫਲ ਦੀ ਖ਼ਾਹਸ਼ ਨਹੀਂ ਰੱਖਦਾ, ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਲਿਕ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਮਿਲ ਪੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ! ਉਹ ਸੇਵਕ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਦੀ ਸਿੱਖਿਆ ਲੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਤੇ (ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਆਪਣੀ ਮੇਹਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।2।
According to Encyclopedia of Sikhism:-
“True seva according to Sikh scriptures must be without desire (nishkam), guileless (nishkapat), in humility (nimarta), with purity of intention (hirda shuddh), with sincerity (chit-lae) and in utter selflessness (vichon ap gavae). Such seva for the Sikh is the doorway to dignity as well as to mukti (liberation). “If one earns merit here through seva, one will get a seat of honour in His Court hereafter.”
Therefore, Nishkam Sewa i.e. sewa without any expectation, only has any meaning in Sikhism and the sewa done, seeking some returns, is of no use.
Today, the Sikhs are doing sewa, with an inflated ego, to get a good name in the community, which doesn’t have the approval of Akalpurakh and Shabad Guru, which are spiritually embodiment of each other.
For a long time now, the Sikhs have been wasting their valuable resources, on marble for Gurdwaras, gold palkis for Guru Granth Sahib and so called Nagar Kirtans, which are nothing but a show business, which don’t serve any purpose. In the Nagar Kirtans, huge resources of the community are being wasted on so called langars etc., which don’t have the sanction of Akalpurakh and Shabad Guru.
According to teachings of Guru Granth Sahib, Nishkam Sewa of poor and needy is acceptable because the Guru teaches us:-
ਨੀਚਾ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਨੀਚ ਜਾਤਿ ਨੀਚੀ ਹੂ ਅਤਿ ਨੀਚੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਿਨ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਾਥਿ ਵਡਿਆ ਸਿਉ ਕਿਆ ਰੀਸ ॥ ਜਿਥੈ ਨੀਚ ਸਮਾਲੀਅਨਿ ਤਿਥੈ ਨਦਰਿ ਤੇਰੀ ਬਖਸੀਸ ॥੪॥੩॥ {ਪੰਨਾ 15}
ਅਰਥ: (ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ! ਮੈਂ ਤੈਥੋਂ ਇਹੀ ਮੰਗਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਤੇਰਾ) ਨਾਨਕ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਬੰਦਿਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਸਾਥ ਬਣਾਏ ਜੋ ਨੀਵੀਂ ਤੋਂ ਨੀਵੀਂ ਜਾਤਿ ਦੇ ਹਨ ਜੋ ਨੀਵਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਭੀ ਅਤਿ ਨੀਵੇਂ ਅਖਵਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ, ਮੈਨੂੰ ਮਾਇਆ-ਧਾਰੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਰਾਹੇ ਤੁਰਨ ਦੀ ਕੋਈ ਤਾਂਘ ਨਹੀਂ (ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਪਤਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ) ਤੇਰੀ ਮਿਹਰ ਦੀ ਨਜ਼ਰ ਉਥੇ ਹੈ ਜਿਥੇ ਗ਼ਰੀਬਾਂ ਦੀ ਸਾਰ ਲਈ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ।4।3।
This sewa can be done in many ways, physically or monetarily, but making poor and needy persons capable of earning their own living, through education or helping them to set up business etc. is, perhaps, the best way to serve them. The education, however, should be valued based, as per teachings of Guru Granth Sahib.
Hope it helps you. 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