What is Sikhi?

WHAT IS SIKHI
SIKHI begins with IK ONKAR, THE CONCEPT OF ONENESS. IK ONKAR is generally translated as GOD IS ONE. This translation brings to our mind the connotation or image that GOD is a supernatural human like external deity up in space, OPPARWALA. This is not SIKHI, the spiritual philosophy of NANAK. For this reason, realizing GOD has been an outward journey, seeking peace and happiness in material forms and ritualistic practices aimed at pleasing this GOD.
NANAK did not believe in the external GOD. NANAK new and experienced GOD. He says IK ONKAR is a formless timeless eternal universal life force, SHABAD, THE WORD, SPIRIT OF SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT that is within all of us. NANAK says the whole universe is the manifestation of IK, ONENESS we call GOD, WAH GURU, AKAL PURAKH. For NANAK GOD is a catalyst of spiritual enlightenment, of conscious transformation. Realizing the enlightenment is an inward journey, not outward.
NANAK in the beginning of SGGS raises a very important question, KIV SACHIARA HOEAI KIV KOORAI TOOTAI PAAL (SGGS PAGE 1). How can I be spiritually enlightened, enjoy peace, happiness, and bliss? How can I drop ego, falsehood that causes stress, depression, worries and anxieties? NANAK then answered HUKAM RAJAEE CHALNA meaning living the HUKAM, WISDOM OF GURU.
GURU NANAK first highlighted that the biggest obstacle to peace and happiness is human EGO, more specifically INDIVIDUAL SELF. Identification with INDIVIDUAL SELF means we do not know who we are, our real self. I am my body, mind, and thoughts, separate from THE SOURCE, THE LIFE FORCE. My life is driven by this illusionary self, THE ME. All my efforts are to feed the needs of I AM, THE ME.
NANAK says HAUMAI DEERAG ROGU HAI (SGGS PAGE 466) meaning this illusionary I AM, EGO is the chronic disease of mind that is not your friend. For this reason, NANAK says SANSAR ROGEE NAAM DAROO MAIL LAGAI SACH BINA (SGGS PAGE 687) meaning because of our separation from TRUTH, humans are suffering from stress, mental health problems and depression. NANAK warns here that HAUMAI NAWAI NAAL VIRODH HAI DOE NA WASAI IK THAAI (SGGS PAGE 560) meaning, as long I AM, ME exists there is no room for spiritual enlightenment, awakening.
Why is the I AM or ME inherently discontented? Because life doesn’t consistently meet the expectations of the ME. The separate ME thinks it’s in control and tries to manage all areas of life to its liking in order to be happy. But this is a constant struggle because the ME doesn’t understand that it’s not in control.
NANAK offers a beautiful solution to find meaning of life, peace and bliss in life. For that NANAK wants you to pay a heavy price. JAU TU PREM KHELAN KA CHAO SIR DHAR TALI GALI MEREE AAOO (SGGS PAGE 1412) meaning if you have a desire to play the game of love, compassion, spiritual enlightenment then you must drop your INDIVIDUAL SELF, EGO, SLAVERY OF MIND. This is the path to peace and bliss. GURU says PEHLA MARAN KABOOL JIWAN KEE CHHAD AAS (SGGS PAGE 1102) meaning kill, destroy I AM, DELETE YOURSELF, DROP SLAVERY OF ME. GURU says as long I AM, INDIVIDUAL SELF EXISTS spiritual awakening will not happen. This means complete conscious transformation. Just doing religious things, going to GURDWARA, keeping long hair, waking up early, many such things do not bring awakening without dropping I AM, BIG EGO. Once we live the HUKAM, GURU says DUKH PARHAR SUKH GHAR LAI JAAI (SGGS PAGE 2) meaning unlimited peace, happiness, bliss become part of daily life. Why? Because we can now understand what is happening in life and flow with it, rather than resist it. There’s a much bigger story of life unfolding all around, of which each of us is only a small part. It’s all GOD’s play. Living identified with mind, body and thoughts, under the illusions of control and separation, leads us to constantly struggle. We can realize that identification with mind/body has given rise to an illusory ME that stops us from experiencing GOD. Overcoming the illusion of ME allows us to connect with the wisdom of our true self and our true nature, which is bliss.
Ask yourself a question, am I tired of feeding I AM, ME?