麻豆社

Good morning.

Sikhs around the world are today marking the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith. Although the celebrations have lasted much of this year, the last week alone has seen the Dalai Lama praising the teachings of the first Sikh Guru and the Vatican remarking on Guru Nanak鈥檚 message of universal fellowship. However, the most remarkable aspect of the anniversary is undoubtedly the opening of a new border crossing between India and Pakistan specifically for Sikh pilgrims.

Guru Nanak spent his final years preaching in the town of Kartarpur. His teachings on the oneness of humanity were ground breaking, and Hindus and Muslims flocked to him as disciples. According to legend, there was an argument between the two groups about whether the Guru should be cremated or buried after he passed away. The Guru told both to leave flowers in his room and whoever鈥檚 were still fresh the following day could do as they wished. When his followers entered his room in the morning, the Guru鈥檚 body had disappeared whilst all of the flowers remained unwilted. The Hindus and Muslims agreed to share the flowers and bedsheets amongst themselves. Half were cremated. Half were buried.

Due to the Partition of India in 1947, the town of Kartarpur found itself a couple of miles inside Pakistan. The trauma of partition was acutely felt by Sikhs, who have prayed ever since to be allowed unrestricted access to worship at the birthplace of Guru Nanak and all other gurdwaras and shrines in Pakistan.
Those prayers were partially answered this weekend, when the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India opened the Kartarpur Corridor, a joint project costing millions of pounds allowing visa free access for Indian Sikhs to the holy shrine. A Hindu PM and a Muslim PM coming together in the memory of Guru Nanak鈥檚 teachings of oneness. Its impact cannot be understated. India and Pakistan, two nuclear states, have been at loggerheads for the last 72 years, they鈥檝e gone to war several times, and yet their reverence and respect for a humble spiritual teacher born five and a half centuries ago has helped the two nations come together to discuss how best to honour the Guru鈥檚 memory.

Living in these deeply divided times, the idea of even meeting with people with opposing views and beliefs can seem daunting and challenging. However, Guru Nanak鈥檚 encounters with others were based on mutual respect, even if he vehemently opposed their customs and practices.

Guru Nanak said 鈥淎s one who is centred on the Almighty, look upon all with the single eye of equality; in each and every heart, the Divine Light is contained鈥�. 550 years on, that idea of considering all as equals in society, whilst respecting and acknowledging our differences, is as necessary and timely today as it鈥檚 ever been.

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