Satguru Kabir Came Before Guru Nanak With The Same Message Of Equality And Humanity

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Dear Editor:

In the Link newspaper on Saturday, January 21, Dr. Sawraj Singh in his article titled “Healthy Elements Of Eastern And Western Philosophies Should Be Fused Together,” stated the following:

“I also feel that Guru Nanak took the Eastern philosophy to the climax. Guru Nanak rose above the limitations of caste, creed, religions, countries or regions and gave a truly universal message based upon universal concern and universal welfare.”

Guru Nanak was not the first one to teach these values. Satguru Kabir, who was 69 years ahead of Guru Nanak had already instituted these values. Consider the following quotations of Satguru Kabir:

“You and I are both of one blood, and one life force animates us. We are all born of our mother. By what kind of knowledge have you created separations.”

“People who are lustful, angry and greedy cannot be devotees. Only those who are brave and can give up attachment to caste, color and lineage can be devotees.”

“We are all produced from the same Light of God, and we are all his devotees. Who then is good and who is bad?” This is a popular shabad of Kabir Saheb that is sung by Sikhs: (awwal allah noor upaya kudrat ke sab bande, ek noor te sab jag upjaya, kown bhale kown mande).

These quotations are sufficient to illustrate that Satguru Kabir taught against caste, color, creeds and lineages. He taught the unity of all people as the same spirit of God dwelt in the hearts of all. Remember that Sikhism did not exist at the time of Kabir Saheb. Guru Nanak had great admiration for the teachings of Kabir Saheb, and subsequent Sikh Gurus included about 500 of his banis in the Guru Granth Saheb. It is thus that the Sikh gyanis and ragis sing Kabir Saheb’s shabads frequently in the Gurdwaras and in akhand paths.

Dr. Jagessar Das

President: Kabir Association of Canada and

Global Clergy Association

Member: Surrey Interfaith Council