Institute for Understanding Sikhism
The Research Journal Institute for Understanding Sikhism
The Research Journal

JOURNAL ARTICLES

2012, Volume: 14, Number: 1

International Conference Guru Nanak’s Philosophy And Science

Prof Devinder Singh Chahal, PhD

Held in Abbotsford, BC November
at Abbotsford Khalsa Diwan Society Gurdwara
5 & 6, 2011
PREAMBLE

2012, Volume: 14, Number: 1

Guru Nanak’s Philosophy And Science

Prof Devinder Singh Chahal, PhD

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

2012, Volume: 14, Number: 1

Nanakian Philosophy And Science

Prof Devinder Singh Chahal, PhD

FEATURE ARTICLE:
ABSTRACT

Discussion on a subject, Religion and Science, is contradictory to each other for some; while for others both are quite two different but independent realms; still for others each has something to say to other; and still some have started to say that they are compatible with each other. Currently for modern people religion is neither good nor bad but irrelevant. It may be so because religion has not been portrayed in its real perspective. In this paper philosophy embodied in the Bani (Hymns) of Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhi(sm), has been explored by the application of Science and logic to discover if philosophy of Guru Nanak (called Nanakian Philosophy) is relevant for the humanity of the Modern Science Age

2012, Volume: 14, Number: 1

Religion, Science, Scientific Reasoning And Guru Nanak

Dr Kulbir S Thind, MD

FEATURE ARTICLE:
ABSTRACT

Religion has been a matter of faith whereas science deals with systematic knowledge of the physical world gained through observation and experimentation. Scientific facts are subject to proof. Scientific knowledge gained during the last 100 years has dramatically changed to way we live. However, human nature has not changed over time. The tendency to believe in the divine also appears to be part of human nature. This is the basis of many religions, many beliefs and many contradictions. Guru Nanak has shown a different spiritual path based on reasoning. The aim of this article is to explore this path based on reason.

2012, Volume: 14, Number: 1

Feminist Critique Of Socio-religious Discourse

Satwinder Kaur Bains, M.Ed. PhD (Candidate)

FEATURE ARTICLE:
ABSTRACT

This paper is about a snapshot in time - I have spent the last year (2011) interviewing young women of the Sikh diaspora who attend my university on their impressions, experiences and aspirations about Sikhi and its response to them primarily as young Sikh women. I have also been exploring views that a few blogs have been representing and what the online Sikhi world portrays about current Sikh feminist views. What I have found has not been startling but it has been eye opening, giving me much to think about. Socio religious discourse at the Gurdwara in a small community in rural British Columbia (BC) and its response or lack thereof to young Sikh women who live in the community, is the subject of my research and the topic of this paper.

2012, Volume: 14, Number: 1

Relevance Of Guru Nanak's Teachings To Modernity

Dr Gurnam Singh Sanghera, PhD

FEATURE ARTICLE:
ABSTRACT

Guru Nanak’s teachings are an all encompassing philosophy of life’s aspects --from spiritual and mystical to socio-economic and administrative. I am examining certain of his thematic from the combined vantage point of both the human and social sciences. These involve socio-cultural, political and communicative issues on a broad spectrum ranging from a local dimension to regional, national and global areas which impinge on the organization of life, and on the very structure and dynamics of the Sikh community within these spectra .It is both apt and timely to analyze these themes in the context of Guru Nanak’s internationally applicable philosophy and theorem. When accounting for today’s sociological and cultural advances cum complexity. Emphasis is placed on Guru Nanak’s and Sabd Guru’s philosophies with other socio-religious ingredients and their applicability in today’s global human relations and their trajectories for the future.

2012, Volume: 14, Number: 1

Nanakian Philosophy And Corporate Ethics

Amandip Singh Sidhu

FEATURE ARTICLE:
ABSTRACT

Through this brief study, I have touched on a number of points on how Nanakian philosophy can be applied to the corporate world, and have provided an example of a firm that employs such philosophies. It is to be noted that the teachings of Guru Nanak and the following Gurus are not philosophical thoughts and poetry but in fact are frameworks that can be applied to most situations to enhance the quality of the outcomes

2012, Volume: 14, Number: 1

Guru Nanak And Maharaja Ranjit Singh - The Unlikely Connection

Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra

FEATURE ARTICLE:
ABSTRACT

Maharaja Ranjit Singh - the Sheré Punjab – the sole individual who was able to unite the Sikh Empire into a unified entity which rivaled that of the great British empire. He considered himself to be a devout follower of Sikhism. Was there a connection, if any, between the teachings and philosophies of the Guru Nanak and some of the ideologies of the Maharaja? This paper attempts to create such a connection between the Sikh ruler and the founder of the Sikh faith. Though there is no doubt that both were also in stark contrast to one another (especially when assessing some of Ranjit Singh’s mannerisms), both figures in Sikh history shared certain beliefs.

2012, Volume: 14, Number: 1

Role Of Scientific Search And Interpretation In Gurbani

Dr Avtar Singh Dhaliwal, MD, FACS

FEATURE ARTICLE:
ABSTRACT

To comprehend the Truth in Gurbani written and promulgated by Guru Nanak, one has to compare the results of preconceived opinions of the ‘Unknown’ by historical interpreters based on Theology against the scientific approach appreciated and adapted by Guru Nanak himself and the succeeding Guru Sahiban. They applied all evidence including religious literatures and praxis in search of the truth and realized that ultimate explanation of reality lies in accepting the freedom of natural phenomena and living by abiding it. This article is an attempt to comprehend role of scientific search and interpretation in the Gurbani.

2012, Volume: 14, Number: 1

Concept Of Spirituality In Science And Religion

Dr Sukhraj S Dhillon, PhD

FEATURE ARTICLE:
ABSTRACT

Truth cannot contradict itself. Truth from Science and truth from Religion must eventually converge into one grand whole, a unified knowledge of the laws that govern our Universe. Those who fight for superiority of one over the other are blinded by ignorance about both. In fact Science and Religion that blend truth and spirituality constitute the True Religion.

2012, Volume: 14, Number: 1

Impermanence Of Things A Gurbani Perspective

Dr Devinder Pal Singh, PhD

FEATURE ARTICLE:
ABSTRACT

Everything is subject to change and alteration in the world. There is nothing that is fixed and permanent. Existence is a flux, and a continuous becoming. In Aad Guru Granth Sahib (AGGS), the holy Sikh scripture, the concept of impermanence of things is enunciated to make us aware of the ephemeral nature of life and the material world. It articulates that the awareness and understanding of the impermanent nature of things leads to liberation from the sorrows of human life.

2012, Volume: 14, Number: 1

The Idea Of Multicultural Society In Sikhism

Dr Arvinder Singh

FEATURE ARTICLE:
ABSTRACT

Ethnic and cultural diversity always pose a serious challenge to international peace, security and stability. Over the last 150 years, international community has experienced violent clashes on the basis of cultural multiplicity. Multiculturalism and the idea of plural society tend to solve the problems arising out of cultural assimilation and pluralism In the present era of “clash of civilizations”, the eternal and universal message of Sikh Gurus work as beacon of light to the mankind to secure peaceful, stable and promising future. Sikh vision of multicultural society is in tune with the modern liberal democratic principles. Sikh social order ushers new global society which is based on idea of cultural pluralism and ethnic diversity. Sikh Gurus played an extraordinary role in protection and promotion of multicultural society. Aad Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Sikh Scripture and Khalsa society is unique model of composite culture and peaceful coexistence in the history of mankind.