Essays on Sikhism by Claudia Kaur

Guru Granth: A Portable Homeland

The words in Sri Guru Granth Sahib are infinitely plastic because
they are infinitely meaningful. God is infinite, so is God language.
Via creative interpretation Sikh Gurus dismantle and reassemble
individual words, phrases and verses to pour new meanings into old
vessels, turning an apparently static text into one that is ever in
formation.

Gurbani verses give us luminous examples. A radical reading lifts a

short verse out of its dense and dated context to imbue it with
lasting religious significance. Even deprived of political sovereignty
the Sikhs keep the source of their strength by taking refuge in the
Gurbani. What matters can be carried in one's head. The Sri Guru
Granth Sahib is a portable homeland that fills the void.

But it requires daily and lifelong attention to remain effective.

Hence, there is supreme importance of study, individually and
communally. Plumbing its depths and expanding its meaning is the
right way to keep the Sri Guru Granth Sahib a living Guru and
always invigorating.

It is important to stress the ideal of uninterrupted study till the very

end of life. One should never desist from the study of Guru's
teachings, even at the moment of death, that is, on the day of
death one should be occupied with the Gurmat. Even on our
deathbed, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, a touch of eternity in the midst of
a passage and imperfect world, serves as a bridge to the eternal
Bliss of the world beyond with the Lord. To study at death is to
affirm the reality of life eternal merge with Naam.

In other words, we die as we lived, with Gurbani in our lips. We

must be grateful to Guru for letting us go ceaselessly from the
beginning to the end of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. A life of the mind
sustains our engagement and growth.

The world endures solely by virtue of the breath of Guru's words.

Discipleship and yearn for the Blessed Vision of the Lord's Darshan
determine our destiny. The weight of the world rests on the
recitation of Gurbani.
Note from the author:

The fundamental purpose of life is the search for truth. Although not
encouraging proselytism, Sikhs have the universal commitment of
propagating the Truth contained in the SGGS.

I believe Sikh community can start the project even in the midst of
difficult times. It may grows largely because I believe Sikh
scriptures have the potential to transform people and the world
around, promoting peace, justice and inner enlightenment.