20 MORE religions and faith practices 334

The Search for Peace in Times of Chaos—Volume Christ Some Sikh see him as a parallel with the person of Nanak, the first Sikh guru; however, there is no definitive connection between the two But when comparing the stories of their births and their lives, the similarities are fascinating They did not live at the same time in history, and they lived and died on vastly different continents, almost 3000 miles apart Yet it is a thought-provoking subject Both men put their elders in awe of their knowledge and understanding ƒ• …Š‹Ž†”‡Ǥ It is said that each of them had a “wise man” arrive at their birth to worship them Both started their “ministries” in their thirties Both Christ and Nanak are remembered in almost identical ways Churches resound with hymns like “Š”‹•– ‹• –Š‡ Ž‹‰Š– ‘ˆ –Š‡ ™‘”Ž†,” and Sikh Gurudwaras with “ƒ• ƒƒ ƒ’’‡ƒ”‡†ǡ ‹•– ƒ† †ƒ”‡••†‹•ƒ’’‡ƒ”‡†‹–‘Ž‹‰Š–.” Jesus and Nanak both brought a new way of living into the lives of their followers It is interesting that both claimed they had no control over their speech Spontaneously, effortlessly, they revealed what they were endowed with According to the gospel of John: “†‘‘–•’‡ƒ‘ˆ›‘™ƒ……‘”†ǥ™Šƒ––Š‡ ƒ–Š‡” Šƒ• –‘Ž† ‡ ‹• ™Šƒ–  •’‡ƒǤ” And Guru Nanak: “I †‘ǯ– ‘™ Š‘™ –‘ •’‡ƒǡ  —––‡” ™Šƒ– ›‘— …‘ƒ† ‡Ǥ” In each case, then, the “One God” is the voice.10 Most importantly, both Jesus and Nanak showed us the path of love In the Gospels, Jesus says, “Š‡ ‰”‡ƒ–‡•– …‘ƒ†‡– ‘ˆ ƒŽŽ ‹• –Š‹•ȂŽ‘˜‡ ›‘—” ‘† ™‹–Š ƒŽŽ ›‘—” •‘—Žǡ ‹† ƒ† •–”‡‰–Šǡ ƒ† Ž‘˜‡ ›‘—” ‡‹‰Š„‘” ƒ• ›‘—”•‡Žˆ .”  In the same vein, the Sikh Gurus applauded love as the supreme virtue: “‘˜‡ ‹• ’ƒ••‹‘ƒ–‡ ƒ† –ƒ‡• Ž‘˜‡”•–‘–Š‘•‡†‡’–Š•‘ˆ ”‹…Š‡•• ƒ† ˆ—ŽŽ‡•• ™Š‡”‡ –Š‡”‡ ‹• ˆ”‡‡†‘ ˆ”‘ƒŽŽ‹†•‘ˆ’”‡Œ—†‹…‡•ƒ†Ž‹‹–ƒ–‹‘• Ǥ” Basic Doctrine ‹Š  translates roughly as “Student” or even Disciple, and refers to the idea that all Sikhs are trying to follow the lessons given to them by their teachers, the ten Gurus The principal belief of Sikhism is faith in the universal God Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God