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The Single Thread That Drives Humanity

March 21, 2023

Vahiguru ji ka Khalsa, Vahiguru ji ki Fatih!

The foundational doctrine of the Sikh faith propagates integration, not division, to uplift human dignity. The Sikh culture, as envisioned in the Guru Granth Sahib and created by the Ten Nanaks, insists on the dignity and respect of all human beings.

In today’s parlance, this is complete equality and equity in society. There is no stratification spectrum of inferior or superior status, gender, or other social divisions. Consequently, the Sikh scriptural canon, Guru Granth Sahib, reveals IkOankar as One Universal Integrative Force. The succeeding divine attributes are messages of integration; there is no allusion to a division based on gender. Except for the Divine Order of IkOankar, Guru Nanak Sahib in Asa Ki Var, Song of Hope proclaims that everything depends on woman, the only exception being IkOankar, the non-human factor. In the Sikh vision, the woman is the single thread that drives humanity. Her participation in all dimensions of life must be recognized as an essential element in human affairs.

We see then that it is not an accident that the attitude adopted for self-realization in Gurbani (Infinite Wisdom in Guru Granth Sahib) is that of the woman. The feminine vocabulary, symbolism, and behavior are the medium for self-realization, which expresses total freedom or Divine realization.

In the Sikhi lifestyle, IkOankar is enshrined in every heart. The same divine light is present in all human beings. Every man and woman is an image of IkOankar. As we commemorate Women’s Month, let us focus on equality and equity as objectives, not women as a target group.

May the Wisdom-Guru be with us.

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