How are Hinduism and Sikhism related, considering they both originated in Punjab, India?

As mentioned above Guru Arjan Dev was talking from the perspective Sant Kabir whose views we have discussed much earlier here. We know that Sant Kabir continuing in the Ramanandi Sampradaya went further away from the mainstream ritualistic Hinduism and was journeying more towards a SEAMLESS Dharma.

ਮਰਤੀ ਬਾਰ ਮਗਹਰਿ ਉਠਿ ਆਇਆ ॥੨॥

================================================================

What are some sex stories from your college days?

There is my Lord self-revealed, and the scent of sandal and flowers dwells in those deeps.

ਮੇਰਾ ਚਿਤੁ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਮਨੁ ਭਇਓ ਪੰਗੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Meeting with the Guru, my Spiritual Teacher, I realize God, my Lord and Master. ||5||3||

This brilliant, hidden iPhone feature lets you print anything to PDF - Boy Genius Report

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ

Kabir, Ravidas and ultimately the NINE SIKH GURUS are a product of this very Sant Sampraday founded by Ramanandacharya!

All the men and women of the world are His living forms.

Are you more of a butt guy or a boob guy?

The young and the old drink milk pudding, but these fools eat the cow's body.

Now here in this verse

Sant Kabir was staunchly against cow slaughter.

Is homosexuality an excommunicable offense in Christianity?

Where spring, the lord of seasons reigneth, there the unstruck music sounds of itself,

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

We have searched the turaki Dharam (Turk's religion, Islam), these teachers throw many thunderbolts,

Disney lays off hundreds of employees across film, TV and other units - CBS News

ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਾਟੈ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ॥੩॥੧॥

Ramananda accepted disciples without discriminating against anyone by gender, class or caste and they included even people from humble origins like

There is a reason why I mention ROOTED and thus NOT implying that it belongs to one of the numerous sects in Sanatana Dharma like Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, Smartism etc…

Do you like wearing short skirts?

— Kabir, II.57, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

NOW…

I do not perform Hindu worship services, nor do I offer the Muslim prayers.

Why does my girlfriend keep asking me if I love her?

ਬ੍ਰਹਮ is Brahm i.e the Brahman of vedanta but it gets interpreted as an all-pervading lord god.

ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਖੁਦਿ ਖਸਮੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੫॥੩॥

Where should I go? My home is filled with bliss.

What are some common lies that addicts may tell themselves?

Bhagat Kabir ji / Raag Gauri / / Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 326

Sikhism is fundamentally rooted in BHAKTI tradition and thus ultimately in Sanatana Dharma. There is no doubt about it despite what modern McSikh acrobatics try to claim otherwise

———————————————————————————————————————

What are "demonic attacks" and how can one tell when they're happening to them, or someone else? How would one go about dealing with it?

ਓਛੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਕੈਸੇ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਪਾਰੀ ॥੪॥

The Word of the Guru's Shabad eradicates the karma of millions of past actions. ||3||1||

For many years, I practiced penance and intense meditation at Kaashi;

How do I run away? I'm 15 and live in Oklahoma.

ਏਕ ਦਿਵਸ ਮਨ ਭਈ ਉਮੰਗ ॥

ਅਬ ਕਹੁ ਰਾਮ ਕਵਨ ਗਤਿ ਮੋਰੀ ॥

Ramanandacharya’s teachings were centered on pure and personal connection with the God Rama and didn’t believe in any kind of formal ritualism. He used the common vernacular language instead of Sanskrit so that everyone could understand.

We can understand that Kabir despite being in favor of formless worship was very much embedded in the Dharmik fold but always preached in the spirit of the transcendental nature of Brahman to the point that HE LOST THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN HINDU AND MUSLIM.

Guru Nanak (right) and Bhai Mardana (foreground) with Bhagat Kabir (left). This painting is found in the B-40 Janamsakhi, written and painted in 1733. The painting was made by Alam Chand Raj

ਏਕ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਲੇ ਰਿਦੈ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਉ ॥੩॥

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਾਹਿ ॥

Raamaanand Jee, First House:

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਜੀ ਘਰੁ ੧

then who is there to know what happens without?

From Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 1195

— Kabir, III.2, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

Bhagat Kabir ji / Raag Gauri / / Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 325

I ground up sandalwood, along with several fragrant oils.

Bhagat Kabir ji / Raag Sriraag / / Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 92

How can people understand You, when they are entranced by Maya? ||1|| Pause ||

He accepted even women (Sursuri and Padywati) as disciples. Bhagat Pipa and Dhanna were Rajput and Jat who were also his disciples.

Sain (a barber)

My consciousness does not go out wandering. My mind has become crippled. ||1|| Pause ||

The influence of Kabir is significant on Sikhism. The following Bani from Ang 1136 is attributed to GURU ARJAN DEV but if you observe at the end you can see that he was talking in the spirit of Sant Kabir.

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹੁ ਕੀਆ ਵਖਾਨਾ ॥

ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਪੰਚਪਦੇ ॥

यस्य देवे परा भक्तिः यथा देवे तथा गुरौ । तस्यैते कथिता ह्यर्थाः प्रकाशन्ते महात्मनः प्रकाशन्ते महात्मन इति ।

ਕੈਸੇ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਬ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Where millions of Vishnus bow their heads, where millions of Brahmas are reading the Vedas,

ਜਹਾ ਜਾਈਐ ਤਹ ਜਲ ਪਖਾਨ ॥

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

Ramarchan Paddati gives more info about his teachings.

Kabeer: O worthless mortal, do not lose the Naam, the Name of the Lord.

ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨ ॥੪॥

But we have actually seen how much Kabir is also rooted in the Vedantic concept of “supreme realization” but in a non-mainstream path.

Hari is in the East, Allah is in the West.

I serve the One Lord, and not any other. ||2||

My body and breath of life belong to Allah - to Raam - the God of both. ||4||

I left Benares - I had little common sense. ||1|| Pause ||

Now tell me, Lord, what will my condition be?

The divergence of Kabir’s views from Vedanta is seen in the fact that he fully opposed religious symbolism of ALL KINDS and not just IDOLS.

ਊਹਾਂ ਤਉ ਜਾਈਐ ਜਉ ਈਹਾਂ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥

I went to God's place, and worshipped Him there.

I do not make pilgrimages to Mecca, nor do I worship at Hindu sacred shrines.

Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.23)

Without looking into one's heart, how can one reach paradise?

Now that my time to die has come, I have come to dwell at Magahar! ||3||

ਕਹੁ ਗੁਰ ਗਜ ਸਿਵ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਜਾਨੈ ॥

So in the same spirit Kabir finds pilgrimages to holy cities futile as his mind is fixated on Rama!

ਕਬੀਰ ਨਿਰਗੁਣ ਨਾਮ ਨ ਰੋਸੁ ॥

As long as the mind is filled with the desire for heaven,

The Sant Sampraday of Sikh panth integrates the warrior spirit of the Nihangs and Khalsa, the service of Seva panth and the renunciation of Udasi/Nirmala saints.

For a superficial McSikh who is interested only in separation and not enlightenment the views of Kabir can be easily shown as a denouncement of Hindu practices.

These morons know nothing, they wander about in ignorance,

Wherever I go, I find water and stones.

Actually, this part of the Ang 326 is widely used by McSikhs to show that Sikhism considers Hindu pilgrimages as useless and thus drives home the point again that the “religion” has got NOTHING to do with Hinduism.

Says Kabeer, this is what I say:

ਤਜੀ ਲੇ ਬਨਾਰਸ ਮਤਿ ਭਈ ਥੋਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Let's look at the views of Sant Kabir

ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਉ ਨ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰਉ ॥

He does not dwell at the Lord's Feet. ||3||

ਏਕੋ ਸੇਵੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੨॥

One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

=======================================================

He who has highest Bhakti of Deva (God), just like his Deva, so for his Guru (teacher),

ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਉ ਨ ਤੀਰਥ ਪੂਜਾ ॥

If Ram be within the image which you find upon your pilgrimage,

Kabir is the child of Allah and of Ram: He is my Guru, He is my Pir.

ਕਾਸੀ ਮਗਹਰ ਸਮ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥

ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਸਭ ਦੇਖੇ ਜੋਇ ॥

I would go there, only if the Lord were not here. ||2||

The views of Kabir are very much in parallel to the Advaita philosophy and it is obvious that as the disciple of Ramanandacharya he will carry forward with his chosen NIRGUN BHAKTI.

From where did the word Maya come? Isn’t it a typical Vedantic concept discussed profoundly in Advaita? It definitely isn’t a concept pioneered by Kabir or even his teacher Ramanandacharya! It is ultimately from Sanatana Dharma!

Sadhna (a Muslim butcher) and

Gauree, Kabeer Jee, Panch-Padas:

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ ॥੫॥੧੫॥

There the streams of light flow in all directions, few are the men who can cross to that shore!

ਤੂ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਸਮਾਨ ॥

Bhakti movement began in South (Tamil Nadu to be precise) and slowly spread to Northern parts of India. This movement was extremely popular because of its simple fundamentals which could be understood by even commonfolk. Vaishnavism, Shaivism etc… were already connecting with commonfolk from a long time and this Bhakti movement reinforced it by making the devotee feel a personal connection with the deity.

ਪੂਜਨ ਚਾਲੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਠਾਇ ॥

Where millions of Shivas are lost in contemplation, where millions of Indras dwell in the sky,

We can see that great saints like Kabir and Ravidas etc… descended from the Ramananda sampradaya which is still the largest ascetic order in India.

Sikhism is a NIRGUN path descending from the Sant Sampraday of Ramanandacharya and traces its ideas to VEDANTA!

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਮਨਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕੀ ਆਸ ॥

To him who is high-minded, these teachings will be illuminating.

I am not a Hindu, nor am I a Muslim.

ਪੂਰਬ ਜਨਮ ਹਉ ਤਪ ਕਾ ਹੀਨਾ ॥੧॥

I am not a Hindu, nor am I a Muslim.

ਘਸਿ ਚੰਦਨ ਚੋਆ ਬਹੁ ਸੁਗੰਧ ॥

Here ਰਾਮੈ is Rama and not just lord. Kabir died chanting the name of Rama DESPITE him not finding any result of penances done in holy cities in his previous birth. Another example to show how much Kabir valued personal devotion to Rama in his own NIRGUN style.

Where the demi-gods and the munis are unnumbered, where millions of Saraswatis, goddess of music play the vina,

That Kabeer died chanting the Lord's Name. ||5||15||

ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਛੋਡਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭਇਓ ਮੀਨਾ ॥

Here ਨਿਰਗੁਣ is Nirgun and not just lord. This is just another example to show that Kabir himself continued in the NIRGUN BHAKTI path.

ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਰਸ ਤਪੁ ਕੀਆ ਕਾਸੀ ॥

Look within your heart, for there you will find both Karim and Ram;

There, where millions of Krishnas stand with hands folded,

ਮਰਨੁ ਭਇਆ ਮਗਹਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਸੀ ॥੩॥

I have searched through all the Vedas and the Puraanas.

At the time of my death, I moved to Magahar. ||2||

Kabir (a weaver)

Again we see that the originator of this Sant Sampraday himself talks about Brahman even in Gurbani.

The Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, is heaven. ||4||10||

If God be within the mosque, then to whom does this world belong?

Let’s look at the most used verse by McSikhs to show that Sikhs are neither Hindus nor Muslims.

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

Recklessly they display boundless pride while explaining their own aims, they kill cows.

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੈ ਆਹਿ ॥੪॥੧੦॥

I am a sacrifice to You, O my True Guru.

Says Kabeer, the Guru and Ganaysha and Shiva all know

ਜਿਨਿ ਸਕਲ ਬਿਕਲ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕਾਟੇ ਮੋਰ ॥

Raamaanand's Lord and Master is the All-pervading Lord God.

———————————————————————————————————————

Ramanandacharya was a 14th-century Hindu Vaishnava devotional poet saint who amalgamated Advaita with Vaishnava Bhakti. He was the pioneer in validating NIRGUN and SAGUN Bhakti as parallel paths.

ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਹੋਇ ਨਹੀ ਚਰਨ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥੩॥

I am like a fish out of water,

ਕਤ ਜਾਈਐ ਰੇ ਘਰ ਲਾਗੋ ਰੰਗੁ ॥

One day, a desire welled up in my mind.

I wasted my whole life in the city of Shiva;

How can they kill the mother, whose milk they drink like that of a wet nurse?

Let’s see what Gurbani has about Ramanandacharya’s views.

You are totally pervading and permeating in all.

Says Kabeer, unto whom should I tell this?

Kaashi and Magahar - I consider them the same.

For him Dharma was beyond everything physical including the desire for heaven because was fully into the NIRGUN . The last verse shows that according to him the company of the enlightened Sadhus is heaven which is again a typical teaching of Sanatana Dharma.

That God showed me the Guru, within my own mind. ||1||

Because in my previous life, I did not practice penance and intense meditation. ||1||

With inadequate devotion, how can anyone swim across? ||4||

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮੈ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਤੋਰ ॥

ਸੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਬਤਾਇਓ ਗੁਰ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

— Kabir, Ramaini 1, Translated by David Lorenzen

You have cut through all my confusion and doubt.

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

Bhagat Kabir ji / Raag Gauri / / Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 325

Raamaanand's Lord and Master is the All-pervading Lord God.

Ravidas (a chamar shoemaker)

ਸਗਲ ਜਨਮੁ ਸਿਵ ਪੁਰੀ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥

CONCLUSION:

I have taken the One Formless Lord into my heart; I humbly worship Him there. ||3||

———————————————————————————————————————

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥