1Origins of the Sikh Tradition. By Asuri Kapila, S∴I∴ — This article is dedicated to the very dear friend JIT SINGH, Prince of Kapurtala, whose presence in Argentina reminds us of beloved India and makes us feel the perfume of her millennial Wisdom.
2ALL RELIGIONS, WHEN THEY ARE PROFESSED WITH PURE MIND AND HEART AND THE SOUL FREE OF SELFISHNESS AND SEPARATIVITY, BRING US NEAR TO GOD; FOR THEY EXPRESS THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT OF THE UNIVERSAL WISDOM THROUGH DIFFERENT VESTURES AND LANGUAGES. FOR THOSE WHO KNOW HOW TO LIVE THE TRUTH OF ANY ONE OF THEM, ALL OF THEM EXPRESS A SINGLE REALITY, OMNISCIENT AND OMNIPRESENT: WHAT IS, AND SHALL BE — GOD.
3Asuri Kapila.
4Sikhism is one of the seven principal religions of the world, whose faithful reside for the most part in the Punjab, a province situated in the north-west of India.
5The founder of this religion was the great Guru Nanak — called also, affectionately, by his disciples Baba Nanak — a revered spiritual chief born at Talwandi, in the district of Lahore, in the month of November 1469.
6Another tradition gives Nanak''s birth in the month of Vaishakh (April-May).
7This religion arose from the bosom of Hinduism at the voice of its founder, with the intent of uniting Hindus and Muslims in a common bond of love of God and neighbour.
8Nanak belonged to the caste of the Khatris; and on the religious side, the movement produced by Kabir made its influence felt strongly in him.
9Nanak led for some time a wandering life; familiar with the Hindi and Persian languages, he lived in close contact with Hindu and Mohammedan Masters.
10He composed hymns which he sang accompanied by his faithful disciple Mardana.
11Thus he succeeded in gathering a number of disciples, arranging for them a collection of verses known by the name of Japji — most of them in praise of God, for the daily prayers.
12On religion he held a point of view similar to Kabir''s, saying that God is One, Eternal and spiritual, and must be adored with the heart.
13According to him caste did not exist, for all can know and love God.
14In his writings he makes many allusions to the laws of Karma, to belief in reincarnation, and to the deceiving and illusory forces of Maya — giving also much importance to the necessity of having a Guru (Spiritual Master).
15Nanak''s father was called Kalu, and his mother Tripta.
16Like Zoroaster, Nanak seemed to have been born smiling.
17Many stories are told of his intelligent precocity and, though that marvellous child rapidly absorbed knowledge, he soon abandoned his studies, saying to his schoolmaster: "I prefer to study the Divine Wisdom".
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Our translation, period-faithful. Citable as our translation, never as the source.