Gurubani says a guru-drenched person (gurmukh) can realise God’s Grace; yet the gurmukh knows that all depends on Divine will and there is no other way out. “Karan karan sabhnb kb eko, avar na dooja koi’ i.e. He is the entire creation and none else is the Cause of causation. Life evolved gradually, stage by stage, through the creation of planet Earth: water, soil, vegetation, animals, the human race: the evolution continues even after the age of machines and technology. But the earth is a small part of the solar system, with its planets visible and invisible, a vast theatre of evolution on which life in its various stages and innumerable forms is evolving to greater and wondrous perfection.

This evolution of humanity on our earth is guided by almighty being, the Lord. The life seems to have only one ultimate aim: to teach us that if we are to go on as we have done before, various degrees of suffering are inevitable. In this way Gurbani drives us to the feet of Guru who does not come to us in this body but in the form of Holy Word. A Gursikh who understands the holy word - and lives by it - does not seek any Guru in flesh and blood. Our prophets are transcendental in the sense that they understand the problem of life and express the Truth honestly, ‘what is life’? They are our guides and interpreters.

It is in ignorance of the spirit that portraits and pictures of the Masters seem to enchant and attract countless devotees. They are, in the way of idol worship, blocked from the ‘Will of God’, strayed from normal course of spiritual evolution. They are made to live a life of beggars. Only misguided manmukhs concentrate on images under the belief that this is sanctioned by gurbani: "gur ki murat man mahi dhyan". They forget that Gurbani tells us that God is manifest in the Guru’s Word’, or ‘Gursabd’, Sikhism frowns at idol worship and Gurbani warns against blind faith.

Guru Granth Sahib is an embodiment of the teachings of Sikh Gurus, while Sikhism is the religion of spiritual culture. Guru Teg Bahadur reminds us to concentrate on one God, whose attributes are enshrined in all holy books, including the Vedas and Puranas:

“bed puran jas gun gavat tako naam hridai mai dhar re (Raga Gauri)

Gurbani is the revelation, the commutative wealth of that Truth, It is a love, devotion of Him. Gurbani leads humanity to Salvation. Guru Nanak says that in order to be reunited with Reality one must contemplate upon one Formless God who is All Pervading, the Divine Spirit, and advises us to dwell on Naam-simran: "prani eko naam dhiavoh" - "apni pat seti ghar javoh." i.e. acknowledge only one God, and do not recognise the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva.

Guru Angad lovingly urges us: "jini naam dhiaia gae musakat ghal/ Nanak te mukh ujle hor keti chhuti nal" - (Var Majh Shlok) Guru Amar Das upbraids those who meditate on false gods and applauds those who concentrate on the attributes of One Eternal Formless God:

"har-har naam dhiae man har dargah paveh man.

Guru Ram Das defines the object of meditation in the following verse :

“jap man nirbhau sat sat sada sat nirvair akal murat ajuni sambhau.

i.e. O my mind! contemplate on one who is fearless, Who is Timeless Being, Beyond limits, Above wants, and Who is Self-Existent.

"So purkh niranjan hari purkh niranjan hari agama agam apara
sabh dhiavah sabh dhiavah tudhji hari sache sirjanhara..."

i.e. Thou, the Person Purest of the Pure, Infinite, True Creator on whom all meditate. Guru Arjun, the fifth Master, and compiler of Guru Granth Sahib, reiterates the same truth to say to the Sikhs:

"Sat purakh akal murat, ridai dharoh dhian".

In Bachitter Natak Guru Gobind Singhji lays down a clear code of conduct for his followers emphasising ‘naam-simran’. He says:

"na dhian ann ko dharo, na naam an uchro.
param dhian dhariao anant paap tariao.

i.e. Adore one supreme being, reject all other entities. Guru is the Beneficent Sanctuary of harmony, peace - the Light of three Worlds, Eternal, Unfathomable and Mysterious. The Guru is the Word, the Lord, Supreme Shabad: <- Ek Onkar:

"Guru-narain daya gur, gur-saca sirjanhar"(Raga Gaudi)

"Gur data samrath gur, gur sabh mah rahia samae
gur parmeshar paarbrahm gur subda lae tarae".

"What things so-ever ye desire.... ye shall have them" (Mark 11:24)

"jo mange thakur aapne te soi soi devai."

Let us not fritter away the message, let us not stray from the right path, but let us devote ourselves to "naam-simran" of One Supreme Being who is beyond time, unborn, yet perceived through experience. Thy Glory cannot be defined.