The Universal Message

In the same human mind Vices (विकार/Vikar) and Virtues (गुण/गुर/Gur) both coexist. Vices such as:

Lust/Excessive Desire (काम/Kaam),
Anger/Rage (क्रोध/Krodh),
Greed (लोभ/Lobh),
Attachment/Emotional entanglement (मोह/Moh),
Ego/Pride/Erogance (अहंकार/Ahankar),
Jealousy/Envy (ईरखा/Eerkha),
Hatred/Hostility (द्वेस़/Dvesh),
Falsehood/Lying (झूठ/Jhooth),
Slander/Defamation (निंदा/Ninda),
Gossip/Back bitting (चुगली/Chugli)

Over shadows the human virtues of

Self-Contentment/Self-Restraint (संतोख/Santokh),
Peace/Patience (धीरज/Dheeraj),
Generosity (उदारता/Udarta),
Detachment (बैराग/Bairag, उदास/Udaas),
Humility (निमरता/Nimarta),
Good will/Being happy for others (मंगलकामना/Mangalkamna, खुस़दिली/Khushdili),
Love/Compassion (प्रेम/Prem, दइआ/Daya),
Truth (सच/Sach),
Praise (सतिकार/Satkaar),
Discretion (बिबेक/Bibek),
Integrity (किरदार/Kirdaar/Kaya).

When the mind is cleaned off vices (विकार) and filled with virtues (गुण/गुर/Gur), what is left is pure spirit of the almighty (अकाल/अलाह/राम/हरि/ठाकुर/बीठल). Virtues build peace and harmony not only in the heart and mind of the pure and enlightened but also builds a happy society.

As per Gurmat, vices are the root of all evil, hell in one’s own heart and mind. Virtues build the kingdom of God himself, a heaven within the heart and mind of the pure. There are no other heaven and no other hell.

The divine has brought forth countless creations, countless languages, and countless beliefs. All paths lead toward liberation and union with the Eternal One, yet each path is brightened only by virtue and inner awakening. A heart kept pure remains the truest path of all.

Some call the Almighty, Divine, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Supreme being Allah, some call him God, some call him Ahura Mazda, Some recognize him as the eternal source of energy, Some call him Elohim, Some call him Akaal or Hari or Thakur. These are the names of the same god who created the entire creation. It is like a child calling his father abbu, pita, dad, papa or simply father. There is no difference. When the creator is the same and he expects us to shed the evil, help each other, have good virtues we fight for no reason. A father may have many children but he loves all of them equally.

Across all faiths and cultures, the universal teaching remains the same: let love, harmony, peace, and joy flow from us into the world. No person should be left to suffer, to hunger, or to face hardship alone. We are called to safeguard one another, to offer help where it is needed, and to live with compassion. This spirit of service and kindness, the concept of oneness is the true expression of the Divine will.

We are supposed to understand the divine will and ensure our will matches the divine will. Our inner spirit, the awareness, the light that illuminates our heart and soul came from the supreme being, the ocean of awareness and in the end merges back into it. The elements forming the body merge back into the universal elements only to take another shape another life. Our life (awareness) is like a ripple in the ocean (supreme awareness), short and fragile. In the end when we die the awareness (droplet) merge back into the ocean. It depends on us if we want to choose the vices or the virtues in our life. The message of oneness, universal brotherhood needs to be preached, needs to be understood. The almighty father wants to see us happily living in peace and harmony.

The universal message of Gurbani is that of oneness. To make sure we build a society where no one is suffering, we share, we care, we live in peace through goodwill. Learning the Gur (virtues) through Bani (divine message) and illuminating our heart with the message (Naam) should be our sole dharma. As per Gurbani, this Naam, the universal message of peace, universal brotherhood, purity of soul, message of oneness is in every text considered holy, may it be vedas, kuran, bible or any religious text. All paths lead to the same universal creator.

Let us discover the oneness in our hearts

एकु पिता एकस के हम बारिक तू मेरा गुर हाई ॥

ek pita ekas ke ham bārik tū merā gur hāī ॥

There is one Father, the One Creator; we are all His children.
O Divine, You alone are my true Guru.

Source: The Universal Message