New Delhi, Oct 25, 2019-
As Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary approaches, soak in the essentials of what he preached.
This Weekend has varied fare on offer. Immerse yourself!
Book: A Gift of Grace – The Essence of Guru Nanak’s Spirituality; Author: Daler Aashna Deol; Publisher: Niyogi Books; Pages: 231; Price: 595.
“He spoke of love and compassion for all. He saw in the skies not only stars but the world beyond our world in an endless loop – an idea that his contemporaries could not fully comprehend. He called upon his followers to burn wordly love and and think of the love that is endless and external,” writes Daler Aashna Deol, who taught political science at Delhi University for over a decade and after moving to the US in 1983, guided aspiring diplomats through the nuances of Indian languages, culture and politics.
This is a true gem of a book ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh faith. Set in three parts, the first guides the reader through Guru Nanak’s foundational themes like love and compassion for fellow human beings, being a caring member of the family and the community to which one belongs and maintaining a regular practice of name recitation (‘naam simran’).
The second part is the entire ‘Japji Sahib’ – the very centre of Guru Nanak’s spiritual legacy – rendered in its original form together with an English translation and an in-depth commentary.
The third part is a selection of 29 of Guru Nanak’s 976 hymns.
What readers will find particularly uplifting is the ‘Mool Manntra’ meditation: Ek Onkaar/Sat Naam/Kartaa Purakh//Nirbha-o/Nirvair/Akal Muurat/Ajunii Saibhan/Gur parsaad. (Agency)
