蜜芽传媒

Good morning.

This weekend, Sikhs will be marking the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith. As a social reformer who sincerely believed that people from different backgrounds and beliefs could work together for the common good, it鈥檚 fitting that this year鈥檚 celebrations fall in the midst of Inter Faith Week.

Guru Nanak was born 555 years ago. He travelled extensively around Asia and the Middle East with his close friend Mardana, who was a loyal companion of the Guru and yet lived and died an observant Muslim. Together they travelled to many Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Muslim pilgrimage site, with the Guru sharing a message of unity and oneness wherever he went. In fact, the first line of scripture composed by the Guru is 鈥淭here is but one Creator, and truth is Its name鈥�.

Guru Nanak鈥檚 interfaith encounters shaped Sikhi. At Mecca, the Guru is said to have engaged in deep philosophical discussions with a Qazi about the omnipotence of the Almighty. At the Ganges, the Guru spoke with Hindu pilgrims about the futility of meaningless rituals. From the wealthiest merchants to those who owned only the clothes they wore, he treated all with the same humility and respect.

On one occasion, Guru Nanak visited the town of Multan. The holy men of the area sent him a bowl filled to the brim with milk. Their message was that the town was full to the brim with religious figures and had room for no more. Guru Nanak responded by placing a jasmine flower on top of the milk, without spilling a drop from the bowl. His response was clear. His presence would add to the religious environment of Multan in the same way that the flower had added its perfume and essence to the milk.

Guru Nanak believed in the importance of dialogue and discourse, even with people who hated him or with whom he vehemently disagreed. His compassionate view of the world meant he saw everyone as equals in the eyes of the Almighty, and therefore as equals to each other.

Five centuries on, and in our world of social media echo chambers, we can become convinced that we are entirely right and faultless, whilst others are absolutely wrong and completely to blame for the ills in society. Yet Guru Nanak鈥檚 teachings remind us of the value of nuanced debate and listening to the views of others. As he said, 鈥淚 am not good, no-one is bad鈥�. The world is not a binary space of right and wrong, good and bad, but a place of great awe and wonder. We have much to learn from one another, even if we don鈥檛 ultimately agree. The power of reasoned discussion with respect for differences can never be underestimated.

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