The Great Multitude in Heaven
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could count, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. They cried with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels were standing around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before his throne, and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might, be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” One of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are arrayed in the white robes, who are they, and from where did they come?” I told him, “My lord, you know.” He said to me, “These are those who came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb’s blood. Therefore they are before the throne of God, they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tabernacle over them.” (Revelation 7:9-15 WEB)
The passage above depicts the scene of the saints arriving in Heaven right after the Rapture.
The main confusion for most people here regarding the timeline of this event is because of the words “came out of the great tribulation”, making them think that it happens in the middle or end of the Tribulation.
However, I believe that the Rapture happens once the appointed time for the Tribulation begins.
Whether someone comes out of the Tribulation at the start, in the middle, or at the end of it does not matter—it is still coming out of the Tribulation.
Let me give you an example. Let’s say you go and watch a movie at a cinema. You did not like the movie immediately, so you left the cinema shortly after arriving. The fact is, you still came out of the cinema, even if it was at the start of the movie. Makes sense?
Additionally, the Tribulation saints who miss the Rapture and only believe in Jesus during the Tribulation will not receive salvation immediately, but only at the end of the Tribulation when Jesus returns. They have to endure to the end (without receiving the mark of the beast) to be saved.
Read the following passage which takes place after the Tribulation, at the start of the Millennial reign of Christ. It shows that the martyred Tribulation saints will only come alive again and receive eternal life after the Tribulation has ended:
“I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” (Revelation 20:4-5 WEB)
Jesus said the following words to the church of Philadelphia (all of them have fallen asleep since then):
“Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” (Revelation 3:10 WEB)
There is an hour of testing coming upon the whole world, which is the seven years of Tribulation, but it is not for the church. Jesus’ message is true for the church today as well. We will not be going through the Tribulation.
“But let us, since we belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8-10 WEB)
We are not waiting for the Antichrist to appear. Instead, we are looking forward to Jesus’ return. We will obtain the last part of our salvation: the transformation of our mortal bodies into glorified bodies. Those who have fallen asleep will be raised from the dead first, and then we will all be transformed in the twinkling of an eye, to have immortal bodies that match our righteous spirits.
We are not appointed to go through the time of wrath. God knows how to separate the righteous from the wicked, just as He made a distinction between the children of Israel and the Egyptians during the ten plagues in Egypt. The children of Israel were preserved alive, and so were their flocks, but the Egyptians and their flocks suffered/died.
So do not fear—lift your head and confidently expect Jesus to return for us any day now!
Let me end off with a poem I wrote called “Jesus I Need You”. As you read, tune your heart to expect His imminent return. It is a hope that purifies you!
Jesus I’d be lost without Your love,
everyday would be so hard.
When things don’t go my way,
I fall into Your embrace,
I am forever Yours.
I can’t imagine life without You,
that would be Hell for sure.
I need grace and mercy that’s from You,
by myself I’m powerless.
Let me abide in the Vine,
I’ll hear of You and be fine.
Faith will rise—I’ll speak forth life,
fruitfulness is sure.
Take my hand and guide me through life,
I know you’ll never let me go.
With You I’ll walk on water,
we’ll rise above every power.
Lord Jesus,
you’ll catch me when I fall.
Amidst every trial,
You are there through it all.
I just want to see You,
I long for that perfect day.
Where we’ll meet in the clouds,
and I’ll see Your lovely face.
Did you enjoy this post? Unlock the other intriguing mysteries in the apocalypse when you read my eBook “The Book of Revelation Explained”. This epic and yet difficult final book of the Bible does not have to remain confusing to you anymore: https://bit.ly/bookofrevelationexplained
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【賭上靈魂的女人】
青竹蛇兒口,黃蜂尾上針,兩者皆不毒,最毒婦人心。
I have a Bazi client, who has been a social escort for over a decade.
She didn't tell me the truth at the start. In fact, she "challenged" me to use my 6th sense and offered her Bazi.
I do not need your Bazi to read you inside out. Also, Bazi analysis is a highly methodological and scientific method to understand a person's past, present and future Destiny. I'm no medium. There is no 6th sense needed.
Over the many short messages before our meeting, she expressed her shock that I could read so much from merely her words.
I didn't have her birth details at that time, nor had I seen a single photo of hers.
With the internet era, a competent Metaphysics practitioner must have the ability to dissect a person's true character and intention, even from a simple "Hi".
Impossible? Too judgmental? You just haven't met a seasoned human scanner in real life. Or you don't know the true you well enough to see the rock hard truth in our words.
While messaging me questions about a (legitimate) business of hers, I replied with a verse written by my Grandmaster, Living Buddha Lian Sheng:
"君子愛財,取之有道。
不義之財雖到手,
無限後患跟著來。"
(While wealth is covetable, a gentleman makes his wealth through just and ethical means.
Ill gotten wealth, though in your hands, will elicit endless troubles pouring your way.)
She was astounded and asked, "Do you actually know what my job is? This is shocking..."
I guess I passed her challenge with flying colours.
.
She wasn't a sex worker, due to harsh circumstances like severe poverty or mountains of heavy medical bills for her family.
A drunk gang rape incident in her uni days changed her views on men and she wanted to take revenge on men. She lived a life of drugs and alcohol in between her lectures.
The way I see it, is her obsession for money that caused her downfall.
On one hot summer day in 2006, she answered a social escort advertisement. She was barely 21 and was influenced by what she read online.
The "Mama-san" who looked her over told her she needed to put on weight.
She was surprised. Wasn't it easier to earn money with a slim figure?
The Mama-san snapped, "Nonsense. Most men dislike a woman who is too slim. They prefer those with some flesh."
She silently made a promise to herself to swallow more burgers.
Her first client was an Arabic businessman. She was paid US500 for one hour.
That virgin taste of easy money lured her deeper and deeper into the abyss.
Clients of powerful backgrounds, Singapore and overseas, single and married, private and government sectors...one-on-one, multiple players, mass orgies...
She lived like a bird freed from her cage. Suddenly she could buy anything she desired, just by sweet talking and giving lusty men access to her nubile body. She was in and out of hotels, as frequently as 5 times a day.
The carefree lifestyle, the freedom of not answering to any boss and those money that poured from the sky was her drug.
In her own words, she was "the woman that all wives curse and fear".
She referred to herself as the woman the wife will loathe to find traces of existence, when the wife checks her husband's handphone with trembling hands.
It was as if she took pride in that.
How did her cause of seeking revenge on men become a twisted path of demolishing other women's marriages?
.
It didn't take her long to accumulate 6-figures in her bank account.
The more money she had, however, the more insecure she became.
She worried about losing it all. She deeply craved the warmth of love to complete her soul.
She was only 22. The client was manly, handsome and charming. He gave her $20K for her company.
She badly wanted him for her own. To be his wife.
With $100,000 withdrawn, she gave it all to her 2nd Mama-san. She decided she would use black magic to lock his heart. And soul.
But it was a fraud. The Mama-san started exhorting from her.
She was desperate and down to her last $2. She began stealing from her family and lying to feed the incessant demands and threats from her Mama-san.
She gradually realised this was her retribution of selling her body for quick money.
However, this new realisation didn't change her a bit.
She met a new client, Dave. He was a married man. It was love at first sight for her.
The initial joy she had from the money and attention he showered her blinded her wisdom to the extramarital affair.
She stayed in one of Hong Kong's expensive apartments at a prime district. But it soon became an soulless shell of loneliness that prompted her suicide attempts.
Dave coldly dumped her like a hot potato, as he didn't wish to handle an emotionally volatile woman.
.
Ken told her she bore an uncanny resemblance to his first love. She fell hard for his sweet words and gentle demeanour.
He weaved a forlorn tale of an emotionally abusive and lonely marriage, and how it was impossible for him not to to be attracted to her.
They travelled greatly and dined at expensive restaurants.
To have a married man giving his heart to her, was like tasting the forbidden apple. That first juicy bite satiated her craving to be desired. And to win another woman.
This time, she decided she would use black magic again to break up his marriage. She coveted that role of his wife. A permanent and lasting relationship, finally.
Black magic uses the dark forces of ghosts to carry out the client's wishes. She paid a good US$10,000 for a famous sorcerer and another US$4000 for her Thai amulet and mud puppet.
Did she capture Ken in the end?
They got into physical fights crazily. The amulet that controlled the ghosts backfired, and her sanity was devoured by the ghosts.
.
Her craziness drove her to swallow 200 sleeping pills and cut her wrists. ANYTHING to have him stay with her. Ken was horrified and visited her daily at the hospital. She felt triumphant. Finally, he was at her beck and call.
The happiness was short-lived. After her discharge, he broke up with her when he was on an overseas stint.
She went absolutely berserk and grabbed a knife to her throat. It felt that the ghosts wielded full control of her mind and body. Her mum kept yelling at her.
The realisation of truth came too late for her: A man, who lied to his wife and had an affair, will never be honest with her. Once a liar, always a liar.
She was warded into the high-dependancy unit at the mental hospital. Everyday, she was surrounded by suicidal and high-risk patients. They were bounded at their feet and hands. It was a petrifying sight. Was this the end of her life? She wasn't even 28. How did she allowed a man to destroy her prime years?
She sought to understand love and karma. She delved into Buddhist books, wanting to know what caused her to lose her mind. She started to have deep regret about taking short cuts in life and her laziness in earning money the ethical way. She saw, on her hands, the fresh blood of people's happiness that she had killed.
But the greed and anxiety in her couldn't be satisfied with a regular job. Or a single man who doesn't make enough to provide for her.
She was needy, attention-seeking and quarrelsome. I had called her a yoyo. I had spent many hours over a few months, replying to her messages.
Every day, she fought hard against the temptation to take up another escort job
.
「捨邪歸正」
I lost count how many Masters she sought advice from before she found me online.
She read my posts and was amazed by my tenacity to take failures.
She watched my video on suicide and became aware of the Hell that all suicide victims go to. To repeat that act of killing themselves every day at the same time they died.
Among the many things I said at our consultation, I could tell her the age range she sold herself and that it was a elder lady who gave her the chance. She was surprised at my accuracy.
I told her the only way out was to sincerely repent for her past misdeeds. Blind listening to Buddhist chants and sutras would do nothing to change her fate. That is passive. Being active is to recite it and abide by the precepts.
I instructed her to write out her story in as much details as possible, to lead other sex workers, or wannabes, suicidal people and men with affairs to the Right Path.
This was one of the fastest ways I know that can change a disastrous life around.
All the Thai amulets, crystals and pendants she stashed in her room MUST go. She spoke of their decreasing power over time, and it seemed like a never-ending black hole as she kept on buying more and more to help her legitimate business.
She asked whether she would be able to get a publisher to buy her story.
I told her to forget about making money from her book. Give it for free. Post it online. Somehow, somewhere, everywhere. Get the story out. Fast.
When her boyfriend left her a sum of money, I insisted that she returned it. Don't take money that you didn't earn it rightfully. She said that was her breakup fee. I put my feet down, and said it was a proper relationship between two singles, and she caused the breakup. Why would she need money for loving a man who had loved her?
She promised she would write her story.
But she lied to me. Just like how she lied of making the $49 donation the next day, before seeking a Bazi consultation with me.
She went to the Guan Yin Temple at Waterloo Street, and sought a divination stick. It was her favourite activity whenever she was troubled or at a dilemma.
Right after she left the temple, she messaged and questioned why she received a 下簽 (bad lot) for my recommendation.
I asked for the number of the divination lot and the actual question she posed.
"I want to write a story about my life to encourage women not to sell their bodies and for married men not to have affairs. I may be hurt or sabotaged by people, so please protect me."
That didn't sound like a question. But the Bodhisattva had a way in teaching sentient beings.
I was dumbfounded at the Bodhisattva's omnipresent accuracy and foresight, when I saw the divination number.
It was a bad lot indeed, but not because of the solution I gave to my client.
.
「莊子試妻」
Zhuangzi was a famous and well-respected Chinese philosopher of the Warring States Period.
One day at the mountains, he walked past a new grave and saw a woman kneeling over the freshly turned soil, hurriedly fanning it.
Not understanding the woman's behaviour, Zhuangzi asked for her intention.
The woman replied, that her husband lied beneath the soil. Before he died, he had said she could only remarry, when the soil of his grave dried. It was the rainy season at that time, hence her fervent fanning, so that she could quickly seek a new man.
Zhuangzi shook his head, when he heard of her heartlessness.
Unknown to many, Zhuangzi was an accomplished Taoist practitioner. With his supernatural powers, he helped the woman to dry the soil almost immediately. Thrilled at the dried grave, the widow gave her fan to Zhuangzi and hurried down the mountain.
Zhuangzi returned home, singing and waving the fan. His wife, Tian, questioned where he got the fan from. When she heard of the widow, Tian was so angry that she tore the fan into pieces and called the widow shameless.
Zhuangzi pacified his wife and said he had faith in her chastity.
A few days later, he fell very sick and died. Tian was saddened at her husband's sudden death and wept in sorrow
At his funeral, a very handsome young man showed up with his old servant. He said he was Zhuangzi's student, and a son of an important government official.
He wanted to perform the rites of a dutiful student, and helped in his teacher's funeral, by watching vigil for three years.
His good looks caught the eye of the newly minted widow, Tian. She sought to know more his eligibility from the old servant.
Within 20 days, they got married.
On the night of their wedding, the young man was struck with an ear-shattering migraine. Tian anxiously asked the old servant for help. The old servant said his young master had this strange illness since birth. The only cure was to consume the brain of a human. Back in his hometown, the father would take the brain from the prisoners sentenced for death for his son.
But in this remote countryside, where could they find a human brain as medicine?
Tian thought of her dead husband. She promptly took an axe and hacked open his coffin.
Zhuangzi leapt out from the coffin and mused this now-famous Chinese verse, "青竹蛇兒口,黃蜂尾上針,兩者皆不毒,最毒婦人心。"
Tian proclaimed that she heard noises in her coffin and wanted to see if Zhuangzi was alive.
Zhuangzi questioned the red finery on her and the red decor in the house. Tian argued that she wanted to welcome him. So she donned on the wedding finery to get married with him again.
The young man and his servant walked in. They were actually manifestations of Zhuangzi's supernatural powers.
Tian was so ashamed of her heartless and deciteful act that she eventually hung herself.
.
Every divination lot comes with a poem and a background story. This was the background story on my client's divination lot.
The poem states:
因名喪德如何事 卻恐吉中變化凶
酒醉不知何處去 青松影里夢朦朧
Virtues are destroyed in pursuit of self gain. Fear that the auspicious will morph into bad.
The drunkard knows nowhere to go. In the green forest a shadow lingers in a dreamy haze.
.
It is common to encounter clients that lack faith in my recommendations.
Some will ask many questions after our session, wanting to know why my solutions will help them or how I derive my solutions. There are also emotional clients who would flare up and lose all their manners, when they can't get an answer that they like from me.
I don't ask my doctor what ingredient goes into the making of my cough syrup and how it works scientifically in my body.
I take action by drinking it as prescribed. Because based on past experience, I trust that his medicine will work to help my predicament. I don't drink, I continue to be sick, I don't see results.
My suggestions don't require my clients to consume unknown medical liquids into their bodies. Yet few clients take action, when it comes to their Destiny.
Despite me being recommended by their friend who experienced positive results with my help, and have genuine testimonials to justify my fees.
That divination lot was Bodhisattva telling me: My client will not write her story, for she does not sincerely regret her past acts.
It was also a grave reprimand to her to mend her ways before it was too late.
But she didn't see the divination lot in the same manner as I did.
Not only does she lack faith in my words, she distrusted the holy words of the Bodhisattva too.
.
Give money, buy love, buy fame, buy business, buy wealth and buy that. No need hard work.
Such is the sexy appeal of many ghostly amulets. They appeal to people who want many things in life but refuse to follow the Law of Karma, to sow seeds the right way.
I see one client bidded for a Thai amulet from a Facebook Live. Another wanted to buy a multi-coloured bracelet, because "so pretty! Got power some more!" Luckily, his Wife who had learned some Buddhism from me stopped him.
.
In March 2017, this client sent me a message:
"Hi Ji Qian, hope you are well. Good luck for your Home Fengshui For A Happy Marriage tomorrow.
I was looking thru our past convos where we first started speaking online. Yes, Im a spoilt brat and Im a yoyo porcupine. I look at a sentence that is poignant - "the day you stop relying on men is the day you become prosperous". I wonder if that day will ever come. I I finally understand that my Facebook Adverts getting disabled is due to my past karma. And I haven't finished writing the repentance story which u instructed me to write in August. I think I know that I'm half-hearted in repentance, that's why I can't bring myself to finish the story. I'm just wondering if I am supposed to survive on my savings till my Facebook Advert Account get reactivated.
I haven't been able to find any new product to sell since XXX (sales also failing miserably). I am weak-willed and too reliant on men. The only thing keeping me from committing suicide is my mum and because I'm reminded by Shifu's words that a suicide victim is doomed to repeat the same act."
菩薩英明。
.
Last year, I had casually asked if I could share her story. She promptly gave me the permission.
Yesterday, one client called me unempathetic towards him. The way he wrote suddenly jolted my memory of this client. I had taken too long to write her story.
I told her to write in English and Chinese, and she did part of it.
The account you read of her past was adapted from her written work. Though there are many grammar and structural mistakes, she does write very well.
The poison in our hearts will eventually consume our souls if we do not purge it out. What joy is there when we resort to brutal force to keep a man by our side? Should he chooses to leave, that does not discount the value of our self worth. A man who isn't interested in you for the right reason isn't attractive.
The same goes for men who cheat or pay for sex. You are ruining another woman's life when you satisfy your lust.
When you inflict suffering on another being, in return, you get pain and suffering on yourself. So don't sow the seed in the first place. Repentance done right over a period of time can prevent your past bad seeds from germinating, and reduce your suffering.
If there is any merit in sharing her story here, I dedicate all of it to my client.
May she have the inner wisdom and stability to lead a virtuous life.
May she always be surrounded by good teachers to show her the way.
May her vile affinities be broken and replaced by good ones.
May her greed and hatred be subdued.
May she repent for her past transgressions in time.
No matter how long it may take, one step forward into the Light is one step away from Darkness.
.
ཨོཾ་མ་ཎི་པདྨེ་ཧཱུྂ༔
Om Ma Ni Peh Me Hom
night of the living dead book 在 喬寶寶 Qbobo Facebook 的精選貼文
Sikh Religious Philosophy
Happy New year to everyone <3
"Realization of Truth is higher than all else.
Higher still is Truthful Living." (Guru Nanak, Sri Rag)
There is only one God, he is the Creator, Sustainer and Destroyer.
"You are the Creator, O Lord, the Unknowable. You created the Universe of diverse kinds, colours and qualities. You know your own Creation. All this is your Play." (Guru Nanak, Var Majh)
"The Formless Supreme Being abides in the Realm of Eternity. Over His creation He casts His glance of grace. In that Realm are contained all the continents and the universes, Exceeding in number all count. Of creation worlds upon worlds abide therein; All obedient to His will; He watches over them in bliss, And has each constantly in mind." (Guru Nanak, Japji)
God cannot take human form.
"He neither has father, nor mother, nor sons nor brothers." (Guru Nanak, Maru)
"Burnt be the mouth that asserts, the Lord takes birth. He is neither born nor dies; neither enters birth nor departs. All pervasive is Nanaks Lord." (Guru Arjan Dev, Raga Bhairon)
The goal of human life is to break the cycle of birth's and deaths and merge with God. This can be accomplished by following the teachings of the Guru, meditation on the Holy Name and performance of acts of service and charity.
Without devotion to the Name Divine is birth in the world gone waste. Such consume poison, poisonous their utterance; Without devotion to the Name, without gain they die, and after death in transmigration wander." (Guru Nanak, Raga Bhairon)
"True life is life in God, contemplation on the Name and the society of the saints" (Guru Arjan Dev, Dhanasari)
"I shall merge in the Lord like the water in the sea and the wave in the stream. The soul will merge in God and like air I shall look upon all alike. Then why shall I come again? The coming and going is under the Will of the Lord and Realising This Will, I shall merge in the Lord" (Bhagat Kabir, Maru)
"The disciple of the True Guru (God) dwells upon the Lord through the teaching of the Guru and all his sins are washed away" (Guru Ram Das, Var Gauri)
"Our service in the world gets us a seat in the Court of the Lord" (Guru Nanak, Sri Rag)
"One known as disciple of the holy Perceptor must, rising at dawn, on the Name Divine meditate" (Guru Ram Das, Raga Gauri)
The five cardinal vices are; Kam (lust), Krodh (anger), Lobh (greed), Moh (worldly attachment) and Ahankar (pride). If one can overcome these, they will achieve salvation.
"Five thieves who live within this body are lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego. They rob us of ambrosia, but the egocentrics do not understand it and no one listens to their cries" (Guru Amar Das, Sorath)
"I am in the Refuge of the Lord; Bless me, O Lord with your Grace, so that the lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego may be destroyed" (Guru Arjan Dev, Gauri Sukhmani)
Narm Marg; emphasizes daily devotion to the remembrance of God.
"Meditation of the Lord is the highest of the deeds, through which myriads obtain release, through which the thirst (of desires) is quenched, through which one becomes all knowing, through which the fear of death goes away, through which all the desires are fulfilled, through which the dirt of the mind is cleansed and the Nectar of the Name of God is absorbed in the mind" (Guru Nanak, Gauri Sukhmani)
Rejection of all forms of blind rituals such as fasting, religious vegetarianism, pilgrimages, superstions, yoga, as well as any form of idol worship.
"Let good conduct be thy fasting." (Guru Nanak, Var Majh)
"You keep the fast to please Allah, but slay life for your relish..But you do not reflect on the Lord, Who is within you" (Bhagat Kabir, Asa)
"Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is meat and what is plant? Who knows where the sin lies, being a vegetarian or a non vegetarian?" (Guru Nanak, Var Malar)
"The world is in agony because of the filth of ego, the word is filthy because of duality; The filth of ego cannot be washed away, even if one bathes at one hundred holy places." (Guru Amar Das, Sri Raga)
"They go to holy places for a bath, Their minds are impure and bodies are like thieves; If by bath their dirt drops down, they got on themselves twice as much dirt and ego." (Guru Nanak, Var Suhi)
"Whosover controls the mind, he is a pilgrim" (Guru Arjan Dev, Maru Solhe)
"You calculate the auspicious moments, but do not realise, That God is far above the effects of these auspicious moments." (Guru Nanak, Ramkali)
"Good omens and ill omens stick to him Who does not remember the Lord." (Guru Arjan Dev, Asa)
"The way to true yoga is found by dwelling in God and remaining detached in the midst of worldly attachments." (Guru Nanak, Suhi))
"Pandits are busy studying Puranas, Yogis are busy in yogic meditations; Sannyasis are intoxicated with ego, Tapsis are intoxicated with secrets of Tapas; All are intoxicated, none is awake, With them are thieves robbing them." (Bhagat Kabir, Basant)
"Five are the Muslim prayers; five their appointed hours, Five their names. These be the true prayers: The first is Truth, the second is lawful earning and the third is to beg the Graces of God for all, The fourth is the right intention in the mind and the fifth is the praise of the Lord." (Guru Nanak, Var Majh)
"He reads the holy books with commentaries, He does not remember God, his way of living is not flowless. He instructs and makes other people firm, But does not practise, whatever he says. Understand the substance of the Vedas, O Pandit!" (Guru Arjan Dev, Ramkali)
"The stone he calls his god, in the end, drowns him with itself... Know that a boat of stone carries one not across" (Guru Arjan Dev, Suhi)
"The stone neither speaks nor gives anything. Therefore its service is fruitless and its worship is of no avail." (Bhagat Kabir, Bhairo)
Normal Family life (Grasth) is encouraged, celibacy or renunciation of the world is not necessary to achieve salvation. The devotee must live in the world yet keep his mind pure. He must be a soldier, a scholar, a saint.
"Beauteous lady! hast not heard with thy ears, To the husband's home must thou come, nor for ever canst thou in the parental home abide" (Guru Nanak, Sri Rag)
"I that in the parents home on the Lord meditated, In the husband's home bliss have found. Blessed is the entire life of such." (Guru Ram Das, Sri Rag)
"Those known as celibates knowing not the right device, discard house and home." (Guru Nanak, Asa)
"Forsaking the household, one's mind took him to the forest, but it could not get peace even for a moment; but when it sought the refuge of the Saint of the Lord, its wanderings ceased and it returned to its own home. One abandoned his relatives and became a Sannyasi, but the craving of the mind did not cease. One's desires are not finished without the Word of the Guru, which alone can bring peace. When hatred for the world wells up in ones mind, he becomes a naked recluse, but the mind wanders ceaselessly and these wanderings do not end his desires, but when he meets the saints, he reaches the House of Mercy. Siddhas learn numerous Yogic poses; but their mind only after miraculous powers yearns. Thereby comes not to them fulfilment, content and peace of mind." (Guru Ram Das, Bilaval)
The Sikh Holy Book (Guru Granth Sahib) is the perpetual Guru, there is no place in Sikhism for a living Guru today.
"The bani is the preceptor and the preceptor is the bani, All the nectars are present in the bani: If the faithful follows the bani of the preceptor, The preceptor himself helps him in the realisation of his ideal." (Guru Ram Das, Nat)
Sikhism rejects all distinctions of caste, creed, race or sex.
"All are created from the seed of God. There is the same clay in the whole world, the potter (God) makes many kinds of pots." (Guru Amar Das, Bhairo)
"Recognise the light (of God) and do not ask for the caste, There is no caste in the next world." (Guru Nanak, Asa)
The Guru's stressed the full equality of women, rejecting female infanticide, sati (wife burning), permitting widow remarriage and rejects purdah (women wearing veils).
"We are born of woman, we are conceived in the womb of woman, we are engaged and married to woman. We make friendship with woman and the lineage continued because of woman. When one woman dies, we take another one, we are bound with the world through woman. Why should we talk ill of her, who gives birth to kings? The woman is born from woman; there is none without her. Only the One True Lord is without woman" (Guru Nanak, Var Asa)
"They cannot be called satis, who burn themselves with their dead husbands. They can only be called satis, if they bear the shock of separation. They may also be known as satis, who live with character and contentment and always show veneration to their husbands by remembering them." (Guru Amar Das, Var Suhi)
Honest labour and work (Kirat Karna) are the approved way of living ones life. It is considered honourable to earn ones daily bread through honest work and not by begging or dishonest means.
"He who eats what he earns through his earnest labour and from his hand gives something in charity; he alone, O Nanak, knows the true way of life" (Guru Nanak Dev, Rag Sarang, pg. 1245)
Vand Chhakna, sharing with others is also a social responsibility. The individual is expected to help others in need through charity.
Seva, community service is also an intergral part of Sikhism. The free community kitchen (langar) found at every gurdwara and open to people of all religions is one expression of this community service.
The #HarmandirSahib , also #DarbarSahib , referred to as the "#GoldenTemple", is the holiest #Sikh #gurdwara(#Temple) located in the city of #Amritsar, #Punjab, India. The city was founded in 1574 by the fourth Sikh guru, #SriGuruRamDasJi. The Golden Temple was designed by the fifth guru, #SriGuruArjanDevJi. Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji completed the Adi Granth, the holy scripture of #Sikhism, in 1604 and installed it in the gurdwara.
There are four doors to get into the Harmandir Sahib, which symbolise the openness of the #Sikhs towards all people and #religions.
The Harmandir Sahib is considered holy by #Sikhs. The #holiest text of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib, is present inside the gurdwara during daytime and the #holy book goes for #Sukhasan during the night time. Its construction was mainly intended to build a place of worship for men and women from all walks of life and all religions to come and worship God #equally.Over 100,000 people visit the holy shrine daily for worship, and also partake in the free community kitchen and meal (#Langar) that is a hallmark of all Sikh Gurudwaras.
The philosophy of Sikhism is covered in great detail in the #GuruGranthSahib, the #Sikh holy text. Detailed guidance is given to followers on how to conduct their lives so that peace and salvation can be obtained in this life, rather than the afterlife. The holy text outlines the #positive actions that one must take to make progress in the evolution of the person. One must remember the #Creator at all times – it reminds the follower that the "soul is on loan from #God, who is ever #merciful", and that the follower must dedicate their life to all good causes - to help make this life more worthwhile.
The Sikhs must believe in the following values:
#Equality: All #humans are #equal before God – No #discrimination is allowed on the basis of #caste, #race , #gender , #creed, #origin, #color, #education, #status, #wealth, et cetera. The principles of universal equality and brotherhood are important pillars of Sikhism.
Personal right: Every person has a right to life but this right is restricted and has attached certain duties – simple living is essential. A Sikh is expected to rise early, meditate and pray, consume simple food, perform an honest day's work, carry out duties for his or her family, enjoy life and always be positive, be charitable and support the needy, et cetera.
Actions count: Salvation is obtained by one’s actions– good deeds, remembrance of God – Naam #Simran, #Kirtan.
Living a family life: Encouraged to live as a family unit to provide and nurture children for the perpetual benefit of creation (as opposed to sannyasa or living as a monk, which was, and remains, a common spiritual practice in India.)
Sharing: It is encouraged to share and give to charity 10 percent of one’s net earnings.
Accept God’s will: Develop your personality so that you recognise happy events and miserable events as one – the will of God causes them.
The four truths of life: Truth, contentment, contemplation and Naam (in the name of God).