Sikh Metaphysics

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About the Book This monograph deals with the variant metaphysical aspects of Sikh Religion. Meta- physics is a science of the Real and it undertakes a search for Truth or Reality. This monograph begins with the Oneness of Ultimate Reality with its Attributive Aspect and proceeds to its experience through faith and expression through symbolism. The most significant metaphysical issues viz., human existence, problem of evil, immortality of soul and man's voyage from trans- migration to emancipation are vividly explained.

It presents not only conceptual analysis but also indicates guidelines for spiritual trans- formation. A metaphysical analysis of the problem of baumat and mental tension is done alongwith its remedy as is suggested in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The problem of non-duality between man's actions and God as the only Doer is expatiated in dealing with the Divine Will and human freedom.

The Sikh metaphysics is not an abstract unity but it in- tegrates the spiritual and temporal aspects. The spiritual unity and social vision of the Gurus is explicit throughout the Holy Scripture and its culmination is evident in the creation of Khälsa, which is based on the ontological principle of One God.

About the Author The author Dr. Shashi Bala, M.A. (English and Philosophy), Ph.D., is working as a senior lecturer in the department of Guru Nanak Studies, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Her publications include two books, The Concept of Monotheism: A Comparative Study of Major Religious Scriptures and Man: Being And Meaning-A Comparative Study. Besides, she has contributed several research articles on Com- parative Religion and Sikh Philosophy of Religion in various journals.

Introduction The present treatise is a series of articles in which I have made my humble observations on variant perennial philosophical issues relating to metaphysical aspects of the Sikh Religion. The approach of study is mostly comparative, with a view to find out the depth meaning of the concerned issue in different shades of its development in the philosophy of religion, so as to bring out the distinctiveness and relevance of the Sikh Religious Thought in the world context.

A systematic exposition of the Sikh Religious Thought is found in Sri Guru Granth Sabib. The main emphasis, of most of the articles in this treatise, is on the holy compositions of Guru Nanak, who with his sagacious vision and profound mystic experience, has minutely visualised the subtle philosophical issues with great clarity, by offering solutions. Nevertheless, no conceptual difference is found in the succeeding Gurus, except for the emphasis on one or the other issue according to the changing times. The main stress was on the reconstruction of social order on the basis of the ontological principles of One God. The completion of the mission, started by Guru Nanak, reached its climax in the creation of Khälsa by Guru Gobind Singh.

The present volume comprises of nineteen articles, which are presented in the seminars and conferences and most of which got published in different journals from time to time. The first chapter enunciates the monotheistic concept of Sikhism, stressing on the Oneness of God with His Attributive aspects. God is portrayed both as Transcendent and Immanent; Nirguna and Sarguna; Impersonal and Personal. This type of depiction of God is not an abstract unity but it sanctifies the entire existence.

**Contents and Sample Pages**