But are not the ten human Guru Ji's our Gurus?

Yes they are, but through Guru Granth Sahib. We invoke their spirit whenever we do the Ardaas. They were different human forms (Guru personalities) but with the same guiding 'Light' of Guru Nanak Sahib which received Waheguru's message for humankind in Gurbani, the Guru's Word. For that reason, the essence of the message of Sikhi is in the everlasting Gurbani in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Therefore, Guru Granth Sahib represents all Guru personalities and teachings received from Waheguru through them. Ultimately, it is the Guru's teaching in Guru Granth Sahib (The Word) which is our everlasting Guru.

Was the idea of the Aadh Granth becoming the Guru the initiative of our tenth Guru Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh Ji?

The answer is an emphatic 'NO'. It was pre-ordained and referred to right from Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Let us find out how that is so. Let us start with Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Gurbani (the word of God) used to come to him from God Almighty at different times and his inspiration was the rebeck (a Middle Eastern stringed instrument) of his life-long Muslem companion, Bhai Mardhana. Hence the famous line which you would have heard - "Merdhanea, shaid rebarb, bani aayi" (O my friend Merdhana, touch the strings of your rebeck, I can sense the coming of the 'word of God').

Jaisee mai aavae Khasam ki Baani taisra karee gyan vay Lalo (SGGS 722)(As the Lord's word comes to me, O Lalo, so do I deliver it)

As a side note, it is worth noting that Nanak then used to note the verses down and also the musical scale in which the 'word' used to come. These notes which Nanak wrote into a book, came to be called the Pothi Sahib. The Pothi Sahib was added to, by our second to fourth Guru Ji's and then compiled, including the inspirational writings of about thirty other sages from as far back as the 12th Century considered relevant by Guru Nanak Sahib Ji himself, and hence the Aadh Granth was compiled by our fifth Guru Ji, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, in 1604. This Aadh Granth was adopted as the embodiment of the spirit of all ten Guru Ji's by Guru Gobind Singh Ji after he had inserted the revealed word of God to his own earthly father and ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, in 1708. So, this year (2004) we celebrate the 400 Anniversary of the compilation and the first Parkash (unveiling) of the Aadh Granth by fifth Guru Sahib, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, and in 2008 we shall be celebrating the 300 Anniversary of the Aadh Granth becoming the final guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

So back to the question, 'Was it the initiative of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji to make the Aadh Granth the Guru in 1708 or was it pre-ordained'?

The glory of our faith, Sikhi, is that though it passed through the hands of ten Guru Ji's in human form over a period of two hundred years, the consistency in thought and action is so remarkable that it will appear as if the same 'being' directed its progress. Well, that is true because it was always the guiding Light (Jot) of Guru Nanak Sahib.

In this case we are discussing the progress of the 'word of God' through ten generations of Guru Ji's in human form to become the ultimate 'Guru' - our Guru. It was pre-ordained and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji merely carried out a natural transition in 1708.

Guru Nanak makes numerous mentions of the 'shabad' or 'bani' (both meaning 'word of God') being the Guru.

'Sabad Guru, surat dhun chela' (SGGS Pg 943) (The Word is the Guru and my mind in reflective meditation , the disciple.)

'Sabad Gur peera, gehr gembira, bin sabadhai jag baurana (SGGS Pg. 635) (The profound and unfathomable 'sabad' is his Guru and spiritual guide. Without the 'shabad' the world is gone mad)

This consistency is carried on by third Guru Ji, Sri Guru Amar Das 'Vahu Vahu bani Niringkar hai, tis jayvad aver n koyi' (SGGS 515) (Hail, Hail, the word of the Guru. which is the Formless Lord Himself. There is none other, nothing else to be reckoned equal to it.)

Fourth Guru Sahib says 'Bani Guru, Guru hai Bani, vich bani amrit saray...' (SGGS 982) ('Bani', the word of God, is the Guru, the Guru is bani, in 'bani' is the nectar of life...)

Our fifth Guru, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji says,... Haon aapoh bol na jaaneda mai kahya sabh Hukmao jio. (SGGS763) (I myself know not what to say, all I speak is what the Lord commands)

So, all the above quotations, which have been taken directly from our Guru Ji, Sri Guru Granth Sahib and as revealed to our Guru Ji's in human form, show beyond doubt that first of all, we possess the authentic 'word of God' and secondly, that our Guru Ji is the Granth - Guru Maneo Granth.

How do we optimise, or fully utilise our 'Guru' to benefit us in this life form as human beings, and as Sikhs?

By spending time with our Guru. It is not good enough that we 'metha tek' to Guru Ji. We need to read bani, to sing bani, to learn Gurmukhi so that we can read bani in the original language of the Guru Ji's - Gurmukhi and as time goes on and we read and sing bani, we will come to understand bani. Every process from reading, singing and finally understanding our Guru Ji makes us better human beings because it is the 'nectar of life'.

If we want an intimate relationship with Waheguru Ji, then we have to make an effort in getting closer to Him. How do we do that? Through 'dhur ki bani', our 'Guru', by remembering Him, at least, twice a day - doing our Nitnam in the morning and then in the evening. Once you develop that habit, you then find yourself communicating with Him directly and all that you desire comes to pass - 'Thir qar baiso harjan pyaray, Satgur tumray kaaj sevaray' (He resides within you, recognise Him as being within you, and Satguru will look after all your affairs).

'Bani' for a Sikh, is the 'Guru'. Let no one take you astray from this path. I see friends praying to dieties, to other human 'gurus' in India, to graves, and other ritualistic practices, and generally showing no faith in their own true 'guru', Gurbani. They pay lip service to 'Sikhi' and do not realise that the true wealth lies within our 'guru', Gurbani - the direct link for us with our creator, WAHEGURU.

Make 'getting closer to my Guru', the new year resolution!

A Happy, Fruitful and Fulfilling 2004 to all Sikh brothers and sisters through Bani Guru. Waheguru Ji's blessings and Cherdhi Kala.

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By Dya Singh (Australia)