Sikhi in next 5,10,50 years and beyond

“Sikhi, in the next 5, 10, 50 years and beyond, ” group’s team of the Global Sikh Council drafted following vision, mission, goals, scope, and milestones for the group:
VISION:
Guided By The Eternal Wisdom, Doctrine, And Philosophy Of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Sikhi/Sikhism), We Envision A World Where All Are Inspired To Embrace 9c (Concept Of Universal Oneness), Equality, Equity, Service, And The Welfare Of All Creation. Together, We Strive To Create A More Just, Blissful, And Harmonious Coexistence For All.

MISSION:
Ignite A Global Sikh Community Empowered To Learn, understand, adopt, Embody, and Share The Timeless Wisdom Of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, So As To Become A Beacon Of Inspiration For All Humanity,

GOALS:
Establish A Comprehensive Roadmap For The Global Sikh community, Which Will Encompass 5, 10, and 50-year plans
To Educate Humanity About The Sikh Way Of Life And The Wisdom Enshrined In Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
The Plans Will Prioritize Activities That Offer the Greatest Impact For The Effort Invested, Promoting Universal Adoption Of Practices That Resonate Across Cultures.

SCOPE OF THIS EFFORT
The Team’s Primary Focus Is To Identify High-Impact, Strategies, and Develop a Comprehensive Plan To Educate The Sikh Community On Actionable Steps To Follow In Alignment With Our Mission, Vision, And Goals. While The Ultimate Goal Is to Disseminate This Knowledge Globally Through Multiple Media Platforms And Channels, The Team’s Commitment Lies In Generating Impactful Content And Strategies The Successful Implementation And Adoption Of These Recommendations Will Ultimately Depend On The Acceptance, Involvement, And Active Participation Of The Global Sikh Community

Milestones:
1. Enlarge the team: Recruit additional Sikh intellectuals by August 31, 2024
2. Develop a road map for the project (date)
3. List initiatives: List might also include the least effective
OR Counterproductive practices. (date)
4. Prioritize Initiatives. (Date, then follow ups)
5. Get the word out. (Perpetual)

Before we move ahead, it is necessary to have a consensus on some basic terminology /concepts of Gurmat on the basis of which this team has arrived at the above-mentioned vision of this Group:

Vision of our great Guru, i.e., Shabad-Guru:
We all have firm belief that our Guru is perfect. There was an old practice of taking Sanyas in old age in search of God considered living somewhere in 7th sky. Contrary to this practice, our Guru has taught us to have oneness with ੴ (pervading in His creation) while living a blissful life in this society. (srigranth.org 522)
ਨਾਨਕ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਭੇਟਿਐ ਪੂਰੀ ਹੋਵੈ ਜੁਗਤਿ ॥
ਹਸੰਦਿਆ ਖੇਲੰਦਿਆ ਪੈਨੰਦਿਆ ਖਾਵੰਦਿਆ ਵਿਚੇ ਹੋਵੈ ਮੁਕਤਿ ॥੨॥
Guru has given us a clear vision of how to live in this society and provided us with tools for the accomplishment of this vision. The mission of this group is only to find out where and why we have strayed from the Guru’s “path” and how to adopt that path again, how to preserve that path so that again No one can spoil and how to reach all humanity (extension). So vision of our Guru is:
Individually (ਸਖਸ਼ੀ):
With the grace of Guru, I am to learn the art of living a blissful life by understanding the vices, assimilating the virtues in my inner personality leading to a Truthful Human being (ਸਚਿਆਰ/ਗੁਰਮੁੱਖ) and oneness with ੴ.
Socially (ਸਮਾਜਿਕ):
According to Gurmat, I am to work for equality and freedom by birth, equity, universal humanhood, and the welfare of all so that entire humanity can enjoy the blessings of ੴ.

Terminology and Definitions:
(1) Truthful individuals –
In Guru Granth Sahib there is a description of two types of human beings.Those who live their lives according to the above-mentioned Guru’s vision are Sachiyar/Gurmukh/ truthful individuals, and those who do not follow the Guru’s vision are Kuriyar/ Manmukh.
* Truthful individuals reject the ancient ideology of life after
death, heaven or hell theories, and wish to have oneness with
ੴ in this human life. (srigranth.org 840)
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਜਨਮੇ ਗਵਨੁ ਮਿਟਾਇਆ ॥
ਅਨਹਤਿ ਰਾਤੇ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਲਾਇਆ ॥

* According to Gurmat, truthful individuals are neither afraid of anyone nor do they frighten anyone. Do not spread terror but remain ever prepared for self-defence from oppressors and vices. An individual practising terrorism is not a truthful individual (Gurmukh). (srigranth.org 1427)
ਭੈ ਕਾਹੂ ਕਉ ਦੇਤ ਨਹਿ ਨਹਿ ਭੈ ਮਾਨਤ ਆਨ ॥
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੁਨਿ ਰੇ ਮਨਾ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਤਾਹਿ ਬਖਾਨਿ ॥੧੬॥

(2) Equality and freedom by birth –
No individual is slave to others because of the so-called cast, colour, and gender. All are equal and free by birth. There must not be caste, race, colour, sex based discrimination.
(srigranth.org 522)
ਏਕੁ ਪਿਤਾ ਏਕਸ ਕੇ ਹਮ ਬਾਰਿਕ
ਤੂ ਮੇਰਾ ਗੁਰ ਹਾਈ ॥
ਸੁਣਿ ਮੀਤਾ ਜੀਉ ਹਮਾਰਾ ਬਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਸੀ
ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਦੇਹੁ ਦਿਖਾਈ ॥੧॥
ਸੁਣਿ ਮੀਤਾ ਧੂਰੀ ਕਉ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਈ ॥
ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

(3) Equity
Guru Sahib’s directive to share some part of my earnings
(srigranth.org 1246)
ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੧ ॥
ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਹੂਣਾ ਗਾਵੈ ਗੀਤ ॥
ਭੁਖੇ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਘਰੇ ਮਸੀਤਿ ॥
ਮਖਟੂ ਹੋਇ ਕੈ ਕੰਨ ਪੜਾਏ ॥
ਫਕਰੁ ਕਰੇ ਹੋਰੁ ਜਾਤਿ ਗਵਾਏ ॥
ਗੁਰੁ ਪੀਰੁ ਸਦਾਏ ਮੰਗਣ ਜਾਇ ॥
ਤਾ ਕੈ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਲਗੀਐ ਪਾਇ ॥
ਘਾਲਿ ਖਾਇ ਕਿਛੁ ਹਥਹੁ ਦੇਇ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਰਾਹੁ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਸੇਇ ॥੧॥
Gurmukhs must help the needy Gurmukhs with
some part of their earnings so that the economic and
educational gap in society is reduced.
(4) Universal humanhood-
(srigranth.org 87)
ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਆਸੈ ਤੇਰੀ ਬੈਠਾ ॥
ਘਟ ਘਟ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਤੂੰਹੈ ਵੁਠਾ ॥
ਸਭੇ ਸਾਝੀਵਾਲ ਸਦਾਇਨਿ
ਤੂੰ ਕਿਸੈ ਨ ਦਿਸਹਿ ਬਾਹਰਾ ਜੀਉ ॥੩॥
(5) Welfare of all (Sarbat Da Bhalaaa)
(Srigranth.org 3)
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸਭਨਾ ਦਾ ਭਲਾ ਮਨਾਇਦਾ
ਤਿਸ ਦਾ ਬੁਰਾ ਕਿਉ ਹੋਇ ॥
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨੋ ਜੇਹਾ ਕੋ ਇਛਦਾ
ਤੇਹਾ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਏ ਕੋਇ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਕਰਤਾ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਜਾਣਦਾ
ਜਿਦੂ ਕਿਛੁ ਗੁਝਾ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥

Besides other directives as given in Guru Granth Sahib, an individual who lives according to the above vision of
Guru is called a “Sikh,” and this path is called “Sikhi.
As already explained above, our Guru has visualised a society having Sachiar individuals who must work toward equality and freedom by birth, equity, universal humanhood and welfare of all so that entire humanity could live a blissful life.
Guru’s simple way to classify all aspects for living a blissful life in society through having oneness with ੴ :
(1) Naam Japo – With the grace of Guru, understanding the vices, imbibing divine virtues in my inner personality, always remembering ੴ, because there is no difference between divine rules and the teachings of Gurbani.
(2) Kirat Karo – For fulfilling the basic needs of self, family, and other social responsibilities.
(3) Vand shako – To help the individuals in need.
This is a unique chain of three directives. Perfection of a Gurmukh depends on the equal adoption and practice of these three links of the chain.
But we are groomed in so-called modern ways. For convenience of so-called modern generation, we can rearrange the above-mentioned chain of three directives as given below and form our groups to discuss the problems and their solutions.
In the modern way, we can treat our great Guru Granth Sahib as a constitution of a country containing directive principles. We are to enact rules and regulations to implement it in society. Scholars of our previous generations tried this and enacted “Sikh code of conduct” as per their perspectives, and it seems they were under pressure from opposing forces of Sikhi (still dominating). Challenge is before us : how to upgrade that code of conduct to make it compatible with teachings of our great Guru.

Sir, we need experts/scholars specialists in each field who
have knowledge of their field besides Gurmat. Following
specialist groups were proposed in the Global Sikh Council
Projects pending approval. It is requested to consider them:

(1) Character Building/ Personality Development Scholars group of GSC:
For experts having deep knowledge of Gurmat to develop
model for: How to develop internal and external personality
by grooming Mann as per Gurmat, i.e., assimilating virtues,
understanding the vices, leading to oneness with ੴ and a blissful life in society.

(2)) Economic Scholars of GSC:
For scholars who are to develop an economic system for community based on the teachings of Gurmat, i.e., how to uplift weaker sections of society.
Specialists of banking, insurance, co-operative, and self-help groups are invited. The mission will be to create a community’s
(1) banking,
(2) insurance
(3) Rural financial system
(4) optimum use of Daswand of community.

(3) Political Scholars of GSC:
To develop a political system for unity of Sikhs. Scholars
specialists in political science are invited,

(4) Social sciences Scholars of GSC:
Scholars having specialization in social sciences subjects,
for creating awareness in society as per Gurmat, especially
how to unite and uplift weaker sections of society under the umbrella of sikhi, especially creating awareness about the prevailing discriminatory system of caste, colour, and gender in society.

(5) Health Scholars group of GSC:
Health specialists to educate the masses about health aspects for living a blissful life. To understand the relationship between state of mind, exercise, and body health,

(6) Education scholars group of GSC:
For teaching experts to develop syllabus based on the ethical values of Gurmat.

(7) Extension Services group of GSC:
To create the contents based on Gurbani in Guru Granth Sahib and correct history for spreading sikhi values. Ragi, dhadhi, poets, kavishars singers, drama artists, audio/video creators and other artists devoted to sikhi values are invited.
Regards, Karnail Singh