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The United Nations Organization
designated year 2001 as the "Year of the Volunteer." The
organization asked its components and NGOs to spread this call and
ask major faith and community leaders to join significant corporations,
philanthropic foundations and the citizens of the world in responding
to this call. It seeks expansion of people's generosity and philanthropy
in recruiting growing numbers of volunteers to provide altruist
services to the needy.
With Sikhs, public service and altruism are acts of faith. Their
eternal mentor, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, considers altruism so essential
for a faithful that it bestows religious authority on this type
of behavior.
First of all, Guru Arjan, the compiler of the Sikh Scripture, went
so far as to describe God in terms of an altruist entity,
| The Lord is altruist, generous and benevolent, the beautifier
of all, the embodiment of peace; the Blessed Vision of His is
so rewarding! |
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SGGS, M-5, p. 533
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Then the Guru goes on to describe altruism as a form of
meditation as is illustrated in many of his verses:
| Those who contemplate on God's Nomenon become the helpers
of others. |
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SGGS, M-5, p. 263
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| The altruists do good deeds
for others, and communicate the Lord's many Glorious Virtues.
Kindly bless me to meet these Saints, these devotees of the
Lord. |
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SGGS, M-4, p. 1326
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A Sikh theologian of the highest repute, who was a scribe to Guru
Arjan in composing the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, described an altruist
as the exalted one:
One who serves and helps others is exalted in the Lord's
court; the others who turn away from God by not serving are
disgraced.
I am sacrifice to the one who take pleasure in life of altruism. |
Thus, in Sikhism, altruism is a religiously sanctioned practice
that is promoted with similar religious fervor. Let us take some
examples.
While describing people of faith, the most revered Sikh theologian,
Bhai Gurdas, considered altruism an important pre-requisite. Further,
this is one of those characteristics that he desired to vigorously
popularize. For example, Bhai Gurdas described Sikhs of his times
in terms of their commitment to rubbing the habit of altruism onto
others.
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The altruist person undertakes altruistic actions and
brings metamorphosis of others to do the same without regards
to their kind, caste, or social rank. This Sikh is like a
philosopher's stone that makes gold out of all the eight metals
(alloys). This adherent is also like a Sandalwood tree that
makes all trees fragrant without regards to their fruitlessness
and fruitfulness.
An altruist is a wining trait that nourishes the whole
world. This individual is like sandalwood that lives among
the vegetation to impart fragrance to the whole forest.
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In a battleground where Guru Gobind Singh was at war with the rulers
to protect the people of faith, a Sikh, Bhai Kanhaiya, attended
the troops of the enemy. He gave water to the injured, which revived
their strength. Some of them began to fight again. Sikh soldiers
became furious, brought Bhai Kanhaiya before the Guru, and complained
of his action that they considered counterproductive to their hard
work in the battle field.
"What were you doing, and why?" asked the Guru.
"I was giving water to the wounded because I saw your face
in them," replied Bhai Kanhaiya.
" Then you should also give them ointment to heal their wounds.
You were practicing what you were coached to do in the house of
the Guru," responded The Guru.
In love of altruism, is there any room for hatred or duality?
It was under the tutelage of the Guru that Bhai Kanhaiya subsequently
founded a volunteer corps for altruism. This volunteer corps, till
today, is engaged in doing good to others and trains new volunteering
recruits for doing the same.
Bhai Gurdas went as far as designating altruism as the identity
for a God's devotee. He wrote:
| The devoted person is identified through their altruism
in service to humankind. |
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Bhai Gurdas was actually paraphrasing what Guru Ram Das, the fourth
in succession of Guru Nanak, had described earlier in Sri Guru Granth
Sahib.
| I have sought the Sanctuary of the Saadh Sangat, the society
of the Holy where I have found the Sublime Essence of the Lord.
The adherents of this society do good deeds for others, and
speak of the Lord's many Glorious Virtues; kindly bless me to
belong to the company of these Saints, these devotees of the
Lord. |
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SGGS, M-4, p. 1326
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Guru Granth Sahib sanctioned altruism as a faith practice and promoted
it as a living skill among its followers. Those who followed were
shown to benefit their body and soul. The impact of this faith practice
on Sikh society is evident from the observations that many Sikhs
today shape their adult life around finding opportunities to help
people without distinction of gender, race, social ranks, religious
orientation, or nationality. First of all, the Sikh theologian,
Bhai Gurdas testifies to this fact by saying:
| There are people who give up their own needs and comforts
for the causes of others, and in the process, they are healed
themselves. |
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Further, we have numerous examples to quote. Among Sikhs the most
famous contemporary examples are, Bhagat Puran Singh, Bhagwant Singh
Dalawari, Dr. Inderjit Kaur and many others. Among other religions,
Mother Teresa is a prime example. Sikh theologians and historians
recorded numerous such individuals in the annals of Sikh history.
As a matter of fact, Bhai Gurdas immortalized those Sikhs who excelled
themselves in the practice of altruism by specifically naming many
of them in his writings. Examples:
| Bhai Lakhoo and Bhai Ladha are two silk traders in town
who lead the life of an altruist …. Bhai Singaroo and Bhai
Jaita are brave Sikhs who have altruism in their heart. |
Sikhs volunteer to work in community kitchens where food is prepared
and distributed to thousands of people every day. The temple upkeep
and maintenance work is all volunteering. They give their time and
money to serve the sick and disabled. They serve as volunteers in
organizations as Pingalwara in Amritsar, and Nishkam in New Delhi
with chapters all over India, Peace Corps, Bhai Kahnyaa Brigade,
and Blood and Organ Donors' organizations. They volunteer their
services in shelters for battered woman or orphans, or as volunteers
for American Association of Retired Persons' Volunteer Corps to
serve the elderly. They build homes for homeless and serving as
Big Brothers and Sisters to unfortunates.
Altruism is so ingrained in the Sikh psyche that they worship their
Guru by characteristics such as the 'Shelter for Homeless' and the
'Helper of Disadvantaged'.
Thus, to serve others is taken as an important measure of a Sikh's
connection with their mentor and of the affirmation of their faith.
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