The Socially Involved Renunciate: Guru Nanak's Discourse to the Nath Yogis

by Nayar, Kamala Elizabeth; Sandhu, Jaswinder Singh

• ISBN13: 9780791472149
• ISBN10: 0791472140
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-06-01
• Publisher: State Univ of New York Pr

Summary

The Socially Involved Renunciate is an in-depth analysis and an original English translation of the Siddh Gost, a fundamental philosophical text of the Sikh tradition. The work reflects the distinctive worldview of Sikhism, the only major Indian religion that does not regard asceticism as a legitimate path to liberation. Composed by Guru Nanak, a medieval, north Indian saint-poet and venerated founder of the Sikh tradition, the Siddh Gost is a dialogue between Guru Nanak and several Nath yogis who had been pursuing a rigorous path of hath-yoga as renunciates of the material world. Through their dialogue, Guru Nanak teaches the Nath yogis a spiritual path that also includes involvement in the social world and offers a practical way to achieve liberation. In The Socially Involved Renunciate, Kamala Elizabeth Nayar and Jaswander Singh Sandhu provide background on Sikhism, highlight the ethical teachings expounded in the Siddh Gost, and demonstrate how Guru Nanak reconciles the polarities of the ascetic and householder ideals. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Kamala Elizabeth Nayar is Lecturer in South Asian Studies at Kwantlen University College, British Columbia Jaswinder Singh Sandhu is a psychotherapist in British Columbia

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	p. ix
Preface	p. xi
Note on Translation	p. xv
Introduction
The Quest for Liberation in Indian Religions	p. 3
Setting the Stage for Siddh Gost
The Nath Tradition and Hath-Yoga	p. 23
Guru Nanak: Doctrine, Hagiography, and History	p. 39
The Context of Siddh Gost	p. 59
The Meaning of Guru Nanak's Siddh Gost
Guru Nanak's Worldview: Theory and Practice	p. 71
Renunciation and Social Involvement in Siddh Gost	p. 93
Siddh Gost
Discourse to the Nath Yogis, an English Translation	p. 115
The Meeting
The Path
A Gurmukh
The Source
Truth
Immersion
Creation
EkOankar
The Sacred Word
Grace
Awareness
Liberation
Notes	p. 143
Glossary of Punjabi Terms	p. 167
Bibliography	p. 173
Index	p. 177
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