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The Creator of all is One (Ik Onkar — "Ek Ong Kaar")
Truth is His Name (Sat Naam)
He is the Doer of everything (Kartaa Purakh)
He is Fearless, without anger (Nirbhao, Nirvair)
He is Undying, Unborn and Self-illumined (Akaal Moorat, Ajoonee, Saibhang)
This is revealed by the Sat Guru's Grace (Gurprasaad)
Meditate! (Jap!)
He was True in the beginning (Aad Sach)
He was True through all the ages (Jugaad Sach)
He is True even now (Haubhee Sach)
O Nanak, He shall ever be True (Naanak Hosee Bhee Sach)
— Guru Nanak, Opening Verses of the Jap Ji — the Morning Prayer of Guru Nanak
"Countless are the countries, earths and spheres.
Millions assign to Him ever new names, O Nanak." (Guru Nanak)
There are millions of nether regions and skies above skies;
Man has wandered endlessly in His search:
The Vedas also say the same.
The Muslim books speak of eighteen thousand universes,
but it is the same Power that sustains them all:
If it could be accounted for, an account of it would have
been recorded. All attempts at description are in vain;
O Nanak, admit His greatness;
He alone knows Himself. (Stanza 22)
By communion with the Word, one becomes the abode of all virtues;
By communion with the Word, one becomes a Sheikh, a Pir
and a true spiritual king;
By communion with the Word, the spiritually blind
find their way to Realization:
By communion with the Word, one crosses beyond
the Limitless Ocean of illusionary Matter;
O Nanak, His devotees live in perpetual ecstasy, for the Word
washes away all sin and sorrow. (Stanza 11)
Who rejoice in the True One and live in perpetual bliss.
Sach Khand or the Realm of Truth is the seat of the Formless One.
Here He creates all creations, rejoicing in creating.
Here are many regions, heavenly systems and universes,
To count which were to count the countless,
Here, out of the Formless,
The heavenly plateaux and all else come into form,
All destined to move according to His Will.
He who is blessed with this vision, rejoices in its contemplation.
But, O Nanak, such is its beauty that to try to describe it
is to attempt the impossible. (from Stanza 37)
— Guru Nanak, The Jap Ji – The Message of Guru Nanak, Kirpal Singh Translation
* Jap Ji — Guru Nanak's Morning Prayer — Sacred Text at YouTube, Chant, Gurmuki with Line By Line English Translation:
http://www.youtube.com/
Speaking my language!
18 thousand universes!
Nanakian philosophy differs with other religions in the basic premise – the concept of God. Surely, the concept of one God was known long before Guru Nanak. However God was portrayed more like a tribal god. In addition to millions of gods, Hindus also believe in a God who communicates only through the Brahmins, and then there is a God for the chosen people – the Jews. Christian God is approachable through His only son Jesus Christ whereas the Muslim God, Allah, is accessible only through Mohammed who is Allah’s last and final Prophet in a long line of Prophets. On the other hand Guru Nanak preached about a God who is accessible to all seekers of “Truth” irrespective of their creed, caste, gender, color, ethnicity, and geographical consideration.
One does not need a special agent or a broker (Prophet) to realize God. In a hymn addressed to a Muslim, Guru Nanak says,
“The mere fact of subscribing to the faith of Prophet Muhammad ensures nothing, neither paradise nor salvation. Such a presumption refutes an essential attribute of Allah: He is inscrutable. God’s grace cannot be taken for granted: Allah does not consult any one when He makes or unmakes, or when he gives or takes away; He alone knows His qudrat; He alone is the doer. He watches everyone and bestows His grace whomever He wills.”
Guru Nanak did not assign any specific name or gender to God. He used both Hindu and Muslim names for God. Most often God is described by attributes or simply as One or oh ( meaning that or he / she) in the AGGS. In the opening verse of Aad Guru Granth Sahib Guru Nanak has given some of the attributes of God. He starts out describing God as “One and Only” that is Infinite and Ineffable – beyond the reach of human intelligence and comprehension and beyond the scope of religious scriptures.
Dr. Zidhani
http://sikhspectrum.com/2004/11/dr-zidanis-interpretation-of-guru-nanaks-thoughts-a-rejoinder/