Living Truthfully
Guru Nanak taught that living truthfully brings Sikhs closer to God
There is a famous saying of Guru Nanak’s: “Truth is high, but higher still is truthful living.” By this he means that living truthfully, showing devotion to truth through one’s behavior and actions, brings one closer to spiritual awakening and to God. Righteousness and morality are central to the practice of Sikhism.
Sikhism and Living Truthfully
Truth (sat) is one of the five virtues of Sikhism, and encompasses honesty, justice, fairness and righteousness. Sat is a sanskrit word which roughly translates to ‘true essence’. It is one of the most important qualities Sikhs develop in their lives. “Truth” in this context is not merely about being honest with other people; it’s also about understanding the true nature of the world, of the oneness of all beings, and of living with that deeper truth. Sikhs become closer to God by “practicing truth,” — being honest, being kind, and treating all people equally and with respect.
Sikhism also teaches against superstition and rituals. Sikhs do not believe in fasting, making pilgrimages to a holy site, or worshipping idols because they cannot bring a person closer to God; rather, God is everywhere. This teaching differentiates Sikhism greatly from both Hinduism and Islam.
Guru Nanak stated that “through ritual practices, God cannot be won over”, meaning that only the acts of living truthfully and kindly, with respect for all people, can bring one closer to God.