Neither in contemplation nor in austerity or self-discipline have I engaged; Nor practised injunction of religion.  King of the Universe! the holy have I not served.  Saith Nanak: Low are our actions.  Succour Thou one, with Thee seeking shelter.

I was pleasantly surprised to read this in the Guru Granth Sahib today.  It was as if the book was giving me a well-deserved brow-beating.  I managed to finally grab a copy a few days ago from the university library (the local library is on strike), along with a small introductory guide, and I was surprised it came in four volumes.  Though to be fair, it is formatted in large, easy to read verses, so the bible would probably be just as huge if it wasn’t all crammed together.  Needless to say I just picked up the first volume and hoped I would get through enough to give me a good idea of what it’s all about.

What I have found so far is that the Guru Granth Sahib is unlike other holy books in that it doesn’t detail any myths, histories (both true and imagined), biographies or anything like that.  It is all just poems and prose dedicated to God.  That’s it, really.  Just hymns, prayers, and praise.  It’s kind of nice, actually, though it has started to get a little tedious.

Anyway, here is a link to an online version, for my long-lost cohorts:

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Online.

And a link to a nice PDF version you can download and read at you leisure:

Sri Guru Granth Sahib PDF.

I recommend that you read, at the very least, the Japuji, which is the first section and the daily prayer.  It sums up the Sikh position on God and religion pretty nicely.

I have already come across a few interesting sections so expect to be see my comments int he coming.

And to anyone reading from the lovely LJ Sikh community, thank you all for your feedback.  I will be sending out emails with more questions and such soon!  Promise!

Now to find myself an iron (not steel, like I had originally said in the intro) bracelet.