Philosophy of Sikhism: Reality And Its Manifestations

• ISBN13: 9788126942961
• Binding: Hardcover
• Subject: Religion and Philosophy
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors (P) Ltd
• Publisher Imprint: Atlantic
• Publication Date: April 22, 2026
• Pages: 324
• Original Price: INR 895.0
• Language: English
• Edition: N/A
• Item Weight: 528 grams
• BISAC Subject(s): General, Philosophy, and Sikhism

Philosophy of Sikhism is a seminal study that reconstructs the metaphysical foundations of Sikh thought as enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib and the Dasam Granth. Originally developed from the author's doctoral research, this work situates Sikh philosophy within the wider intellectual milieu of Hinduism and Islam, while underscoring its unique non-dual, dynamic conception of reality. It explores themes of ontology, epistemology and social philosophy, showing how Sikhism reconciles material and spiritual values, temporality and eternity, immanence and transcendence. By affirming the reality of historical action and moral responsibility, this volume highlights Guru Nanak's vision of household life as a spiritual ideal. Drawing on modern philosophical methods and interdisciplinary analysis, it offers a rigorous yet accessible interpretation of Sikh metaphysics, and its enduring social and ethical relevance.

Dr Nirbhai Singh, MA (Philosophy, English) and PhD, has been associated with the Department of Religious Studies at Punjabi University, Patiala. His scholarship marks a radical departure from traditional exegetical and literal approaches to the Guru Granth Sahib, as he employs interpretive tools to uncover the revealed meanings and hidden dimensions of the text. Through original research, Dr Singh has contributed significantly to the metaphysical, epistemological and social dimensions of Sikh philosophy.

• Preface......................................................v
• Abbreviations...................................................... xiii
• Key to Transliteration......................................................xv

I. INTRODUCTION......................................................1

• 1. Statement of the Problem......................................................1
• 2. Review of the Literature and Sources.....................................7
• i. Guru Granth Sāhib......................................................7
• ii. Bhāī Gurdās......................................................8
• iii. Guru Gobind Singh' s Period......................................................8
• iv. The Nirmalā School of Scholastics.........................................9
• v. The Giānī School (Saṃpradā)......................................................11
• vi. Literature of the Modern Period......................................................12
• 3. Why this Present Study?......................................................14
• II. REALITY IN HINDUISM AND ISLAM......................................18
• 1. The Concept of Reality in Hinduism..............................................18
• i. The Vedas......................................................18

ii. The Upaniṣads......................................................21

• (i) Personal Unity (Īśvara)......................................................22
• (ii) Impersonal Unity (Brahman)......................................................23
• iii. Impersonal Unity (Advaita Vedānta)..................................25
• iv. Personal Unity (Rāmānuja)......................................................32
• 2. The Concept of Reality in Islam......................................................35
• i. Unity (Tauḥīd) in Islam......................................................36
• ii. Unity (Tauḥīd) in Ṣūfism......................................................42
• (i) Ascetic life of Piety............................................42
• (ii) Theosophical Phase of Pantheism......................................................44
• 3. Ṣūfī Silsilahs in India......................................................53
• 4. Guru Nānak's Interaction with Ṣūfis and Hindu Divines.......................................54

III. REALITY IN SIKHISM......................................................60

• 1. Reality as Unity in Sikhism......................................................60
• 2. Unity and Non-Dualism in Sikhism......................................................76

IV. REALITY AND ATTRIBUTES......................................................94

• 1. Introductory......................................................94
• 2. Mūlmantra (Fundamental Creed)......................................................107
• 3. Modern Philosophical Interpretations......................................................116

V. APPEARANCES AND REALITY–THE SIKH VIEW...........................................129

• I. Māyā......................................................129
• i. Māyā–in Indian Philosophy......................................................129
• ii. Māyā–the Sikh View......................................................136
• 2. Degrees of Reality and Appearances......................................................145
• 3. Haumai......................................................152

VI. REALITY AND EXPERIENCE......................................................169

• 1. Giān......................................................169
• 2. Sources of Knowledge (Giān)......................................................175
• i. Perceptual Knowledge (Partakh Giān)......................................................175
• ii. Rational Knowledge (Bibek Giān)......................................................176
• iii. Scriptural Knowledge (Śāstri Giān)......................................................178
• iv. Intuitive Knowledge (Anubhav Giān)......................................................181
• 3. Hierarchy of Consciousness (Surati)......................................................193
• 4. Pathway to Self-realisation : Khaṇḍs......................................................196
• i. Horizontal Progress......................................................196
• ii. Vertical Progress......................................................200
• iii. Cosmographical Progress......................................................200
• iv. Tridimensional Progress......................................................201

VII. SOCIAL REALITY......................................................210

• 1. Social Reality......................................................210
• i. Introductory......................................................210
• ii. Social Self......................................................213
• iii. Socio-Spiritual Unity......................................................217
• iv. Hierarchical Social Unity......................................................219
• v. Synthesis of Transcendence and Immanence....................................222
• vi. Free will and Moral Responsibility......................................................227
• 2. Reality and Social Values......................................................230
• i. Meaning of Social Values......................................................230
• ii. Necessity of Social Values......................................................232
• iii. Synthesis of Spiritual and Material Values............................................234
• iv. Hierarchy of Values......................................................238
• 3. Fundamental Social Values (Sikh View)......................................................240
• i. Social Equality......................................................241
• ii. Universal Brotherhood......................................................243
• iii. Aliruism (Parupkār)......................................................244
• iv. Social Service (Sevā)......................................................244
• v. Justice......................................................245
• vi. Self-Sacrifice......................................................246
• CONCLUSION......................................................252
• SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY......................................................263
• INDEX......................................................277