The Philosophy Of Guru Nanak (Vol. I) - Book By Ishar Singh

From The Frontcover Of 'The Philosophy Of Guru Nanak (Vol. I)' By Ishar Singh

Sardar Ishar Singh is a well-known authority on religion and philosophy. He has made a deep and elaborate study of all religions from authoritative sources. He is also the author of Nanakism---A New World Order­----Temporal and Spiritual, and The Sikh Religion.

In the present two volumes he has brought out a true and objective picture of philoso­phies of different religions. These two volumes are expected to be of great value to students and scholars of religion and philosophy. His style of writing is so simple and lucid that the books can be read with great advantage by all who wish to have knowledge about different religions.

In Volume I, he deals with, besides Sikhism founded by Guru Nanak, seven other world religions viz. Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The concept of various theistic religions has been explained vivdly and objectively, under five headings viz. ( 1) nature of God, (2) nature of man, (3) nature of evil, (4) goal of human life, and (5) bow to achieve the goal. Comparison of religious beliefs being a delicate matter, all efforts have been made to stick to truth and yet give greater emphasis to common principles and beliefs so that the people having faith in different religions may come nearer to each other in a bond of brother­hood and love and religion may become a cementing, not a separating force.

Hinduism being one of the most ancient religions of the world, having a vast litera­ture and many Schools of philosophy, deserves a much more elaborate treatment. Volume II of the book meets this requirement wherein the philosophies of the Vedas, Shastras and Upanisads, constituting the basic literature of Hinduism, have been dealt with in essential details. How the other three religions of Indian origin, viz. Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are related to Hinduism is also adequately explained

At the present juncture the need to under­stand the essential features of Hinduism and Sikhism has assumed greater importance as this can be conducive to a better under­standing and unity between these two God-believing communities of India, which already have a common spiritual and social heritage.