Sikhism

===Timeless Truth===
[[File:Sikh.man.at.the.Golden.Temple.jpg|thumb|An [[Nihang singh|Akali-Nihang Sikh Warrior]] at [[Harmandir Sahib]], also called the [[Golden Temple]]]]
[[File:Kattar Dhal Talwar.png|thumb|The original Sikh Symbol, or flag called the Nishan Sahib]]

According to Guru Nanak, the supreme purpose of human life is to reconnect with ''Akal'' ('The Timeless One'). However, [[egotism]] is the biggest barrier in making this connection. Using the Guru's teaching remembrance of ''[[Nām Japō|nām]]'' (the divine Name of the Lord)<ref name="Pruthi 2004 204">{{cite book |last=Pruthi |first=Raj |title=Sikhism and Indian Civilization |date=2004 |publisher=Discovery Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7141-879-4 |page=204}}</ref><ref name="NaamSimran" /> leads to the end of egotism. Guru Nanak designated the word ''Guru'' ('teacher')<ref>Some disagree with this viewpoint, and state that ''guru'' in Sikhism is "not a teacher or a guide", but "God's own manifestation"; see: {{cite book |first1=Bhagat |last1=Singh |first2=G. P. |last2=Singh |title=Japji |date=2002 |publisher=Hemkunt Press |page=9 |quote=In Sikh religion the word 'Guru' does not denote a teacher, or an expert or a guide in human body. When God manifested his attributes in person, that person was called 'Guru Nanak'}}</ref> to mean the voice of "the spirit": the source of knowledge and the guide to salvation.<ref name="p254">{{cite book |last=Parrinder |first=Geoffrey |author-link=Geoffrey Parrinder |date=1971|title=World Religions: From Ancient History to the Present |publisher=[[Hamlyn (publisher)|Hamlyn]] |location=London |isbn=978-0-87196-129-7|pages=254–256}}</ref> As ''ik onkar'' is [[Panentheism|universally immanent]], ''Guru'' is indistinguishable from ''Akal'' and are one and the same.<ref name=singh2013 /> One connects with ''Guru'' only with accumulation of selfless search of truth.<ref name=dhillon1999>{{cite journal|last=Dhillon|first=Bikram Singh|title=Who is a Sikh? Definitions of Sikhism|journal=Understanding Sikhism – the Research Journal|date=January–June 1999|volume=1|issue=1|pages=33–36, 27|url=http://www.iuscanada.com/journal/archives/1999/j0101p33.pdf|access-date=29 November 2013|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203070314/http://www.iuscanada.com/journal/archives/1999/j0101p33.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Ultimately the seeker realises that it is the consciousness within the body which is the seeker/follower of the Word that is the true ''Guru''. The human body is just a means to achieve the reunion with Truth.<ref name=singh2013>{{cite journal |last=Singh |first=R.K. Janmeja (Meji) |title=Gurbani's Guidance and the Sikh's 'Destination' |journal=The Sikh Review |date=August 2013 |volume=61 |series=8 |issue=716 |pages=27–35 |url= http://www.hemkunt2.org/PDF/The%20Sikh%20Review,%20August%202013.pdf#page=24 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001421/http://www.hemkunt2.org/PDF/The%20Sikh%20Review%2C%20August%202013.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 December 2013 |access-date=29 November 2013 }}</ref> Once truth starts to shine in a person's heart, the essence of current and past holy books of all religions is understood by the person.<ref name=dhillon2004>{{cite journal |last=Dhillon|first=Sukhraj Singh|title=Universality of the Sikh Philosophy: An Analysis |journal=The Sikh Review|date=May 2004|url= http://www.sikhreview.org/pdf/may2004/pdf-files/philo1.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131204023745/http://www.sikhreview.org/pdf/may2004/pdf-files/philo1.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 December 2013 |access-date=29 November 2013}}</ref>