FIVE PRINCIPLES

Forgetfulness of God is a cause of all human ills. Conversely, God-realisation is a panancea for all maladies. This Mission, therefore, primarily one point programme of treating suffering humanity with the practical knowledge of God. As we do not find two swords in one sheath; pride and hatred cannot co-exist with God-realisation. Therefore, just as even the best treatment cannot prove effective unless the prescribed precautions are observed, the Mission has prescribed five basic tenets for seekers of Truth to wipe out self-pride and hatred against others, which are dominating factors negating realisation of God. Any person with swollen ego can never enjoy proper divine bliss. Therefore, in order to inculcate humility and love in all the devotees, the Nirankari Mission has formulated five principles for adoption in every day life.
They are:

i) All assets - physical, mental and material-belong to the Divinity and man, as mere trustee, is ordained to use them as such. One should not feel proud of their possession.

Once this is understood and followed, it removes all kinds of arrogance, false pride born out of the sense of possession of worldly assets. Instead, it inculcates the spirit of selflessness and sacrifice for others. It generates contentment and stability. One does not feel jubilant when fortune smiles, nor does one sulk when fortune frowns. As nothing belongs to man, he does not get lost in the mad maze of mammon with its attendant evils. He is free from malice and hatred. He loves all and feels grateful to God for whatever has been given to him.

ii) Not to be proud of one's caste, creed, race, faith and other class distinctions and hate others on this account. Man should be loved as such. One has to feel himself as one with whole human family and love the mankind.

Somebody’s faith in a particular way of worship should not become a reason for hatred towards him. Truth is one and the same. Then, why should the seekers quarrel or fight? They should rather love each other and co-exist in a spirit of equality and fraternity. Religion, whatever its nomenclature, caste, creed or race should unite and not divide them. In no way it should become a reason to be proud. Man should appreciate that all human beings are the creation of the same Almighty. Notwithstanding accidental differences of birth, place and social status, they should live in peace, harmony and understanding.

iii) Not to look down upon anybody because of his mode of dress, diet and living.

In a way, when man accepts that all his possessions belong to the Almighty and rises above ideologies and faiths, he should have no problem in tolerating differences in dress, food habits and other modes of living which are dictated by climatic conditions that vary from region to region. It is the purity of soul that is to be valued, rather than the style or standard of living; and nothing from without can defile the soul.

iv) Not to renounce worldly life to become a vagrant recluse or ascetic but to lead family life in accordance with normal social norms and sustain family by honest livelihood.

God can be realised while performing normal duties of daily life. In fact, man should not run away from his responsibilities towards himself, his family and society at large, on the pretext of search for the Ultimate Truth. One does not require to renounce the world for spiritual enlightenment. Man should rather transform the society through Divine Truth and make it more worthy of living, peaceful, happy and prosperous.

v) Not to divulge the Divine Knowledge bestowed by the Satguru to others without his permission. Never to be possessed by pride because of enlightenment.

For spiritual enlightenment one must approach and seek the blessings of the Spiritual Master, the Satguru. Truth can be revealed only by the one who knows it. Even thereafter one should not divulge the knowledge of the Formless God to anyone without the word of the Satguru. This is to save an ordinary follower from embarrassment, because every student cannot become a teacher. He must acquire an in-depth understanding before he is called upon to bless the new comers with the realisation of the Ultimate Truth.

With these principles at heart and God all around, a Nirankari is a beacon light for the world and he is so by the practical life he lives. These principles enable the devotees to lead a simple life, balanced and worthy of man. All the differences, controversies and quarrels are rooted in implicit or explicit pride and ego which is uprooted through these principles. The Mission thus seeks to ensure individual development as well as welfare and progress of the whole society.