Guru Nanak, during his travels, took a Hindu, Bala, and a Muslim, Mardana, with him, signifying equality of all humans, regardless of their caste or religion.
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Sikh
Guru Nanak
Sikh1469 – 1539Nankana Sahib, Punjab (modern-day Pakistan)10,482 quotes· 6 sources
Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism and one of the great spiritual reformers of South Asia, who taught that God is One, formless, and accessible to all human beings regardless of caste, religion, or gender. His hymns form the foundation of the Guru Granth Sahib, the eternal Sikh scripture.
Born in 1469 near Lahore, Nanak showed signs of spiritual depth from childhood and, according to tradition, received a direct experience of God in his thirties that launched his mission. He undertook four great journeys (udasis) across South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia, engaging with Hindu pandits, Muslim mullahs, yogis, and kings, always bringing the message that true religion is inner transformation through love, service, and remembrance of the divine Name. He composed over 900 hymns — collected in the Guru Granth Sahib — that address the soul in vivid poetic language, drawing on both Hindu and Islamic spiritual vocabulary while transcending both. He also instituted the langar (free community kitchen) as a practical expression of equality and service. His teaching of Ik Onkar — 'There is One God' — remains the cornerstone of Sikh theology and a vision of unity that resonates far beyond the Sikh tradition.
Wisdom
Purify your mind. When asked why he didn't shave his head, Guru Nanak said, 'I have shaved my mind.'
Shave your mind. When asked by someone, 'O saint, why haven't you shaved your head? You are a Sannyasin,' Guru Nanak replied, 'My dear friend, I have shaved my mind.'
Sweet words and humility are the essence of all virtues.
Oh, shower the waters of your grace on thirsty Nanak, blessed Lord;
True In The Primal Beginning. True Throughout The Ages.
True Here And Now. O Nanak, Forever And Ever True.
By thinking, He cannot be reduced to thought, even by thinking hundreds of thousands of times.
By remaining silent, inner silence is not obtained, even by remaining lovingly absorbed deep within.
The hunger of the hungry is not appeased, even by piling up loads of worldly goods.
Hundreds of thousands of clever tricks, but not even one of them will go along with you in the end.
So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away?
O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will.
By His Command, bodies are created; His Command cannot be described.
By His Command, souls come into being; by His Command, glory and greatness are obtained.
By His Command, some are high and some are low; by His Written Command, pain and pleasure are obtained.
Some, by His Command, are blessed and forgiven; others, by His Command, wander aimlessly forever.
Everyone is subject to His Command; no one is beyond His Command.
O Nanak, one who understands His Command, does not speak in ego.
Some sing of His Power-who has that Power?