Translated and Introduction by Kamala Elizabeth Nayar and Jaswinder Singh Sandhu
Guru Nanak’s Discourse to the Nath Yogis is an in-depth analysis and an original English translation of the Siddh Goshth, a fundamental philosophical text of the Sikh tradition. The work reflects the distinctive worldview of Sikhism, the only major Indian religion that does not regard asceticism (sanyasa) as a legitimate path to liberation (moksha).
Composed by Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith, the Siddh Goshth is a dialogue between Nanak and several yogis of the Nath tradition, who had been pursuing a rigorous path of hath-yoga as renunciates of the material world. Through their dialogue, Guru Nanak teaches the Nath yogis a spiritual path that also includes involvement in the social world and offers a practical way to achieve liberation. In this detailed and illuminating text, Kamala Elizabeth Nayar and Jaswinder Singh Sandhu provide background on Sikhism, highlight the ethical teachings expounded in the Siddh Goshth, and demonstrate how Guru Nanak reconciles the polarities of the ascetic and householder ideals.