He was born at Talwandi
in the Punjab in 1469 to
Hindu parents of the Kshatriya caste. At approximately 30 years of age he had a
vision of God whilst meditating in the forest. He was told he had been singled
out as a prophet of the true religion and his message was to be, �there is no
Muslim and there is no Hindu.� He traveled India preaching the unity of Islam
and Hinduism. He died in 1538 and appointed his disciple Angad as his successor.
Guru Nanak taught his way of life which was to:
� �Nam Japa� � (daily devotions in remembrance
of God) To get up each day before sunrise, to clean the body and mediate on
God�s name and recite the Guru�s hymns to clean the mind.
� �Dharam di Kirat Karni� � To work and earn an
honest living by the sweat of your brow and to live a family way of life and
practice truth and honesty in all your dealings.
� �Vand Ke Chakna� � To share you income from
your labour before thinking of yourself and help support the community you are
living in.
� �Sewa� � Service to the wider community.