There are a lot of people out there who claim that Gurbani contradicts, that notion is utterly untrue. One idea if said in different context, the other idea that appears to be contradictory to the first one, is so because of its different meaning in different context. To understand that, I must quote here Guru Nanak from Asa Dee Vaar on 463 SGGS
ਸਲੋਕੁ ਮਃ ੧ ॥
ਸਚੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਖੰਡ ਸਚੇ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੰਡ ॥
ਸਚੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਲੋਅ ਸਚੇ ਆਕਾਰ ॥
Salok mėhlā 1.
Sacẖe ṯere kẖand sacẖe barahmand.
Sacẖe ṯere lo▫a sacẖe ākār.
In Essence: True are your continents, true is your solar system, and true are your worlds and your creation.
Now look at the following Guru Sloka
ਸਲੋਕੁ ਮਃ ੧ ॥
ਕੂੜੁ ਰਾਜਾ ਕੂੜੁ ਪਰਜਾ ਕੂੜੁ ਸਭੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥
ਕੂੜੁ ਮੰਡਪ ਕੂੜੁ ਮਾੜੀ ਕੂੜੁ ਬੈਸਣਹਾਰੁ ॥
Salok mėhlā 1.
Kūṛ rājā kūṛ parjā kūṛ sabẖ sansār.
Kūṛ mandap kūṛ māṛī kūṛ baisaṇhār.
In Essence: (Except the Eternal One) Illusions (Temporary) are the king, the public and the world. Illusions (Temporary) are the pavilions, mansion and their dwellers.
Now to understand why it is not contradiction, one must understand the both of the contexts Guru Nanak talks about. In the first,, it is all about, the existence of “Akalpurakh and His Creation”. Akalpurakh is a reality, not a myth [Satt Naam- He exists/His Name has existence], so is His creation. As He exists, so does His creation. There is no reason to abandon His creation to find Him, that is the idea lies in this description about Him and His creation; we can see it elaborated as Guru closes his views on it in the Sloka.
ਨਾਨਕੁ ਵਖਾਣੈ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਤੁਧੁ ਬਾਝੁ ਕੂੜੋ ਕੂੜੁ ॥੧॥
Nānak vakẖāṇai benṯī ṯuḏẖ bājẖ kūṛo kūṛ. ||1||
In Essence: Humbly Nanak says that without you Oh Akalpurakh! Everything is false (temporary [only He is permanent, all rest are perishable]
The second context is about His eternity and continuous temporary status of His creation. In “Koor raja koor parja.(quote given above).” Guru points out the temporary existence of His creation which is destined to live short, in other words, nothing is permanent but the Creator. This is the way Guru Followers should understand these quotes which appear to be contradictory but in a fact they are not. One vital idea is in force and the rest of ideas are there just to justify His importance and His ordinance over His creation in Gurbani. So no Sikh should ever think that Guru Ideas are contradictory, if to some people they appear contradictory, they should need to study Gurbani in depth.
From “GURU MESSAGE” under publication
G Singh
