Draft:Sianap

Sianap (Punjabi: ਸਿਾਨਅੱਪ; [sianap]) is the most fundamental virtue, denoting wisdom. It plays an important role in the path to self-realization according to the Sikh ethics.

Etymology
According to Kahn Singh Nabha, the Punjabi word sianap is defined as a noun that indicates accomplishment, virtue, intelligence, and elegance, while siana (Punjabi: ਸਿਾਨ; [siana]) comes from the same root and refers to a person who displays knowledge, intelligence, and wisdom. In Mahan Kosh, the origins of the word are from an Arabic word shaan (Arabic: ; Persian: ; Punjabi: ; [shaan]), which means “a man of deeper insight and broader vision.”

Additionally, Avtar Singh elaborates that gian (Punjabi: ਗਿਆਨ; [gian]) and giani (Punjabi: ਗਿਆਨੀ; [giani]) also used to denote wisdom and a person who is wise respectively, while mut (Punjabi: ; []), mun (Punjabi: ; []), budh (Punjabi: ; []) and bibek-budh (Punjabi: ; []) are used also to convey the ideal of wisdom or the sense of discrimination.

According to Gurnam Kaur Bal, sianap also relates to reason, and a siana, or wise person, uses his/her reason to understand things in their proper perspective. Similar terms like soch (Punjabi: ; []), vichar (Punjabi: ; []), and aql (Punjabi: ; []) are often used interchangebly, however refer to the principles of sianap. A siana uses reason on two levels. On the first level, they try to understand their surrounding world, which is related to cause and effect, otherwise known as Karam (Punjabi: ; [karam]) where their aim determines their wisdom towards their surrounding world. On the second level, they try to understand and reconcile the Truth as revealed by Shabad or Gurbani with their surrounding world with their rationale. The ultimate goal, according to Bal, is translate the virtues into action in the physical world.

This is further elaborated by the Sikh Gurus, Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Arjun Dev in the Adi Granth: ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਘਟ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਹੋਰਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਰਸ ਕਸ ਮੀਠੇ ॥

The Lord's Name is not within your heart, but all sorts of other tastes seem sweet to you.

ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਗੁਣ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਜਨਮਿ ਮਰਹੁਗੇ ਝੂਠੇ ॥

You have no wisdom at all, no meditation, no virtue or self-discipline; in falsehood, you are caught in the cycle of birth and death.

ਤੀਰਥ ਵਰਤ ਸੁਚਿ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਰਮੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਨਹੀ ਪੂਜਾ ॥

Pilgrimages, fasts, purification and self-discipline are of no use, nor are rituals, religious ceremonies or empty worship.

ਨਾਨਕ ਭਾਇ ਭਗਤਿ ਨਿਸਤਾਰਾ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਵਿਆਪੈ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੨॥

''O Nanak, emancipation comes only by loving devotional worship; in duality, people are engrossed. ||2||''

- Guru Granth Sahib; Ang 75; Sri Raag; Mahala 1; Guru Nanak Dev

In speaking of the stages of life in Raag Mahala, Guru Nanak Dev speaks towards sianap in the following analogy: When one is guided by their selfish gains, evil prevails and intellect and wisdom are abandoned. But if one follows the Waheguru's commands along with their sianap, then they gain wisdom of a higher level. - Guru Granth Sahib; Ang 380; Raag Asa; Mahala 5; Guru Arjun Dev

In Raag Asa, Guru Arjun Dev speaks about acquiring the supreme wisdom of Waheguru through reason. The concept of sianap is connection with God’s grace, Nadar. Kaur elaborates that Gurbani speaks towards wisdom as a mental faculty from one perspective and a power of man from another perspective. It is achieved with Nadar when one's wisdom rises to the level where one can understand God’s will, Hukam.