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The
Sikhs
Preface
"Think
about it. You grew your magnificent brain, perhaps the most Introduction The
history and suffering of Sikhs is one of the most important episodes
in the history of India. Guru Nanak
Dev founded Sikhism
in the fifteen century and he was followed by nine Gurus (enlightened
teachers or prophets). Guru Angad developed the Gurumukhi script.
Guru Ram Das laid the foundation for
the city of Amritsar. Guru Arjan Dev compiled the Adi
Granth, the sacred texts-songs of the Sikhs (a.k.a. Siri
Guru Granth Sahib). "Human
is a blend of saint and soldier; this is a complete person. If you
Guru
Gobind
Singh also instituted the Akalis. The Akalis are religious warriors
-- soldiers of God. Late in the twentieth century,1970's and 1980's,
the Akalis waged a bloody fight against the Indian government, which
led to a massive armed offensive against them. The Sikhs, or Sardarjis as they are known by some, have been great patrons of art, religion and scholarship. Along with the Rajputs, they are known as the bravest warriors in India, and their women, among India's most beautiful. The Sikhs have participated in India's nation building for hundreds of years, fighting the British, serving in the military (the Sikh regiment is the most decorated regiment of the Indian army) and excelling in sports. And they have served as the President (Gianni Zail Singh, veteran freedom fighter and President of India, 1982-87) and Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) of India. "We never started a war before, but we have finished many."
A Brief Historical Background
500 year ago, when Columbus first sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and discovered the Americas, a divinely-inspired spiritual teacher by the name of Guru Nanak traveled by foot throughout South Asia and the Middle East elevating the social situations of his time by teaching the oneness of humanity and tolerance between people of different religions. Guru Nanak and his followers, called Sikhs, wore turbans as a symbol of their devotion to the One God that created all people and all religions. On April 13, 1699, the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, recognizing these spiritual principles, incorporated them into the the Sikh code of honor. The Sikh honor code promotes and, more importantly, protects the equality and the diversity of all people regardless of faith, color, caste and gender, and requires Sikhs to protect the weak and innocent from unjust attacks. The Sikh turban and beard have come to represent not only a spirit of universality and diversity, but also a willingness to protect others' rights, even at the cost of their own life. "You
can change to any religion, to any form and shape. "One
who socializes with compassion "It
is not the customary practice of the followers of Sikh
On September 11, 2001, when terrorists struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, thousands of lives were lost and the world was dramatically transformed. Hate crimes claimed more victims in the days that followed. The large-scale terrorist attacks and the countless victims of hate-related violence who suffered in the backlash from the attacks were ultimately victims of the same intolerance against people of other faiths, cultures and traditions. Four days after the September 11th attacks, a Sikh man by the name of Balbir Singh Sodhi was shot and killed while planting flowers outside of his neighborhood gas station in Mesa, Arizona. The motive of the crime was simply hate. In the years since, victims' rights advocacy groups have identified many other people across the country who have also been murdered because of their religious or cultural backgrounds. In addition, hundreds of others have been physically attacked, verbally harassed or discriminated against simply because of their diversity. See Amercians in the aftermath of 911. "From
a woman all men are born. The Sikhs
*Sadhana: Derived from a Sanskrit word meaning, Sa-all, and Dhana-blessings. "The greatest reward of doing Sadhana is that the person becomes incapable of being defeated. Sadhana is a self-victory, and it is a victory over time and space. Getting up in the morning is a victory over time, and doing it is a victory over space." Yogi Bhajan *Banis are specific passages taken from the Guru and read each day.
An Ancient Practice In America, the members of the Sikh Dharma are the only religious group whose practice includes the wearing of a turban. Why do Sikhs wear the turban? Wearing a head covering enables one to command the sixth center, the Agia Chakra. Covering the head stabilizes the cerebral matter and the twenty-six parts of the brain which are interlocked with the neurological system and the electromagnetic field. Covering one's head creates a focus of the functional circuit of the hemispheres, and tunes up the neurological system. The whole head should be covered, not just the Crown Chakra. Any head covering that covers the whole head is acceptable; white natural fabric, such as cotton, is ideal.
The benefit to wearing the turban is that when one wraps the 5 or more layers of cloth, the temples are covered, which minimizes any variance or movement in the different parts of the skull. In other words, wearing a turban automatically provides an acupressure-like cranial adjustment, which provides an aid to all mental activities. Today, in North America, the only religious group, which wears turban, is the Sikhs. The practice of wearing the turban has not only become a rarity in many religions, but to the unversed it is associated only with fanatical and militant world terrorists. Since the horror of September 11, 2001, the Sikhs have been profiled and mistakenly identified as being associated with the fanatical Muslim Taliban of Afghanistan. In the days following 9-11, the Sikh community around the world became painfully aware that many people have very little knowledge of the Sikh religion. A great deal of confusion existed then, as some American Sikhs were attacked, some were killed, and questions continue to this day regarding the Sikhs and their high profile tradition of unshorn hair, maintaining full beard, and tying turban. See Sikh Style Turbans See Beards What is Sikhism? Sikhism, the youngest of the world religions and numbering about 20 million, is barely five hundred years old. Its founder, Guru Nanak, was born in 1469. Guru Nanak spread a simple ecumenical message of "Ek Ong Kar", we are all one, created by the One Creator of all Creation. This was at a time when India was being torn apart by castes, sectarianism, religious factions, and fanaticism. He aligned with no religion, and respected all religions, and religious scriptures. He expressed the reality that there is but one God, and many paths, and the Name of God is Truth, "Sat Nam". His simple message to all is, "Meditate forever on the One!" Word is Guru
Guru Nanak's followers are known as Sikhs (disciples of Truth). He taught them to bow only before the one God, and to link themselves by way of the Guru, the Light of Truth, who lives always in direct consciousness of God, experiencing no separation. Through words and example, the Guru demonstrates to followers how to experience God within themselves, bringing them from darkness into light. Guru Nanak was a humble bearer of this Light of Truth. He opposed superstition, injustice, and hypocrisy and inspired seekers by singing divine songs, which touched the hearts of the most callous listeners. These songs were recorded, and formed the beginnings of the Sikhs' Sacred Writings, later to become the "Siri Guru Granth Sahib". Guru Nanak taught this Spiritual Lifestyle.
Guru Nanak laid down this foundation of Sikhism. Guru Nanak later infused and passed this consciousness on to a disciple, who then became the next Guru, who subsequently passed the light on to the next, and so on. The word "Guru" is derived from the root words "Gu", which means darkness or ignorance, and "Ru", which means light or knowledge. The Guru is the experience of Truth, God, the One Reality.
Father of the Khalsa Guru Gobind Singh was the last of the ten Sikh Gurus in human form. At the first Vaisakhi, he created the Khalsa; a spiritual brother and sisterhood devoted to purity of thought and action. He gave the Khalsa a distinctive external form, the five "K's", to inspire and remind them of their commitment, and to help them maintain an elevated state of consciousness. And he decreed that Sikh men carry the middle name, Singh, meaning lion, and that Sikh women carry the middle name, Kaur, meaning princess. Examples are, Hari Singh Khalsa, and Hari Kaur Khalsa. Guru Gobind Singh exemplified the Sikh ideal of the Soldier-Saint. He was also an inspired and prolific writer, courageous warrior, and a source of Divine Wisdom to his Sikhs. "When all other means have failed," he said, "only then is it righteous to take up the sword." He was the defender of the innocent, the poor, the meek, and the oppressed masses of India. From The Sacred Writings of The Sikhs
There
is no mark, which sets apart The
world's vast fortunes seem as weeds
I
bow to Thee, Eternal, O,
I bow to Thee Unconquerable, the Stranger to defeat. I
bow to Him beyond all deeds, Who wears no special dress, O,
I bow to He Who generates, the One Who can't be known. I
bow to He Who has no caste, religion, faith or creed; O,
I bow to the Sustainer, Omnipresent in all hues; He
Who is Every Occupation, no relations, no restraint; He
Who's kind and understanding, more impartial than the sea; I
bow to Thee, O Virtuous, upon Whom all rely; The
Dispute of all disputes, the Supreme Siddha of the verse; I
bow to He Who cures disease, Who takes our daily care; O,
I bow to He Who rules all wealth, the Brightest of the bright; I
bow to the Bestower of all knowledge time and space; He
Who is the Life of life, bestowing undestroyable power; About
Vaisakhi Vaisakhi day commemorates a very important occasion in the history of the Sikh Faith. On this day, Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa Panth. The word Khalsa comes from Persian dialect, meaning “pure”, and Panth refers to “way of life”. He created a Fellowship of the Pure. In a distinct ceremony, five followers of the faith were initiated in to Panth, who passed a difficult test set for them by the Guru, and became known as the “Panj Pyare” (the five beloved ones). Since that time, any five baptized Sikhs have been called upon to render decisions on important issues facing Sikh communities. Another unique aspect is that after baptizing the Panj Pyare, Guru Gobind Singh asked them to initiate him, thus firmly establishing the democratic principles inherent in the Sikh religion. The baptized Sikhs were given a distinct uniform or identity: Kanga (wooden comb), Katchera (breeches), Kara (steel bracelet), Kirpan (sword), the wearing of Kesh (unshorn hair), and a “Code of Conduct” which included abiding by truthful principles of living. The Five "K's"
Every
baptized Khalsa Sikh vows to wear the symbols known as the Five
"K's", first ordered by Guru
Gobind Singh. KATCHERA,
the specially designed cotton underwear, symbol and reminder of
the commitment to purity, and to refrain from sexual relationships
outside of marriage. (Khalsa Sikhs also vow to refrain from eating
meat or using tobacco, alcohol, and all other intoxicants.) Then Guru Gobind Singh infused his own being into the Khalsa, declaring that the Khalsa was now the Guru in all temporal matters. For spiritual matters, the Guruship was given to the "Siri Guru Granth Sahib", a compilation of sacred ecumenical writings taken from saints and sages of several spiritual paths who have experienced Truth. For Sikhs, "Siri Guru Granth Sahib" is the living embodiment of the Guru, and is regarded with the utmost reverence and respect wherever it is found. Sikhs all over the world look to the "Siri Guru Granth Sahib" as their supreme, living Guru, as the source of their spiritual instruction and guidance. Sikhism is one religion, which is founded on the principles of global interfaith communities and mutual inter-community respect and harmony. The founders of Sikhism have, since 1469, defined and taught the principles of interfaith respect, dialogue, and harmony. A Sikh, by definition, will respect and accept all other world religions. Further, the Sikh will protect, guard, and allow the free practice of the customs and rituals of other religions.
Today,
whether a man has a beard can spark controversy. Witness the case
of Maher "Mike" Hawash, an Intel contract engineer,
and a Muslim, who has pleaded not guilty to charges related to
waging war against the United States. In some pictures he's clean
shaven, and in others he has a beard. The underlying issue has
been, what kind of message does a man's beard send about innocence,
guilt, stereotypes and political correctness?
But human hair also has physiological and psychological aspects. To the Sikhs, it is an important component in the equation of man's physical and electromagnetic health and harmony. And in the human male, facial hair acts as an important buffer to the solar and lunar energies. Thus, human hair has its obvious or exoteric, as well as yogic or esoteric aspects. In a psychological sense, our cutting of body hair is an indication of a conflicted attitude, since it is within the physical nature of our body to grow the hair, and it is an attitude within our psyche to cut the hair. Conversely, letting the hair grow expresses an inner harmony with nature. In a biological sense, it would appear that hair is important to our physical well being since the body repeatedly replaces hair quickly, whenever it is cut. And in a spiritual sense, it can be said that there is an important message to be had from the One Creator, as to the necessity for hair, e.g., when a man's facial hair is shaved, it rapidly reappears, time after time. *What's With The Turban Sikh Style Turbans What Sikhs Have To Say
"We
have never started a war before, but we All About Sikhs From the U.S. Dept. of Justice The New York Times About Sikhs Americans Get An 'F' In Religion
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Believe God is Truth and Word
is Guru.
Denotes
Beginning of Guruship
Guru
Nanak 1469 - 1539
- Humility 
KESH,*
the God-given hair and beard, kept unshorn to sustain him or her
in higher consciousness, and to be covered with a 
KANGHA,
the wooden comb, symbol and reminder of the commitment to cleanliness,
and used to groom the hair. 
KARA,
the steel ring-bracelet, symbol of Infinity, worn on the wrist,
signifying a bondage to Truth, The One God, The One Reality, and
freedom from every entanglement.
KIRPAN,
the small sword, the symbolic Sword of Righteousness, with which
a Khalsa is committed to righteously defend the innocent, and
the fine line of Truth.
