Sikhism

SIKHISM

Word is The Guru

The Siri Guru Granth Sahib

Guru Nanak
(1469-1539)

The Sikh Dharma was founded by Guru Nanak Dev in the Punjab area of Northwestern India, now Pakistan, in the 15th Century. The Sikhs that live there speak the Punjabi language. The word “guru” means one who can take you from darkness to light and guides you on the right path. After his death a series of nine Gurus led the Panth, i.e., Sikh community, until 1708 CE.* At this time these functions passed to the Panth and the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. This Holy Text is considered the 11th and final Guru.

The Siri Guru Granth Sahib is composed and compiled by the Sikh Gurus themselves. Therefore, it is original and authentic.

The Siri Guru Granth Sahib contains hymns from a variety of saints, scholars and poets from different religions and social classes.

All the Hymns (Gurbani) are written in a poetic form with specified musical Raags (a total of 31). Singing these poetic Hymns with musical notes calms and soothes the mind.

The Siri Guru Granth Sahib does not contain any autobiography of any of the Gurus, or Sikh history. It contains Hymns which direct one to lead a truthful and spiritual life, a message for the whole of humanity.

The Siri Guru Granth Sahib is written in Gurmukhi script, the actual contemporary language of the Gurus.

There are five things that identify a person as a Sikh. These include uncut hair that is worn with turban, a steel bracelet, a small ornamental sword that is carried at all times, a small comb, and a style of breeches or shorts that are worn underneath one’s clothing.

Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, gave these five gifts to the Sikhs. All Sikhs that choose to go through an initiation ceremony called Amrit, wear these articles of faith. Sikh men take the name Singh, meaning lion, and women take the name Kaur, meaning princess.

"Sikh Dharma is a householders' spiritual path by which practice one may, by God's grace, be blessed with the virtue known as humility along with the good fortune to overcome the mental and spiritual affliction known as pride." Hari Singh Khalsa

The Sikhs ...

Believe God is Truth and Word is Guru.

Believe God is the One Creator, and all of Creation is God's manifestation.

Espouse the role of woman as representing the Universal Mother.

Keep their hair and beard unshorn, and their hair wrapped in a turban.

Are vegetarians and do not eat flesh food, i.e., red meat, chicken or seafood.

Refrain from using tobacco, drugs or alcohol.

Perform sadhana,* i.e., spiritual practice before sunrise, and recite banis daily.*

Believe all religion and scripture is an expression of the One Creator.

Respect the rights and freedoms of all spiritual paths.

Espouse the sanctity of the path of the householder.

Believe it is God's blessing to serve others, and to protect the weak.

*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.

*The dates are given in BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era). These years correspond to the same dates in BC and AD but by defining the current period as the "Common Era" the nomenclature attempts to treat all religions and beliefs as equal.

Father of the Khalsa

Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708)

Sikhs believe in one formless God with many names, Who can be related to by anybody through meditation. Sikhs recite the Name many times each day and are prohibited from worshipping idols or icons. Sikhs believe in karma and reincarnation as Hindus do, but shun the caste system. Everybody has equal status in the eyes of God.

During the 18th century, there were a number of attempts to prepare an accurate portrayal of Sikh customs. Sikh scholars and theologians started in 1931 to prepare the Reht Maryada, the Sikh code of conduct and conventions. This action has achieved a high level of uniformity in the religious and social practices of Sikhism throughout the world. The Reht contains 27 articles. Article 1 defines a Sikh. "Any human being who faithfully accepts:

One Immortal Being,

Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh,

The Siri Guru Granth Sahib as Guru,

The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus, and

The baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a Sikh."

Sikhism is founded on the principles of global Interfaith communities and mutual Inter-community respect and harmony. The founders of Sikhism defined and preached the principles of interfaith respect, dialogue, and harmony. All members of the Sikh religion believe in only one God. Sikhs are monotheists like Jews, Christians and Muslims. The Sikh religion promotes equality among all people. That means that everyone -- men and women -- are treated in the same way. Sikhs are expected to work hard, to be good and giving people, to worship God, and provide service for all Humanity. A Sikh, by definition, respects and accepts all other world religions. Further, the Sikh protects, guards, and allows the free practice of the customs and rituals of other religions.

Today, many Sikh youths belong to youth groups that are designed for Sikh children and young adults. These groups teach Sikh youth about their unique religious and cultural history and traditions. Many of these youth groups are sponsored by a Sikh Gurdwara.

For Sikh families, the Gurdwara, Sikh church or temple, is a gathering place for people to share their religious traditions. It is the center for Sikh life and is a place where people can gather for special social ceremonies like those marking a marriage, the birth of a baby or a death in a family.

Gurdwaras maintain kitchens so that food can be prepared and shared with the entire community. People of every religion are welcome at Gurdwaras, and in the community kitchen. Also, when people pray and worship in the Gurdwara, everyone sits on the floor, grouped together. No one sits in front of or, higher than, anyone else. In this way Sikhs demonstrate their sense of social equality.

Guru Gobind Singh

'... We gladly accept all, and we will exclude none,
For after all, we're the same - we are all One.'