SIKHISM
Sikhism - The word Sikh (pronounced "sickh") means
'disciple' or 'learner.' The Sikh religion was founded in Northern India in the
fifteenth century by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and is distinct from Islam and
Hinduism. Sikhism is monotheistic and stresses the equality of all men
and women. Sikhs believe in three basic principles; meditating on the
name of God (praying), earning a living by honest means as well as sharing the
fruits of one’s labor with others. Sikhism rejects caste and class
systems and emphasizes service to humanity. Sikhism - The word
Sikh (pronounced "sickh") means 'disciple' or 'learner.' The Sikh
religion was founded in Northern India in the fifteenth century by Guru Nanak
Dev Ji and is distinct from Islam and Hinduism. Sikhism is monotheistic
and stresses the equality of all men and women. Sikhs believe in three
basic principles; meditating on the name of God (praying), earning a living by
honest means as well as sharing the fruits of one’s labor with others.
Sikhism rejects caste and class systems and emphasizes service to humanity.
Turbans are worn to cover
our long hair and with respect to God. Learn to recognize a Sikh turban. Sikhs have unshorn hair, beards and
moustaches. The Sikh faith teaches us the humanitarian principles of
freedom, equality, and justice - the same principles this great democracy is
founded on. There are about 25 million Sikhs in the world.
HISTORY
The
Sikh faith is five hundred years old. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism,
taught a message of love. He spoke of a universal God, common to all mankind,
not limited to any religion, nation, race, creed, color, or gender. The Sikh
religion is strictly monotheistic, believing in one supreme Creator, free of
gender, absolute, all-pervading, and eternal. Sikhism views lfe not as a fall
from grace, but a unique opportunity to discover and develop the divinity in
each of us. Human rights and justice form a cornerstone of Sikh belief, and
Sikh history features countless examples of Sikh Gurus and their followers
making tremendous sacrifices for the cause of religious freedom and justice.
More recently, Sikhs have been some of the most highly decorated soldiers of
the British armed services during both World Wars. They played a significant
role in the memorable battles of El Alamein in the Burma-China front and also
in the allied assault in Italy. In India’s struggle for independence from the
British, over two-thirds of all the Indians who were sentenced to life
imprisonment or death were Sikh. This is in spite of the fact that Sikhs form
less than two percent of India’s population
The Sikh Identity
In 1699, the tenth and last living Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, summoned his followers to the town of Anandpur in Punjab; over 80,000 came. According to history, Guru Gobind Singh appeared before his people, flashed a naked sword, and demanded a head. He repeated his call until five Sikhs volunteered. These five individuals came from different parts of India and from different castes. To these five, and subsequently to many others on that historic day, Guru Gobind Singh bestowed a new discipline, a creed to his Sikhs. The Guru initiated these five in the new order of the Khalsa and then, in a dramatic and historic gesture, they in turn initiated him. On that day, he gave the Sikhs a unique identity which includes five articles of faith:
In 1699, the tenth and last living Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, summoned his followers to the town of Anandpur in Punjab; over 80,000 came. According to history, Guru Gobind Singh appeared before his people, flashed a naked sword, and demanded a head. He repeated his call until five Sikhs volunteered. These five individuals came from different parts of India and from different castes. To these five, and subsequently to many others on that historic day, Guru Gobind Singh bestowed a new discipline, a creed to his Sikhs. The Guru initiated these five in the new order of the Khalsa and then, in a dramatic and historic gesture, they in turn initiated him. On that day, he gave the Sikhs a unique identity which includes five articles of faith:
- unshorn
hair as a gift of God and Guru and a mark of Sikh identity
- a small
comb for the hair
- a steel
bracelet which signifies a reality with no beginning and no end, and is
also symbolic of a Sikh’s commitment to the ideals of his faith, much as
wedding ring might indicate fealty and identity
- a sword
indicative of resolve and commitment to justice, and
- knee-length
breeches in keeping with the disciplined life-style of a Sikh
For the past 300 years, male Sikhs have been easily
recognized by their long unshorn hair covered with a turban. Notably, in
traditional Indian society only males of high caste or the elite, ruling class
wore turbans. In requiring all Sikhs to don turbans, Guru Gobind Singh
envisioned all individuals as noble. Sikh women adhere to the same life style,
symbols, rules and conduct, but relatively few choose to wear turbans. Young
Sikh boys, instead of wearing a turban, often cover their uncut hair, which is tied
in a top-knot, with a simple piece of fabric.
Along
with the aforementioned physical identifiers, Guru Gobind Singh went further in
distinguishing Sikhs. In Indian society, an individual’s name reveals one’s
caste and social status. Guru Gobind Singh freed Sikhs from the rigid caste
system by ordering all Sikh males adopt the surname “Singh,” meaning a lion,
and women use the surname “Kaur” meaning princess, thus shedding their caste
identity. Each year, Sikhs worldwide commemorate and celebrate the historic
events of Vaisakhi 1699 as a milestone in Sikh history when Guru Gobind Singh
decreed the formation of the Khalsa and fashioned the nation of Sikhs.
The Sikh Scripture
Guru Gobind Singh (pictured to the right) also decreed an end
to the line of Gurus in human form. The writings of the earlier Gurus were
collated along with those of Hindu and Muslim spiritual figures whose teachings
strongly resonated with Sikh beliefs. This collection of writings is known
as Guru Granth Sahib, a
uniquely ecumenical and eclectic collection of spiritual writings. For Sikhs,
Guru Granth Sahib is the repository of all spiritual knowledge and authority.
In temporal matters all authority rests with the Sikh community worldwide
acting democratically and in mindful prayer with an awareness of the spiritual
heritage which is embodied in the Guru Granth. Sikhs revere the ten Gurus, Guru
Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh, because they delivered the divine word of the one,
timeless God. The word “Guru” acquires, therefore, a very special meaning for
Sikhs. It is reserved only for the ten Gurus who gave us the divine message and
to this message contained in the Guru Granth Sahib.
The Gurdwara
The Sikh place of worship, or Gurdwara, is more than a place
of worship. It has historically served as a refuge for the homeless and the
destitute. Gurdwaras usually display the Nishan
Sahib, a saffron-colored triangular flag bearing the khanda, the
symbol of the Sikh faith. Visitors, irrespective of their religion, are offered
shelter, comfort, and food. The prerequisites for entering a Gurdwara are
removing shoes and covering one’s head with a handkerchief, scarf, or other
cloth.
In
a Gurdwara, no special place or seat may be reserved or set aside for any
dignitary, as all are considered equals. The service consists of singing of the
liturgy, as well as the exposition of Sikh history, tradition, and theology.
Non-Sikhs are always welcome. Sikh gurdwaras all over the world usually run
free community kitchens, which provide meals to all. These kitchens are run and
funded by volunteers. In traditional Indian society, people of high and low caste
were rigidly segregated. To combat this social problem, the Sikh community
kitchen, or langar, requires everyone to sit side by side
and eat together, thereby teaching the concept of equality by shattering all
barriers of caste and class. Every major city in the United States and Canada
has Sikh gurdwaras and they are open to all.
The Sikh Way of Life
Sikhism
is a practical religion and Sikhs are a pragmatic people. The emphasis is on a
leading a worldly, successful life as a householder and a contributing member
of society, but with the mind attuned to an awareness of God. Sikhism rejects
all distinctions based on caste, creed, gender, color, race, or national
origin. For Sikhs, God is not found in isolation or by renouncing the world,
but is attained as an active family member and member of one’s community. The
word “Sikh” means student. Therefore, a Sikh is and remains a student of the
meaning of life. The core values of Sikhism are derived from three equally important
tenets: an honest living and an honest day’s work, sharing with others what God
and life have given, and living life fully with an awareness of the divine
within each of us. Sikhism enunciates a philosophical concept termed Miri-Piri,
which means living a life with an active, strong sense of commitment to the
world and humanity, governed and directed by a strong foundation and
underpinning of spirituality. Thus, the Sikh ideal is to strike a perfect
balance and integration of these two states of existence.
In matters that affect the Sikh community, Sikhs have
throughout history followed a simple but effective mechanism whereby individual
voices are heard and decisions reflect the current state of knowledge,
information and technology. In all such matters, and in honor of the first five
Sikhs who heeded the call of Guru Gobind Singh in 1699, the voice of the
community is channeled through five initiated Sikhs selected and authorized to
resolve issues and speak as the voice of the community. Sikhs believe that God
and Guru pervade the congregation when five Sikhs act in mindful prayer.
Decision making, thus, becomes a collective process. Sikhs do not have a
priestly hierarchy with its associated ecclesiastical authority.
Women
The Sikh faith is committed to the equality of women, and
necessarily so, as it defines God as gender neutral, perhaps one of the few
major world religions to do so. There is no activity in a gurdwara or within
the community that is permitted to a man but not to a woman. There is no
religious function from which women are barred at any time of their lives.
Dietary Restrictions
Sikhs have no food taboos except those that stem from one simple injunction – a life of moderation in which we shun all that harms the body or the mind. Animal sacrifice is forbidden and so is the consumption of animals killed in such manner. This also means that all intoxicants – tobacco, alcohol or any mind altering “recreational” drugs – are forbidden
Sikhs have no food taboos except those that stem from one simple injunction – a life of moderation in which we shun all that harms the body or the mind. Animal sacrifice is forbidden and so is the consumption of animals killed in such manner. This also means that all intoxicants – tobacco, alcohol or any mind altering “recreational” drugs – are forbidden
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