SIKHISM by Santosh

8/3/2019 SIKHISM by Santosh

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SIKHISM

HISTORYSikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region ,

by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh gurus . It is the fifth-

largest organized religion in the world, with over 25 million Sikhs and one of the most steadily

growing. This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as

the Gurmat (literally 'of the gurus'). Punjab of India is the only region in the world with a majority

Sikh population.

Sikhs embody the qualities of a "Sant-Sipahie"a saint-soldier. One must have control

over one's internal vices and be able to be constantly immersed in virtues clarified in the Guru

Granth Sahib. A Sikh must also have the courage to defend the rights of all who are wrongfully

oppressed or persecuted irrespective of religion, color,

caste or creed.

The principal beliefs of Sikh are faith and justice,

in Waheguru represented by the phrase ik akr ,

meaning one God. Sikh advocates the pursuit of salvation

through personal meditation on the name and message of

God. The followers of Sikh are ordained to follow the

teachings of the ten Sikh gurus, or enlightened leaders,

as well as the holy scripture entitled the Gur Granth

Shib Ji , which, along with the writings of six of the ten

Sikh Gurus, includes selected works of many devotees

from diverse socio-economic and religious backgrounds.

It is believed that the text was decreed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji , the tenth guru, as the final guru

of the Sikh religion. Sikhs traditions and teachings are associated with the history, society andculture of Punjab. Adherents of Sikh are known as Sikhs and number over 26 million across the

world. Most Sikhs live in Punjab, India, although there is a significant Sikh Diaspora . Until

the Partition of India , millions of Sikhs lived in what is now Pakistani Punjab .
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Philosophy and teachings

The origins of Sikh lie in the teachings of Guru Nanak and his successors. The essence of Sikh

teaching is summed up by Nanak in these words: "Realization of Truth is higher than all else.

Higher still is truthful living". Sikh teaching emphasizes the principle of equality of all humans andrejects discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, and gender. Sikh principles encourage living

life as a householder. Sikhi is a monotheistic and a revealed religion . In Sikh, God

termed Vhigur is shapeless , timeless , and sightless : nira kr , akl , and alakh . The beginning

of the first composition of Sikh scripture is the figure " 1"signifying the universality of God. It

states that God is omnipresent and infinite, and is signified by the term k a kr . Sikhs believe

that before creation, all that existed was God and God's hukam (will or order). When God willed,

the entire cosmos was created. From these beginnings, God nurtured "enticement and

attachment" to my , or the human perception of reality.

While a full understanding of God is beyond human beings, Nanak described God as not

wholly unknowable. God is omnipresent in all creation and visible everywhere to the spiritually

awakened. Nanak stressed that God must be seen from "the inward eye", or the "heart", of a

human being: devotees must meditate to progress towards enlightenment. Guru Nanak Dev

emphasized the revelation through meditation, as its rigorous application permits the existence of

communication between God and human beings. God has no gender in Sikh, indeed Sikh teaches

that God is "Akal Purkh" with characteristic of "Nirankar" [Niran meaning "without" and kar

meaning "form", hence "without form". In addition, Nanak wrote that there are many worlds on

which God has created life.

Pursuing salvation and Khalsa

Guru Nanaks teachings are founded not on a final destination of heaven or hell , but on aspiritual union with God which results in salvation . The official Khalsa Code of Conduct laid out by

the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh , makes it clear that human birth is only obtained once, so you

get this one chance to live, therefore one needs to be able to handle this chance. The Sikhs

believe in living 'Chakar Vati'-roaming free as freedom, not as slaves or be oppressed.
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My defined as illusion or "unreality"is one of the core deviations from the pursuit of God and

salvation: people are distracted from devotion by worldly attractions which give only illusive

satisfaction. However, Nanak emphasised my as not a reference to the unreality of the world,

but of its values. In Sikhi, the influences of ego , anger , greed , attachment , and lust known as

the Five Evils are believed to be particularly pernicious. The fate of people vulnerable to the Five

Evils is separation from God, and the situation may be remedied only after intensive and

relentless devotion. Nabad to emphasise the totality of the revelation. Nanak designated the

word guru (meaning teacher ) as the voice of God and the source and guide for knowledge and

salvation. Salvation can be reached only through rigorous and disciplined devotion to God.

Nanak distinctly emphasised the irrelevance of outward observations such as rites,

pilgrimages, or asceticism . He stressed that devotion must take place through the heart, with the

spirit and the soul. According to Gurbani the supreme purpose of human life is to reconnect with

Truth. However, our Ego is the biggest disease in the reunion with Truth / God and the solution to

this disease also lies within human ego (mind and body). With Guru's grace the seeker meditates

honestly on "Word" which leads to the end of ego. Guru is indistinguishable from God and are one

and same thing as God which cannot be found with thousands of wisdoms. One gets connected

with Guru only with accumulation of selfless search of truth. Ultimately the seeker realizes that it is

the consciousness within the body which is seeker / follower and Word is true Guru. Human body

is just a means to achieve the reunion with Truth. Truth is a form of matter which lies within humanbody but is beyond the realm of time / death. Once truth starts to shine in a persons heart, the

essence of current and past holy books of all religions is understood by the person.

A key practice to be pursued is nm : remembrance of the divine Name. The verbal

repetition of the name of God or a sacred syllable is an established practice in religious traditions

in India, but Nanak's interpretation emphasized inward, personal observance. Nanak's ideal is the

total exposure of one's being to the divine Name and a total conforming to Dharma or the "Divine

Order". Nanak described the result of the disciplined application of nm simra as a "growingtowards and into God" through a gradual process of five stages. The last of these is sach

kha (The Realm of Truth )the final union of the spirit with God.

Guru Nanak stressed now kirat kar : that a Sikh should balance work, worship, and charity, and

should defend the rights of all creatures, and in particular, fellow human beings. They are
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encouraged to have a cha d kal , or optimistic , view of life. Sikh teachings also stress the

concept of sharing va chakk through the distribution of free food at

Sikh gurdwaras (la gar ), giving charitable donations, and working for the good of the community

and others ( sv ).

Ten gurus and religious authority
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The term guru comes from the Sanskrit gur , meaning teacher, guide, or mentor. The

traditions and philosophy of Sikh were established by ten specific gurus from 1469 to 1708. Each

guru added to and reinforced the message taught by the previous, resulting in the creation of the

Sikh religion. Guru Nanak Dev was the first guru and appointed a disciple as successor. Guru

Gobind Singh was the final guru in human form. Before his death, Guru Gobind Singh decreed

that the Gur Granth Shib would be the final and perpetual guru of the Sikhs.

Guru Angad Dev succeeded Guru Nanak. Later, an important phase in the development of

Sikhi came with the third successor, Guru Amar Das. Guru Nanak's teachings emphasised the

pursuit of salvation; Guru Amar Das began building a cohesive community of followers withinitiatives such as sanctioning distinctive ceremonies for birth, marriage, and death. Amar Das

also established the manji (comparable to a diocese ) system of clerical supervision. Guru Amar

Das successor and son-in-law Guru Ram Das founded the city of Amritsar , which is home of

the Harimandir Sahib and regarded widely as the holiest city for all Sikhs. When Guru Ram Das's
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youngest son Arjan succeeded him, the line of male gurus from the Sodhi Khatri family was

established: all succeeding gurus were direct descendants of this line. Guru Arjan Dev was

captured by Mughal authorities who were suspicious and hostile to the religious order he was

developing. His persecution and death inspired his successors to promote a military and political

organization of Sikh communities to defend themselves against the attacks of Mughal forces.

The Sikh gurus established a mechanism which allowed the Sikh religion to react as a

community to changing circumstances. The sixth guru, Guru Hargobind , was responsible for the

creation of the concept of Akal Takht (throne of the timeless one ), which serves as the supreme

decision-making centre of Sikhi and sits opposite the Darbar Sahib. The Sarbat ls (a

representative portion of the Khalsa Panth) historically gathers at the Akal Takht on special

festivals such as Vaisakhi or Hola Mohalla and when there is a need to discuss matters that affect

the entire Sikh nation. A gurmat (literally, guru's intention ) is an order passed by the Sarbat

ls in the presence of the Gur Granth Shib. A gurmat may only be passed on a subject

that affects the fundamental principles of Sikh religion; it is binding upon all Sikhs. The

term hukamnm (literally, edict or royal order ) is often used interchangeably with the term

gurmat. However, a hukamnm formally refers to a hymn from the Gur Granth Shib which is

a given order to Sikhs.

Sikh festivals/eventsTechnically, there are no festivals in Sikhism. However, the events mostly centered on the

lives of the Gurus and Sikh martyrs are commemorated. The SGPC , the Sikh organization in

charge of upkeep of the historical gurdwaras of Punjab, organizes celebrations based on the
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Prohibitions in Sikhism

There are a number of religious prohibitions in Sikhism:

1. Cutting hair: Cutting hair is strictly forbidden in Sikhism. Sikhs are required to keep

unshorn hair.

2. Intoxication: Consumption of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and other intoxicants is not

allowed. Intoxicants are strictly forbidden for a Sikh. However the Nihangs of Punjab take

an infusion of cannabis to assist meditation.

3. Adultery: In Sikhism, the spouses must be physically faithful to one another.

4. Blind spirituality: Superstitions and rituals should not be observed or followed,

including pilgrimages, fasting and ritual purification ; circumcision ; idols & grave worship;

compulsory wearing of the veil for women; etc.

5. Material obsession: Obsession with material wealth is not encouraged in Sikhism.

6. Sacrifice of creatures: The practice of sati (widows throwing themselves on

the funeral pyre of their husbands), ritual animal sacrifice to celebrate holy occasions, etc.

are forbidden.

7. Non-family-oriented living: A Sikh is encouraged NOT to live as

a recluse, beggar , yogi , monastic (monk /nun ) or celibate . Sikhs are to live as saint-

soldiers.
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8. Worthless talk: Bragging , lying , slander , "back-stabbing", etc. are not permitted.

The Guru Granth Sahib tells the Sikh, "Your mouth has not stopped slandering and

gossiping about others. Your service is useless and fruitless."

9. Priestly class: Sikhism does not have priests; they were abolished by Guru Gobind

Singh . The only position he left was a Granthi to look after the Guru Granth Sahib , any

Sikh is free to become Granthi or read from the Guru Granth Sahib.

10. Eating meat killed in a ritualistic manner ( Kutha meat ): Sikhs are strictly

prohibited from eating meat killed in a ritualistic manner (such as halal or kosher , known

as Kutha meat which the animal is killed slowly by ritually slicing the throat and letting it

bleed while praying.), or any meat where langar is served. The meat eaten by Sikhs is

known as Jhatka meat.

11. Having premarital or extramarital sexual relations.
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Sikh people

Worldwide, there are 25.8 million Sikhs, which make up only 0.39% of the worlds

population. Approximately 75% of Sikhs live in the Punjab, where they constitute about 60% of the

state's population. Even though there are a large number of Sikhs in the world, certain countrieshave not recognized Sikh as a major religion. Large communities of Sikhs live in the neighboring

states, and large communities of Sikhs can be found across India. However, Sikhs only make up

about 2% of the Indian population.

Sikh Migration beginning from the 19th century led to the creation of significant

communities in Canada (predominantly in Brampton , along with Melton in Ontario and Abbotsford,

Mission, Lower Mainland , Surrey in British Columbia ), East Africa , the Middle East , Southeast

Asia , the United Kingdom as well as Australia and New Zealand . These communities developedas Sikhs migrated out of Punjab to fill in gaps in imperial labour markets. In the early twentieth

century a significant community began to take shape on the west coast of the United States .

Smaller populations of Sikhs are found in within many countries in Western

Europe , Mauritius , Malaysia , Fiji, Nepal , China , Pakistan , Afghanistan, Iraq , Singapore, Mexico,

the United States and many other countries.

Since 1968, thousands of non-Punjabis have taken up the Sikh belief and lifestyle primarily

in the United States, Canada, Latin America, the Far East and Australia. These first and second

generation Sikhs are of various ethnic backgrounds and include Caucasians, Blacks, and

Chinese.
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SIKHISM by Santosh