Sikhisim

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Sikhisim
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What is a Sikh?

• 'Sikh' in the Punjabi language means 'disciple',
  Sikhs are the disciples of God who follow the
  writings and teachings of the Ten Sikh Gurus.

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Philosophy and Beliefs

• There is only One God. He is the same God for all
  people of all religions.

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Philosophy and Beliefs

• The soul goes through cycles of births and deaths
  before it reaches the human form. The goal of our
  life is to lead an exemplary existence so that
  one may merge with God. Sikhs should remember God
  at all times and practice living a virtuous and
  truthful life while maintaining a balance between
  their spiritual obligations and temporal
  obligations.

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Philosophy and Beliefs

• The true path to achieving salvation and merging
  with God does not require renunciation of the
  world or celibacy, but living the life of a
  householder, earning a honest living and avoiding
  worldly temptations and sins.

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Philosophy and Beliefs

• Sikhism preaches that people of different races,
  religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of
  God. It teaches the full equality of men and
  women. Women can participate in any religious
  function or perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the
  congregation in prayer.

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Philosophy and Beliefs

• There is only one God, he is the Creator,
  Sustainer and Destroyer.
• God cannot take human form
• The goal of human life is to break the cycle of
  birth's and deaths and merge with God. This can
  be accomplished by following the teachings of the
  Guru, meditation on the Holy Name and performance
  of acts of service and charity
• The five cardinal vices are Kam (lust), Krodh
  (anger), Lobh (greed), Moh (worldly attachment)
  and Ahankar (pride). If one can overcome these,
  they will achieve salvation
• Narm Marg emphasizes daily devotion to the
  remembrance of God

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Philosophy and Beliefs

• Rejection of all forms of blind rituals such as
  fasting, religious vegetarianism, pilgrimages,
  superstitions, yoga, as well as any form of idol
  worship
• Normal Family life (Grasth) is encouraged,
  celibacy or renunciation of the world is not
  necessary to achieve salvation. The devotee must
  live in the world yet keep his mind pure. He must
  be a soldier, a scholar, a saint
• Sikhism rejects all distinctions of caste, creed,
  race or sex
• The Guru's stressed the full equality of women,
  rejecting female infanticide, sati (wife
  burning), permitting widow remarriage and rejects
  purdah (women wearing veils)

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Philosophy and Beliefs

• Honest labor and work (Kirat Karna) are the
  approved way of living ones life. It is
  considered honorable to earn ones daily bread
  through honest work and not by begging or
  dishonest means
• Vand Chhakna, sharing with others is also a
  social responsibility. The individual is expected
  to help others in need through charity
• Seva, community service is also an intergral part
  of Sikhism. The free community kitchen (langar)
  found at every gurdwara and open to people of all
  religions is one expression of this community
  service

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Guru Nanak

• The founder of the Sikh religion
• born in 1469.
• He preached a message of love and understanding
  and criticized the blind rituals of the Hindus
  and Muslims.
• Nine successive Gurus.
• The final living Guru died in 1708
• Guru Gobind Singh

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Khalsa

• established the Khalsa order
• (meaning 'The Pure')
• soldier-saints.
• commitment
• dedication
• social conscious

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Khalsa

• The Khalsa are men and women who have undergone
  the Sikh baptism ceremony and who strictly follow
  the Sikh Code of Conduct and Conventions and wear
  the prescribed physical articles of the faith.

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Sri Guru Granth Sahib

• Guru Gobind Singh declared that the Sikhs no
  longer needed a living and appointed his
  spiritual successor as Sri Guru Granth Sahib, his
  physical successor as the Khalsa.

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Sri Guru Granth Sahib

• Sri Guru Granth Sahib is unique in the world of
  religious scriptures because not only is it
  accorded the status of being the spiritual head
  of the Sikh religion, but besides the poetry of
  the Gurus, it also contains the writings of
  saints of other faiths whose thoughts were
  consistent with those of the Sikh Gurus

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Harmiandir Sahib

• Harmiandir Sahib
• (The Golden Temple) at Amritsar
• In the state of Punjab in northern India.
• It is the inspirational and historical center of
  Sikhism
• but is not a mandatory place of pilgrimage or
  worship.
• All places where Sri Guru Granth Sahib are
  installed are considered equally holy for Sikhs.

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For example...
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Gurdwaras

• remove the shoes
• cover ones bare head
• signs of respect towards the sovereignty of the
  Guru Granth Sahib.
• Hands are washed
• In some Gurdwaras there are also feet washes.

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Gurdwaras

• Approaching the Guru Granth Sahib one is expected
  to bow down and touch the floor as a sign of
  further respect towards the Eternal Sikh Guru.
• Offerings of cash are usually made at this time
• These offerings are voluntary and not compulsory.

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Gurdwaras

• All people irrespective of their status sit on
  the floor as a sign of equality
• One may enter or leave the congregation at any
  time.
• Men and women do not generally sit together but
  on separate sides of the room
• both at an equal distance from the Guru Granth
  Sahib.

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Gurdwaras

• Gurdwaras are open to all people of all religions
  and are generally open 24 hours a day.
• Some Gurdwaras also provide temporary
  accommodations for visitors or pilgrims.
• Only vegetarian food is served so that no person
  may be offended and all people of all religions
  can sit together to share a common meal
  irrespective of any dietary restrictions.

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Spiritual Evolution

• Stage 1 Manmukh
• A person who is self-centered and only thinks
  about himself and the material world around him
  and is totally oblivious to God.

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Spiritual Evolution

• Stage 2 Sikh
• Anyone who sets out on the path of learning and
  meets the specific definition of a Sikh as
  appears in the Reht Maryada (Official Code of
  Conduct).

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Spiritual Evolution

• Stage 3 Khalsa
• Total dedication to Sikhism. One who has has shed
  his ego and personality and truly honors the
  memory of Guru Gobind Singh through his actions
  and deeds.

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Spiritual Evolution

• Stage 4 Gurmukh
• One who has achieved mukhti (salvation) and is
  totally God-centered

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The Physical Articles of Faith

• Kesh
• Long unshorn hair. A symbol of spirituality. The
  Kesh reminds a Khalsa to behave like the Guru's.
  It is a mark of dedication and group
  consciousness, showing a Khalsa's acceptance of
  God's will. Long hair have long been a common
  element of many spiritual prophets of various
  religions such as Jesus, Moses and Buddha.

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Dastar

• Dastar
• Turban. A symbol of royalty and dignity. It
  differentiates Sikhs from other religious
  followers who keep long hair but wear caps or
  keep matted hair. The turban cannot be covered by
  any other head gear or replaced by a cap or hat.
  The turban is mandatory for Sikh men and optional
  for Sikh women.

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For example...
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Kangha

• Kangha
• Comb. A symbol of hygiene and discipline as
  opposed to the matted unkempt hair of ascetics. A
  Khalsa is expected to regularly wash and comb
  their hair as a matter of self discipline.

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For example...
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Kara

• Kara
• Steel bracelet. A symbol to remind the wearer of
  restraint in their actions and remembrance of God
  at all times.

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For example...
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Kachha

• Kachha
• Drawers. A symbol signifying self control and
  chastity.

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Kirpan

• Kirpan
• Ceremonial Sword. A symbol of dignity and the
  Sikh struggle against injustice. It is worn
  purely as a religious symbol and not as a weapon.

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For example...
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Religious Emblems

• The Khanda is the symbol of the Sikhs
• as the Cross is to Christians or the Star of
  David is to Jews.
• The symbol derives its name from the double-edged
  sword
• called a Khanda
• This double-edged sword is a metaphor of Divine
  Knowledge, its sharp edges cleaving Truth from
  Falsehood.

• The circle around the Khanda is the Chakar.
• The Chakar being a circle without a beginning or
  and end symbolizes the perfection of God who is
  eternal.
• The Chakar is surrounded by two curved swords
  called Kirpans.
• These two swords symbolize the twin concepts of
  Meeri and Peeri - Temporal and Spiritual
  authority introduced by Guru Hargobind.
• They emphasize the equal emphasis that a Sikh
  must place on spiritual aspirations as well as
  obligations to society.

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For example...
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Religious Emblems

• Nishan Sahib is the name given to the flag which
  is seen flying outside every Sikh Gurdwara
  (Temple).
• It is a triangular piece of ochre or saffron
  colored cloth with the Khanda emblem in the
  middle.
• The flag post also has a khanda or spear on top
  and is usually covered with the same cloth as the
  flag.

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For example...
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For more information...

• http//www.sikhs.org/topics.htm