Sikhism

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Chapter 11

• Sikhism

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Sikhism Quotes

• There is neither Hindu nor Mussulman Muslim,
  so whose path shall I follow? I shall follow
  Gods path. God is neither Hindu nor Mussulman.
  Guru Nanak
• Same are the temple and the mosque, and same are
  the forms of worship therein. All human beings
  are one though apparently many, realize,
  therefore, the essential unity of mankind. Guru
  Gobind Singh, Dasam Granth

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Sikhism Learning Objectives

• Know, classify, identify, comprehend, and express
  all the concepts/terms, the thought patterns, the
  teachings, beliefs, practices, and divisions of
  Sikhism, its Scriptures origin, historical
  development, its geographic center, and
• Be able to articulate, express, explain, analyze,
  and discuss all the above
• Be able to identify, comprehend, and express the
  components/ elements of syncretism from other
  religions incorporated into Sikhism
• Comprehend and explain the political and
  religious context and causal influences that
  helped shape this religion

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Sikhisms Key Terms

• Sikh Sikhism Nam
• Kabir Guru Nanak
• Guru Arjan Dev Guru Gobind Singh
• Adi Granth/ Guru Granth Sahib
• Amrit Amritsar Golden Temple Punjab
• Pranth Sangat Gurdwara Takht
• Langar The Five Ks
• Khalsa Singhs Udasis

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Sikhism Introduction (1)

• Origin Historical
• Geographical
• Political
• Cultural, Religious Contexts
• An attempted synthesize of Hinduism and Islam
• Some scholars developed in the context of a
  religious conversation between devotional
  Hinduism and Islamic mysticism
• Sikh devotions are very simple

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Sikhism Introduction (2)

• M. Fisher textbook their Sikh path is not
  another sectarian religion but a statement of
  universal truth within, and transcending all
  religions. p. 440
• Hopfe Woodward textbook Sikhs believe their
  faith to be a new and independent religion based
  on insights of first teacher, Nanak. p. 164

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The Silk Road
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A Pre-Founder Reformer

• Strong presence of Islam in province of Punjab
• Teachers arose who believed that the two
  religions should not be antagonistic
• The reformer Kabir (1440-1518 C.E.) is best
  remembered for attempting to bring Hinduism and
  Islam together

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Sikhism Founder Life

• Guru Nanak (1469-1538 C.E.)
• A vision at the age of 30 chosen as the Prophet
  of the True Religion
• His followers became known as a Sikh, a disciple

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The Teachings of Nanak (1)

• Nanak, like Kabir, endeavored to synthesize
  elements of Islam Hinduism
• Although Hindus see God at work in many ways in
  various disguises, still God is basically one.
• The View and Belief of God Nam

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The Teachings of Nanak (2)

• Fisher textbook three central teachings 1) work
  hard in society to earn ones own, 2) sharing
  from ones earnings with those who are needy, and
  3) remembering God at all times
• Hindu elements incorporatedReincarnation,
  Karma, moksha
• Difference see next slide
• Rejected the teaching of ahimsa
• Guru Nanaks followers called Sikhs (disciples)
• Nanak maintained a stance on pacifism

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Sikhism Reincarnation Belief in Focus

• People will live again again until they are
  freed from this cycle by Nam
• By the karma of past actions, the robe of this
  physical body is obtained. By His the True
  NameGod Grace, the Gate of Liberation is
  found. Japji Sahib

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Historical Development (1) The First Two Sikh
Gurus

• Nanak was followed by a series of 9 teachers or
  gurus-that last one died in 1708 C.E.
• Upon death of Nanak, the leadership was taken up
  by Angad (who ruled till 1552)
• For Sikhs, guru means leader more so than
  teacher
• Angad is remembered for devising a new script and
  began to compile the Sikh scriptures (not Adi
  Granth yet)

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Historical Development (2)5th Guru

• 5th Guru, Arjan Dev (1581-1606
• Arjan remembered for compiling the Adi Granth,
  the sacred Sikh Scriptures
• Known for building the Golden Temple, Amritsar
• Militant aspect of Sikhism begins under Arjans
  leadership

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Adi Granth sacred scriptures

• Contains 3,364 hymns composed mostly by Nanak
  the others came from Kabir and other gurus (its
  about 3 times the size of the Rig Veda
• They are contained at the Sikh Golden Temple in
  Amritsar in Punjab, India

• Golden Temple at Amritsar

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Historical Development (3) Transition from
Pacifism to a Militant Form

• Militant aspect begun by Arjan Dev, 5th Guru
• Militant form of Sikhism developed, confirmed,
  and sealed by the 10th Guru Gobind Singh
• Contexts to this development
• Experiential, Political, Historical, Religious
• Establishes the Singhs, the corps of warriors,
  and
• Establishes the Khalsa, the order for strict
  discipline

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Historical Development (4) from Guru Gobind
Singh to Guru Granth Sahib

• Gobind Singh(16751708 ) 10th Guru
• Transfers Guru-ship over to the Adi Granth near
  his death
• Adi Granth becomes the Guru Granth Sahib

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The Adi Granth(Guru Granth Sahib)
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Divisions of Sikhism

• The Udasis-ascetic order of holy men (sect)
• The Sahajdharis-conservative, slow-moving
• The Singhs-corps of warriors
• The Khalsa-strict Order of Sikhs

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A Sikh Singh Guard Guarding Queen Elizabeth
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Practices Overview (1)Sikh Religious Life

• Daily devotion to God-early morning
• Daily bath
• Worship/devotion at Guadwara or temple weekly
  including offerings, singing, chanting, prayer
• worship of the Adi Granth

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Temple Focal Point of Worship The Takht

• An object of special attention to Sikhs worldwide
  is the throne (Takht) Golden Temple, Amritsar
  and in Gurdwaras around world

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Practices Overview (2)Sikh Religious and Social
Life

• Religious life is simple, no elaborate ceremonies
  (influence from its early founders)
• But baptism for the new initiates, and
• A communal meal called Langar for all
• Ceremonies and rituals are simple, including for
  marriage and death
• A few daily rituals bath, reading of hymns,
  prayers in morning and at night

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Sikhism Practices (3) Social Dimension
Religious Life together

• People from all castes are welcome
• Men and women are equal, and worship together
• Langar--the communal meal
• Sangat--a Sikh congregation
• Pranththe Sikh community

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Sikhism Practices (4) Sikh Holy Days

• Holi and Divali with their Hindu neighbors
• Martyrdom of Guru Arjan (June)
• Birthdays of Nanak (November) and Guru Arjan
  (Dec./Jan.)

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Sikhism Today

• Punjab center of Sikhism, and Golden Temple,
  Amritsar, its administrative ctr.
• Sikh Separatists independent Sikh state
• 1947 2 mill. Sikhs migrate to east side of
  Pakistan partition line in very harsh conditions
• 1984 Indian P.M. Indira Gandhi attacked the
  Golden Temple
• Several million Sikhs migrated to U.S., Canada,
  England, Kenya, UAE, Italy, but most Sikhs
  still live in Punjab and India
• Western attraction of Sikhism Controversies
  turban, kirpan, journeys of Guru Nanak
  (fictitious?)

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Key Terms Review (1)

• Sikh disciple in Punjabi language
• Sikhism a blend of certain elements of Hinduism
  and Islam
• Nam The holy name of God
• Kabir pre-Sikhism Hindu reformer
• Guru Nanak founder of Sikhism
• Guru Arjan Dev 5th Guru who compiled Granth and
  built the Temple
• Guru Gobind Singh 10th Guru
• Adi Granth (Guru Granth Sahib) Sikhs Sacred
  Scriptures

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Key Terms Review (2)

• Gurdwara a Sikh temple
• Amritsar loc of Sikh Golden Temple
• Takht the throne in Gurdwara
• Langar community meal for all
• Sangat a Sikh congregation
• Udasis holy men ascetic order
• Sahajdharis conservative, slow-going (sect)
• Singhs a Corps of warriors (1 of 3 sects)
• Khalsa Order of Sikhs-strict code

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Sikhism Review

• Founders Name Guru Nanak
• Founders Century 16th cent. C.E.
• Founders Place Punjab province, India
• Founder ( pre-founder reformer) tried to blend,
  synthesize Hinduism Islam another word for
  this syncretism
• Nanak taught The True Name (God), basically
  monotheistic, and also reincarnation and karma,
  and he was a pacifist (non-violence)

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Sikhism Review

• Key Concepts/Beliefs from both
• Monotheism, reincarnation, karma, pacifism,
  blend/synthesis/syncretism
• 5th Guru Arjan Dev compiled Sikhisms sacred
  Scriptures Adi Granth and built the Golden Temple
  
• The Center Golden Temple, Amritsar
• Ceremonies baptism for initiates and communal
  meal for all
• Militant aspect brought in by Arjan Dev, then
  solidified by Gobind Singh (10th Guru)

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Sikhism Review

• Daily rituals reading of hymns and prayers
• Festivals Holi Divali, Birthdays of Nanak
  Arjan Martydom of Arjan
• The Divisions of Sikhism
• The Udasis-order of holy men (sect)
• The Sahajdharis-conservative, slow-moving
• The Singhs-corps of warriors

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Discussion In-Depth

• Identify and discuss the components of syncretism
  of Sikhism.
• What elements from any other religions can you
  possibly find that influenced Sikhism?
• How did Sikhism which started as a pacific
  movement shift to becoming a religion with a
  strong militaristic arm?
• Do you think Gobinds experience tainted the
  direction he led the people of this religion
  during his leadership?

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Discussion continued

• Do you think the military aspect might lead some
  to find this religion scary, repulsive, or
  spiritually counter-productive?
• Do you find the simplicity may be attractive to
  some?

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In Larger West Asian and Near Eastern Context