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Basic Beliefs and Facts |
schu ErY sBu ko aupir scu Awcwru
"Truth is higher than everything; but higher still is truthful living."
-- Guru Nanak Dev
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There is one God.
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"One Universal Creator God. The Name Is Truth. Creative Being Personified. No Fear.
No Hatred. Image Of The Undying, Beyond Birth, Self-Existent. By Guru`s Grace"
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Life's goal is to go beyond the cycle of births and deaths. This can be done
by giving higher value to the spiritual rather than the material things,
and by conquering anger, greed, lust, worldy attachment, and pride.
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"Renouncing false greed, one comes to realize the Truth." |
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"Cruelty, material attachment, greed and anger are the four rivers of fire." |
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"Through the material universe of Shakti, no one has ever found the Lord; they continue to be born and die in reincarnation." |
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"May my egotism and possessiveness be burnt to ashes, and my greed and egotistical pride consigned to the fire." |
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Rejection of ritualism such as superstitions, religious vegetarianism, pilgrimages,
fasting, and idol worship.
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"Worship, fasting, ceremonial marks on one`s forehead, cleansing baths, generous donations to charities and self-mortification
...the Lord Master is not pleased with any of these rituals, no matter how sweetly one may speak."
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"The fools argue about flesh and meat, but they know nothing about meditation and spiritual wisdom. What is called meat, and what is called green vegetables? What leads to sin?"
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"Those who renounce meat, and hold their noses when sitting near it, devour men at night. They practice hypocrisy, and make a show before other people, but they do not understand anything about meditation or spiritual wisdom."
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"If I am pleasing to Him, then that is my pilgrimage and cleansing bath. Without pleasing Him, what good are ritual cleansings?"
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Rejection of distinctions in caste, creed, and race. Sikhism believes in the
full equality of women and rejects female infanticide, wife burning, and allows widow
remarriage.
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"Recognize the Lord`s Light within all, and do not consider social class or status; there are no classes or castes in the world hereafter."
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"As Gurmukh, look upon all with the single eye of equality; in each and every heart, the Divine Light is contained."
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"Among all the women and the men, His Light is shining."
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One should work hard and honestly rather than beg or use dishonest means.
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"One who works for what he eats, and gives some of what he has. O Nanak, he knows the Path."
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One should aim to help the less fortunate and share with others.
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Center your awareness on seva-selfless service-and focus your consciousness on the Word of the Shabad."
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Sikhs are not required to renounce the world; they must find the way and
the will of God in their everyday life.
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You may practice celibacy, truth, austere self-discipline and rituals, but without the Guru, you shall not be emancipated."
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Let your daily worship be the knowledge that God is everywhere."
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