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Sikhism |
Introduction to Sikhism
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In the religious sense, a Sikh, which literally means learner, is someone who believes
in one God, Sat Guru, and follows the teachings of Gurus who reveal his teachings.
The Gurus are the ten leaders of the Sikh faith, from the founder, Guru Nanak (1469-1539),
to Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708); and the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture that
became the final Guru after the death of Guru Gobind Singh.
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In 1699, on Vaisakhi day, a Spring harvest festival, the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh,
created the Khalsa. In founding the Khalsa, the Guru injected a new blood into his
followers and encouraged them to be saint-soldiers, those who set life's goals on being spiritual and
brave. The tenth Guru asked people to replace their
last names, which specified their caste, with Singh, for men, and Kaur, for women, and, in
addition, to keep the five "Ks" - five
items beginning with the letter K: kesh, uncut hair; Kangha, a comb;
Kirpan, a steel dagger, Kara, a steel bangle worn on the wrist; and Kachh,
an undergarment. Guru Gobind Singh's aim in instituting the Khalsa was to create a social
order based on the concepts of equality and unity of the human race.
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Sikhism began in North India in the 15th century, with the life and teachings of Guru
Nanak Dev. At the time there was tension between Hindus and Muslims, and various religious
movements, who sought a love of God beyond religious conflict. Nanak was influenced by
these groups, and stated: "There is no Hindu or Muslim, so whose path shall I follow? I
shall follow the path of God." But Guru Nanak was moved even more by his own profound
experience of God. As a result, he made sure that there would be a movement to follow his
way by appointing a Guru to succeed him.
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Guru Nanak emphasized the absolute unity and sovereignty of God. He believed that God
created everything, and that everything is dependent on God's will. God does not become
manifest in the world, but his will becomes known internally. Because so, meditation
is of highest importance for Sikhs. Guru Nanak described like: "God is One, whose name
is truth, the immanent creator, without fear, without hostility, immortal in form, unborn,
self-sustaining, known by the grace of the Guru."
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Humans are bound by karma, the moral law of cause and effect, which is worked out
through rebirth. God provides them help to move through various stages, from being a
wrong-doer, or manmukh, to being devoted to the Guru and absorbed in him, or gurmukh.
The manmukh indulges in the five deadly evils, namely greed, pride, anger, lust, and
worldly attachment, and is lost in maya, which means giving higher value to material
things in life than to the spiritual. The final stage is utter bliss, or sachkand, which
is beyond words and beyond rebirth.
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Sikhs do not need to renounce the world; they must find the way of God in everyday life. There
is strong emphasis on selfless community service, or seva, and the gurdwara, the Sikh
temple, is the center of Sikh life. The gurdwara has the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture,
and people assemble there for worship and singing of hymns or kirtan. Every gurdwara
has langar, which is the practice of cooking and serving food for free, without
distinctions of race, religion, gender, or caste. The voluntary work and donations needed for
langar summarize the demands and privileges of community service.
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