INTRODUCTION TO WORLD

RELIGION

SIKHISM
EXPLAINED
BY GROUP 7
 ORIGINS THE 3 PILLARS THE GURU
GRANTH SAHIB

The three key pillars of

Sikhism originated in Sikhism are Kirat Karni
the Punjab area of (honest living), Vand The Guru Granth Sahib
India and Pakistan, 500 Chakna (sharing with is the authoritative
years ago. others) and Naam sacred text for Sikhs.
Japo (focus on God).
ABOUT SIKHISM'S ORIGINS
The Punjab, the land of five rivers, is one of the most
historically and culturally dense areas on Earth.
This was the home of one of the world's earliest
civilsations, the Indus Valley Civilsation.Persians,
Greeks, Central Asians, Mughals, the British, and
others have invaded here.
Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Jainism, and a handful of
other faiths have all left their mark on the region. The
diverse culture of the Punjab
has heavily influenced the Sikhs.

Today there are about 25 million Sikhs. They make

up about 2% of India's population but about 60% of
the Punjab's. The Sikh diaspora is spread out across
the world with concentrations in the UK, Canada,
The US, East Africa, Australia, and Malaysia. Sikhs
interestingly enough make up almost 1.5% of
Canada's population which is second only to India.

The word Sikh simply means learner. Sikhs called

their religion ‘Sikhi’, ‘Gursikhi’ and 'Gurmat’. You
can't really understand the Sikhs without
understanding their relationship with Gurus.The
word guru means a teacher or spiritual guide. The
Guru teaches and the Sikh learns.
THE 3 PILLARS OF SIKHISM

Naam Japo Kirat Karna Vand Chakna

(Focus on God) (Honest Living) (Sharing with Others)
NAAM JAPO
(Focus on God)
Meditating on God’s name – Naam Japna
One of the three foundations of Sikhism is Naam
Japna, which is meditating on God’s name.
Sikhs believe that it is important to keep
Waheguru in their mind at all times. Nam Japna
can be performed either silently (by repeating
‘Waheguru’ in the head) or aloud. Sikhs believe
Naam Japna helps them to become less selfish
(manmukh) and more God-centred (gurmukh).
KIRAT KARNA
(Honest Living)
Kirat Karni: - Working hard and making an
honest living.
Guru Nanak said, “Only he who earns his living
by the sweat of his brow and shares his
earnings with others has discovered the path of
righteousness."
Kirat Karni is one of the three primary pillars of
Sikhism. It reminds us to carry out good deeds
and earn a honest, pure and truthful livelihood.
VAND CHAKNA
(Sharing with Others)
Wand chhakna: - Sharing the fruits of your labour with
others, providing free food, and donating to the
community.
The Sikh tradition of a communal meal (langar) at the
gurdwaras is part of vand Chakna.
The langar or communal free kitchen inside a Sikh
gurdwara, which is their equivalent of a church or
mosque, is open to all who visit. Regardless of caste,
faith, or gender..
These serve vegetarian food to all, not because Sikhs
have to be vegetarian but simply because that means
all people of all diets can partake. So if you want a taste
of typical Punjabi food just visit a gurdwara.
In Guru Nanak’s time, the idea of different castes sitting
together on the floor and eating side by side was a
revolutionary act. Famously the Mughal Emperor Akbar
visited Guru Arjan and the Guru would not meet him
until he partook in a langar. Which the Emperor did,
sitting side by side with peasants.
Guru Nanak claimed an enlightened person are ‘those
who view everyone equally, like the air touching king
and beggar alike’ (GG: 272)
SEVA
Another vital part of Sikhism that isn't one
of the Three Pillars is Seva - selfless service
Through service to their community, Sikhs
can become more humble and overcome
their ego.
Seva can include cleaning up the
gurdwara, preparing food or cleaning
dishes in the langar or it can include
volunteering, building things for your
community.
Through remembering God's name, honest work, and sharing, along with
selfless service, and avoiding the Five Thieves a person can rid themselves
of egoism and be released from the cycle of rebirth and death.
The Guru Granth Sahib is the Holy Book of the Sikhs. It contains the teachings
of the Gurus and acts as a spiritual guide for Sikhs around the world.
It is probably one of the only Holy Books that contains not only the writing of
the religions founders, written by themselves, rather than after their death.
But also the writing of people from other faiths. The writings of Muslims and
Hindus can be found throughout along with references to Judaism, Buddhism,
and Christianity.
Before his death in 1708, the tenth Guru Gobind Singh ended the line of human
gurus by bestowing guruship on the Adi Granth, turning it into the Guru Granth
Sahib, making it similar to both the Bible or Koran and a living Prophet at the
same time. Guru means Guru, Granth means book and Sahib means lord.
Since that moment, the Guru Granth Sahib has been revered as the current
living guru. It is treated with extreme care and respect.
The Granth is not only read but sung, it's made up of thousands of hymns.
Sikhs don't have mass or service but a kirtan, meaning communal singing.
Normally these are set to classical Indian music.
The Gurdwara
Gurdwara, (Punjabi: “doorway to the Guru”) in
Sikhism, a place of worship in India and overseas.
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