1) Sikhism was founded over 500 years ago by Guru Nanak in response to political and social issues in North India.
2) Sikhism teaches monotheism, equality, and living an honest life of service, truth, and devotion to God.
3) Key aspects of Sikh practice include daily prayer services at the gurdwara (temple), reading from the Guru Granth Sahib holy book, and sharing a communal meal prepared in the temple's free kitchen.
1) Sikhism was founded over 500 years ago by Guru Nanak in response to political and social issues in North India.
2) Sikhism teaches monotheism, equality, and living an honest life of service, truth, and devotion to God.
3) Key aspects of Sikh practice include daily prayer services at the gurdwara (temple), reading from the Guru Granth Sahib holy book, and sharing a communal meal prepared in the temple's free kitchen.
1) Sikhism was founded over 500 years ago by Guru Nanak in response to political and social issues in North India.
2) Sikhism teaches monotheism, equality, and living an honest life of service, truth, and devotion to God.
3) Key aspects of Sikh practice include daily prayer services at the gurdwara (temple), reading from the Guru Granth Sahib holy book, and sharing a communal meal prepared in the temple's free kitchen.
1) Sikhism was founded over 500 years ago by Guru Nanak in response to political and social issues in North India.
2) Sikhism teaches monotheism, equality, and living an honest life of service, truth, and devotion to God.
3) Key aspects of Sikh practice include daily prayer services at the gurdwara (temple), reading from the Guru Granth Sahib holy book, and sharing a communal meal prepared in the temple's free kitchen.
the darkness” and is a model of a simple baptism ceremony.
wisdom and spiritual perfection. In Sikhism the importance of Sikhism is the understanding good actions is emphasized over and practice of the teachings of the carrying out of rituals. A Sikh the gurus. does good deeds not to appease A Sikh, according to Guru God but to lighten his burdens; bad Nanak, is one who obeys the deeds, on the other hand, are seen commands of the guru and as saddling life with unnecessary is guided from darkness to burdens. Sikhs do not recognize enlightenment, from rebirth the caste system nor worship idols. (“samsara”) to spiritual realization Theirs is a religion of practical and release (“moksha”). His goal is living, of rendering service to to uplift his soul from the shackles humanity, and of accepting the SIKHISM IS RELATIVELY new of materialism (“maya”) and live rights of everyone. Sikhism among the major religions of Asia. a virtuous life that is attuned teaches that salvation can be It was founded just over 500 years to the will of God, which would achieved by anyone who earns ago in the Punjab district which lead him to the ultimate state of an honest living and leads a life today lies in both India and eternal bliss and union with God. in harmony with the teachings of Pakistan. Sikhism was founded by Being a monotheistic religion, the gurus, which implies a life in Guru Nanak (1469-1539) as a Sikhism preaches the existence of harmony with Truth (“Satnam”), response to the political one supreme reality, uncreated and the metaphor for God. suppression, social divisions, eternal. God is seen as the creator Sikhs believe that to lead a religious conflicts and superstitious and source of all things. good life one has to keep God in practices in North India. He Sikhism is not an evangelical heart and mind at all times, live taught respect for all religions and religion so Sikhs do not proselytize. honestly and work hard, treat Sikhs wait advocated the equality of all people. Sikhism believes that every person everyone equally, be generous to for their Guru Nanak was the first of has the right to choose the path he the less fortunate, and serve others. food at the the 10 “gurus” (spiritual teachers) deems best to commune with God. Sikhs strive to practise free kitchen, whose followers are known as It believes that if one is a Christian, meditation (“simran”), service which is Sikhs. The word “sikh” is derived then one should be a good (“seva”) and congregation an integral from the Sanskrit word “shishya” Christian; if a Muslim, one should (“sangat”) and lead a healthy, part of the which means a disciple, learner, be a good Muslim, etc. However, holy, honest and humble life which Sikh temple. seeker of truth. “Gu” means if anyone wants to convert to would lead them ultimately to the The kitchen darkness and “ru” means light. The Sikhism, he or she is welcome to spiritual union of their soul (“atma”) promotes guru is therefore “light that dispels do so through a process involving and God (“Parmatma”). ■ generosity, equality, service and humility.
holy book as a sign of reverence.
The service includes hymn singing, scripture reading and a sermon. At the end of the service, a sweet pudding, which has been blessed by the prayers and Guru Nanak (1469-1539) is the THE SIKH TEMPLE is known as a reading from the Guru Granth founder of the Sikh religion. “gurdwara” (which means doorway Sahib, is distributed to all. The most famous teachings to the guru). It is devoid of images The congregation then proceeds attributed to Guru Nanak are and statues as Sikhs worship God to the free kitchen for a vegetarian that there is only one God, and in his true abstract form. The Guru meal prepared and provided by that all human beings can have Granth Sahib (the Sikh Holy volunteers. They sit in rows and direct access to God without Book) is placed at a prominent eat the same food from the same The Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy book) is read at a religous need of rituals or priests. His position in the gurdwara. type of utensils to emphasize service at the temple. The holy book is usually placed on a raised most radical social teachings There are daily religious equality of all persons regardless dais covered with a canopy as a sign of respect. denounced the caste system and services at the gurdwara but the of their social standing. The food taught that everyone is equal, majority of Sikhs attend the is served to Sikhs and non-Sikhs regardless of caste or gender. Sunday service, which lasts alike. The free kitchen is an several hours. Devotees have to integral part of the Sikh temple remove their footwear and cover and promotes good values such their heads at the temple. (Tobacco as generosity (exemplified in the and intoxicants are not allowed giving and sharing of food and in the temple.) On entering the other necessities); equality (by THE SIKH SCRIPTURE is a the permanent guru. When Sikhs congregation hall, Sikhs kneel sitting together for the meal); 1,430-page book called the Guru could not find answers to specific All male Sikhs have the name and bow with heads touching the selfless service and humility Granth Sahib which contains the issues in the Guru Granth Sahib, “Singh” as their last name floor as a sign of respect to the (through service in the kitchen). writings of the Sikh gurus, Hindu they should decide as a community, while all female Sikhs have Guru Granth Sahib. They then sit Every gurdwara has an elected saints and Muslim holy men. The such decisions to be based on the “Kaur” as their last name. on the floor, men at one side of committee that manages the Sikh scripture is unique in that principles in the book, he instructed. Singh means lion; and the hall, women at the other. temple. Funding for the gurdwara the Sikh gurus themselves were In the temple, the Guru Granth Kaur means princess. There are no specially trained comes from membership fees and responsible for its compilation. Sahib is usually placed on a raised This naming system was priests to perform religious donations from the congregation Its subject is Truth – how to live dais covered with a canopy. Its introduced by Guru Gobind services and any Sikh who can read and well-wishers. a truthful life. contents are set to music and are Singh to reflect Sikhismʼs the Punjabi script, male or female, Besides being a place of The tenth and last human Sikh sung regularly at Sikh religious teaching that everyone is can perform the religious service. worship, the Sikh temple is also a guru, Guru Gobind Singh (1675- services. equal in the eyes of God, But for convenience, a granthi (a place for social interaction and 1708), decreed that after his death Sikhs also seek advice and regardless of their social reader of the Guru Granth Sahib) scholarship. It is also a community the spiritual guide of the Sikhs would instructons pertaining to their status. Singh and Kaur is usually employed. The granthi centre offering food and shelter be the teachings contained in that faith and life from the the replaced the caste names sits behind the Guru Granth Sahib to the poor and needy. Major book. Thus the book not only has Sikh central authority based in originally used. ■ and waves a chaur (a whisk made ceremonies like marriage and the status of a guru, but is revered as Amritsar, Punjab. ■ from long animal hair) over the funerals also take place there. ■