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Sikhism

Spring 2003
World Religions
1511 words

Sikhism

    Sikhism is one of the world’s youngest religions. It began in the Punjab region of India, and although there are 12 million Sikhs around the world today, most still reside in this same area (however, these people only make up about 2 percent of India’s total population!). One of India’s famous landmarks is Harimandir, the golden temple in Amritsar, India, which sits above a reflecting pool built in 1577 by Guru Ram Das and is the most sacred of Sikh holy places.

    Sikhism was introduced by Nanak about 500 years ago. Nanak was the first Sikh guru (teacher) and is believed by the Sikhs to have been divinely inspired. He was born into a Hindu family which resided in what was a predominantly Muslim area. He was very wise in both the ways of Hinduism and Islam. After a vision, he said, "There is no Hindu; there is no Muslim," meaning not that their religions did not exist, but that he recognized "the unity of society beyond narrow categories such as Hindu and Muslim, or... Jew, Christian, or Buddhist." (Singh, 22) The words of Nanak and nine other gurus are kept in the Holy Granth, which is the Sikh scripture. Early on, Sikhs were became a fighting force, when two of their leaders were executed by Muslim rulers. Sikhs are known as courageous fighters, and many joined the British Army in World War I. However, after the war, in 1919, the British would not allow the Sikhs hold a New Year festival, and when the Sikhs disobeyed, the British fired on hundreds of them. However, relations improved afterward and there was a period of peace, until World War II, when the Sikhs joined the British army once more.

    Another problem arose after World War II when the British left India. The Punjab area that many Sikhs were living in became a part of the new Pakistan, which was a predominantly Muslim nation. They had to leave their home for India. Because they would have liked to create their own Sikh state, tension grew, and in the early 1980s, Sikh separatists were becoming violent. In 1984, many of these separatists went into Harimandir, and there were killed by the Indian Army. Today things are relatively peaceful, although most Sikhs would still rather govern their own affairs.

    Sikhs believe that the universe was created and exists through an ultimate power. "Sikhs refer to the power over all not usually as God but by its characteristics. Therefore, it maybe referred to as the Ultimate Reality, the Ultimate, the Divine, the One, the Formless, the Transcendent, the Universal, Infinity, Truth, and other similar titles. This variety signifies the great variety and universal nature of the One." (Singh, 8) The fundamental principle of Sikhism states: "There is only One being and Truth is its Name." The Ultimate Reality cannot be represented visually at all.

    Sikhs believe that there are five steps that lead to the Ultimate Reality. The first is Dharam Khand, the earthly life. During this stage, "it is the duty of all people to put their ethical standards into practice." (Singh, 61) Gyan Khand is the second stage, "the realm of knowledge," in which a person realizes how huge the universe is, and how small humans are when compared to it, and at this point humanity replaces ego and prejudices are destroyed. Saram Khand, the third stage, "the realm of art," which "sharpens and refines human sensibility. In this realm, people develop an appreciation of beauty... In Nanak’s words, 'One who can appreciate fragrance will alone know the flower.'" (Singh, 61) The fourth stage, Karam Khand, is the "realm of grace." Here are people who have no trace of egotism in their hearts. Nanak said, "By conquering oneself, one conquers the world." (Singh, 62). The fifth and final stage, Sach Khand, is the "realm of truth." The individual in this stage will have "no more rebirths into the world, and no more lives, and no more deaths. The self is freed from all limitations of space, time, gender, and earthly considerations. They are replaced by absolute joy," (Singh, 63) and this is what the Sikhs call "true living," which "is the purpose of all human experience." (Singh, 63)

    "Sikhs reject all distinctions of social class, race, and creed because they are artificial and because they separate people from the One Ultimate Reality." (Singh, 8) Men and women are equal and everyone is welcome to participate in the Sikhism. Guru Nanak once said, concerning women:

 "Of woman we are born, of woman conceived,
To woman engaged, to woman married.
Woman we befriend, by woman do civilizations continue.
When a woman dies, a woman is sought for.
It is through woman that order is maintained.
Then why call her inferior from whom all great ones are born?" (Singh, 104)

    Sikhs believe that the origins of human suffering are in egotism. They believe that "pride, arrogance, and a constant focus on [oneself] separates the individual from others and from the Universal One." (Singh, 56) Sikhs believe that egotism can be overcome, not by practices of self-denial, but by listening to the Divine Word, having faith, and being full of love.

    Like in many religions, Sikhs have specific ways of practicing their religion. They try to focus on living their faith, and do not gather only on specific days at specific times to pray, as many other religions do. Instead Sikhs may pray anywhere at any time, although morning and evening prayers are offered during a gathering called angat at the gurudwara, the Sikh place of worship. Besides praying, Sikhs also express their beliefs by reading the scriptures, helping keep up the gurudwara, sharing with the community, and giving to the poor. This voluntary social service is called seva, and Sikhs believe that through seva, they "cultivate humility, overcome ego, and purify their body and mind."

    Sikhs also have no priests. Instead, any members of a gathering, either male or female, may help lead ceremonies. One such ceremony is called bhog. Bhog usually occurs whenever Sikhs gather. A traditional dish called karahprasad, made of butter, flour, and sugar, is made and served to the group. The Guru Granth is read and hymns are sung. Another ceremony is that of name-giving, in which parents present their new child, and it is given its name. Prayers are said, and a sip of a special drink called amrit is given to the child, and the rest given to the mother. Then the spine of the Guru Granth is set on cushions while the rest of the book is held up, closed. The book is then gently opened at random. Then the child is given a name which begins with the first letter at the top of the left hand page. The drink, amrit, is also served during the initiation ceremony that is held when someone becomes a Sikh.

    Although Sikhs do not use alcohol or other intoxicants, they do not practice self-denial in order to reach what they call "true living." Most Sikhs eat meat, although they will only eat the meat of an animal which was killed in one quick stroke. They will not eat the meat of an animal which has been killed in Islamic or Kosher tradition, because they see it as painful to the animal. They are hard workers, and do not look down on any type of work, as all labor is dignified, and instead look down on laziness and living off others, which they see as unacceptable.

    Sikhs can be easily identified by their clothing, as they all wear the same types of clothing as symbols of their faith. Sikh men and women both wear a steel bracelet on their right wrist. "The steel... symbolizes spiritual courage and strength, and the circle is a reminder of the unity of the Ultimate One, which has no beginning and no end." (Singh, 67) The most recognizable symbol of the Sikh is the turban. Men wear a turban, while most women wear a shawl. Covering one’s head is seen as a sign of reverence. Men also wear a beard, and both men and women do not cut their hair. Men take the surname Singh, which means "lion" or "lion-hearted," and women take the surname Kaur, which means "princess." Sikhs regard other Sikhs as their brothers and sisters, and will welcome them into their homes as family. Sikhs show this familyhood as well as their social equality by joining together in a community mean called langar. "The food used at langar is vegetarian so as not to cause offense to anyone. Both men and women engage in preparation and cleanup." (Singh, 24) It might not seem so important today, but when Nanak was alive, members of different castes eating together was a radical idea.

    We could learn something from the Sikhs, who see all people as equal despite their gender, race, religion, or social status. The fact that they can find "unity in diversity" (Singh, 121) is inspiring and should be a lesson for all people throughout the world.

Works Cited

Singh, Nikky-Guninder Kaur. World Religions: Sikhism. Facts on File, New York, 1993.