Sikhism Revision

Origins of Sikhism and Gurus

Sikhism started in 1469 by Guru Nanak.

Guru Nanak was raised in India, where Muslims and Hindus were fighting. There were four varnas: Religious leaders, soldiers, merchants and the untouchables. Guru Nanak rejected these, and preached equality.

One day Guru Nanak disappeared into a river for three days. After this, he began Sikhism upon God's command.

The Mool Mantra

The Mool Mantra is the opening of the Guru Granth Sahib. It starts with "Ik Onkar"-there is only one God. It is important to Sikhism because it states the core beliefs that every Sikh has, such as God has no form. It teaches that God created the Universe, but is separate from it.

Sikhs accept scientific beliefs, but believe it is done through God's will. Sikhs believe God has no form and is free as a spirit. This means that he is separate from the Universe. However God is present everywhere, in souls and humans (sargun).

Life as an opportunity

Quotations to show this include "He himself abides in each and every heart" and "He is the perfect transcendent Lord".

Sikhs believe life is an opportunity for one goal: Mukti. Mukti is the absorption of a soul into God for eternity. It is seen as a never ending state of bliss and happiness.

Sikhs believe in the process of Samsara, which is the process of reincarnation. A Sikh's aim in life is to break this cycle to achieve Mukti.

Karma affects the rebirth of a Sikh. Good karma increases your chance of achieving Mukti, whilst bad karma will increase your chance of a bad rebirth, further away from Mukti. Good karma includes helping people, working an honest living, being focused on God etc. Bad karma is lust, greed, pride etc. However, doing good things only for good karma will award you with bad karma instead.

Sikh virtues

The Sikh virtues are Kirat Karna, Vand Chakna and Nam Japna.


Kirat Karna- To earn an honest living by honest means and hard work. Avoid being materialistic.
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Vand Chakna- Sharing with others who are less fortunate, showing generosity and self- sacrifice.
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Nam Japna- Remember God at all times. Meditate on the qualities of God set out in the Guru Granth Sahib.

These Sikh virtues link to karma, Samsara and Mukti. To perform these virtues in everyday life will increase your good karma, give a better rebirth and a closer chance of achieving Mukti.

Sikhs recite this everyday, at births and in difficult situations.

The barriers to Mukti

There are five barriers to Mukti:


  1. Krodh-Anger- Anger leads to lack of self control and can harm others. The feelings of others of forgotten and the person is consumed by their own anger.

  1. Lobh-Greed- Sikhs are fine with enjoying life, as they should make the most of what God has given them. However, if a human's actions are focused on materialism and is no longer focused on God, they are further away from Mukti.
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  2. Moh- Worldly attachment- This is any emotional attachment which makes someone forget God. This can include a person, an item etc which someone believes they cannot live without. They forget the lasting part of creation is God.


  3. Ahankar- Pride- This is regarded as the worst. It makes people believe they are better than others and can lead to jealousy and hurting other. Pride makes others take credit for success and wealth etc. Pride leads to haumai and makes them self centred.


  4. Kam- Lust- Sexual desire is not regarded as evil. However, when it turns to desire to satisfy yourself and no longer focuses on love, it is seen as weakness. Sex should be between a husband and wife and motivated by love.

Many Gurus came after Guru Nanak, the first being Lehna/ Guru Angad. Guru Nanak put some men through tests, such as retrieving a cup from a dirty ditch. Lehna was the only one who did so, so Guru Nanak knew he was the most loyal.

The Khalsa

The Khalsa was a brotherhood set up by the last Guru (Guru Gobind SIngh). It was set up to give Sikhs courage in the time of persecution.

When the Khalsa was set up, Guru Gobind Singh asked if anyone was willing to give their life for their faith. One from the crowd rose, and entered a tent. Guru Gobind Singh returned with a bloody sword. Many panicked, but four more rose to give their lives. However, the Guru returned with the five men unharmed. They were the start of the Khalsa.

The name for the first five members of the Khalsa were Panj Piare. Women in the Khalsa were called Kaur (Princess).

There were stories written about Guru Nanak called Janem Sakhi.

Gurmukh, Manmukh, Haumai and Maya

All Sikhs aim to be Gurmukh. This means to be God centred- To be completely focused on God. People who are Gurmukh meditate on God and spend their lives treating others equally and being selfless.

To be Manmukh is to be self centred and therefore forget God. This means they get jealous and even when they do help others, it is to benefit themselves. Being manmukh means you are further away from achieving Mukti and are stuck in the process of samsara untill you change.

Maya leads the soul to forget God and become attached to things in life that do not last e.g material items.

Haumai is the result of maya and is present in the Five Evils. Haumai refers to being self centred and is described as "A loathsome disease yet is one which is subject to cure".

The Five Khands

Dharam Khand- The Realm of Moral Duty- In Sikhism, it is believed that all Sikhs are born into piety, meaning that everyone has the ability to show commitment to God. At this stage the soul must listen and obey their conscience so they balance their human and spirit needs. Guru Nanak taught that Sikhs can choose to live and act in harmony with their conscience, or ignore it and become self centred. this means they will be caught in rebirth. This reminds Sikhs to focus on a way of life and become God centred. Reciting prayers, Nam Japna, Kirat Karna and Vand Chakna help with this.

Gian Khand- The Realm of Spiritual Knowledge- This stage is where Sikhs understand the nature of the universe and the purpose of life. They begin an awareness of God and understand they are a small part of an immense, God created universe. This means they feel humble, spiritually aware and open to God. This then encourages to resist the urge to follow others and to stay true to themselves.

Saram Khand- The realm of Spiritual Efforts- This is where the knowledge deepens to wisdom. As the Sikh has made an effort to tune in to God, a new level of awareness is reached. This awareness cannot be understood until it is experienced. The Sikh way of life is now an ingrained habit. Sikhs recognise that God is separate to the universe and Sikhs are humble in words and action, as their awareness has changed.

Karam Khand- The Realm of Grace- Sikhs are aware spiritually that God is always present in their minds and hearts. They acquire spiritual strength through God, as his love enables the Sikh to grow spiritually. Fear of death vanishes and samsara ends. In this realm Sikhs believe there are saints in a state of supreme bliss.

Sach Khand- The Realm of Truth- The Sikh's soul is absorbed into God and Mukti is achieved. It brings realisation that, within the cycle of life and death, everything exists. Nothing is the same consistently except for God. It is the final state of consciousness and is unending happiness. When the Sikh dies, they will not be re-birthed, they will be permanently reunited with God.

Women in Sikhism

Guru Nanak treated men and women equally. He preached equality and saw no superior gender. This is seen in the quotation "Without woman, there would be no one at all".

In the time of Guru Nanak, women were treated as inferior in India. They were not educated, infanticide often occurred. Demeaning rituals such as Sati were common. Sati saw a woman throw herself onto the flames used to burn the corpse of her husband. Women were seen as pointless without men.

Guru Nanak allowed women to spread the message of Sikhism, encouraged women to read from the Guru Granth Sahib and forbade the veil. Guru Amar Das even stopped a Hindu queen from joining Sikhism until she removed her veil. It is also forbidden to forcibly marry a woman off without consent.

However, there may be inequality, as women often cook in the Langar whilst men work the Gurdwara.

Sewa

Sewa is selfless service and is encouraged that Sikhs participate in this.

Tan- Physical service- Physical tasks which benefit others for example, helping in the Langar or cleaning the Gurdwara.

Man-Mental Service- Using the mind to help or inspire others for example, reading the Guru Granth Sahib or teaching people.

Dhan- Material Service- Material support. Many Sikhs give a tenth of their earrings to the Sikh community or charities.

Bhai Ghaneya is an example of someone who acted Tan. A bloody battle saw many injured, and Bhai gave them all water, even the enemy. Many were not pleased, and sent him to Guru Gobind Singh. When asked why, Bhai explained that he saw God in all of them. Singh gave him herbal medicine to apply to the injured.

Keywords I might forget

Akal Purakh- The Eternal One

Sat Nam- True name.