Frequently asked questions about Sikhism
Q. Who are Sikhs?
A. Sikhs are a people sharing common religious, social and political institutions. Twenty five million people worldwide identify themselves as adherents of the Sikh faith, making it the fifth largest world-religion.
Word "Sikh" means disciple of the true (absolute) guru. A Sikh is a person whose faith consists of belief in One God and who follows the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib, the present guru of Sikhs.
Sikhism is a monotheistic faith, which was founded by Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469 - 1539) and shaped by his nine successors in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in South Asia. Sikhism is not a sect of Hinduism or Islam, or synthesis of these two faiths.
Q. Who and what is a Guru?
A. For Sikhs, the "Guru" is the exalted master who shows the way to enlightenment and union with god. There were 10 Gurus in the human form from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh who developed the faith and moulded the Sikh community. Guru Granth Sahib (sacred text), the scriptural embodiment of over two centuries of spiritual teaching and instructions became the eternal Guru of the Sikhs, ending the human lineage of Guru. Sikhs consider the message contained within the scripture to be the living word of God, communicated directly through the enlightened Gurus and Saints. Guru Granth Sahib teaches through divine bani (words of god) that are set to a formal system of Sikh classical music. In the compilation of the Sikh scripture, the Gurus included the hymns of many non- Sikh spiritual guides from diverse religious traditions, making Guru Granth Sahib truly universal.
Q. What is God according to Sikh belief?
A. According to the Sikh belief, God is all omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. The sun, moon/s, planets, wind, fire, water, vegetation and all other things which exist are His witnesses.
God is the sole creator, sustainer and destroyer. He is beyond birth and death. He is both merciful and compassionate. He is beyond fear and enmity. He is self illuminated. He is the Master of all the treasures. All our possessions are a result of His grace.
The Sikhs call God as Waheguru, meaning the most wonderful Master.
Sikhs do not believe in duality, but unity in diversity.
Q. What are core Sikh beliefs?
* According to the Sikh belief, a Sikh must worship only the abstract form of God. Daily prayer and devotion to God and His Creation is required. * Every one has equal status before God. * Sikhism promotes the unity of God, universal love, equality and brotherhood of man, strict moral conduct and the rejection of the caste system, any distinction made for class, religion, race, creed or sex, idol worship, superstitious belief and inferiority of women. * The Sikh goal is to end the cycle of birth, death and rebirth, and unite the separated individual soul with the Universal Soul (God). The way to attain this goal is through applying the teachings of the Gurus to all situations, continuous meditation on the Holy Name, selfless service, control of mind and correct regulation of desires and impulses.
Q. Are there any Do's and Dont's for Sikhs?
A Sikh should * Worship only God and no one else. * Make worship and prayer a part of daily life. * Work hard and work with honesty and lead a truthful life. * Share earnings with others and help the needy and the poor. * Love his children and respect his parents. * Not harm others and believe that everyone is the child of God. * Believe that all human-beings are equal.
In Sikhism there are 4 cardinal sins (Kurehats). Sikhs should not; * cut their hair * commit adultery * use tobacco or other drugs * eat meat (kuttha).
Sikhism identifies 5 vices, which a Sikh must regulate and control. These are: * Kaam (lust) * Krodh (anger) * Lobh (greed) * Moh (worldly attachment) * Ahankar (egotism).
Blind rituals such as worship of idols, images, tombs and graves, superstitions, pilgrimages and fasting are prohibited.
Q. Do Sikhs have to pray everyday?
Every Sikh is required to fulfill following three duties: * Naam Japna - Daily meditation * Kirt Karna - Earning honest living * Vand Chakna- Sharing earnings with the poor and caring for the needy.
Sikhs can pray and meditate as much as they like when and where it practically suits them but they must pray at least three times a day before sunrise (Nitnem), evening (Rehraas) and before going to sleep (Sohelaa).
Every Sikh daily prays for the wellbeing of everyone by saying "O'God, in your Name, shower your blessings on everyone". Sikhs are expected to become and remain God-conscious with every breath. Their prayers exhort the need for self-exploration, self-knowledge and self-realisation, and the running of their daily lives in accordance with the Guru's Word (Gurmatt).
Q. Where do Sikhs worship?
A. Sikh place of worship is called Gurdwara Sahib, Gurudwara meaning 'Gurus door' or 'doorway to the Guru' which is open to visitors, irrespective of their religion, at all times and Sahib is to respect anything related to Guru Sahib like Guru Sahib's sikh is called Bhai Sahib, Guru Sahib's bed is called Manji Sahib, Guru Sahib's paalki is called paalki Sahib etc.
Gurdwara Sahibs were established for the purpose of collective worship incorporating the institution of Langar (community kitchen), which aimed to remove caste barriers and social taboos, and where the spirit of selfless service and social harmony could be nurtured.
Q. Why do Sikhs don't cut their hair?
A. Sikhs maintains long unshorn hair (Kes) as an act of commitment and an acceptance of God's Will. Keeping uncut hair (including untrimmed beard and moustache) is regarded as living as nature intended. This also demonstrates a Sikhs' submission to the Will of the Creator. Keeping unshorn hair is one of the basic requirements for a Sikh. Unshorn hairs are a marker of Sikh identity that identify to the world who is a Sikh. Sikhs do not forcibly remove any hair from the body but maintain clean hair with proper washing; tying and keeping them covered are requirements for a Sikh.
Q. Do Sikhs have any human spiritual leader?
A. Sikhism does not have a clergy and all human beings are capable of realizing God. In 1699, the tenth Sikh Guru founded the Order of the Khalsa to establish a society dedicated in the face of all odds to practicing the essential Sikh values. The physical authority of leading Sikhs was bestowed upon Guru Granth Sahib and selected five beloved's from Order of Khalsa. These five beloved one's should be fully committed Sikh believers initiated through a special ceremony, Amrit Sanchaar.
