Sikhism

1. Sikhism

2. Terms • Sikh - ‘disciple’ or ‘seeker of truth’ • Nam – the holy name of God • Guru – a spiritual mentor; the perfect master; the Word of God is present through the Guru; lead the community to union with God • 10 gurus, holy book, God himself • Adi Granth -holy scriptures • Sangat – congregation • Khalsa- militarySikh society; brotherhood of Sikh believers • Langar – free kitchen; a centerpiece of Sikhism – common meal; equality • Gurdwara – meeting place for worship; includes the langar • Udasis – renunciates; small order in Sikhism • Practice strict meditation & discipline but serve humanity • Developed by Guru Nanak’s eldest son

4. Background • Founded by Guru Nanak(c. 1499AD) • Fifth largest of world religions • Around 18 million adherents (mostly in India) • Influenced by Hinduism and Islam • Bhakti movement, e.g. Vishnu and Shiva • Submission to God’s will known through guidance of guru • Especially form which emphasized imageless and formless God without attributes • Poet Kabir • Rejects authority of Vedas • Syncretistic • Love for God is enough to free one from samsara • Islamic devotion to one God • Muslim sufis • 1526-1858 Mughal empire

5. Background • Yet Sikhism unique in its synthesis and understanding • Possesses its own revelation • Mostly in India and diaspora communities

6. Three Fundamental Elements of Sikhism • Three fundamental elements of Sikhism, two which can be traced directly to Nanak • Nanak’s teaching, the Adi Granth, forms the core of Sikh scripture • Institution of the office of the Guru • The khalsa, founded in 18th century, but fairly consistent w/Nanak’s teachings

7. The Ten Gurus: Nanak (1st) • Ten gurus – were illuminated w/truth of God’s word and are themselves illuminators of truth that leads to salvation • Transference of personality of Guru from one to the next ‘as one lamp lights another’ • * indicates especially important Guru for you to know • *1st - Nanak (c. 1469-1539 C.E.) • Founded Sikhism • Experiences intense encounter w/God • Is given God’s name- Nam (cf. God, Moses and names) • feet • Equality • Rejects discrimination on basis of caste or sex • There is no Hindu, There is no Muslim’

8. Ten Gurus: 2nd-4th • 2nd – Angad Dev (1504-1552 C.E.) • Disciple of Nanak • Stressed idea of langar – free kitchen; common meal • Breaking down caste distinctions, stressing equality • Devises special script, Gurmukhi, for the Sikh scriptures • 3rd - Amar Das • Developed organizational structure of growing community • Sikh parishes • Established rituals and festivals • Collected Sikh scriptures, including writings by non-Sikhs • 4th - Ram Das • Tolerant Moghul ruler Akhbar • Founded holy city of Amritsar • After Ram Das, position of Guru is hereditary

9. Ten Gurus: Arjun Dev (5th) • *5th – ArjunDev (1536-1606) • Built the Golden Temple, Sikhism’s most sacred shrine • Final authoritative edition of the AdiGranth • Enshrined in the Golden Temple • Conflicts with Mughal emperors leads to • ArjunDev tortured & executed • Sikhs then took steps to protect themselves and defend the weak of all religions • Creates more distinguishable community

11. Ten Gurus: 6th-9th • 6th – Hargobind (1595-1644) • Established a Sikh army • Defense of their religion • Carried two swords, one represents temporal power, the other spiritual power • 7th – Har Rai (1630-1661) • Pacifist • 8th – Har Krishan (1656-1664) • 9th – Teg Bahadur (c. 1621-1675) • Martyred by Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb • Asserted right of all peoples to religious freedom

12. Ten Guru: Gobind Singh (10th) • *10th - Gobind Singh (1666-1708) • Son of TegBahadur • Transformed and strengthened the Sikh community • Instituted initiation rite of amrit • Common bowl of water stirred w/double-edged dagger, sweetened w/sugar (compassion) • Justice must always be tempered by compassion/mercy • Men given name Singh (‘lion’) • Women given name Kaur (‘princess’) • They formed the Khalsa (‘pure ones’) • Establishes strong sense of unity and community • Upon death transferred his authority to AdiGranth

13. The Khalsa • The five Ks – Five distinctive symbols of the community’s dedication • Kais - Unshorn hair under turban or veil • Kangha - Comb • Kara - Steel bracelet (servant of God) • Kacha - Short undergarment (modesty) • Kirpan - Sword (dignity & protection of the weak) • Distinguished Sikhs as a community • Social order is based on equality, justice and service to all in devotion to God (contrast with the Hindu order of the time)

14. History • With disintegration of Mughal empire and invasion of India by Afghans, Sikhs fought for independence • Spurred by persecution by the Mughal rulers, they engage in guerilla warfare • Succeeded in establishing a brief Sikh empire (1780-1839) until occupation by the British • A hallmark of the pluralistic society that was created was freedom of religion for all people • Sikhs incorporated into British India, especially British Indian Army • When area of Punjab in which they resided was partitioned and made into the state of Pakistan, they fled to Indian side • Sikh desire for its own state has resulted in tensions between Sikhs and Hindus

15. History: Sects • Khalsa – majority • Some militant • Some contemplative • Udasi • First were followers of Nanak’s son Sri Chand • Ascetic • Celibate • Clean-shaven • Begging bowls • Sahajdhari • Clean shaven • Non-militant • Namdharis and Nirankaris still have line of living gurus

16. The Guru • Function of guru is: • To show the way to the truth • To explain the nature of reality • To give the gift of the divine word • The Adi Granth as the ‘living’ guru

17. Scriptures: Adi Granth (original collection) • Also called Guru Granth Sahib (sacred collection) • The living presence of the Guru is embodied in the scripture • Contains hymns of Guru Nanak, other Gurus, Hindu and Muslim saints and others, including those from low castes • Teachings originally passed orally & memorized • Scriptures compiled by 5th Guru, Arjun Dev

18. Merciful, merciful is the Lord. Merciful is my master. He blesses all beings with His bounties. Why waverest thou, Oh mortal? The Creator Himself shall protect you. He who has created you takes care of you…. Oh mortal, mediate on the Lord as long as there is breath in your body.- Arjun Dev

19. Beliefs: Three Central Teachings as the Path to God • Work hard & earn an honest living (contrast with asceticism or begging) • Share what you have earned with those in need • Remember God at all times as the only Doer and Giver • Note that focus is on devotion to God rather than ritual practices

20. Beliefs: God • Monotheists There is One God Whose Name is Truth, The Creator, Without fear, without hate, Eternal Being Beyond birth and death, Self-existent, Realized by the Guru’s grace. –Guru Nanak

21. Beliefs: God (Nam) • The qualities of God: • One, supreme being • Beyond time and space • Formless • Self-existent • Omniscient • Uncreated • Beyond conception • The only truth • Above samsara • Personal • Transcendent and immanent ‘Why do you go to the forest to find God? He lives in all and yet remains distinctly detached. He dwells in you as well, as fragrance resides in a flower or the reflection in a mirror. God abides in everything. See him, therefore, in your heart.’ -Teg Bahdur (9th guru)

22. Beliefs: Nam (cont.) • God is revealed in all His creation, but especially in His name • Name as total expression of all who God is • The creation is God’s self-manifestation • God’s self-revelation (cf. Christ in Christian thought) • Though transcendent, God may be personally experienced through love and devotion • Believe this one God is worshipped by many names around the world • Sikhism is not the only path to God • The goal is to attain union with God. • We attain nirvana which is absorption into God’s being

23. Beliefs: Creation • God created but he is also sustains his creation by dwelling in his creation • The universe is repeatedly created and dissolved, but it is God who is the agent • Universe is real, but has no independent existence

24. Beliefs: Evil and Free Will • God ‘created’ both good and evil • Overall the world is good • Evil is only evil because we have a partial view of things • Testing of character • "When a complete perspective is granted to man by the grace of God, all evil is seen to melt into its primal source, which is all-Good". [48] "There is no independent principle of evil in the universe, because God is All-Good and nothing that proceeds from All-Good can be really evil, and there is naught which proceeds from ought but God". [49] – Arjan • Man is free within the constraints of certain determinants (e.g. genetic, environmental)

25. Beliefs: The Soul • Soul is created by God, an emanation of God (as is the rest of creation) • Soul, like creation, is good • Soul is finite • Soul has individuality • Bodily form is taken according to the will of God • Soul gives consciousness to the body • Soul is link with God • Soul migrates endlessly into other bodies • At death it goes to judgment before God • Karma determines next rebirth

26. Beliefs: The Human Dilemma • Human Problem: Separation from God due to ignorance and self-centeredness • We turn to the world rather than to God and allow ourselves to be dominated by passions and pride • This egocentricity and pride lead to attachment to pleasure and problems of this world (see Ludwig) • Result is separation from God and the sufferings which accompany such separation • Egocentricity arises because of maya • Our souls are trapped by evil in samsara where we endure countless rebirths

27. Beliefs: Transformation • To achieve union with God: • The Word, the revelation of God through the spoken word. And very closely related, • Emphasis on the Name (Nam) of God • Through meditation on Name of God one finds salvation • God’s name reverberates in creation and through this name, God may be known • Salvation from above – grace • We can hear and respond to Gods name, as God’s self-revelation • Focusing on the divine name, we are brought into personal relationship with God

28. Beliefs: Transformation (cont.) • Guru reveals the way to union with God • The Word of God is present through the Guru • Through Gurus, God channels his grace to humankind • Focus on Gurus’ word • Preparing oneself to receive and experience God • Includes singing praises to God • Meditating on God’s name and repeating it • Allowing divine sound to penetrate one’s entire being • Mediation on Guru’s word and God’s is a conduit for God’s grace which enables the disciple to hear God’s voice

29. Worship • Sikhism does not allow pictorial representation of God or idol worship • No priests or priestly caste • Observe many Hindu festivals • Celebrate some gurus’ birthdays and the day of the founding of the khalsa

30. Worship: The Adi Granth • Focus of ritual is the AdiGranth (Guru Granth Sahib) • AdiGranth as focus of worship • Awoken in morning; put to bed at night (cf. Hindu deities) • Processions • Naming day of child • 1st letter, 1st word of page • Pahul (‘baptism’) at puberty. • Takes amrit and is formally admitted to the khalsa • Weddings • Bride and groom circle round the AdiGranth four times • Funerals • Continual chanting of hymns while body is prepared for cremation