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The word SIKH means disciple or student. Sikhs are students and followers of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469), the founder of the world’s fifth largest religion, Sikhism or Sikh Dharam which is its preferred name.
Sikh Dharam is a way of life that advocates the practice of holistic life experiences, work, worship and service. Sikhs do not recognise racial, class, caste or any other earthly distinctions. Sikhs respect equality between women and men.
The Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the eternal spiritual guide for Sikhs. The Sikh scripture, written in the form of hymns and poetry, it includes writings of six of the Guru’s as well as the devotional writings of 30 other saints, including Hindu and Muslim saints and leaders. It is made up of 1430 pages containing spiritual knowledge with the authority of all the Guru’s.
Sikhs believe that there is one God for all creation, a loving Creator attainable through meditation upon and remembrance of God’s name. On 30th March 1699 Guru Gobind Singh Ji the tenth Guru revealed a new voluntary order for Sikhs, called the Khalsa which means “belonging only to the divine”.
The Sikh place of worship is called the “Gurudwara”, meaning “the Guru’s threshold” or “Guru’s abode”. In the Gurudwara, Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the sangat (congregation) come together. Every Gurudwara provides Langar, a free communal blessed meal, served and eaten together by everyone visiting.
It is impossible to find substitutable words or equivalent translations or meanings for words from the scriptural text of Guru Granth Sahib Ji exalted to the position of the eternal Guru.
Sikhs
Sikh Dharam respects all religions. According to Sikh Dharam all religions eminated with Gods grace and are like different roads leading to the same destination.
The Guru’s clearly stated the futility of entering into arguments regarding diversity. They encouraged their followers instead to cultivate a rational attitude and find out for themselves what is right and what is wrong.
The Guru’s have very clearly stated their own point of view on matters where they differed and disagreed with other religions. It is a testimony to the Guru’s all-embracing, egalitarian approach to religion, Guru Nanak Dev Ji had a constant Muslim companion (Bhai Mardana Ji) with him all his life and visited the holy places of other religions. Guru Arjan Dev Ji had great affection for a Muslim saint, Mian Mir, who laid the foundation stone of the Sri Hamander Sahib in Amritsar.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji included the Hymns of many Hindu and Muslim saints in the Holy Guru Granth Sahib Ji, caring little for their caste, social standing and religion - Saint Budhu Shah was a staunch Muslim Faqir and yet he was an intimate friend of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. He had his sons and other relatives killed in battle while trying to help the Guru in the fantasia of Muslim tyranny and bigotry. Nabi Khan and Ghani Khan risked their lives and carried the Guru in a palanquin from one place to another at a time when the penalty of expressing the faith in the Guru was death for all the family and relatives. The Guru’s laid stress on the purity of thought, word and deed and rejected ritualism and unrealistic blind faith.
Sikhs are encouraged to recite their morning and evening prayers. They are advised to remember God throughout the day. The hymns of the Guru’s can be repeated aloud or in the mind, at work, on the road, in the bus or anywhere wherever the Sikh happens to be.
Sikhs believe in ten spiritual masters called Guru’s. A Guru literally means 'one who dispels darkness and illuminates the soul with light.' No Guru ever called himself 'God' Sikhs hold their Guru’s in the highest esteem.
Sikhs believe in the transmigration of ones soul, repeating the true naam, and doing good deeds can attract Gods grace.
All religions are means for the spiritual betterment of human beings and hence are good in their own way. Religion has caused enormous bloodshed and distruction because of it being misinterpreted, distorted and misused.
