six faiths

7/29/2019 Six Faiths

1/33

1

Mandeep Singh Bawa

GAISS Equity Education Director

SIKHISM


2/33

Who are the Sikhs?


3/33

3

Origin of Sikhism

What is a Sikh?What is a Guru?

Birth of Sikhism & the 10 Gurus

Birth of the Khalsa & The 5 Ks

Sikh Beliefs

The Guru Granth Sahib

Gurdwara & The Golden Temple

Importance of IdentitySikh Dastar (Turban)

Dastar Bandi & Anand Karaj

Sikhs in North America

Agenda


4/33

4

INDIA

CHINA

INDIAAFGHANISTAN

PAKISTAN

IRAN

Origin of Sikhism


5/33

Sikh means Student orDiscipleSikhism is worlds 5th largest religion, after

Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism

26 million Sikhs worldwide20 million in India

1 million in North America

99 % of the people wearing TURBANSin

America are Sikhs

What is a Sikh?


6/33

6

Gurumeans Spiritual Enlightener

The term GURU implies descendant of divine

guidance to mankind sent from God.

Literally translated: GUmeans darkness andRU means light.Thus, Guru means the Light that dispelsdarkness. Therefore, Guru Nanak was theembodiment of divine light.

What is a Guru?


7/33

7

Guru Nanak Dev Ji1st Guru

Born in 1469 during a timewhen:

Rich exploited the poor

Women had no role in society

Land divided by religion Caste system prevailed

Guru Nanak founded Sikhismbased on equality and justice for

all and taught us that all humanbeings regardless of skin color,wealth, caste, and gender are

created equal. Truth is high; still higher istruthful living- Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Birth of Sikhism


8/33

8

Naam Japo: Chanting the Holy Name andthus remembering God at all

times (ceaseless devotion toGod).

Kirat Kar: Earning/making a livinghonestly, without exploitation orfraud.

Vand Chakk: Sharing with others, helpingthose with less who are in need.

These principles became the FOUNDATION ofSikhism.

Guru Nanak Dev jis

Principles


9/33

9

The 10 Gurus


10/33

10

The 10 GurusGuru Nanak Dev jiFounded Sikhism

Guru Angad Dev jiIntroduced new alphabet known asGurmukhiScript, started langar

Guru Amardas jiEmbodiment of Seva (service)

Guru Ramdas jiBuilt the holy city of Amritsar

Guru Arjan Dev jiCompiled Guru Granth Sahib, builtGolden Temple, First Sikh Martyr

Guru Hargobind jiMiri (Temporal Strength) and Piri

(Spiritual Strength)

Guru Har Rai jiOpened Free hospitals for those in need,man breaks flowers with one hand and offers them with the

other, but the flowers perfume both hands alike. The axe cuts

the sandal tree, yet the sandal perfumes the axe. Guru Har

Rai Ji


11/33

11

Guru Har Krishan jiDevoted his life to helping the sick

Guru Tegh Bahadur ji - Championed religious freedom,

martyred while fighting for religious freedom

Guru Gobind Singh jiCreated Khalsa (comes from the

Persian word khalismeaning Pure),

A splendid Divine Light shone in the darkness of the night.

Pir Bhikan Shah, a Muslim mystic performed his prayers in

that Easterly direction (instead of towards the West, contrary

to his daily practice), and guided by this Divine Light, hetraveled with a group of his followers until he reached Patna

Sahib in Bihar, India.

The 10 Gurus


12/33

12

During the spring of 1699, theGuru called his followers for aspecial gathering. Symbolized arevitalization of the Sikh identityand the evolution of the Sikhcommunity into saint-soldiers.

After initiating the five "belovedones" into the new order of theKhalsa, the Guru knelt beforethem and requested that theyinitiate him.

Gave the names Singh (Lion)to

men and Kaur (Princess)towomen.

Khalsa Sikhs identified with the 5Ks.

Birth of the Khalsa


13/33

5 Ks mandatory articles of faithKesh - Uncut hair: Sikhs do not cut hair or

beards to remain in the image thatGod gave us.

Kachera - Under-shorts (boxers) to represent

modesty and fidelity (virtuouscharacter)

Kanga - Comb, made of wood - to keep uncuthair neat and clean.

Kara - Bracelet, made of steel worn on right

handa reminder of noble actions,a symbol of eternity.

Kirpan - Ceremonial small blunt knifesymbolizing freedom, liberty

and justice.

Articles of Faith


14/33

14

The Khanda: is the double edgedsword that represents Gods power,the circle is for continuity, the twoouter swords for spiritual and politicalbalance.

Khanda


15/33

15

There is One God for all of creation, a

loving Creator attainable through the GraceGoal is to be one with god

Selfless service towards the entire Creation

Truth, fearless, non-hateful spirit are

important in attaining salvation

Absolute equality of humanity

Defenders of social and spiritual justice

Living a moral, truthful and hardworkingexistence

Humility and loving action

Defending the rights of the downtrodden and

oppressed

Sikh Beliefs

Bhai Kanhiya

pioneer of the RedCross & humanitarian

aide organizations


16/33

16

Gurumeans Spiritual teacherwho dispelsthe ignorance.

Granthimplies a Scripture containing divineknowledge.Sahib is added as a mark of respect, whichliterally means The Masteror The Lord.

Guru Granth Sahib ji


17/33

17

Guru Granth Sahib -the Sikh Scripture is purely monotheistic

1430 pages

The Gurus Experience of the Divine

Also included were a few hymns from Hindu and Muslim saints whobelieved in ONE God

The main teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib are cultivating a realpersonal devotion to God, fostering compassion and service for peoplewho are poor or suffering, and promoting equality and seekingharmony among all human beings

The central theme of the Guru Granth Sahib is concerned with thecreation of a just social order and the commitment to social and gender

equality and peaceful coexistence

Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru

declared Guru Granth Sahib Ji as theeternal Guru and ultimate spiritualauthority for the Sikhs.

Guru Granth Sahib ji


18/33

18

GurdwaraPlace of WorshipThe Sikh religious service follows the traditions started by the

1st

Guru to promote equality and alleviate suffering. It has 3components:

1. Sangat: Community prayer through readings from the GuruGranth Sahib and singing of hymns (Kirtan).

2. Pangat: A sense of equality with everyone seated on theground - at the same level.

3. Langar: Community vegetarian meal for all.Protocol to be observed in the Gurdwara:

Heads covered

Shoes removed

Sit on floor

All are WELCOME


19/33

19

GurdwaraPlace of Worship


20/33

20

The Golden Temple is the most sacred of places for the Sikhs.

To enter one has to descend stairsteaches humility.

There are doors on all fours sides, which signifies that people from

all over the world are invited irrespective of caste, color, religion,

and race.

24/7 Langar.

The Golden Temple


21/33

21


22/33

Mandatorynot a social or cultural

article.Covers long, uncut hair.

Approx. 15 feet of cloth wrapped neatlyaround the head.

Boys wear patka .

Symbolizes discipline, integrity, humility,and spirituality.

Middle East head coverings different.99% of people wearing TURBANSin USare Sikhs, not Muslims or Hindus.

Sikh Dastar (Turban)


23/33

23

Types of Turbans


24/33

24

Sikh Dastar (Turban)


25/33

25

Sikhs feel severely humiliated if asked to removetheir turban in public, as this breaks a sacredcovenant with god and exposes an intimate partof the body.

It is very insulting and disrespectful to a Sikh toremove his or her turban.

Turbans are a mandatory part of Sikh faith.

A turban is not a hat. It cannot be casually taken

on and off. It must be carefully retied each time itis removed.

Treat the turban with respect.

Importance of Identity


26/33

26

A very important and exciting

event in the life of a Sikh boy

comes when he starts tying the

turban (Usually between 10-14

years of age).

Family will have a special functionto celebrate the occasion, which is

called Dastar Bandi.

The boy is is seated in front of

Guru Granth Sahib ji and an elder

ties the turban on his head.

Prayers are said to invoke Guru's

blessing for the boy.

Dastar Bandi


27/33

27

The Sikh

marriage is called'Anand Karaj'which means theceremony of joy.

The Sikh weddingis held in themorning in aGurdwara in thepresence of GuruGranth Sahib Ji.

One Soul in Two Bodies"They are not said to be husband and wife, who merely sit together. Rather they aloneare called husband and wife, who have one soul in two bodies." (GuruAmar Das Ji, Pauri, pg 788, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji)

Anand Karaj


28/33

28

Arrived around late 1890sPlaces

California, Oregon and Washington

British Columbia

Farming & Lumber Industry

Immigration Barriers by 1920s

San Francisco Chronicle, April 6, 1899Vancouver Diamond Jubilee 1897 Hong Kong Regiment

Sikhs in North America


29/33

29

Gurbax Singh Mahli

First Turbaned Sikh inCanadian Parliament

Narinder Singh Kapani

Father of Fiber Optics

Dr. Manmohan Singh

Indian Prime Minister

Baltej Singh Dhillon

First Turbaned Sikh in

Royal Canadian Mounted

Police

T Sher Singh

Recognized with the

Order of Canada

Some Sikh Public Faces


30/33

30

Amrit and Rabindra Kaur

Artists

Colonel Sekhon

United States Army

Bhagat Singh Thind

US Army 1912

Nuvraj Singh Bassi

University of Oregon

Football Player

Some Sikh Public Faces


31/33

31

Equality of all religions and people

Give relevance to God rather than religion

Believers of interfaith diversity

Sikhism believes that there are many paths to God . Anyone canachieve salvation irrespective of the religion that they follow if

they endear God in their heart and daily actions

Respect for All


32/33

32

SikhiWiki (www.Sikhiwiki.org)

SikhNet (www.sikhnet.com)

All About Sikhs (www.allaboutsikhs.org)

Sikh Council USA (www.sikhcouncilusa.org)

GAISS (www.guruangadinstitute.org)

UNITED SIKHS (www.unitedsikhs.org)

SALDEF (www.saldef.org)

Sikh Coalition (www.sikhcoalition.org)

References
http://www.sikhiwiki.org/http://www.sikhnet.com/http://www.allaboutsikhs.org/http://www.sikhcouncilusa.org/http://www.guruangadinstitute.org/http://www.unitedsikhs.org/http://www.saldef.org/http://www.sikhcoalition.org/http://www.sikhcoalition.org/http://www.saldef.org/http://www.unitedsikhs.org/http://www.guruangadinstitute.org/http://www.sikhcouncilusa.org/http://www.allaboutsikhs.org/http://www.sikhnet.com/http://www.sikhiwiki.org/


33/33

33

ONE GOD IN ALL

six faiths

Documents