Sikhism
Sikhism is a religion founded in the 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent by Guru Nanak. It emphasizes a monotheistic belief in one God, known as Waheguru, and a way of life centered around living a good life, earning an honest living, and serving others. Sikhs believe in the equality of all people and denounce blind rituals.
Sikhism has over 25 million followers worldwide.
Sikhism developed from the spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak (1469–1539), the faith’s first guru, and the nine Sikh guruswho succeeded him. The tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), named the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the central religious scripture in Sikhism, as his successor. This brought the line of human gurus to a close. Sikhs regard the Guru Granth Sahib as the 11th and eternally living guru.
The core beliefs and practices of Sikhism, articulated in the Guru Granth Sahib and other Sikh scriptures, include faith and meditation in the name of the one creator , the divine unity and equality of all humankind, engaging in selfless service to others ,striving for justice for the benefit and prosperity of all , and honest conduct and livelihood. Following this standard, Sikhism rejects claims that any particular religious tradition has a monopoly on absolute truth. As a consequence, Sikhs do not actively proselytize, although voluntary converts are generally accepted.
Sikhism emphasizes meditation and remembrance as a means to feel God’s presence , which can be expressed musically or through meditation Baptised Sikhs are obliged to wear the five Ks, which are five articles of faith which physically distinguish Sikhs from non-Sikhs. Among these include the kesh(uncut hair). Most religious Sikh men thus do not cut their hair but rather wear a turban.
The religion developed and evolved in times of religious persecution, gaining converts from both Hinduism and Islam. The Mughal emperors of India tortured and executed two of the Sikh gurus—Guru Arjan (1563–1605) and Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621–1675)—after they refused to convert to Islam. The persecution of the Sikhs triggered the founding of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 as an order to protect the freedom of conscience and religion, with members taking up arms and becoming saint-soldiers.
Māyā, defined as a temporary illusion or “unreality”, is one of the core deviations from the pursuit of God and salvation: where worldly attractions give only illusory, temporary satisfaction and pain that distracts from the process of the devotion of God. However, Nanak emphasized māyā as not a reference to the world’s unreality but its values. In Sikhism, the influences of ego, anger, greed, attachment, and lust, known as the Five Thieves’ are believed to be particularly distracting and hurtful. Sikhs believe the world is currently in a state of Kali Yuga (‘age of darkness’) because the world is led astray by the love of and attachment to māyā.[28] The fate of people vulnerable to the five thieves is separation from God, and the situation may be remedied only after intensive and relentless devotion.
The four major physical transgressions in Sikhism are:
1.Hair removal – Hair cutting, trimming, removing, shaving, plucking, threading, dyeing, or any other alteration from any body part is strictly forbidden.
Sikhs believe hair is a gift from God and should be accepted without alteration. It’s a way of honoring God’s creation and expressing gratitude for His gifts.
Keeping hair uncut, along with the turban (dastaar), forms part of the daily Sikh uniform, helping to define their faith and identity.
The practice of keeping long hair also requires discipline and cleanliness. Sikhs take care of their hair, using a comb (kangha) to keep it tidy and clean, reinforcing the importance of cleanliness and self-control.
The turban, worn over the uncut hair, is a symbol of honor, faith, and identity for Sikhs. It also represents equality and unity within the Sikh community.
2.Eating Kutha meat – This is the absolute minimum required by all initiated Sikhs. Many Sikhs refrain from eating non-vegetarianfood, and believe all should follow this diet. This is due to various social, cultural, political, and familial aspects. As such, there has always been major disagreement among Sikhs over the issue of eating non-vegetarianfood. Sikhs agree with the minimum consensus that meat slaughtered via the Muslim (Halal) or Jewish (Shechita) methods is strictly against Sikh dogma and principles.
3. Adultery – Cohabiting with a person other than one’s spouse (sexual relations with anyone who you are not married to).
4. Intoxication – Consumption of tobacco and intoxicants (hemp, opium, liquor, narcotics, cocaine, etc.) is not allowed.
