unit 5: sikhism

sikhism embraces a devout…

monotheism and accepts meat eating and military self-defense

how many practitioners?

26 million; majority in the Punjab in india, 2nd largest population in canada

both sikhism and jainism are referred to as…

ways of life (not religions)

sikhi arose where?

punjab (NW india & E pakistan); area of significant religious divide (hindus/muslime) where sikhi may have been a bridge to division

sants:

those who practiced a spirituality which drew from both islam and hinduism (preceded the development of sikhi) - hoped to overcome religious divisions

mystic kabir (1440-1518):

enormous poetic influence in india - from this interest in a mystical spirituality, beyond the restrictions of any one religion, that is where sikhi emerged

founder of sikhi?

nanak

nanak: (4)

• founder of sikhism

• born 1469 in today’s pakistan

• grew up in a hindu family, married and had 2 children

• practiced many careers

nanak revelation story: (4)

• nanak and a muslim friend (mardana) created a devotional association and met in the evenings to sing hymns and discuss religious ideas

• one day he had an experience so powerful (revelation) - bathed in a river, ventured into the forest staying there for 3 days (during which he felt taken into divine presence) - experienced god directly

• revealed to him that there is only 1 god, beyond all human names and conceptions

• came to realize hinduism and islam god were one in the same - radical distinction between the two was mistaken; famous for insisting that when the true name of god is experienced there is no hindu there is no muslim

nanak leaves home: (5)

• decided to spread his new understanding, leaving his family and home, accompanied by mardana

• as homeless they wandered visiting holy sites throughout india

• nanak preached and sought to make disciples (sikh) he sang devotional songs while mardana played musical accompaniment

• nanak’s appearance and clothing blended both hindu and muslim elements; hindu dhoti (cloth drawn up between legs - pants) and an orange muslim coat and cap, also hindu religious markings on forehead

• mardana died in his late 60s and soon after nanak passed his authority/work to a chosen disciple; dying soon after at age 70

nanak is commonly called…

guru nanak - recognized as the 1st of 10 sikh gurus

sikh means what?

disciple/learner

reincarnation and karma?

nanak accepted a belief in reincarnation and karma and viewed that the human being is composite of body and spirit

nanak did not accept… (2)

• the hindu embrace of ritual; it takes away human attention from god

• the hindu polytheism - particularly devotion to images of various gods or goddesses (possibly influenced by islam)

nanak’s view of god: (2)

• ultimately beyond personhood yet god has personal qualities; knowledge, love, a sense of justice, compassion - because of such qualities god can be approached personally by any individual

• god primary guru; nanak (himself) = god’s mouthpiece (preached god dwells within each individual and can be contacted within the human heart

nanak believed that true religion has a strong…

social responsibility! criticized islam and hinduism for their deficiencies in helping the poor and oppressed; he organized religious groups (sangats) which were to offer both worship to god and assistance to fellow human beings

3 stages of development of sikhi:

first stage the movement; second stage self-definition & consolidation; final stage expansion

first stage in sikh development: the movement (5)

• not defined as a distinct religion - sikhism was a religious movement which sought to coexist peacefully with other religions

• that of the 1st four gurus; nanak, angad, amar das & ram das

• hymn were written

• numerous communities organized

• village headquarters created at amritsar (northern india)

second stage in sikh development: the self-definition & consolidation

sikhism forced to adopt a militant, defensive stance toward the world, taking on elements of a more formalized religion; a sacred book, city, clearly defined religious practices

sikhs second stage of development began with who?

the 5th guru arjan

guru arjan: (6)

• 5th guru

• son of ram das

• built the golden temple and its surrounding pond at amritsar

• created the sacred book of sikhs; the adi granth (original collection); collecting 3000 hymns written by him and previous gurus/saints

• he was killed through torture = resolutely resisting attempts by the muslim emperor jahangir to make him adopt islamic practice

• his son har gobind takes up after him

har gobind: (3)

• steered sikhism in a more self protective direction (after the murder of his father)

• created a bodyguard - enlisted an army to protect him and his followers = abandoning the ideal of ahimsa; adopted the practice of wearing a sword

• growing militia of sikhism was successful in averting persecution during the tenure of the next gurus (har rai and harkishan)

two sikh gurus who were murdered:

tegh bahadur (#9) & arjan (#5)

guru 9:

tegh bahadur; was imprisoned by the muslim emperor (aurangzeb) he was then decapitated

gobind rai: (6)

• 10th guru

• idealized the sword (in response to persecution) he became known as gobind singh (gobind the lion)

• inaugurated a special military order for men the khalsa, devising the baptism of the sword as its ceremony of initiation (sprinkling initiates with water stirred by a sword)

• khalsa was open to all castes - gobind singh had ended all caste distinctions among sikhs - every male within the khalsa took the name singh (lion)

• his four sons died (no successor) he declared that the adi granth was to be his successor and the final, permanent guru (inaugurating the final stage of development)

• sacred book in amritsar and sikh temples (gurdwaras) is treated with the same respect that would be shown a living guru - referred to as the guru granth sahib (spiritual teacher granth master)

singh means:

lion

final stage in sikh development: expansion

moved beyond its land of origin and began to make converts elsewhere; by the death of its 10th guru, sikhism was now clearly defined as a religion and had the means to spread beyond its place of origin

primary book of scripture:

adi granth

adi granth: (4)

• primary scripture divided into 3 parts; first - japji, second, third section

• believed to contain the living spirit of nanak and his successors

• treated with utmost reverence; given personal honours as the embodiment of the gurus (ex: golden temple handled by gloved hands, rests on a cushion, read and fanned throughout the day and put to bed at night)

• in gurdwaras copies of it are enshrined and read; it is consulted for solutions to problems

• in homes there may be a room to enshrine it

1st part of the adi granth: japji

moderately long poem by guru Nanak that summarizes the religion - speaks of the indescribability of god and the joy of union with him

2nd part of the adi granth:

consists of 39 rags (tunes) by guru nanak and later gurus

3rd part of the adi granth:

collection of varied works (poems and hymns) from hindu, muslim and sikh gurus and saints

how the adi granth read?

opened and read from the left-hand page down; children are named by this method - names corresponding to the 1st letter appearing at the top of the left-hand page when the adi granth is randomly opened

devout sikhs read…

the adi granth daily or recite its passages from memory

khalsa: (5)

• special sikh order (bodyguards); adopt the 5 K’s (kesh, khanga, kach, kirpan, kara) to promote strength and self identity

• members are required to avoid all intoxicants

• for a long time was restricted to men but now women are also admitted

• created by the last guru gobind rai (9) who wanted to create an identity for the sikhs so they would protect and care for one another and not flee in the face of danger or persecution

• gobind rai lined up his sikhs and demanded a human sacrifice - up til there were 5 volunteers (one by one); then emerged from the tent with the 5 alive all in saffron coloured robes he declared them to be the panj pyare (5 beloved ones)

do all sikhs enter the khalsa?

no! its not mandatory at all

5 K’s of the khalsa:

1. kesh

2. khanga

3. kach

4. kirpan

5. kara

kesh: (4)

• uncut hair & beard - in association with the lion and its power/discipline

• hair on the head is usually worn in a topknot, covered with a turban or cloth

• ideally one should not cut their hair, beard or any body hair/hair removal

• some sikhs have been known to cut their hair in contemporary times, to adapt to societal fashions; an individual may then stop cutting their hair after a time

khanga: (3)

• hair comb - to hold the long hair in place

• represents the importance of hygiene and neatness

• many assume that the uncut hair and comb also means having a turban but the turban is optional and not a mandatory item in the khalsa

kach: (2)

• special underwear

• may indicate alertness and readiness to fight; or symbolic of sexual restraint

kirpan: (4)

• sword - for defense

• symbolic of the need to defend oneself as a sikh practitioner; came as a result of historical violent oppression

• it is also about looking out for and protecting the weak

• most current kirpans are very small and unobtrusive to one’s daily wear

kara:

bracelet of iron or steel - to symbolize strength and infinity with god

sikhs in the modern world: british/india (3)

• sikhs were employed by the british as soldiers (due to their military training)

• after the british left india (1947) the sikhs experienced painful dislocation; 2 million left pakistan to avoid conflict with the muslim majority, most settled in NW india - where some hope to create an independent state (friction with indias government over this…)

• sikh separatists have continuously occupied the golden temple at amritsar, indian government forces however have repeatedly taken it back

panj pyare:

the 5 beloved ones; refers to the 5 first members of the khalsa who offered their lives to gobind rai

prime minister indira gandhi was assassinated in 1984…

by her sikh bodyguards - in retaliation for her support of indian government troops during the 1st or the golden temple take overs (take over from sikhis)

what name are women and men given when they joined the khalsa?

• women were given the name kaur (princess)

• men were given the name singh (lion)

sikhs have begun to settle…

widely outside of india, particularly in countries open to indian immigration; mainly britain and former british territories (toronto, vancouver)

gurdwaras: (5)

• sikh centres which serve as daily prayer centres as well as charitable kitchens and social meeting places

• contain langar (free kitchens)

• meaning doorway to the guru; gurdwaras are only gurdwaras because they contain a copy of the guru granth sahib

• men/women of all castes/religions/backgrounds come here to sing, pray, eat together

• most important gurdwara is the golden temple (hari mandir)

does sikhism make converts?

not traditionally no but their simple/self reliant lifestyle has attracted many new members and success/continued growth is likely

sikhs & the turban: (6)

• turbans worn widely; many cultures particularly from W africa to india and bangladesh

• origin: begun as a cloth worn for sun/rain protection

• colours: can denote the mood fo the event or the prestige of the owner

• sikhs: among devout sikhs the hair is not cut; honouring the perfection of the person as the handiwork of god; to protect hair cloth is shaped daily into a turban

• wearing the turban is not demanded of sikhism but became a semireligious practice

• turbans were previously only worn by sikh males (veils for women), but recently in the name of equality some sikh women have adopted its use as well

hari mandir:

world’s largest free kitchen - provides free vegetarian food to ~100,000 prople daily; also the holiest site in sikhism

guru:

means teacher or spiritual guide

guru nanak laugh?

as a baby its said he had a man’s laugh

guru nanak as a teenager enjoyed…

listening to hindu/muslim saints and preachings more than his parents/anything else

guru nanak worked for…

the government and witnessed the actions of his coworkers/rich people which disgusted him (the exploitation), he also hated the caste system…

which guru was roasted alive?

guru arjan (5)

which guru was decapitated?

guru teg bahadur (9)

genderless god suggests what about sikhism?

no difference between men and women; ex - supported by the inclusion of women in the khalsa

sikh goal:

is to break free of the cycle of rebirth by merging your soul back into that of gods (you must let go of your ego)

mukti:

when your soul merges back into gods (liberation from rebirth)

maya: (4)

• god is and created all reality but we as humans forget this because we are distracted by maya (illusion - anything that takes your mind off god)

• maya keeps you in the cycle of rebirth

• maya is built by the wall of 5 thieves (lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride)

• guru nanak noted that most of the worlds problems were caused by maya and ego

the wall of 5 thieves: (4)

• what makes up maya

• lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride

• 5 thieves caused by haumai (i, myself, your ego which blocks you from realizing your oneness with god)

• manmukh (controlled by it)

manmukh:

a person controlled by the 5 thieves (maya), who lives only for themselves, wealth, desires

by embodying compassion, truth, humility, contentment, love and meditating on god you can become…

gurmukh and egoless by following the 3 pillars

3 pillars:

1. naam japo

2. kirat karni

3. wand chhakna

first pillar: naam japo

meditation on god and the reciting/chanting or gods name (waheguru) / usually done in the morning and before bed

second pillar: kirat karni

working hard by making an honest living

third pillar: the wand chhakna

sharing the fruits of your labour with others; i.e. providing free food/donating to the community (sikh tradition of langar)

god is nameless and beyond form but… if it had a name… what do some sikhs call them?

waheguru (wonderful god or wonderful teacher)

langar:

communal free kitchens inside of sikh gurdwaras (church/mosque) open to all regardless of caste/gender/faith, providing vegetarian food not because sikhs must eat this way but because vegetarian means all may eat

another vital aspect of sikhi not in the 3 pillars is…

seva - selfless service

guru granth sahib:

the adi granth - embodied as the spirit of guru nanak and all other gurus

kirtan:

hymns and communal singing (rather than sermons)

why did the khalsa change last name?

to show rejection of the caste system but also to show unity as a group

5 K’s super strictly followed or?

they were envisioned to be practiced in the same way by all sikhs, this has changed over time as people adapt to contemporary society, however there is some sense that as one gets older they will conform to the standards of the khalsa once more

jagmeet: turban is a beacon…

to those in need; turban helped to single someone out as sikh, identifying someone who is going to help you out/person who will stand up for rights

jagmeet: purpose of the turban is to symbolize…

unity

can you show your hair as a sikh?

yes

jagmeet singh: 2 turban facts

• techniques for topknot tying are an ancient tradition; he was taught by his mother and will one day teach his kids

• singh’s wife picks his turban colour so they match

what must one do to enter the golden temple complex?

wash their hands and feet, remove shoes and sock, cover their head/hair

sikh conception of hell?

hell is life on earth

what is amrit?

sweet water