sikhism

• Mool Mantra


  Opening words of the GGS, describes the nature of God. For many it is the essence of Sikhism.
• Mukti


  Release of the atma from samsara, union with God
• Sangat


  Sikh community
• Sewa


  Selfless service to humanity and to God
• Amrit Sanskar


  • Ceremony when joining the Khalsa, first done by Gobind Singh
• Vaisakhi


  • Celebration of the formation of the Khalsa, harvest festival and seen as Sikh new year
• Gurpurbs


  • Celebration of the birth or death of a Sikh Guru
• Gurdwara


  Doorway to the Guru, Sikh place of worship
• Ik Onkar


  The is ONE creator God
• Attributes of God described in the Mool Mantra


  • Truth (Satnam)
  • Fearless (Nirhau)
  • Without hate (Nirvair)
  • Eternal (Akaal Moorat)
  • Beyond the cycle of birth and rebirth (Ajooni)
  • Self existent, was not created
  • Known by Gods Grace (Gur Prasad)
• If people worship and pray, God will bless them and become known to them
• Other religions are different paths to one God
• The 10 Sikh Gurus

  • Guru Nanak: Founder, taught about equality
  • Amar Das: Made langar compulsory, appointed women preachers, banned Sati
  • Guru Arjan: Compiled first draft of the Guru Granth Sahib, built the Golden Temple, first Sikh martyr
  • Guru Hargobind: Imprisoned for political reasons, refused to leave until 52 Hindu princes could leave with him
  • Guru Tegh Bahadur: Second Sikh martyr, killed for refusing to convert to Islam
  • Guru Gobind Rai/Singh: Created the Khalsa and the Khalsa army, developed clear Sikh identity, 5k's, turban, was the last human guru and said the Guru Granth Sahib would be the final and eternal Guru
  • Guru Granth Sahib: Eternal Living Guru, sacred text, treated with the utmost respect, remains the Sikh guru to this day
• The Oneness of Humanity (equality)

  • All contain divine spark of God/Waheguru
  • Created by God, all will return to God
  • All sit at the same level in the Gurdwara
  • Guru Nanak rejected caste differences, all worship and eat together
  • Guru Amar Das raise status of women, banned Sati, face veils and appointed women preachers
  • Golden Temple has 4 entrances, all welcome
  • Guru Gobind Singh set up Khalsa, all can join, all take names Singh (Lion) /Kaur(Princess)
  • Langar for all, vegetarian
  • Mai Bhago Kaur lead men to victory in battle and become Guru Gobind Singh's personal bodyguard
  • Sangat welcomes all, all faiths seen as valuable routes to God
  • 'Recognise the whole human race as one' Guru Gobind Singh
  • 'From her kings are born' Guru Nanak
  • 'No Hindu no Muslim' Guru Nanak
• Atma


  Divine spark within all living things
• Samsara


  Constant cycle of reincarnation
• Karmic debt


  Carried over from previous lives
• Mukti


  Where the soul (atma) can re-join with God forever
• Maya


  Illusion of reality
• Haumai


  Ego, needs to be overcome to achieve Mukti
• Seva/Sewa


  Selfless service, central to the Sikh way of life
• Types of Seva


  • Man: Mental seva e.g. teaching children about the Gurus
  • Tan: Physical seva e.g. working in the Langar
  • Dhan: Giving seva e.g. daswandh or donating food for Langar
• 'You shall find peace doing seva' GGS
• Daswandh


  Donating 10% of your income to the community
• Three Foundations


  • Naam Japna: Meditating on God's name, Prayer and worship
  • Kirat Karna: Working hard and being honest
  • Vand Chakna: Sharing and giving to others
• Amritdhari


  Wear 5k's, follow the Reyhat Maryada (Sikh code of conduct)
• Virtues to develop


  • Truth/Truthful living
  • Compassion (kindness) and patience
  • Contentment (Not wanting more)
  • Humility and self-control
  • Love
  • Wisdom/courage
• 'The gurmukhs do not die… Gurmukhs are absorbed into the True Lord.' GGS
• Five Evil Passions/Five Thieves

  • Anger
  • Greed
  • Worldly Attachment (due to maya)
  • Pride (False egotistical pride)
  • Lust (sexual desire, sex is only for within a marriage)
• 'The self-willed manmukh is lured by another man's wife'
• 'The self-willed manmukh wanders forever in reincarnation'
• 'Pride in maya is poison' GGS
• Sangat


  Sikh community, especially in front of the Guru Granth Sahib
• Khalsa


  • Baptised Sikhs who have taken Amrit (Amrit Sanskar)
• Nihangs


  • Very highly trained group within the Khalsa army, known for their displays of Gatka (Sikh Martial art) at festivals
• Gutka


  Prayer book, treated with great respect
• Romalla


  Special cloth to clothe the Guru Granth Sahib when not in use
• Daily Sikh Prayers


  • Japji Sahib
  • Swayyas
  • Rahiras
  • Sohila
• Mala


  Prayer beads, used to repeat 'Waheguru'
• Nishan Sahib


  • Orange flag featuring the Sikh Khanda, serves as a welcome to all