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 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


  ‘Door way to the Guru’ Sikh place of worship.
• nature of god


  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
• Other religions are different paths to one God
• Guru Nanak


  Founder, taught about equality. Had an experience with God in a river and came back 3 days to begin his teaching.
• Guru Amar Das


  Made langar compulsory, appointed women preachers, banned Sati (Hindu tradition of women throwing themselves on their husband’s funeral pyre/fire).
• Guru Arjan


  Compiled first draft of the Guru Granth Sahib the Adi Granth, built the Golden Temple, first Sikh martyr killed for refusing to stop spreading the message of Guru Nanak.
• Guru Hargobind


  Imprisoned for political reasons, refused to leave the prison until the 52 Hindu princes could leave with him, this is remembered at Diwali.
• Guru Teg Bahadur


  Second Sikh martyr, killed for refusing to convert to Islam.
• Guru Gobind Rai/Singh


  Son of Tegh Bahadur, become Guru aged 9. Created the Khalsa and the Khalsa army at Vaisakhi. Developed clear Sikh identity, 5k’s, turban, was the last human guru and said that the final and eternal Guru would be the Guru Granth Sahib
• Guru Granth Sahib


  Eternal Living Guru, sacred text, treated with the utmost respect, remains the Sikh guru to this day.
• 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


  • Raised status of women
  • Banned Sati
  • Banned face veils
  • 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
  • Became 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
• Every living thing has an atma, containing a divine spark, this is trapped in a constant cycle of reincarnation (Samsara). Each life is linked by the karmic debt carried over from the previous life. Each atma has lived many lives. As humans we are able to choose to break free, to work to achieve mukti where our soul (atma) can re-join with God forever
• Maya


  illusion of reality. Tricks us into valuing the wrong things, like money etc.
• Haumai


  ego, needs to be overcome to achieve Mukt
• Seva is central to the Sikh way of life. It is based on the idea of equality and that serving others is good for society and good for the soul. It is putting others first, being humble not egotistica
• 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.
• Daswandh


  donating to the community. 10% of your income
• ‘You shall find peace doing seva’ Guru Granth Sahib
• Naam Japna


  (Meditating on God’s name) Prayer and worship.
• Kirat Karna


  working hard and being honest