Beliefs

• Sargun and nirgun


  Sikh beliefs about God
• Ik onkar


  Belief that there is one God
• Sikhs believe God is beyond human description and has no gender
• Mool Mantra


  Main chant, opens the Guru Granth Sahib and describes the attributes of God and contains the essence of Sikhism
• Mool Mantra: 'There is only one God. Truth is his name, He is the creator, He is without fear. He is without hate. He is immortal, without form. He is self-illuminating. He is realised by the kindness of the true Guru'
• The entire creation came from God. As it pleases Him, He creates the expanse. As it pleases him, He becomes the one and only again
• God sustains the universe, there are no creation shones in sikhism. Sikhs accept scientific views but believe its done through God's will. Every part of the universe reveals God
• Guru Nanak visited the Kaaba in Mekkah and a watchman told him to point his feet away from God. Nanak replied, kindly turn my feet in the direction where God is not. God is everywhere
• Hukam


  Divine order
• Mukti


  When a soul is released from the cycle of birth and rebirth
• Gurmukh


  Becoming God-centred
• Sewa


  Selflessly helping others
• Maya


  Delusion, people trapped can't achieve mukti
• Naam Japna


  Remember God and meditate on His name
• Kirat karna


  Sikh requirement to work and live honestly
• Vand Chakna


  Giving to others e.g. wealth, time
• There is a divine spark of God in all living things
• Sikhism teaches there is one God and that Sikhism is a religion of equality
• Guru Nanak spoke out against norms he did not agree with and emphasised his belief that all people are equal
• Guru Granth Sahib: 'Recognize the Lord's Light within all, and do not consider social class or status; there are no classes or castes in the world hereafter'
• The Pink Ladoo project is trying to encourage the South Asian community to recognise the damaging impact of gender biased traditions on younger girls
• Women were not allowed to join the Khalsa Army and were expected to support their husband by looking after the home. Women were seen as belonging to their fathers and later husbands. There were no female Gurus however Guru Amar Das appointed female preachers
• Mai Bhago joined the Khalsa but her husband refused to let her fight. Bhago heard of the soldiers deserting the Guru and insisted she fight. She led over 40 men in battle and is a role model to Sikhs after becoming Guru Gobind Singh's personal bodyguard
• Guru Granth Sahib: 'From woman, woman is born; without woman there would be no one at all'
• One way of demonstrating equality is through sewa, which can be through any work but must be with the aim of no gain or humility. Sewa is selfless service
• A place in God's court can only be attained if we do service to others in this world
• Types of sewa


  • Tan (physical service)
  • Man (mental service)
  • Dhan (material service)
• Simran


  Meditating on the word of God
• Mukti


  Spiritual liberation from the cycle of birth and death
• Bhai Gurdas: 'Cursed are the hands and feet that do not engage in sewa'
• Shabad


  The word of god
• The Gurmurkhs: 'The Gurmurkhs are celebrated in life and death. Their lives are not wasted. The Gurmukhs do not die; they are not consumed by death. The Gurmukhs eradicate selfishness and conceit from within. The Gurmukh redeem their lives'
• Manmukh

  Self-centered, leads to haumal (pride, ego)
• The 5 Evils

  • Anger
  • Lust
  • Greed
  • Attachment
  • Pride
• Human beings are the reflection of one and the same Lord. Recognise the whole human race as one
• Khalsa Aid

  • Charity that puts Sikh beliefs about sewa into practice
  • Founded in 1999 by Ravinder Singh
  • Works to provide both emergency and long-term aid to people in need
• Ravinder Singh: 'I am a man of action'
• Sangat

  The holy congregation gathered in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib
• Nihangs

  • Known for their superb fighting skills
  • Recognised by their blue turbans and weaponry
  • Started by Guru Gobind Singh
  • Overcame maya by renouncing their possessions
  • Dedicated to Sikhism
  • Trained in Bataaka martial arts
• Panj Piare

  • Five men who showed their devotion to Sikhism by being willing to be killed for their religion voluntarily