Introduction To Sikhism
Sikhism, or known in Punjabi as Sikhi, Punjabi: ਸਿੱਖੀ, sikkhī, {is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, by Guru Nanak and continued to progress through the ten successive Sikh gurus (the last guru being the holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib. It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world, with approximately 30 million adherents Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs (students or disciples). This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as Gurmat (literally 'wisdom of the Gurū'). Punjab, India is the only state in the world with a majority Sikh population. Sikhism is a spiritual, social, and political system of beliefs which considers spiritual life and secular life to be intertwined Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru established the system of the Langar, or free kitchen, designed to safehold equality between all people and express the ethics of sharing, community, inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind. In addition to sharing with others Guru Nanak inspired earning/making a living honestly without exploitation or fraud and also meditation on God's name or qualities. Guru Hargobind, the 6th Sikh Guru, established the political/temporal (Miri) and spiritual (Piri) realms to be mutually coexistent. According to the 9th Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadhur, the ideal Sikh should have both Shakti (power that resides in the temporal), and Bhakti (spiritual meditative qualities). This was developed into the concept of the baptized Saint Soldier of the Khalsa by the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh. 
Sikhs are expected to embody the qualities of a "Sant-Sipāhī"—a saint-soldier. Which means to love God, meditate on God, keep God in the heart, feel God's nearness and also be strong, courageous and ready to fight to protect weak people from cruel unjust attackers. One must have control over one's internal vices and be able to be constantly immersed in virtues clarified in the Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Nanak described living an "active, creative, and practical life" of "truthfulness, fidelity, self-control and purity" as being higher than a purely contemplative life. According to Guru Nanak, the aim is to attain the "attendant balance of separation-fusion, self-other, action-inaction, attachment-detachment, in the course of daily life", the polar opposite to a self-centered existence Every human being is the Light of the Divine contained in a human form. The human body was> given to us so we can have a chance to experie
nce that Divine Light in ourselves and in everything around us. Experiencing the Divine while in our human body generates bliss, fearlessness, and love, and a way to honestly face life with courage and grace. A society of people who are conscious of the Divine within themselves and in all around them is the foundation of a world filled with peace, prosperity, and integrity. This is the vision and promise of the Sikh way of life. Not beholden to rituals and to the past, but simply meditating and serving as a way to be awake to the Divine Reality, to the Deathless Spirit of Love that is already here, inside of us, right now. Sikh simply means "seeker of truth." Sikh Dharma is a spiritual path for those who are looking to answer the eternal question: "Who am I, and what am I here for?" Like all spiritual traditions, Sikhs have a lineage and legacy, guidelines and philosophies, masters, saints and its history. But primarily, the Sikh way of life offers a down-to-earth spiritual path for every-day people. It doesn't matter what your spiritual orientation is. Or what culture or b
ackground you belong to. Any person can use this technology to experience his or her own Divinity and Infinity. By name, the Sikh path is only a little over five hundred years old. Its founder, Guru Nanak, was born in 1469. Guru Nanak spread a simple message of "Ek Onkar" :We are all one with the One Creator of all Creation. This was at a time when India was being torn apart by castes, sectarianism, religious factions, and fanaticism. He aligned with no religion, and respected all religions. He expressed the reality that there is one God and many paths, and that our true identity is infinite: "Sat Nam". Guru Nanak's students were called Sikhs (students of truth.) He taught them to bow only before God, never to any man or woman, and to link themselves to the Shabd Guru, the Light of Truth, which is embodied in the "Siri Guru Granth Sahib." The Shabd Guru is not just a collection of uplifting, inspiring words written by enlightened saints, but a vessel of the sound current - the living wisdom within all of us. By listening and experiencing this sound current we understand that those who wrote these words transcended individual identity and ego. Their words came from their unlimited exalted state of consciousness. Whenever we read, sing, chant, or listen to these songs, we connect with our own excellence and our own infinity. There is no need to deal with any external human personality in this process. It enables us to live in direct consciousness of oneness with God, experiencing no separation. Guru Nanak was a humble bearer of this Light of Truth. He opposed superstition, injustice, and hypocrisy and inspired seekers by singing divine songs which touched the hearts of the most callous listeners.
Sikhs are expected to embody the qualities of a "Sant-Sipāhī"—a saint-soldier. Which means to love God, meditate on God, keep God in the heart, feel God's nearness and also be strong, courageous and ready to fight to protect weak people from cruel unjust attackers. One must have control over one's internal vices and be able to be constantly immersed in virtues clarified in the Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Nanak described living an "active, creative, and practical life" of "truthfulness, fidelity, self-control and purity" as being higher than a purely contemplative life. According to Guru Nanak, the aim is to attain the "attendant balance of separation-fusion, self-other, action-inaction, attachment-detachment, in the course of daily life", the polar opposite to a self-centered existence Every human being is the Light of the Divine contained in a human form. The human body was> given to us so we can have a chance to experience that Divine Light in ourselves and in everything around us. Experiencing the Divine while in our human body generates bliss, fearlessness, and love, and a way to honestly face life with courage and grace. A society of people who are conscious of the Divine within themselves and in all around them is the foundation of a world filled with peace, prosperity, and integrity. This is the vision and promise of the Sikh way of life. Not beholden to rituals and to the past, but simply meditating and serving as a way to be awake to the Divine Reality, to the Deathless Spirit of Love that is already here, inside of us, right now. Sikh simply means "seeker of truth." Sikh Dharma is a spiritual path for those who are looking to answer the eternal question: "Who am I, and what am I here for?" Like all spiritual traditions, Sikhs have a lineage and legacy, guidelines and philosophies, masters, saints and its history. But primarily, the Sikh way of life offers a down-to-earth spiritual path for every-day people. It doesn't matter what your spiritual orientation is. Or what culture or background you belong to. Any person can use this technology to experience his or her own Divinity and Infinity. By name, the Sikh path is only a little over five hundred years old. Its founder, Guru Nanak, was born in 1469. Guru Nanak spread a simple message of "Ek Onkar" :We are all one with the One Creator of all Creation. This was at a time when India was being torn apart by castes, sectarianism, religious factions, and fanaticism. He aligned with no religion, and respected all religions. He expressed the reality that there is one God and many paths, and that our true identity is infinite: "Sat Nam". Guru Nanak's students were called Sikhs (students of truth.) He taught them to bow only before God, never to any man or woman, and to link themselves to the Shabd Guru, the Light of Truth, which is embodied in the "Siri Guru Granth Sahib." The Shabd Guru is not just a collection of uplifting, inspiring words written by enlightened saints, but a vessel of the sound current - the living wisdom within all of us. By listening and experiencing this sound current we understand that those who wrote these words transcended individual identity and ego. Their words came from their unlimited exalted state of consciousness. Whenever we read, sing, chant, or listen to these songs, we connect with our own excellence and our own infinity. There is no need to deal with any external human personality in this process. It enables us to live in direct consciousness of oneness with God, experiencing no separation. Guru Nanak was a humble bearer of this Light of Truth. He opposed superstition, injustice, and hypocrisy and inspired seekers by singing divine songs which touched the hearts of the most callous listeners.
The Aims of a Sikh are:
* To train the mind and all the senses to recognize the Divine Light within oneself and within all of creation.
* To be of service to others.
The lifestyle of a Sikh includes:
* Rising before the sun each morning in what is called the Amrit Vela or Ambrosial Hours. In the two and half hours before the sun rises, the mind has the best chance to quietly surrender and hear the voice of the Spirit.
* Taking a cold shower, balancing the body, mind and breath and then meditating on the One within everyone.
* Meditating on and chanting the Shabad Guru, the Sacred Sound Current as Divine Teacher which brings us to the experience of our own Divinity
* Meditating and chanting at sunset and before going to sleep.
During the day, a Sikh lives a normal life. Single or married; with children or without. In work life and in social life, Sikhs strive to:
* Be aware of the Divine in our hearts and the whole creation with every breath we take.
* Earn our living honestly and share whatever we have with others.
* Be constantly awake for opportunities to serve and elevate others.
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