Top Ten Sikh Beliefs

What are the top ten beliefs of Sikhsm? Here is a basic overview of the primary tenets of the Sikh faith:

1. Worship One God

Acknowledge one creator. Do not worship demi-gods or idols.ates to truth. Sikhism is based on truthful living.

2. Treat Everyone Equally

Do not show distinction or rank because of race, class, or gender.

3. Live By the Three Primary Principles

Be always absorbed in meditation and prayer.
Make an honest income by honorable methods.
Share earnings and selflessly serve others.

4. Avoid the Five Sins of Ego

Practice daily prayer and meditation to reduce the effects of ego and prevent indulgence in:
Pride
Lust
Greed
Anger
Attachment

5. Become Baptized

Be spiritually reborn by taking part in the baptism ceremony conducted by the "Five Beloved" Sikhs, who prepare and administer immortalizing nectar to initiates.

6. Keep the Code of Honor

Live according to specific individual, and communal, ethical and spiritual commitments. Forsake worldly ties. Abide by the guru's teachings. Practice daily worship.

7. Wear the Five Articles of Faith

Wear the Sikh undergarment for modesty and health.
Wear a wooden comb in the turban to keep hair clean and untangled.
Wear a steel wristlet as a sign of faith.
Wear hair uncut, to honor the creator’s intention.
Wear a small sword symbolic of defending the religious rights of all faiths.

 8. Follow the Four Commandments

Do not dishonor the creator’s intention by cutting the hair.
Do not harm the body with tobacco or other intoxicants.
Do not eat sacrificial meat.
Do not commit adultery.

9. Recite the Five Daily Prayers

Repeat the morning prayers.
Repeat the evening prayer.
Repeat the bedtime prayer.

10. Take Part in Fellowship

Worship together and sing God’s praise.
Cook and eat together.
Serve each other.

                                                    Ik Onkar - One God

Ik Onkar is a symbol which appears at the beginning the Sikh scripture and means, "One With Everything". The symbol is written in the Gurmukhi script and has several components.

• Ik stands for the Gurmukhi numeral "One".
• On is a combination or O and An stands for "Everything".
• Kar is inferred and stands for "Creator".

The symbol Ik Onkar communicates the idea of one one creative being, or one God, manifest in all of existence. The creator and creation are one entity, inseparable in the way an ocean is made up of its individual drops.

Pronunciation: Ik (i as in lick) O un kaar (sounds like car)

Alternate Spellings: Ik Oankaar

Examples:

"Khaalik khalak khalak mehi khaalik poor rehiou srab taanee ||1|| rehaao||
The Creation is in the Creator, and the Creator is in the Creation, totally pervading and permeating all places.

What Do Sikhs Believe About God and Creation?

Some religions, like Christianity, believe in a trinity. Others, such as Hinduism, believe in a multitude of demi-gods. Buddhism teaches the belief in God is unimportant. Sikhism teaches the existence of one God, Ik Onkar. Guru Nanak taught that the creator and creation are inseparable in the way that an ocean is made up of its individual drops.

Christianity teaches that God created Earth in seven days about 6,000 year ago. Christianity Islam and Judaism all believe Adam to be the original man. Sikhism teaches that only the creator knows the origin of the universe. Guru Nanak wrote that God’s creation consists of a multitude of universes, and that no one knows for certain how, or when, creation took place.

Kavan se rutee maahu kavan jit hoaa aakaar||
What was that season, and what was that month, when the Universe was created?

Vael na paa-ee-aa panddatee je hovai laekh puraan||
The Pandits, the religious scholars, cannot find that time, even if it is written in the Puraanas.

Vakhat an paa-i-ou kaadee-aa ij likhan laekh kuraan||
That time is not known to the Qazis, who study the Koran.

Thit vaar naa jogee jaanai rut maahu naa koee||
The day and the date are not known to the Yogis, nor is the month or the season.