Basics of sikhism
- 1. Practice love,not hollow ritualsPractice love,not hollow rituals Mindless and hollow rituals done for exhibition had no value with God.
- 2. RITUALSRITUALS They are like a counterfeit coin, which look‑They are like a counterfeit coin, which look‑ genuine but is rejected because it does notgenuine but is rejected because it does not contain the specified precious metal.contain the specified precious metal. Similarly, God rejects all rituals practiced bySimilarly, God rejects all rituals practiced by the people who have no sincere goodwill orthe people who have no sincere goodwill or other human beings.other human beings. There is no benefit to the soul fromThere is no benefit to the soul from undergoing self inflicted tortures such asundergoing self inflicted tortures such as abstaining from food, bathing in ice coldabstaining from food, bathing in ice cold water,, keeping silent for long periods of timewater,, keeping silent for long periods of time or standing continuously on one legor standing continuously on one leg
- 3. The Guru did notThe Guru did not approve of the beliefapprove of the belief that our ancestorsthat our ancestors who are alreadywho are already dead, coulddead, could be helped by giving‑be helped by giving‑ alms to thealms to the Brahmans . PeopleBrahmans . People themselves are thethemselves are the abode of God.abode of God. He knows what is inHe knows what is in our minds.our minds. One can cheatOne can cheat people but not Him.people but not Him. At Hardwar Guru NANAK Dev ji said that dead ancestors would not be benefited by the rituals performed by their children grandchildren
- 4. AT BAGHDAD WHEN ASKED, WHO IS SUPERIOR, HINDU OR MUSLIM, GURUNANAK SAID,’’ EVERYBODY WITHOUT GOOD DEEDS WILL REPENT; Deeds alone are valuedDeeds alone are valued
- 5. Guru Nanak preached that God does notGuru Nanak preached that God does not identify people by their sectarian religionsidentify people by their sectarian religions such as Christians, Jews, Hindus or Muslims.such as Christians, Jews, Hindus or Muslims. ," God judges us by our deeds and full justice," God judges us by our deeds and full justice is delivered to every one in His court."is delivered to every one in His court."GuruGuru Granth P7Granth P7 God evaluates our deeds alone, and notGod evaluates our deeds alone, and not merely our beliefs.merely our beliefs. The Guru made it clear that neither he norThe Guru made it clear that neither he nor any other prophet would be able to intercedeany other prophet would be able to intercede at the time of final judgment, which would beat the time of final judgment, which would be based on actions onlybased on actions only
- 6. ACTIONSACTIONS Stresses the presence of God in every humanStresses the presence of God in every human being.being. Any act that hurts another person is wrong,Any act that hurts another person is wrong, because it displeases God residing in him.because it displeases God residing in him. Any act, which helps the other person, is goodAny act, which helps the other person, is good because it is liked by Godbecause it is liked by God same respect to men and women and equallysame respect to men and women and equally welcomed them to participate in all social andwelcomed them to participate in all social and religious functions.religious functions.
- 7. LIVE HONESTLYLIVE HONESTLY The Guru exhorted SajjanThe Guru exhorted Sajjan (nicknamed Thag), * a robber(nicknamed Thag), * a robber and murderer living in theand murderer living in the village of Tulumba in Multan,village of Tulumba in Multan, Pakistan, to earn hisPakistan, to earn his livelihood through honest‑livelihood through honest‑ means.means. He was also, advised thatHe was also, advised that one has to pay for one'sone has to pay for one's actions in the end.actions in the end. `Sajjan gave up vices and`Sajjan gave up vices and became a true sewadarbecame a true sewadar (service man) of the people.(service man) of the people. Sajjan Thag
- 10. Physical renunciation of no availPhysical renunciation of no avail The Guru exposed theThe Guru exposed the Sidhs‘ hollow claim thatSidhs‘ hollow claim that remaining celibates maderemaining celibates made them better than marriedthem better than married people.people. He asked them, " HowHe asked them, " How dare you say that you aredare you say that you are superior or are nearer tosuperior or are nearer to God than family menGod than family men when you beg for foodwhen you beg for food and depend on them forand depend on them for your sustenance?"your sustenance?" •Guru Nanak with the Sidhs in the Himalayas
- 12. SERVICE IS TRUE WORSHIPSERVICE IS TRUE WORSHIP Guru Arjan Dev ji serving lepers
- 13. Service is true worshipService is true worship Guru Nanak told theGuru Nanak told the priests that instead ofpriests that instead of worshipping stoneworshipping stone images of the gods theyimages of the gods they should strive to becomeshould strive to become one with God'sone with God's pervasive nature.pervasive nature. The correct way toThe correct way to worship Him is to loveworship Him is to love other human beingsother human beings who are His creationwho are His creation and in whom Godand in whom God actually residesactually resides At Jagan Nath Puri Temple,
- 14. Sangat and PangatSangat and Pangat Guru Nanak establishedGuru Nanak established congregation, in whichcongregation, in which all people, Hindus andall people, Hindus and Muslims, low,caste andMuslims, low,caste and high caste, sit as equalhigh caste, sit as equal to sing the praises ofto sing the praises of the Almighty..the Almighty.. TheGuru also institutedTheGuru also instituted pangat, sitting togetherpangat, sitting together as equals to partakeas equals to partake food which wasfood which was distributed free todistributed free to everyoneeveryone Even today this practice ofEven today this practice of free food (Langar) prevails infree food (Langar) prevails in gurdwaras and reminds usgurdwaras and reminds us that all human beings arethat all human beings are equal and have the sameequal and have the same rightsrights
- 15. Right to life, the right to equalityRight to life, the right to equality Guru Nanak statedGuru Nanak stated that the right to life,that the right to life, the right to equality,the right to equality, and the right toand the right to worship Him areworship Him are God given gifts to‑God given gifts to‑ every person.every person. No religious orNo religious or political authoritypolitical authority can take awaycan take away rightright to life, the right toto life, the right to equalityequality Guru nanak with babar at Eimnabad
- 16. . One may praise God by any name one wants. One may praise God by any name one wants to.to. The World Conference of Religions for Peace,The World Conference of Religions for Peace, 1979, actually endorsed the basic principles of1979, actually endorsed the basic principles of the Sikh faith, in New Jersey, USA, concluded:the Sikh faith, in New Jersey, USA, concluded: "Too often the names and practices of our"Too often the names and practices of our religions have been associated with warfarereligions have been associated with warfare and strife. Now we must reverse thisand strife. Now we must reverse this
- 17. GUR TEG BHADUR JI SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION OF KASHMIRI PANDITS
- 18. ALL HUMANITY IS ONEALL HUMANITY IS ONE COMING OUT OF BEIN DECLARED’’ NO HINDU, NO MUSLIM’’ GOD DID NOT CREATE HINDUS OR MUSLIMS HE CREATED HUMANS HE LOVES ALL WHATEVER RELIGION BE
- 20. ALL HUMANS ARE EQUALALL HUMANS ARE EQUAL GURU NANAK PREACHED THAT NONE CAN BE CONSIDERED SUPERIOR OR INFERIOR ON BASIS OF RACE, CLASS,CULTURE HOLY PERSON IS ONE WHO ACCEPTS ALL PEOPLE AS HIS CLASS MATES ;HE CONSIDERS HIMSELF AN EQUAL MEMBER OF BIG CLASS OF HUMANITY;GGS 6
- 21. Guru Nanak, five centuriesGuru Nanak, five centuries ago preached that the wholeago preached that the whole world was to be treated asworld was to be treated as one vast multi cultural‑one vast multi cultural‑ society. Mutual regard andsociety. Mutual regard and respect among all peoplerespect among all people were the foundation of thewere the foundation of the true religion. There was notrue religion. There was no religion superior to thisreligion superior to this The person who accepts allThe person who accepts all humans as equals is a holyhumans as equals is a holy person of the highest kind.person of the highest kind. One who controls his mind,One who controls his mind, and does not hate anyoneand does not hate anyone wins the world with love--wins the world with love-- GGSGGS Contributor Bhagats of Guru Granth sahib were from low castes
- 22. MIRI PIRI—RELIGION ANDMIRI PIRI—RELIGION AND POLITICSPOLITICS MIRI-political life andMIRI-political life and PIRI-religious beliefsPIRI-religious beliefs should move hand inshould move hand in hand to serve societyhand to serve society Religion providesReligion provides motivation for servingmotivation for serving people while politicalpeople while political thought providesthought provides social stucture forsocial stucture for samesame Aim of both is toAim of both is to provide service andprovide service and justice to peoplejustice to people Guru Hargobind sahib wearing two swords of miri and piri
- 23. ALL DAYS ARE AUSPICIOUSALL DAYS ARE AUSPICIOUS Gurbani says every day is a good day and veryGurbani says every day is a good day and very valuable in our life. A person is supposed to lovevaluable in our life. A person is supposed to love God all the time.God all the time. Every morning sit quietly to recite andEvery morning sit quietly to recite and concentrate on the virtues God and do the sameconcentrate on the virtues God and do the same again when the day is over.again when the day is over. Before going to bed, one is expected to tuneBefore going to bed, one is expected to tune one's mind to the blessings of God for aone's mind to the blessings of God for a peaceful sleep and prepare for the day when hepeaceful sleep and prepare for the day when he will 'sleep' for ever.will 'sleep' for ever.
- 24. Generally, people believe a particular day to be sacredGenerally, people believe a particular day to be sacred and more appropriate for prayers.‑and more appropriate for prayers.‑ In Hindus, certain days of the week being consideredIn Hindus, certain days of the week being considered either auspicious or inauspicious, Sankrant (first dayeither auspicious or inauspicious, Sankrant (first day of the Indian solar month), Pooran masi ull moon), and‑of the Indian solar month), Pooran masi ull moon), and‑ Amavas (no moon) days are also considered sacred.Amavas (no moon) days are also considered sacred. Gurbani reiects all these beliefs. It says God madeGurbani reiects all these beliefs. It says God made days, not ood or bad days. Those who worship daysdays, not ood or bad days. Those who worship days or dates, considering them to be ausnicious oror dates, considering them to be ausnicious or inauspicious, are naive and ill informed.inauspicious, are naive and ill informed. Guru Granth P843Guru Granth P843
- 25. GODGOD LORD OF ALL UNIVERSELORD OF ALL UNIVERSE WHILE UNIVERSE IS CHANGINGWHILE UNIVERSE IS CHANGING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL ,HE ALONEACCORDING TO HIS WILL ,HE ALONE IS UNCHANGED BEYOND TIMEIS UNCHANGED BEYOND TIME HE IS NEITHER BORN NOR DIESHE IS NEITHER BORN NOR DIES HE IS EVER SELF EXISTINGHE IS EVER SELF EXISTING GGS 1 MUL MANTRAGGS 1 MUL MANTRA
- 26. HEAVEN AND HELLHEAVEN AND HELL NO PARTICULARNO PARTICULAR PLACES BEYONDPLACES BEYOND EARTHEARTH PERSON WHOPERSON WHO LOVES GOD,GETSLOVES GOD,GETS HIS BLESSINGS ISHIS BLESSINGS IS LIVING IN HEAVENLIVING IN HEAVEN GGS749GGS749 ANYONE WHOANYONE WHO IGNORES GOD ANDIGNORES GOD AND SUFFERS FROMSUFFERS FROM EGO,LUST,ANGEREGO,LUST,ANGER LIVES IN HELLLIVES IN HELL --GGS1369--GGS1369
- 27. NO ONE IS BORN SINNERNO ONE IS BORN SINNER EVERY PERSON IS HISEVERY PERSON IS HIS MANIFESTATIONMANIFESTATION LIFE IS GIFT TO SING HIS VIRTUES,TOLIFE IS GIFT TO SING HIS VIRTUES,TO LOVE HIM,AND HIS CHILDREN –GGS12LOVE HIM,AND HIS CHILDREN –GGS12