Introduction: Sikhism at a Glance
With the total number of worshippers amounting to 30 million worldwide and makes up 0.39% of the population, Sikhism is one of the major religions originating from India. At present, the country houses 83% of all Sikhs with 76% of them residing in the north Indian State of Punjab (Sikh Coalition 2). The largest community of Sikhs outside India is located in the Canadian Province of British Columbia where the population of Sikhs reaches 200,000, or 5% of the total population (Sikh Coalition 2). It makes Sikhism the second most followed religion in the province after Christianity. Sikhism was founded in the late 15th-early 16th century in the Punjab district that now makes part of both India and Pakistan. The founder of religious teaching is Guru Nanak, who, together with the other nine Sikh gurus who followed him, left the legacy that is still used by Sikhs today. This essay discusses the key beliefs held by Sikhs and how the emphasis on a person’s internal religious state responds to the three fundamental questions of the human condition.
Key Beliefs
With Sikhism being a minor world religion, there is typically very little uunderstanding of who Sikhs and their key beliefs are. To have a better comprehension of the nature of the Sikhism faith, first, one needs to trace the history of the religion back to its roots and its iconic founder. Today, it is believed that the founder of the Sikh tradition, Guru Nanak, also referred to as Baba Nanak, was born in 1469 in the Punjab region that is now split between two brotherly nations – India and Pakistan (Brodd 256). The founder was born into a family of Hindu Khatris; both his mother and father worked as merchants and accountants. Sikhs believe that Nanak’s birth and early childhood were indicative of his many blessings and divine role. It is said that the founder showed extraordinary awareness of life from a very young age (Singh). In particular, the boy was concerned with the questions of social inequality and the common origin of humanity. Among other things, the Sikh guru grew disenchanted in various religious hypocrisies that aggravated unfair social dynamics.
Guru Nanak concluded that the entire world owed its creation to a single divine force. He taught that God is not detached from the world, nor is it observing from afar. Instead, the divine force is one with the world: it is present in every person (Singh). Therefore, all people are made divine; they are equal in their vicinity to God and deserve to be treated with the utmost respect. For this reason, Sikhs condemn all social distinctions that cause inequality such as race, gender, religion, ethnicity, and caste that is the backbone of the social hierarchy in South Asia.
The question arises as to who God himself is in the Sikh faith. The definition of God dates back to an important event in Guru Nanak’s life when he was an adult. Once, the guru disappeared for three days at the river Bain. Sikhs hold a deep belief that during those three days, Guru Nanak had a divine encounter with God himself and understood his nature. Upon his return, the founder proclaimed that neither religion was right: God is neither Hindu nor Muslim (Singh). This idea differentiates Sikhism from other religions that insist on the rightfulness of their teaching and the faultiness of the others.
Important Myths
Unlike Hinduism, another major religion originating from India, Sikhism does not have an extensive mythological body. In actuality, Sikhism teachings are often seen as an amalgamation of different cultural influences, which can be found in the works of Guru Nanak’s first followers. For instance, Sikh gurus frequently alluded to Puranic mythology in their poetry (Jacobsen et al. 123). One of the most prominent stories was adapted and written by Guru Gobind Singh. His ”Chandi di Vaar” describes a war between the Hindu goddess Chandi and the evil Asur clan. At first, Sikhs were uncomfortable with a Hindu goddess in their scripture; however, her story carried a more profound meaning than what lies on the surface. The antagonist in the story signifies the foreign elites who took over the power structures in Northern India. In turn, the Goddess Chandi may be a metaphor for god-given sovereignty and righteous war. Chandi signifies the national uprising against the invaders to restore fairness and equality, which is in line with the key belief held by Sikhs.
Responses to the Three Fundamental Questions of the Human Condition
Who Am I?
Sikhs believe in the equality and oneness of humanity: these are the two pillars of the Sikh identity. All humans are equal because they were made by Waheguru, which translates to “Wonderful God” or “Wonderful Lord.” There is not a single person who would be devoid of a divine spark and the presence of Waheguru. The said divine spark is callAtmaatma,” which means “soul” or “light.” Humans in Sikhism feel the unity with the entire human race; they seek its advancement through personal contribution and just treatment of everyone regardless of their social status (Singh). As for the origins of humankind, it can be traced to the creation of the world by Waheguru. However, Sikhism does not offer any coherent stories like the story of Adam and Eve in Christianity.
Where Am I?
Unlike other religions, Sikhism does not have a distinct account of how the world was created. Some of Gurus’ teachings discuss the origins of the universe but with very little detail or elaboration. The Guru Granth Sahib said that the universe was created by Waheguru, the Wonderful Lord. Waheguru existed before the universe, and he created everything with a single word. However, in Sikhism, the year of creation remains unknown to this day: “With His single order whole creation came into existence… What was that season, and what was that month, when the Universe was created? The Creator who created this creation – only He Himself knows (Jacobsen et al. 202).”
It is difficult to say whether Sikh beliefs about the origin of the world are compatible with what secular physicists believe to be true such as the Big Bang theory. Interestingly enough, there is a mention of the expansion of the universe in Sikh teachings: “So many times [Waheguru] has expanded his expansion (Jacobsen et al. 189).” However, as pointed out by researchers, it is not a contemplation on the physical nature of the phenomenon. Instead, Sikhs marvel at the beauty of the world created by Waheguru.
Sikhism sees nature as a living organism and a representation of divine power. For instance, Guru Granth Sahib says that “air is the Guru, Water the Father, and the Earth is the Great Mother.” Sikhs believe that all humans have an innate sensitivity to their natural surroundings: they can and they should feel a deep connection to the world around them. Since nature is divine, it cannot be desecrated: it requires care and respect to remain healthy and vibrant and nurture future generations.
What Should I Do?
Because every person has a divine part within them, they deserve fair treatment and respect regardless of their social characteristics such as race, gender, and social class. Hence, Sikhs strive to reject social structures that impede fairness and justice for all human beings and keep their minds from being clouded by power hierarchies. The key imperative of the Sikh religion can be found in the teaching of Guru Granth Sahib. In passage 349, he describes a situation in which a wealthy person hears the cries of a beggar at the door of his mansion. Guru Granth Sahib is straightforward in how it should be handled: he says that the Master needs to “recognize the Lord’s Light within all, and do not consider social class or status” because “there are no classes or castes in the world hereafter (Jacobsen et al. 215).”
Some great examples of how human beings should be treated can be found in the biographies of other gurus who followed Guru Nunuk. Guru Angad strived to help young people to become literate: learn how to read and write Gurmukhi. He adapted the existing script to make it more accessible to people from disadvantaged communities. Guru Amar Das would always treat his visitors who visited him to talk about faith to a meal before the conversations began. The preparation of food was a shared responsibility and everyone was treated to the same meals, regardless of their social status. Interestingly enough, the life of Guru Amar Das even shows his commitment to gender equality. While in many other religions it was men who were taking prestigious positions and trusted with important missions, Guru Amar Das did not make such a distinction. At some point, he chose 52 female missionaries to spread the message of Sikhism, which proves his support for equality.
All the rules that Sikhs follow in their daily life are based on a series of important events taking place throughout Guru Nanak’s life. When the guru was a child, his father asked him to go to the market to sell food. Instead of trying to make a profit, Guru Nanak fed the holy men that he met at the side of the road. They were visibly poor and did not have much; yet, they showed commitment to their spiritual journey. That was the time when Guru Nanak understood the significance of helping others, especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged, which is why being charitable became one of the key principles of Sikhism.
Today, Sikhs uphold the ideal of being a saint-soldier: a person who cultivates their spirituality and serves their community. This standard does not discriminate by gender: both men and women are prescribed to strive to become saint-soldiers. Sikhism praises hard work and honest living, which is known as Kirat Karna. Sikhs support each other through Sewa and dasvandh offers that constitute one-tenth 10% of their income. Lastly, they meditate on God’s name – a practice known as Nam Japna. By meditating, they keep the internal religious state of empathy, acceptance, and contemplation.
Conclusion
Sikhism is one of the world’s minor and India’s major religions with the total number of worshippers globally estimated at 30 million. It originates in India, and it was founded in the late 15th century by Guru Nanak who showed signs of divine grace from early childhood. Guru Nanak taught his followers the oneness of the universe and the interconnectedness of all beings. According to Sikh teachings, God is present in every single being, and since every person is divine, they should be treated with justice and respect. Sikh teachings do not contain a lot of myths, and those that exist stem from Hinduism and puranic mythology. They serve as metaphors about the faulty societal order and the necessity to restore balance. Unlike other religions, Sikhism does not offer a distinct story of creation. Worshippers use Guru Nanak’s life as an example of how they should conduct themselves: meditate, help others, and make an honest living.
References
Brodd, Jeffrey. Invitation to Western Religions. Oxford University Press USA, 2016.
Jacobsen, Knut A. et al. Brill’s Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Brill, 2017.
Sikh Coalition. Sikhism: A Reporter’s Guide. 2019, Web.
Singh, S. J. “Who are the Sikhs and What Are Their Beliefs?” The Conversation. 2018, Web.