Exploration
of this article will help you to know the nature of Sikhism. You will be exposed
to monotheistic concept of God and the circle of life in Sikhism. The article examines the duties of a Sikh and vices in this religion.
Sikhism
was founded
in the 16th century in the Punjab district of what is now India and Pakistan.
It was founded by Guru Nanak and is based on his teachings and those of the
nine Sikh gurus who followed him.
The
most important thing in Sikhism is the internal religious state of the
individual.
Sikhs
focus their lives around their relationship with God, and being a part of the
Sikh community. The Sikh ideal combines action and belief. To live a good life
a person should do good deeds as well as meditating on God.
God and the cycle of life
Sikhs
believe that human beings spend their time in a cycle of birth, life, and
rebirth. They share this belief with followers of other Indian religious
traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
The
quality of each particular life depends on the law of Karma. Karma sets the
quality of a life according to how well or badly a person behaved in their
previous life. The only way out of this cycle, which all faiths regard as
painful, is to achieve a total knowledge of and union with God.
Sikh
spirituality is centred round this need to understand and experience God, and
eventually become one with God. To do this a person must switch the focus of
their attention from themselves to God. They get this state, which is called mukti
(liberation), through the grace of God. That means it’s something God does to
human beings, and not something that human beings can earn. However, God shows
people through holy books, and by the examples of saints, the best ways to get
close to him.
Truth
is the highest of all virtues, but higher still is truthful living. Sikhs
believe that God can’t be understood properly by human beings, but he can be
experienced through love, worship, and contemplation. Sikhs look for God both
inside themselves and in the world around them. They do this to help themselves
achieve liberation and union with God.
When
a Sikh wants to see God, they look both at the created world and into their own
heart and soul. Their aim is to see the divine order that God has given to
everything, and through it to understand the nature of God. Most human beings
can’t see the true reality of God because they are blinded by their own
self-centred pride (Sikhs call it haumain) and concern for physical
things.
Sikhs
believe that God is inside every person, no matter how wicked they appear, and
so everyone is capable of change.
Just
as fragrance is in the flower, and reflection is in the mirror, in just the
same way, God is within you.
Sikhs
believe that God’s message can be found in several ways outside ourselves.
Sikhs
don’t think it pleases God if people pay no attention to others and simply
devote themselves slavishly to religion.
Sikhism
doesn’t ask people to turn away from ordinary life to get closer to God. In
fact it demands that they use ordinary life as a way to get closer to God.
A
Sikh serves God by serving (seva) other people every day. By devoting
their lives to service they get rid of their own ego and pride.
Many
Sikhs carry out chores in the Gurdwara as their service to the community. These
range from working in the kitchen to cleaning the floor. The Langar, or free
food kitchen, is a community act of service. Sikhs also regard caring for the
poor or sick as an important duty of service.
The
three duties that a Sikh must carry out can be summed up in three words; Pray,
Work, Give.
Sikhs
try to avoid the five vices that make people self-centered, and build barriers
against God in their lives.
If
a person can overcome these vices they are on the road to liberation.
The most important thing in Sikhism is the
internal religious state of the individual. Sikhism is a monotheistic
religion. Sikhism stresses the importance of doing good actions
rather than merely carrying out rituals. Sikhs believe that the way to lead a
good life is to: keep God in heart and
mind at all times, live honestly and work hard, treat everyone equally, be
generous to the less fortunate and serve others. The Sikh place of worship is
called a Gurdwara.
The Sikh scripture is the Guru Granth Sahib, a book that Sikhs consider a
living Guru
This blog post will explore the role of women in Rwanda's development, from the genocide…
This blog post will explore Kigali’s transformation into a thriving capital city, highlighting its development,…
Cultural festivals in Rwanda play several critical roles in the community. They serve as a…
This blog post aims to provide valuable eco-friendly Tourism in Rwanda and travel tips to…
This blog post explores the profound impact of technology on education in Rwanda, focusing on…
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the nuances of gorilla trekking in Rwanda, offering…