Sikhi

From SikhiPedia

Sikhs are a people sharing common religious, social and political institutions. 26 million people worldwide identify or associate themselves with the Sikh faith that is called "Sikhi" (pronounced "Sikhee") and is most commonly known as "Sikhism" by Western academics. Sikhi, the youngest of the world religions, is barely five hundred years old with Sikhs of different cultural backgrounds living across the globe. Sikhi is a monotheistic faith and stresses the equality of all men and women.

Introduction to Sikhi

The Sikh religion was founded by the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Sahib Ji (1469 – 1539), and shaped by his nine successors in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in South Asia. Guru Nanak infused his own Spirit & consciousness into a disciple, who then became Guru, subsequently passing the light on to the next, and so on. The word "Guru" is derived from the root words "Gu", which means darkness or ignorance, and "Ru", which means light or knowledge The Guru is the experience of Truth (God). Guru Nanak spread a simple message of "Ek Oankaar": we are all one, created by the One Creator of all Creation. This was at a time when India was being torn apart by castes, sectarianism, religious factions, and fanaticism. Sikhi is not a sect of Hinduism or Islam, or synthesis of these two faiths. The Gurus opposed superstition, injustice, hypocrisy and inspired seekers by singing divine songs which touched the hearts of the most callous listeners.

The word “Sikh” means learner, seeker or disciple of the True Perfect Guru. A Sikh is a person whose sole faith consists of the belief in One God and who follows the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (the Sikh's Sacred Scripture revered as the revealed Living Word of God), the present and eternal Guru of Sikhs. To read and explore the treasures contained in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, please visit www.SriGranth.org.

Three basic principles

(1) Meditating and living in the remembrance of God
(2) Earning a living by honest means
(3) Sharing the fruits of one’s labour with others.

Sikhi rejects caste and class systems and emphasizes service to humanity. The Sikhs link themselves to the Guru, the Divine Enlightener, in whom the Light of God shines fully, visibly and completely. The Guru is in union with Divine and thus, ushers the devotee, the seeker of Truth, into a spiritual birth. Through the True Guru the Glory of God is transmitted to humanity. Through the Sacred Words and living example, the Guru demonstrates to followers how to experience God within themselves and live in harmony with God's Will.

Sikhs wear a turban and keep unshorn hair as a mandatory part of their religion. Although the Sikh Path is the perfect, complete and balanced way of life that leads to experiencing the Divine whilst alive, Sikhi recognizes the universal truths that underlie all human endeavours, religions and belief systems. The universal nature of the Sikh way of life reaches out to people of all faiths and cultural backgrounds, encouraging us to see beyond our differences and to work together for world peace and harmony.