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Mandeep Singh Bawa
GAISS Equity Education Director
SIKHISM
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Who are the Sikhs?
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Origin of Sikhism
What is a Sikh?What is a Guru?
Birth of Sikhism & the 10 Gurus
Birth of the Khalsa & The 5 Ks
Sikh Beliefs
The Guru Granth Sahib
Gurdwara & The Golden Temple
Importance of IdentitySikh Dastar (Turban)
Dastar Bandi & Anand Karaj
Sikhs in North America
Agenda
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INDIA
CHINA
INDIAAFGHANISTAN
PAKISTAN
IRAN
Origin of Sikhism
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Sikh means Student orDiscipleSikhism is worlds 5th largest religion, after
Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism
26 million Sikhs worldwide20 million in India
1 million in North America
99 % of the people wearing TURBANSin
America are Sikhs
What is a Sikh?
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Gurumeans Spiritual Enlightener
The term GURU implies descendant of divine
guidance to mankind sent from God.
Literally translated: GUmeans darkness andRU means light.Thus, Guru means the Light that dispelsdarkness. Therefore, Guru Nanak was theembodiment of divine light.
What is a Guru?
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji1st Guru
Born in 1469 during a timewhen:
Rich exploited the poor
Women had no role in society
Land divided by religion Caste system prevailed
Guru Nanak founded Sikhismbased on equality and justice for
all and taught us that all humanbeings regardless of skin color,wealth, caste, and gender are
created equal. Truth is high; still higher istruthful living- Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Birth of Sikhism
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Naam Japo: Chanting the Holy Name andthus remembering God at all
times (ceaseless devotion toGod).
Kirat Kar: Earning/making a livinghonestly, without exploitation orfraud.
Vand Chakk: Sharing with others, helpingthose with less who are in need.
These principles became the FOUNDATION ofSikhism.
Guru Nanak Dev jis
Principles
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The 10 Gurus
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The 10 GurusGuru Nanak Dev jiFounded Sikhism
Guru Angad Dev jiIntroduced new alphabet known asGurmukhiScript, started langar
Guru Amardas jiEmbodiment of Seva (service)
Guru Ramdas jiBuilt the holy city of Amritsar
Guru Arjan Dev jiCompiled Guru Granth Sahib, builtGolden Temple, First Sikh Martyr
Guru Hargobind jiMiri (Temporal Strength) and Piri
(Spiritual Strength)
Guru Har Rai jiOpened Free hospitals for those in need,man breaks flowers with one hand and offers them with the
other, but the flowers perfume both hands alike. The axe cuts
the sandal tree, yet the sandal perfumes the axe. Guru Har
Rai Ji
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Guru Har Krishan jiDevoted his life to helping the sick
Guru Tegh Bahadur ji - Championed religious freedom,
martyred while fighting for religious freedom
Guru Gobind Singh jiCreated Khalsa (comes from the
Persian word khalismeaning Pure),
A splendid Divine Light shone in the darkness of the night.
Pir Bhikan Shah, a Muslim mystic performed his prayers in
that Easterly direction (instead of towards the West, contrary
to his daily practice), and guided by this Divine Light, hetraveled with a group of his followers until he reached Patna
Sahib in Bihar, India.
The 10 Gurus
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During the spring of 1699, theGuru called his followers for aspecial gathering. Symbolized arevitalization of the Sikh identityand the evolution of the Sikhcommunity into saint-soldiers.
After initiating the five "belovedones" into the new order of theKhalsa, the Guru knelt beforethem and requested that theyinitiate him.
Gave the names Singh (Lion)to
men and Kaur (Princess)towomen.
Khalsa Sikhs identified with the 5Ks.
Birth of the Khalsa
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5 Ks mandatory articles of faithKesh - Uncut hair: Sikhs do not cut hair or
beards to remain in the image thatGod gave us.
Kachera - Under-shorts (boxers) to represent
modesty and fidelity (virtuouscharacter)
Kanga - Comb, made of wood - to keep uncuthair neat and clean.
Kara - Bracelet, made of steel worn on right
handa reminder of noble actions,a symbol of eternity.
Kirpan - Ceremonial small blunt knifesymbolizing freedom, liberty
and justice.
Articles of Faith
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The Khanda: is the double edgedsword that represents Gods power,the circle is for continuity, the twoouter swords for spiritual and politicalbalance.
Khanda
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There is One God for all of creation, a
loving Creator attainable through the GraceGoal is to be one with god
Selfless service towards the entire Creation
Truth, fearless, non-hateful spirit are
important in attaining salvation
Absolute equality of humanity
Defenders of social and spiritual justice
Living a moral, truthful and hardworkingexistence
Humility and loving action
Defending the rights of the downtrodden and
oppressed
Sikh Beliefs
Bhai Kanhiya
pioneer of the RedCross & humanitarian
aide organizations
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Gurumeans Spiritual teacherwho dispelsthe ignorance.
Granthimplies a Scripture containing divineknowledge.Sahib is added as a mark of respect, whichliterally means The Masteror The Lord.
Guru Granth Sahib ji
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Guru Granth Sahib -the Sikh Scripture is purely monotheistic
1430 pages
The Gurus Experience of the Divine
Also included were a few hymns from Hindu and Muslim saints whobelieved in ONE God
The main teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib are cultivating a realpersonal devotion to God, fostering compassion and service for peoplewho are poor or suffering, and promoting equality and seekingharmony among all human beings
The central theme of the Guru Granth Sahib is concerned with thecreation of a just social order and the commitment to social and gender
equality and peaceful coexistence
Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru
declared Guru Granth Sahib Ji as theeternal Guru and ultimate spiritualauthority for the Sikhs.
Guru Granth Sahib ji
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GurdwaraPlace of WorshipThe Sikh religious service follows the traditions started by the
1st
Guru to promote equality and alleviate suffering. It has 3components:
1. Sangat: Community prayer through readings from the GuruGranth Sahib and singing of hymns (Kirtan).
2. Pangat: A sense of equality with everyone seated on theground - at the same level.
3. Langar: Community vegetarian meal for all.Protocol to be observed in the Gurdwara:
Heads covered
Shoes removed
Sit on floor
All are WELCOME
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GurdwaraPlace of Worship
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The Golden Temple is the most sacred of places for the Sikhs.
To enter one has to descend stairsteaches humility.
There are doors on all fours sides, which signifies that people from
all over the world are invited irrespective of caste, color, religion,
and race.
24/7 Langar.
The Golden Temple
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Mandatorynot a social or cultural
article.Covers long, uncut hair.
Approx. 15 feet of cloth wrapped neatlyaround the head.
Boys wear patka .
Symbolizes discipline, integrity, humility,and spirituality.
Middle East head coverings different.99% of people wearing TURBANSin USare Sikhs, not Muslims or Hindus.
Sikh Dastar (Turban)
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Types of Turbans
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Sikh Dastar (Turban)
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Sikhs feel severely humiliated if asked to removetheir turban in public, as this breaks a sacredcovenant with god and exposes an intimate partof the body.
It is very insulting and disrespectful to a Sikh toremove his or her turban.
Turbans are a mandatory part of Sikh faith.
A turban is not a hat. It cannot be casually taken
on and off. It must be carefully retied each time itis removed.
Treat the turban with respect.
Importance of Identity
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A very important and exciting
event in the life of a Sikh boy
comes when he starts tying the
turban (Usually between 10-14
years of age).
Family will have a special functionto celebrate the occasion, which is
called Dastar Bandi.
The boy is is seated in front of
Guru Granth Sahib ji and an elder
ties the turban on his head.
Prayers are said to invoke Guru's
blessing for the boy.
Dastar Bandi
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The Sikh
marriage is called'Anand Karaj'which means theceremony of joy.
The Sikh weddingis held in themorning in aGurdwara in thepresence of GuruGranth Sahib Ji.
One Soul in Two Bodies"They are not said to be husband and wife, who merely sit together. Rather they aloneare called husband and wife, who have one soul in two bodies." (GuruAmar Das Ji, Pauri, pg 788, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji)
Anand Karaj
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Arrived around late 1890sPlaces
California, Oregon and Washington
British Columbia
Farming & Lumber Industry
Immigration Barriers by 1920s
San Francisco Chronicle, April 6, 1899Vancouver Diamond Jubilee 1897 Hong Kong Regiment
Sikhs in North America
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Gurbax Singh Mahli
First Turbaned Sikh inCanadian Parliament
Narinder Singh Kapani
Father of Fiber Optics
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Indian Prime Minister
Baltej Singh Dhillon
First Turbaned Sikh in
Royal Canadian Mounted
Police
T Sher Singh
Recognized with the
Order of Canada
Some Sikh Public Faces
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Amrit and Rabindra Kaur
Artists
Colonel Sekhon
United States Army
Bhagat Singh Thind
US Army 1912
Nuvraj Singh Bassi
University of Oregon
Football Player
Some Sikh Public Faces
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Equality of all religions and people
Give relevance to God rather than religion
Believers of interfaith diversity
Sikhism believes that there are many paths to God . Anyone canachieve salvation irrespective of the religion that they follow if
they endear God in their heart and daily actions
Respect for All
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SikhiWiki (www.Sikhiwiki.org)
SikhNet (www.sikhnet.com)
All About Sikhs (www.allaboutsikhs.org)
Sikh Council USA (www.sikhcouncilusa.org)
GAISS (www.guruangadinstitute.org)
UNITED SIKHS (www.unitedsikhs.org)
SALDEF (www.saldef.org)
Sikh Coalition (www.sikhcoalition.org)
References
http://www.sikhiwiki.org/http://www.sikhnet.com/http://www.allaboutsikhs.org/http://www.sikhcouncilusa.org/http://www.guruangadinstitute.org/http://www.unitedsikhs.org/http://www.saldef.org/http://www.sikhcoalition.org/http://www.sikhcoalition.org/http://www.saldef.org/http://www.unitedsikhs.org/http://www.guruangadinstitute.org/http://www.sikhcouncilusa.org/http://www.allaboutsikhs.org/http://www.sikhnet.com/http://www.sikhiwiki.org/7/29/2019 Six Faiths
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ONE GOD IN ALL