Key Sikh Teachings, Beliefs, and Practices

What follows is an attempt to present central teachings, beliefs, and practices of a major world religion. Few outside a religion are likely to express its essence adequately and therefore completely to do it justice.

Sikhism began in the fifteenth century, based on teachings of Guru Nanak, a Hindu who studied Islam. It originated in northwest India, in the Punjab region that borders Pakistan. The term Sikh comes from Sanskrit and means student, disciple, or learner. Sikhism has at times been an object of intense pressure and persecution by both Hindus and Muslims. Sikhs, designated as soldier-saints, have occasionally had to defend themselves and their faith in response.

There are as many as thirty million Sikhs, which based on the number of its followers makes it the firth largest religion in the world. Although roughly ninety percent of Sikhs live in India, sizable Sikh communities exist in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Compared to the rest of the rest of the population in India, like Jains, Sikhs are relatively affluent.

Sikhs have a recognizable appearance, which includes uncut hair, a wooden comb, a steel or iron bracelet, and a sword or dagger where not disallowed by law. They wear special cotton underwear even while bathing and typically wear turbans. Also like Jains, Sikhs do not believe any single religion contains complete and absolute truth. The last name given to all male Sikh children is Singh (lion), and to female children Kaur (princess).

God, according to Sikhism, brought the universe into existence, and human beings who have the divine spark within them are the pinnacle of creation. Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs share a belief in karma, and in the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara). Muslims and Sikhs share a belief in one God. To some, the monotheism of Sikhism inclines toward pantheism, which treats God and nature as one, or perhaps toward panentheism, the thesis that God includes and penetrates the entire universe. Sikhs tend to believe that although God and the universe are not the same, everything exists in God, who has a close and intimate relationship with all that exists. They emphasize what theologians call divine immanence over divine transcendence.

Sikhs insist that their beliefs, which center on love of God, are not a crude mixture of Hinduism and Islam, but were the unique insights of Guru Nanak who lived in the fifteenth century. These beliefs were affirmed and further developed by the nine gurus who succeeded him. The tenth guru, Gobind Singh, proclaimed that Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, was not only his successor but stands as the eleventh, final, and ever-living guru.

In cases where Guru Granth Sahib provides no explicit instruction, guidance is provided by the Sikh community (Khalsa), comprising initiated and baptized adults. Sikhs have a worldwide administrative structure, located primarily in India. They appeal to the wisdom of past gurus as expressed in the collection known as Gurmat. Many but not all also treat as scripture the Dasam Granth, a collection of hymns, prayers, and Hindu writings, or the Sarbloh Granth, a formidable collection of poetic verses.

Sikhs emphasize duty to God and the community and advocate the subjection of the individual to the good of society. Guru Nanak taught that neither priests nor rituals were necessary for a person to establish a relationship with God. He also taught that people should be truthful and live a life of fidelity, self-discipline, and purity. Sikhs believe that, by the grace of God, liberation from samsara is possible.

Nanak took issue with both Hinduism and Islam for their respective emphases on ritualistic behaviors and urged that more attention be paid to the internal changes needed in every believer’s soul. He taught that there is one God, without form or gender, who treats all equally, whether male or female and regardless of caste. Few of us are always on our best behavior, so some Sikhs find themselves avoiding dalits (lower classes), but this is neither advocated nor condoned.

Tolerance is a key Sikh value. Prayer and meditation are central to Sikhism and so is the singing of hymns, which are central to worship. Service to others is of paramount importance; it is the way to overcome self-centeredness. Justice, viewed as an expression of the underlying moral order of the universe, is another key value, as is human equality. Sikhs do not place men above women, and many Sikh women have been and continue to be in positions of leadership.

Sikh temples (gurdwaras) welcome anyone who believes in God, regardless of specific beliefs, to a free vegetarian meal, which everyone eats together. Sikh kitchens are staffed by volunteers who also serve the food.

All Sikhs are to set aside self-centeredness, and in line with Jains, are discouraged from becoming attached to status, money, or what it can buy. the things of this world. They are exhorted to search within themselves for enlightenment. Sikhism prescribes three religious duties: being ever mindful of God; earning an honest living; and donating to charity as an expression of caring.

Sikhism points to five vices (“thieves”) that separate a person from God: lust; attachment to material things; greed, anger; and pride.

Initiated members of the Khalsa are to avoid four principal transgressions: trimming or altering hair anywhere on the body; improperly slaughtering animals for food (many Sikhs are vegetarians); committing adultery; and becoming intoxicated, whether from alcohol, narcotics, or tobacco (some do not drink caffeinated beverages)

Although according to Sikhism, actions take precedence over rituals, Sikhs engage in certain ceremonies. When a baby is born, for example, Sikhs whisper into the baby’s ear a prayer by Guru Nanak and also put honey into the baby’s mouth. Within forty days, the child is baptized with holy water. Sikh marriage has traditionally been open only to those who are Sikhs, but this restriction has been relaxed. Sikhs may now marry those who are not Sikhs in a civil ceremony. Large numbers of Sikhs participate in commemorative or other festivals. And, there are Sikh rituals for death.

Differences from Christianity

The monotheism of Sikhism, which may reflect the influence of Islam, differs from that of Christianity in that Sikhism pays more attention to God’s presence in and through the world and less to God’s existence above and apart from it. Both Sikhs and Christians believe God created the universe and that human beings are the pinnacle of God’s creation. Sikhism’s stress on overcoming pride, self-centeredness, and materialism are parallel to Christianity’s, as are its commitments to charity, tolerance, generosity, and concern for others. Christians and Sikhs are generally closer in belief than are Christians and either Buddhists, Jains, or Hindus. Unlike adherents of dharmic religions, however, few Christians subscribe to the idea of reincarnation, and instead believe that each person is granted only one life and union with Christ is the way to God.