Today our World Religions class was taught by a Sikh man, Ravi. He was assisted by his mother. They did a truly excellent job. My rough notes are below the fold.
It should be noted that Sikhism is the 5th largest religion in the world. I was struck by how very similar to Christianity that Sikhism is.
Here is a comparison/contrast that I did of Sikhism and Christianity in response to their presentation:
Comparisons:
- Remember God when you eat
- Internals more important than externals
- Externals serve to keep believer accountable
- Conditional non-violence (vs. unconditional non-violence)
- Use of actors as an illustration to talk about the masks we put on (see Greek word hupokrisis which being translated means hypocrisy; means “to speak from under a mask”; it’s an acting term)
- Creator God
- Shouldn’t be attached to material possessions because they are temporal
- God is outside of time—eternal and unchanging
- Equality among people
- Our minds are unstable
- Everybody has a responsibility in life to seek the truth
- Close identification of the Word (11th guru) and God
- Bad is when we make other things more important than God (this is in a way the root of all sin, from a Christian perspective)
- God is not no-where, He is now-here.
- We can talk to God, but we can only hear Him if we are one with Him (and Christians would clarify, submitted to Him)
- Evils and incongruities of Hinduism: caste system and dead idols
Contrasts:
- God is not affected by sin
- God is an impersonal set of attributes
- We become part of God when we correctly know Him
- All religions lead to God
- Heaven and hell are in our mind—our condition of guilt
- No supernatural miracles
- There is no good and bad in this world (“It’s very complicated.” she hastened to clarify. Indeed it must be. They talked quite a bit about the importance of living a good life, including non-violence, charity, etc.)
Below are my rough notes of what they said. If you want a more organized, cogent presentation, check out Wikipedia.
5 Ks:
1.Kesh = hair (If one Sikh person is doing something wrong, the whole community is affected.)
2.Kainga = comb
3.Kirpan = sword (You have a sword, but do not fight. Use your brain. Last thing you should use is the sword to defend yourself. Only defense, not offense.)
4.Kara = iron wristlet (Used to be shield, now it is the gift of the guru. Remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives for us.)
5.Karaschiva = white undershorts (White = purity; Ready to work, can go directly to work without getting dressed.)
Hymns = Shabad
9 Keys: The quality of God Himself
1.Ik Onkar (One God) (One sun, many seasons. One God, many religions)
2.Sat Nam (True Name) (Actors have different identities, a mask.)
3.Karta Purakh (Creation) (Creation and Creator is the same. God is creator, but He is such a creator that He lives inside His creation.)
4.Nirbha (No Fear) (Fear comes when you must part with possessions. At the end of life, you will lose it all anyway. No attachment to physical possessions.)
5.Nirvaen (People are One) (All the nations are one. All the religions are one. The name/mask is the only difference. No need to fight.)
6.Akal (Time) (God is beyond time. We think about the past and worry about the future. We should live in the present.)
7.Ajuni (God = no life or death) (Our minds are unstable. You are thinking all the time. Meditation makes the mind steady. Buddhism has the best meditation. God is unchanging and eternal.)
8.Saibhang (Self-illuminating) (Everybody has a responsibility in life. Live a truthful life, don’t run away. Be self-illuminated or responsible.)
9.Gur Parsaid (Guru Blessings) (Regular Sikhs have not experienced what the gurus experienced. Out of that experience they wrote the 11th guru that guides you to eternal peace.)
We are like small streams coming into the ocean. They are inseparable once they come to the ocean.
Hinduism and Islam are not wrong. It is only followers who take the preaching wrong.
Religion is very simple. We have to work in a very simple way. No supernatural miracles.
Meditate minimum of one hour in the morning. When you eat your food, remember God. If you think you can do anything by yourself, it is not possible. God gave you the hands to do it.
God is not no-where, He is now-here.
Sin does not affect God. There is nothing good or bad in this world. “It’s very complicated.”
Bad is when we make other things more important than God.
We can talk to God, but we can only hear when we become one with God, breaking the cycle of reincarnation.
“Heaven and hell come from inside our mind.” Guiltiness is hell. Change from guilt to innocence is heaven.
Khalsa means pure in heart. Following 5 Ks is an external identification of your purity. 5 Ks are mere externals, inside purity is what’s important. God wants us to trust Him fully. If you are going to wear a turban, beard but you do not follow guru’s teaching (i.e. you kill innocent people) you are not sikh.
First guru saw Hinduism: Such wrong. Caste system. Lifeless idols.
Song:
So come back as Jesus
Come back and save the world
Bless all the future of every boy and girl
Come back as Rama,
Forgive us for what we’ve done
Come back as Allah,
Come back as anyone
Religion is the reason,
The world is breaking up into pieces
Colour of the people,
Keeps us locked in hate please release us
So Come down and help us,
Save all the little ones
They need a teacher,
And you are the only one
We can rely on,
To build a better world
A world that’s for children,
A world that’s for everyone
2 Responses
December 27th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I’ve found some interesting sites and one also gave some differences amongst Sikhism and other religons. These were some simmilarities and differences:
Similarities
Submission to the will of God, Hukam.
Khalsa brotherhood and sacrament.
Brotherhood of man.
Fatherhood of God and salvation by grace.
Jewish emphasis on ‘The Name’.
Differences
Salvation for the ‘choosen people’. Sikhism believes anyone can achieve salvation irrespective of the religion that they follow if they endear God in their heart and daily actions.
Christian concept of Jesus as son of God. Sikhism regards all as the children of God.
Infant baptism. In Sikhism child baptism into the Khalsa brotherhood is discouraged. One should only become a Khalsa when they are able to fully understand the duties and responsibilities.
Special Day for worship. There is no special day like Sunday or Sabbath for worship.
Heaven and Hell as physical entities. In Sikhism there are no such physical places. Hell is equivalent to the cycles of births and deaths and heaven is equivalent to the soul merging with God.
Priests. Guru Gobind Singh abolished the priestly class making Sikhism free from their weaknesses and egos, the only priest is the Living Guru, the Guru Granth Sahib which contains all the knowledge and which is available for reading by any Sikh.
The page of the site was
http://www.sikhs.org/religion.htm
You can choose the religon by clicking on the book at the bottom.
December 27th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
I’ve found some interesting sites and one also gave some differences amongst Sikhism and other religons. These were some simmilarities and differences:
Similarities
Sikhism and Other Religions
Islam
Bani Concerning Islam
Similarities
Fatherhood of God
Gurus believed that not only is God our Father, but He is Mother, Brother, Husband and Friend.
“Thou art my father, Thou art my mother, Thou art my kinsman and Thou art my brother. In all the places Thou art my protector. Then why should I feel fear and anxiety?” (Guru Arjan Dev, Majh, pg. 103)
Bismillah of the Quran and the Mul Mantra of the Guru Granth Sahib are both dedicated to One Merciful God and are placed at the beginning of every new chapter. In both the nature of God transcends all concepts of time.
“God is one. His name is True. He is the Creator. His is without fear. He is inimical to none. His existence is unlimited by time. He is beyond the cycles of birth and death, self existent and can be realized through the grace of the Guru.” (Guru Nanak)
Emphasis on the Will of God in Quran is similar to the idea of Hukam in Guru Granth Sahib.
“Everyone is under the Hukam of the Lord; there is none outside it.” (Guru Nanak, Japji)
Theory of creation of the world by the mere will of God.
“The night and day, the Lord created, for the world to do the deeds. Through the Guru’s instruction, the mind is illuminated and the darkness is dispelled. In His will, He creates all and pervades all the woods and grass blades.” (Guru Amar Das, pg. 948)
Encouragement of alms for the needy and poor
Condemnation of idol worship.
Condemnation of asceticism.
Concept of Holy War, but in Sikhism it is only limited to fighting injustice.
Differences
Sikhism does not believe that any Holy Book takes precedence over all others or any religions prophet is the final messenger of God.
“Say not that the Vedas and Muslim books are false. False is he, who reflects not on them.” (Bhagat Kabir, Parbhati, pg. 1350)
“The followers of the Vedas, the Bible and the Koran, standing at Your Door, meditate on You. Uncounted are those who fall at Your Door.” (Guru Arjan Dev, pg. 518)
“And many have been orthodox amongst the Muslims, and men of miracles, and Ashvini Kumaras, and the part-incarnations of Vishnu, all O all went the way of death. And many were the prophets and spiritual guides, yea, countless were they: they sprang from the dust and to dust they returned.” (Guru Gobind Singh, Akal Ustati)
Purpose of the Holy Book
“Thus We have revealed the Koran in the Arabic tongue and proclaimed in it warnings and threats so that they may take heed and guard themselves against evil.” (20:114 Quran)
“Upon this Plate, three things have been placed: Truth, Contentment and Contemplation. The Ambrosial Nectar of the Naam, the Name of our Lord and Master, has been placed upon it as well; it is the Support of all. One who eats it and enjoys it shall be saved. This thing can never be forsaken; keep this always and forever in your mind. The dark world-ocean is crossed over, by grasping the Feet of the Lord; O Nanak, it is all the extension of God.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Mundavanee, pg. 1429)
Sikhism believes that people of different religions are equally capable of achieving salvation while still following their own religion.
“Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends. They are friends with one another. Whoever of you seeks their friendship shall become one of their number. Allah does not guide the wrongdoers.” (5:49, Quran)
“Mohammed is Allah’s apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another.” (48:29, Quran)
“When the sacred months are over slay the idolaters wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for them. If they repent and take to prayer and pay the alms-tax, let them go their way. Allah is forgiving and merciful.” (9:4, Quran)
“There is a garden, in which so many plants have grown. They bear the Ambrosial Nectar of the Naam as their fruit. Consider this, O wise one, by which you may attain the state of Nirvaanaa. All around this garden are pools of poison, but within it is the Ambrosial Nectar, O Siblings of Destiny. There is only one gardener who tends it. He takes care of every leaf and branch. He brings all sorts of plants and plants them there. They all bear fruit – none is without fruit.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Asa, pg. 385)
“The temple or the mosque are the same, the Hindu worship or the Musalman prayer are the same; all men are the same; it is through error they appear different. Deities, demons, Yakshas, heavenly singers, Musalmans and Hindus adopt the customary dress of their different countries. All men have the same eyes, the same ears, the same body, the same build, a compound of earth, air, fire, and water. Allah and Abhekh are the same, the Purans and the Quran are the same; they are all alike; it is the one God who created all. The Hindu God and the Muhammadan God are the same; let no man even by mistake suppose there is a difference.” (Guru Gobind Singh, Akal Ustat, pg. 275)
Sri Guru Granth Sahib places greater emphasis on love of God as the main motivation for man rather than fear of God.
“Truly, none will take heed but the wise: those who keep faith with Allah and do not break their pledge; who join together what He has bidden to be united; who fear their Lord and dread the terrors of Judgement-day; who for the sake of Allah endure with fortitude…” (13:18, Quran)
“Allah’s reward is great. Therefore fear Him with all your hearts and be attentive, obedient, and charitable. That will be best for you.” (64:13, Quran)
“Within my heart, I sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, and celebrate the Word of the Lord’s Shabad. The Lord Himself is pervading and permeating the world; so fall in love with Him!” (Guru Nanak Dev, pg. 790)
“Remembering Him in meditation, one abides in peace; one becomes happy, and suffering is ended. Celebrate, make merry, and sing God’s Glories. Forever and ever, surrender to the True Guru.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Asa, pg. 386)
Sikhism does not believe in the idea of Gods name being only those authorized in a religious tradition or Holy Book.
“Many are Thy Names and infinite Thine forms and it cannot be told how many merits Thou hast.” (Guru Nanak, Asa, pg. 358)
Non-Sikhs are allowed to visit and enter the most sacred shrine of the religion, The Golden Temple.
“Believers, know that the idolaters are unclean. Let them not approach the Sacred Mosque after this year is ended” (9:26, Quran)
“Blessed is the place, and blessed are those who dwell there, where God’s Name is meditated upon. The sermons and songs of God’s praises are sung there and there is nothing but peace, poise and tranquillity.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Raga Bilaval, pg. 816)
“If the Lord Allah lives only in the mosque, then to whom does the rest of the world belong? …The God of the Hindus lives in the southern lands, and the God of the Muslims lives in the west. So search in your heart – look deep into your heart of hearts; this is the home and the place where God lives.” (Bhagat Kabir, pg. 1349)
Attitude towards women. Sikh women are allowed to lead congregations of men at the temple or administer all religious ceremonies involving either men or women.
“Man have authority over women because Allah has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because Allah has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them.” (4:34, Quran)
“We are born of woman, we are conceived in the womb of woman, we are engaged and married to woman. We make friendship with woman and the lineage continued because of woman. When one woman dies, we take another one, we are bound with the world through woman. Why should we talk ill of her, who gives birth to kings? The woman is born from woman; there is none without her. Only the One True Lord is without woman” (Guru Nanak Dev, Var Asa, pg. 473)
Sikhism does not believe in women wearing veils.
“Stay, stay, O daughter-in-law – do not cover your face with a veil. In the end, this shall not bring you even half a shell.” (Bhagat Kabir, Asa, pg. 484)
Sikhism does not believe in fasting or pilgrimages.
“The mind is not softened by fasting or austerities. Nothing else is equal to worship of the Lord’s Name.” (Guru Nanak Dev, Ramkali, pg. 905)
“The pilgrimage to shrines, fasting, cleanliness and self-mortification are not of any avail, nor are the rituals, religious ceremonies and hollow adoration’s. Deliverance, O! Nanak! is in the devotional service of God. Through duality the mortal is engrossed in worldliness. (Guru Nanak, Sri Rag, pg. 75)
Sikhism rejects the killing of any animal evoking a prayer or by slow death. Muslim Halal meat is forbidden for Sikhs.
“Yet holding the knife, the world they butcher. Wearing blue the rulers approval they seek; With money derived from mlechhas the Puranas they worship. Goats slaughtered over the unapproved Muslims texts they eat.” (Guru Nanak, Raga Asa, pg. 472)
Sikhism rejects the idea of circumcision.
“Because of the love of woman, circumcision is done; I don’t believe in it, O Siblings of Destiny. If God wished me to be a Muslim, it would be cut off by itself. If circumcision makes one a Muslim, then what about a woman?” (Bhagat Kabir, Asa, pg. 477)
Sikhism and Other Religions
Hinduism
Bani Concerning Hinduism
Similarities
Reincarnation
Like Hinduism Sikhims believes in the transmigration of the soul. There are countless cycles of births and deaths. One only breaks this cycle when they achieve mukhti (merger with God)
Karma
Karma regulates the reincarnation and transmigration of the soul, Sikhism links Karma with the doctrine of Grace.
“Mortals obtain a human body as a result of good deeds but he reaches the gate ofsalvation with God’s kind grace.” (Guru Nanak, Japji)
Maya
The world is just an illusion and some get enchanted with this illusion and forget God
Differences
Sikhism rejects polytheism and accepts monotheism. Whereas Sikhism starts with one God and universalizes Him, Hinduism starts with many Gods and occasionally gives glimpses of ‘One’.
“I do not accept Ganesha as important. I do not meditate on Krishna, neither on Vishnu. I do not hear them and do not recognize them. My love is with the Lotus feet of God. He is my protector, the Supreme Lord. I am dust of his Lotus feet.” (Guru Gobind Singh, Krishna Avatar)
Authority of the Vedas and the belief that the truth revealed in them is absolute and that reading them one can realize perfection.
“I have read all the Vedas, but my mind’s separation from God is not removed and the five demons of my house (body) are stilled not even for an instant.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Ashtpadis, pg. 687)
Sikhism does not recognize any priestly class.
“Kabir, the Brahman may be the Guru of the world, but he is not the Guru of the saints. He rots to death in the perplexities of the four Vedas” (Bhagat Kabir, Salok, pg. 1377)
Rejection of the Ashrama Dharma theory of dividing man’s life into four stages. Instead the Gurus emphasized living the householders life. Rejection of the Varna distinction of division of human society into higher and lower castes.
“There are four castes of the literates, warriors, cultivators and menials and the four stages of life. He who meditates on the Lord is the most distinguished amongst men.” (Guru Ram Das, Gond, pg. 861)
“The Lord asks not mortals caste and birth, so find thou out the Lord’s True Home (truth). That alone is man’s caste and that his glory, as are the deeds which he does.” (Guru Nanak, Parbhati, pg. 1330)
The Gurus rejected the Avtara theory of the incarnations of God. The Gurus not only exposed the mortality of these gods but used stories to illustrate moral values, such as ‘pride leads to a fall’ illustrated by the story of Harnakhash, untouchability becoming superior through devotion to God by Krishna stories and stories where Bhrahma, Vishnu and Shiva are shown to be ordinary mortals. The Gurus stressed that there is only one God and that these gods and goddeses were not true.
“In every age, the Lord creates the kings, who are sung of as His incarnations. Even they have not found His limits.” (Guru Amar Das, Ashtpadis, pg. 423)
“Millions of incarnations of Vishnu and Shiv, with matted hair Desire Thee, O Kind Lord, with endless longing of their mind and body. Infinite and Inaccessible is Lord, the World Sustainer, and He is the Omnipresent wealthy Master. The gods, perfect persons, heavenly heralds and celestial singers contemplate on Thee. The greater gods and heavenly dancers utter Thine praises. Myrids of kings, gods and many super human beings remember the Lord and hail Him.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Chhant, pg. 455)
Worship of idols and images.
“The blind ignorant ones stray in doubt and so deluded, deluded they pluck flowers for worship. They worship the lifeless stones and adore tombs. Their service all goes in vain.” (Guru Ram Das, Malar, pg. 1264)
“They who say the stone is a god; in vain is their service. He who falls at the feet of the stone; vain goes his labour. My Lord ever speaks. The Lord gives gifts to all the living beings. The Lord is within, but the blind one knows not. Deluded by doubt, he is caught in a noose. The stone speaks not, nor gives anything. In vain are the ceremonies of the idolater, and fruitless his service.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Bhairo, pg. 1160)
The Gita and Vedanta goal of a Mukt. Once he achieves salvation he does not live for the community. In Sikhism the Gurmukh achieving salvation lives to save others.
“Abandon lust, wrath, avarice and worldly love. Thus be rid of both birth and death. Distress and darkness shall depart from thy home, when, within thee, the Guru implants wisdom and lights the Divine lamp. He, who serves the Lord crosses the sea of life. Through the Guru, O slave Nanak, the entire world is saved.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Gauri, pg. 241)
Belief that reading of the six Shastras and their mastery will bring salvation.
“The greatly voluminous Simirtis and Shastras stretch out the extension of worldly love. The fools read them, but know not their Lord. Some rare one knows Him by the Guru’s grace. Of Himself the Creator does and makes others do. By means of the True Bani, He implants truth within the mortal.” (Guru Amar Das, Maru, pg. 1053)
“Many Shashtras and many Simirtis have I seen and searched them all. Nanak, they equal not Lord God’s invaluable Name.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Gauri, pg. 265)
Rejection of Sanskrit or any language as being sacred.
The page of the site was
http://www.sikhs.org/religion.htm
You can choose the religon by clicking on the book at the bottom.
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