RS 390: SIKHISM – AN RS 390: SIKHISM – AN OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

Doris R. JakobshDoris R. Jakobsh

THE TEN GURUS OF SIKHISM

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SIKHISM: HISTORICAL SIKHISM: HISTORICAL SOURCESSOURCES

Sikhism is the newest of the major Sikhism is the newest of the major world religionsworld religions

(Guru Nanak: 1469-1539)(Guru Nanak: 1469-1539)

Today, 16 – 20 million adherentsToday, 16 – 20 million adherents

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SOURCES?SOURCES?

1) 1) Adi GranthAdi Granth ( (Sri Sri Guru Granth Guru Granth Sahib)Sahib)

Devotional hymns Devotional hymns and poetryand poetry

Not historical Not historical eventsevents

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SOURCES?SOURCES?

Janamsakhi Janamsakhi literatureliterature

Narratives focusing on Guru Narratives focusing on Guru Nanak’s lifeNanak’s life

Earliest sources written 100 years Earliest sources written 100 years after Guru Nanak’s deathafter Guru Nanak’s death

Thus questionable historicallyThus questionable historically

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JANAMSAKHIS:JANAMSAKHIS:

Say more about the needs of the Say more about the needs of the community after the Guru’s death community after the Guru’s death than about factual evidencethan about factual evidence

Also inconsistencies between the Also inconsistencies between the various versionsvarious versions

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LATER GURUS: LATER GURUS: SOURCESSOURCES These histories are not included These histories are not included

in the in the janamsakhisjanamsakhis

BUT written in same style BUT written in same style

Same genreSame genre

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JANAMSAKHIS:JANAMSAKHIS:

STATEMENTS OF FAITH, AS OPPOSED TO BEING HISTORICALLY FACTUAL

GURU NANAK

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BACKGROUND TO SIKH BACKGROUND TO SIKH TRADITION: MILIEUTRADITION: MILIEU

Nanak very much in line with Nanak very much in line with Bhakti traditionBhakti tradition

Version of Bhakti known as the Version of Bhakti known as the ‘Sant tradition’‘Sant tradition’

Sant = ‘one who knows the truth’Sant = ‘one who knows the truth’

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SANT TRADITION:SANT TRADITION: God = God = nirgunanirguna – without form – without form

Vedas are not authoritativeVedas are not authoritative

Brahmin priesthood rejectedBrahmin priesthood rejected

Opposed to ALL outer forms of religion Opposed to ALL outer forms of religion (pilgrimage, images, scripture)(pilgrimage, images, scripture)

Religion is strictly an interior affairReligion is strictly an interior affair

Salvation open to all, regardless of Salvation open to all, regardless of caste or gendercaste or gender

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THE EARLY FOLLOWERS OF THE GURUS WERE NOT INITIALLY CONSIDERED A DISTINCT COMMUNITY

THEY WERE SIMPLY ONE OF THE BHAKTI MOVEMENTS THAT WERE SWEEPING ACROSS INDIA

NANAK THE BRIDGE NANAK THE BRIDGE BUILDER:BUILDER:

STORY OF THE STORY OF THE FLOWERS AT FLOWERS AT GURU NANAK’S GURU NANAK’S DEATH…DEATH…

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GURU NANAK AND GURU NANAK AND HINDUS:HINDUS: ““Hindus praise the Hindus praise the

praiseworthy one praiseworthy one whose vision and whose vision and beauty are beauty are incomparable, but incomparable, but they bathe at they bathe at pilgrimage places, pilgrimage places, make flower make flower offerings, and place offerings, and place the perfume of the perfume of sandalwood before sandalwood before idols” (AG 465).idols” (AG 465).

GURU NANAK AND GURU NANAK AND MUSLIMS:MUSLIMS:

““Let compassion be Let compassion be your mosque, faith your mosque, faith your prayer carpet, your prayer carpet, and righteousness and righteousness your Qur’an. Let your Qur’an. Let modesty be your modesty be your circumcision, and circumcision, and uprightness your uprightness your fasting. Thus you fasting. Thus you will become a true will become a true Muslim” (AG 140).Muslim” (AG 140).

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GURU NANAK BELIEVED THAT GOD COULD BE FOUND IN ALL TRADITIONS

RITUALS, SCRIPTURE IN AND OF THEMSELVES ARE NOT ENOUGH

THESE BECOME ENDS AS OPPOSED TO MEANS WHEREBY TRUTH CAN BE FOUND

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COMMUNITY OF COMMUNITY OF NANAK:NANAK: Householder is the ideal (not ascetic)Householder is the ideal (not ascetic)

Nam simaranNam simaran – meditation on Divine – meditation on Divine name and nature of Godname and nature of God

SatsangSatsang – community – community

Devotion to the Guru – receive Devotion to the Guru – receive darshandarshan

1919

GURU NANAK’S SUCCESSORGURU NANAK’S SUCCESSOR

Rejection of family lineageRejection of family lineage

Eldest son was an asceticEldest son was an ascetic Youngest son not interestedYoungest son not interested

GURU ANGAD

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GURU ANGAD:GURU ANGAD:

Lehna – devotee of DurgaLehna – devotee of Durga

Contrast Angad’s devotion to Contrast Angad’s devotion to Guru Nanak with his sons’Guru Nanak with his sons’

Many stories of this devotionMany stories of this devotion

GURU AMAR DAS

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GURU AMAR DAS:GURU AMAR DAS:

Construction of Construction of baolibaoli (well) (well)

Pilgrimage centrePilgrimage centre

Beginning of Beginning of institutionalization institutionalization of of the community (Panth)the community (Panth)

GURU RAM DAS

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GURU RAM DAS:GURU RAM DAS:

Son-in-law of Guru Amar DasSon-in-law of Guru Amar Das

Succession moves a little closer Succession moves a little closer to family succession that Guru to family succession that Guru Nanak had rejectedNanak had rejected

Eventually, guruship stays within Eventually, guruship stays within the family line of Gurusthe family line of Gurus

CONTROVERSIES WITH REGARD TO SUCCESSION – EACH SON TOOK ACTION AGAINST THEIR FATHERS’ DECISIONS FOR LEADERSHIP

LEGALLY, THEY WERE THE HEIRS

ALSO CLAIMED THEY WERE THE TRUE GURUS

SCHISM AFTER SCHISM

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GURU ARJAN

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GURU ARJAN:GURU ARJAN:

Turning point in Sikh communityTurning point in Sikh community Son of last Guru (though not the Son of last Guru (though not the

oldest)oldest) Compiled Sikh hymns into scriptureCompiled Sikh hymns into scripture Built Harimandir/AmritsarBuilt Harimandir/Amritsar Known as ‘king’ to his followersKnown as ‘king’ to his followers Active in trade and businessActive in trade and business

HARIMANDIR SAHIB = HARIMANDIR SAHIB = GOLDEN TEMPLE, AMRITSARGOLDEN TEMPLE, AMRITSAR

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OTHER CHANGES?OTHER CHANGES?

Caste constituency is changingCaste constituency is changing Moving from Khatri to Jat caste Moving from Khatri to Jat caste

groupinggrouping

Had a huge influence on direction Had a huge influence on direction taken by later Gurustaken by later Gurus

GURU HARGOBIND

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GURU HARGOBIND:GURU HARGOBIND:

Miri-piri Miri-piri doctrine = temporal and doctrine = temporal and spiritual powerspiritual power

Had an armyHad an army

Mughal threat OR Jat caste influx?Mughal threat OR Jat caste influx?

GURU GOBIND SINGH

GURU GOBIND SINGH

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GURU GOBIND SINGHGURU GOBIND SINGH

Father put to death by MughalsFather put to death by Mughals

Known for his love of horses, hunting, Known for his love of horses, hunting, hawkinghawking

MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN SIKH MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN SIKH TRADITION ATTRIBUTED TO GURU TRADITION ATTRIBUTED TO GURU GOBIND SINGHGOBIND SINGH

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BAISAKHI DAY, 1699BAISAKHI DAY, 1699

Called for a follower to Called for a follower to give his life to his Gurugive his life to his Guru

Eventually 5 came Eventually 5 came forwardforward

Panj PiarePanj Piare (beloved 5) (beloved 5)

BAISAKHI, 1699: BAISAKHI, 1699: KHALSA KHALSA BROTHERHOODBROTHERHOOD

TODAY, WHEN ANY DECISION IS MADE, OR, SOMEONE IS INITIATED, 5

‘BELOVEDS’ GATHER

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5 Ks: SYMBOLS OF 5 Ks: SYMBOLS OF THE KHALSATHE KHALSA

KachhKachh – undergarment (breeches) – undergarment (breeches) KesKes – uncut hair – uncut hair KirpanKirpan – dagger – dagger KangaKanga – comb – comb KaraKara – iron bangle – iron bangle

5 Ks

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PANJ PIARE: INITIATION

SIKH WOMAN: INITIATION

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MEDITATION WAS STILL ON THE DIVINE NAME

BUT THERE WAS NOW A NEW ASPECT TO ‘BEING SIKH’

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GURU GRANTH SAHIBGURU GRANTH SAHIB

GURU GRANTH SAHIB

GURU GRANTH ELEVATED

GURU GRANTH AND IMPLEMENTS

THE GURU GRANTH PUT TO BED

SIKHISM AND SIKHISM AND WORSHIP:WORSHIP: Sikhs insist that Sikhs insist that

the Guru Granth the Guru Granth is not worshippedis not worshipped

It is simply It is simply honouredhonoured

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GOD IN SIKHISM:GOD IN SIKHISM:Mul MantraMul Mantra::

““OmkarOmkar True nameTrue name One who createsOne who creates Beyond all oppositionBeyond all opposition A form beyond timeA form beyond time Unborn, self-bornUnborn, self-born The guru’s grace…The guru’s grace… The ancient truth, ageless truthThe ancient truth, ageless truth Is also, now, truthIs also, now, truth And Nanak says,And Nanak says, It will always be truth.”It will always be truth.”

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GOD:GOD:

““There is One Supreme Being, the There is One Supreme Being, the Eternal Reality. He is the Creator, Eternal Reality. He is the Creator, without fear and devoid of enmity. without fear and devoid of enmity. He is immortal, never incarnated, He is immortal, never incarnated, self-existent, known by grace self-existent, known by grace through the Gurus. The Eternal through the Gurus. The Eternal One, from the beginning, through all One, from the beginning, through all time, present now, the Everlasting time, present now, the Everlasting Reality.”Reality.”

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EK OAMKAR:EK OAMKAR:

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GOD HAS NO PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES, ALTHOUGH THE IMAGERY OF GOD AS LOVER IS OFTEN USED

EVEN NAMES OF GOD SUCH AS RAM, ALLAH, AKAL PURAKH, SAT GURU

BUT GOD IS ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD AS ONE

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GOD AS CREATOR:GOD AS CREATOR:

““For millions of years there was For millions of years there was nothing but darkness over the void. nothing but darkness over the void. There was neither earth nor sky, only There was neither earth nor sky, only the Infinite Will. There was neither the Infinite Will. There was neither night nor day, sun nor moon…The night nor day, sun nor moon…The sources of creation did not exist, sources of creation did not exist, there was no speech, no air, no there was no speech, no air, no water, no birth, no death, no coming water, no birth, no death, no coming or going…There was no other only or going…There was no other only the One.”the One.”

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HUMANITY IN SIKHISM:HUMANITY IN SIKHISM:

““People are born and then die. Where did they People are born and then die. Where did they come from? Say where did they emerge and come from? Say where did they emerge and whither do they go?whither do they go?

Those who have the Name in their hearts and on Those who have the Name in their hearts and on their tongues become beyond desire, as God is.their tongues become beyond desire, as God is.

They come and go in the natural way [according They come and go in the natural way [according to the law of karma], born because of the to the law of karma], born because of the desires of their mind. The God-minded are desires of their mind. The God-minded are emancipated and are not bound again for they emancipated and are not bound again for they dwell on the word and attain deliverance dwell on the word and attain deliverance through the Name” (AG 152).through the Name” (AG 152).

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IGNORANCE IS THE ROOT OF HUMANITY’S PROBLEMS

NOT KNOWING THEIR TRUE NATURE

NOT KNOWING THEIR TRUE DESTINY

THUS, PEOPLE GO ‘ROUND AND ‘ROUND IN THE KARMIC CIRCLE OF REBIRTH

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IGNORANCE IS BASED ON HAUMAI = EGO

HAUMAI BLINDS US TO OUR DEPENDENCE ON GOD

IT BINDS US TO THE NEED FOR LIBERATION

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A PERSON CAUGHT UP IN EGO, IN HAUMAI IS CALLED MANMUKH (ONE WHO IS IN BONDAGE TO THE EGO PERSONALITY

A PERSON WHOSE FOCUS IS GOD, GOD’S WILL IS CALLED A GURMUKH

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SIKH STAGES OF SIKH STAGES OF LIBERATION:LIBERATION:

PIETY, KNOWLEDGE, EFFORT, GRACE, TRUTH

FIRST THREE STAGES ARE AS FAR AS A HUMAN CAN GO BY HUMAN EFFORT

– PIETY, KNOWLEDGE, EFFORT

4TH STAGE: GRACE – GOD’S GRACE

- HUMAN EFFORT HAS REACHED ITS LIMIT

- NOW GOD’S GRACE MUST TAKE THEM FURTHER

“IF ONE GOES ONE STEP TOWARDS GOD, THE LORD COMES TOWARD ONE A THOUSAND TIMES.”

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55THTH STAGE: LIBERATION STAGE: LIBERATION = = MUKTIMUKTI

The level of truthThe level of truth Can only be attained if one has Can only be attained if one has

gone through the first four stagesgone through the first four stages This is one who is ‘God-minded’ = This is one who is ‘God-minded’ =

gurmukhgurmukh

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LIBERATION CAN BE ATTAINED WHILE IN LIFE

THIS STATE IS THAT OF THE JIWAN MUKT

HERE, JOY AND SORROW ARE THE SAME

HAPPINESS IS ETERNAL

ONE IS IN A STATE OF BLISS

NO KARMA IS ACQUIRED

ONE MERGES WITH THE WILL OF THE DIVINE

JIWAN MUKTI

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“MY FRIENDS MET ME AND THEY ASKED ME TO DESCRIBE MY HUSBAND. I WAS SO FILLED WITH THE BLISS OF HIS LOVE THAT I COULDN’T ANSWER THEM” (AG 459).

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“THE ONE WHO HAS THE LOVE OF GOD’S COMMANDS IN THE HEART IS SAID TO BE JIVAN MUKT. RELEASE IS A PRESENT REALITY; JOY AND SORROW ARE BOTH THE SAME, HAPPINESS IS ETERNAL, THERE IS NO SEPARATION FROM GOD.

AS IS GOLD SO IS DUST; AS IS NECTAR SO IS BITTER POISON. HONOUR AND DISHONOUR ARE THE SAME. THE PAUPER AND THE KING ARE ALIKE. WHOEVER REGARDS SUCCESS IN THIS WORLD AS ANY ENTERPRISE ORDAINTED BY GOD, IS SAID TO BE LIBERATED WHILST IN THE BODY” (AG 275).

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RESULT?RESULT?

SERVICE TO OTHERS:SERVICE TO OTHERS: ““Those who meditate on God do good to Those who meditate on God do good to

others” (Guru Arjan).others” (Guru Arjan).

Nam SimaranNam Simaran (the practice of (the practice of meditating on ‘the Name’)meditating on ‘the Name’)

Transforming of personality through Transforming of personality through practicepractice

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GOD CONSCIOUSNESS IS

BECOMING WHO ONE REALLY IS

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THE GURU IN SIKHISMTHE GURU IN SIKHISM

BOTH:BOTH:

Sat GuruSat Guru (Eternal Guru = God) (Eternal Guru = God)

Earthly GuruEarthly Guru – the historical gurus – the historical gurus who were instruments through who were instruments through which the voice of God is heardwhich the voice of God is heard

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THROUGH THE GURUS’ WORDS, PEOPLE CAN REACH LIBERATION

“THE ATTENDANT WHO PERFORMS THE GURU’S SERVICE, REMAINS ATTACHED TO THE GURU’S HYMNS AND WHO ACCEPTS BOTH GOOD AND BAD WITH EQUANIMITY, WILL IN THIS WAY, BECOME ABSORBED IN GOD” (AG 432)

NISHAN SAHIB: SAFRON FLAG SIGNIFYING GURDWARA WITH KHALSA INSIGNIA

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KIRTAN: THE SINGING OF HYMNS

RAGIS: PROFESSIONAL SINGERS

SIKHS: ANANDPUR: 1999 – 300TH ANNIVERSARY OF KHALSA

SIKH LANGAR: KITCHENER

SIKH WORSHIP SERVICE: PRASAD DISTRIBUTED