Sikhism

Team Name: The Sickest SikhsAriston CraneChris Wong

Nicole SkinnerTeresa N. Lopez

Historical Background of Sikhism

Teresa N. Lopez

The Beginning

• Founded by Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, (1469-1538)

• At Sultanpur, he received a vision to preach the way to enlightenment and God. He taught a strict monotheism, the brotherhood of humanity.

• He rejected idol worship, and the oppressive Hindu concept of caste system. Teresa N. Lopez

• Nanak taught that one can escape the reincarnation cycle (samsara) only through mystical union with God

• namely through devotion and chanting.

• Nanak was followed by an unbroken line of nine appointed guru successors maintaining the line of leadership into the 18th century (1708).

Teresa N. Lopez

• Sikhism rejects the supremacy and completion of Mohammad the prophet which was taken at the time as blasphemy and inspired much opposition from the historically warlike faith of Islam.

• By the time of the tenth guru, Sikhs had organized the Khalsa, a world-renowned class of warriors, conspicuous and brave, zealous and deadly.

• They stood out because of their characteristic "five K's:" kesh, kangha, kach , kara , and kirpan.

• Gobind Singh was eventually assassinated by Muslims. • He was the last human guru. • The Sikh holy book, the Adi Granth took his place as indicated by its

alternate name, Guru Granth. • The Adi Granth, while not worshipped, is ascribed divine status.

Teresa N. Lopez

Sikh Beliefs

• The goal of every Sikh is to build a close, loving relationship with God.

• The Mool Mantar, the first hymn composed by Guru Nanak, is recited daily by many Sikhs.

Teresa N. Lopez

• “There is only one God; His Name is Truth; He is the Creator; He is without fear; He is without hate; He is beyond time (i.e. is immortal); He is beyond birth and death; He is self-existent. Only he can be worshiped”

Teresa N. Lopez

• Reincarnation: They believe in Samsara (the repetitive cycle of birth, life and death),

• Karma:the accumulated sum of one's good and bad deeds.

• These beliefs are similar to Hinduism

Teresa N. Lopez

Symbol

• The name of the religion means learner.

• "The Sikh emblem, Khanda, contains a ring of steel representing the Unity of God, a two edged sword symbolizing God's concern for truth and justice, and two crossed swords curved around the outside to signify God's spiritual power."

Teresa N. Lopez

Gurusand

Their Important Contributions

Ariston Crane

Ariston Crane

Guru Nanak (Humility)

• Teachings on the way of life.• the founder of the Sikh religion,

was born in the village of Talwandi and was by profession an accountant.

• taught that "there is neither Hindu, nor Moslem" by which he meant that god is greater than all differences between religions.

• He also taught the concepts of equality for humans and furthermore equality for women.

Ariston Crane

Guru Angad Dev (Obedience)

• Guru Nanak himself chose Angad to be his successor instead of his own son.

• One of the most important contributions by Guru Angad Dev Ji was his new script for Punjabi. This new script was called Gurmukhi.

• Guru Angad's sixty-two hymns are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.

Ariston Crane

Guru Amar Das (Equality)

• His contribution came in the social reforms he advocated particularly in regard to the emancipation of women, from purdah (female isolation)and sutti(widow burning.)

• It was not until his old age that Amar Das met Guru Angad and converted to the path of Sikhism.

• Guru Amar Das further institutionalized the free communal kitchen called langer among the Sikhs.

Ariston Crane

Guru Ram Das (Service)

• He established what would become the center of the Sikh world, namely the temple at Armritsar.

• His most important work involved the compilation of the Sikh sacred texts, or the Guru Granth. His wedding hymn the lavan forms the focus of the Sikh marriage ceremony even till today.

• Ram Das was to meet a tragic end, however, having angered emperor Jahangir with his religious activities, and for supposedly harboring a rebel prince. Ram Das was tortured to death in 1606.

Ariston Crane

Guru Arjan (Self-Sacrifice)

• He was the son of Ram Das.• In his time, a political rift between

the ruling Mughuls and Sikhs transformed Sikhism into a militant religion. Guru Arjan continued the work of Ram Das in the compilation of the Guru Granth Sahib. He added his own contributions which consist of over two thousand entries.

• Guru Arjan then built the Golden Temple to house the Guru Granth Sahib. Ariston Crane

Guru Har Gobind (Justice)

• He was the son of Arjan and the grandson of Ram Das.

• He also authorized the use of steel in the defense of dharmaor community of Sikhs, and to protect oppressed peoples.

• laid the foundation of a new temple at Amritsar, the Akal Takht.

Ariston Crane

Guru Har Rai (Mercy)

• Guru Har Rai sent his son to Aurangzeb's court when the emperor voiced his disapproval over some lines in the Sikh sacred texts, whereupon, Guru Har Rai's son Ram conceded to making changes to the offending lines. In Har Rai's eyes, however, his son had proved unworthy of succeeding him by buckling under to the emperor.

• Since Ram Rai had proved a disappointment to his father, Guru Har Rai appointed his younger son Harkrishan as the next Guru and passed away soon thereafter on October 6, 1661.

Ariston Crane

Guru Har Krishnan (Purity)

• was only five years old when he received the guru-ship.

• short life was marked by courage and devotion. He showed considerably more mettle than his older brother by refusing to see emperor Aurangzab when the latter summoned him to court.

• He later became infected with a smallpox epidemic that was spreading and was only eight years old when he died.

Ariston Crane

Guru Tegh Bahadur (Tranquility)

• In his youth he fought alongside his father at the battle of Kartarpur in 1634. For many years after he sought a life of meditation and renunciation of the world.

• Once he became the guru, Tegh Bahadur embarked on several missionary journeys. At every stop he dug wells and established community kitchens. He came to be regarded as "the true king."

• He later was captured and tortured cruelly by emperor Aurangzeb and eventually publicly beheaded.

Ariston Crane

Guru Gobind Singh (Royal Courage)

• Instituted the baptism ceremony pahul as a ritual that would psychologically bind Sikh followers with a greater sense of unity.

• The first baptism was performed on Baisakhi Day in 1669 and Guru Gobind Singh baptised five of his followers who were known as Panj Piyare, the Five Beloved Ones.

• He was perhaps the most important of the ten gurus.

Ariston Crane

Main Principles of Sikhism

Nicole Skinner

• “Sikh” means discipline• Unattached to worldly

things• Must do his duty to the

family and community• Lead a pure and moral

life

Nicole Skinner

The Five K's of Sikhism

• Those who have been baptized as Khalsa wear the “five K's” as symbols of their membership– Kesh (uncut hair)– Kara (a steel bracelet)– Kangha (a wooden

comb)– Kachera (cotton

underwear)– Kirpan (sword)

Nicole Skinner

3 Main Principle Points

• Naam Japna-remembering God through meditation– "there is but one God.

He is the Supreme Truth." God is known as Sat Nam and has neither form nor material substance

– Overcome 5 deadly sins

Nicole Skinner

3 Main Principle Points

• Kirat Karo- earning an honest living

• “Rehat”-Code of Conduct– permeates their

behavior moral choices– Sikh religion teaches

equality of all people regardless of their caste, religious belief, racial origin, and/or sex

Nicole Skinner

Nicole Skinner

3 Main Principle Points

• Wand Kay Chakko- selflessly serving others and sharing income and resources– emphasis on moral values– Selflessness and the

destruction of ego are seen as the primary means of achieving eternal bliss

– stress the importance of leading a moral life within society

Nicole Skinner

• Not just a set of beliefs, it’s a way of living

• Must be visible as different.

• Must participate and help within the community they live in.

• Ego, lust, anger, attachment, and greed.

Terms

Chris Wong

Chris Wong

• Guru Nanak’s teachings1. Naam Japna- chanting the holy name and remembering God at all

times.2. Kirat Karo- making an honest living without cheating or fraud.3. Vand Chakko- Sharing and helping those who are in need.

• Japji Sahib- is the first composition found in the Guru Granth Sahib. It consists of the summary of the Sikh Philosophy and hymns.

• Khalsa- Devout Brotherhood or collective body of the Sikhs. Also seen as the Orthodox majority of the Sikh community

• GURU Granth Sahib- Holy scripture of Sikhism. It is composed of hymns or “Baani” That describe God and why we should meditate to God.

Chris Wong

• Gurumakhi- a Derivative of Hindi that is used in Sikh Scripture.

Chris Wong

Guru Nanak’s Teaching on the Way of Life

• Amrit- Literally Meaning “nectar”. It is composed of water and sugar and is stirred with a sword while prayers are being said. It is used during the baptism initiation into the Khalsa.

• Langar- also known as the free kitchen was first started by the Sikh Guru Nanak. It is upholds the principle of equality between all people. It consists of a free vegetarian meal that is prepared by volunteers and is blessed before it is handed out.

Guru Nanak’s Teaching on the Way of Life

• Singh – Essential component of the Sikh Male. Every Sikh Male must end with “Singh”.

• Kaur- Meaning Princess is the widely used second name of female Sikhs.

Chris Wong

Quiz

1. What does the word Sikhism mean?A. GuruB. LearnerC. TeacherD. To worship

2. The Adi Granth is meant to be?

A. SungB. ReadC. WorshipedD. Divine Status Symbol

Quiz

3. Who is the founder of Sikhism?A. Guru Nanak B. Guru Ram DasC. Guru Har KrishnanD. Guru Har Rai

4. Which Guru died at the young age of 8?A. Guru Har GobindB. Guru ArjanC. Guru Tegh BahadurD. Guru Har Krishnan

Quiz

5. Out of the 5 K’s, which one is the most important to follow?A. Kesh (uncut hair)B. Kirpan (sword)C. Kara (steel bracelet)D. Kachha (cotton underwear)

6. True or False:The 3 main principles of the Sikhism religion are, to

meditate, earn an honest living, and selflessly serve others.

Quiz

7. What is used during the baptism initiation into the Khalsa?A. HoneyB. AmritC. NectarD. Langar

8. Every male initiated into the Khalsa has a word added to his name. What is this word?

References

Information• Historical Background

– http://www.gotquestions.org/Sikhism.html– http://www.religioustolerance.org/sikhism2.htm

• Gurus – http://

www.sikhphilosophy.net/new-to-sikhism/19571-beliefs-contribution-guru-nanak-dev-ji.html

– http://www.csupomona.edu/~plin/ews431/religion.html– http://www.world-faiths.com/Sikhism/the_10_gurus.htm– http://www.infoaboutsikhs.com/guru_angad_dev_ji.htm

• Main Principles– http://www.csupomona.edu/~plin/ews431/religion.html– http://www.csupomona.edu/~plin/ews431/religion.html

• Terms– http://www.csupomona.edu/~plin/ews431/religion.html

• Tradition:– Picture

• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sikh_wedding.jpg

– Clip• http://www.csupomona.edu/~plin/ews431/religion.html• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6SQ_XLfVes&feature=related

Pictures• Historical Background:

• http://www.allvoices.com/news/6871144-report-6-men-convicted-in-sikh-temple-attack-in-which-cleric-was-killed-in-vienna/content/64276575-forensic-officers-enter-a-sikh-temple-in-vienna

• http://www.gurdwara-mannheim.com/gurdwara_mannheim_sikhism.php• http://www.suite101.com/content/the-wheel-of-life--samsara-wheel-and-the-rebirth-cycles-a292102

• Main Principles:• http://courseware.acadiau.ca/courses/engl/3663/wiki/index.php/Image:Five-k%5C%27s.jpg• http://www.sikhs.nl/sikhbeliefs.htm• http://www.sikhnet.com/news/our-war-sexes• http://www.see-q.net/features/sikhwoman.html• http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Basic_Tenets_of_Sikhism

• Guru:• http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/00117/sikhism.html• http://www.gurtagaddinanded.com/History/Default.asp• http://www.squidoo.com/guruamardas• http://www.socialpacks.com/2010/10/09/guru-ram-das-ji-birth-anniversary-being-celebrated-by-sikhs-a

ll-over-the-world-today/

• http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-gurus/sri-guru-arjan-dev-ji-p3.html• http://forum.sikhsangeet.com/v/Gurudware/Harmandir+Sahib/goldentemple-wallpaper12.jpg.html• http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Guru_Har_Gobind• http://www.exoticindiaart.com/product/HY46/• http://harianbelan.org/guru8.php• http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/gurus/nanak9.html• http://www.nriinternet.com/Associations/USA/A_Z/I/IIGS/2008/iics/

• Terms– http://www.exoticindiaart.com/book/details/IHL491/– http://www.houstonsikhs.org/category/educational/page/17