Sikhism: Beliefs

Sikhism: Beliefs

1. The Nature Of God

   • 1.Ik Onkar: There is only one God
   • 2. Satnam: Eternal truth is his name
   • 3.Karts Purakh: He is without form
   • 4. Nirhau: He is without fear
   • 5. Nir Vair: He is without fear
   • 6. Akaal Moorat: Immortal, without form
   • 7.Ajooni: Beyond birth and death
   • 8.Saibahang: he is the enlightener, self-existance
   • 9.Gur Prashad: he can be reached through the mercy and grace of the true Guru

2. God as creator

   • 1. God is the creator of the world.
   • 2. He is omnipotent
   • 3. Guru Granth Sahib 12
   • 4. God is present and beyond his creation.
   • 5. Mool Mantar: 'Karta purkh' he is the creator
   • 6.When guru nanak pointed his feet towards a holy Muslim shrine in Mecca he said, 'Kindly turn my feet into the direction where God is not.'

3. The nature of human life

   • 1. 'Truth is higher than living; but higher still is truthful living.'
   • 2. 5 virtues: truth, compassion & patience, contentment, humanity, and self control

4. Sewa

   • 1. Selfless service
   • 2. Man, tan, dhan
   • 3. 'In the midst of the world, do sewa, and you shall be given a place of honour in the court of the lord'.
   • 4. Sikh story: Ramesh Seth offered tea as sewa

5. Sangat

   • 1. 'The Sat Sangat, the True congregation of the True Guru. is the school of the soul, where the Glorious Virtues of the Lord are studied'.
   • 2. Company/ congregation of Sikh in the presence of the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib.

6. The Purpose of life

   • 1. 'The Gurumukhs are celebrated in life and death.'
   • 2. The purpose is to earn good karma and break the cycle of rebirth to join with God.
   • 3. Gurmukh: God-centred
   • Manmukh: Man-centred
   • Haumai: too much pride/ego
   • A Person should meditate on the name of God and rid themselves of world attachment, greed etc
   • Sikhs feel life has a purpose because: they are created by god

7. Life After Death

   • 1. 'The body is the field of Karma in this age: whatever you plant, you shall harvest.'
   • 2. Reincarnation: soul is reborn into another body until it is librated and joins with God
   • 3. Karma will determine how many rebirth a person will have.
   • 4. Sikh story: a man thought he knew about karma & didnt help a blind man he thought he derserved to be blind because of his past actions. he was right. he didnt help someone and became blind in his next life