Sikh Beliefs

Sikh Beliefs

1. The Nature of God

   • The Mool Mantar
     • Ik Onkar: There is only one God
     • Satnam: Eternal Truth
     • Karta Purakh: He is the creator
     • Nirhau: He is without fear
     • Nir Vair: He is without hate
     • Akaal Moorat: Immortal, without form
     • Ajooni: Beyond Birth and death
     • Saibhang: He is the enlighter, self existent
     • Gur Prasad: He can be reached through the mercy and gracw of the true Guru
   • What Sikhs believe about God
     • God is beyond human description
     • God has no Gender
     • Human words cannot fully describe the greatness of God
     • God can be experienced when he reveals himself to Sikhs
     • God has no limits, he is immanent: in everything.
     • Transcendent: Beyond Everything

2. The Purpose of Life

   • The purpose is to earn good karma and break the cycle of rebirth to join God in mukti
     • Manmukh: Self-centred
       • Gurmukh- God-centred
       • Haumai: too much pride/ego
     • A person should meditate on the name of God and rid themselves of world attachment, Greed ect
     • Sikhs feel human life has purpose because...
       • They are created by God
       • They are made to become one with god
       • They feel spiritually purified when they devote time to meditating
     • Guru Granth Sahib 125
       • 'The Gurmukhs are celebrated in life and death'

3. God as creator

   • Source's of Wisdom and Authority
     • Mool Mantar
       • Karta Purakh: He is the Creator
     • Guru Granth Sahib 12
       • 'You Yourself are the Creator'
     • When Guru Nanak pointed his feet towards a holy Muslim shrine in Mecca he said...
       • 'Kindly turn my feet in the direction where God is not'
   • God is the creator of the world which symbolizes that he is...
     • Omnipotent: All Powerful
     • Omnibenevolent: All loving
     • Omniscient: All Knowing
     • Omnipresent: always present
   • God is present and beyond his creation. (Immanent and Transcendent)

4. The Oneness of Humanity

   • Guru Granth Sahib 349
     • 'Recognise the Lord's Light within all, and do not consider social class or status; there are no classes or castes i the world hereafter'
   • Sikhs believe that God created everyone and so everyone is one/equal
     • This is shown in the Langar
   • Khalsa Sikhs are meant to stand up for those in need and wear the 5K's as symbols of equality
     • Sikhs also take the names Singh (boys) and Kaur (girls) to represent that they are one with God

5. Sewa

   • Sewa means Selfless Service
   • The 3 Types of Sewa
     • Tan
       • Physical Service
     • Man
       • Mental Service
     • Dhan
       • Donation and Charity
   • Guru Granth Sahib 26
     • 'In the midst of this world, do sewa, and you shall be given a place of honour in the Court of the Lord'