Sikhism: Section 3_1

Sikhism: Section 3_1

1. Langar

   • Food that is eaten at Gurdwara. Important part of worship
     • Teaches Sikhs the foundation of their beliefs: EQUALITY. Equality is expressed through eating in the Langar as everyone recieves same amount of food & sits at same level
       • Shows equality as no one is above or beyond anyone else. All treated the same way
     • Helps sikhs to remember the importance of equality as anyone is welcome to eat in G'wara despite caste/religion. Reminds them they should reject caste system & accept all
       • Important; gurus stated that the only person above them is god and not a person
     • Allows sikhs to perform sewa- form of socail service which all sikhs must to to be gurmukh. Shows your worshipping god through others as god is Sargun
       • By doing this sikhs are on their way to achieving mukhti

2. Adi Granth

   • Complied by Guru Arjan; he's a messenger of god and his work should be respected
   • Original copy taken to Kartarpur then Guru Hargobind left Amritsar in 1634. There it was passed onto possession of his grandson-Dhir Mall. Still remained in the family
     • Promotes traditional family values & as it's still being preserved shows being treated with respect
   • Contains hymns from hindu and islamic saints which shows respect for all religions as god is sargun
   • Treated like a living guru - heightens its value as a teacher as it's still seen to be alive in the eyes of sikhs
   • Has teachings from first 5 gurus - has the foundations of sikhism; important that these teachings were recorded so could be passed on

3. Man = Mental service

4. Tan = Physical service

5. Dan = Material Sevice

6. Kirtan

   • Devotional singing
   • Helps sikhs to become more gurmukh by singing and listening to shabads which may explain gods nature
   • Living gurus included Kirtan as worship. Important; gurus seens as embodiments of sikh teachings all sikhs should follow their e.g and perform kirtan
   • In GGS: "So sing the Kirtan of the lords praises"- means kirtant important as it brings about good karma from which sikhs may be able to achieve mukhti
   • Helps sikhs to live a better life - during kirtan sermons are given to congregation to help worshipper understand meaning of GGS and to help them put the teachings into practice

7. Private worship

   • Helps sikhs to become gurmukh as worshiping through gods name. Helps sikhs to copy god's personality as sikhs believe god is kind and caring therefore meditation/worship helps to do this
   • Each prayer has a meaning to it which sikhs should follow. e.g morning prayer helps to think about doing sewa during the day
     • Explains purpose to the human life and how to find god through it. Also, by doing what prayer says (sewa) shows gurmukh
   • Evening prayer tells sikhs to achieve mukti they must give to charity and do sewa
     • Gives sikhs a basis for life and portrays how they should lead daily routine and what mentality they should have
   • Night prayer- tells sikhs we should make the most of oppuntunties to aim to reach god, who is the ultimate reality
     • Important; shows sikhs we must have a goal in life to reach god- only achieved by being gurmukh, important as it helps people to reflect and relax on their day