Basics of sikhism

1. Practice love,not hollow ritualsPractice love,not hollow rituals
Mindless and hollow rituals done for exhibition had no value with God.

2. RITUALSRITUALS
 They are like a counterfeit coin, which look‑They are like a counterfeit coin, which look‑
genuine but is rejected because it does notgenuine but is rejected because it does not
contain the specified precious metal.contain the specified precious metal.
 Similarly, God rejects all rituals practiced bySimilarly, God rejects all rituals practiced by
the people who have no sincere goodwill orthe people who have no sincere goodwill or
other human beings.other human beings.
 There is no benefit to the soul fromThere is no benefit to the soul from
undergoing self inflicted tortures such asundergoing self inflicted tortures such as
abstaining from food, bathing in ice coldabstaining from food, bathing in ice cold
water,, keeping silent for long periods of timewater,, keeping silent for long periods of time
or standing continuously on one legor standing continuously on one leg

3.  The Guru did notThe Guru did not
approve of the beliefapprove of the belief
that our ancestorsthat our ancestors
who are alreadywho are already
dead, coulddead, could
be helped by giving‑be helped by giving‑
alms to thealms to the
Brahmans . PeopleBrahmans . People
themselves are thethemselves are the
abode of God.abode of God.

He knows what is inHe knows what is in
our minds.our minds.
 One can cheatOne can cheat
people but not Him.people but not Him.
At Hardwar Guru NANAK Dev
ji said that dead ancestors
would not be benefited by the
rituals performed by
their children grandchildren

4. AT BAGHDAD
WHEN ASKED, WHO IS SUPERIOR, HINDU OR MUSLIM,
GURUNANAK SAID,’’ EVERYBODY WITHOUT GOOD
DEEDS WILL REPENT;
Deeds alone are valuedDeeds alone are valued

5.  Guru Nanak preached that God does notGuru Nanak preached that God does not
identify people by their sectarian religionsidentify people by their sectarian religions
such as Christians, Jews, Hindus or Muslims.such as Christians, Jews, Hindus or Muslims.
 ," God judges us by our deeds and full justice," God judges us by our deeds and full justice
is delivered to every one in His court."is delivered to every one in His court."GuruGuru
Granth P7Granth P7
 God evaluates our deeds alone, and notGod evaluates our deeds alone, and not
merely our beliefs.merely our beliefs.
 The Guru made it clear that neither he norThe Guru made it clear that neither he nor
any other prophet would be able to intercedeany other prophet would be able to intercede
at the time of final judgment, which would beat the time of final judgment, which would be
based on actions onlybased on actions only

6. ACTIONSACTIONS
 Stresses the presence of God in every humanStresses the presence of God in every human
being.being.
 Any act that hurts another person is wrong,Any act that hurts another person is wrong,
because it displeases God residing in him.because it displeases God residing in him.
 Any act, which helps the other person, is goodAny act, which helps the other person, is good
because it is liked by Godbecause it is liked by God
 same respect to men and women and equallysame respect to men and women and equally
welcomed them to participate in all social andwelcomed them to participate in all social and
religious functions.religious functions.

7. LIVE HONESTLYLIVE HONESTLY
 The Guru exhorted SajjanThe Guru exhorted Sajjan
(nicknamed Thag), * a robber(nicknamed Thag), * a robber
and murderer living in theand murderer living in the
village of Tulumba in Multan,village of Tulumba in Multan,
Pakistan, to earn hisPakistan, to earn his
livelihood through honest‑livelihood through honest‑
means.means.
 He was also, advised thatHe was also, advised that
one has to pay for one'sone has to pay for one's
actions in the end.actions in the end.
 `Sajjan gave up vices and`Sajjan gave up vices and
became a true sewadarbecame a true sewadar
(service man) of the people.(service man) of the people. Sajjan Thag

10. Physical renunciation of no availPhysical renunciation of no avail
 The Guru exposed theThe Guru exposed the
Sidhs‘ hollow claim thatSidhs‘ hollow claim that
remaining celibates maderemaining celibates made
them better than marriedthem better than married
people.people.
 He asked them, " HowHe asked them, " How
dare you say that you aredare you say that you are
superior or are nearer tosuperior or are nearer to
God than family menGod than family men
when you beg for foodwhen you beg for food
and depend on them forand depend on them for
your sustenance?"your sustenance?"
•Guru Nanak with the Sidhs in
the Himalayas

12. SERVICE IS TRUE WORSHIPSERVICE IS TRUE WORSHIP
Guru Arjan Dev ji serving lepers

13. Service is true worshipService is true worship
 Guru Nanak told theGuru Nanak told the
priests that instead ofpriests that instead of
worshipping stoneworshipping stone
images of the gods theyimages of the gods they
should strive to becomeshould strive to become
one with God'sone with God's
pervasive nature.pervasive nature.
 The correct way toThe correct way to
worship Him is to loveworship Him is to love
other human beingsother human beings
who are His creationwho are His creation
and in whom Godand in whom God
actually residesactually resides
At Jagan Nath Puri Temple,

14. Sangat and PangatSangat and Pangat
 Guru Nanak establishedGuru Nanak established
congregation, in whichcongregation, in which
all people, Hindus andall people, Hindus and
Muslims, low,caste andMuslims, low,caste and
high caste, sit as equalhigh caste, sit as equal
to sing the praises ofto sing the praises of
the Almighty..the Almighty..
 TheGuru also institutedTheGuru also instituted
pangat, sitting togetherpangat, sitting together
as equals to partakeas equals to partake
food which wasfood which was
distributed free todistributed free to
everyoneeveryone
Even today this practice ofEven today this practice of
free food (Langar) prevails infree food (Langar) prevails in
gurdwaras and reminds usgurdwaras and reminds us
that all human beings arethat all human beings are
equal and have the sameequal and have the same
rightsrights

15. Right to life, the right to equalityRight to life, the right to equality
 Guru Nanak statedGuru Nanak stated
that the right to life,that the right to life,
the right to equality,the right to equality,
and the right toand the right to
worship Him areworship Him are
God given gifts to‑God given gifts to‑
every person.every person.
 No religious orNo religious or
political authoritypolitical authority
can take awaycan take away rightright
to life, the right toto life, the right to
equalityequality
Guru nanak with babar at Eimnabad

16.  . One may praise God by any name one wants. One may praise God by any name one wants
to.to.
 The World Conference of Religions for Peace,The World Conference of Religions for Peace,
1979, actually endorsed the basic principles of1979, actually endorsed the basic principles of
the Sikh faith, in New Jersey, USA, concluded:the Sikh faith, in New Jersey, USA, concluded:
 "Too often the names and practices of our"Too often the names and practices of our
religions have been associated with warfarereligions have been associated with warfare
and strife. Now we must reverse thisand strife. Now we must reverse this

17. GUR TEG BHADUR JI SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR
FREEDOM OF RELIGION OF KASHMIRI PANDITS

18. ALL HUMANITY IS ONEALL HUMANITY IS ONE
COMING OUT OF BEIN DECLARED’’ NO HINDU, NO MUSLIM’’
GOD DID NOT CREATE HINDUS OR MUSLIMS HE CREATED
HUMANS HE LOVES ALL WHATEVER RELIGION BE

20. ALL HUMANS ARE EQUALALL HUMANS ARE EQUAL
GURU NANAK PREACHED THAT NONE CAN BE CONSIDERED
SUPERIOR OR INFERIOR ON BASIS OF RACE, CLASS,CULTURE
HOLY PERSON IS ONE WHO ACCEPTS ALL PEOPLE AS HIS
CLASS MATES ;HE CONSIDERS HIMSELF AN EQUAL MEMBER
OF BIG CLASS OF HUMANITY;GGS 6

21.  Guru Nanak, five centuriesGuru Nanak, five centuries
ago preached that the wholeago preached that the whole
world was to be treated asworld was to be treated as
one vast multi cultural‑one vast multi cultural‑
society. Mutual regard andsociety. Mutual regard and
respect among all peoplerespect among all people
were the foundation of thewere the foundation of the
true religion. There was notrue religion. There was no
religion superior to thisreligion superior to this
 The person who accepts allThe person who accepts all
humans as equals is a holyhumans as equals is a holy
person of the highest kind.person of the highest kind.
One who controls his mind,One who controls his mind,
and does not hate anyoneand does not hate anyone
wins the world with love--wins the world with love--
GGSGGS
Contributor Bhagats of Guru
Granth sahib were from low
castes

22. MIRI PIRI—RELIGION ANDMIRI PIRI—RELIGION AND
POLITICSPOLITICS
 MIRI-political life andMIRI-political life and
PIRI-religious beliefsPIRI-religious beliefs
should move hand inshould move hand in
hand to serve societyhand to serve society
 Religion providesReligion provides
motivation for servingmotivation for serving
people while politicalpeople while political
thought providesthought provides
social stucture forsocial stucture for
samesame
 Aim of both is toAim of both is to
provide service andprovide service and
justice to peoplejustice to people Guru Hargobind sahib wearing
two swords of miri and piri

23. ALL DAYS ARE AUSPICIOUSALL DAYS ARE AUSPICIOUS
 Gurbani says every day is a good day and veryGurbani says every day is a good day and very
valuable in our life. A person is supposed to lovevaluable in our life. A person is supposed to love
God all the time.God all the time.
 Every morning sit quietly to recite andEvery morning sit quietly to recite and
concentrate on the virtues God and do the sameconcentrate on the virtues God and do the same
again when the day is over.again when the day is over.
 Before going to bed, one is expected to tuneBefore going to bed, one is expected to tune
one's mind to the blessings of God for aone's mind to the blessings of God for a
peaceful sleep and prepare for the day when hepeaceful sleep and prepare for the day when he
will 'sleep' for ever.will 'sleep' for ever.


24.  Generally, people believe a particular day to be sacredGenerally, people believe a particular day to be sacred
and more appropriate for prayers.‑and more appropriate for prayers.‑
 In Hindus, certain days of the week being consideredIn Hindus, certain days of the week being considered
either auspicious or inauspicious, Sankrant (first dayeither auspicious or inauspicious, Sankrant (first day
of the Indian solar month), Pooran masi ull moon), and‑of the Indian solar month), Pooran masi ull moon), and‑
Amavas (no moon) days are also considered sacred.Amavas (no moon) days are also considered sacred.
 Gurbani reiects all these beliefs. It says God madeGurbani reiects all these beliefs. It says God made
days, not ood or bad days. Those who worship daysdays, not ood or bad days. Those who worship days
or dates, considering them to be ausnicious oror dates, considering them to be ausnicious or
inauspicious, are naive and ill informed.inauspicious, are naive and ill informed.
 Guru Granth P843Guru Granth P843

25. GODGOD
 LORD OF ALL UNIVERSELORD OF ALL UNIVERSE
 WHILE UNIVERSE IS CHANGINGWHILE UNIVERSE IS CHANGING
ACCORDING TO HIS WILL ,HE ALONEACCORDING TO HIS WILL ,HE ALONE
IS UNCHANGED BEYOND TIMEIS UNCHANGED BEYOND TIME
 HE IS NEITHER BORN NOR DIESHE IS NEITHER BORN NOR DIES
 HE IS EVER SELF EXISTINGHE IS EVER SELF EXISTING
 GGS 1 MUL MANTRAGGS 1 MUL MANTRA

26. HEAVEN AND HELLHEAVEN AND HELL
 NO PARTICULARNO PARTICULAR
PLACES BEYONDPLACES BEYOND
EARTHEARTH
 PERSON WHOPERSON WHO
LOVES GOD,GETSLOVES GOD,GETS
HIS BLESSINGS ISHIS BLESSINGS IS
LIVING IN HEAVENLIVING IN HEAVEN
GGS749GGS749
 ANYONE WHOANYONE WHO
IGNORES GOD ANDIGNORES GOD AND
SUFFERS FROMSUFFERS FROM
EGO,LUST,ANGEREGO,LUST,ANGER
LIVES IN HELLLIVES IN HELL
--GGS1369--GGS1369

27. NO ONE IS BORN SINNERNO ONE IS BORN SINNER
 EVERY PERSON IS HISEVERY PERSON IS HIS
MANIFESTATIONMANIFESTATION
 LIFE IS GIFT TO SING HIS VIRTUES,TOLIFE IS GIFT TO SING HIS VIRTUES,TO
LOVE HIM,AND HIS CHILDREN –GGS12LOVE HIM,AND HIS CHILDREN –GGS12