Who Are the Sikhs?: An Exploration of the Beliefs, Practices, & Traditions of the Sikh PeopleWho Are the Sikhs? is teeming with knowledge, references, and answers to 300 frequently asked questions about Sikhi (the Sikh Faith) and its socio-religious and politico-economic affairs. The author traces the origin or road map of the Sikh faith and identity, and delves into the who, why, what, when, and where of the Creator and the Creation, including evolution. Sikh beliefs, ethics, and practices are eloquently described. The question-and-answer format makes it easier for a reader to choose a topic and find a quick answer. It’s ideal for conversation students, researchers, interfaith couples, multicultural communities, and anyone who wants to know Sikhs. The book embodies both simplicity and scholarly details. The author depicts Sikh philosophy, theology, ideology, and relevance to contemporary life in a common phraseology, making it simpler for the average reader to comprehend. He also shows how susceptible and uncharted trails (such as abortion, test-tube babies, surrogate mothering, artificial insemination, etc.) can be approached and strategized through Gurbani, the spiritual utterances in the Sikh Scripture. |
Contents
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Where does Waheguru dwell? | 123 |
Why was the universe created? | 124 |
The Role of the Guru 128 What is a Guru in the Sikh faith? | 126 |
What is the connection between Waheguru and the gurus? 130 How do you find a true Guru? 131 How can you get to know or perceive Waheguru? | 127 |
How do you build a relationship with Waheguru? 133 Are there any contemporary paintings of the Gurus? | 128 |
Do Sikhs have a current living Guru? 135 What is Sri Guru Granth Sahib? | 154 |
Can the Sri Guru Granth Sahib be changed? 137 What language is the Sri Guru Granth Sahib written | 155 |
Can anyone read the Sri Guru Granth Sahib? 139 Are there particular ways to read the Sri Guru Granth Sahib? | 156 |
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Who Can Take Amrit? 37 What are the Sikh articles of faith? | 40 |
What is the significance of the Sikh articles of faith? | 41 |
Why do Sikhs carry a kirpan? | 42 |
What was the inspiration for the Sikh articles of faith? 41 Should Sikh articles of faith be appropriated for advertising? | 43 |
Who can wear Sikh articles of faith? 43 Are Sikhs allowed to wear the kirpan anywhere? | 44 |
Outward Expression of Sikh Identity 44 Why do Sikhs tie a dastaar turban? 45 Is it ok to touch a Sikhs dastaar? | 45 |
Can a Sikh wear a safety helmet or hard hat over a dastaar? | 46 |
Do colours have any significance for Sikhs? | 47 |
Do Sikhs wear special clothes? | 48 |
Eating for the Body and the Soul 49 Is food a part of the religious service? 50 Are there any dietary requirements or restrictions for Sikhs? | 49 |
Do Sikhs have any meal preparation or consumption rituals? | 50 |
Practices Chapter 9 Traditions and Art 53 Why are customs important? 54 Is there a priest or clergy in Sikhi? | 52 |
What is Parbhat Pheri? 56 What role does music play in Sikhi? 57 Can anyone do Gurbani keertan? | 55 |
Is there someone who interprets or helps explain Gurbani? | 56 |
Are there written translations available of the SGGS? 60 Is any other type of music sung in a gurdwara besides keertan? | 57 |
What is the origin of dhadi vaars in Sikhi? 62 What is a performer of poetry called in Sikhi? 63 Are nonSikhs permitted to read the Sikh scripture? | 58 |
Are there any bars to women reading the SGGS? 65 What is Sikhis most significant architecture? | 59 |
Is there such a thing as Sikh art? | 60 |
Why do some Sikhs bow before paintings of the Sikh gurus? 68 Do Sikhs have a tradition of martial arts? | 68 |
What are the folk dances of Panjab? | 69 |
Are some Sikh customs just superstitions? 71 What is kalava? | 70 |
Men Women and Sexuality 72 Are women equal to men in the Sikh faith? | 72 |
What does Gurbani say about gender equality? 74 How did the gurus practice gender quality? | 77 |
Do modernday Sikhs practice gender equality? | 78 |
What is the Sikh view on womens face coverings? 77 Do we walk the talk? What is Sikhis perspective on celibacy? | 79 |
What is the Sikh view on dating? 79 What is the Sikh attitude on using beauty enhancement products or wearing jewelry? | 80 |
What is the Sikh faiths position on tattoos and body piercing? 81 What are Sikh views on modesty? | 81 |
The Sikh Wedding 82 What is the purpose of marriage in Sikhi? 83 Is there an appropriate age for marriage? | 83 |
Do Sikhs have arranged marriages? | 84 |
Are there any Sikh prewedding traditions? 86 Are there nonreligious premarriage customs followed by Sikhs? | 85 |
What happens when the bride and groom arrive at the gurdwara? 88 What is proper conduct inside the gurdwara at weddings? | 88 |
Are there special rules of behaviour for a bride and groom during the marriage ceremony? | 89 |
Does a Sikh wedding ceremony require exchange of rings? 91 Who can get married in a gurdwara? 92 What does the marriage ceremony entail? | 90 |
Who can perform the marriage ceremony? 94 What happens after the marriage ceremony? | 98 |
Why does the bride sit or stand to the left of the groom during the wedding ceremony? 96 How do Sikhs view intercultural marriage? | 99 |
Can Sikhs get divorced? 98 Can Sikhs remarry? | 100 |
What is the Sikh view on polygamy or polyandry? | 101 |
Festivals and Holidays 100 Is there a particular day of the week when Sikhs gather for worship? 101 What are the Sikh holidays and holy days? 102 ... | 103 |
What is Vaisakhi? | 104 |
What is a Nagar Keertan? | 105 |
Do Sikhs celebrate Diwali? | 106 |
What is Bandi Chhor Divas? 108 What is Hola Mohalla? | 107 |
What is the festival of Lohri? 110 What celebrations or commemorations are unique to the Sikh faith? | 107 |
Do Sikhs commemorate Remembrance Day? | 111 |
Does Sikhi advocate going on pilgrimages? | 112 |
Pluralism in Practice 113 How do Sikhs view other religions? 114 Do Sikhs have theological or other objections to the celebration of Halloween? | 114 |
Are Sikhs permitted to observe holy days in other faiths? 116 Do Sikhs believe in proselytizing or converting people into Sikhi? 117 Can a Sikh also ... | 116 |
What is Sikhis perspective on interfaith dialogue? | 117 |
Creator | 119 |
Waheguru God 120 What is Waheguru God? | 120 |
Is Waheguru God male or female? | 121 |
Where did Waheguru come from? 123 How can you find Waheguru? | 122 |
How is Sri Guru Granth Sahib handled? | 157 |
What is a sabad? 142 What is the importance of Naam Simran? 143 Do Sikhs pray? | 158 |
Is there a prescribed daily routine for Sikhs? 145 What is a hukamnama? | 159 |
What is divine will? 147 Do Sikhs believe Guru Granth Sahib is the Word of God? 148 What is Dasam Granth? | 160 |
Creation | 162 |
The Universe and Creation 149 Where did the universe come from? | 163 |
What is the universe made of? 151 Do Sikhs believe in evolution? 152 What is Sikhis approach to modern technological advances? | 164 |
How do Sikhs regard the environment? 154 Is there a heaven and hell? | 165 |
What is death? | 166 |
Is there life after death? | 167 |
Growing Up and Growing Old 155 What is the significance of marriage and family? 156 What is the Sikh view on contraception? | 168 |
What does Sikhi teach about gender selection or male child preference? 158 Is there a special procedure for naming a baby? | 169 |
Is there a difference between male and female names? 160 Are there specific names that are associated with being a Sikh? 161 Are Sikhs given any h... | 170 |
Do Sikhs have endoflife prayers? 170 Is it preferable to cremate or bury a dead body? 171 Is there any restriction on organ donation? 172 What hap... | 176 |
Are there mourning customs in the Sikh faith? | 177 |
Is there a concept of doomsday? 175 What is the difference between spiritual death and physical death? | 178 |
Beliefs | 179 |
Unpacking Sikh Beliefs 176 Is Sikhi the only true religion? | 180 |
Do Sikhs believe in prophecy? 178 Why is there suffering? | 181 |
What is love? | 182 |
Do Sikhs practice tithing? 181 Is there a difference between charity and sharing? 182 What is seva? | 183 |
What role does Sikhi play in physical healing? 184 Do Sikhs believe in salvation? | 184 |
Does the Sikh religion believe in miracles divination or magical powers? | 185 |
Is evangelism or spreading the Word of God to nonbelievers a part of a Sikhs duty? 187 What are the benefits of living a Sikhi existence? | 186 |
Do Sikhs believe in angels? 189 Do Sikhs believe in the devil? | 187 |
Do Sikhs believe in ghosts? 191 Do Sikhs believe in yugas eras of time? | 188 |
What are the limits to free will? | 189 |
Ethics and Sikhi 193 What are the most important ethical precepts in the Sikh faith? 194 What are the social ethics of Sikhs? | 190 |
Does guilt serve any purpose? 196 What is ego? | 191 |
Is there difference between the ego and the mind? 198 What is kindness? 199 What is the value of compassion? | 192 |
Why is it important to forgive? | 193 |
Making Hard DecisionsMoral Landscape 201 What is morality? 202 What is true righteousness? | 195 |
How do Sikhs maintain their practice when it conflicts with wider social norms? | 196 |
How do Sikhs handle violence and injustice? | 197 |
Are blood or organ donations permissible in Sikhi? 206 Does Sikhi prohibit stem cell research? 207 Are birth control or abortions permissible for Sik... | 198 |
Can Sikhs use artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization IVF? | 199 |
Is genetic engineering appropriate? 210 Is there a practice of shunning or excommunication among Sikhs? | 200 |
Is there a Sikh view on capital punishment? 212 Is there a Sikh view on honour killing? | 201 |
Are suicide or euthanasia acceptable? | 213 |
Can there be a just war? 215 Do Sikhs practice restorative justice? | 214 |
What is the Sikh attitude toward homosexuality and samesex marriage? | 215 |
How do Sikhs view extramarital relationships? | 216 |
Organization and Administration Chapter 21 Governance 219 How do Sikhs govern themselves? | 218 |
What is the history of the Sikh Assembly the Sarbat Khalsa? 221 Does anyone speak with authority for the Sikhs? | 220 |
Do Sikhs believe in a particular system of government? | 221 |
GurdwaraPlace of Congregation and Learning 223 What is a Gurdwara? 224 Why is a Gurdwara important? | 223 |
How did the gurdwara concept begin? 226 How do Sikhs worship in the gurdwara? | 224 |
Is there a special dress code for a gurdwara? 228 Who owns a gurdwara? 229 How are gurdwaras funded? | 225 |
Do you have to pay a fee to be a member of a gurdwara? 231 How do Sikhs show reverence to the Sikh scripture? | 226 |
What is the name for a Sikh congregation? 233 Who may enter a gurdwara? 234 What are the seating arrangements in a gurdwara? | 227 |
What is prashad? 236 What is the significance of the langar? | 238 |
What do the large circles swords and spears in front of SGGS represent? 238 What is khandaand what is its religious significance? 239 What is the si... | 239 |
The Power of Ardaas 242 What is the meaning of prayer for a Sikh? | 241 |
Why do Sikhs believe in the power of prayer? | 242 |
What is the relationship between prayer and meditation? 245 Who leads a Sikh congregation in prayer and sabad singing? | 243 |
The Sikh Psyche Chapter 24 Sikh Home and Sikh Homeland 247 Did the Sikhs ever have their own country? | 246 |
What is Khalistan? | 247 |
When and why did Sikhs decide to migrate to different parts of the world? | 248 |
Health Wealth and Happiness | 251 |
Looking Back while Moving Forward | 258 |
Acknowledgments | |
About the Book | |
Common terms and phrases
Akal Takhat amrit sanchar amritdhari Sikh Anand ardaas articles of faith bani Bhagat Bhai bride British Canada celebrate ceremony code of conduct congregation considered creation Creator cultural Darbar Sahib dastaar death dhadi dharam Divine ethical gender giani groom Gurbani gurdwara Guru Amar Guru Amar Das Guru Arjan Guru Gobind Singh Guru Granth Sahib Guru Hargobind Guru Nanak Guru Nanak says Guru Teg Guru’s Hindu honour human India jathedars Kaur keertan Khalsa kirpan living marriage Mata means meditation Mughal Muslim Naam one’s Panj Pyare Panjabi path person practicing Sikhs prayer Punjab recitation refers Rehat Maryada religion religious rituals sabad sacred SGGS Sikh code Sikh community Sikh faith Sikh Gurus Sikh Rehat Maryada Sikh scripture Sikhi teaches Sikhism Sikhs believe Simran singing social soul spiritual Sri Guru Granth take amrit tradition truth turban universe Vaisakhi verse Waheguru wear wedding women word worship writes ਿਹ ਿਰ