Sikh Guru example essay topic

Sikhism Report The Sikh religion is the youngest of all world religions. It began about 500 years ago in the Punjab region of India. Most of its followers still live in this fertile region, which is located in the foothills of the Himalayas Mountains in the northwest India. In all, there are about twelve million Sikhs in the world today. Gods In Sikhism there is only one god (Waheguru) and this god is beyond the understanding of humans. God is ether male or female.

God is the creator who created the world for people to use and enjoy. God created people to know the differences and to be able to chooses between right and wrong. God is in everyone's soul but can only be seen by people that are blessed. Sikhs believe that there is only one god, the god of all religions and no one religion can be the only true way to god but all religions are just different ways to get to god.

Main Beliefs Sikhs believe that there religion is away of life. They believe that god created all things and that god provides guidance to help all people live well according to the beliefs of Sikhism. So to be a true Sikh means to accept god and carry out his will. Sikhism teaches that all people are equal in the eyes of god and each other. One of the main aims of Sikhism is that there should be a united human society living together in peace and equality that follows the teaching of god. Sikhs believe that everything that happens is the will of god.

They also believe in the selfless services for others. Sikhs believe in spiritual rebirth and they believe that a soul must go thought many forms before they can reach god. Sacred Writings The Sacred writing's the Sikh people use is known as the Guru Granth Sahib (also known as the Adi Granth) is truly unique among the world's great scriptures. It is said that there is a supreme Spiritual Authority and the Head of Sikh religion, rather than any living being. It is the only sacred writing of its kind. It not only holds work of it's own religious founders however also contains writings of people from other beliefs.

The Guru Granth Sahib is not worshipped as an idol, but rather respect is placed on the book for the sacred writings that appear within it. It shows moral and ethical rules for development of the soul, Spiritual Salvation, and unity with God. Religious Practices The ideal Sikh religious practice should relax a man's spiritual consciousness to an ethereal state of mind, where his mind opens to the magnificent of the infinite Universe and all he sees is lords amazing grace all around him. Sikhs celebrate festivals, which recall the lives of the Gurus. They celebrate Baisakhl and the Birthday of the Guru Nanak. Celebrations can include reading of the Granth, singing, meditation, wearing new clothing, and the telling of stories of the Guru.

Leaders The word "Guru" is a Sanskrit word, meaning teacher, honored person, religious person or saint. Sikhism though has a very specific definition of the word Guru It means the descent of divine guidance to mankind provided through ten Enlightened Masters. This honor of being called a Sikh Guru applies only to ten Gurus who founded the religion starting with Guru Nanak in 1469 and ending with Guru Gobind Singh in 1708; thereafter it refers to the Sikh. The Great Masters of Sikhism: 1. Guru Nanak Dev (1496-1539) 2. Guru An gad Dev (1504-1552) 3.

Guru Amar Das (1479-1574) 4. Guru Ram Das (1534-1581) 5. Guru Arjan Dav (1563-1606) 6. Guru Hargobind (1596-1644) 7. Guru Har Rai (1630-1661) 8. Guru Harkrishan (1656-1664) 9.

Guru Tech Bahadur (1621-1675) 10. Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) Moral Code The last Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, defined Sikhism as a race and a religion with the ensuing moral code: That they should add "Singh" (lion) to their name and be baptized by taking "Amrit" (holy, or "communion" water). Further, he gave them a uniform consisting of five "Ks": (1) Kes h (uncut hair) to represent a complete natural person as made by, thus showing non-attachment to vanity. (2) Kanga, a comb to keep the hair tidy.

(3) Kachhi (underpants) rather than the loose "dhoti" (a type of a sarong for males) worn by all at that time to signify an active person who has self control and continence. (4) Kirman (a short sword) to symbolize freedom from oppression but useful for self-defense or to defend the weak. (5) Kara (a steel bangle) to signify a strong and unbreakable link to the religion, together with continuity of life, without beginning, without end, and an awareness of immortality and of timelessness. Belief in Afterlife / Burial Practices Sikhs believe there is only one God, the creator of life and believe in an after life of enriched opportunities and reincarnation. Reincarnation is the understanding that the soul of each person is reborn into another body on earth after death. Rebirth is connected with karma in that the kind of body the soul is reborn into is determined by balancing the good and bad deeds a person has done in their former life / lives and how spiritually enlightened they are.