Our Long Journey with Mystery Part 6 - Sikhism

Sikhism -   Ek- Onkar -One God - One Truth ‘Killing all the temptations of the world, one controls the uncontrollable and thus gains knowledge and merges into the Eternal  ( Guru Ram Das )

Sikhism, the 5^th largest of the world’s religions was founded by Guru Nanak (1469- 1539) whose basic spiritual teaching is to be found in the most Holy of Sikh Mantras – the Mul Mantra, composed to honour the God he called Sat.

The Mul Mantra

‘ Ek-Onkar (One God) , Sat (Truth) is the name,

 the Creator, without fear and hate, 

Omnipresent, pervading the Universe. Neither born, nor dies to be born again. Truth is revealed through the grace of the Guru. 

Before time itself there was Truth. 

When time began to runs its course, there was Truth.

 Even now, there is Truth 

and ever more (says Nanak) shall Truth prevail’.

The Mantra contains the essence of the Guru’s spirituality and teaching about One God. After a deep spiritual experience, he became critical of many of the religious practices of his day, particularly about caste, the division of people and the treatment of women. He set out to offer an alternative path to both Hinduism and Islam and appointed his successor Guru Angad. Thereafter each Guru appointed their successor until the 10^th Guru (Gobind Singh). He instituted the Sikh Kalsa (more on this later) and compiled a collection of the Gurus teaching, including writings from Hinduism and Islam. This forms the Guru Granth Sahib (or Adi Granth) the Sikh Holy Book. This became the 11^th Guru that is central to Sikhism and the focus of worship in the Gurdwara (Temple), which is Punjabi for ‘the door to the Guru’.

The name Sikh means ‘disciple or learner’ and denotes one who believes in; One God, the Ten Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib. In addition, Sikhs believe that the Gurus represent One Divine Inner Voice, they are all one. Their forms changed but their lights merged. In other words ‘the Gurus are vessels for a single spiritual torch’. The 5^th Guru Arjan built the Golden Temple at Amritsar, which is the most sacred place for Sikhs. In this short reflection it is not possible to explore all ten Gurus. We will look at the 10th Guru Gobind Singh and end with a quote from the founder Guru Nanak.

The Kalsa (Pure Ones) and  the Five Ks     Guru Nanak’s alternative spirituality and its emphasis on standing up for the marginalised and oppressed, led to a long period of severe persecution of Sikhs by the Mogul rulers of Northern India. By the time of the 10^th Guru Gobind Singh a tradition of saint-soldiers had developed. It was during this time that the Guru created the Kalsa, which essentially created Sikhism as we know it today. He did so in 1699 with a unique initiation ceremony. Before outlining this, it is important to read an extract of some of the Guru’s words concerning the ethos of those who become the Kalsa. This comes out of the ethos of those times in India and proposes an alternative way.

‘ The one who repeats night and day the name of God, whose enduring light is unquenchable, is one who bestows not a thought on any but the One God  and who has love and confidence in God and places no confidence, even by mistake, in fasting, worshipping at tombs, places of cremation or where yogis meditate. This is one who recognises only One God( Ek Onkar) and cares not for pilgrimages, alms, penance and austerities. It is one in whose heart the light of the Perfect One shines and such a one is recognised as a member of the Kalsa’

In 1699, accompanied by his wife, he gathered Sikhs from all over India. He selected 5 people, one from each of the 4 castes of Hinduism and the 5^th an Untouchable, to be the first to be initiated into the Kalsa. His wife held the cup of nectar (Amrit) used in the ceremony. It was then that Sikhs adopted the custom of wearing the 5 ks , so called because each begin with the letter K. These are; Kes – uncut hair (hence the turban), Kara – bangle or bracelet, Kangha - comb, Kirpan – dagger and Karcha – underpants. All males were required to take the name Singh and females Kaur (princess). This ceremony marks the formal birth of Sikhism and is celebrated each year by Baisaki 

( Spring Festival).

Seva (selfless service).  Sikhism extols 5 very important virtues. These are Compassion, Truth, Contentment, Humility and Love.  One very important practice in living out these virtues is the tradition of Seva a central aspect of Sikhism. This is perhaps best demonstrated by the Langar – a kitchen attached to every Gurdwara. Here, in the spirit of Guru Nanak’s teaching, all are freely welcomed and fed, regardless of gender, race ethnicity or class. As one of the many non-Sikhs who have been often welcomed into a Langar, I have been impressed by the spirit of service and hospitality I have received. It is a positive example and one that other Traditions could benefit from.

Guru Nanak, like other founders of Faith Traditions, was both a mystic and a deeply spiritual human. His writings exude a spirit of compassion, wisdom and mysticism. I would like to end this short reflection with one of his quotations (In Praise of Woman) on the importance of women. I have chosen this because, in the context of 16^th Century India, where women were considered to have no rights, this demonstrates Guru Nanak’s teaching about equality in a society that was deeply entrenched in caste and male sexism.

Of woman we are conceived, of woman we are born, t

o woman we are betrothed and married. 

It is woman who is your friend and who travels the road with you. Another woman is sought when the companion dies. 

Man is bonded to woman. 

Why should we consider woman evil. 

When from woman kings are born? 

From woman alone is born a woman. 

Without woman there can be no human birth. 

O Nanak, without woman, only the True One exists.