 The
universally accepted function of religion is to protect society from social
and moral degradation and to guide its destiny in such a way as to achieve
the greatest good of the largest number of people. Whenever the universal
human values are on the decline, religion is thought to have failed in
doing its duty of guiding the Society. The more a religion tends to unite
people and to strive for the service of humanity, the nearer it is to its
aim. The world has seen many religions at different times. Sikhism is one
of them and perhaps the latest.
Sikhism is an endeavour to create a union of all those
who love God and serve humanity. A devout Sikh respects the adherents of
all other faiths irrespective of the differences of creed and ways of worship.
The example was set by Guru Nanak who made friend with an untouchable (low
caste) Muslim named Mardana and kept his friendship till death without
even once asking him to renounce Islam and to accept the Guru's religion.
The same is reflected in the religious book(Guru Granth Sahib) of the Sikhs
which is an anthology of poetry not exclusively written by the Sikh Gurus
and for the Sikhs. Side by side with the Guru's hymns are recorded the
hymns of a king, a Brahman, a barber, a Muslim and an untouchable (so-called
shudra) all professing different religions. Its message, as the Guru himself
put it: "is for all the four castes" *and the whole of humanity. Guru Gobind
Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, had a number of Muslims in his army
fighting against the tyrannical Mughal empire. Last but not the least the
foundation stone of the Holiest Temple of the Sikhs was laid by a Muslim,
Sayeen Mian Mir. For the Sikh the whole humanity is a united family, a
brotherhood under one God. Duncan Greenless has summed up Sikhism as "the
religion taught through Guru Nanak in the forms of the Ten Gurus and now
through the Guru Granth Sahib and the whole community of disciples. It
is a practical way of life, leading man straight to his goal, and does
not involve itself in verbose theorising."
Further Reading from our Publication
- Introduction to Sikhism
-
Question and Answers relating to -
Bandi Chhor
Divas - Sikh Divali: The harbinger of Enlightenment and Freedom
DISCIPLINE OF A SIKH
Sikhism has always been very clear about the discipline
required of a Sikh. In fact, Guru Ram Das, the fourth Guru Nanak, laid
down an aspect of the discipline required for a Sikh's everyday life.
"Let him, who calls himself
a Sikh of the True Guru,
Rise early and meditate on God;
Let hint exert himself in the morning
and bathe in the tank of Nectar,
Let him repeat God's Name;
under the Guru's instruction;
Thus shall his sins and errors-be
erased.
Let him at sunrise sing the Guru's
hymns;
Sitting or standing, he should
meditate on God's Name.
The Disciple, who at every breath,
meditates on God;
will please the Guru's heart.
He alone takes the Guru's instruction;
who is by the Lord's mercy so guided.
The slave Nanak seeks the dust
of the feet of him,
Who himself repeats Gods name,
and leads others to do so."
Meditation on the Name of God (Naam Simran) was and is the
most important thing for Sikhs living by a discipline prescribed clearly
by the Guru.
(Guru Granth Sahib, pg 305-306)
The Sikh Rehat Maryada
As per the constitution The Sikh Missionary Society follow
the the code of conduct as laid down by the REHAT
MARYADA approved and published by Shromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee,
Amritsar and Sri Akal Takhat Sahib.
To receive a FREE copy of the Rehat Maryada from
the Sikh Missionary Society please send a stamped self addressed envelope
( Sizes 22cm wide and 15 cm height.) to the following address
Free Rehat Maryada
Sikh Missionary Society
10 Featherstone Road,
Southall,
Middlesex
UB2 5AA.
England, UK
The Rehat Maryada is also available to read
online in the Publications section.
Most of the literature on Sikhism, Sikh History, tradition
and culture is supplied free of charge to anyone who is interested in Sikhism. |
