Sikhism: history, beliefs, and practices

Sikhism

Nanak Dev, who was the first Guru of Sikhism, started the religion in India in the 15th Century. This religion, as provided in its website www.sikhs.org, "has a present following of 20 million people and is said to be one of the worlds' largest spiritual belief." Sikhism is monotheistic; it believes that human beings undergo cycles of births and deaths and in maintaining balance between spiritual and temporal balance needs; it believes that all are equal in the eyes of God regardless of race, religion or sex and it believes neither celibacy nor religious rituals.

The same website also provided that the leadership of the religion passed from Guru Nanak to nine other Gurus with Gobind Singh as the last who died in 1708. These leaders each contributed to Sikhism's beliefs and practices with the following 5 Ks as its symbolic, distinctive identity from other religions. These Ks are: the Kesh or long hair which marks a Sikh's dedication and acceptance of the will of God; the Kangha or comb which symbolizes their self-discipline; the Kara or the steel bracelet that serves as their reminder to always have restraint in action; the Kachha or their drawers which reminds them of chastity and their Kirpan or the ceremonial sword that represents their dignity and struggle against injustice.

On the other hand, the Sikhs abstain from cutting their hair or removing it from any part of their body, eating Muslim Halal meat, living with a person who is not one's spouse, and in taking drugs, alcohol or smoking.

Although the Sikhs do not believe in rituals, they still have practices in naming a child, baptizing members, in burying or cremating the dead, and in celebrating momentous religious events.

The above beliefs and practices formed by and for Sikhs, could be taken with ambivalence in the Western world. Although others may see its beliefs well, some may find difficulty in following it. First, is through the wearing of the 5Ks. These, although seemingly harmless, may not be easily accepted, commercialism and fads are prevailing in the Western part of the world. Being restricted to wearing a turban and a steel bracelet may be seen as restrictive rather than a symbolic manifestation of religion or spirituality. The avoidance of eating Halal meat may be seen as contradictory to the dietary preference and freedom of those who favor it. And as Morgan and Lawton provided in their Ethical Issues in Six Religious Traditions book, "the prohibition of halal meat enforced the historic division between Sikhs and Muslims," they may see the non-consumption of halal meat as an irrational belief that does not really affect one's spiritual relationship with God.

For others, the abstinence from taking alcohol, smoking and abusing drugs could be seen as a good thing. The rule of not cohabitating with another's spouse may also be taken well and everyone will always accept the maintenance of good hygiene practices.