History and Issues

 Punjab, near Lahore  “I am neither Hindu nor Muslim” but a worshipper of Nirakara, the Formless There is One God, the Supreme Truth He, the Creator, is without fear, withour hate. He, the omnipresent, pervades the universe. He is not born, nor does he die to be born again By his grace shalt thou worship Him Before time itself, there was Truth. When time began to run its course, He was Truth Even now, He is the Truth, and evermore Truth shall prevail.

Guru Ram Das ( ) founder of Amritsar Guru Arjan ( ) builder of “Golden Temple” in Amritsar. Executed by Mughal Emperor Jehangir Guru Hargobind.( ) The “two swords” of faith and arms Guru Tegh Bahadur ( ) Executed under Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Guru Gobind Singh ( ) 10 th and last Guru. Created the Khalsa in Led rebellion against Aurangzeb’s Empire. In 1708, appointed Adi Granth as his successor

 Spiritual Leadership of the Community to be vested in the Scripture, the Book  The hymns of the Guru Granth are considered to be shabad, the word, the inspired word of God. The hymns of the gurus collected, from the time of Nanak onward. The Granth is unique in that it includes hymns of non-Sikhs (Kabir, for example)

 Uncut hair and beard  Comb  Short Pants  Steel bangle  Steel dagger, kirpan  Incumbent upon initiated members of the Khalsa

 Guru Ramdas Ashram, Sikh Dharma (1970s, Millis in 1981)  New England Sikh Study Circle, 1968; Milford, 1990  Guru Nanak Darbar, 1997; Medford 2003  Boston Sikh Sangat Society, Somerville 2006