Sikhism

Panth 0 Guru Nanak attracted a large number of followers due to his teachings 0 He formed the first Sikh community called the Panth

Gurdwara 0 Guru Nanak built a special building for worship called gurdwara 0 Represents the central structure of any particular Sick community 0 Means doorway of the Guru 0 House of worship 0 Generally contain a kitchen to prepare food for the needy 0 Contains the Adi Granth

Adi Granth 0 It means first book 0 Sacred scripture 0 The Adi Granth seats on a special seat within the gurdwara 0 It is referred to as Guru

Sikh 0 Sikh 0 “learner” or “disciple” 0 One who learns from the teachings of the Guru

Guru 0 A guru is a spiritual teacher. 0 The literal meaning of the term guru is explained by referring to its parts: 0 Gu means darkness 0 Ru means enlightenment 0 A guru is one who delivers people from the darkness of ignorance to a state of enlightenment 0 The capitalized term Guru is used in three different ways: 1. The title of Guru Nanak and his successors and the ten historical leaders of Sikhism 2. Adi Granth- sacred scripture 3. It is a name for God- True Guru

The Khanda 0 A symbol that represents Sikhism 0 There are three different items used in a Khanda, which have a symbolic meaning: 0 A double-edged sword called a Khanda in the center 0 A Chakkar which is circular 0 Two single-edged swords, or kirpans, are crossed at the bottom and sit on either side of the Khanda and Chakkar. 0 The Khanda represents knowledge of God, the Chakkar represents the eternal nature of God and oneness of humanity, the two swords represent Miri (political sovereignty) and Piri (spiritual sovereignty)

Teachings/ doctrines

Teachings: God 0 God is One, eternal, beyond time, and formless 0 God is immanent or indwelling (as opposed to transcendent or beyond creation) 0 God dwells within all human beings, and is actively concerned about their spiritual welfare. 0 God is referred to as Guru 0 For by revealing himself God delivers humans from darkness to enlightenment 0 The term most often used in the Adi Granth to denote the nature of God is nim, the divine name 0 Meditation on the nim or recitation of the nim is prescribed as the path to spiritual perfection

Teachings: Humans 0 Sikhs are not opposed to eating meat but many prefer vegetarianism 0 Humans tend to neglect the need to center their lives on God 0 Rather than being God-centered, humans are inclined to be self-centered. 0 This human condition is expressed in the Sikh term haumai 0 Haumai= self-reliance, pride, egoism 0 Haumai is human’s insistence on making do on their own rather than acknowledge dependence of God. 0 Haumai and its vices increase the distance between a person and God

Salvation 0 The ultimate purpose of life is to attain complete union with God (Moksha) by liberating from Samsara