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I'm interested in Sikhism?
I've spent a lot of time studying Hinduism, but I'm starting to think it's not for me. While I love Hinduism and feel connected to Krishna and Durga, I'm starting feel it's not me. I've studied VERY basic Sikh beliefs, and think I might look more into Sikhism. But, for any Sikhs here, I have a few questions about Sikhism. I've read Gurdwaras don't have priests like other faiths, so who do I go to if I have questions about Sikhi or if I'd like to learn about the history of Sikhi? And if I go to Gurdwara, what will I do? Will I have to participate in anything like chanting or prayers? If so, do I have to know specific chants or prayers beforehand? And also, what should I wear?
And, in your opinion, is it wrong from a Sikh to be able to see God in all forms and by all names? Be it Krishna, Allah, or Yeshua?
One last question, how do you view the attitude towards members of the LGBT people in the Sikh community? Because I'm gay and while I don't believe the Gurus ever condemned being gay and only ever promoted equality, but I would like to know how the general attitude is.
Thank you for your time! :) Forgive my ignorance and God bless!
4 Answers
- Anonymous7 years ago
To learn more about Sikhism, there's a YouTube channel called "Basic's of Sikhi" which will teach you all the basics and advance concepts of Sikhism.
At a Gurdwara, there are two main parts: the Darbar, which holds the Guru Granth Sahib, and the Langar Hall, where you can eat. Sikhs attend the Gurdwara to pray to their Guru and if they want, they can grab a free meal. I know some people say that the food is vegetarian so it won't affect other people's religious beliefs, but Sikhs do not eat meat. Not even the Sikh Gurus ate meat.
Say you go inside a Gurdwara, first thing is you must take off your shoes and cover your head, only then you can go to the Darbar or Langar Hall. In the Darbar, people will often put money (a dime, quarter, dollar, etc.) into a large container and bow their heads down to the Guru Granth Sahib. After that you can go to the side of the container and get some "holy food" called Prasad. After getting that, you can sit down on the man's or woman's side or the Darbar and listen to music or prayers.
There is nothing specific to wear, but dress respectfully. If you are a girl, do not come inside wearing short shorts or anything considered "slutty".
It is not wrong to see God in all forms. There was a servant of the 10th Guru who was giving water to the enemy side after their battle was done. His allies got curious as to why he was doing that and his reason was because he sees God everywhere.
As for LGBT, the Guru Granth Sahib does not state anything about that subject so it can be left to interpretation. Sex is for having children, nothing more, nothing less. Having sex for pleasure whether you're straight or gay is because of lust. In Sikhism, there are 5 sins: lust, greed, anger, pride, and attachment. In order to get closer to God, one thing you must do is overcome these 5 sins. Not to completely destroy them but to control them. And it can be controlled, I know from experience.
Sikhism does not discriminate to gay people, we are all equal in the eyes of God.
Source(s): Grew up in a Sikh family. - Annsan_In_HimLv 77 years ago
I am not a Sikh so all I can do is give you a brief history and mention some aspects of Sikh belief. Perhaps a Sikh will fill you in on the specifics. And the link at the end will tell you much more.
Its founder was Guru Nanak, born 1469 in north-west India, known as the Punjab. He was critical of some aspects of Hinduism and Islam. In 1499, after a spiritual experience, he set out preaching until about 1521 when he settled in a village he had founded. He appointed a successor and so his teachings grew into Sikhism. The last Guru was Gobind Singh who died in 1708. He said the collected holy writings of the Gurus were to be his successor with no further human Gurus.
Separation from Hinduism began in Guru Nanak's lifetime, and for two more centuries. By the late 19th century Christianity was viewed as a threat to Hindus and Sikhs and the Hindus tried to absorb the Sikhs back into Hinduism. Sikhs reacted by becoming more distinct from Hinduism, through the Singh Sabha movement. Sikhs explain the agitation in the Punjab of the 1980s as a continued, revived attempt to deny them separate recognition. Hostilities seem to centre on The Golden Temple at Amritsar, the Sikhs holiest place.
There are more than 14 million Sikhs world-wide though most live in the Punjab. Guru Gobind Singh first introduced what is known as the Five Ks - to be worn by all men and women at their initiation into the brotherhood:
KESH - Long, uncut hair (symbolizing spirituality)
KANGHA - A comb to keep the hair in place (symbolizing order and discipline in spirituality)
KIRPAN - A sword, from a few inches to two or three feet in length (dignity, courage and self sacrifice)
KARA - A stel bracelet on the right wrist (unity with God and allegiance to the Khalsa)
KACH - Shorts as underwear: practical for battle, modest in everyday life (worn to represent moral restraint)
The principal belief is that God is one. As the only eternal reality, God is ineffable but reveals himself as Guru, by grace. For Sikhs, then, God is the supreme Guru who discloses himself as guide and teacher through his word. After the 10 human Gurus, this revelation was contained in the sacred book of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib. The physical volume is treated with immense respect. They believe the Hindu concept of karma (though none of the Gurus were born as a result of karma, they say.) They say the solution to the human predicament is to become gurmukh - God-centred - so that the thoughts and actions are guided by the Guru. Practical religion and ethics are emphasized. The despised peasant life was exalted to a virtue and they rejected the four ashramas (stages) of Hinduism. Work, worship and charity form the basis for Sikh life.
Source(s): http://www.gotquestions.org/Sikhism.html More in The Encyclopedia of World Faiths by Bishop & Darton (Macdonald Orbis). - Anonymous7 years ago
I live with Sikhs and let me tell you this straight away: They don't approve of LGBT. Their holy book doesn't say anything on the issue, but it's in their belief system to disapprove of it as a "morally and spiritually defeating vice". Be ready to be questioned, adviced and ridiculed. They don't condemn it to hell though nor do the other three Dharmic religions. If you are from LGBT - Hinduism and Buddhism are more compatible.
- NickLv 77 years ago
Sikhism is apparently a fusion of Hinduism and Islam. They believe in just one God, but they also follow many Hindu practises such as the carrying of ceremonial weapons and vegetarianism