| A progressive religion well ahead
of its time when it was founded over 500 years ago, The Sikh
religion today has a following of over 20 million people worldwide
and is ranked as the worlds 5th largest religion. Sikhism preaches
a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful
living, equality of mankind and denounces superstitions and
blind rituals. Sikhism is open to all through the teachings
of its 10 Gurus enshrined in the Sikh Holy Book and Living Guru,
Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Sikhism, the youngest of the world religions, is barely five
hundred years old. Its founder, Guru Nanak, was born in 1469.
Guru Nanak spread a simple message of "Ek Ong Kar": God is
one and is self created. This was at a time when India was
being torn apart by castes, sectarianism, religious factions,
and fanaticism. He aligned with no religion, and respected
all religions. He expressed the reality that there is one
God and many paths, and the Name of God is Truth, "Sat Nam".
Guru Nanak's followers were Sikhs (seekers of truth). He
taught them to bow only before God, and to link themselves
to the Guru, the Light of Truth, who lives always in direct
consciousness of God, experiencing no separation. Through
words and example, the Guru demonstrates to followers how
to experience God within themselves, bringing them from darkness
into light. Guru Nanak was a humble bearer of this Light of
Truth. He opposed superstition, injustice, and hypocrisy and
inspired seekers by singing divine hymns which touched the
hearts of the most callous listeners. These hymns were recorded,
and formed the beginnings of the Sikhs' sacred writings, later
to become the "Siri Guru Granth Sahib". |
