UNIT 4 - Sikhism Review

Question 1

When and where did Sikhism begin?

Answer 1

15th Century, Punjab region –> Comes from the Punjabi

Question 2

What do Sihk’s call God?

Answer 2

“Satnam” –> True Name
“Wanesuru” –> Wonderful Lord

Question 3

What does “Sikhism” translate to?

Answer 3

“Someone who learns”

Question 4

What are the beliefs of Sikhsim? (4 POINTS)

Answer 4

• Monotheistic: One God; Almighty and eternal
• God created the universe and everything in it
• Created males and females, but God itself is a FORMLESS SPIRIT who is neither male nor female.
• Sikhs do not believe that their religion is the only right one

Question 5

Who was the first Guru? What was his vision from God and what did he preach?

Answer 5

FIRST GURU (Teacher) - Guru Nanak
- God explained that religion doesn’t matter; it’s about how you live your life
- Preached how to live your life

Question 6

Who was the 10th Guru? Why was he so significant? (3 POINTS)

Answer 6

10th GURU - Guru Gobind Singh
- Began the Khalsa
- Degreed that there would be no living Guru after him
- Replaced with Holy scripture that would contain all the Guru’s teachings: Guru Granth Sahib

Question 7

What is the Guru Granth Sahib / Japji Sahib?

Answer 7

Holy book containing scriptures of the Guru’s teachings. Guru Nanak talks about truth and how to gain knowledge of God

Question 8

What is the Khalsa? Who started it?

Answer 8

Guru Gobind Singh started the Khalsa
- Time of the 10th Guru –> Sikhs were persecuted for what they believed in
- An organized fighting force was created “Panj Piare - The Beloved Ones”
- Dressed in saffron yellow robes

Question 9

How do Sikhs pray? (3 POINTS) What is prayer translated to?

Answer 9

Prayer - Ardus
- Sikhs morning prayer begins with the Mul Mantra
- Expected to recite 5 prayers throughout the day
- Ardus are offered before or after significant gatherings or ceremonies

Question 10

What is the primary method of worship in Sikhism?

Answer 10

Meditation

Question 11

What is a Granthi?

Answer 11

Person who performs daily prayer service

Question 12

What is a Gurdwara? What does it feature? (3 POINTS) What is the purpose of the Diwan Hall?

Answer 12

Gurdwara - Sikh place of worship
- Separated entrances for men and women
- Active kitchen; sharing a meal is an important part of Sikh service
- DIWAN HALL: Proper place of worship

Question 13

What is Langar?

Answer 13

Free communial meal following Sikh service

Question 14

What are the rules in the Gurdwara before service? (NAME 3)

Answer 14

• All visitors are required to cover their head and remove their shoes
• On entering the main hall, visitors bow before their sacred scripture (Guru Granth Sahib)
• After they place their offering and say a prayer, they find a place to sit

Question 15

What does Sikh worship involve? Who is it lead by?

Answer 15

• Prayer
• Hymns
• Reciting poems
  Lead by any member of the congregation who studied Sikh scriptures

Question 16

What are Sikhs daily routines? Who organized them?

Answer 16

Daily Routines - Guru Ram Das
1. Sikhs wake up every morning before dawn and bathe
2. Morning prayer
- Begins with meditation dedicated to God
- Followed by the Guru Granth Sahib
3. After Ritual
- Sikhs make their living (fair and honest)
- Recalls the name of God at every opportunity during the day
4. End of day prayers
- Sikhs offer prayer again at evening and before going to bed

Question 17

What is the Baptism of the Sword? What do Sikhs drink during the ceremony? What are they expected to wear at all times?

Answer 17

• Initiates Sikhs into “Khalsa Panth;” Brotherhood
• The baptized drink the amrit (sweet water)
• Expected to wear the 5 K’s at all times

Question 18

What is amrit? How is it made?

Answer 18

Sweet water/ ceremonial water is made by adding sugar to water and stirring it with a kirpan

Question 19

What are the 5 K’s and what do they symbolize? Who were they introduced by?

Answer 19

Introduced by the 10th Guru - Guru Gobind Singh
1. KESH - Uncut hair; Shows holiness
2. KANGHA - Small wooden comb; shows cleanliness
3. KACHHA - Underwear; leaving old ideas for better ones
4. KIRPAN - Short sword; reminder of their duty to fight evil
5. KARA - Steel bracelet; worn on the right hand to symbolize one God and one truth

Question 20

What happens during the naming ceremony?

Answer 20

• Takes place after the mother and child have recovered from birth at the local Gurdwara
• Begins with Granthi (service leader) bringing out a bowl of amrit
• Prayers are recited and Hymns are sung followed by random scripture from the Guru Granth Sahib

FIRST LETTER OF THE FIRST WORD OF THE READING BECOMES THE INITIAL LETTERBOF THEIR CHILD’S NAME

Question 21

What is marriage translated to? What are Sikhs beliefs about marriage? How are marriages arranged? What is celebrated during marriage?

Answer 21

Marriage - Anand Karaj
- Sikhs do not believe in celibacy (adults remaining single)
- Arranged by parents and extended families
- Marriage has to be free from intoxicants and alcohol
- Encouraged to marry other Sikhs
- Celebrated by reciting the sacred wedding hymn for instruction on how to bring their marriage into true communion

Question 22

What takes place during a Sikh funeral? What takes place on the last day? What is Parishad?

Answer 22

Funeral Rites - Cremation
- Ashes are collected and disposed of in the sea or another body of water / transported to India
- Friends and relatives return to the house of the deceased to begin a ceremonial reading of the Guru Granth Sahib
- Completed in 9 days
> LAST DAY
- Mourners reassemble to sing hymns
- Read the final 5 pages of the Guru Granth Sahib
- Ardas (prayer)
- Random reading from the Guru Granth Sahib and the sharing of parishad (sweet pudding dessert)

Question 23

What is the Khanda? What does it symbolize? What 4 elements is it composed of?

Answer 23

• Symbolizes values of unity, discipline and compassion
• Made of 4 elements:
  1.) DOUBLE EDGED SWORD: Truth and justice
  2.) CIRCLE: Eternal and one God
  3.) TWO KIRPANS: Daily circumstances of right living (right) and spiritual dimension of life (left)

Question 24

What are Turbans / Dastaars? What does it symbolize?

Answer 24

• 16ft Cloth worn by many Sikhs tightly worn around a person’s head
• Symbolizes power and honour to the Gurus

Question 25

What is a Patka?

Answer 25

Cloth worn on the head for children

Question 26

What is Nanak Jayanti? When and what is celebrated?

Answer 26

Nanak Jayanti - The birthday of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak - Celebrated in November / December - Celebrated with continuous readings of the Guru Granth Sahib before Nanak Jayanti

Question 27

What is Baisakhi? What is celebrated?

Answer 27

Baisakhi - Birthday of the Khalsa; Sikh New Year - Remembers the first Baptism of the Sword - Baptisms take place on this day - Celebrates the beginning of the spring harvesting of grain

Question 28

What are the 3 branches of Sikhism?

Answer 28

1.) Khalsa / Singhs - Initiated commonwealth of baptized Sikhs 2.) Keshdhari Sikhs - Did not undergo Baptism; keeps their hair Uncut and wears a turban 3.) Sahajdhari Sikhs - Accepts the beliefs and philosophies of Sikhism but do not take full baptismal vows of the Khalsa; Cut hair, does not wear a turban

Question 29

What is the Mul Mantra?

Answer 29

Morning prayer, first spoken words each day

Question 30

What is the definition of the teaching: reality of the world?

Answer 30

The world exists for all to practice good and human life is the beautiful opportunity to gain full spiritual achievement and become one with God

Question 31

What is the definition of the teaching: spiritual achievement in this life? What is the highest achievement to become?

Answer 31

The goal of life is to escape our self-will and self-interests and become one with God. The highest achievement is to become a Gurmukh. (A GOD-MAN, SELFLESS, CARRYING OUT GOD'S WILL)

Question 32

What is a Gurmukh?

Answer 32

A God-Man, selfless and carries out God's will

Question 33

What is the meaning of the teaching: Good deeds, not rituals?

Answer 33

Rituals is condemned. Through good deeds and quality of their actions that Sikhs will be judged

Question 34

What is the meaning of the teaching: Equality and human dignity?

Answer 34

Guru Nanak rejects the caste system. This teaching applies to any aspect of religion and professes the equality of women and men

Question 35

What is the meaning of the teaching: a just society?

Answer 35

Guru Nanak was concerned with more than the salvation of individual souls. He wanted to establish a just and compassionate society on Earth. In his ideal community, all would be treated equally.

Question 36

What is the Sikh Code of Moral Conduct called?

Answer 36

The Rahit / Reht Maryada

Question 37

What does the Sikh Code of Moral Conduct (Rahit / Reht Maryada) provide? What are these teachings based on?

Answer 37

- Provides specific guidelines how perform religious rites and how to live an ethical life - Based on the teachings of the 10 Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib

Question 38

What are the 3 principles that Sikhs are required to live by?

Answer 38

1.) DEVOTION TO THE DIVINE NAME 2.) EARN AN HONEST LIVING 3.) SHARE EARHINGS WITH LESS FORTUNATE

Question 39

What do the 5 principle virtues encourage (3 POINTS) and the 5 vices discourage? (2 POINTS)

Answer 39

PROHIBITS: - Sexual intercourse outside of marriage - Adultry, pleading with men to see all women as their sisters and daughters; same restrictions applies to women ENCOURAGES: - All people are treated as equals - Sikhs contribute to 1/10 of their earnings to charitable causes - Take part in the Langar through financial charity, food donations, volunteering to cook / clean / distribution of food

Question 40

What does the Sikh Code of Moral Conduct provide guidelines about food and drinks? (3 POINTS)

Answer 40

- DO NOT take intoxicants - DO NOT smoke - DO NOT eat kosher or halal meat (prepared ritually for Jews or Muslims) --> Sikhs believe that animals should be killed humanely

Question 41

What are the 5 Virtues? Give a short description. T2C2P

Answer 41

1.) TRUTH - Includes righteousness, honesty justice and fair play 2.) CONTENTMENT - Freedom of ambition, envy, greed or jealously 3.) PATIENCE - All trials will end; all difficulties will pass away 4.) PERFECT FAITH - Life often offers difficult tests; perfect faith prevents despair 5.) COMPASSION - Considering another's sorrow as one's own

Question 42

What are the 5 Vices? Give a short description. L2AGP

Answer 42

1.) LUST - Produces shame and misery 2.) ANGER - Leads to arguments and violence 3.) ATTACHEMENT - All earthly love is transient (impermanent); only God is eternal 4.) GREED - Tempts for us to aquire more than what we need 5.) PRIDE - Promotes conceit (excessive pride in oneself), vanity (pride in character) jealousy, arrogance

Question 43

What are the guidelines of family life? What are young Sikhs taught by their elders? What are Sikhs opinion on divorce and remarriage? What are young Sikhs discouraged from?

Answer 43

- All adults should marry; Raising a family is honorable - Sikhs maintain family life lived with virtuous behaviour and sincere faith to God leads to salvation - Young Sikhs are taught the beliefs and moral code of Sikhism - DIVORCE IS NOT ENCOURAGED BUT IS PERMITTED - Remarriage after death of a spouse is encouraged - Young Sikhs are discouraged from dating