The Importance And Principles Of Sikhism
Sikhism is an Indian religion founded by Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539). The followers of Sikhism are called Sikhs.
Doctrine
The basic doctrine of Sikhism consists in the belief of a single God and the teachings of the ten gurus of Sikhism, comprised in the sacred scriptures of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib. The number of Sikhs in the world is estimated at 25 million, which makes Sikhism the ninth-largest religion of the world. Some 19 million people live in India, mostly in the northern state of Punjab. The region of Punjab also includes a part of Pakistan. Still, most of the Sikhs living in the current territory of Pakistan migrated to India following the partition of British India in 1947 to avoid religious persecution. There are numerous Sikh communities in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. There is also a significant minority in Malaysia, Singapore and Europe.
The literary form of the Punjabi language, written in the Gurmukhi alphabet, is closely linked to the Sikh religion.
These are just the fundamental doctrines of Sikhism, but the religion, in its entirety, goes far beyond and deeper than these details.
Beliefs
The devotees of Sikhism believe that God is realizable and formless. He is fearless and self-created, without enemies or birth, the Sikh holy scripture called Sri Guru Granth Sahib extrapolates in substantial detail about the several facets of God. This main principle of God results in the next fundamental concept of Sikhs, which is the concept of equality when it comes to all human races, gender, sects, and social classes. The adherents and devotees of Sikhism firmly believe that all kinds of people across the world are equal.
The next belief in Sikhism is that individuals of all faiths have the right to reunite with God, given they follow the genuine path of their religion. Sikhs believe God does not take heed of one’s gender, social status, or color when passing judgment.
Furthermore, Sikhs firmly believe in the principle of reincarnation and the evolution of one’s soul. In this regard, it is believed that the soul is a tiny spark of the light of God that is detached from the Almighty. Moreover, this spark of the soul wishes to become pure in order to reunite with God. In order for this to happen, the soul must purify itself and evolve to ensure that reunification can take place effectively with the Supreme Soul.
Another central concept to the faith of Sikhism is Karma. It is believed that the actions of a person directly influence the kind of life that a person will have in his/her next existence. Hence, in order to adhere to the principles of Sikhism, all Sikh devotees must be dedicated followers and must uphold all the ethical and moral rights of people across the world. They must also lead disciplined lives. Therefore, it is imperative to lead a life that is spiritually correct at all times.
As is evident, the principles of Sikhism are very fulfilling and point towards leading modest and honest lives while giving back to society as much as possible.