Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon, Dr Gurcharan Singh Dhillon, Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer and Dr Harbakhash Singh Sandhar.
CONTINUED a Sikh is essentially a monotheist. He must have faith in one God only. In Sikhism God is One, Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient. God is the only Creator, Sustainer and the Destroyer, A ’Sikh cannot have faith in any other living or nonliving prophet. According to Sikhism God never appears in human form. A Sikh does not believe in life before birth or after death. Sikhism rejects the otherworldliness; Heaven and hell exist in this world only. Sikhism rejects the theory of reincarnation.
The Sikhism the concept of liberation is not “the otherworldliness”. It is liberation in this life. To be a Sachar (a self-realized person), is the Sikh concept of liberation, (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 522), In Sikhism, pilgrimage to so called sacred shrines has no place, Fora Sikh, Shabad (Word) is the only sacred shrine and holy water/river and meditation and a truthful life are the real pilgrimage.
Khande di Pahul (the Sikh Initiation): A Sikh is confirmed as a member of the Order of Khalsa after one has taken Khande di Pahul the Sikh initiation) from Punj Piaray the Five Beloved Ones), The Punj Piaray prepare Amrit (sacred nectar for initiation) with Khana (double-edged sword). When one takes Khande di: Pahul, he/she take a vow to attribute his/her life for the cause of the Sikh Panth (the Sikh nation). The Punj Piaray inform the initiated person about the Sikh Rehalmaryada (Code of conduct), any practicing initiated Sikh (male or female), who has never been guilty of religious irregularities, can. Become one of the Punj Piaray.
Code of Conduct for a Sikh (Rahi maryada): A Sikh MUST
* have faith in Waheguru (One God) believe in oneness of the ‘Ten Nanak(s)
* Live life according to the teaching of the ten Guru Sahib(s)
* take Khande di Pahul (initiation) as: soon as possible
* worship only Shabad (the Word) + always use suffix Singh with the name of a male and Kaur with the name of a female
* learn to speak Punjabi language and to read and write Gurmukhi script
* acquire maximum knowledge of the Sikh history and the Sikh philosophy
* give knowledge of Sikhism to his her children * perform family ceremonies as per authentic Sikh rites
* Visit Gurdwara frequently am livelihood by honest means ‘offer Daswandh (tithe) of his earnings for the promotion of the Sikh religion and for the welfare of the Sikh nation * participate in community service
* believe in equality (of caste, colour, ‘creed, Sex etc.) * protect the weak and the oppressed; and oppose injustice * obey the Hukamnamas of Akal Takht Sahib.
* participate in the welfare of the Sikh Motherland “remain conscious: of the perseverance of the Sikh identity * perform family functions as simple as possible * have simple food habits (no alcohol/ tobacco/drugs etc.,) “have simple dress habits. Etc. up early in the morning and recite Nitnem (sacred five hymns)
* avoid five negative emotions i.e., Kam (lust), Krodh (anger), Lobh: (avarice), Moh (attachment) and Hankar (vanity)
* regard another man’s wife as his sister/ mother and the daughter of another as his own daughter
* be loyal to one’s wife and vice versa
* Always great another Sikh with the solution:
“Wahiguruji Da Khalsa, Waheguru ji Di Fateh.” To be continued…
Article extracted from this publication >> February 7, 1996
