Beliefs

= Sikhism: Beliefs =

The 10 gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib provide Sikhs with a well developed system of beliefs to guide how they worship and live their lives.

**1. Monotheism﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿ ** ﻿There is only ONE God, who is the creator and eternal. ** 2. The Reality of the World ** The world is not an illusion or a source of suffering, it is good. We should practice good and virtuous actions. Human life is not an illusion, either. It is the opportunity to gain full spiritual achievement and become one with God. ** 3. Spiritual Achievement in This Life ** The goal of life is to escape our self-interest and become one with God. The highest achievement is to become a **//Gurmukh//** (God-man), who is completely in touch with the will of God. We are to act selflessly in all things, wishing to carry our God's will and to set all people free. ** 4. Union of Spiritual and Worldly Lives ** Guru Nanak did not believe in asceticism or turning away from worldly responsibilities so faithful Sikhs are to involve themselves in the community (taking care of the poor, act out against injustice, etc..) ** 5. Nam ** Nam is the name of God, who lives within each human heart. An important duty for a Sikh is to come to a better relationship with Nam. All Sikhs must strive to keep this "God within" in mind at all times in everything they do. ** 6. Good Deeds, Not Rituals ** Ritualism is condemned. It is through good deeds that Sikhs will be judged. (Sikhs think at the end of their lives, they will be judged on their actions and the end of a just life would bring reunion with the Nam. ** 7. Equality and Human Dignity **  Sikhs say that everyone of every race, religion and culture are all equal as Nanak rejected the Hindu caste system.  ** 8. A Just Society **  Guru Nanak wanted to establish a just and compassionate society on Earth and in his Ideal community, everyone would work together, pray together, eat together, and be treated equally.


 * Sikhs also believe in Reincarnation: ** They believe in **//Samsara//** (the repetitive cycle of birth, life and death), karma, and reincarnation the belief of a rebirth following death. These beliefs are similar to Hinduism. "Each individual has many reincarnations, but being born a human means the soul is nearing the end of rebirth. God judges each soul at death and may either reincarnate the soul or, if pure enough, allow it to rest with him."


 * Mul Mantra-**

=
 a basic prayer, composed by Guru Nanak Dev. It is the key prayer of Sikhs which sums up the basic concepts of the Sikh religion. =====

=[|LINK TO SIMILAR WEBSITE #2]=


 * There is one God. ||  // Ik Onkar //  ||
 * His Name is everlasting. ||  // Satnam //  ||
 * He is the Creator. ||  // Karta //  ||
 * He is present throught His Creation. ||  // Purakh //  ||
 * He fears none. ||  // Nirbhao //  ||
 * He hates none. ||  // Nirvair //  ||
 * His existence is immortal. ||  // Akal Murat //  ||
 * He is not born, nor does He die. ||  // Ajuni //  ||
 * He is self-illuminated. ||  // Saibhang //  ||
 * He is realized through the grace of the Guru. ||  // Gur prasad //  ||

MLA FORMAT
1 . Sikhs: The Most Visible Yet Most Misunderstood Minority. 6 January 2011 .

 2. CuteNews. __Real Sikhism- Exploring the Sikh Religion__. January 6 2011 . 3. __Sikhs: The Most Visible Yet Most Misunderstood Minority. __ 6 January 2011 . 4. Hengel, Dr.Van den. __World Religions__. Toronto : Novalis Publishing Inc and Nelson Education Ltd, 2011.

3. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3343900692_5182d2ef18.jpg 4 .[]

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