Sikhism

About eight thousand Sikhs (Sikh means disciple) live in the Netherlands. There are various reports in newspapers. A festival for the dedication of a new holy scripture, or the aggression that the appearance of the Sikhs evokes. Now it is true that Sikhs are a good soldier people, but they prefer the peaceful character of their faith. However, because people do not have the right knowledge, the Sikhs are condemned. So now some knowledge!

Sikhism

How do we know the Sikhs?
Striking differences between Sikhism and other religions

History of Sikhism

Nanak, the first guru
The successors of Guru Nanak

Distinction with Hinduism and Islam

Five main points in Sikhism
Similarities and differences with Hinduism
Similarities and differences with Islam

Rules of life

Religious rules
Moral rules

Organizational form

Akal Takhat:
Pan Piare:
Jathedaar
The Temple Committee / Sadh Sangat
Granthi
Ragi Jathas / Kirtani Jathas

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

The History of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
There is only one God
The contents of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Other writings

Conclusion: critical discussion of Sikhism

Difference in time
Sikhism as a bridge between Hinduism and Islam
Openness
Thoughts of Guru Nanak

How do we know the Sikhs?

About eight thousand Sikhs (Sikh means disciple) live in the Netherlands. On August 22 last, there was a big celebration in Amsterdam because the Gurdwara temple received a copy of the holy book. But we also hear news such as: after September 11, 2001, the police came to the temple. She warned that the Sikhs should not respond to the resulting aggression. Because of their clothing and appearance, Sikhs are sometimes mistaken as supporters of Osama bin Laden or supporters of the Taliban. Now it is true that Sikhs are a good soldier people, which was used a lot in the past, but they prefer the peaceful character of their faith. However, because people do not have the right knowledge, the Sikhs are condemned. In the newspapers you can find articles about Sikh terrorists, Human trafficking in Sikh temples, and more negative news. As a result, the image that people have of Sikhs (if they know the name, and otherwise of people with such an appearance) is negative. There are more and less fundamentalist people in almost every religion, and this also applies to the Sikh group. But the core of this group also rejects these things. Their message is equality and brotherhood and achieving this in the most peaceful way possible. That their appearance also deters people is clear from various newspaper articles that write about the dismissal of Sikhs as a result of their traditional turban, beard and dagger. These are things that are not really common in the West. But to what extent are all these prejudices correct and are we not missing a large part of the knowledge about Sikhism to be able to simply condemn these people? In any case, there is confidence in the Sikhs in India because a Sikh minister, Manmohan Singh, has been appointed for the first time this year.

Striking differences between Sikhism and other religions

Sikhism is the fifth largest world religion with 19 million followers (at number 1 Christianity with 1,830 million followers, Islam at number 2 with 971 million followers, Hinduism at number 3 with 732 million followers, Buddhism at number 4 with 314 million followers, and out of 6, Judaism with 18 million followers). Sikhs are divided into four groups: Nirankaris, Namdharis, Ramghariyas, and Radha Soamis, but all believe in the Gurus and the Adi Granth. In fact, Sikhism is the nectar whose ingredients are the essence of the Bhagavad Gita, Ramarajya, the universal brotherhood and love of the Vedas and the freedom of the soul that can only be taught by God, through the Gurubani.
Sikhism is a movement that officially falls within Hinduism, but in terms of ideas it actually lies between Hinduism and Islam. One of the basic principles of Hinduism is that there is not one all-powerful god, as in Islam, Judaism and Christianity. The Sikhs have one all-powerful god. Hinduism again has the belief in reincarnation, which the Sikhs adopted, but which is not supported by Islam. As with Protestantism in Christianity, the Sikhs also have no statues in their temples; They also do not officially have a caste distinction like the Hindus. Another major difference between Sikhism and other religions is the lack of a leader. Just as Roman Catholics have a Pope, Sikhism has a Guru. However, this guru today is a book and not a person. After there had been ten gurus, the last one decided that his successor would be the book, Guru Granth Sahib, of the Sikhs and not a person. This book consists of texts written by the previous gurus, and are largely first-hand.

History of Sikhism

Nanak, the first guru

In the 15th century, the five-river region of Panjab, in northwest India, was a very large region (much larger than the current state) in India. About ninety kilometers west of Lahore, the first Sikh guru, Nanak, was born in 1469. Sikhism is a development from the Vaisnava movement in South India and was introduced to North India by the Hindu saint Ramanuja (1050-1137) and reinterpreted by Nanak.

Since the 1947 migration, Nanak’s birthplace has been in Pakistan, where hardly any Sikhs live. It was here that the young Nanak came into constant contact with both Hindu tradition and Muslims. Nanak was probably also inspired by saint Kabir, who stood up for a more human religion, in honor of the one God and above the ritualism of both Hindus and Muslims. This saint belonged to a group of saints who had no human guru or tradition, but appealed directly to God and experiences. Statements from these saints can also be found in the Adi Granth.

According to legend, Nanak disappeared for three days at the age of about thirty. Then he remained silent for a long time, after which he began to make prophetic statements, such as the Basic Mantra. Nanak went on a pilgrimage with a bard. He performed miracles, won arguments with yogis, could fly and lived off the air. Nanak got these powers naturally, without asking for them. Nanak opposed the abuses in both the Muslim and Hindu religions. He pointed out the absurdity of certain customs such as the cleanliness of food, the caste system, not being allowed to place your feet towards the Kaaba and pouring water for the deceased. When Nanak was about fifty, he settled in Kartarpur. This was not with the intention of founding a community, but it did happen and he did not renounce it. When Nanak died in Kartarpur at the age of 69, his body turned into two flowers, one for the Muslims and one for the Hindus.

The successors of Guru Nanak

Guru 2: Angad, was appointed because of his humility and ascetic attitude. He had Nanak’s sayings recorded in the Gurmukhi script he developed himself, and strengthened the community around Guru Nanak. Guru 3: Amardas, did not know Nanak. He started introducing devotional practices; something Nanak had actually tried to abolish. These practices have continued; Now the water around the Golden Temple in Amritsar is bathed with almost as much devotion as in the Ganges, and The Book is taken in procession to its sleeping place in the evening. The death rites are also fully performed again, although Nanak also rejected these. Amardas also attached great importance to the hospitality and equality of the people. For example, he introduced the langar (free meals for pilgrims and the poor at every Sikh temple). The social distinction between Hindus and Sikhs became completely clear when Amardas decided that during two important Hindu festivals the Sikhs had to report to him, so they could not participate in these festivals. Also around this time the Hindus began to introduce a new arrangement: in each family the eldest son was allowed to become a Sikh and read from the Adi Granth. Guru 4: Ram Das. From here the succession of Gurus becomes hereditary. Ram Das founded the city of Amritsar. Guru 5: Arjan. This guru had the Golden Temple built in Amritsar. Guru 6: Hargobind. Nanak’s peaceful idea seems far away. The bloody battle with the Muslim Monguls in Delhi begins. Guru 7: Har Rai. He chooses the wrong prince in battle and ensures that Sikhs and Hindus are terrorized for more than fifty years. Guru 8: Har Krishan. He became a guru at the age of eight and died at the age of twelve. Guru 9: Tegh Bahadur. Guru 10. Govind Singh. He demanded loyalty from every Sikh in all areas. He introduced the ban on tobacco and obliged every Sikh to wear the five sacred symbols (also called the 5 Ks) (long hair, comb, bracelet, sword and underpants). He founded the Order of the Purified (the Khalsa) in 1699. In 1708 he appointed the Holy Book as his successor. On his deathbed he confirmed this again, and so the book became the eleventh guru. Guru 11: Guru Granth Sahib (= venerable Book as Guru), is the book of the Sikhs. Previously it was called Adi Granth. When reprinting, absolutely nothing may be changed in the book, not even the page.

In the 18th century, the history of the Sikhs was especially bloody. But from 1780 to 1839, the Sikhs under Sikh king Ranjit Singh (each male Sikh has the name Singh and the women the name Kaur), had their own state. But the British annexed the area again and incorporated the Sikhs into the British army because of their military qualities and loyalty. Since the 19th century, there has been increasing political competition among Hindus and Sikhs, creating an increasing urge to separate the faiths and rites that had previously merged. At this moment there are still Sikhs who are again fighting for the independent state of Khalistan, but there are also many Sikhs who adhere to Nanak’s words: it is necessary to wait for God’s mercy and we must wait for it in silence. Currently, 8% of the Indian population is Sikh, and there are hundreds of thousands of Sikhs in the US and England, but they are also spread throughout the rest of the world. In total, the number of Sikhs worldwide is estimated at 19 million.

Distinction with Hinduism and Islam

Five main points in Sikhism

There is only one God. He is the same for all people of all religions and therefore only sometimes has a different name (Allah, God, Yahweh, Jehovah, Shiva). Sikhs are friends of everyone; there is no stranger or enemy.
The soul reincarnates in the body. The purpose of existence is to live an exemplary life so as to be accepted by God. A Sikh should always remind himself of God and live a virtuous and honest life while maintaining the balance between the spiritual and temporal union with God.
The right path to attain salvation and union with God is not by separating from the world or by living a celibate life, but by living as a householder who lives honestly and resists worldly temptations and sins. Life as a householder means that you must always serve as an example to society and thus live a life of sincerity, humility and devotion and do lofty and noble deeds.
Sikhism condemns ‘blind’ rituals such as fasting, visiting places on pilgrimage, superstition, worshiping the dead or worshiping idols.
Sikhism preaches that people of different races, religions or genders are all equal in the eyes of God. Men and women are therefore completely equal. Women may also participate in all religious functions and Sikh ceremonies and may lead a congregation in prayers. They are equal socially, politically and religiously.

Similarities and differences with Hinduism

The Sikhs believe in Reincarnation just like the Hindus.
The Sikhs also believe in Karma, which ensures the transport of the soul in reincarnations. The Sikhs link this Karma to the grace of God.
Like the Hindus, the Sikhs believe in Maya: the world is an illusion and some people get caught up in it and forget God.
The Sikhs reject polytheism and choose monotheism. The Sikhs see God as a universal He, while Hindus many see gods as a piece of the great One.
The Vedas are not considered as important by the Sikhs as by the Hindus. Guru Arjan says about this: ‘I have read the Vedas, but my mind is still separated from God and the five demons in my house (body) have not calmed down for a moment.’
The Sikhs do not recognize a priestly class like the Hindus have, the Brahmins.
The Sikhs reject the Ashrama Dharma theory of the four stages of life. They believe more in living like a householder. Furthermore, they also reject the Varna caste system. (‘He who meditates on God is the foremost among mankind’, says Guru Ram Das and ‘God does not look at Caste or which family one is born into, but at the deeds one does,’ says Guru Nanak.)
The Sikhs also reject the idea that God could incarnate. There is only one God, and all the incarnations have not been gods. This makes the God too human and too limited.
Worshiping idols or images is also rejected. Guru Arjan says about this: ‘Stones do not speak and cannot give anything. And vain are the ceremonies of idolaters, vain are his services.’
Among the Hindus, in general, when someone is enlightened, he or she no longer lives for the community. He does this with the Sikhs. He then also tries to help others to achieve enlightenment/salvation.
The Hindus believe that reading the six Shastras will lead to enlightenment. The Sikhs do not believe this, in fact they believe that most people who read them do not even understand them properly.
The Sikhs do not believe in a sacred script or language such as Sanskrit.

Similarities and differences with Islam

The Sikhs also believe that God is father, mother, brother, husband and friend.
Everyone is under the care of God, according to the Sikhs and the Muslims.
God created the world, is the belief of Muslims and Sikhs.
Almsgiving to the poor and needy is something common in both religions.
Both reject idols and ascetics, but the Sikhs also reject pilgrimage and fasting.
Both have a holy war, with the difference that the Sikh may only fight against injustice.
Sikhs do not believe that any one holy book takes precedence over others. According to them, one can learn from all holy books.
Muslims do not believe that people who profess another religion will also be saved, but Sikhs do.
Love for God, unlike Muslims, takes precedence over fear of God among Sikhs.
Among the Sikhs, everyone, including non-Sikhs, is allowed to enter the holiest temple: the Golden Temple.
Women and men are equal among the Sikhs. And women don’t have to wear a veil either.
Sikhs are not allowed to eat Halal meat, Muslims must eat this.
Sikhs oppose circumcision as is practiced among Muslims.

Rules of life

The Sikh Code of Conduct is known as the Sikh Rehat Maryada. This is based on the teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh traditions and customs. This code often does not really have established rules, but more stories or statements, by which we must live. There are many of those stories and statements, so below are just a portion of them that I selected for importance and interesting themes.

Religious rules

Chardi Kala: This means that a Sikh views life in a positive way; it is a state in which one feels that everything is going well. This happens through the continuous remembrance of God (waheguru).
No fear: You don’t have to be afraid because God is always with you to protect you, therefore you don’t have to cause fear.
Not afraid of death: A Sikh is always ready to die for a good cause. They believe in a human soul, not a human body: this makes it indestructible. Earth is not their permanent home.
Connected with God: A Sikh should always be connected with God. This is done, among other things, through the five-daily prayer (always ending with the sentence: ‘Through Guru Nanak may the fame of your Name increase, and may the whole world be blessed by your Grace.’) and the meditation of God’s name. This is how a Sikh tries to achieve unity with God.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh: (Lion of Punjab): “O my thought, remain ye connected with God even in the household. If you practice the truth, restrain your desires and do good deeds, then your thought is enlightened by the grace of God ,.
Birth: At the birth of a child, the Guru Granth Sahib will be opened. The first letter of the page then forms the first letter of the child’s name. In any case, the child is always given the name ‘Singh’.
Respect for Place of Worship: Banda Singh Bahadur (one of the Sikh Army Generals) ordered the Sikh soldiers not to destroy mosques, churches, temples or any other place of worship.

Moral rules

Bhai Kanhaiya Ji: ‘As long as a Turk bears arms and fights against us, he is our enemy. But as soon as he falls wounded, he ceases to be our enemy. He becomes a man, a son of the Father above. He deserves help and pity. My Sikhs should help the sick and injured, whether they are Sikh or Turk. My Sikhs should not pursue and hurt those who lay down their weapons or flee from the battlefield.” It is said that the founder of the Red Cross got his inspiration from this.
Value human rights: Guru Hargobind was released by the Mongul ruler. However, Hargobind realized that he was not acting according to the Sikh principle, and told the Mongul ruler that he would only be released if all other innocent prisoners were released with him.
Equality for women: Guru Amar Das banned Sati (the custom of burning widows on their husband’s funeral pyre) because it was inhumane.
‘The man is born of the woman, Within the woman the man is conceived; he becomes engaged and married to a woman. The woman becomes his friend; through women there will be future generations.
When his wife dies, he looks for another woman; he is bound to the woman. Why would he call her bad? From her were born kings. Woman is born of woman; Without the woman there would be no one at all.’²
Langar: This is an important tradition within Sikhism. It is an effective way to bridge differences due to religion, caste, prejudices and create equality and brotherhood among themselves and it also uproots the caste system. Guru Hargobind once did not accept a gift, honey, because a poor man asked for it and did not receive it. Hargobind did not want to be more than this poor person. And so feeding the poor and needy was once again emphasized.
Forbidden: A Sikh is forbidden from committing adultery, using drugs, consuming alcohol, smoking, killing female babies and eating meat from animals killed according to Muslim ritual.
Marriage: Marriage may be arranged, but it must be consented to by both husband and wife. They are not allowed to marry until they are both physically and mentally mature. No financial gain may be derived from the dowry. Marrying a non-Sikh is allowed, but this must take place through the Sikh ceremonies (walking around the Guru Granth Sahib four times) before they register as partners, otherwise they are not married for the Sikhs. Although the caste system does not have to be taken into account when marrying, marriage is usually done within the caste.
Modesty and Humility: According to Sikh teachings, there is no place for pride in the life of a Sikh. A Sikh is expected to serve society in a humble and modest manner without expecting any benefit from it. He should think about and pray for the well-being of everyone around him. He should think nothing but good of everyone and refrain from mean thoughts toward others.

Organizational form

The highest authorities after the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji are the Akal takhat (timeless throne) and the temple committee.

Akal Takhat:

In Punjab, the homeland of the Sikhs, almost every village and town has its own Gurdwara according to its wishes. All Gurdwaras have the same sanctity because in each of them the Guru Granth Sahib is installed. Some Gurdwaras not only perform the function of a place of worship but also have great historical significance. The five main Gurdwaras are known as the Takhats: throne or seat of authority. Emissaries from these five temples meet in an assembly called Sarbat Kahlsa. The five temples are: the Takhat Patna Sahib in Bihar, Takhat Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, Takhat Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo in Punjab, Takhat Hazur Sahib in Maharashtra and Akal Takhat Sahib in Amritsar. The latter is the highest seat of authority. From time to time, both religious and secular (judicial) orders are issued from here to advise and guide the community. These orders are called Hukam Namas and are binding on the Sikh as personal laws.

Pan Piare:

This is a group of five (a sacred number for the Sikhs) persons (the chosen ones/lovers²) who symbolize five virtues (Bhai Dava Singh = compassion, Bhai Dharam Singh = the Dahrma or justice, Bhai Himmat Singh = courage, Bhai Mohkam Singh = discipline and calmness, Bhai Sahib Singh = Sardari = Leadership). They are engaged in cleaning the sacred storage tank, leading religious processions and initiating members. They are also a kind of judge who acts in disputes between Sikhs. If things are changed in the Sikh rules, the Pan Piare (as emissaries of the community) must give permission for this in a kind of Sarbat Kahlsa. In Punjab there is a Pan Piare in almost every village, in the Netherlands at least at every Gurdwara (Temple). The group consists of members from different walks of life. It is striking that all five are named Singh, which would indicate that the five are men. This is strange because the Sikhs stand for gender equality; also in religious functions.

Jathedaar

This group no longer exists, but used to be of great importance. They can be compared a bit to the Pan Piare. They were chosen because they had spiritual inclinations, they loved Sikhism, God’s heritage and traditions, they were experienced/driven in Gurbani and Sikh history, and baptized into the Khalsa brotherhood (created by Guru Gobind). So they were actually immediately under the Guru and also had the right to make decisions for the Sikh communities. They were all bound to Gurdwaras. Today this role has been taken over by the Temple Committee and the Pan Piare.

The Temple Committee / Sadh Sangat

The management of the Gurdwara generally lies with the committee, which is elected from the Sikh congregation. The committee is called Sadh Sangat or congregation of saints. It consists of up to thirty women and men with equal rights in all religious matters and decision-making rights. There is a chairman, a secretary, a treasurer and assistants. All these people, no matter how small their task, must have certain skills and experience. Officially they should have gone through all Sikh ceremonies, but nowadays you can also join the committee earlier.

Granthi

This is someone who leads the community in daily services and reads from the Guru Granth Sahib. The Granthi must perform any ceremony requested by people visiting the Gurdwara; such as a wedding ceremony (in which the Granthi communicates, through the recitation of the Shabad, that the two should model their marital relationship according to the model described in those four Shabadas (hymn)), or precisely the ceremony at the death. ² They also wake the Guru Granth Sahib every morning and return the book to his sleeping place in the evening.

Ragi Jathas / Kirtani Jathas

They recite the hymns.² There are two types of Jathas. The first is the traveling one. They usually come from India or Toronto and travel all over the world, passing through Gurdwaras. There they recite songs from the scriptures during their stay in the Gurdwaras.5 There are also permanent Jathas. They stay at one Gurdwara. All Jathas must be baptized, although children between the ages of five and twenty-one are generally asked on Sundays who have not yet been baptized. Usually three Jathas perform at the same time, with one playing the drums (or the planta) and the other two singing harmoniously.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

The History of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

The holy book of the Sikhs was called Adi Granth until 1708. After this it was given the name of Guru Granth Sahib or Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. This name change is due to the appointment of the last Sikh Guru, Govind Singh. This Guru appointed the book as his legal successor. The book contains the wisdom of the ten Sikh gurus. Many of them added hymns to the book, and all these hymns together eventually became Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The basics of the book are organized as follows:

974 Hymns of Guru Nanak;
62 hymns of Guru Angad;
907 hymns of Guru Amardas;
5,000 chants by Guru Arjan
59 chants of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

It is believed that the standard versions of exactly 1,430 pages may be found in the village of Kartarpur, where Guru Nanak died, in the authentic handwriting. These are said to have been prepared by Guru Arjan for the printed versions that are now in every Sikh temple.

There is only one God

God is referred to as both male and female, but must be seen as unborn, and therefore sexless. He is the only, infinite, everywhere, the truth and full of love and mercy. The prayer may be addressed to him alone. Man is sinful (just like Christians) and God can give them mercy. God determines the course of things, both in nature and in humans. And most importantly, God must never be forgotten!

The temples were not decorated on the inside, so that one could focus entirely on the book, the realization of the only God, without being tempted to idolize images or images (this resembles the Muslim view and the Protestant-Christian ideas ). Today this arrangement is less strict, but the Book is still seen as the image of the Guru. Even the gurus themselves saw their superiors in the book. The book is the Guru, is God himself and the chants are a direct inspiration. Even a reprint of the Book is arranged with great caution. Scientific research constantly encounters orthodox opposition.

The contents of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

At the beginning of the book and at the beginning of each chapter is Guru Nanak’s Basic Mantra:
There is One God, Eternal Truth is His Name, He is the Creator of all, He is the all-encompassing Spirit, Without fear, without hatred , Beyond time and without form, Above birth and death, Light for Himself. He is known, By the grace of the guru.

The book contains the revelations of God to the Gurus and the wise lessons of the Gurus.

Other writings

The Sikhs also have other scriptures. They recognize the Bhagavad Gita, the Vedas and also other Hindu scriptures, as well as the scriptures of other religions. Furthermore, they mainly have biographies about the Gurus. They serve as an example of a good life and explain the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Conclusion: critical discussion of Sikhism

Difference in time

I really like the basic ideas of Sikhism as described by Nanak. As with many religions, the basic ideas are good.
Unfortunately, after Nanak suggested the rationale, many things changed in Sik hisme. These have not always been for the better and I very much wonder how Guru Nanak would view Sikhism today.

Frankly, I find it disturbing how the Sikhs view death and how easily they deal with the death of others and with the death of themselves. In itself it is a nice thought not to be afraid of death and to do everything for the good, but that makes these people dangerous. There are stories of terrorist attacks for good and Sikh militants have also massacred part of an army because they were holding women and children captive. In itself I think it is a good idea to free these people, but I think the violence involved goes too far. There are also stories that the Gurdwaras demand more money than is actually intended for them. These are things that also occur in other religions, but this clearly indicates that the principles have faded into the background. In the Adi Granth Nanak clearly shows his disgust with, among other things, ritual bathing, and look what is happening now in Amritsar. And how about wearing the turban, the 5 ks, and the five-daily prayers; Nanak had also disapproved of this. There are many examples. This also makes critical discussion of faith difficult, as there is a difference between the confession as it was at the time of Guru Nanak and immediately afterwards, and the confession from Guru Amardas to current developments. It is therefore clear that this is a religion that moves with the times and changes.

Sikhism als brug tussen het Hindueisme en de Islam

It is nice to see Sikhism as a bridge between Hinduism and Islam. The Sikhs believe that they are neither, outsiders say that they have characteristics of both religions, and are therefore actually a combination of both. I myself see similarities and differences with Hinduism (of which Sikhism is officially also a branch of, since Guru Nanak was Hindu) and Islam (which Guru Nanak came into contact with a lot in Panjab). But I think every religion has similarities and differences with other religions. The Sikhs even have a site of similarities and differences with the world’s major religions. This indicates that they are also involved in it themselves, but that they also want to show that they have their own religion, with wisdom that also occurs in other religions. This is of course also logical, if we consider that they see all sacred writings as sources of inspiration. Because of this, you could see Sikhism not only as a bridge between Hinduism and Islam, but as a bridge between Eastern and Western religions and even as a bridge between world religions.

Openness

The openness in Sikhism is difficult to estimate. They say that every person is equal and should be treated equally, but in practice this is not always the case. For example, the authentic manuscript of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji has not been accessible to non-Sikhs for years.
I sent many emails and made telephone calls to obtain information, but found it difficult to cooperate. Ultimately, I was invited to come to the Gurdwara in Amsterdam and discuss my possible questions and considerations there with people from the organization, but due to a lack of time (well, if emails are only answered a few days before the report is submitted, while they had already been sent weeks earlier) I was unfortunately no longer able to use this option.

Thoughts of Guru Nanak

Generally speaking, I think Sikhism can provide great comfort to its followers. That it is a good religion for women (equal position) and that it is really a good basis for life and the pursuit within it. But of course Sikhism, like other religions, has its drawbacks. For the Sikhs this is mainly in the implementation and the changes over time. If everyone would adhere to Guru Nanak’s ideas, I think the world might be a much better place.

Sikhism – no Hindu, no Muslim

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