Sikhism Flashcards
What caste was Guru Nanak born in and when?
He was born in a Hindu Kshatriya (high caste) family in 1469
Rank the caste system
- Brahmin (priestly caste)
- Kshatriya (kings,army,ruling caste)
- Vaishya (merchant,businesses)
- Shudra (servant)
- Dalit (Outcaste)
How was India during Guru Nanak’s time and what did the Mughals and Hindu leaders do?
- 2 main religions - Islam and Hinduism
- Mughals forced Hindus to convert to Islam
- Hindu leaders were corrupt and charged lots of money to perform religious ceremonies
What did Guru Nanak do as a child?
- He refused to follow the traditional ritual ceremony (sacred thread ceremony - Brahmins believed boys can reach heaven) because being kind and content will make you closer to God
Story of Duni Chand
Rich man Duni was asked to take a needle and give it back to him in the after life by Nanak. He taught him that you should share your wealth and not be greedy as wealth cannt help you when you die
River Experience
Guru Nanak went to bathe in the river and he didn’t return. People thought he was dead and after 3 days he reappeared. He said “there is neither Hindu nor Muslim”, and he went to spread his message
Guru Nanak: Hardwar
- Hindus were throwing water towards the sun because they believed that their ancestors were in the sun (old tradition)
- Nanak taught that you shouldn’t follow these rituals blindly
- Nanak started to throw the water away from the sun to water the field of Punjab
- He did this to prove that the Hindu’s water cant reach their ancestors because Nanak’s water can’t reach the field of Punjab
Guru Nanak: Tibet
- Monks meditated all day long
- Nanak taught thatr you must meditate on God’s name but also [play an active role to help others - action is needed, you can’t improve the world through thoughts alone
- Miri-Piri - balance between worldy and spirtitual duties
Guru Nanak: Baghdad
- Music had been banned because Muslims believed it was sinful
- Nanak said that music itself is neutral - it depends on how you use it
- Music can be used to praise God
Guru Nanak: Mecca
- Nanak fell asleep with his feet towards the Kaa’ba
- Muslims became angry towards his disrespect to God
- Nanak said that God is everywhere (“in which direction is Allah not present”)
What is the Mool Mantar?
What is Ang?
- Opening verse of the GGS describing beliefs about God
- Term used to refer to a verse in the GGS
Gives examples of the Mool Mantar
- There is only one God
- Truth is His name
- He is the Creator
- He is without fear
- He is without hate
- He is beyond time (transcendent)
- He is beyond birth and death
- He is self-existent
What are Sikh views on God? Include quotes
- “He created the Sun and the Moon; night and day, they move according to His Will” - He controls everything. He is all powerful and can do anything he wants
- We are manifestations of 1 being. We are all God’s energy. 1 experiencing different forms
What is Samsara? What is it fueled by? What can humans do?
Cycle of birth, death and rebirth. This is fueled by karma and our soulds pass through a series of numerous incarnations (gives you a chance to escape mukhti). Only humans can make moral decisions therefore being incarnated as a human is a huge oppurtunity.
What is Karma? Include the quote.
Law of action and consequence -not God’s reward or punishment
Quote: “This body is a field of karma whatever you plant, you shall harvest”
What is haumai?
Selfishness (leads you away from God), ego, spiritual disease
What is maya?
Illusion of the temporary world
What are the 5 thieves?
- Greed
- Vanity (obsessed with how you look)
- Attachment
- Anger
- Lust
All these lead you further away from God
What are the 5 stages of mukhti?
- Khand 1 - acknowledging God’s existance
- Khand 2 - Increased knowledge in understanding God and His power
- Khand 3 - Knowledge must be accompanied with discipline to remove haumai
- Khand 4 - Overcoming 5 Thieves (lesser mukti - person is freed from haumai but still in human form)
- Khand 5 - Reached mukti - you merge with God
Explain the 2 sides of Mukhti
- Negative (lesser mukhti) - refers to a person being freed from wordly temptations but still in their human form
- Positive mukhti - fullest and truest realisation of the self merging with God when you die
What are Sikh virtues?
- Justice
- Temperance
- Patience
- Courage
- Humility
- Contentment
- Wisdom
- Truthful living
What is the 3 fold path?
- Nam Japna - meditating on God’s name
- Kirit Karni - honest livelihood
- Vand Chakna - Sharing with others
What is the quote about virtues from Nanak?
Nanak - “Turth is higher than everything; but higher still is truthful living”
Quote about manmurkh
The self-willed manmurkh is lured by another man’s wife
Quote about reincarnation
“This human body has been given to you. This is your chance to meet God”