Sikhism Flashcards
Amrit Sanskar
Name given to the ceremony that initiates someone into the khalsa - the adult initiation or baptism where Sikhs promise to wear the five K’s and follow the Khalsa rules
Gurdwara
Name given to the Sikh place of worship/temple - the ‘gateway to the ‘Guru’
Gurpurbs
Celebration of the anniversaries of births/deaths of the Gurus - even the Guru Granth Sahib in 1604
Mool Mantra
Basic teaching about the teachings about God. First statements in each section of the GGS
Mukti
Spiritual liberation from the cycle of birth and death. ‘liberation’, ‘freedom’, ‘release’, and sometimes ‘salvation’. The final goal for Sikhs at which an individual soul rejoins God and becomes reunited with him
Sangat
Holy congregation gathered in front of the GGS
Sewa
Service to others - acts of kindness or charity
Vaisakhi
Festival marking the day Guru Gobind Singh started the Khalsa in 1699
Sikhs believe that God is beyond…
human description
What do Sikhs believe about God’s gender?
God has no gender and so is not male or female
What pronouns to Sikhs use when referring to god?
‘He’ and ‘him’, but only for convenience
Sikhs believe what can describe the ‘greatness’ that is God?
No words
How do Sikhs believe God can be experienced?
He reveals himself to individuals
Give an example of a Sikh name for God
Satnam, Shabad, Guru and Waheguru
Guru
One who teaches or enlightens
What does Waheguru mean?
Wonderful Lord/Teacher
What name for God is used in worship?
Waheguru
Do Sikhs believe that God has limits?
No - they believe that God has no limits
The GGS opens with the words of what?
The Mool Mantra
What does the Mool Mantra mean?
‘main chant’
The words of the Mooll Mantra was the first…
teaching of Guru Nanak after he became enlightened
What is the most important part of the Guru Granth Sahib?
The Mool Mantra
The Mool Mantra summarises the nature of who/what?
God
Do Sikhs believe that God has always existed?
Yes, they believe God has always existed and is the creator of all things - the creator who sustains the universe
Do Sikhs worship an image of God?
No - they say the Mool Mantra daily in their prayers
What do Sikhs do instead of worshipping an image of God?
They say the Mool Mantra daily in their prayers
The Mool Mantra is recited in worship at the…
Gurdwara
When the Mool Mantra is written in Punjabi it is used as a symbol of…
the Sikh religion
True/False: Sikhs believe in the ‘oneness of humanity’
True
True/False: Sikhs feel the need to convert others to Sikhism
False, they don’t
Nanak taught ‘God is neither Hindu nor Muslim and the path I follow is…
God’s’
Sikhs believe that all creatures are created by who/what?
God
Sikhs believe that humans are unique - within them is a divine spark that is from who/what?
God
What led Guru Nanak to introduce the langar?
The belief in the ‘equality of all’
Langar
A communal kitchen where a free meal is served to all
Who can go to the langar for a free meal?
Men and women, rich and poor, people of different faiths and none
True/False: Only men can take part in worship, reading the Guru Granth Sahib and playing music
False, men and women can
True/False: Only women can take part in cooking or serving in the langar
False, men and women can
Gurmurk
A God-centred person who has turned towards God and is becoming a perfect person
Sikhs aim to have their mind centred on what at all times?
God
Manmukh
Man-centred - describes people who are centred on themselves and their own desires
Manmukh describes people who are…
attached to things that will not last and are not content with life - they always want more, are selfish and self-centred
Haumai
Only relying on oneself, not God
Guru Nanak taught that pride leads people to…
do their own thing and fail to rely on God
Guru Nanak taught that if people do not listen or obey God then they cannot achieve…
release from rebirth
What did Guru Nanak begin to establish on his travels?
Groups of disciples
Guru Nanak established groups of disciples on his travels who met to…
learn, recite his hymns and to eat together
Guru Nanak referred to the groups of disciples he established as…
the sangat
The Gurus believed that being involved in a community of believers would…
help people be closer to God
Sat Sangat
A community of believers that met to learn, recite Guru Nanak’s hymns and eat together. They believed being involved would help people be closer to God
What does Sat Sangat mean?
‘True Congregation’ mean?
Today, the sangat refers to…
a gathering of Sikhs in the Gurdwara, or another place whenever the Guru Granth Sahib is present
Together, Sikhs mediate on the Name of God which would help them to be…
God-centred (gurmukh)
Give 2 things that the sangat may do
Any 2 from chant hymns, listen to musicians praising God, hear a Sikh give a religious talk or discuss local community issues, look after the shoes of the congregation, swing large fans to keep everyone cool and prepare or serve food
Give 3 roles of the Gurdwara
Any 3 from prayer hall, langar, washrooms, meeting/education rooms, committee/groups rooms, weddings, funerals, legal advice, clinics and accommodation
True/False: The Gurdwara can be used for weddings and funerals
True
True/False: The Gurdwara can be used for accommodation
True
Do Sikhs believe in reincarnation?
Yes
Reincarnation
The belief that when people die, their soul is reborn in another body
Sikhs believe that the cycle of reincarnation will keep repeating itself until…
the soul is liberated and joins God
Do Sikhs believe that all animals have souls?
Yes
Sikhs believe that at death the soul…
changes its form of life
The goal for Sikhs is to achieve __________ from rebirth
liberation
What does Karma refer to?
The sum total of a person’s actions and words that affect what sort of future they will have when they are reborn
For Sikhs being born human means…
they must have been good in their previous lives
For Sikhs being born human gives them a chance at…
being liberated
How can Sikhs have a chance of being liberated?
By doing good and behaving well towards others and by receiving God’s grace
What is the final goal for Sikhs?
Mukti
What happens at Mukti?
An individual soul rejoins God and becomes reunited with him
Mukti can not be described but is…
ultimate bliss, happiness, contentment and peace
Gurdwara refers to…
any place in which there is the Guru Granth Sahib - in a temple or home
Who is the Gurdwara open to?
All, whatever nationality, religion or class
From the outside, the Gurdwara building could have…
A dome and decorations and a yellow flag with the Khanda symbol in blue
What are the two areas inside the Gurdwara?
The prayer hall and the langar