The Plain Truth from a There are about 400,000 Sikhs in Britain. What do they believe? Sunny Govan.com: Many people think that Sikhism and Hinduism are
the same. Is that right? Sunny Govan.com:: What are they? Sunny Govan.com: What do Sikhs believe is the purpose of
life? Sunny Govan.com: So you believe, for instance, that horses,
rabbits and even tomatoes are a lower incarnation of human beings who had
not lived a good life. I realise the theology is a bit more sophisticated
than that, but is that it in essence? Sunny Govan.com: Is it being too simplistic to say that if you
live a really bad life you have the chance of coming back as, say, a
rabbit? Sunny Govan.com: How does a rabbit live a better life?
Sunny Govan.com: Could you tell us about the history of Sikhism.
It is one of the newer faiths, isn't it? Sunny Govan.com:When did all this happen? Sunny Govan.com: What is the significance of the turban that
Sikh men wear? Sunny Govan.com: Do you wear the turban all the time? Sunny Govan.com: Is a turban pre-tied, or must you wind it each
time you put it on? Sunny Govan.com: If I was to invite a Sikh friend home for a
meal, are there things I should know to avoid causing offence? Sunny Govan.com: Do you have segregation between men and women
or asceticism. Sunny Govan.com:Do Sikh women have to wear the sari? Sunny Govan.com: Are women allowed to be religious
teachers? Sunny Govan.com:What is your place of worship like?
Sunny Govan.com: Even if I came as a Christian?
Sunny Govan.com:
Can the Holy book be translated into other languages, or is it kept in the
original Punjabi? Sunny Govan.com: Do you allow inter-faith marriages? Sunny Govan.com: How do you think of God? Sunny Govan.com: Is a Sikh also encouraged to have his or her
own relationship with God through prayer and so on? Sunny Govan.com: On any day, or do you have a
`Sabbath'? Sunny Govan.com:Is Sikhism a valid religion for an increasingly
technological society? Sunny Govan.com: We often associate Sikhism with militancy. Like
that episode at the Golden Temple some years ago. Historically, Sikhs seem
to have had a reputation for being war-like. Sunny Govan.com:So Sikhism does not endorse terrorism?
* TAKE ME BACK TO THE Gods Country Index Page PLEASE.
Discussion with Dr. Kapoor
Why
do Sikh men wear turbans?
What happens in a Sikh temple?
Dr Kapoor: No. They are separate
religions, and there are fundamental differences between the two.
Dr Kapoor: First let
me say that I respect all religions, and do not intend to be critical of
others' beliefs. We will stick to the facts. A basic premise of Hinduism
is the caste system. We do not believe in that. Hindus worship idols and
images. Sikhs, like Christians, Muslims or Jews, believe in one abstract
form of God. In our place of worship, the focal point is Guru Granth
Sahib, our Holy book, whereas if you go to a Hindu temple the focal point
is an image. There are many other differences. Hinduism and Sikhism are
quite different.
Dr Kapoor: According to our belief, the human life is the
ultimate life, from where you can get salvation. We believe we come from
God, and through our actions, or karmas, the next form of life is decided.
The ultimate goal is to do the best karmas through noble actions and
meditation, so that we can go back to God. That can only happen in a human
existence.
Dr Kapoor: Basically yes.
The first time you come in a life, you come as a human, born into a
reasonably good family, with comforts and a good intellect. That is from
where you start your actions and the `recording machine' starts. Some
things - such as where to be born, how to be born, how much life we have
and when will we die - are in the absolute control of God. We are
responsible for our daily karmas. If we perform good deeds (karmas) we
will get a happy life. If we perform bad deeds we get a suffering life.
There are two ways we are rewarded or punished for our karmas. We get
rewards or punishment in life, as long as that life continues. But if some
of the karmas are unconsumed they go with us and then we are judged. And
then the next life is determined according to karma. It could be that we
are retained in heaven or sent back as a human in a suffering family,
disabled, or blind.
Dr Kapoor: Of course that is possible, or any other form
of life.
Dr
Kapoor: It can't. Animals don't perform a karma; they are just born
into that life and die. But as you say, this is complicated. It would take
many lectures to explain it fully.
Dr Kapoor: The founder
was Guru Nanak born in Punjab in 1469, about the time the Protestant
Movement was starting in Germany. We believe Guru Nanak was sent to this
world by Almighty God with a message and a mission. After him came other
Gurus, rather like the prophets of the Bible. The tenth Guru completed the
mission. When he was about to leave this world, his followers gathered and
said, `Who is after you?' He sent for the Holy Book, and said, `After me
if you want any spiritual guidance you will get it from this holy
scripture'. All of our instructions and teachings now are in this
scripture.
Dr Kapoor:
It was 1708. There was a 239-year period of Gurus between 1469 and
1708.
Dr Kapoor: There are five distinguishing symbols
of a baptised Sikh. First is a round steel bracelet, which reminds us of
Almighty God. Second is uncut hair. Third is long underwear. Fourth is a
small comb to clean the hair and the fifth is a sword which is to protect
oneself and the innocent, but not for offensive purposes. In Punjabi
language all these five symbols start with the letter K, so they were
popularly known as five K's.
The tradition of turbans started so as to keep the long hair tidy and
clean; one must have a head covering. Thus men wear a turban, and women
wear a scarf called a chuni.
Dr
Kapoor: When we go home we take it off. When we are in the house we
normally have a small scarf instead of a turban.
Dr Kapoor: If you go according to strict
rules, you must tie it every time you go out. If you kept it tied, it
would become more like a cap, and that, strictly speaking, is not right.
It takes 3-4 minutes to tie a turban and a turban is about 5-6 metres
long.
Dr
Kapoor: Strictly speaking, Sikhs are not vegetarians. They eat any
kind of meat, except halal. Smoking is strictly forbidden. We drink most
of the soft drinks. Many Sikhs drink alcohol.
Dr Kapoor: No. Our customs in this regard are the
same as the western world. We do not believe in asceticism either. Guru
Nanak tells us that to serve God you do not have to leave home and family.
God is realised when you live with your wife and children in a happy home.
So we don't have convents or monasteries.
Dr
Kapoor: No they can wear any type of dress, which is reasonably
respectable. The sari is just the traditional dress from India.
Dr Kapoor: Yes, there is no distinction between men
and women teachers.
Dr Kapoor: It is called a gurdwara, made up of two words: gur
which is the short form of Guru, and dwara, which means `the doorway'. The
gurdwara is the doorway to reach God. There are usually two rooms in a
gurdwara: one for prayers and one for community meals. The focal point is
the Holy book. It is normally put on a small cot (stool) with some good
clean sheets or coverings, in the room where people sit and sing hymns
together. We must cover our head, and take off our shoes. Our hymns have
to be sung in a special tune, in the style of Indian Classical music.
Popular or modern versions are not allowed.
After the hymns, we retire to another room where a meal is prepared and
served free of charge. Free meals are a part of our worship service.
Everyone who goes to the gurdwara is offered free breakfast, lunch or
dinner, depending on the time of day.
Dr
Kapoor: Anyone. I'm thankful you asked that question.
Dr Kapoor: It is already translated in many languages.
But up to 99% of our services in this country are still in Punjabi.
Personally I think it would be better for our young people if they were in
English, because many of our youngsters do not understand traditional
Punjabi.
You see, there are three generations of Sikhs in Britain.
The first
generation's only objective was how to make a living, and set up a home.
The second generation suffered on that account for their parents never
gave them enough attention. Life at home had different cultural values
from outside. They did not know what to do.
The third generation is fine.
We have realised that they would have western influences anyway and there
is nothing wrong with that. It does not harm our children to draw from
both cultures.
There are also a lot of inter-faith marriages.
Dr
Kapoor: We prefer our children to be married in our own culture and
religion of course. Everyone does that. But there are a number of our
children getting married to non-Sikhs.
Dr Kapoor:
We worship God in abstract form. But we also teach that unless you have a
relationship with Him, there will be no feeling. Feelings arise only when
you have a relationship, as in your Christian example of thinking of God
as Father and Son. According to Sikh religion, it need not be only Father
and Son. Our fifth Guru says God can be father, mother, friend, beloved,
wife. You choose any relationship so you can communicate with Him.
Dr Kapoor:
Yes. There is emphasis on both individual prayers as well as
congregational prayers. A baptised Sikh will pray three times a day:
morning, evening and at night. If we can afford it we have a separate room
for prayer in the house. But it is important to go to the Gurdwara. In
India people go to the Gurdwara almost every day. Here, at least, we go
once a week.
Dr Kapoor: No we can go to the Gurdwara any day.
Although in Western countries most of the Gurdwaras do not open during the
week, so we can we go only on Sunday.
Dr Kapoor: Yes, why not? Our religion
teaches the objective of life and I think in the modern society, we fit in
as well as any other religion.
Dr Kapoor: We come
from Punjab, and Punjab is known to be a land of strong, fearless and
brave people. Our main aim in this world is to remember God and to do good
karmas. We are against injustice and persecution. We stand for defence of
the innocent.
Dr
Kapoor: No, not at all. I don't think any religion endorses terrorism.
But there seem to be fundamentalists in every religion who misinterpret
their faith, and bring a bad name on everyone who belongs to that
religion.
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