The Sikhs

In the year 1469 a man named

Guru Nanak was born into a Punjabi-Hindu family. His

name means "He who was born at the home of his mother's

parents", which was in Talwandi, near Labone ("Sikhs"

647). We know little about Nanak's life but a lot about his

beliefs from a book called " Adi Granth" or " Granth Sahib",

which means holy book. Some of his beliefs were the reality

of "karma" and "reincarnation".These are beliefs that our

actions in this life determine how high or low we'll be in our

next life. The Hindus and Muslims believe it is best to

worship, missionize, study and write the sacred scriptures,

and other religious public actions and behaviors. Nanak

believed that this is wrong. He felt that the people should be

involved in inward meditation to the God, Akal Purakh

(Nanak was a monotheist, believing in one god). Nanak

believed that Akal Purakh is the almighty creator and

sustainer of the universe and he has no form. If one is truly

devoted to Akal then Akal may reveal himself to you in

"nam" or the divine name. Since Akal created the world and

everything in it then, the world can be considered an

expression of "nam",(McLeod 5). Akal, to reveal himself

through "nam", speaks the "sabad" or divine word, through a

loyal believer. This believer acts as the eternal guru, or

teacher, speaking in the mystical voice of Akal through the

"sabad". A guru can achieve this divine harmony with Akal

by the practice of "nam simaran". This can be accomplished

in many ways. One way is by the repeating of a "mantra", a

word that expresses the divine reality. Another way is to sing

devotional songs or even to have deep mystical

concentration. Guru Nanak attracted many disciples, or

"sikha" (this is where the name Sikh comes from). These

"sikhas" were the original Sikhs. Before Guru Nanak died he

appointed a successor from among his disciples to be the

second guru. This started the chain of the ten Sikh gurus

which lasted 439 years from the birth of Nanak to the death

of Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, in the year 1708, ("Hindus

and Sikhs" 11). Nanak appointed as his successor Lehna or

Lahina, who later changed his name to Angad (Angada was

a lesser legendary hero of that time)....

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... run away with the guns given to them by the

police or join the Sikh militants, ("Throwing Punches" 30) It

is very dangerous for journalists to write about the Sikhs. In

the past few years. seventeen journalists have been killed by

the Sikhs because they have written unfavorable articles

about the Sikhs and their terrorist activities, ("Throwing

Punches" 30). A recent Sikh terrorist act involved Sikh

"freedom-fighters" stopping a train in Punjab. They boarded

the train and killed forty-seven innocent people,

("Forty-seven Killed" A1). Sikhism has changed from the

time of Guru Nanak, where it was a peaceful, inward religion

to the present where there is much violence by the Sikhs and

pride in their violent ways. Bibliography "Forty-seven Killed

by Sikh Militants". Wall Street Journal 27 Dec. 1991: A1

"Hindus and Sikhs". Scholastic Update 10 Mar. 1989: 11

McLeod, W. H. The Sikhs. N.Y.: Columbia University

Press, 1986. "Sikhs". Encyclopedia Brittanica. 1963 edition.

"Sikhs Attack Bombay" New York Times 6 Mar. 1992:

A12 "Throwing Punches in Punjab" The Economist 5 Jan.

1991: 30