The Sikhs Essay -- essays research papers fc

In the year 1469 a man namedGuru Nanak was innate(p) into a Punjabi-Hindu family. Hisname means "He who was born at the home of his mothersparents", which was in Talwandi, near Labone ("Sikhs"647). We know little about Nanaks life but a lot about hisbeliefs from a book called " Adi Granth" or " Granth Sahib",which means holy book. Some of his beliefs were the realityof "karma" and "reincarnation".These are beliefs that ouractions in this life determine how high or low well be in our beside life. The Hindus and Muslims believe it is best toworship, missionize, study and write the sacred scriptures,and other religious public actions and behaviors. Nanakbelieved that this is wrong. He felt that the people should beinvolved in internal meditation to the God, Akal Purakh(Nanak was a monotheist, believing in one god). Nanakbelieved that Akal Purakh is the almighty creator andsustainer of the universe and he has no form. If one is trulydevot ed to Akal indeed Akal may reveal himself to you in"nam" or the nobleman name. Since Akal created the world andeverything in it then, the world can be considered anexpression of "nam",(McLeod 5). Akal, to reveal himselfthrough "nam", speaks the "sabad" or divine word, through aloyal believer. This believer acts as the eternal guru, orteacher, speaking in the mystical voice of Akal through the"sabad". A guru can procure this divine harmony with Akalby the practice of "nam simaran". This can be accomplishedin many ways. One way is by the repeating of a "mantra", aword that expresses the divine reality. Another way is to singdevotional songs or even to have deep mysticalconcentration. 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 heappointed a successor from among his disciples to be thesecond guru. This star ted the chain of the ten Sikh guruswhich lasted 439 years from the birth of Nanak to the deathof Gobind Singh, the tenth part guru, in the year 1708, ("Hindusand Sikhs" 11). Nanak appointed as his successor Lehna orLahina, who later changed his name to Angad (Angada wasa lesser legendary hero of that time).... ... run away with the guns given over to them by thepolice or join the Sikh militants, ("Throwing Punches" 30) Itis very dangerous for journalists to write about the Sikhs. Inthe past few years. seventeen journalists have been killed bythe Sikhs because they have written unfavorable articlesabout the Sikhs and their terrorist activities, ("ThrowingPunches" 30). A recent Sikh terrorist act involved Sikh"freedom-fighters" stopping a formulate in Punjab. They boardedthe train and killed forty-seven innocent people,("Forty-seven Killed" A1). Sikhism has changed from thetime of Guru Nanak, where it was a peaceful, inward religionto the pre sent where there is much violence by the Sikhs andpride in their ruby ways. Bibliography "Forty-seven Killedby Sikh Militants". Wall Street Journal 27 Dec. 1991 A1"Hindus and Sikhs". Scholastic Update 10 Mar. 1989 11McLeod, W. H. The Sikhs. N.Y. Columbia UniversityPress, 1986. "Sikhs". Encyclopedia Brittanica. 1963 edition."Sikhs Attack Bombay" impudent York Times 6 Mar. 1992A12 "Throwing Punches in Punjab" The Economist 5 Jan.1991 30