1 What’s it all about? The golden rules of Sikhi.

2 Current State of Sikhi Institutionalised castism/racism and sexism Ritualistic and meaningless practices, idol worship and rampant superstition Many of our gurdwaras and deras, particular in India, have become infiltrated by criminal elements Endemic drug and alcohol abuse amongst many Sikhs. Breakdown of family and community networks Breakdown of the institution of marriage – rapid increase in divorce Sikhs converting to other faiths with little evidence of any significant conversions to Sikhism.

3 Current State of Sikhi The rapid disappearance of external Sikh identity With a few exceptions, the steady decline of congregations attending Gurdwaras. Gurdwaras being turned into community centres and places to entertain The total alienation of Sikh intellectuals from mainstream Sikh institutions. Reintroduction of Brahminical practices that the gurus rejected. Alienation of ordinary intelligent young Sikh people from the gurdwara. Egotism, amongst some baptised Sikhs like me.

4 What is a Golden Rule? Rule Law Injunction Moral Position Tradition Relative Golden Rule Absolute, Something very precious Absolute Transcends time and space True Hukam ‘Sat-bachan’

5 How do we come to know the Golden Rules? Guru Granth Sahib - Brahmgian Sakhis - the life of the gurus - morals, values, inspiration Bhai Gurdas Ji’s Var’s - exposition of Gurmat Rehit Namas – purathan (traditional) rules/codes The Sikh Rehit Maryada (1930’s Sikh code of conduct: Personal, Institutional and Panthik) Reason + Simran + Sewa

6 Scope of the golden rules or Sikhi? Theological spiritual and religious Physical practical and scientific Social duties to humanity

7 Theological – Mool Mantal <> - One Universal Creator God siq nwmu - The Name Is Truth krqw purKu - Creative Being inrBau inrvYru - No Fear No Hatred Akwl mUriq - Image Of The Undying AjUnI - Beyond Birth sYBM - Self-Existent. gur pRswid By Guru's Grace ]

8 How to reach salvation – 6 Golden Rules AMg 1357 slok shsik®qI mhlw 1 Shalok Sehskritee, First Mehl: mMqRM rwm rwm nwmM D´wnµ srbqR pUrnh ] Through the Mantra of the Name of the Lord, Raam, Raam, one meditates on the All-pervading Lord. g´wnµ sm duK suKM jugiq inrml inrvYrxh ] Those who have the wisdom to look alike upon pleasure and pain, live the immaculate lifestyle, free of vengeance. dXwlµ srbqR jIAw pMc doK ibvrijqh ] They are kind to all beings; they have overpowered the five thieves.

9 Bojnµ gopwl kIrqnµ Alp mwXw jl kml rhqh ] They take the Kirtan of the Lord's Praise as their food; they remain untouched by Maya, like the lotus in the water. aupdysM sm imqR sqRh BgvMq Bgiq BwvnI ] They share the Teachings with friend and enemy alike; they love the devotional worship of God. pr inMdw nh sRoiq sRvxM Awpu iq´wig sgl ryxukh ] They do not listen to slander; renouncing self-conceit, they become the dust of all. Kt lK´x pUrnµ purKh nwnk nwm swD sÍjnh ]40] Whoever has these six qualities, O Nanak, is called a Holy friend. ||40||

10 Rejection of pilgrimage – Naam is everything qIriQ nwvw jy iqsu Bwvw ivxu Bwxy ik nwie krI ] If I am pleasing to Him, then that is my pilgrimage and cleansing bath. Without pleasing Him, what good are ritual cleansings? DnwsrI mhlw 1 CMq <> siqgur pRswid ] qIriQ nwvx jwau qIrQu nwmu hY ] Why should I bathe at sacred shrines of pilgrimage? The Naam, the Name of the Lord, is the sacred shrine of pilgrimage. qIrQu sbd bIcwru AMqir igAwnu hY ] My sacred shrine of pilgrimage is spiritual wisdom within, and contemplation on the Word of the Shabad.

11 The soul can only be cleaned by naam BrIAY hQu pYru qnu dyh ] When the hands and the feet and the body are dirty, pwxI DoqY auqrsu Kyh ] water can wash away the dirt. mUq plIqI kpVu hoie ] When the clothes are soiled and stained by urine, dy swbUxu leIAY Ehu Doie ] soap can wash them clean. BrIAY miq pwpw kY sMig ] But when the intellect is polluted by sin, Ehu DopY nwvY kY rMig ] it can only be cleansed by the Love of the Name.

12 Practical/Material The Universe was created by god for a purpose Life is real, not an illusion. There is no concept of heaven in Sikhi. We are either ego centred (detached) Manmukh or god centred (attached) Gurmukh. Sikhi is based on rational principles world affirming – acceptance of hukam (law of nature) Rejection of superstition Things have causal relationships (karam)

13 Like the lotus plant we must be attached and detached. sUhI mhlw 1 Gru 7 <> siqgur pRswid ] jogu n iKMQw jogu n fMfY jogu n Bsm cVweIAY ] Yoga is not the patched coat, Yoga is not the walking stick. Yoga is not smearing the body with ashes. jogu n muMdI mUMif mufwieAY jogu n isM|I vweIAY ] Yoga is not the ear-rings, and not the shaven head. Yoga is not the blowing of the horn. AMjn mwih inrMjin rhIAY jog jugiq iev pweIAY ]1] Remaining unblemished in the midst of the filth of the world - this is the way to attain Yoga. ||1|| glI jogu n hoeI ] By mere words, Yoga is not attained. eyk idRsit kir smsir jwxY jogI khIAY soeI ]1] rhwau ] One who looks upon all with a single eye, and knows them to be one and the same - he alone is known as a Yogi. ||1||Pause||

14 Gift of Human Form Question What is the difference between human beings and all other animals?

15 rwmklI mhlw 5 ] 913 iesu pwnI qy ijin qU GirAw ] He created you out of this water. mwtI kw ly dyhurw kirAw ] From clay, He fashioned your body. aukiq joiq lY suriq prIiKAw ]… He blessed you with the light of reason and clear consciousness… ApivqR pivqRü ijin qU kirAw ] He transformed you from impure to pure; sgl join mih qU isir DirAw ] He installed you above the heads of all creatures; Ab qU sIJu BwvY nhI sIJY ] now, you may fulfill your destiny or not;

16 Rejection of Ritualism – Praise of ‘Intellect’ soriT mhlw 5 Gru 2 AstpdIAw - <> siqgur pRswid ] pwTu piVE Aru bydu bIcwirE invil BuAMgm swDy ] They read scriptures, and contemplate the Vedas; they practice the inner cleansing techniques of Yoga, and control of the breath. pMc jnw isau sMgu n CutikE AiDk AhMbuiD bwDy ]1] But they cannot escape from the company of the five passions; they are increasingly bound to egotism. ||1|| ipAwry ien ibiD imlxu n jweI mY kIey krm Anykw ] O Beloved, this is not the way to meet the Lord; I have performed these rituals so many times. hwir pirE suAwmI kY duAwrY dIjY buiD ibbykw ] rhwau ] I have collapsed, exhausted, at the Door of my Lord Master; I pray that He may grant me a discerning intellect. ||Pause||

17 Conclusion sikhi is for the whole of humanity live a god-centred life i.e. non-ego- centred strive become a perfect human being, develop a pure/healthy mind, body and soul. develop love for waheguru and Live in awe and balance with gods creation