Of all the religious systems born in and influenced by India, perhaps none is more misunderstood nor has as much to offer the world as Sikhism. The turban headed Sikhs, their long beards and ever-present sword which hangs from their sides creates an intimidatingly exotic mien. Yet despite this facade, behind this fierce outer presence beats a heart of true love, justice and compassion, a religion of intense joy.
Sikhism is a path of bliss, devotion, austerity and determination. It is, in short, the Path of the Masters (S 50).
Correctly understanding the world's diverse religious systems is vitally important for many reasons, now perhaps more than ever. In this study you may find a kindred system of understanding in Sikhism, but even if you don't understanding who the Sikhs are and how they view the world can only help to broaden your own understandings of this amazing world we all share.
As our world becomes a smaller place in which to live our varied cultures and religions are losing their abilities to exist as in a vacuum. No longer can we assume those around us share our basic beliefs and paradigms. All too often violent confrontations arise between people of good will simply because we do not understand one another. Religious Studies, as a discipline or as a personal quest for understanding, can do much to remedy this situation by presenting information that reflects the truths and beliefs held by the various Traditions. In this way all may all come to appreciate the ancient wisdom that:
EKAM SAT: VIPRA BAHUDHA VADANTE:
"Truth is one; sages call it by various names."
In this attempt at understanding there are three (at least) schools of thought to consider.
The Secular Approaches: Those who approach religions and spiritual texts critically, academically. Such people usually call into question all the traditional doctrines and beliefs, demanding that everything be validated or disproved by contemporary scientific and philosophical methodology and understanding. They often focus on textual dates and versions and contrast them to modern philosophical norms. Those who utilize this approach typically do so with little respect for the specific disciplines. They study them as one might consider a medical text thus they tend to overlook the importance of faith, tradition and inner realization. This is probably the most common approach.
If theories such as natural selection or determinism were subjected to religious criteria, they would not fair so well either (of course with the advent of the new sciences such as chaos theory, it is quite possible that science will confirm the religio/spiritual understandings and dispose of its own) note 1.:
The Interfaith Approaches: Those who employ this method often believe that the traditions should be honored and not subjected to excessive critical analysis from other disciplines. According to this view, religio/spirituality is based on entirely different premises than contemporary philosophy, archeology, science etc. Where this approach is sometimes lacking is in the assumption that underlying all beliefs systems is a unity, often referred to as the Perennial philosophy. While there is potentially great truth in this, we often find that the desire to reach this unity leads the spiritual researchers to forfeit the importance of the diversity. Christianity with Jesus is not Christianity and Sikhism without the Ten founding Gurus is not Sikhism.
The AllFaith Approaches: Those who embrace this view celebrate the diverse traditions as they are without trying to force conformity or agreement. With this AllFaith approach the religions maintain their uniqueness while the Seeker of Truth comes to understand the truth of" Ekam Sat: Vipra Bahuda Vadante (Truth is One, the sages describe It in diverse ways). We do not need to agree on everything to honor and respect one another. Diversity truly is the "Spice of Life."
There is, in my opinion, both room and need for different methods of inquiry at different times depending on what one is seeking. However as the great Hindu Swami Vivekanada so aptly stated:
One thing should be especially remembered here, there is no connection between these historical researches and our real aim, which is, the knowledge that leads to the acquirement of Dharma. Even if the historicity of the whole thing [in this case the Mahabharata] is proved to be absolutely false today, it will not in the least be any loss. Then what is the use of so much historical research, you may ask? It has its use, because we have to get at the truth; it will not do for us to remain bound by wrong ideas due to ignorance. In this country [India] people think very little of the importance of such inquiries ... But our duty should be to convince ourselves of the truth, to believe the truth only (SV 101, 102).
I am in basic agreement with this statement as I understand it and prefer to work from the AllFaith perspective. What follows therefore is my modest attempt to introduce the reader to Sant Mat, the Path of the Masters, not to offer a critical analysis of Sikhism. Herein I seek to speak from "within the tradition" in order to understand the teachings as the Sikhs do. My hope here is to clearly yet simply present the Sant Mat as it is. Your corrections, questions and comments are as always invited via private or my blogs.
The Sikh religion is not old by Indian standards note 2. and yet as it reaches into the heart and soul and thereby exemplifies the Truth which is ever-present within each of us, it is, by those same standards, a perennial philosophy. Sikhism claims to be "not a blend or reproduction of earlier religions but ... a new revelation altogether. The teachings that the [founding] Gurus gave to this world, came DIRECT to them from God, which the Gurus confirm: This word comes from Him, Who hath created the world" (SR 3).
Notes for Part One
- Note 1: For more information on the New Sciences see: Algeny by Jeremy Riffkin (Viking Press New York, 1983) or The Turbulent Mirror by John Briggs & F. David Peat (Harper & Row, New York, 1989).Return
- Note 2: At various times in Indian history the country was divided and subdivided into various kingdoms. For simplicity sake, I will refer to India as a single country. For information on these divisions see footnote 11. Return
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