Sikhism Research Paper

Sikhism is a religion that was founded in 1496 by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Punjab, a state in India. It is a monotheistic religion that is based on Hinduism and Islam, however, it is a distinct religion with a unique path to liberation. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world with around 20 million followers. The foundation of the religion is based on the teachings of the ten Gurus, who were spiritual mentors and teachers. The Sikh religion is one that moves me the most out of all of the religions, and I find it very compelling due to its lifestyle, its scripture and the emphasis on equality. To begin, I believe that Sikhism is a compelling religion because of the lifestyle that Sikhs must follow according to the teachings of the Gurus. One of the practices that disciples must follow is to live an honest lifestyle. Another practice that is embedded into the Sikh way of life is distributing one’s wealth. For example, Sikhs must donate one tenth of their earnings to charity. As well, Sikhs are encouraged to engage in Seva, or selfless service. Seva can include volunteering in the community or at the Gurdwara, which is …show more content…
The Holy Book of the Sikhs is called Guru Granth Sahib, and it can be placed essentially in any area whether in your home or in another building. This place will then be called a Gurdwara. The Guru Granth Sahib is treated with utmost respect, similar to how the human Gurus were treated. For example, it is not permitted to place the Guru Granth Sahib on the ground or to turn one’s back towards it. In addition, a distinct characteristic of the scripture is that it is composed of poetry that was mostly written by the Sikh Gurus themselves. The scripture encourages Sikhs to live a true life, have respect towards others, and to show great integrity. For these reasons, I find the Guru Granth Sahib to be a unique scripture that contributes to the compelling nature of