Sikhi:
Sikhi is a philosophy of life as shared by Bani enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
As per Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhi is:
ਸਿਖੀ ਸਿਖਿਆ ਗੁਰ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥ (ਮ:੧, ਪੰ:੪੬੫)
sikhī sikhiā gur vīchār . (M:1, P:465)
Sikhi is the knowledge (way of life) based on Guru’s Philosophy.
Please note: Sikhi (Gur Vichar), Philosophy of life is totally based on HUKAM, Creator’s Order, and no superstitions, pretenses, or rituals.
In today’s world, some people are trying to define Humnaism and all their thoughts are already included in Sikhi (Gurbani).
Sikh:
In Gurbani, Sikh is defined as the one who lives his/her life in accordance with the teachings of Guru Sahib.
ਸੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਸਖਾ ਬੰਧਪੁ ਹੈ ਭਾਈ ਜਿ ਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਭਾਣੇ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਵੈ ॥ (ਮ:੩, ਪੰ:੬੦੧)
sō sikh sakhā bandhap hai bhāī j gur kē bhānē vich āvai .(M:3, P:601)
That who follows Guru’s teaching, is a Sikh, friend, and relative.
Please note there is no reference to any initiation ceremony or anything else, just need to live in accordance with the Sikhi way of life, (in accordance with HUKAM.)
Sikhi Way of life:
It is rather simple: Just know the ਨਾਮੁ (NAAMU) and live accordingly.
Biggest question is, what is ਨਾਮੁ (NAAMU) and how does one live accordingly? ਨਾਮੁ (NAAMU) can hardly be defined in few words.
Some Sikhi scholars have made an attempt and come up with short comprehensible definition.
ਨਾਮੁ (NAAMU) is the virtues of the Creator and Order of the Creator that Created the entire Creation and controls the functioning of the entire Creation. Remember that each entity in Creation is interconnected and existence of each one depends upon all other entities in one form or the other. ( e.g. Human life is depended upon, air water, earth (all elements), other animals, insects, birds, bacteria, et all.)
Now to simply, Guru Sahib have provided Human race with a few precepts:
- schu Aaachaaru (ਸਚੁ ਆਚਾਰੁ), truthful conduct. (This is a personal level sub precept.)
Please refer to the Gurbani verse:
schhu Aorai sbhu ko Aupri schu Aaachaaru. |5| (M:1, P:62)
ਸਚਹੁ ਓਰੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਉਪਰਿ ਸਚੁ ਆਚਾਰੁ ॥੫॥ (ਮ:੧, ਪੰ:੬੨)
Everything is below the truth, truthful living is above all (everything).
i.e. most important part of living in the naamu (ਨਾਮੁ), is truthful living. Part of which is ਘਾਲਿ ਖਾਇ = ghaali khaaEi, earning one’s living through hard labor. That is, earn what you consume, do not depend upon, or take from, others. Part of this also implies, do not benefit from other people’s hard work. For an employer, not to squeeze the blood of workers by underpaying them for their honest labor. For Businessmen, charging a fair price for their products and not taking advantage of the customer’s situation. This is, living free from any influence of the five vices: ਕਾਮੁ = kaamu (sexual desires), ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ = kRoDhu (anger), ਲੋਭੁ = lobhu (greed), ਮੋਹੁ = mohu (emotional attachment), ਅਹੰਕਾਰਿ = AhNkaari. (ego).
Of course, always speaking the whole truth and nothing but the truth is another part of it, and a whole lot more.
- sbh naal piAaar (ਸੱਭ ਨਾਲ ਪਿਆਰ), love for all. (This is the social level precept.)
Please refer to Gurbani verse:
bisri gEee sbh taati praaEee.
ਬਿਸਰਿ ਗਈ ਸਭ ਤਾਤਿ ਪਰਾਈ ॥
jb tay saaDhsNgti mohi paaEee. |1| rhaaAu.
ਜਬ ਤੇ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਮੋਹਿ ਪਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
naa ko bairee nhee bigaanaa sgl sNgi hm kAu bni AaaEee. |1| (M:5, P:1299)
ਨਾ ਕੋ ਬੈਰੀ ਨਹੀ ਬਿਗਾਨਾ ਸਗਲ ਸੰਗਿ ਹਮ ਕਉ ਬਨਿ ਆਈ ॥੧॥ (ਮ:੫, ਪੰ: ੧੨੯੯) translate=”no”
The central message here is that no one is a stranger, I get along with everyone. Everyone is my friend; in other words, I love everyone. This concept of love for everyone, the equality among the human family is repeated in multiple other verses in Gurbani.
e.g.
Avli Alh nooru AupaaEiAaa kudrti kay sbh bNday.
<strongtranslate=”no” >ਅਵਲਿ ਅਲਹ ਨੂਰੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕੇ ਸਭ ਬੰਦੇ ॥
Eayk noor tay sbhu jgu AupjiAaa kAun bhlay ko mNday. |1| (Bh: kbeer, P:1349)
ਏਕ ਨੂਰ ਤੇ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਉਪਜਿਆ ਕਉਨ ਭਲੇ ਕੋ ਮੰਦੇ ॥੧॥ (ਭ: ਕਬੀਰ, ਪੰ:੧੩੪੯)
And
sbhai ght raamu bolai raamaa bolai. raam binaa ko bolai ray. |1| rhaaAu. (Bh: naamdayv, P:988)
ਸਭੈ ਘਟ ਰਾਮੁ ਬੋਲੈ ਰਾਮਾ ਬੋਲੈ ॥ ਰਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਕੋ ਬੋਲੈ ਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ (ਭ: ਨਾਮਦੇਵ, ਪੰ:੯੮੮)
This not only talks about love for everyone but that everyone is equal, creation of the same Eikko (ੴ ), The One, the Supreme Power, and made from the same ingredients. The principle is of sameness among all and all is one. Principle of Oneness.
- snimr sevaa (ਸਨਿਮਰ ਸੇਵਾ), Service with humility. (This is a spiritual level precept.)
Please refer to the Gurbani verse:
vichi duneeAaa sayv kmaaEeeAai. taa drgh baisnu paaEeeAai. (M:1, P:26).
ਵਿਚਿ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਸੇਵ ਕਮਾਈਐ ॥ ਤਾ ਦਰਗਹ ਬੈਸਣੁ ਪਾਈਐ ॥ (ਮ:੧, ਪੰ:੨੬)
A necessary condition on the path of the naamu jeevnha (ਨਾਮੁ ਜੀਵਣਾ), living in the naamu.
is to serve The Eikko (ੴ ), The One, the Supreme Power, part of which is serving the Creation right around one. Service, of course, means service without any expectations in return otherwise it becomes a business transaction, a bargain, and not service. True service is without any name plates, markings, or even a word of thanks. Part of service is kichhu hthhu dayEi (ਕਿਛੁ ਹਥਹੁ ਦੇਇ), sharing one’s earnings.
jini hri sayviAaa tini sukhu paaEiAaa binu sayvaa pchhotaanee hay. |15| (M:4, P:1071)
ਜਿਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਸੇਵਿਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਬਿਨੁ ਸੇਵਾ ਪਛੋਤਾਣੀ ਹੇ ॥੧੫॥ (ਮ:੪, ਪੰ:੧੦੭੧)
One who served the Eikko (ੴ ), The One, the Supreme Power, achieved peace and happiness. without the service there is only regrets.
stigur kee sayvaa sfl hai jay ko kray chitu laaEi. (M:3, P:552)
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਸਫਲ ਹੈ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਕਰੇ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇ ॥ (ਮ;੩, ਪੰ:੫੫੨)
The sayvaa (ਸੇਵਾ), service of Eikko (ੴ ), The One, is meaningful only when it is genuine and not as a chore or for show, display.
- chrhdee claa (ਚੜਦੀ ਕਲਾ), Always in bliss and high spirits, positive approach.
While observing the above three precepts, keeping the mind in Chardi Kalaa.
To stay in chrdee klaa, one need to adopt:
- ਤੇਰਾਕੀਆ ਮੀਠਾ ਲਾਗੈ ॥
tērā kīā mīthā lāgai .
I love what you have done (or do). (i.e. happily accepting the will of the Creator)
- ਉਦਮੁਕਰੇਦਿਆ ਜੀਉ ਤੂੰ ਕਮਾਵਦਿਆ ਸੁਖ ਭੁੰਚੁ ॥
udam karēdiā jīu tūn kamāvadiā sukh bhunch .
Take the initiative and enjoy while living a truthful life.
Those are the Sikhi Precepts. Very simple. It is only hard to understand not to follow.
Now that the reader is aware of Sikhi, Sikh, and Sikh way of life, go live your life accordingly and enjoy eternal bliss.
Author: S. Gulbarg Singh Basi