Everyone at my place of employment received this email message this past winter:
Special Reports: Sikhism
The word Sikh (pronounced “sickh”) means ‘disciple’ or ‘learner.’ The Sikh religion was founded in Northern India in the fifteenth century by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and is distinct from Islam and Hinduism. Sikhism is monotheistic and stresses the equality of all men and women. Sikhs believe in three basic principles; meditating on the name of God (praying), earning a living by honest means, as well as sharing the fruits of one’s labor with others. Sikhism rejects caste and class systems and emphasizes service to humanity.
Sikhs at a Glance
Sikhs have been in the U.S. for over 100 years
There are roughly 700,000 Sikhs in the U.S. today
Sikhism is the world’s fifth largest religion with 25 million adherents worldwide
Sikhs believe in one God, equality, freedom of religion, community service and nonviolence
Sikhism is a distinct religion, separate from Hinduism and Islam
99% of people wearing turbans in the U.S. are Sikhs from India
The Sikh turban represents a commitment to equality and justice
Sikhs cover their uncut hair with a turban
For more information:
System Administration Police recently had the opportunity to engage in an open conversation about Sikhism with a fellow SUNY colleague. Anyone interested in discussing an important topic can email SUNY University Police to set up a meeting.
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This, of course, begs the question: what the heck happened to prompt the Special Report?
While not comparable on most terms, I had heard people compare how they felt after 9/11 to how they felt after November 8, 2016. Right after 9/11, a Sikh man was killed, and in subsequent years, other Sikhs have been victimized. In early 2017, Sikhs were again targeted.
Perhaps that’s why Valerie Kaur offered A Sikh Prayer for America on November 9th, 2016.
While in college I practiced Kundalini yoga, a Sikh discipline. They were good people.
I am glad to read this.
Wonderfully informative post about the Sikhism and lovely photo ~ wonderful if you still practice kundalini yoga??? ~ thanks,
Happy Week to you ~ ^_^
I go to Sikh temples for the free food and the friendships.
My ABC WEDNESDAY
It’s gotta be the turban. The uninformed among us (and sometimes I’m not as informed as I’d like to be) see it and think “Arab,” or perhaps more precisely “A-rab.”
Good post!
I have one student whose family is Sikh but he doesn’t wear a turban as I guess he’s “Canadianized.” Lovely family and very loving and friendly. Who cares about a person’s religion…can we all not just accept that we have differences in all facets of life and celebrate those differences!
Leslie
abcw team
nice warm people
I don’t know anything significant about it … like many other religions I hardly know anything about.. Your post is very informative, liked reading it.
I think that religious or not… people should more often think of, and show, respect for the other!
Melody (ABC-W-team)
20-S
Preview Round 21
As long as people behave correctly and don’t harm anybody, I don’t care what religion or philosophy they are belonging too. That’s the same with the skin color.
On a entirely frivolous level I like the different colour turbans they wear.
Very good and interesting post.
lots of sikhs in Singapore.very successful people