Waheguru

Waheguru is a word used in Sikhism to refer to God. It is also often uttered as a mantra and is called gurmantra or gurmantar gur mantr means the word of the divine which takes you from darkness to the lightness creating your mind to expand

The word Waheguru is traditionally explained as wahi means "wondrous" + guru means "teacher", together said to carry the meaning, "The wondrous Lord/teacher who dispels the darkness of ignorance and bestows the light of truth, knowledge, and enlightenment".

Who is God? What does God look like?

Q: Who is God? What does God look like?

A: Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Sikh Holy Scripture describes the characteristics of God. Throughout 1430 pages, Guru Granth Sahib Ji describes and praises God.

The opening of the scripture tells us about the description of God: "God is One. He is the Supreme Truth. He the Creator, is without fear and without hate. He is immortal. He is neither born and nor does He die. By Guru's grace shall He be met. Chant And Meditate on His Name. In the beginning, He was the Truth. Throughout the ages, He has been the Truth. He is the Truth now and He shall be the Truth forever" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1).

The most important aspect of being a Sikh, is to understand that, there is one endless God. He is indescribable, inestimable, indubitable, infallible, intangible, imperishable, immutable, immortal, immaculate, immanent, unconquerable, unique, formless, fearless, deathless, timeless, ageless, compassionate, omnipresent and creator of all. "There is only the One Supreme Lord; there is no other at all. Spirit, soul and body, all belong to Him; whatever pleases His Will, comes to pass" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 45).

God loves everyone. Sikhs believe there is no one superior to God. Furthermore, Sikhs believe that God created all beings, animals, birds, creatures, including humans. When the first great Guru, the founder of Sikh faith, Guru Nanak Dev Ji gave this definition to the people who believed differently in God, they were surprised and they asked him, who told you this and how did God come in existence? The great Guru explained that God Himself gave him this information. God has always been present. The concept of time is very worldly. There is no time, beginning or end when it comes to God. This is very hard to understand for us humans because we are used to the concept of begin and end with time.

People further asked Guru Nanak Dev Ji about what does God look like? The great Guru preached that God is formless. God is beyond gender and shape. "He has no form, no shape, no color; God is beyond these three qualities. One understands Him, O Nanak, with whom God is pleased" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 283). God has no body, He is the greatest Spirit of all and our soul is a part of Him.

The main difference between Sikhism and some of the world’s other religions is that there are people who worship Jesus and believe Jesus is God, some people worship Buddha and believe Buddha is God. The Sikh Gurus themselves said that they are not to be worshipped. They expressed very clearly not to worship anyone except God. Guru Gobind Singh Ji even put it in harsh words and said, “Those who call me God will fall into the pit of hell. Consider me as a humble servant of God and have no doubt about it.” He wanted to be very clear that He is not God and should not be worshipped. One should only worship the One Almighty Lord.

Sikh Beliefs - What is the purpose of life ?

What is the purpose of life?

A: The purpose of life is to purify yourself, meditate on God and eventually become one with God.
God is the greatest spirit of all and our soul is a part of God. Our soul has been separated from God and it’s dignity remains in merging back with God. The purpose of this life is to become one with God, to merge in the One whom we originated from. Our Guru tells us, "This human body has been given to you. This is your chance to meet God. All other works are of no use. Join the holy congregation and meditate on the Name of God" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 12).
The goal is to break away from the cycle of birth and death and attain salvation by being one with God. Our soul has been separated from God filled of many impurities such as lust, anger, greed, attachment to materialistic things, and ego. We are to purify our soul so that we can become one with God. We can do so by living an honest and humble lifestyle and meditating on God.
In addition, "The blind have forgotten the Name of God. The self-willed people are in utter darkness. Their comings and goings in reincarnation do not end; through death and rebirth, they are wasting away" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 19). Furthermore, "Those who meditate single-mindedly on the Name of God, and contemplate the teachings of the Guru. Their faces are forever radiant in the Kingdom of God" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 28). The ones who do not meditate on God keep going through the cycle of birth and death while the one who meditate on God and love Him become radiant in His Kingdom.

What is Sikhism

Sikhism

1) Sikhism is a practical religion. It does not consist in a certain set of beliefs or mere words. Religion does not imply wandering to shrines and tombs, or following austerities of Yogis. Sikhism is a way of life, something to be lived according to a pattern. Its main virtue is simplicity. There is no supernaturalism or mythology on which it rests. It does not believe in devils or angels or heavenly spirits. 

2) Sikhism is a universal religion. 

3) Sikhism is opposed to all ritualism and formalism. 

4) Sikhism does not enjoin blind faith. Blind obedience to an external authority is dis-couraged. The death of the intellect can not be a condition of the life of the spirit. Faith does not start with surmises or absurdities. 

5) Sikhism is a faith of hope and cheer. Though it affirms Karma, it recognises the possibility of the modification of one's Karma with the grace of the Guru or God. It does not lead to despair and defeatism. 

6) Sikhism is a democratic religion. The decisions of the Sangat are regarded as resolutions having the force of law (Gurmatta) Guru Gobind Singh Sahib vested the authority of the organisation in the Panth.