Sewa – Selfless Service

Seva means selfless service and is at the heart of Sikh life. The willingness to serve others helps Sikhs to turn away from self-centredness or being Manmukh. When Guru Nanak was born, there were different religions around him, such as Islam and Hinduism. Guru Nanak believed that God was One, and there are many different ways of approaching God. As Sikhs believe in the Oneness of Humanity, many believe that there are different paths to God, and each individual can find their way, with all paths deserving of respect. The Divine Spark you have explored within this module is believed to be within everyone, regardless of their faith path.

The Langar

The Langar is an example of Sewa and demonstrates the belief in equality and the oneness of humanity in practice. The Langar was introduced by Guru Nanak due to his belief in the equality of all. The Langar is a free meal, to which anybody is welcome. In the Gurdwara, there is usually a kitchen where volunteers prepare and cook the food for the Langar. This food is always vegetarian, ensuring that people of all faiths and none can partake.

The film below was put together to highlight the importance of the Langar:

*Click on the video to play; then click ‘cc’ for captions.

The video here is of the Langar Outreach Project, which shows the work of Sikhs in London supporting their local community:

*Click on the video to play; then click ‘cc’ for captions.

The Earth

As Sikhs believe Waheguru created all living beings on Earth, as well as the Earth itself, one way they offer service is through caring for the planet and all its inhabitants.

EcoSikh is a movement committed to addressing the threats of climate change, working globally to mobilise a commitment to caring for Waheguru’s creation.

You can read more about EcoSikh on their website here: https://ecosikh.org.

The video below is an example of one of the many projects EcoSikh has embarked on. It showcases the planting of sacred micro forests, known as Guru Nanak Sacred Forests.

*Click on the video to play; then click ‘cc’ for captions.

In the video below, Jaskiran Kaur Bhogal discusses her understanding of the environment from her own Sikh Faith.

*Click on the video to play; then click ‘cc’ for captions.

Reflection 

What does selfless service mean to you?

Do you carry out selfless service in your own life? How so?

What are your thoughts on the Langar? Have you ever visited the Langar?

Karma, Rebirth and Mukti

As explored in the Sikh understanding of God, Sikhs believe that humans have a ‘divine spark’ within them, like a piece of Waheguru that has become separated, and this is realised in the atma or the soul. The goal of life is to become reunited with Waheguru, and Sikhs believe that anyone can be reunited with Waheguru provided they follow the right path. Reunion with Waheguru is called Mukti or liberation. This is when a person’s atma, or soul, is freed from being reborn again.

Sikhs believe in reincarnation or rebirth. When a person dies, their atma is reborn into another body. Over the period of their life, Sikhs believe they accumulate good karma and bad karma, and this karma will determine what happens to their atma after the physical death of the body. Positive actions lead to good karma, whereas negative actions lead to bad karma, and what happens in one life will directly impact the next life. As Sikhs believe all living things have an atma, an atma can be reborn into a human body or an animal body depending on an individual’s karma. To be reborn into an animal body is to move further away from achieving Mukti, and to be reborn into a human body is to be one step closer to achieving Mukti.

To achieve Mukti and be reunited with Waheguru, a person must remove anything that stands in the way of getting closer to Waheguru, and many believe there are several stages to go through to achieve Mukti.

The stages of liberation, or the five Khands, are the five stages humans can pass through that will eventually lead to Waheguru. Providing a person is Gurmukh, passing through these stages will allow them to achieve Mukti. However, there are barriers along the way that will prevent a person from achieving Mukti.

The Five Khands:

• Piety: All humans are born into this stage, allowing them to meet with Waheguru through commitment and devotion.
• Knowledge: Once a person devotes themselves to Waheguru, they gain the knowledge to keep learning and become aware of how little they actually know in the vastness of the universe. This helps an individual to be humble, spiritually aware, and open to Waheguru.
• Effort: Individuals should make the effort to ‘tune in’ to Waheguru, developing their minds as far as they possibly can.
• Grace: When Waheguru takes part in the development of an individual’s life, spiritual growth and strength occur. Grace is a blessing from Waheguru.
• Truth: This final stage is finding Waheguru in completeness; this stage cannot be described, only experienced.

The Five Evils:

Being Manmukh prevents a person from achieving Mukti. One thing that hinders spiritual growth is the illusion that the impermanent things in life and worldly attachments are treated as permanent and valuable. This prevents individuals from seeing the truth, and Waheguru is the truth.

• Anger: a lack of self-control, causing a person to act without balance.
• Lust: uncontrolled lust is seen as a weakness and acting without balance.
• Greed: a desire to possess more than one needs, this ignores the principles of equality and justice, which centres life on the material instead of the spiritual.
• Worldly Attachment: connected with greed, placing emphasis on physical possessions which leads a person’s priorities away from Waheguru.
• Pride: pride leads people away from humility and the belief in the equality of all, making people feel they are more important than others, which in turn may lead to jealousy or rivalry. This is sometimes called false pride, as being proud of an achievement a person worked for is different from being proud of something a person was given or being proud of material wealth.

Watch the video below, where Sikhs in the UK discuss what their faith means to them:

*Click on the video to play; then click ‘cc’ for captions.

Reflection

Is the belief in the quality of all important to you?

How do the five khands and the five evils sit with you?

Do any stick out to you as important? Why might this be?

The Sikh Gurus

In Sikhism, there are ten human Gurus; the word ‘Guru’ means those who hold wisdom and knowledge, guiding others to this enlightenment.

The first Guru of Sikhism was Guru Nanak, who had a mystical experience while bathing in a river and then dedicated his life to spreading the teachings of Waheguru. Sikhs believe that during this experience in the river, Guru Nanak achieved mukti and was appointed Guru by Waheguru.

Following the death of Guru Nanak, he appointed Lehna (a devoted follower) as the next Guru; he became known as Guru Angad. After Guru Nanak, there were nine more human Gurus, all of whom dedicated their lives to spreading the teachings of Waheguru and Guru Nanak. The final human Guru was Guru Gobind Singh. Guru Gobind Singh announced that he would be the last human Guru and appointed the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh Holy Scripture, as his successor.

The Khalsa

Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa, a community of initiated Sikhs. The first five to be initiated into this community were known as the Panj Piare. These five individuals gave up their previous jobs and dedicated their lives to Waheguru, working alongside Guru Gobind Singh to promote equality and justice.

Khalsa Sikhs adopt the same last name: Singh for men and Kaur for women, to further emphasise the equality that exists among all humans. Khalsa Sikhs wear five key items, which signify their commitment to their faith and their dedication to defending equality and justice.

• Kesh – Uncut hair
• Kangha – A wooden comb
• Kara – A simple bracelet
• Kachera – Cotton underwear worn under clothes
• Kirpan – A small sword

There are ten human Gurus in Sikhism, the word Guru means those who hold wisdom and knowledge, who guide others to this wisdom.

The first Guru of Sikhism was Guru Nanak, who had a mystical experience whilst bathing in a river and then dedicated his life to spreading the teachings of Waheguru. Sikhs believe that during this experience in the river, Guru Nanak achieved mukti and was made Guru by Waheguru.

Following the death of Guru Nanak, he appointed Lehna (a devoted follower) as the next Guru, he became known as Guru Angad. After Guru Nanak, there were 9 more human Gurus all of whom dedicated their lives to spreading the teachings of Waheguru and Guru Nanak. The final human Guru was Guru Gobind Singh. Guru Gobind Singh announced he would be the last human Guru, and appointed the Guru Granth Sahib – the Sikh Holy Scripture – his successor.

Research 

Each of these five articles of faith represents a specific aspect of Sikh belief. Spend some time researching each of them.

The Guru Granth Sahib

The Guru Granth Sahib is the Sikh holy scripture and is often referred to as the eternal Guru. Sikhs turn to the Guru Granth Sahib for guidance. The Guru Granth Sahib is treated with incredible respect, the same way a human Guru would be. A granthi is an individual who reads from and looks after the Guru Granth Sahib.

The video below offers an insight into a Gurdwara in London.

*Click on the video to play; then click ‘cc’ for captions.

Reflection 

Where do you find your own guidance in life, who, or what, do you turn to?

Sikh Understandings of God

The Punjabi word Sikh means ‘Learner.’ Sikhs believe in One God, Waheguru, and they follow the teachings of the ten human Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib, which reveal the teachings of God.

The first Guru, Guru Nanak, wrote a poem called the Mool Mantar, which describes the nature of God. It opens with the Ik Onkar, a symbol in Sikhism that declares God is One.

You can listen to, and see the translation of, the Mool Mantar in the video below. It may look like the video is broken, but if you click on it, it will play.

*Click on the video to play; then click ‘cc’ for captions.

The Atma

There is one reality or essence present in everything; this essence sustains life and propels all motion—this is Waheguru.

Sikhs believe that humans possess a ‘divine spark’ within them, akin to a fragment of Waheguru that has become separated, and this is realised in the ātma or the soul. Sikhs maintain that the goal of life is for this divine spark, or soul, to be reunited with Waheguru. This reunion, known as Mukti, signifies liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth. When a soul achieves mukti, it is liberated from the cycle of reincarnation and reunites with Waheguru.

Owing to this divine essence, Sikhs uphold the Oneness of humanity. They believe that all humans are created equal, each bearing the divine spark with the potential to reunite with Waheguru.

Guided by this principle, Sikhs endeavour to treat all people with equality, for the divine spark resides within every individual.

Because of this belief, Sikhs will endeavour to treat all people equally for all have the divine spark within them.

Reflection 

What does ‘divine spark’ within mean to you?

What does the word ‘equality’ mean to you and how is it present in your own life?

Sikhism

Opening Reflection 

What does the concept of equality mean to you?