What Makes Me A Sikh

Why do I have an uncut beard and a turban?

These are the two of the key things, a non-Sikh will notice. Baptized Sikhs will also wear a Kachhera (undergarment), wear a Kara (iron bracelet) and wield a Kirpan (dagger). Sikhs do not cut, wax, shave, remove any Kesh (hair) on their body as an acceptance of God’s natural will and keep a Kangha (comb) to maintain their hair. These are the 5Ks. To cover the head a turban has been given to Sikhs as it is a crown that gives regality to all believers regardless of their financial status. The turban is the English term but it is called a dastaar by Sikhs. Younger Sikhs usually cover their hair with a patka just because it is hard for them to learn to tie a dastaar. Another reason Sikhs cover their head is as part of a uniform to hold Sikhs accountable for their actions. You can spot a Sikh from a mile away!

What do you believe in?

What makes your lifestyle different than others?

There are Sikhs all over the world in very diverse societies. Within these societies, Sikhs do not consume alcohol. tobacco or other intoxicants, do not generally consume meat because of the compassion aspect of Sikhi (but if they do Halal is prohibited), Sikhs do not commit adultery. A lot of people seek drugs, alcohol, food or sex as outlets. Sikhs do meditation and sing hymns.

There is a long term pleasure and it helps towards a journey of enlightenment instead of temporary pleasures with Part of the Sikh lifestyle is selfless service and you will often see them in positions of community service. A lot of Sikhs enlist into the military and join police forces. Those positions fit right into their lifestyle.

Wait I’ve seen Sikhs who don’t wear turbans or cut their hair and also drink alcohol/smoke etc., what about them?

There are many people who have had Sikh ancestral background but have lost a lot of knowledge in the generations or because of their cultural surroundings. They are not to be punished for this. However there are people which break discipline while wearing the 5Ks, this gives people the wrong idea of the Khalsa to non-Sikhs. Sikhs are not punitive but those who are baptized have to confess their actions in front of 5 Singhs and they discuss a sort of community service or other humane method for the Sikh to make up for breaking discipline.

Sikhi is just another organized religion, isn’t it?

Local culture often comes in the way of Sikh teachings. Many Sikhs have put local patriarchal traditions ahead of Sikhi. This is part of the illusion and attachment of the world that Sikhi says to leave behind. Only few people in the world regardless of faith, become completely enlightened.

Why all the weaponry?

Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji is the sixth Guru whose presence on earth was during a time of Mughal tyranny in India. There were a lot of Mughal Tyrants forcefully converting people to Islam and the other option was death. Guru Hargobind Sahib ji told Sikhs to wield weapons and started the miri piri concept. Where on top of spiritual authority, there should be a political authority. Sikhs began to carry kirpans as per the instructions of Guru Hargobind Sahib ji to protect themselves against the Mughals and also those who could not defend themselves. Sri Guru Gobind Singh solidified this further in the first Amrit Sanchar ceremony, when the Khalsa was formed.

Sikhs treat weapons with the utmost respect. If you go to a gurdwara you’ll find weapons laid out in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. They do indeed have the ability to take someone’s life but also to save a life as well. Thus the importance of weapons in the hands of the right people.

What’s the purpose of life and what happens when you die?

Sikhs believe that every human’s ultimate purpose is to become One with God. There has to be ego completely removed from the soul. If the ego does not die then when the person dies, the soul goes through a phase of reincarnation. The soul is wandering and waits until the reasonable reincarnation of the human being. All humans have the capability to become One with God, however this will only occur if it is written in your soul’s never-ending destiny. Karma is a key concept in Sikhi, our actions reflect how much closer we get to God or further away. Everyone, regardless of faith, can do good deeds and serve the community. From there it’s all God’s Grace.

This is just general information that can perhaps put away some ignorance but check out the resources available online or ask someone who is a baptized Sikh for any questions. You can spot them from a mile away! Forgive me if I have made any mistakes!

Vaheguru ji ka Khalsa Vaheguru ji ki Fateh

More about the Author: I’m a 19 year old Canadian Sikh currently studying Politics and Governance at Ryerson University, on the UNICEF on Campus board, Liberty in North Korea board, and the Sikh Student Association board.

It has been one year since I’ve been keeping my kesh and months since I’ve been tying a dastaar. With Vaheguru’s Blessing, I’ll be able to keep full discipline (waking up for amrit vela and learning gurmukhi) and then take Amrit (and become baptized member in the Order of Khalsa).

For inquiries please contact: [email protected].