Faith Friday: Sikh

A couple of years ago, I visited the Sikh Center in San Antonio after having watched a Sikh speak an an inter-religious dialogue meeting.  You can read about my experience by clicking the link above.  Below, you can learn a little bit about Sikh dress and read some a small portion of their scriptures.  Let me know what you think in the comments below.

The Sikh Articles of Faith

The Sikh Articles of Faith link above explains the different articles of clothing that Sikhs wear and what they reflect about Sikh faith.  This wasn't what I was expecting when I originally clicked on the link myself.  Sikhs wear their hair and garments as reminders of their commitments.

Sikh Scriptures Concerning What God Wants from Humanity

When I look at the texts below, I can't help but compare them to the words of Jesus and the 8th century prophets of Judaism.  There is a strong emphasis on putting action above ritual and dogma.  

You keep your fasts to please Allah, while you murder other beings for pleasure. You look after your own interests, and so not see the interests of others. What good is your word? O Qazi, the One Lord is within you, but you do not think or contemplate on Him. You do not care for others, you are mad about religion, this is why your life is wasting away (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 483). 

Priest from both Hinduism and Islam got together and began discussing religion. A great fantasy has been created and no one could understand its mystery. They asked Guru Nanak to open and search in his scripture whether Hindu is greater or the Muslim. Guru replied that without good deeds both will have to weep and wail. Only by being a Hindu or a Muslim one cannot get accepted in the kingdom of God. As the color of safflower is impermanent and is washed away in water, likewise the colors of religiosity are also temporary (The Vaars of Bhai Gurdas Ji, 1).

Sikh Golden Temple in India