Frequently Asked QuestionsThis list of questions will be added to from time to time. If you have a question submit it to the site and we will endeavour to post an answer here.What do Sikhs believe about God?
God Almighty is impersonal, formless, the ultimate reality and is the Creator, personal saviour, inner teacher, omniscient, omnipotent, and incorporeal. The belief is summed up in the Mool Mantar, the core belief which appears at the beginning of the Sikh Holy Scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. Also the morning prayer, Jaap Sahib, lists hundreds of different attributes of God.
What do Sikhs call God?
God has no name, yet man gives God so many names. Throughout the Sikh scripture many different words are used to refer to God including words such as Allah and Ram which are used in Muslim and Hindu Faiths. Sikhs do however have a favourite word for God. Waheguru (wonderful enlightener).


Do Sikhs believe in incarnations of God?
No. God reveals and manifests through all in the universe, but no finite form can be worshipped as God, who is infinite. God chose to embody the Divine Light in Guru Nanak and in nine gurus successively, and finally to the scriptures themselves, but none are to be worshipped as God.


What is the Sikhs belief on the origin of the Universe and Life?
God existed in deep meditation of the void for countless ages until deciding to create the universe and life. Only God knows how and when the universe and life were created. The Jap Ji Sahib prayer states that God created with one Word and creation


What happens after death?
One’s soul is continually reborn until liberated by the Grace of God, at which time the soul merges with God (Guru). The daily evening prayer, Rehraas Sahib states that this is your one chance to meet God and so it is important to live your life so that you can beak the cycle in this life. You may not get another chance!


Why is there Evil?
Sikhs do not believe in original sin, nor in any evil being such as Satan. God has no enemy or opposite. Humans are inherently prone to succumb to temptations. God created all and gave people free will. Evil occurs when the ego takes over.

How does one achieve salvation?
Salvation is enlightenment, granted by God’s grace only, resulting in liberation from the cycle of rebirth. The soul merges with God (the Supreme Soul) after death. There is also the concept of Jeevan Mukt, liberation while in this life that few people may achieve. Liberation comes after the elimination of the human vices of lust, anger, greed, attachment, and pride (or ego). Frequent prayer, mediation, and song in praise of God, initiation into the Khalsa brotherhood, selfless service to others (seva), charitable works, morality, and obeying God’s Will demonstrate devotion to God and help on the journey.


What about undeserved suffering?
Suffering is not inflicted directly by God but is permitted by God as a test of courage and faith. Suffering is appreciated for the good that it often brings out in humanity, e.g. compassion. Suffering is seen as the remedy and pleasure the disease.

__________________

~~~**Jap mun Satnaam sda Satnaam...sda satnaam sda satnaam.....~~~

<<What about undeserved suffering?
Suffering is not inflicted directly by God but is permitted by God as a test of courage and faith. Suffering is appreciated for the good that it often brings out in humanity, e.g. compassion. Suffering is seen as the remedy and pleasure the disease. >>

can you please provide any reference from SGGS on this?

One of the imporatnt fact that is stated in SGGS ji at ang 1407 is as floows:

• O Guru Arjun, You are Eternal, Invaluable, Unborn, Self-existent,
• the Destroyer of fear, the Dispeller of pain, Infinite and Fearless.
• You have grasped the Ungraspable, and burnt away doubt and skepticism. You bestow cooling and soothing peace.
• The Self-existent, Perfect Primal Lord God Creator has taken birth.

It would imply that Guru Arjan Dev ji Maharaj was self existent.To me it appears an exaggeration. Guru ji cannot be Nirankaar as he came in the Garb or ordinary man .

This point was raised by Surinder ji in the ongoing threads and hence it is a matter of significance for all. I would request that someone may kindly take initiative to explain this.
Regards.

__________________

~~~**Jap mun Satnaam sda Satnaam...sda satnaam sda satnaam.....~~~

God reveals and manifests through all in the universe, but no finite form can be worshipped as God, who is infinite.

seems that this answers many of the questions raised in other threads recently... also seems to be in agreement with gurbani.




the only thing i can think of is from rehras sahib...

dukh daroo sukh rog bhaya jaa sukh taami na hoee

Pain is the medicine and pleasure is the disease; because where there is pleasure, there is no desire for God (sggs 469).

however, i don't think this directly means a "test of courage and faith", but rather an explanation that one must escape maya (pleasure - and pain for that matter) to meet God.

there are a hundred explanations of how to escape suffering in gurbani. but to say that god is "testing" us sounds suspiciously abrahamic to me...





it would be nice to know where this "FAQ" came from.

__________________

The above verses form part of the Swaiyas – Poetry Written In Praise of The Fifth Guru ji

This is not a claim by Guru Arjan Dev ji but has been written in ecstasy of the divine radiance as experienced by the poet Kal Sahar. This is an example of the love of the poet for Guru ji.
Sikh80 , only if you had gone a few lines further it would have become clearer to you. I say this to you, Do not pick isolated lines and try to make sense of it. Read the entire shabad and then learn the message being conveyed.


Surinder ji could not answer this . I think she was just testing you out.

Kind Regards

thanks jasleeen.


you caught the point i wanted to make

I am extremely indebted to you for nice and clear explanation to almost 3 independednt questions. I fully agree that it was swayaiye that Bhatt Kaal had said things in praises. Whatever be the reason the line needed an explanation from a person like you who has a clear vision about the meaning of the lines. I had also spent sometime on this and then had gone back to the author this line,It is how the Bhatt were traced.

Rrgards again.

__________________

~~~**Jap mun Satnaam sda Satnaam...sda satnaam sda satnaam.....~~~

It has been stated very clearly that it is only the creator who knows about the creation.It is admittedly stated in the jap ji sahib .

jw krqw isrTI kau swjy Awpy jwxY soeI ] (4-19, jpu, mÚ 1)
The Creator who created this creation-only He Himself knows.

The one who is a part Of creation cannot be the creator HIMSELF.
Hope it is clear .

Yes, we may call the unknown as Waheguru.It is stated that Guru nanak dev ji also meditated on 'waheguru'

__________________

~~~**Jap mun Satnaam sda Satnaam...sda satnaam sda satnaam.....~~~