What+this+religon+understands+about+Humanity

//What this religion understands about ‘humanity’ //: who we are, our nature, our role, our journey together, our destination, life/death (see the scaffold in a separate document for this, it includes questions for exploring your response) 

Ø Do all religions have the same understanding of humanity?

Ø What does Sikhism say about humanity?

Ø What is our common humanity based on?

Ø How humans are called to act in the world?

Ø How are they to relate with each other, with their God/Higher being /creator .with the Universe?

Ø Are members of this religion called to make a contribution to peace and goodwill in the world and if so how?  One of the major principles of Sikhism is to share with others and help the people in need. Sikhs all over the world participate in helping others and making this world a better place to live. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">GHANAIA is an international relief effort, established by UNITED SIKHS .GHANAIA stands for Giving Humanitarian Aid Necessities Assistance Impartially to All and is inspired by the Sikh saint, Bhai Ghanaia Ji, who served in the army and gave water and medicine to all ailing war soldiers and victims (both friends and enemies) without prejudice, seeing the same God in all beings. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">**<span style="color: #565656; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Florida Tornado Relief ** <span style="color: #565656; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">GHANAIA Malaysian Flood Relief **. <span style="color: #565656; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">G**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">HANAIA Asian Earthquake Relief ** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">GHANAIA Katrina Hurricane Relief ** <span style="color: #565656; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> S <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">acred Stories
 * <span style="color: #565656; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Humanitarian Work **
 * <span style="color: #565656; font-family: Symbol; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· **<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Myanmar Cyclone ‘Nargis' Disaster Relief **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">GHANAIA Indonesian Earthquake Relief **<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
 * <span style="color: #565656; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">GHANAIA Tsunami Relief **<span style="color: #565656; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">

Siri Guru Granth Sahib // . // || Sacred Texts <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msohansithemefont: minor-latin;">
 * [[image:http://fateh.sikhnet.com/Sikhnet/Register.nsf/Files/line/$file/line.gif width="436" height="7"]]
 * Guru Gobind Singh was weak from loss of blood and near death. When his Sikhs came to say their last farewell, they asked him who was to succeed him. He replied, "Wherever there are five Sikhs who abide by the Guru's teachings, I am there. My mental and physical strength are one with the Siri Guru Granth Sahib and the Khalsa." He then opened the Granth Sahib, and placing the five paise and coconut before it, bowed to it as his successor. Singing, 'Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa! Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh!', he circumambulated the sacred volume. To his sangat he said, "Let he who desires to behold me, behold the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. Forevermore, it is the visible body of the Guru. He who wishes to find me must search for me there." ||
 * [[image:http://fateh.sikhnet.com/sikhnet/register.nsf/549588b6aa1fa993872564ec005e334c/9799ce29ad21c4f88725670e00572e9b/Body/0.172C!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif width="226" height="300" caption="The Siri Guru Granth Sahib" link="http://fateh.sikhnet.com/Sikhnet/Register.nsf/Files/ForColoring/$file/11-SiriGuruGranth.gif"]] ||
 * [[image:http://fateh.sikhnet.com/sikhnet/register.nsf/549588b6aa1fa993872564ec005e334c/9799ce29ad21c4f88725670e00572e9b/Body/0.172C!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif width="226" height="300" caption="The Siri Guru Granth Sahib" link="http://fateh.sikhnet.com/Sikhnet/Register.nsf/Files/ForColoring/$file/11-SiriGuruGranth.gif"]] ||

Sacred Stories

<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">

Beliefs

<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">**One God** God is the Creator of the Universe God isn't born and will never die God is present everywhere


 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Equality **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">All human beings are equal ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">People of all religions and races are welcome in Sikh Gurdwaras ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Women have equal status with men in religious services and ceremonies

|| <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Birth and Death

Finding God takes us out of this life cycle
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After a person dies, his soul is born again in another body, human or animal ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One's next life depends on his deeds in the past life ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The human life is supreme and it is through this life that we can achieve oneness with God


 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Non-Violence **

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Sikhs are a peace loving people and stand for Truth and Justice Guru Singh Ji said, "It is right to use force as a last resort when all other peaceful means fail."

The four basic principles for living a good life and leaving the life cycle are: <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> > > <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Meditation **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One of the basic principles for living a good life
 * <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">helps you get closer to God <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> ||
 * * <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">brings a peace of mind
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Work

> > <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The second basic principle for living a good life ||
 * * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sikhs should only accept what they have earned by honesty and hard work ||
 * * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sikhs shouldn't take away what rightfully belongs to others ||
 * * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Guru Nanak said, "Taking away other's right is as sinful as pork to a Muslim and beef to a Hindu." ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Charity Donations **<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> || * <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sikhs should give to the poor and needy in the form of charity <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> || * <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sikhs should share with others
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Service to Humanity and God **

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> || * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sewa is a major part of Sikhism and many people do it at the Gurdwara ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> || * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A great example of Sewa is the story of Bhai Kanahya, who in a battle gave water to both Sikhs and Mughals ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> || * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bhai Kanahya was asked by Guru Gobind Singh Ji why he was doing it and Bhai Kanahya said, "I do not see a friend or foe, I only see your face everywhere." ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> || * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bhai Kanahya was blessed and started the first Red Cross ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> || * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Guru Singh said, "Realize that the human race is one." ||