[Sikh Gurdwara]

Founding of
Sikhism

Major Beliefs
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion.
This means that there is a belief in
only one god. Sikhs believe that God
is without form or gender and loves
all humanity. All people are equal
under the eyes of God. Sikhs believe
in earning an honest living. This
means avoiding working in tobacco
or alcohol industries, gambling, or
begging. Sikhs believe in a duty to
serve others. This requires them to
be generous and give to those that
are less fortunate. Sikhs must keep
God in their heart at all times. Sikhs
also believe in the cycle of life. The
cycle includes birth, life, and rebirth.

Sikhism was founded in the 16th

century in the Punjab district of
what is now India and Pakistan. It
was founded by Guru Nanak. The
religion is based on the teachings
of Guru Nanak and those of the
nine Gurus that followed him.

Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak was born in Pakistan in
1469. He argued that rituals such
as pilgrimages were of less
spiritual importance than internal
religious state of the individual

Sikhism

Three Duties

Nam Japna- Keeping God in mind

Kirt Karna- Earning an honest

living

Vand Chhakna- Giving to charity

Carol McKenna

Teacher Strategies
for Student Success
Guru Granth Sahib
The Holy Scripture
The Guru Granth Sahib is the Sikh holy
text. It is 1,430 pages of written poetry.
This scripture is considered to be the
living guru of the Sikhs. The Guru
Granth Sahib teaches how to be kind,
tell the truth, and love and respect
everyone.

Khalsa
The Sikh Community
The Khalsa is a community of initiated
Sikhs. An initiation into the Khalsa can
be done at any point in ones life. The
initiation into the Khalsa is a
commitment to the faith of Sikhism.

A teacher should learn and

use the Sikh students name

Learn about the Sikh

culture

Provide individual attention

and assistance to the
student

Use group work in order to

help student accommodate

A major part of the Sikh

religion is the carrying of
the Kirpan. The Kirpan is a
steel sword that can be
anywhere from a few inches
to three feet long. It
symbolizes spirituality and
the defense of good. This is
a safety issue that must be
addressed.

Gurdwara
Place of Worship
The Gurdwara is a place of learning and
worship. There are no idols, statues, or
religious pictures in a Gurdwara. There
are no ritualistic devices. Every
Gurdwara has a Langar where food is
served to anyone without charge.
Everyone sits on the floor in a
Gurdwara. Seats and cushions are not
allowed. Men and women sit separately.

When teaching world

religions, incorporate
Sikhism into the curriculum.
Sikh students are often
bullied at school because
they look different than
others. Promote diversity in
the classroom and create a
safe and respectful
environment for all

References
Ahluwalia, M. K. (2010). Sikh men post9/11: Misidentification, discrimination,
and coping. Retrieved from

http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/aap/1/
4/303/
McLeod, W. (2014). Sikhism. In
Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t
opic/543916/Sikhism
Sikhism. In (2014). Retrieved from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/s
ikhism/
In text: (Sikhism, 2014)
The sikh coalition. (2012). Retrieved
from http://www.sikhcoalition.org/