Sikhism why do we suffer

Ethics, not belief, rule the Sikh agenda. Internal spiritual practice and external daily actions must go hand-in-hand. Evil is indistinct from extreme self-centeredness. Tyranny and oppression, far removed from all notions of compassion and empathy, are the most evil acts.

Sometimes people suffer because of the self-centered actions of others. Sikh history is full of stories of martyrs for the faith who were steadfast in their opposition to oppression. In the face of oppression, Sikhs have a wide array of choices in response. Humility in bearing suffering is one response to oppression. This entails the ability to understand suffering as part of the human condition, and the enactment of the divine will. This also entails a powerlessness on behalf of those who suffer to surmount the oppression.

Sikhs make appeals to Kartar for the benefit of all humanity, and the final part of the Sikh daily prayer of supplication ardas requests just that.

However, human beings also possess the ability to redress the wrongs of the world, and thus make the world more just and compassionate. In the long term, then, simply bearing others' self-centeredness and cruelty is no way to live. This is especially the case when the divine will bestows the ability for creative responses to suffering.

Standing up for one's rights and those of the oppressed is another choice that also corresponds with Sikh notions of honor pat and justice nian. After the martyrdom of Guru Arjan at the hands of the Mughal state, and amidst a succession battle for the Guru's office, Sikh savant Bhai Gurdas voiced an optimism for the unfolding of divine justice that encapsulates a Sikh response to those "false" powers that oppress others.

Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Eastern Spirituality. More than 1, Sikhs march in Denver's first-ever Sikh parade in The event was held to celebrate the culture of the growing Sikh population in the area. A former FedEx employee fatally shot eight people, including four Sikhs, at the delivery company's facility in Indianapolis.

Male and female Sikh worshippers often sit separately although they participate equally. Uncut hair affirms an acceptance of God's will as creator and cherishing a God-given gift. This symbolizes a commitment to justice and defending the weak. It represents a commitment to sexual restraint if unmarried, fidelity to a spouse if married, and respect for others. Sikhism views spiritual pursuits as positive experiences in and of themselves that transcend death, not as sacrifices made in order to collect a reward that is waiting until after death.

View of Other Religions: Sikhs believe they have no right to impose their beliefs on others or even to cajole members of other religions to convert. Such practices are strictly forbidden in Sikhism. Sikhs are required to defend the freedom of worship of other religions just as they would their own.

Sikhs do not believe that followers of other religions are doomed in the eyes of God regardless of their personal character and behavior, nor does being born into a Sikh family guarantee salvation.

However, this does not mean Sikhs view all religions as being similar. The philosophy, practice, and history of Sikhism are unique and seen as clearly distinct from any other religion. Eligibility for Participation: All individuals, regardless of race, gender, or nationality, are free to become Sikhs.

One does not have to be a Sikh to participate in Sikh religious services and activities. The text has given a special position to the Guru, who may be interpreted to play the role of a teacher or a therapist in the life of the dukhi , showing him the way to moksha or relieving him of dukh.

Without the Guru, one loses his way and wanders around in the forest He is known to fulfill the hopes of the hopeless p17 , revealing the path to peace and having the quality of empathy soorat intuitive understanding; page When one involves self in the service of the Guru, peace and intuitive balance sahaj ; p. Through the Guru's sermons upadeis , pain and pleasure become alike , and joy harakh and sorrow sog , feel the same to one's consciousness The Guru's word has been equated with amrat ambrosia ; suffering dukh , agony klesh , and fear bhau do not cling to those whose heart is filled with the Gurumantra The mind, body, and soul, all are appeased Those who suffer keep on wandering around the world begging, but get exhausted and find a solution only with the Guru in his teachings p.

The solution is usually a jaap chant , by which the name of the Lord and hence peace comes to dwell in the mind of the diseased p. The Guru's word saves one from falling into hell , which may again refer to melancholy. Renouncing tiyaag sexual desire, anger, and greed to seek Nirvana has been advised. Blaming dose others is of no benefit and one should instead blame his or her own karma which most often leads to all the suffering The verse, Bin gur rog na tutai, haumai peerh na jaaei , makes a reference that the disease is not cured and the pain and egotism do not go away without the Guru.

The Guru Granth Sahib is looked upon as a spiritual guide for Sikh individuals and is considered a living Guru after their tenth Guru. Although the book was written years ago, interestingly it has references to modern depression, including causes that can give rise to depression and symptoms that a depressive can experience.

It also highlights and stresses upon therapeutic issues related to depression. Many of these points are applicable to depression in the modern context and can be useful in clinical scenarios. Mental health care workers and other therapists who deal with Sikh patients in distress can be in a better position to deal with them by understanding these descriptions within their religious text.

Source of Support: Nil. Conflict of Interest: None declared. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. Journal List Indian J Psychiatry v. Indian J Psychiatry.

Gurvinder Kalra Department of Psychiatry, M. Author information Copyright and License information Disclaimer. Address for correspondence: Dr. E-mail: moc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3. This article has been cited by other articles in PMC.

Abstract Sikhism is a relatively young religion, with Guru Granth Sahib as its key religious text. Table 1 Qualities of Lord. Open in a separate window. Table 2 Names of Lord. Table 3 Types of contemplation during death and its relation to reincarnation p. Etiological references Although many etiological references to depression are included in the scripture, the most important cause mentioned is when one forgets the Lord and implicit in warning that this is the duty to the Lord.

Symptoms Symptoms of depression have been mentioned throughout the text. Therapeutic context The text also illustrates therapeutic issues in depression at an individual level by asserting that peace and tranquility of the mind can restore the mind to its original balanced state or equipoise sanatan.

Teece G. Sikhism: Religion in focus. London: Black Rabbit Books; Singh RH. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers; Penney S. Sikhism: Discovering Religions Series.

Illustrated ed.