Professional Documents
Culture Documents
This is the 15th article in the series ‗Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Khaas (Who is a Khalsa?)‘, which started in Apr 08. In our Issue No : 43
previous articles, we discussed some of the virtues of the Khalsa. In this article we will focus on another virtue of the
Khalsa that ‘he liberates himself from all superstitions’.
Apr/May 2010
Superstitions
By Jaswant Singh
Inside this issue
Superstition is a deviation from divinity which shows a lack of trust in God. It is an irrational
belief arising from ignorance and doubt. It also implies that the future events can be influ- 1. CST Hukumnama
2.
enced or foretold. for New year Day
Jan
Jan 10
10
The Sikh religion considers superstitions as erroneous beliefs and violations of its basic ten-
ets. The Sikh Scripture states that the world wanders lost in various superstitions and live in
2. Amrit Sanchar cere-
3.
fear.1 Superstition is a disease of the mind.2 It creates confusion and panic in one‘s mind
ceremony/Vesakhi
mony/Vesakhi pro-
and takes one away from reality. It creates fear of the future.
Prgramme/
gramme/Sikhisim
For example, some people believe that a black cat or a sneeze spells misfortune. But to a 101
Sikhisim
courses 101and
Sikh, whether the cat is black or brown; whether it crosses his path in front or behind; courses
other new and
course
other
whether some one sneezes or coughs when commencing something new, doesn‘t make any new courses
difference. Similarly, beliefs in gods, goddesses, angels, evil spirits, fortune telling, tantra, 4. Ground Breaking
mantra and yantra are condemned in Sikhism as superstitions. Ground
ceremony
Breaking
The Sikh Code of Conduct explains some of the Guru’s tenets and directs the Sikhs ceremony
--CST
not to believe: CST
--SRST
in magic spells, incantation3, omens4, auspicious times, days and occasions5, influence SRST
of stars, horoscopes6, ancestor worship7, wearing of a necklace8 of tulsi stalks etc and 5. Renovation Report
veneration of graves. Renovation Report
in authority of any holy man, soothsayer10, clairvoyant, oracle and not to make vows on 6. Photos of Certificate
graves etc for the fulfillment of a wish. Photos
presentation
of Certificate
for
It further instructs the Sikhs not to believe: presentation
Sikhism 101 for Sikh-
in the pollution of food and water in consequence of birth or death. The Guru‘s writ is: ism courses
101 courses
‗The birth and death are by His ordinance; coming and going is by His will. All food and
water are clean and are provided by Him.‘11 7.Gurmat
Gurmat
Sangeet
SangeetPer-&
in consulting horoscopes for determining which day or date is auspicious or otherwise formance/
TheatreTheatre per-
for fixing the day of the marriage.
formance
performance
in paying any heed to the time of cremation.
in immersing of ashes and remains, after cremation of a body at the holy waters such as
the Ganga or at Kiratpur or Kartarpur. It is contrary to Gurmat. It should be immersed in 8. NewNew Courses
Courses
Programmes
Programmes
the nearby flowing water.
Book
Bookof of
thetheMonth
Month
Sikhism instructs us not to believe in good moments or bad moments, good days or bad
days, good numbers or bad numbers, and good places or bad places. According to Sikhism Movie
Movieof of
thetheMonth
Month
all days of the week, all numbers and places are the same. The Sikhs wear ‗Karha‘ (a steel
bracelet) to remind them not to believe in superstitions.
The Guru‘s word is that as long as there are doubts in the mind arising from superstitions, Objectives:
the mortal continues to waver and stagger.12 He alone is peaceful whose doubts are dis-
pelled.13 Therefore a Sikh liberates himself from all superstitions by placing his complete and To promote Sikh
firm faith in the One All-pervading God. heritage.
syvk syv krih siB qyrI ijn sbdY swdu AwieAw ] (599-15, soriT, mÚ 3) iehu mnUAw dh idis Dwvdw dUjY Bwie KuAwieAw](599-19, soriT, mÚ
sayvak sayv karahi sabh tayree jin sabdai saad aa-i-aa. 3)
All of Your servants, who relish the Word of Your Shabad, ih manoo-aa dah dis Dhaavdaa doojai bhaa-ay khu-aa-i-aa.
serve You. This mind wanders in the ten directions; it is consumed by
the love of duality.
gur ikrpw qy inrmlu hoAw ijin ivchu Awpu gvwieAw](599-15, soriT, mÚ 3)
gur kirpaa tay nirmal ho-aa jin vichahu aap gavaa-i-aa. mnmuK mugDu hir nwmu n cyqY ibrQw jnmu gvwieAw](600-1,soriT, mÚ
By Guru's Grace, they become pure, eradicating selfconceit 3)
from within. manmukh mugaDh har naam na chaytai birthaa janam
gavaa-i-aa.
Anidnu gux gwvih inq swcy gur kY sbid suhwieAw ]1](599-16,soriT, mÚ3) The foolish self-willed manmukh does not remember the
an-din gun gaavahi nit saachay gur kai sabad suhaa-i-aa. ||1|| Lord's Name; he wastes away his life in vain.
Night and day, they continually sing the Glorious Praises of
the True Lord; they are adorned with the Word of the Guru's siqguru Byty qw nwau pwey haumY mohu cukwieAw ]3] (600-1, soriT, mÚ
Shabad. ||1|| 3)
myry Twkur hm bwirk srix qumwrI ] (599-16, soriT, mÚ 3) satgur bhaytay taa naa-o paa-ay ha-umai moh chukaa-i-
aa.||3||
mayray thaakur ham baarik saran tumaaree. But when he meets the True Guru, then he obtains the
O my Lord and Master, I am Your child; I seek Your Name; he sheds egotism and emotional attachment. ||3||
Sanctuary.
hir jn swcy swcu kmwvih gur kY sbid vIcwrI ] (600-2, soriT, mÚ
eyko scw scu qU kyvlu Awip murwrI ] rhwau ] (599-17, soriT, mÚ 3)
3)
ayko sachaa sach too kayval aap muraaree. rahaa-o.
You are the One and Only Lord, the Truest of the True; You har jan saachay saach kamaaveh gur kai sabad
Yourself are the Destroyer of ego. ||Pause|| veechaaree.
The Lord's humble servants are True - they practice Truth,
jwgq rhy iqnI pRBu pwieAw sbdy haumY mwrI ] (599-17, soriT, mÚ 3) and reflect upon the Word of the Guru's Shabad.
jaagat rahay tinee parabh paa-i-aa sabday ha-umai Awpy myil ley pRiB swcY swcu riKAw aur DwrI ] (600-2, soriT, mÚ 3)
maaree.
Those who remain wakeful obtain God; through the Word of aapay mayl la-ay parabh saachai saach rakhi-aa ur
the Shabad, they conquer their ego. Dhaaree.
The True Lord God unites them with Himself, and they
igrhI mih sdw hir jn audwsI igAwn qq bIcwrI ] (599-18, soriT, mÚ 3) keep
the True Lord enshrined in their hearts.
girhee meh sadaa har jan udaasee gi-aan tat beechaaree.
Immersed in family life, the Lord's humble servant ever nwnk nwvhu giq miq pweI eyhw rwis hmwrI ]4]1](600-3,
remains detached; he reflects upon the essence of spiritual
soriT,mÚ3)
wisdom.
naanak naavhu gat mat paa-ee ayhaa raas
hamaaree.||4||1||
O Nanak, through the Name, I have obtained salvation and
understanding; this alone is my wealth. ||4||1||
Page 3 Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights
An APPEAL to all
Be Part of our dream of fulfillment….
Let us fulfill our dreams and aspirations by donating generously…
Cheques should be made payable to ― Central Sikh Gurdwara Board‖ and posted to 9, Jalan
Bukit Merah, Singapore 169543.
Note: Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Committee members have pledged $235,000, of which
$95,000 has been paid.
Page 5 Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights
New Members
Central Sikh Gurdwara Board welcomes the following new members
1. Basant Singh s/o Makand Singh 15. Arvinderjit Kaur 29. Rajinder Singh
2. Gurpreet Singh 16. Raghbir Kaur 30. Hardeep Singh
3. Surjit Singh s/o Wazir Singh 17. Surinder Kaur 31. Kuldip Singh
4. Balwinder Kaur 18. Shireen Kaur 32. Jasbir Singh Minhas
5. Gurmeet Singh Randhawa 19. Ude Singh 33. Harpal Kaur
6. Amarjeet Kaur Grewal 20. Jasbir Singh 34. Harpal Singh
7. Satwinder Kaur 21. Jasjeet Singh Puarr 35. Jasmeet Kaur Puarr
8. Jagat Singh 22. Raspal Kaur Melhi 36. Kalbir Singh
9. Karamjit Singh s/o Gurnam Singh 23. Surinder Kaur 37. Rajpal Singh
10. Dilenjit Singh 24. Tarinder Singh 38. Nirmaljit Kaur
11. Gurpreet Kaur 25. Satvinder Singh 39. Mrs. Satvinder Singh
12. Satinderpal Singh 26. Chamanpreet Kaur 40. Mrs.Bhajan Kour
13. Davinder Singh 27. Sherinder Kaur
14. Amritpal Singh Randhawa 28. Kushwant Singh
We welcome and requests all members of our community to join us, participate and
contribute in all our activities.
Page 7 Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights
On 19 Feb 10, the Gurmat Sangeet Academy performed in an Inter-Faith musical sharing session, jointly hosted by
the Christian community and the Explorations into Faith (EiF) inter-faith group at the Church of St Mary of the
Angels. The performance by the Gurmat Sangeet Academy began with an introduction of Sikh religion, Kirtan of
traditional musical instruments. It was an enriching and memorable experience for all the non Sikh by students.
NOTE:
Admission is by invitation. Limited invitations available from Sikh Centre.
Mighty Khalsa
4,18 Apr & 2,16,30 May Book of the Month
Sunday, 10:30am to 12:00pm
I ACCUSE
Sikhi for Toddlers The Anti –Sikh Violence of 1984
3,17Apr & 1,15,29 May By JARNAIL SINGH
Saturday, 10am to 11am
I Accuse is a powerful and passionate indictment of
Punjabi K1 & K2 Tuition
the state‘s response to the killings of 1984. It ex-
Sunday, 4.pm to 5pm,
plores the chain events, the survivors‘ stories and the
8 Sessions continuing shadow it casts over their lives. Because,
Creative Writing P1, P2,P3, finally, 1984 was not an attack on the one community
P4,P5 & P6 alone; it was not an attack on the idea at the very
English, Math's & Science core of democracy- that every citizen, irrespective of
Sunday, 12.30pm to 3.30pm faith and community, has a right to life, liberty and
8 Session security.