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Basics of Sikhi

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Basics of Sikhi is an education campaign which utilizes YouTube, printed material and social media to spread Guru’s wisdom. In addition, the team works to promote the Sikh faith by hiring speakers to teach at various religious and educational institutions across the world. Most of our work is on our YouTube channel. To view and follow our latest content, click the buttons below!

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Exploring Sikhi YouTube Channel

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You have 5 Methods to learn about Sikhi

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You have 5 Options to learn about Sikhi

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Check out the concise answers to frequently asked Sikhi questions

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What Kinds Of Sins Do We Have To Commit In Order To Pesh?
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There are four Bajjar Kurehits (Cardinal Sins/Conduct to refrain from) that indicate that you have broken your Amrit and they are as follows: sex outside of marriage, cutting your hair, eating Halal meat, and smoking or use of tobacco in any form. If you have done any of these things and you are Amritdhari (Initiated Sikh), then you have to go Pesh (Confess) in front of Panj Payare (Five beloved ones) and take Amrit again.

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Why Do We Light the Candles Outside the Gurdwara on Diwali?
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 Sikhs and Hindus both light candles on Diwali but Sikhs don’t celebrate Diwali. They celebrate Deepmala. There is nothing wrong with lighting candles if we know the intention behind it, so it is not a ritual. The Sikh word for that is Deepmala (row of lamps). Sikhs welcomed Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji with Deepmala upon their return to Amritsar from Gwalior after political emancipation of 52 kings. Sikhs put lights all over Amritsar as Guru Ji had come back because the Guru is the light. So, if we light a candle, we should remember to burn that light inside our heart as well. When lighting a candle, we're saying that we take Guru Ji’s Sikhiya (teachings), we are going to burn with Guru Ji’s light, and not burn with Kaljug (age of ignorance). So, the world can hopefully look at our actions and praise our Guru Sahib.

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Do Sikhs Celebrate Rakhri/Rakhi?
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Sikhs do not celebrate Rakhri. Rakhri is a small string tied around the brother’s wrist by his sister as a good omen, in return for which he promises to protect her. Sikh men and women both wear Kirpan (sword). So, Sikh women do not need a man to protect them. Rakhri is for Non-Shastardhari (unarmed) people and Khalsa (Collective of Initiated Sikhs) is Shastardhari (armed). Non-Shastardhari women are asking for protection from their brothers. Shastardhari woman doesn’t need protection from her brother. She has Guru Sahib Ji on her side as Guru Arjan Dev Ji states that 

ਗੁਰੁ ਮੇਰੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਦਾ ਹੈ ਨਾਲੇ ॥

My Guru is always with me, near at hand.

In the following Shabad, Guru Gobind Singh Ji says that the weapons are my Guru. 

ਅਸ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਨ ਖੰਡੋ ਖੜਗ ਤੁਪਕ ਤਬਰ ਅਰੁ ਤੀਰ ॥ ਸੈਫ ਸਰੋਹੀ ਸੈਹਥੀ ਯਹੈ ਹਮਾਰੈ ਪੀਰ ॥੩॥

As, Kripan (sword), Khanda, Khadag (sword), Tupak (gun), Tabar (hatched), Teer (arrow), Saif (sword), Sarohi and Saihathi, all these are our adorable seniors.3.

Thus, she has the Kirpan (sword) as her Guru by her side.

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Why should We Learn Punjabi?
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Learning Punjabi is not difficult. There is nothing in this world that is impossible if you truly want to do it. Those things don’t get done which you don’t want to do. If you really want to experience the sweetness and the bliss of Gurbani then you should learn Punjabi. There are words in Gurbani (Guru's teachings) that do not have comparative words in English. Comparatively, if there are 200 words in English then there are 1200 words in Punjabi. It is such a rich language. The issue is that we always think that what others have is better even though we may have the best ourselves. To be able to listen to deep Katha (discourse) and read old Steek (commentary) and gain a better understanding of what is being said in Gurbani, one must learn Punjabi.

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Who is the enemy of Sikhs?
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A Sikh should not hate anybody. So, we have no Vairee (enemy). But there are people who hate Sikhs, especially those who oppress people, since Sikhs have always stood up against oppression and tyranny. We only hate Paap (sin). If somebody hates us, it doesn’t bother us. When they start to do actions that are detrimental to other people, then that person is a Dushat (tyrant) and we have to stop them. If we can stop that person by using a non-violent method, then that is great. If we can’t then we can use some form of action to stop them. Once that person stops doing such actions then they are no longer someone that we have to worry about. It is only when they do such actions, then we need to engage with them to stop them. Once they stop doing their actions to harm others, a Sikh must forgive them and their past actions. Otherwise, we do not have any enemies. 

What Does Sikhi Say About Black Magic?
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Kala Elam (Black Magic) exists and Sikhi says that it is not good for you. If you were to focus upon black magic, then what you are saying is that Guru’s Shabad (Hymn) is not as powerful as black magic and that’s not true. By focusing on Guru’s Shabad, you get everything. Your spiritual life, family life, and career get sorted out. Not only Gurbani but other ancient texts state that there are four things that people look for which are Dharam (Righteousness), Arath (Wealth/Meaning), Kaam (Controlled Lust/Desires), and Mukti (Liberation). Sikhi will make sure that you get all these four things and your spirituality is also sorted out. All black magic that could attack you also bounces off. Gurbani states that Guru’s Shabad is my guardian, it defends me and protects me in every possible way. So, the black magic cannot touch you.

What Kinds Of Sins Do We Have To Commit In Order To Pesh?
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There are four Bajjar Kurehits (Cardinal Sins/Conduct to refrain from) that indicate that you have broken your Amrit and they are as follows: sex outside of marriage, cutting your hair, eating Halal meat, and smoking or use of tobacco in any form. If you have done any of these things and you are Amritdhari (Initiated Sikh), then you have to go Pesh (Confess) in front of Panj Payare (Five beloved ones) and take Amrit again.

Read More

Why Do We Light the Candles Outside the Gurdwara on Diwali?
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 Sikhs and Hindus both light candles on Diwali but Sikhs don’t celebrate Diwali. They celebrate Deepmala. There is nothing wrong with lighting candles if we know the intention behind it, so it is not a ritual. The Sikh word for that is Deepmala (row of lamps). Sikhs welcomed Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji with Deepmala upon their return to Amritsar from Gwalior after political emancipation of 52 kings. Sikhs put lights all over Amritsar as Guru Ji had come back because the Guru is the light. So, if we light a candle, we should remember to burn that light inside our heart as well. When lighting a candle, we're saying that we take Guru Ji’s Sikhiya (teachings), we are going to burn with Guru Ji’s light, and not burn with Kaljug (age of ignorance). So, the world can hopefully look at our actions and praise our Guru Sahib.

Read More

Do Sikhs Celebrate Rakhri/Rakhi?
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Sikhs do not celebrate Rakhri. Rakhri is a small string tied around the brother’s wrist by his sister as a good omen, in return for which he promises to protect her. Sikh men and women both wear Kirpan (sword). So, Sikh women do not need a man to protect them. Rakhri is for Non-Shastardhari (unarmed) people and Khalsa (Collective of Initiated Sikhs) is Shastardhari (armed). Non-Shastardhari women are asking for protection from their brothers. Shastardhari woman doesn’t need protection from her brother. She has Guru Sahib Ji on her side as Guru Arjan Dev Ji states that 

ਗੁਰੁ ਮੇਰੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਦਾ ਹੈ ਨਾਲੇ ॥

My Guru is always with me, near at hand.

In the following Shabad, Guru Gobind Singh Ji says that the weapons are my Guru. 

ਅਸ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਨ ਖੰਡੋ ਖੜਗ ਤੁਪਕ ਤਬਰ ਅਰੁ ਤੀਰ ॥ ਸੈਫ ਸਰੋਹੀ ਸੈਹਥੀ ਯਹੈ ਹਮਾਰੈ ਪੀਰ ॥੩॥

As, Kripan (sword), Khanda, Khadag (sword), Tupak (gun), Tabar (hatched), Teer (arrow), Saif (sword), Sarohi and Saihathi, all these are our adorable seniors.3.

Thus, she has the Kirpan (sword) as her Guru by her side.

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