Sikh practices () are simple and practical guidelines laid out by the

Guru Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan- Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential ...

s for the practice of the "Sikh way of life". The Gurus emphasise that a Sikh should lead a disciplined life engaged in Naam Simran, meditation on God's name,

Kirat Karo Kirat Karō (Gurmukhi: ਕਿਰਤ ਕਰੋ) is one of the three pillars of Sikhism, the others being Naam Japo and Vaṇḍ chakkō. The term means to earn an honest, pure and dedicated living by exercising one's God-given skills, abilities, ...

, living an honest life of a house-holder, and Vand Chaako, sharing what one has with the community. This translates into hard work, honest living, love of fellow humans and through them service of the God, the primal power. This way of life is said to have been stripped of complications, myths, jargon, rituals and exploitation of man by man in the name of religion. No benefits are gained by where and to which family the person is born to – All have to undertake the rigours of Simran (meditation) and

Sevā ''Sevā'' (also transcribed as ''sewa''), in Hinduism and Sikhism, is the concept of selfless service that is performed without any expectation of result or award for performing it. Such services can be performed to benefit other human bei ...

(selfless service) to progress spiritually. The

Guru Granth Sahib The Guru Granth Sahib ( pa, ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ, ) is the central holy religious scripture of Sikhism, regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign and Guru Maneyo Granth, eternal Guru following the lineage of the Sikh gur ...

asks the Sikh to "Practice truth, contentment and kindness.

Disciplined life

The Sikh is required to undertake the following observances: # Wake up very early in the morning. # Bathing and cleansing of the body should be performed. # Cleanse the mind by meditating on God. # Engage in family life and address your responsibilities within the family. # Attend to a work or study routine and earn a living by earnest means. # Undertake to help the less well off with monetary and/or physical help. # Exercise your responsibilities to the community and take active part in the maintenance and safeguard of the community.

Personal regulations

Many of the personal practices of Sikhism were described in the first section of the 1950 pamphlet '' Sikh Rehat Maryada''. # Wear the 5Ks ## Kesh – long and uncut hair and a

turban A turban (from Persian دولبند‌, ''dulband''; via Middle French ''turbant'') is a type of headwear based on cloth winding. Featuring many variations, it is worn as customary headwear by people of various cultures. Communities with promin ...

to protect the hair on the head. ## Kanga – small comb to be used twice daily to keep the hair in clean and healthy condition. ##

Kacchera Kachera ( pa, ਕਛੈਰਾ) are an undergarment for the lower body that is specially tailored for shalwar with a tie-knot ''naala'' or '' naada '' ( drawstring) worn by fully initiated Sikhs. They are similar to European boxer shorts in ap ...

– worn in the form of shorts to exercise self-control. ## Kara – a steel slave bangle on the dominant arm to remind the Sikh to always remember the Guru before undertaking any action. ##

Kirpan The kirpan is a curved, single-edged dagger or knife carried by Sikhs. Traditionally, it was a full-sized sword but modern Sikhs have reduced the length to that of a dagger or knife due to modern considerations based on societal and legal chang ...

– a short, often

dagger A dagger is a fighting knife with a very sharp point and usually two sharp edges, typically designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon.State v. Martin, 633 S.W.2d 80 (Mo. 1982): This is the dictionary or popular-use def ...

-sized

sword A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed ti ...

to remind the Sikh that he is to defend against repression of the weak. # Meditate by reciting his

Gurbani Gurbani ( pa, ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ) is a Sikh term, very commonly used by Sikhs to refer to various compositions by the Sikh Gurus and other writers of Guru Granth Sahib. In general, hymns in the central text of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahi ...

and by singing his

Kirtan Kirtana ( sa, कीर्तन; ), also rendered as Kirtan, is a Sanskrit word that means "narrating, reciting, telling, describing" of an idea or story, specifically in Indian religions. It also refers to a genre of religious performance art ...

(musical hymns). # Wash your mind clean with Sevā, selfless service to the community, by doing manual work at the Gurdwara such as cleaning the dishes, washing the floors, painting the walls, working in community centres, in old peoples homes, etc. # Practice truth at all times: To live by the Gurus instruction to practice Truth. # Be kind and merciful to others: Kindness is a virtue that the Sikh have been asked to exercise at all times. The Gurus have shown on many occasions how to practise and live a life of kindness and mercy. # Become a Gurmukh (a guru-oriented person) by doing good deeds. The Sikh Gurus repeatedly ask the dedicated Sikh to always do good deeds as shown by verses from the

Community practices

# Organise Gurdwaras: As a community Sikhs set up local places of worship called Gurdwara. Services are held in the morning and evening including: ## Asa-di-war kirtan ## Sukhmani sahib paath ## Akhand Paath ## Ardas and Hukamnama ## Kirtan programs ## Naming Ceremony ## Marriage Ceremony ## Antam Sanskar ## Amrit Sanskar

References

External links

Sikh Practice and History Web SiteProfessor Gurbax Singh Dhillon - Rehat Maryada

{{Sikhism