SIKH/ ਸਿੱਖ

ABSTRACT

Sikh word has been used in Sabd Guru as student/pupil/teaching/or a tuft of hair or head -ਚੇਲਾ, ਵਿਦਆਰਥੀ, ਸ਼ਿਸ਼। ਸ਼ਿਸ਼/ਸਿੱਖ ਦੀ/ਦਾ/ਨੂੰ। ਸਿੱਖਿਆ। ਸਿੱਖ/ਸਮਝ! ਬੋਦੀ, ਚੋਟੀ, ਸਿਰ।

A Sikh is the student of truth who understands and lives the teachings contained in Sabd Guru (AGGS) in thought, word and spirit at each step of his/her daily life. One must take these teachings until these take you. IMHO to get birth in a Sikh family does not make one a Sikh. The mechanical recitation of Nit name (Daily recitation of the name of God) and other rituals performed daily etc without understanding are all superstitions without any spiritual benefit or ਖੇਪ.

Secular Sikhs rarely do anything without the help of Brahmans, who help them to be born, wed, die, help their souls to obtain a state of bliss.  Brahmans help them to be born, help them to wed, help them to die, and help their souls after death to obtain a state of bliss. And Brahmans, with all the deftness of Roman Catholic missionaries in Protestant countries, have partially succeeded in persuading the Sikhs to restore to their niches the images of Devi, the Queen of Heaven, and of the saints and gods of the ancient faith.

ਭੂਲੇ ਸਿਖ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਮਝਾਏ ॥

ਉਝੜਿ ਜਾਦੇ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਪਾਏ ॥

ਤਿਸੁ ਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਿ ਸਦਾ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤੀ ਦੁਖ ਭੰਜਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਖਾਤਾ ਹੇ ॥੧੩॥

Bẖūle sikẖ gurū samjẖā▫e. Ujẖaṛ jāḏe mārag pā▫e. Ŧis gur sev saḏā ḏin rāṯī ḏukẖ bẖanjan sang sakẖāṯā he. 

The Guru instructs His wandering Sikhs; if they go astray, He sets them on the right path. To serve the Guru, forever, day and night; He is the Destroyer of pain - He is with you as your companion.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Maru, AGGS, Page, 1032-1
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The dialects and languages of the Gurus are now largely forgotten. Gurus held that man might obtain eternal happiness without forsaking his worldly duties. It is the development of virtues which makes it devotional worship says Guru Nanak in his Japji;

ਸਭਿ ਗੁਣ ਤੇਰੇ ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥

ਵਿਣੁ ਗੁਣ ਕੀਤੇ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥

Sabẖ guṇ ṯere mai nāhī ko▫e. viṇ guṇ kīṯė bẖagaṯ na ho¬ė.

All virtues are Yours, God, I have none at all Without virtue, there is no devotional worship.-----Guru Nanak, Japji, AGGS, Page, 4-16

Guru Nanak further advises on good and bad acts as the basis for Divine justice in Raag Maru & Ramkali;

ਮੂੰਡੁ ਮੁਡਾਇ ਜਟਾ ਸਿਖ ਬਾਧੀ ਮੋਨਿ ਰਹੈ ਅਭਿਮਾਨਾ ॥

ਮਨੂਆ ਡੋਲੈ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਧਾਵੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਰਤ ਆਤਮ ਗਿਆਨਾ ॥

Mūnd mudā¬ė jatā sikẖ bāḏẖī mon rahai abẖimānā. Manū¬ā dolai ḏah ḏis ḏẖāvai bin raṯ āṯam gi¬ānā.

Some shave their heads, some keep their hair in matted tangles; others observing silence are yet full of pride. Without loving devotion and enlightenment of the self, their minds waver and wander in ten directions.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Maru, AGGS, Page, 1013-5

ਨਾਨਕੁ ਆਖੈ ਰੇ ਮਨਾ ਸੁਣੀਐ ਸਿਖ ਸਹੀ ॥

ਲੇਖਾ ਰਬੁ ਮੰਗੇਸੀਆ ਬੈਠਾ ਕਢਿ ਵਹੀ ॥

ਤਲਬਾ ਪਉਸਨਿ ਆਕੀਆ ਬਾਕੀ ਜਿਨਾ ਰਹੀ ॥

ਅਜਰਾਈਲੁ ਫਰੇਸਤਾ ਹੋਸੀ ਆਇ ਤਈ ॥

ਆਵਣੁ ਜਾਣੁ ਨ ਸੁਝਈ ਭੀੜੀ ਗਲੀ ਫਹੀ ॥

ਕੂੜ ਨਿਖੁਟੇ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਓੜਕਿ ਸਚਿ ਰਹੀ ॥੨॥

Nānak ākẖai rė manā suṇī¬ai sikẖ sahī. Lėkẖā rab mangėsī¬ā baiṯẖā kadẖ vahī. Ŧalbā pa▫usan ākī▫ā bākī jinā rahī.Ajrā▫īl faresṯā hosī ā▫e ṯa▫ī.Āvaṇ jāṇ na sujẖ▫ī bẖīṛī galī fahī.Kūṛ nikẖute nānkā oṛak sacẖ rahī. 

O mind, listen to the True Teachings, Says Nanak, that God will call you to account by opening the ledger. Those rebels who have unpaid accounts shall be called out. Azrael, the Angel of Death, shall be appointed to punish them. They will find no way to escape coming and going in reincarnation; they are trapped in the narrow path. Falsehood will come to an end, O Nanak, and Truth will prevail in the end. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 953-13

ਜੇ ਕੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੇਤੀ ਸਨਮੁਖੁ ਹੋਵੈ ॥
ਹੋਵੈ ਤ ਸਨਮੁਖੁ ਸਿਖੁ ਕੋਈ ਜੀਅਹੁ ਰਹੈ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਲੇ ॥
ਆਪੁ ਛਡਿ ਸਦਾ ਰਹੈ ਪਰਣੈ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ਕੋਏ ॥
ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਸੁਣਹੁ ਸੰਤਹੁ ਸੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਸਨਮੁਖੁ ਹੋਏ ॥
Kahai Nānak suṇhu sanṯahu so sikẖ sanmukẖ ho¬ė.Jė ko sikẖ gurū sėṯī sanmukẖ hovai. Hovai ṯa sanmukẖ sikẖ ko¬ī jī¬ahu rahai gur nālė. Āp cẖẖad saḏā rahai parṇai gur bin avar na jāṇai ko¬ė.

If a Sikh turns to the Guru with sincere faith, as Sunmukh - his soul abides with the Guru. Renouncing selfishness and conceit, he remains always on the side of the Guru; he does not know anyone except the Guru. Says Nanak, listen, O Saints: such a Sikh turns toward the Guru with sincere faith and becomes sunmukh.-----Guru Amar Das, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 919-18,19, and 920-21

ਗੁਰ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਜੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਅਖਾਏ ਸੁ ਭਲਕੇ ਉਠਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥
ਉਦਮੁ ਕਰੇ ਭਲਕੇ ਪਰਭਾਤੀ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ਕਰੇ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਸਰਿ ਨਾਵੈ ॥
ਉਪਦੇਸਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਪੁ ਜਾਪੈ ਸਭਿ ਕਿਲਵਿਖ ਪਾਪ ਦੋਖ ਲਹਿ ਜਾਵੈ ॥ 
ਫਿਰਿ ਚੜੈ ਦਿਵਸੁ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਗਾਵੈ ਬਹਦਿਆ ਉਠਦਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥
ਜੋ ਸਾਸਿ ਗਿਰਾਸਿ ਧਿਆਏ ਮੇਰਾ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਸੋ ਗੁਰਸਿਖੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਵੈ ॥
ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਦਇਆਲੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਮੇਰਾ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਤਿਸੁ ਗੁਰਸਿਖ ਗੁਰੂ ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ਸੁਣਾਵੈ ॥
ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਧੂੜਿ ਮੰਗੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਗੁਰਸਿਖ ਕੀ ਜੋ ਆਪਿ ਜਪੈ ਅਵਰਹ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਾਵੈ ॥

Gur saṯgur kā jo sikẖ akẖā­ė so bẖalkė uṯẖ har nām ḏẖi­āvai. Uḏam karė bẖalkė parbẖāṯī isnān karė amriṯ sar nāvai. Upḏės gurū har har jap jāpai sabẖ kilvikẖ pāp ḏokẖ leh jāvai. Fir cẖaṛai ḏivas gurbāṇī gāvai bahḏi­ā uṯẖ­ḏi­ā har nām ḏẖi­āvai. Jo sās girās ḏẖi­ā­ė mėrā har har so gursikẖ gurū man bẖāvai. Jis no ḏa­i­āl hovai mėrā su­āmī ṯis gursikẖ gurū upḏės suṇāvai. Jan Nānak ḏẖūṛ mangai ṯis gursikẖ kī jo āp japai avrah nām japāvai.

One who calls himself a Sikh of the True Guru, shall rise early in the morning hours and meditate on God's Name. Upon arising early in the morning, he is to bathe and cleanse himself in the pool of nectar. Following the Instructions of the Guru, he is to chant the Name of the Eternal God. All sins, misdeeds, and negativity shall be erased. Then, at the rising of the sun, he is to sing Gurbani; whether sitting down or standing up, he is to meditate on the Name. One who meditates on my Eternal God, with every breath and every morsel of food - that Gur Sikh becomes pleasing to Guru's Mind. That person, unto whom my God and Master are kind and compassionate - upon that Gur Sikh, the Guru's Teachings are bestowed. Servant Nanak begs for the dust of the feet of that Gur Sikh, who himself chants the Naam, and inspires others to chant it.-----Guru Ram Das, Gauri Ki Vaar, AGGS, Page, 305

ਗੁਰੂ ਸਿਖੁ ਸਿਖੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਏਕੋ ਗੁਰ ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ਚਲਾਏ ॥
ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਮੰਤੁ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਦੇਵੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਮਿਲਣੁ ਸੁਭਾਏ ॥੮॥

Gurū sikẖ sikẖ gurū hai eko gur upḏes cẖalā▫e. Rām nām manṯ hirḏai ḏevai Nānak milaṇ subẖā▫e.

The Guru's Sikh, and the Sikh's Guru, are one and the same; both spread the Guru's Teachings. The essence of the God's Name is enshrined within the heart, O Nanak, and we merge with God so easily.-----Guru Ram Das, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 444-8

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਖੀਆ ਸਿਖ ਗੁਰੂ ਮੇਲਾਈਆ ॥
ਇਕਿ ਸੇਵਕ ਗੁਰ ਪਾਸਿ ਇਕਿ ਗੁਰਿ ਕਾਰੈ ਲਾਈਆ ॥

Gurmukẖ sakẖī▫ā sikẖ gurū melā▫ī▫ā. Ik sevak gur pās ik gur kārai lā▫ī▫ā.

The Guru unites His Guru oriented Sikh, with God. The Guru keeps some of them with Himself, and engages others in His Service.-----Guru Ram Das, Raag Sorath, AGGS, Page, 648-3

ਤਿਨ ਕੇ ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਕਾਰਜ ਸਭਿ ਪਵਿਤੁ ਹਹਿ ਜੋ ਬੋਲਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਹਰਿ ਸਾਤੇ ॥
ਜਿਨ ਕੈ ਪੋਤੈ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਹੈ ਸੇ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਿਖ ਗੁਰੂ ਪਹਿ ਜਾਤੇ ॥੧੬॥

Ŧin ke karam ḏẖaram kāraj sabẖ paviṯ hėh jo bolėh har har rām nām har sāṯe. Jin kai poṯai punn hai se gurmukẖ sikẖ gurū pėh jāṯe.

All the rituals, practices, and deeds of their faith are sacred. Those Guru oriented Sikhs who utter the Name of the Eternal God, with purity as their treasure, go to their Guru.-----Guru Ram Das, Raag Sorath, AGGS, Page, 648-18

ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਮਹਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਰਖਾਈ ॥
ਗੁਰੁ ਤੁਠਾ ਸਿਖ ਦੇਵੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥

Har har gur meh bẖagaṯ rakẖā¬ī. Gur ṯuṯẖā sikẖ ḏėvai mėrė bẖā¬ī.

God has implanted Its devotional worship in the Guru. When the Guru is pleased, He bestows it upon His Sikh, O my siblings of Destiny.-----Guru Ram Das, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 367-12              

Conclusion:

He who believes in One creator, equality for all, with understanding and deliberation of the teachings contained in Sikh Scripture with a reflection on its teachings in daily life is a Sikh. The practice of the Sikh faith at present is quite different than what is contained in AGGS on the subject as illustrated above. Of course, Sikhs came out of Hindus and definitely did not drop from the sky as the selected ones, but by getting rid of internal filth and spiritual evolvement. Sikh Gurus simplified the faith in One Creator for all and advised to get rid of empty superstitious rituals. Sikh faith is no religion IMHO, it is a set of principles if followed honestly and truthfully will make an individual a better human believing in human equality and finding God in himself says Nanak in his Japji;

ਮਤਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਰਤਨ ਜਵਾਹਰ ਮਾਣਿਕ ਜੇ ਇਕ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸਿਖ ਸੁਣੀ ॥
ਗੁਰਾ ਇਕ ਦੇਹਿ ਬੁਝਾਈ ॥
ਸਭਨਾ ਜੀਆ ਕਾ ਇਕੁ ਦਾਤਾ ਸੋ ਮੈ ਵਿਸਰਿ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥੬॥

Maṯ vicẖ raṯan javāhar māṇik jė ik gur kī sikẖ suṇī. Gurā ik ḏehi bujẖā▫ī.Sabẖnā jī▫ā kā ik ḏāṯā so mai visar na jā▫ī. 

Within the mind are gems, jewels, and rubies, if you listen to the Guru's Teachings, even once.   The Guru has given me this one understanding: there is only the One, Giver of all souls. May I never forget It! ----Guru Nanak, Japji, AGGS, Page, 2-12