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Customs

Customs

Guru Gobind Singh started the Khalsa Panth in 1699, which is when the 5 Ks were made. The Guru brought them together for a few reasons:

  • By using these common symbols, members of the Khalsa could be found.
  • Because everyone in the Khalsa wears the 5 Ks, the community is tied together more strongly
  • Each K means something different.
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Ethics

Sikhism and having a baby

In Sikhism, abortion is generally not allowed because it gets in the way of God's creative work. God made everything and is in every living thing.

Most Sikhs agree that life starts when a person is conceived (one reference is found on page 74 of the Guru Granth Sahib).

So, if conception has happened, it would be a sin to kill the baby, so miscarriage or abortion can't be done on purpose.

Abortion is not in the Sikh code of conduct (or indeed many other bioethical issues).

Sikhs' moral ideas

The Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh Code of Conduct are where most Sikhs get their ideas about right and wrong (the Rehat Maryada).

Guidance is also given by the way the gurus live and by what the Sikh community has learned over the last 500 years.

These do not answer many ethical questions in detail. Instead, they lay out general principles and give Sikhs a way to answer those questions.

Euthanasia

Sikhs value life very much because they believe it is a gift from God. Most Sikhs are against euthanasia because they believe that God should decide when people are born and when they die.

So, if Sikhs are thinking about euthanasia for themselves or someone else, they should look at the big picture and know the difference between ending a life and making it last longer than it should.

Help other people

A lot of Sikh moral teaching is about helping people who are less fortunate than you.

This means that if someone is thinking about euthanasia, the Sikh response would be to give them such good care that euthanasia would no longer seem like a good idea.

Dharam Yudh - Just War

The Just War is an idea in Sikhism. It is called Dharam Yudh, which means "war for righteous defence."

In this kind of war, fighting must be the last option. All other ways of solving the problem must be tried first. The reason for fighting must not be revenge or hatred.

Mercenaries can't be in the army.

The army must be well-trained and only use the least amount of force necessary to win. No civilians should be hurt, and there should be no looting, annexation of territory, or theft of property.

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Sikhism and the Organ Donation

Organ donation and transplantation don't bother Sikhs in any way.

In Sikh philosophy and teachings, giving to others and putting them before yourself are very important.

In Sikh teachings, good deeds, giving without expecting anything in return, and making sacrifices are also emphasized. In the Sikh teachings, this is shown by how the ten Gurus lived their lives.

The Sikh religion says that saving a life is one of the best things you can do. Because of this, Sikhs are okay with organ donation after death.

Sikhs believe there is life after death and that people are born and die over and over again. But in this cycle, you don't need a physical body. A person's soul is eternal, but their body is just made of flesh and will die.

If a Sikh's organs can be used by someone else, this is a good thing.