Cultural Event: Sikhism in America

Chico state recently hosted a presentation on diversity around the world. The main focus of the presentation I attended was the Sikh Experience in America.  The primary presenter was a man named Dan Veidlinger who is a professor of Eastern Religions at Chico State University. 

The foundation of the presentation was the introduction of the Sikhism religion in America.  Sikhism can be defined as disciple to the Guru.  Around the world there is approximately a total of 25 million Sikhs.  In India the Sikh population makes up 1.5% of the population, mostly in the Punjab area.  There are two main cities that practice the Sikh religion, Lahone and Amisar, in Northern India. The Sikh religion was founded by Guru Nanak in 1499.  Nanak thought was to combine and simplify both Muslim and Hinduism religions.  Sikhism was created to unify both religions and their beliefs:

“There is one Supreme Being, the eternal reality.  He is the creator, without fear and devoid hatred.  He is immortal, never incarnated, self-existent, known by grace through the Guru.  The external one, from the beginning through all time presents now the everlasting reality.” 

There are ten main Gurus in the Sikh religion.  There sacred scriptures reside in the Gold Temple. The Sikhs believe in the Khalsa which means purity of the religion, there are four main symbols that represent the Khalsa such as, the Kara, Kes, Kirpan, Kaccha.  The Khalsa is the steel bracelet that most are supposed to wear.  The Kes can be defined as uncut hair.  Most of  the believes of the religion do not cut their hair.  The Kirpan is a small dagger that most Sikhs carry on their side to represent the defending their religion. The Kaccha are the short pants that are worn under their long dresses to represent honor.  All of the symbols of the Khalsa are tradition signs that are supposed to be done by believes, but most practice the religion without the Khalsa. 

At the end of the presentation, there was a Chico State student named, Raj Bir.  Raj was a follower of the Sikh relgion.  We had the opportunity at the end of the presentation to ask him questions about his feelings on the religion.  One of the questions asked by a person in the audience was, why he wasn’t representing the Khalsa?  He said that he believes that he doesn’t need to dress  as most do to represent his religion.  Raj said that he can practice his believes in his own way and simply focused on the community rather than its appearance.  Raj was dressed as any normal college student would dress, jeans, and a t-shirt. 

At the beginning of this presentation, I didn’t have an idea of what Sikhism was, but I am glad that I attended this presentation.  I learned so much about Sikhism in India, and about their beliefs.  It was very interesting to hear from a member of the religion as well, and to hear his opinion about his beliefs.  I found this presentation very interesting.