SIKH
Journey of Life
Exploring the Sikh toolkit for life
Explore Sikh guidance on the purpose of life
Understanding the purpose of life
What is our origin? We might think of our biological, geographical or cultural origins. Or even just our material origin – the particles that make us materialise in the world. Since the human brain is considered the most complex object in the universe, this question about our origin is intriguing. With our remarkable human capacity, what is our purpose? It is to survive, to meet our basic needs, or to thrive and find happiness and fulfilment? Is it to attain material success, or pursue a selfless cause? We all think about our purpose differently. And what is our destination? Just as we were born, we all depart. Our life terminates and our physical body returns to the elements. But we live on through what we leave behind for others, be it our genes, ideas and contributions to the world.
The Sikh perspective on life's purpose
As we learn from the Mool Mantar, life’s purpose is to attune to our Creator (our origin). We arrive at our destination when we harmonise and become one with the Divine, in this life and beyond.
From our birth to our death, the mind, heart and spirit are on a journey together. Left unchecked, our mind can be overpowered by the ego. While it provides our sense of self, it can also fuel our selfish, uncaring vices. By nurturing the spirit, we grow in wisdom and virtue, lovingly conscious of our connection to Creator and creation.
Sikh life offers a toolkit for life’s greater journey, infusing our days with prayer, hard work, singing wisdom and serving others selflessly. By fostering benevolence and encouraging mental and emotional cleansing, such daily practices support our blossoming or parphulat in this world, as a womb for our spiritual growth.
Start of life
Pregnancy - from preparation to birth
In Sikh teaching, the presence of a growing baby in the womb is also the presence of a soul or spirit arriving into the world. Our nine or ten months in the womb is the initial, unseen stage of our life journey. Sikh verses inform us that, as we were suspended in tight confinement, it was our meditation on life’s Source that sustained us – a state of deep connection to the Divine.
Early years and childhood
An introduction to the world
Entering the world, with a fresh and profound capacity for learning, children observe, interpret, and learn patterns and reactions from people around them. By doing so they can take on the traits and values of the surrounding world. If we are receptive, we can enable them to express the latent qualities and virtues that stem from the Divine light within
Rites of passage
Transformations within life’s journey
In the passage through life, puberty is a time of transformation and gearchanges on life’s journey. Just as puberty is a turning point in our physical life journey, the Sikh initiation, or amrit sanchar, marks a new phase of growth on our spiritual journey.
Through initiation, Sikhs commit to live in a disciplined way, infusing everyday life with a spirit of prayer and service and being mindful of what they consume and how they relate to others.
Marriage
Embracing sacred responsibility
Because human bonds and families create the building blocks of society, Sikhs consider marriage to be an important endeavour, or karaj, for worldly and spiritual flourishing.
Valuing Elders
Intergenerational education
In Sikh history, grandmothers and grandfathers have been extremely important figures, fondly remembered for imparting great knowledge, wisdom and care, as well as hope, faith and resilience.
A Full Circle: Preparing for our departure
Remembering the purpose of life
The mystery of birth involves the mystery of how the physical elements that make us come together to miraculously generate new life. Similarly, upon death, these physical elements disintegrate. Sikh teaching describes the five elements that compose us. The first four are water, earth, fire, and air. For Sikhs, the fifth element is spirit – the life-enabling spark of the Divine. It is this spark that has travels on a longer journey before and after our present life.
In a poignant way, death reminds us that light was never ours to own and keep. It is this realisation that awakens deep gratitude to life’s Giver. In the end, we see our mind, body and any wealth we have as gifts and offer them to live a life of love and service to creation.
