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Summary of Question:	How Do Sikhs Differ From Hindus?
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Monday, 6/03/2002 3:32 PM MDT

Sat Siri Akal

I would like to ask you if you could give me a detailed answer for what is the difference between hindus and Sikhs. Also the Guru Granth Sahib refers to the hindu gods many times. However many people refer to these hindu gods as false idols. What is your view - do they exist or do they not???
Thank You

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Sat Siri Akal, ji.

Sometimes, the intellect gets trapped into too much analysis, when really we are talking about a very simple thing. For the Sikh, the Guru is the guide. Siri Guru Granth Sahib is a living teacher. By bowing to the Guru, meditating on Guru's words and obeying those words, a Sikh progresses along the path of spiritual awareness until, by Guru's grace, that Sikh becomes Jiwan Mukht-liberated while alive. There is nothing else for the Sikh but the Guru's instruction-because a Sikh knows that all that is needed for spiritual progress lies within Gurbani.

Guruji mentions many many different names of God. But His message is that all names refer to the same One Spirit and, in order to experience that One Spirit, follow Gurbani. To follow a god will not get you there. To follow a human being will not get you there. The Word of the Shabd will get you there.

The is the basic, fundamental difference between the Sikh and every other spiritual tradition. Guru teaches us that God is in every person and can be found in every temple. But each person has to commit to one particular path in order to find God and the Sikh path is absolutely unique and sovereign in its approach to spirituality. Sikhi respects other religions, but knows the value and beauty of its own path to God, as given by the Gurus.

I hope this answers your question.

Sincerely,

GPK