Sikhism

Spirituality

A Sikh's faith is intricately woven into numerous aspects of his or her everyday life. From morning routines, including prayers to meal-time limitations eliminating meat, the path Sikhs choose to lead in their daily lives encompasses the guidelines outlined through the Sikh faith. The Guru Granth Sahib is the Sikh holy scripture; a communal interpretation of this scripture led to the writing of the Rehat Meryada By Sikh leaders. The Rehat Meryada provides a detailed description of the parameters within which Sikhs are expected to lead their lives.

Spirituality for Sikhs is achieved through meditation, daily prayers, and singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib. Sikh meditation is performed in various forms. The most common form of meditation is a repetitious chant of a religious word or phrase with the intention of focusing on removal of external stimuli and thought. Meditation allows an individual to spiritually, emotionally, and physically center themselves. A direct benefit is that meditation can often help Sikhs in deciding on treatment options, courses of action, and other involved thought processes By allowing clarity of thought to channel beliefs and values. A human services provider must be aware and sensitive to a Sikh during meditation. By avoiding interruption, facilitating a quiet space, and avoiding external pressures, a human services provider can enhance cultural sensitivity.

Devout, practicing Sikhs pray three times a day. Though prayers are not required to be performed at specific times according to Sikh scriptures, a majority of Sikhs perform their prayers in the early morning after a cleansing bath, in the evening before their meal, and at nighttime before sleeping. However, a number of Sikh prayers can be performed at any point over the course of a day. These prayers are not necessarily part of a Sikh's regular prayer routine as delineated By the Rehat Meryada but are often performed in times of emotional, mental, or physical need such as during a crisis or a hospitalization. Because human services providers often intersect with the lives of individuals during these times of need, allowing Sikhs to pray in a comfortable, safe, and accepting way promotes cultural competency and sensitivity.

Sikh spirituality is also achieved through religious hymns, both listening to and singing hymns. These hymns are direct segments of the Guru Granth Sahib and are thus sung with respect and adoration. Musical instruments often accompany the recitation of hymns but are not required. Human services providers will more commonly come across Sikhs listening to hymns rather than singing hymns, but their purpose remains the same. As these hymns are direct recitations of segments of the Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhs take comfort in the guidance, peace, and support they provide. Similar to a human service provider's role during meditation and Sikh prayer, providing Sikhs with a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment in which they can practice their faith remains the most culturally competent and sensitive approach.

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