I Am A Sikh

I am a Sikh,

Because…

I do not believe in hatred,

because in my daily prayer,

I ask for the well-being of all humanity—“Sarbat da bhala.”

And my tradition

is to offer even an enemy water during war.

I do not accept dictatorship,

because my faith

upholds the democratic authority

of the Panj Pyare (Five Beloved Ones).

I oppose intellectual arrogance,

because even the Guru

believed in the principle of

Guru and disciple.

That’s why

he received initiation

from the very Panj Pyare he had chosen,

and even against his own will,

he bowed to their collective decision.

I reject casteism,

because I know

the Panj Pyare came from

marginalized and oppressed communities,

and my Guru

honored them as his own Guru.

I support human rights,

because Sikh history

is about making the ultimate sacrifice—

giving one’s head—

for the poor, the oppressed,

and the persecuted.

I stand for trust and faith in all,

because I know

that even after losing all four sons

and his entire family,

even after being deceived and betrayed,

the Tenth Guru

still urged Sikhs in prayer

to give trust and faith to all.

I strongly believe in humility,

because in our daily Ardas (prayer),

we ask for

Sikhs to have low egos and high thinking—

to be wise and grounded.

I do not fear righteous action,

because I was taught:

“Never fear to act justly,”

and also,

“With determination, claim your victory.”

I do not discriminate based on religion,

because the Guru Granth Sahib says:

“First, the Creator created light.

All beings are of that light.

From that one light, the whole world was born — so who is good, and who is bad?”