people found a way to pass on their sacred memories

this new faith, Nanak spread messages of equality and

about the old days, but added the fresher memories of

peace, as well as opposition to all sorts of discriminatory

how their world had been turned upside down.

practices in the material world in his teaching. These

People my age grew up in a very different world from

teachings, along with the writings of later Gurus, or

that experienced by those elders. Many of us were in

teachers, are recorded in the Guru Granth Sahib, the

denial about who we were and what we wanted out of

sacred text of the Sikh faith.

life. We sought out a living from a family farm, making

Regarding discrimination based on appearance, the

baskets or getting a job in town. Our people still suffered

Guru Granth Sahib says:

from racism, bias, and oppression. There was not much

hope in the communities. Our political and human rights

Everyone says that there are four castes, four social

were still being denied by the federal and state

classes. They all emanate from the drop of God's

governments. Our lands were still under attack. We were

Seed. The entire universe is made of the same clay.

reliving the experience of our ancestors, but it was the

The Potter has shaped it into all sorts of vessels. The

twentieth century. Things did not change very much.

five elements join together, to make up the form of

The time has come to break the cycle of ignorance,

the human body. Who can say which is less, and

shame and oppression. Many Native American

which is more.

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communities have begun to heal themselves. Many good

people are working hard to reclaim the values of love,

First, Allah created the Light; then, by His Creative

sharing and respect. The spirit of the people is re emerging.

Power, He made all mortal beings. From the One

Everywhere I go, I can see a renewal taking place. You can

Light, the entire universe welled up. So who is

hear more Native American words of healing, comfort and

good, and who is bad? O people, O Siblings of

unity. You can hear more songs floating in the wind. People

Destiny, do not wander deluded by doubt. The

are dancing and celebrating life.

Creation is in the Creator, and the Creator is in the

I try to do all I can to keep the values, beliefs and way

Creation, totally pervading and permeating all

of life of my ancestors alive and thriving. I have traveled

places. The Clay is the same, but the Fashioner has

the world to spread the message of peace that we have

fashioned it in various ways. There is nothing wrong

inherited. I think it is profoundly important to continue

with the pot of clay. There is nothing wrong with

the good dialogue started by our people many centuries

the Potter. The One True Lord abides in all; by his

ago when we would meet and polish the covenant chain

making everything is made. Whoever follows His

of peace. We were really making relatives of each other.

Message knows the One Lord. He alone is said to

Some may call it treaty making, but it was really to make

be the Lord.

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sure that we saw each other as relatives, just as the

Original Instructions had told us.

These passages specifically condemn discrimination based

Yet, there is an important step yet to be taken. We have

on social caste, but there is also a general criticism of

focused much attention on ourselves. We need to expand

discrimination based on superficial characteristics in the

the circle of healing and begin a dialogue with other races,

language of  clay.  Sikhs believe we are all made of the

cultures and belief systems. We have to find ways to

same clay, fashioned by God. What else is racism but a

overcome our hurt feelings and anger at the  white man. 

superficial kind of discrimination based on trivial

We have racial and cultural prejudices that we need to

distinctions in human form?

overcome to be the kind of human being envisioned at

Sikhism opposes discrimination of all sorts, on the

the time of creation.

grounds that it is not for us very fallible human beings to

judge one another. Rather, we are fashioned in the image

SIKHISM

of the Creator. Therefore, all life is sacred. Fareed, the

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Creator is in the Creation and the Creation abides in God.

Whom can we call bad? There is none without Him.

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The Sikh faith strongly opposes discriminatory practices

Opposition to discrimination is deeply ingrained in the

such as racism wherever they might be found. Anti racist

Sikh way of life outside of the Guru Granth Sahib as well.

sentiment can be found in Sikh sacred texts, and it is also

Profound egalitarianism drives many of the social

an important aspect of Sikh daily life. Nanak founded

practices, such as the wearing of the Dastaar, or turban.

Sikhism in Northern India some 500 years ago, on

This was a practice specifically established by the tenth

reformist and egalitarian principles. In his propagation of

and final living Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, as part of his

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