RS260 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Punjab, India, Designated Place, The Five Ks
Document Summary
Look at immigration and what stays the same or changes. How society influences religion and religion influences society. Where do they learn about their faith (i. e. through institution, family, etc. World"s fifth largest religion with approx 23 million followers. Origins in punjab, india in 15th century. Guru: an enlightened master who passes knowledge to a devotee; mediators of divine wisdom. 11 gurus who make the divine government each had their own purpose. First guru founded the religion challenged the caste system and challenged the concept of socially exiling oneself for the sake of faith: said, there is no hindu, there is no muslim. Nam-simran: discipline and meditation on the divine name/essence. Gurdwara: guru"s door ; designated place of worship. Final guru declares there is nothing left to say, and preserves the wisdom of all the gurus into a text, which is considered a living sacred being. Gurus use both male and female imagery to characterize the divine.
