Field visit: The one and only Sikh Temple in Hong Kong
Date: Oct 11 (Fri), 2019
Time: 7.00 p.m.-9.30 p.m.
Address: 371 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island
Time: 7.00 p.m.-9.30 p.m.
Address: 371 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island
Programme
7.00 p.m.-7.15 p.m. Welcome speech by Mr. Gurmel Singh
7.15 p.m. - 8.00 p.m. Dinner in the free community kitchen "Langar"
8.00 p.m. - 8.30 p.m. Prayer session and temple tour
8.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. Presentation on the history and teachings of the Sikh religion
9.00 p.m. - 9.30 p.m. Q&A session
Guidelines for visitors
1. You should wear trousers that cover up your legs so that you can find yourself more comfortable while sitting in the prayer hall and in the free community kitchen "Langar" on the ground floor.
2. Do not bring cigarettes or other intoxicants.
3. All visitors should cover their heads with scarf. Take off your hat or cap. You can use your own scarf or the scarf provided by the temple.
7.00 p.m.-7.15 p.m. Welcome speech by Mr. Gurmel Singh
7.15 p.m. - 8.00 p.m. Dinner in the free community kitchen "Langar"
8.00 p.m. - 8.30 p.m. Prayer session and temple tour
8.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. Presentation on the history and teachings of the Sikh religion
9.00 p.m. - 9.30 p.m. Q&A session
Guidelines for visitors
1. You should wear trousers that cover up your legs so that you can find yourself more comfortable while sitting in the prayer hall and in the free community kitchen "Langar" on the ground floor.
2. Do not bring cigarettes or other intoxicants.
3. All visitors should cover their heads with scarf. Take off your hat or cap. You can use your own scarf or the scarf provided by the temple.
An introduction
Sikhism can be known as a religion founded and consolidated by its Ten Gurus throughout the fifteenth and sixteenth century in the rural area of Punjab, India. Guru Nanak born in 1469 is the first Guru who established the Panth (which means “path”) and travelled a considerable distance to spread the faith—eastward to Assam, southward to Sri Lanka, northward to Kashmir, and westward to the Muslim holy cities Mecca and Medina. The third Guru, Amar Das, consolidated the rituals and organization of the group. Gurur Ram Das and Gurur Arjan further compiled the sacred hyms and formed a rudimentary structure of preachers within the Panth. The Sixth Guru, Hargobind shifted the direction of the Panth towards military and the Sikh at that time were armed up to protect themselves in the hostile land ruled by the Mughal people. The Last Guru, Gobind Singh, at the end of seventeenth century established the religious order “Khalsa” which enjoined clearer disciplines and rules.[1]
The Ten Gurus of Sikhism (photo retrieved from http://sikhi.wikia.com/)
How do the Sikh define themselves? They write, “Sikhism is a practical religion—a faith of hope and optimism. Its ideals form a large part of the more progressive elements in humanity today. It shows mankind how to lead a worthy and useful life in the World, which elevates it to the status of Universal World Faith.” The Sikh religion is monotheistic and the followers believe in One Supreme God (Waheguru) who is absolute, all-pervading, eternal, the Creator. [2] For a brief introduction, please watch "Minute Faith: Sikhism" below.
YouTube - Minute Faith: Sikhism (2016) produced by Spiritual Science Central
The distinctive features—the Five Ks
A Sikh can be readily identified with the five features--Kesh (long and unshorn hair), Kangha (a comb), Kara (a steel bracelet), Katchera (a pair of shorts), and Kirpan (a short sword). Kesh, long and unshorn hair, is a symbol of saintliness which implies a living in harmony with the will of God, since hair is part of the nature of human body determined by God. Kangha, often embedded in a Sikh’s hair under the turban, is the comb that keeps one hair clean and tidy. Katchera, a pair of simple white shorts, is a symbol of chastity. Kara, a steel bracelet reminds one of restraint, gentility, brotherhood, and unity. And finally Kirpan, a special short sword, is an emblem of courage and adventure and can be used for self-defense.[3] For more information, please read "The 5 Ks (Kakars) Of Sikhism" on All About Sikhism website at: www.allaboutsikhism.com/5-ks-of-sikhism/
The five Ks of the Sikh (photo retrieved from https://www.allaboutsikhism.com)
The Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab
The Golden Temple Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar, Punjab, is a symbol of lofty spiritual and historical tradition of Sikhism. The Sikh wrote, “It is a source of inspiration for all Sikhs and their chief place of pilgrimage.” The Temple has entrances and doors on all the four sides which means that it is open to all the four castes in India. Since its initiation in 1604, the Golden Temple has always been a rallying point for Sikhism throughout its history as some of the hostiles rulers had damaged and humiliated the sacred place from time to time. And eventually, the Golden Temple was liberated by the Sikh by means of military force.[4] For more information, please watch the documentary "The Golden Temple" (2011).
YouTube video: The Golden Temple (2011) by Pulse Media Production:
The teachings of Sikhism
The teachings of Sikhism are summed up on Sikhs.org as follows:
Further added to the above, the Hong Kong Sikh community in one of their publication also laid out four layers of teaching to explain the way of life in Sikhism:[5]
- There is only One God. He is the same God for all people of all religions.
- The soul goes through cycles of births and deaths before it reaches the human form. The goal of our life is to lead an exemplary existence so that one may merge with God. Sikhs should remember God at all times and practice living a virtuous and truthful life while maintaining a balance between their spiritual obligations and temporal obligations.
- The true path to achieving salvation and merging with God does not require renunciation of the world or celibacy, but living the life of a householder, earning a honest living and avoiding worldly temptations and sins.
- Sikhism condemns blind rituals such as fasting, visiting places of pilgrimage, superstitions, worship of the dead, idol worship etc.
- Sikhism preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God. It teaches the full equality of men and women. Women can participate in any religious function or perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer.
Further added to the above, the Hong Kong Sikh community in one of their publication also laid out four layers of teaching to explain the way of life in Sikhism:[5]
- God's Name. A Sikh should meditate on the name of God (Waheguru) as it is the source of life for him. He keeps Waheguru’s Name in his heart while engaged in the day-to-day worldly pursuits.
- Fair Earning. A Sikh earns by all fair means and he neither exploits nor allows to be exploited. He proves his constructive and positive role for the society with his fair dealings.
- Service to Humanity. A Sikh shares 10% of his earning with the disadvantaged in the society. It is a tradition for Sikh to provide food and shelter to persons in need.
- Fight for Justice. A Sikh always lives by the Will of Waheguru and cherishes the welfare of the whole humanity while living a peaceful life. But if gross injustice is done and no other remedy is possible, it is the Dharma of the Sikh to fight directly and even sacrifice his life for the cause.
The Sikh community in Hong Kong
The Sikh Temple was built in 1901 by the early Sikh members in Hong Kong who served in the British Army Regiment. It was later rebuilt and enlarged in the 1930s to accommodate the growing community, but in the early 1940s during the war the Temple was bombed twice. And the website mentioned one miracle, “In one of the attacks, the then Gurudwara Granthi (priest), Bhai Nand Singh, sitting in the main hall reading the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy scripture), was fatally injured. However, the Guru Granth Sahib was not damaged.”
Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple in its early days (photo retrieved from http://www.khalsadiwan.com/)
The Sikh Temple, apart from performing its religious function, is now also a community center for their members and the neighborhood where you can find a library, kindergarten, free meal kitchen (Langar) and a courtyard where kids play football and hide-and-seek around. Hong Kong Tourism Board on its website introduces the Sikh in this way: “The Sikh community has been integral to Hong Kong’s development. Sikhs were some of the first police officers to keep the streets of the colonial city safe, and their business community played a role in the history-making transformation of a collection of meagre fishing villages into the cosmopolitan metropolis you see today.” If you want to know more about the Sikh in today's Hong Kong, please watch the documentary film "Sikhs in Hong Kong" sponsored by the Sikh community below.
YouTube video: Sikhism in Hong Kong--a documentary film (2016)
In the visit, we will have the chance to enjoy lunch prepared by our host in their “Langar” where free meal is provided to all people. Their website explains that the free meal kitchen consists of two meanings: (i) to provide training to the Sikh in voluntary services and more importantly, (ii) to get rid of the distinction of high and low, touchable and untouchable from the Sikh’s mind. Please watch the clip below where you can see how the Sikh joyfully prepare meals in the Langar to celebrate “Guru Nanak Gurpurab.”
YouTube video: Guru Nanak Dev ji Gurpurab in Gurdwara Khalsa Diwan Hong Kong (2013)
[1] McLeod, Sikhism, 41, 52.
[2] Khalsa Diwan, Sikhism, 1,7.
[3] Khalsa Diwan, Sikhism, 12.
[4] Khalsa Diwan, Sikhism, 5.
[5] Khalsa Diwan, Sikhism, 21.
[2] Khalsa Diwan, Sikhism, 1,7.
[3] Khalsa Diwan, Sikhism, 12.
[4] Khalsa Diwan, Sikhism, 5.
[5] Khalsa Diwan, Sikhism, 21.
Suggested further reading
“Introduction to Sikhism” by Sikhs.org at https://www.sikhs.org/summary.htm
Online resource
Khalsa Diwan (Sikh Temple) Hong Kong website: http://www.khalsadiwan.com/
Sikhs.org website: https://www.sikhs.org/
All About Sikhism website: https://www.allaboutsikhism.com/
Sikhs.org website: https://www.sikhs.org/
All About Sikhism website: https://www.allaboutsikhism.com/
References
Khalsa Diwan (Sikh Temple) Hong Kong. Sikhism. Hong Kong: Khalsa Diwan (Sikh Temple) Hong Kong, 2003.
McLeod, Hew. Sikhism. London: Penguin Books, 1997.
McLeod, Hew. Sikhism. London: Penguin Books, 1997.