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Summary of Question:	What Is The True Way That I Should Define Who The Sikhs Are?
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Thursday, 7/03/2003 5:21 PM MDT

I am 17 years old and in the past five years, I have been questioned various times who I am. Obviously I tell them that I am a Sikh. But then the next question has always been What is that, reffering to who Sikhs are. I have answered that question in various ways. But I would like to provide an answer that can really inform the person what Sikhism really is and who the Sikhs are. Please don't get me wrong, but I do know a lot about my religion but I think that this is one of the most common questions and I would like to give them a true idea of Sikhism.

(REPLY) Sat Nam. Yes, there are various ways to answer this question. The simplest thing is to explain that Sikhs are "students of Truth" (derived from Sishya -- those students who followed Guru Nanak). We are people who believe in One God who created all creatures, and we respect the right of others to woship that One God however they choose. We do not try to convert anyone. Our living Guru is Word of God as embodied in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, the Shabd Guru. Our way of life is one of kindness, service, humility, courage and respect. We get up early in the morning to meditate and chant God's Name; we go to work and earn a living righteously, so that we can prosper and have enough to share with others. We dress distinctively so that we cannot hide our identity, and people will know to whom to come if they need help!