ABSTRACT
This chapter concerns primarily with Sikh religious and philosophical thought. It presents an overview of Sikh beliefs, and examines the foundations of Sikhism in the life and teachings of its founder, Gur Nnak, and his successors. The chapter reviews the main religious and philosophical influences that shaped Gur Nnak's vision, and focuses on his ideas of God, human nature, and the way of salvation. Although most Sikhs live in India, there are Sikh communities around the world, notably in Australia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Canada, Britain, and the United States. There are about two million Sikhs in the United States and Canada, with almost half that many living in England. According to Sikhism, this attachment separates us from God, resulting in all forms of human suffering, including the seemingly endless round of deaths and re-births. The essential ideas of Sikhism are found in the teachings of Gur Nnak.
