Ethics (Sikhism)

Definition

Ethics deals with questions regarding how to base ones action in relation to others and often considers what is moral in a particular context. For Sikhs, the main source for developing ethics is the Guru Granth Sahib. The ethical core is based upon the distinction between an ego-centered individual (manmukh) versus a decentered individual (gurmukh). Thus, the typical understanding of ethics arising out of a focus on a self-willed being is resisted in Sikh thought through an antiethics or postethical discourse. This discourse arises out of the transformation from manmukh into gurmukh.

Sikh Ethics

For guidance on ethics and morals, Sikhs look into a number of scriptural, theological, and exegetical sources which include the Guru Granth Sahib, accepted portions of the Dasam Granth, the janamsakhi genre, the writings of Bhai Gurdas, the Rahitnamas, and the Sikh Rahit Maryada (SRM). [2, 3, 5, 7] The Hukamnamaswritten by the Sikh Gurus also provide evidence of the directives...