Trip to THE GOLDEN TEMPLE

The Golden Temple is the Sikh house of worship located in Amritsar, and was originally known as Harmandar (the Temple of God).

Guru Nanek (1469-1539 A.D) was the founder of Sikhism. He believed the Ultimate Truth of spirituality is latent in every man, and it has to be brought out by "sincere, self-less, and life-long Sadhana (practice)." Sikhism is an inviting religion to all people because of the universal teachings of Guru Nanek. He did not believe in the caste system and emphasized the importance of a brotherhood between all men. As a friend to humanity, Nanek introduced the institution of "Langer" (Community Kitchen) to rise above casteism, which he claimed was an "artificial barrier between man and man." At the Golden Temple and other Sikh houses of worship, you will find rich and poor alike, Indian or Westerner, volunteering together to cook, clean, and share a meal with all common men.

The Harmander, or Golden Temple, has been preserved with tremendous sacrifice. Again and again Sikhs avenged their holy temple and often include their religious martyrs in regular prayers. They believe, "To die a coward is the greatest sin" and are known for their spirit of sacrifice.

I was personally touched by the spiritual dedication Sikhs have. Thousands of people stood in line for hours just to step inside their gold plated haven. Once inside it was like a religious mosh-pit and everyone was struggling for a spot to kneel in front of the priest to give and receive a blessing. Sikhs are also known for their constant hymning and meditation, and can be found deep in harmony at their temples 24 hours a day. When I woke up to catch a 5:00am train out of Amritsar, I could here the low rumble of light Sikh voices filling the city.