Q. What is the definition of a Sikh?

One, who is embarked upon the search for truth, is a Sikh.

The fifth Master, Guru Arjan, says:

"Mai badhi sach Dharamsas hai, Gursikhan lainda bhaal ke".

("I have established the temple of truth. I search and assemble therein God's devotees".)

In this shabad (hymn) Guru Arjan Dev has defined the term 'Sikh' as the seeker of truth. Those who consider the term 'Sikh' to be based on the Sanskrit term 'Shishya', meaning student or disciple, seem to have altogether missed the real point. To be a disciple one needs a teacher. Thus begins the race of every disciple to adopt a teacher or a guru.

Only she/he is a Sikh who believes in and is committed to one Akaal Purakh (the Supreme Being), the ten Divine Masters (Guru Nanak through Guru Gobind Singh), the Shabad Guru (Guru Granth Sahib) and their collective teachings and does not believe in any other religion or doctrine.

According to Mahan Kosh by Bhai Kahan Singh, a Sikh is one who follows the path delineated by Guru Nanak; who accepts Guru Granth Sahib as his/her scripture and considers the ten Gurus as one.

The third Master, Guru Amar Das says:

"Aap chhod sada rahe parnay, Gur bin avar na janay koi,
kahay Nanak sunoh santoh, so Sikh sanmukh hoi".

("Listen God's devotees! Only that seeker abides in the Master's presence, who discards ego, leans on the preceptor and puts his trust in none else".)

Thus, a Sikh is not one who claims to have adopted someone as his/her guru. Rather, a Sikh is one who has accepted truth and truthful living as the foremost principle of life as taught by our great Gurus.

Dr. Hakam Singh of the Sikh Welfare Foundation of North America is in the process of translating Prof. Satbir Singh's Punjabi book "Sau Sawal", One Hundred Questions.