Q. What are the basic postulates of Gurmat (Sikh teachings)?

A. Broadly speaking, there are three basic postulates of Gurmat or Sikh teachings, viz., righteousness (dharma), poise and God's Name (Naam).

"Gurmat Dharam Dheeraj Har Nai"

To sing the praises of the Lord through His Word and thus attain to His Naam, to absorb oneself, with single-mindedness in the Supreme Being, and to adhere to the teachings of the Guru is the Sikh Religion. Howsoever-great a person may be, she/he must not be considered a Guru and thus should not be followed or meditated upon. Those Gurmukhs (Guruward Sikhs) who interpret and preach the Guru's Shabad based on Guru's own philosophy and thus explain the latent meanings of the Sikh way of life, should be respected. One should keep their company but not give ones soul to them.

"Gurmukh so kar dosti, Satgur so lai chitt"

"Develop friendship with a Guru-oriented person, but give yourself only to the true Guru". This is the edict given to us by the third Master, Guru Amar Das.

Thus the Sikh Religion is a way to raise the consciousness of the whole humanity through disciplined conduct in life.

Bhai Nand Lal, in his work, "Bandgi Naama", says: Religion is to keep the company of holy people (because that is where one learns disciplined conduct of life). One should live ones life according to the code of conduct delineated in the Rehat Naama, which says:
i) Believe only in one Supreme Being (Akal Purakh).
ii) Consider only the Guru's word as the key to liberation
iii) Consider the ten Gurus as one spirit (in ten bodies)
iv) Do not believe in caste discrimination, untouchability, sorcery, astrological predictions, meaningless rituals during the lifetime and after the death of an older member of your family, tonsure ceremony, sacred thread ceremony, worship of dead, building monuments for dead, frontal mark and idol worship.
v) Do not consider any place sacred other than Gurdwaras and places associated with the lives of the Gurus.
vi) Do not follow Brahmins or Muslim Pirs. Do not ask them for any boons before embarking on any project of significance. Do not give any promises in return for their blessings for the success of a chore.
vii) Do not believe in the Hindu of Muslim scriptures.

Those who believe the Guru's word to be true and follow it, attain high pedestal in life, as if they have become gold from burnt iron (a simile given by Bhai Gurdas). An ignorant person on following Guru's word truthfully attains divine knowledge and equipoise.

"Gurmatt miliay bees ikees"

By following Guru's word one achieves perfection and reaches the Supreme Being.

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.