Essay Sikh Teaching on Wealth and Poverty

The Indians and English’s definition of wealth often differed due to the way their respective societies functioned. While both groups understood the concept of wealth, their definitions were far from the same. For Indians, wealth is not defined by the property that one possesses or the amount of money in a bank account. Rather, their definition of wealth has a greater dependence on a social power than financial success. This definition was derived by the way they functioned within their society. The lifestyle they led was that of a mobile one. This lifestyle did not support the owning of multiple goods because of the burden it placed on traveling (Cronon 53). As a result, they typically only own goods that would benefit them in some aspect of life, such as tools for farming or hunting, or they would dispose of their belongings was deemed useless (Cronon, 61). The English, on the other hand, viewed wealth as less of a social aspect and more of a financial

No one universally accepted definition of poverty exists because it is a complex and multifaceted phenomena. Poverty is borne out of economic factors that include a lack of access to secure employment, insufficient income, and a lack of assets, especially that of real-estate.

charitable establishment had that idea in their beliefs system. It is distinctively motivating to see

In the article the author states, “Our guide’s chorus was, Man, woman, color, caste, community, meaning you would be fed here regardless of how you fit into any of those classifications” (Rich). This quote exhibits that the free langar is needed everywhere because it allows people from different races to be together which doesn’t usually happen in the real world. In addiation, in the article “Inside the World’s Largest Free Kitchen” by Nadim Roberts and Rutwij Devashrayee reveals an insight of Golden Temple in Amritsar, India. In the article the author claims that, “According to Singh, the writings if the gurus speak explicity about the problem of caste… (Roberts &Devashrayee)” meaning that the Gurus meaning god created free langar for a purpose. The purpose was to eliminate the problem of the caste system and create a platform where people sit together enjoy the same food no matter what work they do, whether they are rich or poor. Instead people eat the food at the temple as a blessings where others eat as there only source of food. In the article the author highlights, “Even today, there is a large population of improvised people who stay outside of the Golden Temple and rely on it is as their source of food (Roberts & Devashrayee)” explaining that the free langar is needed for the large population of the Golden temple one of the biggest temples in India that sets a true example of what they Sikh tradition really consist of. The large population of India which includes a large number of people who can’t afford housing and food can rely on the Golden

paid guru dakshina according to individual volition which could be land, animals, grains, clothes or money.

In Sikhism, ethics and religion go together. The inculcation of moral qualities and the practice of virtue in everyday life is a vital step towards spiritual development. Qualities like honesty, compassion, generosity, patience, humility etc. can be built up only by diligence and perseverance. Sikh Gurus showed how to live a family and social and still be close to God. Their lifestyle serves as an example to all Sikhs.

What were three concepts in the article that struck you? Discuss each concept and why it was impactful to you.

This constant giving and taking insures resources are spread through-out the village. It also binds the community together through moral obligation to those who help each other. This mentality caries on past local neighbourhoods and into the entire society, men who help other men to build their house will expect both food and the favour in return, clans who give a young woman as a wife to another will receive feasts and gifts for the children she bears. With the introduction of money into this culture relations became more complicated but the root of the system remains the same. Young people who go off to work and make money bring back gifts of clothes and other amenities when they visit home for the entire village. They could also host family members at their city houses for months at a time. In this culture the greatest threats are those who refuse to participate out of greed, these selfish people are a threat to the community and would be considered dead to even their own

The Upanishads, a main Hinduism concept, teaches a way of thinking and living that is righteous and moral, but just like every religion concept it also leads to some follower’s social outlook to become prejudice and harsh. First, I am going to show how the Upanishads helps people become more moral by showing how one has to give up their selfishness and desires to become a part one with everything else. Then I am going to convey how it can hurt a person’s social outlook if used to create a hierarchy. Lastly I am going to show how the Upanishads and other religions can help the world move toward a better future.

Unlike many people he treated business as a game and did not stress over his failures and did not praise his success. As a result, Siddhartha was able to go from “rags to riches.” Over time however, Hesse writes, “Gradually, along with his growing riches, Siddhartha himself acquired some of the characteristics of the ordinary people, some of their childishness and some of their anxiety” (77). Though Siddhartha envied them for the one thing he lacked, the sense of importance with which they lived their lives.

Within the Brahmanic Hindu culture, wealth and poverty is seen in a tremendously broad view, with many aspects that play a role in whether it is seen with a negative connotation or not. This is mainly due to social roles that have been active within the civilization for thousands of years. These views affect everyday life in the Brahmanic Hindu culture and determines social interactions within this Hindu society. To first understand where and why their ideologies and caste system stems from, one must first take a look into 4 vital aspects- The Hindu culture, mainly the caste system, as well as a Brahmans purpose within their culture, the Hindu religion, and Hindu Gods. These 4 parallel components will allow for a more advance comprehension

A few years later, those words uttered by the priest as well as the wisdom my grandparents shared while reading the Vedic scriptures, began to make sense. The central idea I gleaned from both these sources was “Seva”–service unto others. Growing up, I watched my maternal grandfather employ an impoverished elderly mother and her daughter from the nearby village even though he did not have a job himself, and my paternal grandmother support

Sikhism, a religion that is one of the youngest out of all the indigenous religions there is right now in South Asia. Has a “fundamental message that relates to the ideal of achieving spiritual liberation within a person’s lifetime through mediation on the divine name” (Pechilis 223). The actions of dignity, family and responsibility are the main importance among the religion of Sikhism. Due to that these actions join you to all the members of the religion and help you in living a better life in this material world. In where according to the Sikh followers one day you will achieve spiritual liberation if all these actions are met. In order to understand and have a more clear view of this religion you have to, as the reader look at the dharmic

Several Islamic guidelines instruct Muslims to give their wealth to those who don’t have wealth themselves. The most evident teaching is the third Pillar of Islam or Zakat. Zakat teaches that well off Muslims must pay a welfare contribution for the needy. It is paid once a year based on a person’s cash savings, gold, silver and jewellery. Zakat often takes the form of a tax collected by a government but in the eyes of the contributor it is not simply a tax to pay but holds spiritual significance in that through paying Zakat Muslims try to gain Allah’s favour. Zakat is clearly an ethical guideline that teaches Muslims to help the poor and needy.

“Mrs Dobie, in my heart I am a very rich man. My measly mere possessions are nothing more than a means to an end.” Replied Gandhi,