Sikh Philosophy: Exploring gurmat Concepts in a Decolonizing World

by Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair, Georgina Stewart (Series Editor), James Madaio (Series Editor)

Sikhism, one of the major spiritual-philosophical traditions of India, is often missing from discussions of cross-cultural philosophy. In this introduction, Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair, an internationally acknowledged expert in Sikh studies, provides the first rigorous engagement in the West with Sikh philosophy.

Sensitive both to the historical formation of Sikh thought, and to the decolonial context in which he writes, Mandair examines some of the key concepts of Sikh philosophy and how they inform its vision of life. He asks what Sikh philosophical concepts tell us about the nature of reality, the relationship between mind/self/ego, and whether it is possible to discern broad contours of a Sikh logic, epistemology and ontology. Additionally, the book looks at how these concepts address broader themes such as the body, health and well-being, creation and cosmology, death and rebirth, the nature of action and intention, bioethics and, a theme that undergirds every chapter, spirituality. Each chapter concludes with a set of bullet points highlighting the key concepts discussed, a set of questions for further discussion and teachings points to aid discussion.

Through this much-needed introduction we understand the place of Sikh Philosophy within modern Sikh studies and why the philosophical quest became marginalized in contemporary Sikh studies. Most importantly, we recognize the importance of looking beyond the well-trodden terrain of Hindu and Buddhist thinkers and involving Sikh philosophical thought in the emergent field of world philosophies.

Genres: Religion, Philosophy

256 pages, Paperback

Published August 11, 2022

Reviews

[Learner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I intended to write this review a few years ago, but my words are just as applicable now as they were then. This book is one of the most important recent works in Sikh Studies. It makes gurmat intelligible from the standpoint and for the paradigms of the Western world and Sikh diaspora, while resisting a common tendency to reduce Sikh thought to a fixed theological system. It is a unique work in that sense.

For many people, like myself, the Sikh framework/ Sikhi can feel incredibly inaccessible because of linguistic barriers, lack of or limited connection to the community or simply not knowing where to start. Mandair's work, in general, provides a valuable and accessible point of entry. It can be a dense read, but with proper time and consideration given to its words and message, there's something to learn for everyone. On a broader level, this book's grounding of gurmat through the lens of modern categories within philosophy and study of consciousness establishes Sikh thought as a serious and worthwhile framework amongst world philosophies.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in anything from theology and philosophy to personal exploration of spirituality and frameworks of understanding the self.

[Brian LePort · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enlightening introduction to the philosophical relevance of Sikh thought, specifically the teachings of the gurus, with regard to subjects from questions of personhood to modern ethics. Sing Mandair takes the cosmological teachings of Sikhi and, without creating a binary between cosmological and psychological, seems (IMO) to place emphasis on a psychological model of Sikhi.