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| - The Sikh faith condemns empty rituals and superstitions . The practice of blind rituals, worshipping of idols and inanimate objects, participating in religious fasts, pilgrimage to holy places, offering of food to sadhus (religious leaders), believing in any other such rituals, superstitions or fads or other meaningless rituals will not bring one closer to God nor make one a better human being.
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| abstract
| - The Sikh faith condemns empty rituals and superstitions . The practice of blind rituals, worshipping of idols and inanimate objects, participating in religious fasts, pilgrimage to holy places, offering of food to sadhus (religious leaders), believing in any other such rituals, superstitions or fads or other meaningless rituals will not bring one closer to God nor make one a better human being. In all societies round the world, through fear and uncertainty, members undertake in ritualistic and worthless behaviour at times of worry, uncertainty or trouble. These poor people, wrongly believe that undertaking these empty customs and penances will bring them special assistance from Waheguru or some other higher power. The reliance on these blind customs appears to increase at time of stress in human existence. For example, In 1989, Susan Starr Sered conducted fieldwork among women who has just had a baby on the maternity ward of a Jerusalem hospital. The women who she interviewed reported having performed close to two hundred different religious and secular rituals during pregnancy, birth, and the immediate post-partum period. So, it is clear that ritualism has not faded but may be on the increase. Superstition is an irrational belief arising from ignorance or doubt. Many people all around the world are gripped by various superstitions and they live their lives in fear and uncertainty. Most of these fears are irrational and superfluous but they still cannot unbind themselves from these evil and false notions. Some common and well-known examples of superstitions are:
* "When a black cat crosses one's path, something will happen if one crosses the line where the cat passed. To "undo" either wait for someone who didn't know about the black cat to cross the path or think of another route."
* "If you wash your hair on the first day of the month you will have a short life."
* "13 in the western world is considered an unlucky number. This double-digit represents Judas , who was the guest at the Last Supper who betrayed Jesus . As a result it is also thought to be unlucky to have a dinner party with 13 guests. Many hotels are missing a thirteenth floor or have omitted the number from their room doors. Friday the 13th of any month is said to be an unlucky day." However, the Guru Granth Sahib says "The mind is diseased with doubt, superstition and duality."(SGGS p416) and also "High and low, social class and status - the world wanders lost in superstition." (SGGS p1243). Superstition is like a disease for the mind it brings confusion and fear and takes you away from reality.
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