The Khalsa is a religious order to which the majority of modern Sikhs belong. It was created by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th leader of the Sikh religion, in 1699 CE. Membership in the Khalsa is conferred by the Amrit baptismal ritual, and carries with it a number of special requirements. Among these is the serious practice of Sikh prayer and meditation.
The Khalsa
Members of the Khalsa order are expected to follow certain restrictions, such as keeping the hair long, carrying a comb and a sword and wearing a bracelet. Khalsa men are also expected to wear a turban. Khalsa men use the last name "Singh," and Khalsa women use the last name "Kaur." These are the most obvious visible symbols of the Sikh religion, but they actually apply only to members of the Khalsa order and not to all Sikhs. The most essential point of being a Khalsa is religious devotion, so prayer and meditation play a major role.
Sikh Meditation
Religiously devout Sikhs, such as members of the Khalsa, are expected to get up before sunrise to pray and meditate. Sikh meditation is based on prayer. Unlike Zen meditation, for example, which is based on emptying the mind of reflective thoughts, Sikh meditation is focused on the recitation of the divine name "Waheguru" and the hymns and scriptures of Sikhism. The name Waheguru praises God as the "destroyer of darkness," and the hymns used in Sikh meditation come from the Sikh scriptures or "Guru Granth Sahib."
The Guru Granth Sahib
Sikhs were originally led by a series of Gurus or spiritual masters, but from 1708 CE onward, members of the Khalsa have considered the Sikh scriptures to be their Guru instead of a human religious leader. That is why the Sikh scriptures are considered the "Guru" Granth Sahib. The Guru Granth Sahib is made up exclusively of hymns and poems of religious praise to be used in prayer and meditation. By reciting these hymns, members of the Khalsa seek to get closer to God.
Stages of Devotion
According to Khalsa Sikhs, there are four stages of spiritual development for a Sikh. The first stage is "Manmukh," which refers to a non-religious and materialistic person, a person without spirituality. The second stage is a "Sikh," a person who has accepted the Sikh religion without committing to the discipline of the Khalsa order. The third stage is a "Khalsa," a religiously devout Sikh. Through prayer, meditation and spiritual discipline, a Khalsa may become a "Gurmukh," a person whose life is completely focused on God.
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