Autumn Seminar 2025
10am-12.30pm, Sunday 21 September 2025
Holiday Inn Express NORTHAMPTON – South, Loake Close Grange Park Northampton, NN4 5EZ
Papers:
‘Antim Sanskar and Beyond: The Sikh Understanding of Life, Death, and the Soul’s Journey‘, Jagdeep Kaur
This paper explores the Sikh philosophical and scriptural understanding of life and death, with a particular focus on death rituals and their evolving practices within the Sikh diaspora. Grounded in the principles of Hukam (divine will), detachment from the material world, and the soul’s journey toward liberation (Mukti), Sikhi offers a distinct perspective on mortality. While Sikh theology emphasises acceptance over grief, practical rituals such as Antim Sanskar (last rites) are integral to communal expression and spiritual closure. As Sikh communities have expanded globally due to political, economic, and social migration, death ceremonies have adapted to comply with local laws and cultural norms. This research analyses over 150 documents sourced from major UK Sikh organisations and charities, revealing a notable gap in accessible educational material — particularly in contrast to well-documented rites like Anand Karaj (marriage) and Antim Sankar (last rites).
‘The need for guided reading in Sikhi‘, Nihal Singh
This paper explores the value of guided reading groups as a means of fostering spiritual growth and community engagement within the Sikh community. Drawing from personal experience, learnings, conversations and ideas, it examines both the benefits of collective reflection on Sikh literature and the challenges of sustaining participation over time. Central to this discussion is the importance a Sikh should place upon the written word and the practice of vichar (contemplative study) as a discipline, both individually and in groups. In an era dominated by short-form, high-stimulation media, the sustained attention and deep engagement cultivated through structured communal reading offer a counterbalance, serving as a springboard for individuals’ spiritual development, transforming habits, improving concentration, and nurturing a reflective, Guru-centric mindset. The paper also explores a potential framework for maintaining engagement within such circles, while recognising that those who remain committed, even if few, are of lasting significance. By fostering accountability and a shared pursuit of understanding, these groups can lay vital foundations for those walking a path toward the Guru, encouraging participants to begin, or deepen, their convergence toward Gurbani as their primary source of literature, contemplation, and guidance.
