ABSTRACT
Sikh theism is an ever-dynamic dialectic between an impersonal infinite Being, and a palpable experience of that One. Sikh scripture begins with Ikk Oan Kar-One Being Is ( ), and the entire 1,430-page text passionately embraces this absolute principle of Oneness. The numeral “1” (ikk) is a vivid expression of unity shared by humans across cultures. Oan (from aum) is the primal vocalic syllable of the Indian languages, expressing the totality of Being. Kar (meaning “is”) expresses the certainty of that Being, and its unclosed arc projects an opening towards infinite possibilities. Interestingly, Heidegger’s comment on “is” highlights the power of this tiny word for Sikh theism: “[is] speaks everywhere in our language and tells of Being even where it does not appear expressly” (Pattison 2011: 6). Since the singular Being is, ontological, epistemological, teleological or moral proofs for its existence occupy no place in Sikhism.
