Sikh teaching roots equality and social justice in the oneness of the Divine. There is one God, present as the same divine light in every being, so no one can be considered inherently higher or lower on the basis of caste, creed, gender, race, or social status. To discriminate is, therefore, to deny this shared spiritual essence. This fundamental insight undercuts hereditary privilege and the brahmanical hierarchy, and it leads to a clear rejection of the caste system and its associated notions of ritual purity. Sikhs are encouraged to identify simply as “Sikh,” rather than by caste titles, and the community is called to see every person as equally capable of spiritual realization. From this perspective, devotion to God and concern for the welfare of all are inseparable.

This inner vision of equality is translated into concrete social practices. Langar, the community kitchen established and reinforced by the Gurus, offers free meals to all, regardless of background, with everyone sitting together—pangat—on the same level. In the gurdwara, the holy congregation (sangat) is open to all, and worship is shared collectively, breaking down social barriers. These institutions are not merely symbolic; they enact a daily dismantling of caste, class, and status distinctions. Feeding anyone in need becomes a direct service to humanity and, by extension, a form of worship of the Divine present in all.

Ethical living is further structured through the teachings often summarized as honest work and sharing with others. Earning a livelihood through honest labor, without exploitation or corruption, is upheld as a spiritual duty that resists economic injustice. Sharing one’s earnings and time with those in need—through seva, or selfless service—extends this ethic into active social responsibility. Seva is directed especially toward the poor, hungry, sick, and oppressed, and is undertaken without expectation of reward or recognition. In this way, spiritual practice flows naturally into social welfare and the pursuit of a more just society.

Sikh tradition also affirms the full equality of women and calls for resistance to oppression. Women are granted equal spiritual status and rights, including the ability to lead congregations and perform all religious ceremonies, and the Gurus explicitly challenged patriarchal attitudes that diminished women’s dignity. The formation of the Khalsa abolished caste distinctions among initiates and charged them with defending the weak and confronting tyranny, uniting the call to feed (deg) with the duty to protect (tegh). The ideal of sarbat da bhala—seeking the welfare of all humanity—captures this synthesis of devotion and justice, urging Sikhs to pray and work for the good of every being.