One of the world's youngest religions, Sikhism was founded about 500 years ago in northern India and enters the millennium facing new challenges and a geographical reach spanning the globe. In India, Sikhs are still working to gain greater political independence, while in the West the faith is attempting to adapt to a new culture while also sharing its universal teachings. The Sikhs believe in the Ultimate Reality as a formless force that is above all things and yet present in them at the same time. They reject all distinctions based on social class and race and emphasize the importance of service to both community and family. In clear and simple prose, Sikhism, Updated Edition describes the basic tenets of Sikhism and tells the engaging story of its growth in India and beyond. It also examines the recent move toward greater political independence within the Indian nation, the effects of Hindu nationalism on the Sikh community, and issues of cultural adaptation, persecution, and subsequent education now taking place in the West.