Missionary

===Sikh missions===
According to [[Sikh]]s, when he was twenty-eight, [[Guru Nanak]] went as usual down to the river to bathe and [[meditate]]. It was said that he was gone for three days. When he reappeared, it is said he was "filled with the spirit of God". His first words after his re-emergence were: "there is no Hindu, there is no Muslim". With this [[secular]] principle he began his missionary work.<ref name=Shackle_2005>{{cite book | last=Shackle | first=Christopher |author2=Mandair, Arvind-Pal Singh | year=2005 | title=Teachings of the Sikh Gurus: Selections from the Sikh Scriptures | publisher=[[Routledge]] | location=United Kingdom | isbn = 978-0-415-26604-8 | pages=xiii–xiv | no-pp=true}}</ref> He made four distinct major journeys, in the four different directions, which are called ''[[Udasis]]'', spanning many thousands of kilometres, preaching the message of God.<ref>[[Khushwant Singh|Singh, Khushwant]] (2006). ''The Illustrated History of the Sikhs''. India: [[Oxford University Press]]. pp. 12–13. {{ISBN|0-19-567747-1}}. Also, as according to the [[Purātan Janamsākhī]] (the birth stories of Nanak).</ref>

Currently there are [[List of gurdwaras|gurdwaras in over 50 countries]].<ref>[http://garamchai.com/gurudwara.htm Gurudwaras, Sikh Gurdwaras In Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin Usa, Sikh Places Of Worship For Nri And Indian Visitors In Us From]. Garamchai.com. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.</ref><ref>[http://www.gurudwara.net Global Gurudwara Database, Find Gurudwaras around the world. Global Gurdwara Directory] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004225048/http://gurudwara.net/ |date=2011-10-04 }}. Gurudwara.net. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090519114441/http://manikaran.in/punjab/index.aspx Punjab]. Manikaran.in. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.</ref>

Of missionary organizations, the most famous is probably [[The Sikh Missionary Society UK]]. The aim of the Sikh Missionary Society is the ''Advancement of the Sikh faith in the U.K. and abroad'', engages in various activities:<ref>[http://www.sikhmissionarysociety.org Sikh Missionary Society (U.K.)]. sikhmissionarysociety.org. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.</ref><ref>[http://www.sikhmissionarysociety.org/sms/smssikhism/ Sikh Missionary Society (U.K.) – The Universal Faith]. sikhmissionarysociety.org. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.</ref><ref>[http://www.sikhmissionarysociety.org/sms/smsarticles/ Sikh Missionary Society (U.K.) – Articles]. sikhmissionarysociety.org. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.</ref><ref>[http://www.sikhmissionarysociety.org/sms/smspublications/ Sikh Missionary Society (U.K.) – Online Publications Library (Sikhism eBooks)]. sikhmissionarysociety.org. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.</ref>

* Produce and distribute books on the Sikh faith in English and Panjabi, and other languages to enlighten the younger generation of Sikhs as well as non-Sikhs.
* Advise and support young students in schools, colleges, and universities on Sikh issues and Sikh traditions.
* Arrange classes, lectures, seminars, conferences, Gurmat camps and the celebration of holy Sikh events, the basis of their achievement and interest in the field of the Sikh faith and the [[Panjabi language]].
* Make available all Sikh artifacts, posters, literature, music, educational videos, DVDs, and multimedia CD-ROMs.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

There have been several Sikh missionaries:
* [[Bhai Gurdas]] (1551–1636), [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] [[Sikh]] writer, historian, missionary, and religious figure; the original scribe of the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] and a companion of four of the [[Sikh Gurus]]<ref name="s">[http://www.sikhs.org/saints.htm Saints] – Sikhs.org</ref>
* [[Giani Pritam Singh Dhillon]], [[Indian independence movement|Indian freedom fighter]]
* [[Bhai Amrik Singh]], devoted much of his life to Sikh missionary activities; one of the Sikh community's most prominent leaders along with [[Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]]
* [[Jathedar Sadhu Singh Bhaura]] (1905–1984), Sikh missionary who rose to be the [[Jathedar]] or high priest of Sri [[Akal Takhat]], [[Amritsar]]

Sikhs have emigrated to many countries of the world since [[Partition of India|Indian independence]] in 1947. Sikh communities exist in Britain, East Africa, Canada, the United States, Malaysia, and most European countries.<ref>Aggarwal, Manju (with Harjeet Singh Lal). ''I Am A Sikh''. New York: [[Franklin Watts]] (1985); pg. 30.</ref>