The Best-Paying Jobs You Can Do At Home

The trend of working from home has grown tremendously in the recent years. Long gone are the days when employment was thought of as a strict 9-5 day, traveling to the office in the morning and returning back home in the evening. With advanced technologies and changing trends in the economy, freelancing has become more common than ever before.

Don’t get home-based employment wrong as a mere part-time job that pays only in scanty sums. You can earn as much as you’d earn working at an office if you possess certain skills and capabilities.

Below, we have listed 10 of the best-paying jobs you can do at home. No more are jackpots and lotteries the only ways of getting rich sitting back at home, enjoying the comfort of the couch and closeness with your family.

comfort of the couch and closeness with your family.

1. Translator

Average Salary: $132,000

As a freelance translator, you translate texts from one language to another. It’s a perfect job for telecommuting. Translation is a pretty straightforward job and you can do it all by yourself at home.

You might need to revise your work at times but if you possess enough talent, you’ll be able to translate the words and also include the feel of the original work.

This job comes with its fair share of challenges. The work can seem quite monotonous at times, and time management is a skill you must have to succeed in this job.

2. Voice Actor 

Average Salary: $75,000

All voice actors provide voiceovers, but the purposes for voice acting vary a lot. You can do freelance voice acting for audiobooks, animation works, games, websites, videos, and more.

Voice acting is fun work to do and pays plenty. However, you may need to condition and train your voice.

Voice acting is just like acting. You might have difficulty finding work as different businesses tend to search for a specific kind of voice only. And altering your voice is a pretty difficult thing to do.

3. Statistical Analyst

Average Salary: $69,000

As a statistical analyst, you have to interpret the quantitative data and also design statistical models for research problems. Maintaining databases and ensuring validity of data is also required in most of the cases.

Statistical analysis is a very broad field and you should work towards specializing in particular types of data. It will add great value if you specialize in marketing, health, economics, or engineering data.

This kind of work requires proper training, and in many cases, the employers require you to have formal college training as well. Certification of statistical training is asked for in almost all cases.

4. Infographic Designer

Average Salary: $76,000

Infographics are becoming more and more of a powerful tool to visualize detailed information. These days, no one really seems to have time to go through web articles thoroughly, scanning through each and every detail.

So as the demand for infographics is increasing, infographic designing has become a very rewarding vocation. However, you need to be good with data visualization tools and should be very careful to only use the correct data.

If you have a knack for designing visually appealing infographics, you can earn as much just sitting back at home as you’d earn if you worked at an office.

5. Software Engineer

Average Salary: $94,000

The demand for software engineers has been ever increasing. And freelance software engineering opportunities are aplenty in the market.

Virtually all businesses want to have a website and app of their own. Add to that the ever present demand for desktop applications, and the future of software engineers looks very bright.

If you have sufficient skills and experience under your belt, you do not even need to have a college degree to succeed in this field.

6. Travel Agent

Average Salary: $56,000

Working as a home-based travel agent can be very exciting. You don’t actually need to have traveled to lots of places if you want to succeed in this field. However, you do need to understand travel well.

The internet has brought lots of changes to the traditional travel agent business. Even the most complicated trips can be arranged successfully at the click of a button.

As a freelance travel agent, you are involved in things like providing information to prospective visitors, driving traffic to a client’s website, and making arrangements for visitors.

7. Financial Manager

Average Salary: $103,000

Financial management is a highly paying job that you can do from home. In this vocation, you are responsible for providing proper financial support to the clients, helping them to make suitable business choices.

Also Read: The Best-Paying Jobs You Can Do At Home

Common clients are financial corporations, retailers, charities, universities, and general businesses. Freelance financial managers are preferred by many clients for whom it is not suitable to hire a financial manager on a permanent basis.

However, to land this job, it’s necessary for you to have formal training and college education to establish your credentials.

8. Writer

Average Salary: $52,000

There are plenty of freelance writing opportunities available out there. You can write both for printed as well as online publishing media. With the growth of internet, online writing opportunities have always been on the rise.

Writing opportunities spread over multiple disciplines, from health, education, and career counselling to sports, music, and politics. If you can write, you’ll always find something that interests you.

This job pays significantly and you don’t even need to have formal education and college training. If you can show your adroitness with sample works and draft a solid cover letter, you are likely to land the job.

9. Graphic Designer

Average Salary: $52,000

The demand for freelance graphic designers is also increasing day by day. It’s a perfect home-based job opportunity as you’d like to be on your own while doing something creative.

Graphic designers are constantly wanted by corporations, advertisement agencies, newspapers, retailers, and websites. You can soon turn one client into many.

This is also a great opportunity that doesn’t require official training. Your creations speak for themselves, and if your clients fancy your work, you’ll land the job. Pretty simple!

10. Animator

Average Salary: $69,000

Freelance animator is a quite pleasing job to have, at least for those who really dig animation and don’t see it as work.

You need expensive resources in animation software, as well as computer hardware to be able to create swift animation. However, once you start getting clients, your initial investments will make far greater returns.

Animation is a quite challenging job, and often you’ll be working with a team of fellow animators rather than alone. You may find teamwork challenging or rather uplifting.

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Websites to Learn a New Skill For $1 Per Day

Learning a new skill need not be expensive.

Money used to be a big obstacle that got in the way of accomplishing our goals. Luckily, this is no longer the issue.

Whether it’s learning how to build your own website, speak a new language, or become a better entrepreneur, there are resources online available that you can get started with for $1 per day or less

The best part, all of these websites allow you to learn from the comfort of your own home (in your PJ’s).

Here are 7 websites to learn a new skill for $1 per day.

1. Skillshare

Price: Starting at $10/month (includes free trial)

Focus: Branding, Marketing, Design

Skillshare is a learning community where you can learn anything from anyone. While they have classes from experts such as Seth Godin, Guy Kawasaki, and Gary Vaynerchuk, the majority of the courses are from local experts like yourself who have useful knowledge to share. Learn everything from branding, SEO, audience building, and more from anyone.

They have a free community you can join and their premium plans start from $10/month.

2. CreativeLIVE

Price: Free Live Classes to ~$200 per class

Focus: Photography, Entrepreneurship, Business

CreativeLIVE brings a unique business model, as they provide free live classes that anyone can tune into. Then for those who are interested in keeping the course, they can purchase it.

Unlike SkillShare, CreativeLIVE focuses on solely bringing on top experts to share their knowledge. These include NYTimes Best Selling Authors such as Tim Ferriss, Pulitzer Prize winners, and more. Their topics are also heavily focused on creativity topics like photography, design, and branding.

3. KhanAcademy

Price: Free

Focus: Mathematics, Science, Engineering

KhanAcademy is one of my highly recommended sites for teenagers and college students. Khan’s ability to breakdown the most complex concepts down to simple components is powerful. The best part is, it’s free!

While their best courses are in mathematics, science, and engineering, they also cover a wide variety of topics including arts & humanities, business & finance, computing, and more.

4. Lynda

Price: Starting at $20/month (includes free trial)

Focus: Video, Design, Developer, Audio + Music

Lynda is one of the top leaders in the online learning industry, and was recently acquired by Linkedin.

Much like CreativeLIVE or Skillshare, Lynda provides video courses on everything from design, branding, photography, web development, and more. Given the length of time that Lynda has existed, they do have a wider variety of courses available versus CreativeLIVE or Skillshare.

5. Rype

Price: Starting at $35/month (includes free trial)

Focus: Languages (Spanish)

Rype is a language learning website offering the advantages of coaching into language learning. Rype is perfect for those who struggle with persistence when learning something new, or if you have quit learning a language before. Your membership includes one-on-one sessions with your personal coach, free live classes that are recorded for you, personalized feedback guides, accountability, and more to help you reach fluency faster.

You can try it free by signing up for Rype Club.

6. Coursera

Price: Free

Focus: Classes from top Universities

Coursera brings classes from the top Universities to your screen for free. With Universities like John Hopkins, Stanford, and Yale, you can receive the same education as the students in these Universities without paying hundreds of thousands of dollars.

7. OneMonth

Price: Starting at $49 per course

Focus: Web & Mobile app development

OneMonth has a compelling pitch: learn X in one month. Their main focus in this moment is web and mobile app development, but also provide courses on audience building, social media, and more.

While there are no guarantees that you’ll learn what they’re teaching in one month, it offers a convenient solution for individuals who want to learn skills faster.

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Best Calendar Apps For Android

The default calendar app that comes pre-installed on many android devices does not have the most exciting features and while it can perform most simple tasks, why limit yourself when there is a plethora of wonderful third-party calendar apps on the Google Play Store?

We have selected 10 of the best android calendar apps, all of which are available for free! Even if you don’t like any of them, you can always go with Google’s calendar app which features a much more beautiful design and offers more functionality than the stock android calendar app.

Choose the best Calendar App for your Android

1. Sunrise Calendar

Sunrise calendar has been my go-to calendar app for a while now because of it’s excellent features that I just can’t do without. First, it syncs just fine with Google Calendar and Google Tasks, but you can also connect your Exchange or iCloud account with the app. In addition, Sunrise integrates with several apps and productivity tools such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Wunderlist, Todoist, Trello, Evernote and more so you can see all your important upcoming events from one place. Creating new events are a breeze and it’s Meet keyboard also helps to speed up the process of scheduling meetings and such stuff. Sunrise is also available on iOS and as a Chrome app so you can access your calendar no matter the device you use.
Developer – Microsoft Corporation
Compatibility – Requires Android 4.0 and up
Availability – Sunrise Calendar (Free) – Google Play Store (Also available for iOS, Chrome, Apple Watch).

2. Google Calendar

Google’s own calendar app is a great example of how material design should be and will be a delight to use for people who synchronize with Google Calendar. There are as many as five different views to select from such as the regular Weekly, Monthly and Daily views but you also get a schedule view which simply removes the empty spaces in each day and allows you to focus on only scheduled events day by day. Creating new entries is as easy as it gets and you can send invites to people as well as add notes and attachments from Google Drive for each unique calendar entry.
Developer – Google
Compatibility – Varies with device
Availability – Google Calendar (Free) – Google Play Store

3. aCalendar

aCalendar is another terrific app you should try out especially if you like it fast and smooth. It’s install size is only 1.8 Mb which makes it the lightest calendar app on this list but that doesn’t mean it lacks quality features as you will see. It helps you organise your events by providing up to 48 different colours as well as flexible re-occurrences for your events. There is a fine selection of widgets for the day, week and month views plus it uses the native android calendar function to synchronize events between apps and devices. There is also a pro version called aCalendar+ which offers additional features for $1.99.
Developer – Tapir Apps GmbH
Compatibility – Requiers Android 2.1 and later
Availability – aCalendar – Android Calendar (Free) – Google Play Store

4. Jorte Calendar and Organiser

Jorte Calendar is an intuitive calendar app that can run on any device running android 2.1 and up. In addition to regular features that most calendar apps offer such as multiple views and widget support, Jorte Calendar allows you to set different themes to customise the look of your calendar and even add stickers for important occasions or highlight them in red. There is a count-down feature which allows you to count-down the days to a big event. Jorte syncs with Google Calendar, Exchange and Yahoo but you can also export your events to a CSV file if you prefer.
Developer – Jorte Inc.
Compatibility – Requires Android 2.1 and later
Availability – Jorte Calendar and Organiser (Free) – Google Play Store

5. Business Calendar 2

Business Calendar 2 was built to succeed the hugely successful Business Calendar app which has since been abandoned. It is a powerful and easy to use app that includes task management and event planner as well as integrated weather reports in the pro version. It is highly customisable and offers various settings you can tweak to your personal tastes. It also syncs with Google Calendar and Exchange and there are no ads. It’s pro version (called Business calendar PRO) is available as an in-app purchase and costs $4.44.

Developer – Appgenix Software
Compatibiltiy – Requires android 4.1 and up
Avauilability – Business Calendar (Free) – Google Calendar

6. Cal

Cal is another app from the developers of the highly rated Any.do productivity app. If you’re using Any.do (like I am), you should try this app as it’s integration with Any.do is top notch so you can manage all your tasks and events in one place. Cal supports synchronization with Google Calendar and Microsoft Exchange so you can easily port your existing calendars here. It’s excellent integration with Facebook will make sure you never forget a friend’s birthday again and you can even purchase gifts for them from Amazon or

Gift.com.
Developer – Any.do
Compatibility – Requires Android 4.0 and up
Availability – Cal – Calendar Google/Exchange (Free) – Google Play Store

7. Digical Calendar

DigiCal calendar is one of the most beautifully designed calendar app on this list, and it’s highly customisable too! It syncs with Outlook, Exchange and Google Calendar but you can also create a local calendar that is only accessible on your local device. There are 6 widgets with different views and styles and a night mode which allows for better visibility in low-light conditions. It’s premium version, DigiCal+, offers extra customisation with up to 42 theme colours and a yearly view with heat maps for spotting free time.

Developer – Digbites
Compatibility – Varies with device
Availability – Digical Calendar (Free) / ($4.62) – Google Play Store

8. Sol Calendar

SolCalendar is another highly rated calendar app with a huge 4.5 average rating of over 1 million users. It synchronizes with Google Calendar, iCloud, Microsoft Exchange and Yahoo so you’re pretty much covered if you use any of those services. It has a clean and unique interface and supports Month, Week, To-do and Agenda views. It helps manage special events in a unique way by offering stickers to mark memorable events and also offers various repeat options for your tasks. Also, you get location-based weather forecast information through this app and plenty of widgets for your homescreen. All in all, it’s a solid calendar app worth checking out.

Developer – Kakao Corp.
Compatibility – Requires Android
Availability – SolCalendar – Calendar / To do (Free) – Google Play Store.

9. New Calendar

New Calendar is a decent app that works fine with Google Calendar. It supports most regular calendar functions and has support for daily, weekly, monthly and yearly views. There are up to 10 widgets to select from but perhaps it’s most outstanding feature is the voice reminders (using Text To Speech) which works brilliantly.

Developer – KF Software House
Compatibility – Requires Android 4.0.3 and up
Availability – New Calendar (Free)

10. Coletto Calendar

Now for something unique, Coletto Calendar is a colourful app that helps you manage your appointments, tasks, diaries and photos. Coletto appears to be targeted at girls and women only. You enter diary entries or memos from this app or even sensitive information such as the expected date of your next menstrual cycle and such stuff. It works with Google Calendar if you’re keen on syncing your stuff across various devices.

Developer – Yahoo! Japan Corp.
Compatibility – Requires android 2.3.5 and later

Availability – Coletto Calendar ~ Cute Diary (Free) – Google Play Store

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Techniques to Empower Yourself to Live a More Productive, Happier Life

1. Accept that awful stuff happens.

The usual reaction to things not going your way is to resist and fight against them. By accepting things as they are, even though you don’t want them to be that way, you’ll develop a more peaceful state of mind. Saying a mantra will help – “I hate things being this way but I accept that this is my reality just now. I’ll work through this situation calmly and resolutely.” Slowly but surely, you will empower yourself.

2. Adopt a flexible attitude.

Being flexible means you can face daily changes without creating too great a stress reaction in your body. When something’s not working, be ready to consider other ideas. Changing your approach to meet the change in circumstances is essential for a happier and more successful future.

3. See challenges as opportunities for growth.

Ask yourself what you can learn from challenges as they arise. Is this a chance to become stronger? By turning these situations into positives, you’ll avoid resorting to overeating and other negative behaviors – the most usual ways of coping.

4. Use questions to empower you.

Instead of asking disempowering questions such as, “Why is this happening to me?” use a more positive question format. Questions that invite creative thinking are the best. An example might be, “What alternative actions could I take in these changing circumstances?”

5. Change negative thoughts to positive.

Negative thoughts that harbor unhelpful beliefs only hold you back from achieving. So monitor your thoughts. When you’re aware that they are negative, change them immediately into positive thoughts. You’ll be amazed at how much happier and confident you’ll feel.

6. Relish change.

Realize when it’s time to change direction. Often we think of change as negative. But change can be very exciting and positive. Embrace new thoughts, new opportunities and new ways of living. Even though change is difficult to initiate, sometimes it’s essential.

7. Calm yourself when you’re getting uptight.

When you’re calm, you are in control. You’ll think through the problem with more clarity. Make time to listen to relaxing music, or sit quietly and visualize a place where you’ve been that evokes calm and contentment. It will help you focus on what’s really important.

8. Believe you’re good enough.

It’s too easy to think you’re not good enough to get through difficult situations. Look at your abilities. Tell yourself that you are awesome and you can handle anything that can possibly be thrown at you. Believe in yourself.

9. Face reality.

Don’t try to hide from problems that present themselves. Come face to face with them and persevere no matter what. It’s a tough thing to do, that’s for sure. Look for solutions in unusual places.

10. Prepare yourself for busy times.

When weighed down by being too busy, prioritize your jobs until life becomes more manageable. Sticking to a plan will help you get back on track. Start each day with the most immediate job on your list.

11. Encourage and help others.

Take every opportunity to be a source of hope and encouragement to others. Looking outward instead of inward gives opportunity for you to contribute to the well-being of others. Your happiness and confidence levels will rise.

12. Make each day sparkle.

Instead of letting doubts, worries and fears about what might happen creep into your day, look for ways to make your day sparkle. Be positive about the fabulous things that lie ahead. You don’t know what those things might be, but that’s okay. You’ll move forward with excitement and courage. Shawn Achor’s TED Talk, How to Make the Present More Positive, includes some enjoyable ideas for staying positive and focused.

13. Be full of thanks.

Thinking about all those things that are going right in your life, keeps life in perspective. Be grateful for the now – for where you are at the present time. Now is the start of big things to come. Being grateful helps you see there is so much that usually is taken for granted. Gratitude improves productivity and leads to happiness.

14. Schedule play time.

For your body to remain in balance, you need to have work time and play time. Your brain and mind will benefit from varying what you do each day, particularly if you include some fun time in your schedule. Follow this with diligence and notice how you feel. There’ll be a spring in your step – even a lasting smile.

15. Get physical.

Spend some time outdoors every day. Being physical, through aerobic activities, gives you the energy to carry you through the difficult times. Exercise will help you reach your goals. You’ll be charged with enthusiasm for all things positive.

16. Take time out.

Take regular mental breaks such as mindfulness. Being mindful enables you to be more accepting of yourself. Sit somewhere quiet. Breathe in to energize your whole body. As you breathe out, believe that anxiety and tension are leaving your body.

17. Stay connected.

Spend time with people whose company you enjoy. It’s important to stay connected to friends and family, so you have people who can encourage you. You’ll appreciate their support.

18. Be an optimist.

Understand that life consists of hill and valley cycles. This doesn’t mean that you react positively to good days and feel down-in-the-dumps on the not-so-good days. It means being optimistic that the good days ahead will carry you through the very difficult days, without suffering excess stress.

19. Laugh often – and “live happily ever after”.

Laughing will help you cope better with any difficult situation. Of course it’s not easy to laugh when you’re going through a rough patch. But lightening up when you see a funny sign along the way, or smiling back at someone who is happy, can do wonders for you. You’ll have a bubble and sparkle that wasn’t there before.

Finally . . . . .

Let the stepping stones metaphor remind you that despite life’s inevitable missteps, many rewarding opportunities and moments lie ahead. The crucial thing is not what actually happens as you travel through life, but how you respond to what happens.

Choose to use some of these 19 stepping stones . . . . . and enjoy a happier, calmer and more productive life as you learn to empower yourself. 

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MESSAGE OF SHRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB JI

All people of the world are equal

The Guru Granth Sahib promotes the message of equality of all beings and at the same time state that Sikh believers "obtain the supreme status" (SSGS, Page 446). Discrimination of all types is strictly forbidden based on the Sikh tenet Fatherhood of God which states that no one should be reckoned low or high, stating that instead believers should –“reckon the entire mankind as One” (Akal Ustat, 15.85).
Sri Guru Granth Sahib promotes the concept of equality by highlighting the fact that we are made of the same flesh, blood and bone and we have the same light of God with us – Soul . Our building bricks are the same:

The God-conscious being is always unstained, like the sun, which gives its comfort and warmth to all. The God-conscious being looks upon all alike, like the wind, which blows equally upon the king and the poor beggar.

— Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 272 Full Shabad

The Gurus also encourage believers to promote social equality by sharing earnings with those in need.

Women's Status

Main article: Women in Sikhism

Guru Nank Dev Ji said "Sikhi does not teach you to raise your hand on a women it teaches you to respect them"
Sikhism also preaches that equal respect should be given to women.

In the earth and in the sky, I do not see any second. Among all the women and the men, His Light is shining.^[1]

— Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 223 Full Shabad

Metaphysic

Sikhism is strictly monotheistic in its belief. This means that God is believed to be the one and sole Reality in the cosmos, meaning that no other being have extra-human power. Sikh Gurus state that God alone is worthy of worship, and the highest end of existence, that is mukti or liberation can come through Devotion to God alone.
Besides its monotheism, Sikhism also emphasizes another philosophical idea, which is known as monism, a philosophical position which argues that the variety of existing things can be explained in terms of a single reality or substance. Furthermore one of the tenet of the religion is the belief that the world is only a "vision" or illusion (Maya) and that God is the sole "Continuing Reality" so that selfishness, egoism and hate are meaningless.

God is merciful and infinite. The One and Only is all-pervading.
He Himself is all-in-all. Who else can we speak of? God Himself grants His gifts, and He Himself receives them.
Coming and going are all by the Hukam of Your Will; Your place is steady and unchanging. (20,1)

— Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 710 Full Shabad

Speak and live truthfully

Sikhs believe in the importance of truthful living, which can only be created by purity of mind and not through religious purification rites. They believe that impurity of mind leads to many other vices such as anger, lust, attachment, ego, and greed.

So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away?
O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will.

Control the five vices

Devotees of Guru Sahib believe they must control the animal instincts of Pride/Ego, Anger/Temper, Greed/Urges, Attachment/Dependency and Lust/Addiction.

All virtues are obtained, all fruits and rewards, and the desires of the mind; my hopes have been totally fulfilled.
The Medicine, the Mantra, the Magic Charm, will cure all illnesses and totally take away all pain.
Lust, anger, egotism, jealousy and desire are eliminated by chanting the Name of the Lord.

— Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 1388 Full Shabad

Live in God's hukam

A Sikh believes they should live and accept the command of God easily and without too much emotional distress. They attempt to live in contentment and in Chardikala (positive attitude).

Shalok:
He wanders around in the four quarters and in the ten directions, according to the dictates of his karma.
Pleasure and pain, liberation and reincarnation, O Nanak, come according to one's pre-ordained destiny.

— Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 253 Full Shabad

Virtues

The Sikh religion emphasizes several other virtues: Truth (Sat), contentment (santokh), Love (Ishq), Compassion/Mercy (daya), Service (seva), Charity (dana), forgiveness (ksama), humility (nimrata), patience (dheerjh), non-attachment (vairagya) and renunciation (taiga).
These believers attempt to avoid anger (krodh), egoism (ahankara), avarice (lobh), lust (kama), infatuation (moha), sinful acts (papa), pride (man), doubt (duvidha), ownership (mamata), hatred (vair), and hostility (virodh). In the Sikh religion, freedom from these vices, or Sahaj, is attained through tension-free, ethical living, grounded in spirituality avoiding self-mortification and other religious rites of cleansing.

First, is the Lord's Praise; second, contentment; third, humility, and fourth, giving to charities. Fifth is to hold one's desires in restraint. These are the five most sublime daily prayers.

— Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 1084 Full Shabad

Humility is the word, forgiveness is the virtue, and sweet speech is the magic mantra. Wear these three robes, O sister, and you will captivate your Husband Lord. ((127))

— Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 1384 Full Shabad

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10 Things I Wish Everyone Know About Sikhism

Despite being one of the world’s largest world religions, Sikhism remains one of the most unknown traditions in America. The lack of understanding has led to serious consequences, including discriminatory policies, bigoted stereotypes, traumatic school bullying and violent hate crimes.

Here is a list of 10 things that the global community ought to know about its Sikh neighbors.

1. Sikhism is an independent religion.

A number of people mistakenly think Sikhism is an offshoot of Hinduism, an offshoot of Islam, or a blend of the two religions. While the category of religion is itself problematic, scholars and practitioners alike classify Sikhism as an independent religion.

The Sikh tradition carries the basic markers of organized religion, including its own founder-prophet (Guru Nanak), scripture (Guru Granth Sahib), discipline and ceremonies (rahit), and community centers (gurdwara). There are more than 27 million Sikhs worldwide, making it the fifth largest world religion.

2. Rooted in oneness and love, Sikh theology encourages a life of spirituality and service.

Oneness and love serve as the foundations of Sikh theology — these are both the objective and process. Sikhs aim to recognize the divinity within everyone and everything they encounter, and this daily practice helps the individual cultivate and embody the qualities of oneness and love.

Sikhs believe that the Creator permeates all of Creation and that every individual is filled with the same divine potential. The Sikh tradition emphasizes the collective familyhood of all humanity and challenges all social inequalities, including those on the basis of class, caste, gender, and profession.

Realizing oneness and love within one’s life also compels the individual to seek unity with the world around them. The tradition urges its followers to live as a sant-sipahi (warrior-saint), one who strikes a balance of cultivating spirituality while also contributing socially through community service.

3. The real meaning of “guru.”

The word “guru” literally means “enlightener,” and while it has come to refer to an expert in any domain (e.g., basketball guru, real estate guru), it carries a particular institutional meaning within the Sikh tradition. In Sikhism, “guru” refers to the line of authority, beginning with a set of 10 prophets who established and led the Sikh community. The first of these, Guru Nanak, was born in 1469 CE, and the tenth in his line, Guru Gobind Singh, breathed his last in 1708 CE.

Before he passed, Guru Gobind Singh passed the leadership to joint entities — the Guru Granth Sahib (the scriptural canon) and the Guru Khalsa Panth (the community of initiated Sikhs). Sikhs revere these two as occupying the throne of the Guru for eternity.

4. The Guru Granth Sahib is a unique scripture.

The authority accorded to the Guru Granth Sahib certainly sets it apart from other scriptural texts of the major world religions. The Guru Granth Sahib also defies common expectations of scripture in other ways.

The Guru Granth Sahib was compiled by the Sikh Gurus themselves and is primarily comprised of writings composed by the Gurus. This collection also includes the devotional writings of other religious figures, including Muslim Sufis and Hindu Bhaktas.

Unlike the prose narratives that make up a majority of western scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib is made up entirely of devotional poetry, most of which is set to music. These writings are primarily made up of expressions of divine experiences and wisdom on religious cultivation. These writings have played a central role in Sikh practice since the time of Guru Nanak — Sikh worship consists of singing these compositions in both private and congregational settings.

5. The Sikh Gurus presented a pluralistic worldview.

As evidenced by the inclusion of writings from other religious figured within the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh Gurus did not believe in religious exclusivism. Rather, their pluralistic worldview posited that one could reach the Realization from any religious tradition. Sikhism teaches that diverse paths can lead to the divine, as long as the individual traverses the path with love. Because of this pluralistic outlook, Sikhism has no real history of missionizing or proselytizing.

While some misinterpret this pluralism as promoting cultural relativism, it is important to note that the Gurus also emphasized the importance of following an accomplished leader and maintaining religious discipline. Sikhism does not encourage the increasingly popular models of “a la carte religion” or “spiritual-but-not-religious,” though admittedly Sikh jurisprudence is relatively less complex than most religious traditions.

6. Sikhs have a long history of standing for justice.

Guru Nanak modeled social engagement by critiquing social inequalities, building institutions that serve and empower the disenfranchised, and publicly critiquing political oppression. The subsequent Gurus preserved and built upon the foundations laid by Guru Nanak. For example, the ninth among them, Guru Tegh Bahadur, observed Mughal state authorities forcefully converting its Hindu constituents. Although this oppression targeted a religious community to which he did not belong and whose beliefs he did not share, Guru Tegh Bahadur stood up firmly for their right to practice religion freely — and the state responded by publicly executing Guru Tegh Bahadur.

The Sikh community has drawn inspiration and guidance from such examples over the years, and it has demonstrated a commitment to justice in various ways. Sikhs are taught to defend the defenseless and have historically led responses to political oppression. Sikhs have therefore been regularly targeted by the political elite, a cycle that continues to play out in present-day India.

7. Sikhs maintain a unique identity.

Since the formative moments of the tradition, Sikhs have maintained a physical identity that makes them stand out in public, even in the context of South Asia. This identity includes five articles of faith — kesh (unshorn hair), kanga (small comb), kara (steel bracelet), kirpan (religious article resembling a knife), and kachera (soldier-shorts) — and distinguishes someone who has formally committed to the values of the faith by accepting initiation.

While many have attempted to ascribe functionalist rationales for each of these articles, these understandings do not capture the connections that Sikhs have with these articles. Perhaps the best analogy (though admittedly an imperfect one) is that of a wedding ring: one cannot reduce the significance of a wedding ring to its instrumental value; rather, one cherishes the wedding ring because it is a gift of love from one’s partner. Similarly, Sikhs cherish their articles of faith primarily because they see them as a gift from their beloved Guru. Trying to understand these articles on the basis of their function is missing the point.

Perhaps the most visible aspect of the Sikh identity is the turban, which can be worn by men and women alike. The turban was historically worn by royalty in South Asia, and the Gurus adopted this practice as a way of asserting the sovereignty and equality of all people. For a Sikh, wearing a turban asserts a public commitment to maintaining the values and ethics of the tradition, including service, compassion, and honesty.

8. Sikhism believes in absolute equality.

Sikhism was founded on the concept of oneness and justice, and the Gurus adamantly rejected all social inequalities. While women continue to be subjugated in modern South Asia, the Sikh Gurus rebuked discriminatory practices that marginalized women (e.g., sati, purdah) and openly placed women in leadership positions.

Along these lines, the Gurus established new practices to challenge social norms, such as India’s caste system, that perpetuated social inequalities. For instance, the tenth Guru asked all Sikhs to abandon their last names — which identified one’s caste — and asked them all to take on a collective last name reserved for royal families to signify the inherent equality and nobility of every individual: Kaur for women and Singh for men. Similarly, the Gurus established the institution of langar, a free meal provided at the gurdwara that is open to one and all. During this meal, everyone sits together on the ground, regardless of caste, social status, gender, or religious background.

9. Darbar Sahib of Amritstar is the epicenter of the Sikh psyche.

Known to westerners as the Golden Temple, Darbar Sahib of Amritsar, Punjab has served as the center for the Sikh community since its founding more than four centuries ago. Sikh theologian Sirdar Kapur Singh referred to Darbar Sahib as “the theo-political capital of Sikhs.” This phrase captures the role of this site as both a spiritual center where the community gathers to worship as well as a political throne where collective decisions have been made.

It is inaccurate to refer to Darbar Sahib as “a sacred space” or as “Sikhism’s holiest site.” Sikh theology recognizes that divinity permeates the entire world equally and therefore does not recognize any particular space to be uniquely sacred or holy. At the same time, Darbar Sahib does occupy a special place in the collective Sikh psyche. The site has witnessed a number of significant historical events, from the return of the sixth Guru after a stint in prison and the first public enthronement of the Sikh scripture during the 17th century to massacres of thousands of civilians and the burning of historical artifacts and relics by the Indian Army in 1984.

10. Sikhs have made immense contributions to American society.

From the time of their arrival in the late 1800s, Sikh men and women have been making notable contributions to American society. Early immigrants settled in the western frontier, where they played a major role in building America’s railroads. Sikh Americans like Bhagat Singh Thind served in the U.S. military during the World Wars, and the first Asian American Congressman was a Sikh American elected to office in 1957. The inventor of fiber optics is a Sikh American, as is the country’s largest peach grower, the mayor of Charlottesville, Virginia, and Morgan Freeman’s personal physician. Sikh American women continue to make diverse contributions, such as Grammy-winning artist Snatam Kaur, commercial airline pilot Arpinder Kaur, and Columbia University professor Supreet Kaur.

Image courtesy of OlegD / Shutterstock.com.

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Great Windows 10 Themes

With the introduction of tons of new features, Windows 10 also came with many new themes in addition to the old ones in the store. You can download hundreds of themes right from the official Microsoft website for free! There are themes available of all types, like Animals, Natural Wonders, Art, and Games. All the themes are of high resolution with tons of wallpapers and a unique design. Each theme contains 5 to 25 wallpapers along with a unique window color and sounds. The window color is used for highlighting, dialog borders and settings of Windows 10.

Although there are many themes, but for this list, we have selected the best Windows 10 themes based on window color and amazing wallpapers. You will find the best theme from every category here, just choose the one you like and download it for free.

Best Windows 10 Themes

1. Aurora Borealis

This theme contains wallpapers of beautiful sceneries of Aurora over the different areas of Iceland and Norway creating an amazing view. It contains total 8 wallpapers, showing Aurora over the ice, sea and the mountains. The theme’s wallpapers are a bit dark as the pictures are taken at the night (Aurora can only be seen at night).

The window color is in sea green color, similar to the Aurora in the wallpapers. The theme will turn the background of Windows 10 settings into black with the content in sea green. The wallpapers will automatically replace after every 5 minutes or you can manually switch them from the context menu.

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2. Twilight and Starlight panoramic theme

This theme is a combination of different types of themes in a single bundle. The theme is specifically created for dual monitors where it will show the complete wallpaper. Although, it will still work on single monitors, but the results will not be as pleasing. The wallpapers are random like, galaxy, meadows, wind mills, stars and Railroad Bridge.

There is a separate window color for each wallpaper, for example, for the Railroad Bridge wallpaper, the window color is gray and for meadows wallpaper, it is orange. On a dual monitor, the wallpapers will auto adjust according to the resolutions of both monitors.

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3. Beautiful Birds theme

If you are a big fan of birds, then you really need to try out this beautiful theme. The theme consists of wallpapers of unique birds from all around the world in charming postures. You will find all sorts of birds wallpapers here, like Flamingos, Kingfisher, Swan, Peacocks and hummingbird.

The window color is light blue giving a mesmerizing touch to all the birds wallpapers. The theme consists of total 15 wallpapers and all wallpapers are of high resolution. It also contains some body parts of birds, like peacock feathers, so not all of the wallpapers are just plain pictures of birds.

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4. GTGraphics theme

This theme is completely based on galaxy and futuristic technology. The theme doesn’t contain any real imagery of our galaxy, instead it contains breathing taking designs by artists. You will find tons of images such as, sunrise in the galaxy, Planets being destroyed by a giant laser, a galactic city, mountains and meteor shower on Earth.

It contains total 16 wallpapers with astounding quality. Although, all the wallpapers have GTGraphics watermark on them, so it might be a bit teasing. The window color is orange that goes very well with the fiery wallpapers in this theme.

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5. Marbles theme

Marbles themes is another piece of art with clever imagery of colorful marbles. The artist has utilized light, shadows and colorful marbles to create simple but eye opening imagery. Most of the wallpapers contain colorful groups of marbles under light or in closure to give an attractive look. There are also some plain marbles with shadow cast to give a astounding look.

There are total 11 mesmerizing wallpapers of high quality. The window color is standard blue like many other themes, but still it goes well with some shadow based marble themes.

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6. Forza Motorsport 4 theme

This theme is based on the popular game Forza Motorsport 4, and its wallpapers are actually from the game itself. If you are Forza Motorsport 4 or even automotive fan, then this will definitely charm you. The theme contains wallpapers of amazing cars with different backgrounds or inside of a car. Some of the cars include, Koenigsegg Agera, Mercedes, Jaguar, Mclaren, BMW and Ferrari.

The window color is gray matching perfectly with wallpapers of the Forza Motorsport 4 theme. There are total 17 high resolution wallpapers and all of them have Forza Motorsport 4 written at the bottom.

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7. Child of Light theme

Another video game based Windows 10 theme, inspired by the popular game Child of Light by Ubisoft. As the game is based on watercolors, so you will find all the wallpaper pictures based on watercolors. There are total 19 wallpapers containing images of world of Lemuria. The images consists of haunting forests, city, a village, houses, bridge and indoor.

The window color of the theme is standard blue, and it goes well with some of the wallpapers in this theme. However, there is a Child of Light watermark on each of the wallpaper, located at the top right corner. If that is not annoying for you, then this could be a great fantasy theme for you.

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8. Morning theme

Morning theme is based on early morning when the sun rises and casts it rays over beauty of nature. The theme is a combination of nature and wildlife, which are somehow connected to the early morning. There are 8 wallpapers and all of them contain sunshine one way or another. There are images of, birds, insects, sun rays over river banks, plants and meadows.

The window color is in parrot green color, which goes exceptionally well with the greenery and sun rays based theme. All pictures are taken by photographer Popkov Alexandr who’s watermark can also be seen on each wallpaper.

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9. Frozen Formations theme

Frozen Formations theme for Windows 10, as the name suggests is a theme based on beautiful sceneries of ice creating breathtaking art. You will find wallpapers containing, Ice caves, beautiful yet deadly icicles, Sun rays over the ice, waterfall along with ice and beautiful icebergs.

There are 12 wallpapers of icy wonders and the window color is mist blue. With the bluish color of ice, this window color couples very well. The theme is a combination of both light and dark wallpapers, so you can easily choose the one according to your need.

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10. Beautiful Queensland theme

This theme’s wallpapers contain pictures of the beautiful Queensland, a state of Australia. You will gain access to beautiful imagery from every corner of Queensland taken by photographer Tracie Louise. Wallpapers consist of images of Beach, fields, rivers and waterfalls. Most of the wallpapers are quite colorful, but there are some black and white too that are quite attractive as well.

There are total 19 beautiful wallpapers in high resolution. The window color is gray, which goes well with most of the colors, so you will find any awkwardness while navigating. Although, Tracie Louise watermark will be located at the lower left corner of each wallpaper.

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11. In Search of Incredible theme

This is a classic Windows 10 theme related to music and all wallpapers are black and white. The images are photographed by Don McCullin who has partnered with ASUS and Intel for such amazing pictures. There are pictures of musical instruments, hanging Microphone, an old record shop and a spinning record.

The window color is gray that obviously suits black and white color very well. Although there are only 7 wallpapers, but all of them are unique piece of art. However, each wallpaper has a ASUS and Intel watermark that might not be comfortable for some people.

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12. Beach Sunsets theme

As the name suggests, this theme contains wallpapers of sunset over different beaches. You will see pictures of popular beaches of California and Hawaii during the sunset. These beaches include Dillon Beach, Bodega Head, Kihei, LaHaina and Sonoma Coast.

All the pictures are taken by photographer Josh Sommers and you will find his signature on each wallpaper. The window color is light blue and blends in well with the water in the pictures. Furthermore, there are total 15 pictures and there are more than one picture of a particular beach.

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