The United Nations Organization designated year 2001 as the "Year of the Volunteer." The organization asked its components and NGOs to spread this call and ask major faith and community leaders to join significant corporations, philanthropic foundations and the citizens of the world in responding to this call. It seeks expansion of people's generosity and philanthropy in recruiting growing numbers of volunteers to provide altruist services to the needy. With Sikhs, public service and altruism are acts of faith. Their eternal mentor, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, considers altruism so essential for a faithful that it bestows religious authority on this type of behavior. First of all, Guru Arjan, the compiler of the Sikh Scripture, went so far as to describe God in terms of an altruist entity,

The Lord is altruist, generous and benevolent, the beautifier of all, the embodiment of peace; the Blessed Vision of His is so rewarding! SGGS, M-5, p. 533

Then the Guru goes on to describe altruism as a form of meditation as is illustrated in many of his verses:

Those who contemplate on God's Nomenon become the helpers of others. SGGS, M-5, p. 263

The altruists do good deeds for others, and communicate the Lord's many Glorious Virtues. Kindly bless me to meet these Saints, these devotees of the Lord. SGGS, M-4, p. 1326 A Sikh theologian of the highest repute, who was a scribe to Guru Arjan in composing the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, described an altruist as the exalted one:

One who serves and helps others is exalted in the Lord's court; the others who turn away from God by not serving are disgraced.
I am sacrifice to the one who take pleasure in life of altruism.

Thus, in Sikhism, altruism is a religiously sanctioned practice that is promoted with similar religious fervor. Let us take some examples. While describing people of faith, the most revered Sikh theologian, Bhai Gurdas, considered altruism an important pre-requisite. Further, this is one of those characteristics that he desired to vigorously popularize. For example, Bhai Gurdas described Sikhs of his times in terms of their commitment to rubbing the habit of altruism onto others.

The altruist person undertakes altruistic actions and brings metamorphosis of others to do the same without regards to their kind, caste, or social rank. This Sikh is like a philosopher's stone that makes gold out of all the eight metals (alloys). This adherent is also like a Sandalwood tree that makes all trees fragrant without regards to their fruitlessness and fruitfulness. An altruist is a wining trait that nourishes the whole world. This individual is like sandalwood that lives among the vegetation to impart fragrance to the whole forest.

In a battleground where Guru Gobind Singh was at war with the rulers to protect the people of faith, a Sikh, Bhai Kanhaiya, attended the troops of the enemy. He gave water to the injured, which revived their strength. Some of them began to fight again. Sikh soldiers became furious, brought Bhai Kanhaiya before the Guru, and complained of his action that they considered counterproductive to their hard work in the battle field. "What were you doing, and why?" asked the Guru. "I was giving water to the wounded because I saw your face in them," replied Bhai Kanhaiya. " Then you should also give them ointment to heal their wounds. You were practicing what you were coached to do in the house of the Guru," responded The Guru. In love of altruism, is there any room for hatred or duality? It was under the tutelage of the Guru that Bhai Kanhaiya subsequently founded a volunteer corps for altruism. This volunteer corps, till today, is engaged in doing good to others and trains new volunteering recruits for doing the same. Bhai Gurdas went as far as designating altruism as the identity for a God's devotee. He wrote: The devoted person is identified through their altruism in service to humankind. Bhai Gurdas was actually paraphrasing what Guru Ram Das, the fourth in succession of Guru Nanak, had described earlier in Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

I have sought the Sanctuary of the Saadh Sangat, the society of the Holy where I have found the Sublime Essence of the Lord. The adherents of this society do good deeds for others, and speak of the Lord's many Glorious Virtues; kindly bless me to belong to the company of these Saints, these devotees of the Lord. SGGS, M-4, p. 1326

Guru Granth Sahib sanctioned altruism as a faith practice and promoted it as a living skill among its followers. Those who followed were shown to benefit their body and soul. The impact of this faith practice on Sikh society is evident from the observations that many Sikhs today shape their adult life around finding opportunities to help people without distinction of gender, race, social ranks, religious orientation, or nationality. First of all, the Sikh theologian, Bhai Gurdas testifies to this fact by saying: There are people who give up their own needs and comforts for the causes of others, and in the process, they are healed themselves. Further, we have numerous examples to quote. Among Sikhs the most famous contemporary examples are, Bhagat Puran Singh, Bhagwant Singh Dalawari, Dr. Inderjit Kaur and many others. Among other religions, Mother Teresa is a prime example. Sikh theologians and historians recorded numerous such individuals in the annals of Sikh history. As a matter of fact, Bhai Gurdas immortalized those Sikhs who excelled themselves in the practice of altruism by specifically naming many of them in his writings. Examples: Bhai Lakhoo and Bhai Ladha are two silk traders in town who lead the life of an altruist .... Bhai Singaroo and Bhai Jaita are brave Sikhs who have altruism in their heart. Sikhs volunteer to work in community kitchens where food is prepared and distributed to thousands of people every day. The temple upkeep and maintenance work is all volunteering. They give their time and money to serve the sick and disabled. They serve as volunteers in organizations as Pingalwara in Amritsar, and Nishkam in New Delhi with chapters all over India, Peace Corps, Bhai Kahnyaa Brigade, and Blood and Organ Donors' organizations. They volunteer their services in shelters for battered woman or orphans, or as volunteers for American Association of Retired Persons' Volunteer Corps to serve the elderly. They build homes for homeless and serving as Big Brothers and Sisters to unfortunates. Altruism is so ingrained in the Sikh psyche that they worship their Guru by characteristics such as the 'Shelter for Homeless' and the 'Helper of Disadvantaged'. Thus, to serve others is taken as an important measure of a Sikh's connection with their mentor and of the affirmation of their faith.