Ranjit,

I can feel for you at this point in life - the fear of what people think of you, the bad looks, the feeling of not fitting in, the confusion and doubt about something said by Guru's how many years ago - and what do they really know about me anyways and the life that I am living - and so many different thoughts that you are thinking about.

You mentioned that you have never read about Sikhism and have very little knowledge. I think this may be the main problem. My experience has been most of us have kept Kes are whole lives but don't actually know anything about what it is we are supposd to be following.

Can you just wear a uniform and not practice the principles behind the uniform? Does it make any sense - Kes is a very small thing in a larger equation we call "a way of life" - this is what sikhi is trying to teach us, how to live our lives and been divine.

I think it is really good that you are giving yourself sometime to research and read - that being said you also need to make sure that the sources where you are getting knowledge are balanced. Khushwant Singh has his views, you also need to read other authors views aswell. That being said reading all the different views may not lead you to a conclusion. From your post it seems you have already made up your mind.

If you read Gurbani closely, you will see that it invokes a certain mentality for a seeker. You need to read Gurbani and understand what and where it wants to take you. Don't always let your circumstances over power you, sit back and give yourself sometime to understand what type of spark Gurbani is trying to ignite in you. Once you understand that, then the choice is yours as to which path you want to follow. The turban is an indication of seeker, are you really a seeker? Or are you just wearing for the sake of wearing it without seeking......sikhi says search....anf if your not the turban has no significance.

Most people on this forum are trying to convince you that keeping kesh is the right thing to do. This convincing will only last for so long then you will be back to square 1. Gurbani is talking about a way of life, surrendering of your thinking and taking on the Guru's Thinking. Once you realise this and decide which path you want follow then it doesn't matter what anybody has to stay because your own heart is convinced what to do. You haven't built a relationship with Gurbani or invested any time in understanding what it means, but you have been carrying around this turban which is an indication that you are on the spiritual path but really you aren't and know it becomes a real pain to maintain.

I can only suggest that you consult gurbani and then consult your own soul and see what it is you want to do. We all are able to make choices and it is your time to face yourself and decide what to do.

How are we allowed to cut nails then?

Honestly don't listen to what Khushwant Singh rights. He himself admitted he doesn't believe in God, or Sikhi in general, and only keeps his hair because he has kept it all his life, and now he is old and doesn't feel like cutting it.

This is the same man who, in the Gurdwara, when his mother died, gave a speech about how she started drinking alcohol at the age of 80, and he made a joke out of it. Completely inappropriate. Don't look to him for knowledge about Sikhi.

Singh/ Singhni please don't cut your hair :'(, it breaks my heart to think your thinking like that.

me too, i honestly feel happy wen i see singhs in bana n daris reli long, it makes me think that i cn wear a bana too and that i can b apart of khalsa

Hi. I've read some of the books you've quoted and I feel their explanations are good but don't quite hit the nail on the head. The reasons Sikhs keep hair, ie the reason why Guru Nanak Dev Ji kept hair was not to do with the creation of Khalsa/Guru Gobind Singh etc.

The reason we keep hair is very simple - its because we are a religion that believes in practicality and acceptance. We keep our hair because ALL humans have hair and we see no reason for hair to be removed. So when you say that you see no reason for it to be kept - what is your reason to remove it?

SIkhism says ALL humans should be comfortable with their hair. From a SIkh perspect its absurd humans cut their hair in the first place. So we as sikhs keep our hair to accept the human form in it's natural form.

I know we live in a society where everyone is influenced by the media image, where people treat you badly if you don't fit that image etc. Let me tell you my personal experience - it is only by keeping my hair that i have appreciated the influence of media on my life, I understand what is superficial and what is not and as a result I spend less time and money wasting in superficial activities. Also I can see real potential in people, I don't influenced by 'tarty' looks etc. I think it would be a lie to say I didn't think about cutting my hair or experimenting with different looks but eventually you realise its so amazing that you are the only person in the world that is happy with the way the human body naturally looks.

I am older now, not at university/school so don't have the whole bullying thing and once you start work people are less childish. I've told several people at work I keep hair as I accept people in their natural form. There is no way anyone can make fun of you because they have hair too. I have often said that - you have hair too, a man beard etc but your just not happy to keep it but I am. In terms of looks, the difference is that I accept my human body with all its hair, you have the same hair but remove it...Ask them why they don't just keep their hair and you will be interested in their replies....Hope that explains things better!

I don't read the Gurbani nor can I speak or read Punjabi. I have very little knowledge about Sikhism, which is why I have taken up to reading, researching and trying to talk to people about this matter.
My father needs 1 year in order to prepare my uncles and people in my community, and more importantly, that I have time to think about it and research.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Veerji think of it like - Gurbani states time and time again the Wahegurus Will is the sweetest. If Waheguru did not want us to have long it would not keep growing back. A Gurmukh once said if you cut your hair, you are actually challenging Wahegurus creation. Guru Gobind Singh Ji said to Bhai Nand Lal Ji - Being a Sikh, if one goes around without a sword, his soul faces the transmigration - now let me clarify on this one line - Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself was so great, that even He Himself too Amrit. Taking Amrit is key to being a Sikh of the Guru. Wearing a Kirpan is mandatory for Gursikh. The first of the panj pyaare was Daya, which means compassion, only when you have compassion will you respect the Wahegurus Hukham. When we go to the Gurudwara and we do Matha Tek, what your actually doing is giving your head to the Guru, Guru Granth Sahib Ji says over and over again, give your head, your body and mind to the Guru and in return, the Guru will become yours. Dhan Man Dhan. Its the exact same when Guru Gobind Singh Ji asked for 5 heads to initiate the Amrit ceremony. People used to take Amrit before Guru Gobind Singh Jis time by drinking the water of the Gurus washed feet. Guru Gobind Singh Ji created this Amrit ceremony for all people who wanted to be Sikh to take this Amrit and he sealed the very essence on how to take Amrit.

Sorry if I went off the topic a bit but keeping your hair is a requirement and yes it is one aspect only but a Gurmukh pyaara once said - if you cant even look after the external part as per Gurus wishes, how will you clean your inner self?

Sincere apologies if I have offended anyone.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Ranjeet Singh

Please include the book, Hair Power by Sarup Singh Alag in your research. You can find the book on Amazon and Sunday stalls.
Also try http://www.vidhia.co...eeping_Kesh.pdf
And I wouldn't put to much faith in anything Khuswant Singh says, he has many anti-sikh views.

Hey All,

I am a young Sikh about 18 years old......

Please, everyone, share your thoughts on what I have said, and on the paragraphs I have quoted. This is a difficult decision for me.

hope it helps

kes... its spiritual antennas.. just like a 'kals' on the top of domes of gurdwaras! wen we do naam simran, the tool of kes become utilised.. if u cut it, its not there to vibrate. so u dont increase in ur spirituality. we have a tongue. kes. the beat of heart. sur. sound. taal. raag. all as tools for us to increase in our spirit.

kes gives charecter that our guru G wants. and saves us from becoming self conscious.

god is puran (complete). we must become complete in every way if we are to merge back into god.. else, we just aint worthey!

emotional n physical completeness 1st. mental n spiritual completeness 2nd.. these are the 4 main parts of us that make us up who we are.. this the key how we are to move further towards the 5th one.. that being >>social<<..

we all want completeness. these 4 catagories govern us, on the completeness 'ladder' so to speak.

emotions are the key to everything.. hence jin prem kio. so this is y we start with this first. mental can come second or third. as, some people dont need to know anyhting, to be happy physically as the '>feeling' is enough.. if they feel secure, it can be enough for the physical 'caragory' to become complete within an individual. others, need proof etc.. (proof only goes so far. so this is why, it doesnt reely matter on the large scale of things.) mental completeness well.. most sane people have this. and those that are sane, only get completeness when 'base questions' for them, have been answered (like me). spiritual completeness, is the completeness we aim for, using naam simran,/ bani, seva, and keertan.. it is the path of sikhi. i hope u see that the keeping of hair comes way before walking the path of sikhi. but has a major function in all of sikhi..

hope this helps!


gurfateh brother!

btw, kes, or kesh, means any hair on the body.

Like Kaljugi said, it's good that you are at least looking into this rather than just putting a pair of sissors to your hair. Also, like the previous poster said it's about how God made you (and there's are no fault's in God's plan and creation, which you are a part of).

There's no doubt that the world is putting more and more pressure on men to look more and more like women. With even 'closer shaves' and face creams for men, men themsleves are taking more and more pride in having shiny feminine complexions with pretty little faces (may be we are all turning bi-sexual on a subliminal level? - there's certainly a lot of confusion out there!!).

Survey:
One thing you could do is carry out a little survey...

Speak to all the Sikh boys who keep their hair from 4 years old to 15 years old. Listen to their answers and see how inspired you are by their answers and character.

Then speak to all the Sikh men aged 30 to 80 years old who take great care in keeping a feminine appearance by keeping their face totally free of hair and going to hair stylists and beauticians to keep crafted hair styles. Listen to their answers too and see how inspired you are by their answers.

Remember, the above survey must be given by somebody who professes to be a Sikh and answers as a Sikh. Please test each on the Guru's teachings i.e. how much of Guru Granth Sahib Ji's individual shabads do they understand and how much of the history of the Gurus do they know (or even names of Gurus etc). As if we don't even now our Guru Ji's message and writings, and examples through their lives, what do we know?

I think you will be very surprised with the findings of your Survey and will definitely keep your hair!!

Video:
Or you could just watch this video: