What Do Punjab Sikhs Think Of White Converts

[Guest Steven Joe]

What do Sikhs who are ethnically and culturally Sikh think of white converts or white people who want to convert? I am half white and half Japanese, I am interested in the Sikh religion and I want to visit a Gudwara in the United states but I don't know any Sikh people and I am afraid I would be unwelcome or that I wont understand what goes on at the Gudwara if I don't speak Punjabi. Please be honest with your answer, I know the religion teaches peace and acceptance but so does Buddhism and I got many stares while in Japan going to Buddhist meetings and temples. If you have an experience meeting a convert please tell me your thoughts about it and what others around them said or thought.

[simran345]

What do Sikhs who are ethnically and culturally Sikh think of white converts or white people who want to convert? I am half white and half Japanese, I am interested in the Sikh religion and I want to visit a Gudwara in the United states but I don't know any Sikh people and I am afraid I would be unwelcome or that I wont understand what goes on at the Gudwara if I don't speak Punjabi. Please be honest with your answer, I know the religion teaches peace and acceptance but so does Buddhism and I got many stares while in Japan going to Buddhist meetings and temples. If you have an experience meeting a convert please tell me your thoughts about it and what others around them said or thought.

I don't know any converts myself, if somebody else that is could reply regarding that.

But I will just give my opnion on one sentence, if I may.

"What do Sikhs who are ethnically and culturally Sikh think of white converts or white people who want to convert?"

Steven Joe ji, I would say to this, it's God you should be worried about pleasing, not people. God accepts everybody, regardless of race, colour, etc.

Sikhi teaches equality of all people. You will be very welcome to the Gurdwara, don't worry about the stares. Gurdwaras are open to all mankind. This is what the Gurus tell us, all are welcome and everybody is on one level thus the langar system, where everybody sits together regardless of social status or anything else.

Sikhs are disciples of God who follow the writings and teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

You may want to go with somebody that is familiar with the Gurdwara, as they would be able to give you a detailed tour, so you don't feel lost by yourself.

Take a look at this video and there's more for those new to Sikhi, that may help you:

Tips for going to the Gurdwara the first time :

http://www.newtosikhi.com/m/group/discussion?id=4801542%3ATopic%3A1860

[dallysingh101]

Converts are alright, but when some start pushing weird stuff (from their own culture) on us like homosexual Anand Karaj's (the SIkh wedding ceremony) it's like: what the heck??

Then the other tendency to simply equate modern, western, secular liberalism with Sikhi is another irritating thing. Sure, areas of commonality do exist, but to ignore the ways in which Sikhi is different from the aforementioned is nuts.

Ultimately I couldn't put it better than the previous post though - you need to be more concerned with your spiritual development (your relationship with Waheguru) than the social side of the religion (i.e. your relationship with other Sikhs).

And it might not be easy - but this path is not telling you that it will be at the outset. A path sharper than the edge of a sword and finer than a strand of hair.

[MisterrSingh]

...you need to be more concerned with your spiritual development (your relationship with Waheguru) than the social side of the religion (i.e. your relationship with other Sikhs).

That's something "naturalised" Sikhs would do well to bear in mind too, especially youngsters drawn to certain Jathas for whom Sikhi is a way of socialising and having fun without the stigma associated with the drinking and drugs culture that's rife amongst our people.

BUT just because you're not knocking back pegs or dancing like a goon, I defy anyone to argue that there's not other equally damaging activities occurring that aren't congruous with what it means to be Sikh. Unfortunately, as with most things when it comes to us, as long as the surface is intact and presentable, what's underneath is secondary or irrelevant.

Sangat is important, yes, but most take it too far.

[Guest Jacfsing2]

What do Sikhs who are ethnically and culturally Sikh think of white converts or white people who want to convert? I am half white and half Japanese, I am interested in the Sikh religion and I want to visit a Gudwara in the United states but I don't know any Sikh people and I am afraid I would be unwelcome or that I wont understand what goes on at the Gudwara if I don't speak Punjabi. Please be honest with your answer, I know the religion teaches peace and acceptance but so does Buddhism and I got many stares while in Japan going to Buddhist meetings and temples. If you have an experience meeting a convert please tell me your thoughts about it and what others around them said or thought.

You will be welcomed at the Gurdwara, (even without being Sikh), but I'd be lying if I said nobody would stare at you, (the ones who do are usually going to be young kids who just stare at everyone, so you're not getting any special treatment). In the gurdwara I usually attend there are a few non-Punjabi Sikh converts. Ultimately, rather than the people our main focus should be to be with Vaheguru.

[dallysingh101]

That's something "naturalised" Sikhs would do well to bear in mind too, especially youngsters drawn to certain Jathas for whom Sikhi is a way of socialising and having fun without the stigma associated with the drinking and drugs culture that's rife amongst our people.

BUT just because you're not knocking back pegs or dancing like a goon, I defy anyone to argue that there's not other equally damaging activities occurring that aren't congruous with what it means to be Sikh. Unfortunately, as with most things when it comes to us, as long as the surface is intact and presentable, what's underneath is secondary or irrelevant.

Sangat is important, yes, but most take it too far.

I agree.

What that does highlight though is the importance humans (who are social animals) place on social circles. Certain other faiths place a lot more emphasis on this (Muslims for example and certain denominations of Christians) and I'd argue that this social element is the main attractive feature of their faith and one of the biggest reasons why they have a lot of converts.

Many of our own lot have VERY strong tribal tendencies and to my mind, this is the reason that they clump together in various competing jathas like you mention.

Truth be told, if my faith was based on my interactions with other apnay, I'd probably have left the faith in disgust a long while ago. lol Best way is to focus on the individual journey. It's a LOT more rewarding and a lot more conducive to one's spiritual and intellectual development in my opinion. Once we start getting bogged down with petty loyalties to our social circles we inevitably end up disappointed or disillusioned at one point or another when we are disappointed by our peers in some way. There is also this strange tendency amongst apnay to excessively elevate and iconise perceived 'paunchay hoe' people, especially ones doing good katha. Then, when human failings emerge in these exalted ones, people's faith gets shook. Better to leave that all alone and respect individuals who do good work without crawling up to them and idolising them. Safer for you.

[Dev1975]

Truth be told, if my faith was based on my interactions with other apnay, I'd probably have left the faith in disgust a long while ago. lol Best way is to focus on the individual journey. It's a LOT more rewarding and a lot more conducive to one's spiritual and intellectual development in my opinion. Once we start getting bogged down with petty loyalties to our social circles we inevitably end up disappointed or disillusioned at one point or another when we are disappointed by our peers in some way. There is also this strange tendency amongst apnay to excessively elevate and iconise perceived 'paunchay hoe' people, especially ones doing good katha. Then, when human failings emerge in these exalted ones, people's faith gets shook. Better to leave that all alone and respect individuals who do good work without crawling up to them and idolising them. Safer for you.

My sentiments exactly. As you say, the best thing to do is to focus on your own individual journey, rather than looking at what everyone else is doing and letting that dictate your journey for you.

[SeekerKaur]

Stares are natural because people get curious. It is not like they dislike you.

I think:conversion is fine provided you are genuinely interested in Sikhi and want to learn about the faith and follow it properly,adapt your lifestyle according to Sikh values and teachings.

But if you just want to:convert out of fancy but not follow it properly then please do not bother to do so.

One must respect the tenets of the faith one is adopting.

Otherwise Punjab Sikhs or any Sikhs for that matter would welcome the ones genuinely interested in becoming a Sikh.

As others have commented here, best to follow your own journey.

[Guest Sat]

Sikhs are not supposed to be racist, that goes against the teachings of Truth.

Unfortunately you may come across some racist 'sikh' losers but don't pay them any attention.

It doesnt matter what colour or caste of creed u are, the Gurus believed that the pure Truth teachings given by God to previous teachers had become corrupted so they were blessed with serving humanity the pure Truth again.

Truth has been the same for eternity, Sikhism is not a Religion, Truth can't be confined to a sect, its just the Truth teachings that have always existed but became corrupted over time.

Its just teachings about who we really are and how to be Good, all the answers are actually within us but we are too blind to realise.

[Guest Jacfsing2]

Unfortunately you may come across some racist 'sikh' losers but don't pay them any attention.

I honestly don't think most of them are being racist, rather they are mostly just interested in what inspired him or her to follow Sikhi, (you seem a bit too quick to judge a fellow human being for seeing something which isn't usual for what he or she have always seen at the Gurdwara).