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I wouldn't bother going India, unless you are going to the historical Gurdwaras of Sikhi or visiting close relatives. I'm here at the moment, and it's changed so much from the last time I was here. My health has been affected so much by the change of everything here, and I haven't had much of a good experience since being here. The pind life has changed too, my internet keeps cutting off, so not sure if this post will go through. Internet reception is so bad. I should be used to India as I've been enough times, but this time I am just not adjusting to it as I thought I would. People have changed, everything's changed. So far, I've experienced there is no sense of humanity like when I used to come before. Nobody's cares about nobody, everybody is all themselves, "me me me". I thought it was a western abroad issue, but here it's much worse. Totally different planet. Big culture shock, I think I'm still stuck in the old way of thinking when people were friendly and used to care. But those words are non existent here. Ok so my experience so far; - I Am ashamed to say that the airport, named after Guru Ramdas ji, has not been done proud or maintained as it should be, considering it is the land of the Gurus. The disabled services are totally ****. Excuse the language, but I know I and others along with me went through an unpleasant experience. I ended up telling off the staff and having to fight for my right of getting a wheelchair, even though it was pre-booked. And on top of it I was asked for tips, which I refused to give and gave them a few lectures on disabled rights. I was told to sit in a wheelchair which was a sheet of fabric on top of metal bars or rods, obviously I refused to sit in it as it was so painful too. Some staff tried to fob off the genuine wheelchair users, but I got so frustrated and was disgusted by it, I took my stand and I'm so glad I did. God knows what I will go through going back. - Women here are very nasty, and have attitude problems. People lie to your face just to divert you from anything good. Rest I will tell you when I come back. Only met a few young decent genuine girls who love my way of thinking. Most women will be sweet to your face but then I see them talking about me in the corner. As I have been occupied in a wedding, haven't had chance to go sight seeing or to any historical isthaans. It's so tiring here, and you just feel like going anywhere. - Weddings are a nightmare here, no system at all. The process is different aswell. The men aren't too bad with manners and social etiquette, but the women are vicious, unorganised and want to be first first first at everything, be it the Maiya or Jago or the Anand Karaj. God knows why, because they don't do nothing when they get to the front ? I've been on purpose, and been give so many looks and Mehne. Women are very judgmental here and obviously have that great talent of chuglian and lieing. But I've had the pleasure of seeing the lagis, bajigar singers. Lagis are more greedy now, and have received a few negative comments and Mehne just for being from abroad. In Uk the milni is first and then tea and then Anand Karaj. But here, it's Anand Karaj, then off to the palace and milni then tea. The thing that made me angry most was the videographers and photographers. Every second they are taking pictures or filming. Like a billion photos with the most stupidest poses lol. I think the wedding was just a film and photo shoot, didn't even feel like a wedding. I've had to defend myself at the wedding most against women, it's quite dangerous being pushed and trampled, especially when you know certain women are doing it on purpose. So I thought enough is enough and got all my energy and gave them a taste of their own medicine. Didn't like doing it, but it was the only way to save myself from injuries. But hey it worked, because now they know not to mess with me and are being polite. It's like disciplining kids. Obviously the speakers are much louder than abroad so one doesn't really get to enjoy the wedding. - Talking about system, there is no system for anything, which I already knew, but seems to have got worse. No traffic system, no social events system, no shopping system, not really a system in the few Gurdwaras I been too. The people just don't respect system. That's about it on system and organisation, the only system I seen is lieing, chuglian and evil looks. - As you know staring is the norm here, but it's now accompanied by evil dirty looks again by the women. To which I've had to respond like this ? Or ?? Or said words in English which stops the dirty looks, which never happened before I used to come, only staring was the fashion. - One has to distinguish between the genuine beggars and the fraud beggars. I've found the genuine ones won't give Mehne and didn't hassle me so much. When I said I'm sorry I don't have anything to give which I didnt, they kind of respected me for it and moved away, whereas the fake ones gave me Mehne and made negative comments. I think I've felt more humanity from the genuine poor or low class people here and been talking to them it's made me feel more welcome than the normal people. I normally talk to the kids, they are so cute. But there is not enough discipline, kids are naughtier I think here. And unlike abroad they wonder around the pind by themselves or play with friends and the parents don't know where they are. I suppose it's the norm here. - There are more dogs barking at night, having their tantrums and arguments. The time you want to go to sleep kuttea di laraiyi hojandi ??. Then the neighbours put their stereo speakers on full blast trying to be DJs playing Bhangra. So yup you guessed it, no rest. Then in the morning the Gurdwara speaker goes on the loudest volume setting, which I'm trying to get used to now. But not one, then the other Gurdwaras and Mandirs put their speakers on too. There isn't really peace of mind as i can't get any laha from Gurbani when it's that loud. I think they've put the speakers louder than last time. It's like one whole mix up of loud noises and hard to focus on what's being read. But again it's the norm here, which I'm not used to. One day I was so tired and said the Granthi didn't do paat today. Everybody was like he did, I must have been in deep sleep. That's about it really, the delights of India, it's been raining so not sure where to go. Not sure what there is to see Jalandhar area. People don't advice on where to go. Is there anything worth seeing that somebody else has around here? Need some happy therapy as long as it's not food outlets, I'd be grateful if somebody could advise any sight seeing or historical places. Thank you ji. The rest I will update when I come back. ?? Waheguru

taken from Naamnet 1 1.1 Relax and have drink! My colleagues at work often go to the pub at lunch time, they asked me but I don't go to places with alcohol. My Sikh friend was going with them and told me to `Relax my principles_it's only a friendly drink'. Strange how the non-sikhs respected my decision, but the Sikh was the one who didn't. So this is what I wrote to him : You said relax when I said I don't go to where there is alcohol. Shall I tell you a few stories about people who relaxed : 1) My uncle in India used to RELAX with his 'mates', one time him and his mates must have got too relaxed because he either was murdered by his mates who'd got him relaxed so they could get his money, or he had an accident but his mate was so relaxed that he couldn't even think straight enough to give him basic first aid, so he ran away and left him to die. 2) My Uncles in Canada worked day and night to make a hugely successful furniture business, they lived like kings in almost a mansion. But, they liked to RELAX and have a few drinks, turned into an addiction lead to the family business falling apart. 3) My Uncle RELAXED with his mates, then being relaxed he was too macho to be driven home by his friend's wife, so he drive himself and relaxed his way right into the back of a parked car. 4) Another uncle used to RELAX after drinking and beat his wife. 5) Some research was done to show that out of all communities in the UK, the Sikhs are the most addicted to Alcohol - and Guru ji's banned it! 6) People need to make a stand, then things slowly change. Eg so many people have stopped smoking and protested about smoking that we are sitting in a no smoking office, more and more places are becoming non-smoking.. When our boss Jerry presented wine bottles to us, there were 6 people who took it but didn't drink! He came up to me afterwards and apologised for insisting that I take the bottle even when I said I was happy without it. In addition he started thinking about other things he could give as rewards. If I had just RELAXED and taken his wine without saying anything, then nothing would change and I'd be getting wine presented to me for the rest of my days. The Turban and beard mean `No Drink Zone', it means people shouldn't even have to ask if I drink or not. It means they should know that offering a Sikh of Guru Gobind Singh Jee drink is like swearing at his mother. I don't hate anyone or look down at anyone, God is everywhere and in everyone, but my actions are important. If I go to nightclubs and pubs, wining and dining then I am saying even though I don't drink I think these places are OK. These places don't agree with Sikhi I can't agree with them either. I went to nightclubs a few times at university, I saw this really tall Sikh with an uncut beard and turban. He stood out from the crowd, I thought what the hell is he doing here, this is no place to bring the Guru's turban and beard. Then I thought hold on - what the hell am I doing here! I went to a pub after a course, during the course lectures people have self-control and discipline (like Khalsa), at the pub their dirty desires come up, they talk dirty, one man kissed all the girls goodbye - & cuddled one of them half to death. She's got a boyfriend but she didn't mind kissing someone else, and he didn't care as long as he was getting his lustful satisifaction'. They had no honour, no dignity. And all I got was a head full of dirty thoughts, a coat full of smoke smell and the feeling I'd wasted my time. I used to feel guilty about saying I don't go to the pub and used to go out of politeness to my work mates. But then this white girl didn't go either and she told people straight, she didn't even like wasting time at lunchtime talking aimlessly to people. She was training for the great Britain Olympic rowing team, she had a set diet, she was very organised and no-one was going to mess her dreams up. I thought that's right, she knows she wants: a gold medal, and she's 100% committed to getting it. I too know where I'm going - -right into Guru Nanak ji's laps, and no-one is going to steal my time or my principles. The world can hate me or love me but I've given my head to Guru ji and I'm not stepping off this path. My stand is solid. - My path is set. And by Gur Prasad may I have no regrets. Millions and millions of people come and go, I'm taking a big gamble and following Guru Nanak's shabad Guru path to the letter. So people can relax if they want and they'll get what they want deep down, but the Khalsa will never relax until they've won the ultimate Gold medal - a place at Vaahi-guroo Jee's feet and by Gur prasad we will win.

Sometimes I just get perplexed, as per how while being guests in this creation of Wahiguru, we make plans to make it a place as it is going to last forever, and moreover try to make it ours at all cost. From here on, start our problems of "moh" and "maya". We tend to easily forget, that Wahiguru has given us, this human birth, to only settle our karmic account with His bhakti once and forever, to become immaculate and pure as Himself, through Shabad Guru, and finally merge in Him. But no, in spite of our Guru Sahibans giving us true gyan, to discern Truth from untruth; but we as ungrateful guests, like to make ours by wanting to posses something, which first of all is not ours at all, and in that sense we are no less than foolish thugs or thieves. The creation is of Wahiguru, He is the only Malik, let Him do with it as He thinks fit. There is no doubt, He has that much wisdom. How to keep it or handle it, that is His outlook. What is ours then? Being happy wherever we are, due to our own karmas, that is to live in Hukum; and as per Gurmat, try to only make Him ours. Having Him with us, what else do we need? Such a pity, nobody talks of plans, of having the keen desire to find and become one with our Pyara Preetam Wahiguru Akal Purukh, but rather run after mayavee shadows which keep us prisoners in the chaurasee ka chakar, thus we remain as bikharees, as paupers always... That also, when our Sachay Patshah Akal Purukh, is the only true Emperor, and true is His kingdom Sach Khand, and true is His wealth of Naam... Sat Sree Akal.

This video is almost a year old, and it's maker is very clearly insane. It has 229 views. Why are you always wasting your time drawing attention to the 'beadbi' of Sikhism by complete NOBODIES committed some time ago? What are we supposed to do about it eight months later? This warrants no concern at all.

I have noticed one thing. People on forums can become very nasty almost dusht like. I mean only a dusht would do the maha paap of Sant ki Ninda as we saw on a recent thread that was closed yesterday where a Mahapurkh was repeatedly insulted. But when you try to spit at the moon the spit will only land on your own face with full force. Moon will remain unaffected. This is one of the main reasons why I dislike missionaries because they disrespect respected Gursikhs of the past.

This forum is good for vichaar; the exchanging of opinions and sharing of ideas. For those who don't have access to sangat, it's essential IMO, as long as everyone's behaving in the correct spirit of obtaining knowledge.

Brother, best to find someone you can discuss this issue with one-on-one, because, from my experience, high-avastha Gursikhs don't spend their spare time loafing on internet forums like the rest of us.

Read what I posted before you get emotional. Not once did I allude to it being a fashion statement. I suggested they felt compelled to adhere to this aspect of their faith due to the growing intolerance and hostility from an increasingly prejudiced western society, in affect thumbing their nose at bigots who want religious people to assimilate and disregard all overt, external articles of faith under the pretence of societal harmony.

I believe, and this may be controversial, there's a slight correlation between the increase of hijabi-wearing females and dastaar-wearing bibiya. There is something occurring on a subconscious level with religious adherence in females of certain faiths that im sure a professional could chart better than my untrained mind is trying to grasp. Something to do with asserting and expressing their autonomy as religious women through the wearing of visual vestments of faith, in response to an increasingly intolerant (compared to previous times) society. Or something like that.