Khalsa_starr

Sorry, for hopping on the roller coaster, however i have a few words to say. First of all, you cant be overly sikh - it;s not possible. We should all try to get our fellow sikhs more interested in sikhi. This is not fanaticism, it's just sikh who are trying to encourage others, of course, it's bad to try and force it on another. If you do shave/cut your body hair, you are not a true sikh, however, you are still a disiple of guru ji. When amritdhari, you must not cut hair anywhere on your body. Singhs and kaurs, what is stopping you from wearing a turban? I mean, who is watching you? I'm always stunned to see sikhs especially boys not wearing dastar or head covering in public - be proud to be sikh!! This quote makes me question whether you really are sikh, your words are very offensive. The reason? Only the world and it's corrupt thinking would view our pure women in that way, womean and men are equal. I honestly hope your not amritdhari The above statement is a contradiction to what you said before. You were putting down women who don't cutt their hair in the previous paragraph, and then you talk about the SGGS as if you read it and you know it well? Perhaps you should be reading it again! You just insulted the khalsa sureal69... The rest of your paragraphs is just s***, go back and read the SGGS, and look around at your fellow sikhs before saying such offensive stuff. -Khalsa starr

YOur words are indeed inspiring, i like it. May not agree with all of what you have to say, but i do love your advice and knowledge.

One reason: people think that their way is the only way, and they have to have it no matter what the costs. Goes for any kinf of seperatism.

It's 2005, and it took that long for them to approve of it?

Ummm, this is a bit of an awkward question - what is this thread is about? I can't understand what the threa discription means. please explain. sorry

Does anyone know what organization controls the temples in Canada? I would like a address for a letter i am writting. The topic is about the poor Gurdwara Leadership here in Vernon.

Bumpity bumb bump bump... Let's keep the ideas flowing.

I think at one point or another, THEY WERE real people and did live on earth. However, are they gods? No, just simply pepple who have done greate things for other people. A short but interesting opinion on ONE famous "god": Take a look at the ramayana that "valmiki" composed. Today, you read the story and you wonder if some of the events that took place could ever happen. sure the people could have been real, and the location are legit, but moving mountains and jumping over seas is a little "tall" So what happened? Most likely, the original story was far less dramatic and didnt have such superhuman events (also monkeys and demons). Writters who re-writ the story usually got their info from family tales and bits of the story passed down, as well as local leaders and and other previous compositions. That is where the story got its dramatic, superhuman, godlike properties! Each time the story was passed down from person to person, whispered and taught to others, written and translated - the story was altered in some little way. At the end of the line (most recent versions to date), we get the dramatic ramayana that exists today. This can be applied to why some hindu's worship rama today: No doubt, rama existed, did his stuff, and died. The people who were near him and got some how effected by him, told the story of this man and his story. The idol of ramayana itself, might have originated from statues built to honor rama (and later on worshipped to honor him). That is my opinion, yes, he existed.

Why? 108228[/snapback] because everyone ties a different dastaar. 108364[/snapback] Perhaps, just make your dastarr extra large ( :T: ) and more tight, so when you fall off, it won't be so much of a problem. Isn't most dastars and turbans offer good enough protection anyways? The patka might need more protection though.

Good post F_O_F, i think a sikh leaflet has been long overdue. I think i will work on one myself and see what others think, then again, others may have something else in mind. i'm on it! :TH:

I think i dropped the ball as well, sorry! Anyways, nice suggestion, a punjabi word everyday. A seperate thread for this perhaps? or two maybe, good job singhs (and kuars!).

Perhaps that something i will do in the years to come, i will create a organization that helps our fellow sikhs and not compromise the sikh morals and tachings, something 3HO is treading lightly on. sorry for the assumption.

:doh: :doh: :doh: :doh: :doh: you could have just said "join them instead of trying to help others" What and insult, are we trying to bury the issue again?

i do 3d modeling and desing, moslty buildings and mapping projects. If you need help for buildings in sets or objects, i will help oout if you want. I also am good at drawing and cell style drawing, hmmm, i should do more and show them. PM me on this.

Sometimes re-inventing can be benificial in the end, sometimes you have to take chage and start something new. New mexico, umm, i live in bc canada, a slight difference. A groups should be started here, and i was thinking of a internet group for now. Could you give me link or number?

The servces should be in gurmakhi AND english. All should be in the main hall. The main hall is the heart of any gurdwara, and no person who speaks a different languauge should have to be put in their "special place" to understand what's going. Being seperated from the rest or being shuttled off to another room is even worse, because the ppl will feel degraded and left apart of the community. A good idea is for the english servic to be held in the main hall, but before, or after the punjabi/gurmakhi session, that way, the ppl who want to take part will still get a chance to be in the hall at a busy time, and still be able to be taught at the same time. This is considerably better than learning everyrthing from the internet, the word of god was not meant to be inaccessible to the public and other languages and cultures. Wouldnt't you agree?

Ambrosia (my bother or sister?), come on over to sikhphilosophy.net and join our forum, at least their you can intermingle with more "internationaly experienced" sikhs who are often more open to suggestion and aren't khalistan crazy like so many users are here. Thinking about moving there soon... what were you going to say?

Right, is there a way to say to others that we are sikhs and at the same time we are not trying to convert others? Yes, it's called getting ppl aware. There's a difference between converting and bringing ppl aware. Back to the subject, we know now that it was alqueda that planned all this, it turns out, there was two other bombs that didn't go off! I don't know how ppl get muslims and sikhs get confused, some ppl don't get it.

send me link too, starrdarcy@hotmail.com

This post has been Khalsanated

my frind and I were talking on the phone, we both agreed that there is a slight problem with languages at the temple. I didn't mention my ideas to her, but we did touch up on the subject. What needs to be soon, is some form of english sessions or services and some sort of english signage needs to be put up so more of our english speaking sikhs could understand whats going on, and also for the public to realise what this place is. I agree with you that punjabi should be learned (i'm doing that myself!). However, in the mean time while some of these sikhs (including me) try learn punjabi, there should be some sort of english (or other language) services available to them and the public. I was shoked to learn that many of the younger generations and some of the even the older ppl don't understand punjabi! Not to mention, probably more can't even read gurmakhi. Now, isnt our youth supposed to understanding and carrying on the word of sikhism? and isnt the future of our religion in our youth? Well how will that be when most of our youth don't even understand or can't read what's is being tought? Please, somone tell me how that's it possible, i would like to know. This might be a small factor in why some of our youth find it a little dry or boeing at the temple becasue they don't understand what's going on or what is being said. I even at times found myself being a little tired of listening to something i didn't understand. Times are changing, and more ppl will want to be sikhs - ppl who don't neccesarily understand punjabi. We need to start bringing in a few changes if we want to change with the times. I don't honestly like it, however it is for the greater good and it will make going to temple a little bit more enjoyable for some. I am already, going to talk with president of the sikh society here in Vernon. -Khalsa Starr

Good point, i was a JW before converting to sikh, ir tried to be a good Jw, but i realized that sikhi was force me. It is recomended that you try to learn more about your own religion before converting.

Has any one thought about creating English only (or mostly english) Gurdwara's? It would be a good idea, since there are alot of youth and older ones who don't speak, or speak little punjabi. I myself would like to learn punjabi, but others might not want to do that. Creating "custom" gurdwara's or programs in existing gurdwara's that feature engish only speakers would create a sense of belonging and welcome for many who would rather speak in their own language whether that would be English, German, Hindi, etc. The custom tailored gurdwara would entise would-be sikhs or ppl who are curious for info on sikhi. possibly many "hidding" sikhs like me before would also come out of the dark as well. One small step is to ask gurdwara's to put some sort of english signage nearby to explain what the building is for. Just puting a khanda sign on the gates or door is not good enough. I will create a group (msn possibly) for ppl interested in creating ideas and acting on them. It's time for change, not wait for later.

language barrier for new sikhs? By Khalsa Starr About half a year ago, i converted to sikhism. And even though i don't call myself a sikh yet (not amritdhari yet), i do try to follow as much of the sikh code of conduct to the best of my ability. (thanks to s1ngh!! again) However, I have noticed something while going to the local Gurdwara - all of the talking in the temple was in Punjabi, especially in the main hall. The langar room was also a difficult place to navigate and talk with others since very few spoke fluent english. There were those who did speak both, but not very easily understood. This made me ask a question: "is there a language barrier for new sikhs?" especially converts?. I asked this question because for new people, we want to learn new things and more about sikh teachings. Converts are usually very eager to learn more about sikhi (like myslef). However, it a little difficult to learn when you can't understand what is being said! After asking these questions, i then realized that i am probably not the only one who has run into this wall. While i already know some sikh history and the code of conduct, what about those who are just curious? or want more information? So far the internet has been my greatest teacher, but just think about it - isnt the temple and granth sahib supposed to your teacher? I asked someone about this, and they said that the granth sahib should only be read and spoken in the "language of the guru's" aka punjabi. Well that's great and all, but to me (and others newbies), the "language of the gurus" is useless and pointless if you dont understand it. So to make things even more interesting, the gurudwara doesnt even have any english words on the building or nearby to suggest that this is a sikh place of worship. Where is a curious mind supposed to go? Or the new convert? The internet first? come on, if the sikhims was really meant to be learned on the net, wouldn't the guru's mention it? I think not. I decided to pursue this problem and see what can be done about it. Until then i (and others) will continue to sit on the floor in the main hall and langar room and wonder what our "teachers" are saying... -khalsa Starr If any one is interestied in this issue, I'm currently looking for fellow sikhs who are new (converts, or reborn) and sikhs who are open minded and can think "outside the box". I am thinking about setting up a group for this.

i'm out, i dont have any good photos to share. However, i have a good photo hosting account that has lots of space... If anyone is interested in posting pictures on the web but doesnt have any space, just feel free to PM me on some free space. Im one of the mods there, so i have almost unlimited space. cheers, Khalsa starr