Vahejeo

I think that the bottom line should be that whatever style/tune of Kirtan joins as with Guru Sahib, Gurbani, than that is valid. The fact is that many youth and adults are going away from Sikhi. The life blood of a Sikh is Gurbani, so whatever joins us with Guru Sahib is valid and no one should criticize it. I know many youth, including myself, who would never listen to Kirtan if it was done only in normal raagi style. But for example, AKJ style Kirtan has affected so many people and has gotten them to listen to Kirtan on a daily basis and even learn Kirtan because of it, especially youth who normally would not listen to Kirtan. So I think whatever style of Kirtan joins you to GurShabad, be it Raag or other, then it is all valid. What right does anyone have to criticize this?

Veerji, why not post your message here: http://akj.org/forum/index.php I am sure the Singhs there can help you.

Check out these videos: http://www.panthic.org/news/131/ARTICLE/4374/2008-09-12.html

This is not Kirtan, but sounds amazing, the tabla is amazing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXxJGtnOrOE

You need this: http://checkhere22.com/stabilizer/ Gurfateh Ji!

Download the file that I attached it has both English and Punjabi, there is no need to download any fonts. Gurfateh Ji

The Chaupai Sahib can be found in this file from the other thread: RehraasSahib_longerChaupai_Sahib.pdf Gurfateh Ji

Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture, puts emphasis on purity of conjugal love. Pre-marital relationship is not allowed at all. Bhai Gurdas Ji writes, Seeing other women, do not cast a lustful eye on them, instead consider them as your mother, sister and daughter. Dekh prayia changian mawan bhaina dhian jane -Varan Bhai Gurdas Steek, Bhai Gurdas, // 29.11 Also in Amrit Sanchars it is mentioned that pre marital relationships are not allowed. Gurfateh Ji

Where does it say that you can have relationships before marriage? Gurfateh Ji

My point in writing was not to attack anyone but this thread brings up the point of mixed marriages, and judging from the responses in this thread, everyone is saying its ok. And if youths read this thread and get the idea that getting girlfriend/boyfriend is OK and on top of that going outside of your race be it white/black/hindu, whatever is OK that is the wrong message. If you are a Sikh male what is wrong in getting a Singhnee? If you are a Sikh female what is wrong in getting a Singh? And if you ask people in mixed marriages how they came together, they say that they went to the same school or something and based on their attraction they began speaking and from there they took off. So it was due to them being in the same location in one point of time they got together, thats not what marriage is based on. What if the two of them were not in the same room when they were attracted together, they would have gone with the first person that gave them a stare. This is not what love is and esp this is not what a marriage is based on. Also I was born and raised in America and I know both cultures very well I am not someone from India saying all this. If I come across as being rude or strong then I apologize, but I am entitled to my view just like everyone else on this forum. Gurfateh Ji

This is to the other desis in this thread, not the original poster, I think that when it comes to giving others advice we tell others to be open minded but if someone were to ask you if you as a parent would allow your own child to marry someone out of their race most would say no. But when speaking to others, its always "keep an open mind", "its all good". Its not all good, because I know of people who came from Sikh families who went outside their race for marriage and they lost respect and people avoided them because they don't want their own children to think this sort of behavior is ok. And this being a youth forum, the Sikh youth on this forum should not get the idea that marriage outside of your race is ok. It sends the wrong message. If you don't agree with me that's fine, breaking down my post and saying that each idea is wrong is not fair either. Everyone is allowed to their opinion. Tradition is respected, if you do your own thing that is not respected. Gurfateh Ji

In my opinion, forgive me for not agreeing with everyone in this thread, but I feel that mixed marriages are not a good idea. There is really no plus in it because you are getting together based on feelings that you had for each other, otherwise known as lust. This is not the way of Sikhi. The normal way Sikh marriages are done is through arranging and so on, not love marriages. Esp not love marriages outside of race. This is not a question about what Sikhism says. Sikhism says to respect everyone regardless of their race, which is great, BUT it doesn't say that you respect them so much that you marry that person and have kids. That is wrong because it creates a lot of problems for the people involved and esp their families. I totally agree with boys parents because there is no positive in this sort of arrangement not to mention the haertache the boy's parents must feel because he is going out of their race to marry. Sikhi does not advocate girlfriend/boyfriend relationships in general and then on top of that love marriages, it's wrong. Sikhism says to respect the human race, but not to go and marry others based on affection. Buk Chuk the Khima

that's not a singh.. Gurfateh Ji

http://www.dtfbooks.com/shop/index.ppa?cPath=2_402 wjkk wjkf

How do you get out knots from your hair? I mean really deep rooted knots that are impossible to come out. I keep trying with my comb to get them out but they don't. And I don't wanna break any hairs if I try to comb them out too hard. This has already happened, I was combing the knot and some hairs broke, the knot did come out though. Please help!!!! vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw! vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

9/10 times dodras are not allowed to do kirtan in Gurdwaras. this can be seen in the case where there are many gurdwaras in Toronto, but they still have their kirtan in a public hall. fateh ji

Where do you draw the line? When is too much too much? GurFateh

There is a saakhi, and if someone knows the details please post them, Guru Nanak Dev Ji was invited to eat at a King's palace and he refused, rather he ate at a poor carpenter's home who had gotten his food through truthful means and when Guru Sahib squeezed food from the King it dripped blood because he had not gotten the food through truthful means and when he did the same to the carpenter's it dripped milk. Point being, that the carpenter was not a Sikh. The way that I see it if you can follow bibek then more power to you. But those that are Amritdhari but can not, for example, if their family members are non-amritdhari then that is fine. If you are a student it is difficult esp if you are living with non-amritdharis. The bottom line being that you don't eat meat or eggs. Amritdharis should make food at Gurdwaras but that is not reality. In every Gurdwara that I've been to and you take a look in the kitchen and no one is Amritdhari. Does that mean you don't eat Guru Ka Langar at the Gurdwara? Bul Chuk Maaf GurFateh

So that means people who keep bibek can't eat at Gurdwaras. Because you don't know who made the food. In most cases it is non-Amritdhari. In the states, I have never seen an Amritdhari person cooking, it is mostly monas. Guru Sahib ate at different people's homes, they were not all Sikhs even.. GurFateh

Who's gonna be going from this forum? I can't wait. Gurfateh Ji

http://www.sgpc.net/rehat_maryada/section_six.html The highlighted line states that you can not eat something which has already been eaten from. But it does not state if you can eat something which is handed to you. vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw! vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

When GurSikhs like Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji travel they eat at everyones house regardless of if they are Amritdharee or not. Is that wrong? I think not. Also if you go to any Gurdwara outside of India 9/10 times the langar is made by non Amritdharees, does that mean that we don't eat at the Gurdwara? Esp for me being a student, I eat out all the time. vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw! vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

Now that I think about it, I could not have said to him, Singh I will not eat that food because you handed it to me, it would be disrespectful. Also, those of us that are students, and we have to eat out all the time, no one knows who touches the food. Does that mean that the Amrit is broken? Does that mean everytime we go out to eat that we would have to retake Amrit? My personal belief is that this is not something that you have to retake Amrit for because it does not fall under the 4 Khuriets and it was done unknowingly. I know for a fact that I won't let it happen again. These are my opinions, bul chuk maaf. vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw! vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

Is it considered Joota if someone while they are eating and they hand you a roti or something? The reason that I ask is because I was at a Singh's home having dinner and his wife was making fresh Rotis for us. While we were eating she came over and handed a roti to him and then he handed it to me. By the way he is not Amritdhari and I am. Is this considered joota? I've always thought that joota is only when someone takes a bite out of something and then you take a bite out of the same thing. Or I may just be reading too much into this. vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw! vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

i am planning on taking amrit very soon and the only doubt that i have is wearing a kirpan, i believe that we should, but what if someone sees it or a cops sees it then what do you do? i live in the US and i am afraid that i could get into trouble. this doubt seems rediculous because it is Guru Ji's hukam, but im afraid that it may lead to trouble...i have never had any trouble with the law, i dont want to because i practice my faith, those singhs that live in US and wear kirpan how do you do it? what pointers would you give me? what is the first thing to do if you do get in trouble? need some reassurances.... vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw! vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!