akivaatwood

Roughly 1cm/month...so 1.5 years or so Should come in the same as before (if not better)

Agreed. For Amritdharis. I'm working towards that (but not there yet). That's a complicated area. I have a collection of swords and knives -- some I made, some I bought -- and they are a variety of shapes and sizes. It depends on what you need it for - the conditions under which it will be used -- and by whom. And the training the wearer has. (A person with no training, in my opinion, shouldn't be wearing a weapon -- he's a danger to himself and others.)

That's a question I can't answer (I'm only holding by 4Ks at the moment) -- you would have to ask someone who wears Kirpan every day. (From a martial arts POV I find wearing a knife on a gatra less than optimal - and your design is based on being attached to a gatra - but that's a different question alltogether)

I prefer the one on the right. I think the left one would be too loose ( the kirpan would slide side to side). The one on the right also hs room over the rivits for filigree - thin sheet Damascus with a nice pattern would look very nice. Just my opinion

Beautiful - especially the first one. (The layering pattern is very nice) Can I ask if you made the billet? (Knife making is a hobby of mine) Akiva

Try moustache wax (or pure beeswax) -- works well and (IMO) more natural than gels.

regular soap is generally not advised for hair/beards -- it dries it out and makes it brittle.

Depends on your definition of "muslim" -- there are at least 4 within Islam, based on various usages in the Quran. Only one of those definitions includes being a follower of Muhammad -- the others all relate to "submitting to the will of God"

S1ngh Ji I'd be interested in getting an invite Thanks Akiva Atwood akiva@atwood.co.il

Singh559 Ji Thanks for the link -- I agree, it is an excellent piece and gives much food for thought Akiva Avtar95 Ji I would very much like to see anything you have -- thanks Akiva

Dalsingh101 Ji Thank you -- this is exactly the kind of advice I was hoping for. I looked at (and quickly copied over) the translations -- they look like they will be very useful. I intend to read the Gurmukhi -- I have found (at least for me, based on experience with Hebrew and Arabic) that reading the original script, with a basic understanding of the vocabulary, helps tremendously with my having the proper intention when reciting prayers. (To say that learning Gurmukhi is a challenge would be an understatement :-) Akiva

Mahan Singh Ji Thank you for the link -- I started reading through the colloquiums and find them very insightful. Akiva

I've read it -- and I understand it as the GOAL towards which I should go if I want to follow the Sikh path. My question is "What is the first step"? What should I do FIRST? (Since it's not healthy to try and do everything at once -- one has to grow into a path/way of life)

Would I be correct in thinking that the best way to start would be with naam jap and nitnem? if so what advice can anyone offer? And if not -- then what would be a good way to start?

Which is exactly what I "m looking for -- I"m not looking for rituals or superstition. Thanks for the link. Which is what I find attractive in Sikhi. I just need to learn HOW to walk the path Thanks