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

Thanks for the suggestion of searching out Indian Jews and asking them.

Thanks for the welcome here -- and for the links. I've read some basic overviews of sikh belief and practice -- and I find it very attractive -- but I'm stuck at the "next step" It's too easy to focus time and energy on the wrong thing -- so I'd welcome advice on what to focus on first. (My goal is for a spiritual practice that works for me -- not just an abstract study)

Thanks for the contact information. I hadn't thought about contacting Bhai Mohinder Singh -- thanks for the suggestion. I'm just a bit overwhelmed trying to figure out where to start learning more about sikhism -- so any suggestions on how to proceed would be appreciated. Akiva

Hello I've been studying the basics of Sikhism, and would like to make contact with any sikhs in Israel in order to learn more. Can anyone suggest how I could do so? Or where to ask? Thanks Akiva