jans

I just wanna put in my two cents and say that im a liitle dissapointed with what we have all become. Why is marrying between religions a bad thing? Every religion preaches one thing...---->THERE IS ONE HUMAN RACE!!! Great souls, with gods grace grant us with the wisdom of attaining union with god(jesus,mohammed, The ten gurus,etc). Think of how they would feel if they were around to see how man has steeped so low to create such thick lines between minor differences. LOVE EVERYONE! wether ur a free thinker, muslim, sikh amritdari, taoist,jew,budhist,etc. What our generations need to do is teach our kids to love everyone for being gods creations. Teach our kids that religion is a mean of attaining inner peace and knowing god and that ultimately every religion brings you to the very same place. Maybe what i beleive in is far from ever happening in society but i can only make this humble request to everybody reading this. Religion preaches love. Its us egotistical humans that need a sense of belonging and create these barriers. If you beleive in god, live your life knowing that there is some force that is infinitely greater than you, why distinguish between who you can marry or who you cant marry just because of these barriers created by man. Its time we broke these barriers. Lets learn from all our religions and STOP HATING. If you truly beleive in god, you wouldnt see a persons faith, colour, cast, creed, etc. Guru Nanak Said that one who sees god in all is very rare. Lets change that. PEACE AND LOVE

Poor misguided souls they are.

YEA Wakin up.....Not Dying.. Look at countries like Russia and USA...There are many who are realising how flawless sikhi is...Its truly a new age religion(in my view) in terms of logic,spirituality,science, etc... As for the youth, you cant really blame them. The pull of EGO in this world is stronger than it has ever been. Whatever you do..Dont force..Advise them.

Totally agree mate..I was talking to my dad about this a couple of days ago and we both agreed that sikhi would eventually be weak in India but would become stong in other parts of the world(Its already happening). People in India take sikhi for granted and if nothing is done, it will fall apart in India. Sikhi WILL never die...but its stronghold would eventually change.

Well written...Very enlightening :TH:

WELL SAID MATE..totally agree with ya!!

I agree and understand all the principles behind each code of conduct. I am only disturbed by the way they are written. "Those that consume even a minuscule amount of tobacco are disowned in the afterlife by their ancestors and drinking water from such a person is similar to drinking alcohol. By drinking alcohol seven generations are exterminated and by consuming Bhang/marajuana the body is destroyed. The person who consumes tobacco exterminates one hundred generations and many generations go to hell because of gossiping." (Sri Gur Partap Suraj, Rit 5, ansoo 29, volume 13) FIRSTLY I TOTALLY AGREE with the fact that tobacco or any stimulant is not going to do us any good but as i had mentioned before, The statement above almost seems hateful. I could be a sikh who has taken amrit,who has strong moral values, but that shouldnt mean that i have to look down or impose hate or outcaste people who do take stimulants or do bad things. Sikhi is also about love, care and compassion. The entire rehit seems to be written to instill fear instead of understanding.

I LOVE PRASHAAD!!! I know this is a little off topic but i was one of those kids who couldnt stop buggin the gianiji for more servings. I could sometimes easily go with five to six servings each time. But that was ten years ago... Back on topic... I guess its cos many ppl are ignorant of their own health. I live in an asian country and most people are lean. Sadly Punjabis are one of the fattest people around next to south indians. I think temples should incorporate daily exercise sessions all over the world. Followed by a shower and then the paath begins. :nihungsmile:

I understand where ur coming from but i am trying to understand something not critisize it. Guru nanak lived his life despising ridiculous rituals and emphasised the need for union with god. We have ritualised this very religion. As for the damdami taksal, i agree and know that it was founded by Guru Gobind Singh Ji but it was founded to teach the principles of the religion,philosophies,kirtan,etc.. I am not saying that these sants are bad people. I know they live more productive lives than almost all of us and i respect that but i would like to correct your claim that the rehit maryada was written by Guru Gobind Singh himself. Guru ji gave us the 5 ks and not that you cant take your kachera off and on and that you have to put it on leg by leg. Many of these regulations have been set by generation after generation by the taksal and not just one person. I dont think that is right. You saying that we must accept everything the religion brings forth immediately without thought. Yes it may bring much joy and calmness to the mind but sikh=learner. A sikh is one who not only reads the bani but contemplates on it not just following it blindly. A sikh is one who questions everything to learn what he can abt the bani. Im sorry if i have offended anyone but i am a sikh who is looking for these very answers.

Contraceptives are better than unprotected sex...sexual energy is a natural hormone spike that occurs in all animals... I say if you cant control your energy, use contraceptives. If you are a person who is in tune with the teachings of the gurus and strive for spiritual happines then you would not need to worry abt such things as you would be able to control your own mind and body. correct me if im wrong if i say that every individual has the freedom to live their lives as they please.

personally i think its a question of your own mindset. Sex is a very human natural thing. If you are married and love someone then i see no reason why it contraceptives cant be used. I tthink its better than havin a 100 kids eh?heh But seriously, It is a very complicated issue. IT all boils down to what you think abt havin sex for any other purpose other than conceiving.

Great thought sissy! In the sikh societies all over the world, what you have mentioned is very evident. I think this intolerance within sikhs generally comes from the fact that parents do not know what sikhi is really all about and force their kids to adorn the physical properties of a sikh. This vicious cycle continues until it becomes nothing to do with the religion but pure politics. Its a sad thing but there is nothing that can be done other than giving people the freedom to choose. Freedom is tolerance!! As for tolerance between religions, i think the same theory applies. Everyone forgets about the spiritual side of the religion and takes gods name in vain. In my view anyone who critisizes anyone for how they look or who they want to be, or marry, or love is imposing his/her own ego unto others. People like this actually develop a complex where they want to find something bad with the ppl around them just as to feel superior(eg. fueling the ego)

It is quoted in the damdami rehat maryada...thats where the relation seems to be.. ill give you their explanation of a certain verse from the site: from the site: "Listen to the discipline of the Gursikh whom relinquishes the accompaniment of tobacco, avoiding bodily contact with tobacco as he/she knows that he/she is better off dead than having to touch tobacco." (Rehatnama Bhai Desa Singh ji, 148) The explanation and rituals to be followed: By using tobacco, all good deeds are destroyed and the person will suffer for a long time in hell. A Gursikh will rather die than touch tobacco. If a Gursikh comes into contact with anything containing tobacco, for example, cigarettes, cigars, paan, charas, pipes, they must wash their hands with soap five times. Then they must purify their Kesh, body and clothes by bathing. I agree that they are trying to denounce tobacco but "..will suffer for a long time in hell..."? I thinks thats almost like putting a sikh into fear of doing these things rather than explaining the truth behind these substances. And "..If a Gursikh comes into contact with anything containing tobacco, for example, cigarettes, cigars, paan, charas, pipes, they must wash their hands with soap five times.." - I find this just as many others in the rehit another wierd ritual that they deemed fit to include. Yes it may be wrong to smoke it or consume it but why wash five times?

Ive obviously chosen Sikhism.... :T:

I was never much of a believer of GOD and spent my teens learning what i could of every religion(christianity,islam,judaism,etc..) i could find but still found SIKHISM to be the most sensible,straight-forward of them all. But what saddens me is that men or 'sants' have added their own two cents into the religion. I have unshorn hair but i do not see why we are making sikhism just like any other religion. When i read the damdami taksal rehit maryada, i was appalled at the tasks and instructions written by these men or 'sants' . Granted they may be wise men but i personally beleive that many are extreme Guru Gobind gave us the 5ks in times of war and each served its purpose in groming, protecting the body. Here are a few of the many things i found that are in my view tarnishing and confusing sikhs all over the world:- 1. "..but in Gurmat cutting the hair is a cardinal sin and results in a person being an outcast" *in my view this places sikhism as more of a social sect than a spiritual sect. 2."The Brahmin that consumes tobacco is donated charity by others. Those that give charity to such a person go to hell and the Brahmin becomes a pig." (Skandh Purana, Dh. 52, Salok 52) * I find this very disturbing..its almost as if the person writing it had so mch hatred in him.I agree that tobacco is not going to help your spiritual development but there are also many mentions of going to hell in the rehit maryada. But correct my if im wrong..the SGGS compiled only of the ten gurus sayings emphasises the point that there is no heaven or hell. That our souls are but of the one lifeforce, GOD. Secondly, Granted sikhs have been suppressed all their lives and discriminated ever since the khalsa was founded, It almost seems that the person or 'sant' that wrote this had strong racist feeling towards the muslims or hindus. Its almost immature if you ask me. There are many more points i could raise but my fingers are starting to hurt!heh..But in conclusion i cannot emphasise more that what the gurus have blessed us with is more than suffcient in prviding us with all the information we need to live spiritual, productive lives. Sikhism was created for the sikh to develop himself personally and not living by rules laid out by fellow people. In my view, sikhi is all about trying to free yourself of your worldly ego and at the same time living productive lives. The sayings of the guru focused on this very task. Why do we still give people rules and reglations. Sikhism was the most dynamic religion ever created until people have imposed their own rules unto the religion. Comments are very much welcome. I apologize if i have offended anyone or anything in any way. vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh