Jump to content

TheFancyBanana

Members
  • Posts

    916
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    6

Everything posted by TheFancyBanana

  1. Haha, I'm saying panENtheistic, not pantheistic. PanENtheism means Waheguru is the Universe, but is also greater than it. This is what Sikhi (I believe) says about Waheguru, it is the Universe, it is the Hukam, the law, but it is above this form. It is part of the Hukam. I'm not going to say Waheguru communicated with Guru Nanak Dev Ji to spread Sikhi, rather the Hukam was for Guru Nanak Dev Ji to spread Sikhi. Guru Nanak Dev Ji took it upon themselves to spread the truth in the form of Sikhi. I don't think Waheguru "gave" Japji Sahib to Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Rather, I think Japji Sahib comes from sach khand, a state where Guru Nanak Dev Ji was one with Waheguru. So it is divinely inspired, but I don't think Waheguru literally wrote it (but everything is Waheguru, so technically, Waheguru did do it). I reject the idea of prophets, I don't think Waheguru shoots down prophets and messengers to Earth like a post man. Waheguru will enlighten whoever needs to be enlightened. Karmi apo apni kai nerhe kai door - our actions are own, some are drawn closer, some go further away (according to their actions). If someone attempts to align with Waheguru, they will be enlightened. Whether the Universe is a living being? Well at one point, the Universe became conscious of itself. When it spawned us humans, it became aware of itself. We are not separate from creation. Waheguru is not separate from us. Perhaps Waheguru wanted beings to be aware of themselves. Sach khand are those people who realise Waheguru. I agree with you, bani does say there is no difference between Waheguru and the devotee.
  2. Which is why I suggested the word panenthiestic, where Waheguru is the Universe, but beyond it as well. This is just my interpretation. Thank you for not attacking me or calling me a nastik or RSS agent, I've had some people start to attack me for sharing ideas. I disagree with Waheguru "communicating", my idea is not of this man or entity who communicates with people. Sure, Waheguru is pervading within all of us right now, everywhere. We can form that connection with this singular force. We can experience Waheguru, the awesome enlightener. Does that mean he sits there talking to people and comes up with plans and ideas for them? I mean I doubt Waheguru would behave anything like a human, talking and thinking. Bani tells us that Waheguru is beyond our understanding, so It is nothing like a human. It is not limited by a brain or a body to be able to "think" and react to stimuli. Sach khand is not this special place where the "formless" One resides. By definition, the formless One cannot be restricted by residing in a specific place. This means that sach khand must be everywhere Waheguru is. So sach khand can be reached by us anywhere. Sach khand is the state of being when we become one with our creator. When we lose the power of maya, the duality and begin to experience life through the One. Waheguru is everything, the bacteria, the ant, the human and the elephant or just part of the play. Waheguru is the director, but It is the actor as well.
  3. Waheguru is not a human. How can it "think"? How can the all pervading One, how can the force in the bacteria, to the great elephant, the force driving the sun, the orbits of the planets, how can that One be anything like a human? How is it possible for us to understand how it works, how it acts? Panenthiestic is a better word to describe the concept of Waheguru. Waheguru is the Universe, it drives it. But Waheguru is beyond the Universe, it is above this manifestation. Everything is simply a "manifestation" of that One. When these things are destroyed, they simply return to the One. ਲੋਗਾ ਭਰਮਿ ਨ ਭੂਲਹੁ ਭਾਈ ॥ Logaa Bharam N Bhoolahu Bhaaee || O people, O Siblings, do not wander deluded by doubt. ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਖਲਕ ਖਲਕ ਮਹਿ ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਸ੍ਰਬ ਠਾਂਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ Khaalik Khalak Khalak Mehi Khaalik Poor Rehiou Srab Thaanee ||1|| Rehaao || The Creation is in the Creator, the Creator is in the Creation, totally pervading and permeating all places. ||1||Pause||
  4. Fair enough, but compared to the actual problems killing Sikhi, "no parchar, not following SGGS, drugs, alcohol", it is an incredibly small problem. If we're talking about pronunciation and Sikh terms, I'd like our parcharks and fellow Sikhs to pronounce Sikh properly. I'd like us to use our own terminology. I'd like more accurate English translations, than the Abrahmic and Vedic influenced translations we have. My point was that there are no "Sikh" names. The only name given from Guru Ji was Singh and Kaur. I do have a problem with people getting westernised names for their Punjabi names. Like Harjot calling themselves Harry. Being worried about people laughing or changing your name points to insecurites about your culture. This again is a sign of a bigger problem. People not knowing anything about Sikhi. If you don't know about Sikhi, if you dont understand your root, then obviously you will want to fit into your wider society and blend in. If you have that strength from Sikhi, you will stand out in the world. Even if you have a different name, you will be secure about yourself.
  5. Completely agree. It is a disservice to SGGS when we just get people to parrot the words, when we don't share it with others. A Sikh's root is SGGS. Without the Guru, what are we?
  6. I disagree with some of the points made in this video. The issues "killing" Sikhi are far deeper and serious than these "problems". Sikh names. What is a Sikh name? Is Ishar, Gobind, Ram, Krishan, Kiran, Deep, Inder, along with many other formulaic names, Sikh names? Our Gurus had names from other traditions, Ram (the sovereign), Gobind (master of the Universe), Arjun (pure) all these names have roots in Sanskrit, Hindu traditions. Guru Gobind Singh Ji's sons, two had Punjabi names Ajit (victorious, unbeaten) and Jujhar (warrior). While the other Sahibzade had Persian names Zorawar (mighty, brave) and Fateh (victory). Are these "Sikh" names? How about Iqbal Singh? There are SIkh Iqbals, but you'll find more Muslim Iqbals. The "Sikh" names Jarnail and Karnail, they come from French words for general and colonel. They came with French soldiers who came to Punjab to fight in Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army. Are these valid "Sikh" names? Obviously there are some names which have a Sikh root. Any name with "Gur" can be said to be name inspired by Sikhi. There is a subset of authentic "Sikh" names, meaning Punjabi names that popped up in the genesis of Sikhi that relate to concepts in Sikhi. For example, any name with the prefix “Gur” (Gurbaksh, Gurpreet) relates to Guru. Obviously, for the vast majority of Sikhs, not everyone used these names. One notable Sikh that had such a name didn’t even go by it; Gurbaksh Singh being colloquially known as “Banda Singh Bahadur”. Some Muslims chose to change their names when they took Amrit like Ajmer Singh, but that was optional and done out of their own will. There are two "Sikh" names that every Sikh should use. Singh and Kaur are the only names mandated by our Guru, as long as a Sikh uses these names, what does it matter what their first name is? You can have an Arabic name like Kabir (great One) and be called Kabir Singh. You can have a Sanskrit name like Simran (rememberance) and be called Simran Kaur. Never heard anyone say the story of Chotte Sahibzade is scary. Why was the Chotte Sahibzade movie so successful? Many children went to watch the movie. Also, we don't mourn deaths. We celebrate death, we celebrate shaheedi. The shaheedis are celebrated in Punjab with fun fairs. It is not a sad thing that these brave souls did such inspiring things. Yes, we should remember our shaheeds. At Christmas, remind the children of the Sahibzade, give them a gift (if you give gifts for Christmas) but remind them of our Guru's sacrifice. The fact that some people don't remember our shaheeds points to a much bigger problem than "they will be scared". Sikhs don't know their own history. Many don't know how the sahibzade were Shaheed, many don't know why they were shaheed. Many don't even know HOW they were able to do the things they did. Lack of parchar among Sikhs, how many times is Kirtan just sung in our Gurdwaras without translations or a katha on the words? How much discussion happens in our Gurdwaras?
  7. When was Punjabi ever the same as being a Sikh? This mentality is what hampers the growth of Sikhi, we think "Punjabi" rather than "the world". There have been Sikhs from across the world since the Gurus. Look at Guru Nanak Dev Ji, he didn't just walk around Punjab, enlightening Punjabis. He travelled the world, spreading Sikhi. Only 1 or 2 of the panj pyare was a Punjabi, the rest were from Orissa, Gujrat, Assam. There would have been a lot of variation in their builds and appearances. Sikhi has no race or ethnicity. Sikhi is just Sikhi, it doesn't have an appearance or a height. All Sikhs eventually have the same identity, the image of Guru Ji, regardless of their height or build.
  8. Well we best spend money and effort on doing parchar in India, rather than waste money on <banned word filter activated> projects. Like spending 2.5 million rupees on painting all the buildings at Anandpur Sahib white. What a waste of money, not only are we destroying our history, defacing historic buildings, but that money could be used for something to benefit the panth. Think of the drug deaddiction centres, schools, parchaar, seva of poor Sikhs that could be done with that money.
  9. I don't understand, was this person a Sikh (no dastar) or was he a non-Sikh? I can understand where the Singh is coming from. At my local Gurdwara, people just use the car park to go to the shops. The car park is property of the Gurdwara, for people who want to go to the Gurdwara. It is right that the sangat stops people who aren't going to the Gurdwara from parking there, it just blocks up spaces. If this is the case, then the Singh could have phrased his reasoning in a better way. If they were preventing a non-Sikh going to the Gurdwara, then that is not how a Sikh should act.
  10. Are you going to get drunk off it? If not, then its fine. If you're having alcohol to get drunk, then you should stay away from it.
  11. What are you going on about? Who said you will become a pig for helping someone? I doubt Guru Nanak Dev Ji became a pig when he helped Sajan Thag. Guru Ji could have let Sajan Thag carry on killing and being a slave to his ego. But Guru Ji went and helped him, he did sangat of the lowly people and helped to bring them up. He helped them to realise that Waheguru was within them. Someone becomes a pig when they focus on themselves. When they are greedy and focus on their own ego. That is when the mind is a pig. How do you stop being a pig? You destroy your ego and see the light of Waheguru in everything. You don't see drug dealers, you don't see enemy soldiers. Like Bhai Kanaiya Ji, you serve those who need help.
  12. It can be hard for a parent. Your parents are Christian, I don't know how religious they are, but they might think that Chrisitanity is the only way that is right. As long as you feel Sikhi is best way for you, then it doesn't matter what other people think. You are at a young age, at this age we do go through phases. So, they might assume that you are just exploring and will lose interest. I'm not saying that you will lose interest, you may be at peace with Sikhi and find that it helps you to realise Waheguru. But your parents might assume that you will grow out of it. You are already walking the Gurus path, you seem to be growing in your Sikhi already. I guess the best thing you can do to show your parents how much Sikhi means to you, is to put it into practice. Start helping out with charities, work to fight your 5 thieves, contemplate upon Waheguru.
  13. Stop feeling guilty about it. Thats a massive obstacle in your path. We all fall off the path, this is life. This is the journey of a Sikh. We are children of the Guru, we will all fall, we'll hurt ourselves, we'll make mistakes. But we should learn from them, we will become stronger and better people. ਸੁਤੁ ਅਪਰਾਧ ਕਰਤ ਹੈ ਜੇਤੇ ॥ Suth Aparaadhh Karath Hai Jaethae || The son may commit many mistakes, ਜਨਨੀ ਚੀਤਿ ਨ ਰਾਖਸਿ ਤੇਤੇ ॥੧॥ Jananee Cheeth N Raakhas Thaethae ||1|| His mother does not hold them against him in her mind. ||1|| ਰਾਮਈਆ ਹਉ ਬਾਰਿਕੁ ਤੇਰਾ ॥ Raameeaa Ho Baarik Thaeraa || Waheguru, I am Your child. ਕਾਹੇ ਨ ਖੰਡਸਿ ਅਵਗਨੁ ਮੇਰਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ Kaahae N Khanddas Avagan Maeraa ||1|| Rehaao || Why not destroy my mistakes and shortcomings? ||1||Pause|| ਜੇ ਅਤਿ ਕ੍ਰੋਪ ਕਰੇ ਕਰਿ ਧਾਇਆ ॥ Jae Ath Krop Karae Kar Dhhaaeiaa || If the son, in anger, begins to hit his mother. ਤਾ ਭੀ ਚੀਤਿ ਨ ਰਾਖਸਿ ਮਾਇਆ ॥੨॥ Thaa Bhee Cheeth N Raakhas Maaeiaa ||2|| Even then, his mother does not hold it against him in her mind. ||2|| ਚਿੰਤ ਭਵਨਿ ਮਨੁ ਪਰਿਓ ਹਮਾਰਾ ॥ Chinth Bhavan Man Pariou Hamaaraa || My mind has fallen into the whirlpool of anxiety. ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਕੈਸੇ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਪਾਰਾ ॥੩॥ Naam Binaa Kaisae Outharas Paaraa ||3|| Without the Naam, how can I cross over to the other side? ||3|| ਦੇਹਿ ਬਿਮਲ ਮਤਿ ਸਦਾ ਸਰੀਰਾ ॥ Dhaehi Bimal Math Sadhaa Sareeraa || Please, bless my body with pure and lasting understanding, ਸਹਜਿ ਸਹਜਿ ਗੁਨ ਰਵੈ ਕਬੀਰਾ ॥੪॥੩॥੧੨॥ Sehaj Sehaj Gun Ravai Kabeeraa ||4||3||12|| In peace, slowly and steadily, Kabeer contemplates upon the Praises of Waheguru. ||4||3||12|| You need to change your mindset. It seems like you are almost forcing yourself to do bani. Don't force yourself to do it. Do it out of love, when you really want to do some bani. Don't do a lot at once. Just do mool mantar or some simran. You don't have to do the whole thing. Why not listen to some kirtan? ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਬਿਲੋਵਨਾ ਬਿਲੋਵਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥ Har Kaa Bilovanaa Bilovahu Maerae Bhaaee || Churn the churn of Waheguru, my Siblings. ਸਹਜਿ ਬਿਲੋਵਹੁ ਜੈਸੇ ਤਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ Sehaj Bilovahu Jaisae Thath N Jaaee ||1|| Rehaao || Churn it slowly and steadily, so that the essence, the butter, may not be lost. ||1||Pause|| Sehaj, slowly and steadily. Don't force yourself to do it at once, make sure you do something, but don't try to go really fast. This shabad is using the metaphor of making butter from milk. If you mix the milk too fast, you will lost the butter. Do you do seva? Get involved with helping people. Interact with others and put Sikhi into practice. You should go to a doctor, just to make sure. Why does this happen to you? Why can't you read bani? Does it happen with anything else? Can you read other things?
  14. Yeah, I don't think thats a Sikh viewpoint. Perhaps they are silently calling out for help, but we are just ignoring them. The crops in Punjab have failed this year, some farmers are just sitting in the market and no one is buying their produce, you have children from Sikh families not being able to go to school, they walk the streets doing drugs, you have families that were devastated by 1984 and the subsequent genocide. You have Sikh farmers killing themselves because they are in debt or their crops have failed. You have Sikhs being converting to Chrisitianity, because that House of Guru Nanak, that house that once empancipated the common people is now ignoring its own people. Its easy for us Sikhs in the west or the rich ones in India to ignore their plight, to say "oh, they are drug users and prostitues, they aren't asking for help". What do you think our Gurus would do? Would they have ignored the people's suffering? Did the sadhus and homeless people ask Guru Nanak Dev Ji to set up a langar? Or did Guru Ji see people who needed food and shared what he had with them? We should sort our own people out first. Even our own charities don't help Sikhs. Who is helping the Sikhlighar Sikhs? They don't even have homes to live in, they want people to do Sikhi parchar, they are asking for it. Why is no one helping them? We haven't even been able to do anything for those who survived the pogroms of 1984. Why have we ignored our own people? Its good that we help other communities, thats what we should be doing. But shouldn't we be supporting Sikhs as well?
  15. Its good to see someone so young wanting to keep the image of Guru Ji. What religion are your parents bro? Are there any Sikhs who live near you? Remain strong and focus on your putting Sikhi into practice. Talk to your parents about why you want to be a Sikh, explain everything to do them. The philosophy and why you want to keep your kesh. They might be scared about why you want to keep your kesh, they might not understand, so try to have an open conversation with them. Don't be scared, remain strong! If they don't let you keep your kesh and don't understand why you want to do it, wait till you're a bit older. You are still quite young, so just wait till you're older to show them you are serious about Sikhi. Focus on learning about Sikhi, read the Guru Granth Sahib, contemplate its message and put it into practice. Focus on becoming a strong Sikh, when Waheguru does kirpa, you will keep your kesh.
  16. Calm down bro. ਨਾਨਕ ਫਿਕੈ ਬੋਲਿਐ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਫਿਕਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ Naanak Fikai Boliai Than Man Fikaa Hoe || O Nanak, speaking bitter words, the body and mind become bitter.
  17. Except that totally goes against Sikhi and what our Gurus taught us to do. It goes against the things they actually practiced! I completely agree, we should be more vigilant and should protect our own better. We have failed to stick together, we always argue and fight each other. Thats the problem, there is no leadership, no combined effort to tackle problems. We need to act together to solve our problems. Would we be so easily attacked if we got together? But we should never stop doing the things our Gurus taught us to do. Why shouldn't we share food with others? Why shouldn't we defend other communities? Do we really need a thank you from people if we do the right thing?
  18. If she wants to marry a Non-Sikh, she should marry them. But not by Anand Karaj. Why don't they go get a court marriage? Why do they want an Anand Karaj? Do you know what an Anand Karaj is for? They want an Anand Karaj so it looks nice in a wedding album. The Anand Karaj is 2 souls pledging themselves to the Guru. They are saying Guru Ji, lead us in our married life, so we can support each other to live a life based on your teachings. The Anand Karaj is not a pledge to live by the teachings of Islam. The Anand Karaj is not just a ritual, something that looks nice or something you have to do to make your parents happy. An Anand Karaj is a commitment to live by Sikh values. If the partner is not a Sikh and has no intention of following Sikhi, then the Anand Karaj doesn't mean anything. It is a false promise, so an Anand Karaj can't take place. There are rules in place, the rule for an Anand Karaj is that the couple must be Sikhs. So, get off your high horse and stop trying to act holy and righteous. There are rules and customs you must respect. If she wants to marry a non-Sikh, she can, good for her. But they can't have an Anand Karaj. I'm not prepared to sell my Guru off or make it into a ritual to make people like you happy, or to fill the pockets of comittee members.
  19. Gurmukhi is not Punjabi. Gurmukhi is a script the Gurus used to write bani. This is because they wanted to use a script that was easy to learn and was available to everyone. The Hindu and Abrahamic scriptures were in the hands of scholars and priests, only they could read it. Low castes were not even allowed to listen to the Vedas, the Brahmins would put metal in their ears if they listened to the Vedas. The Gurus wanted their bani to be read by many people. Gurmukhi is the script they used to write bani. The Guru Granth Sahib is written in many languages and dialects, often there is a combination of languages used, but they always wrote in Gurmukhi. So you can't speak Gurmukhi because its not a language, its a script. Gurmukhi doesn't have any special rules or silent letters. You spell words phonetically when if you are using Gurmukhi. Its quite easy to learn. Punjabi might be a bit harder, but if you stay around Punjabi people and study Punjabi, you should be able to pick it up.
  20. If you think I have contempt for bani, then thats cool. If I don't gain anything from it, I won't gain anything from it. I will grow and learn from the mistakes I am making. No Ik Oankaar can't be metaphorical as the Gurus said there was One Waheguru. I don't see why Guru Nanak Dev Ji would be endorsing Hindu beliefs when he talks about 9 khands. I thought that came from a Hindu belief that Brahma created 9 regions. This is what I mean by metaphors. They use concepts from many different religions and cultures to explain the truth. They use imagery and poetry to describe the truth. Just because you explain 1+1 in different ways, it won't change the answer. Different people will have different ways of relating to the truth. Does Guru Nanak Dev Ji believe Brahma created the Universe? Does Bhagat Farid Ji literally tell you to go cut someones head off who does not bow to Waheguru?
  21. So its not really in the hands of the Sikhs. What has the SGPC done for Sikhi parchar? What have they done to support families of shaheeds? What have they done to stop Punjab's youth being destroyed by drugs and alcohol? They don't do anything! The panth isn't in control of the Gurdwara. I wouldn't want Darbar Sahib as a heritage site. It is the heart of all Sikhs, it is not some cultural tourist site you can come take pictures of to show your friends.
  22. Do you know what a metaphor is? Have you ever written poetry? Do you know how poetry works? Yes call me an athiest or missionary or whatever. I really don't care. Gurbani is different for all of us. We all have different experiences in life, we all come from different places. Bani is supposed to make you think, you are supposed to vichaar it. Read the Mundavani shabad. "Within this plate, there are three things, sat (truth), santokh (contentment) and vichaaro (contemplation). What is the plate? Well, its a metaphor! A metaphor for the Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru is not literally a thaal, it isn't a plate. Within Guru Granth Sahib you can find those three things. You will find truth, that will give you santokh. But there is also contemplation, to meditate upon the message of bani. The bani in Guru Granth Sahib is not merely something you parrot. You think about it, you contemplate its message, you apply it to your life. When Guru Granth Sahib talks about stones floating, it is using a metaphor. An image is created in your mind of even stones, with all that weight, floating and crossing over. People often think that if they do bad things and they have never gone to the Guru, that they will only sink. But that image is showing you that even stones will be saved by this bani. True, Waheguru can also make stones float if that is the hukam. But it is using a metaphor to convey a message to the reader. I'm sure you listen to katha. The person doing the katha gives their own interpretation! Go read the teekas of Guru Granth Sahib, read the different translations. Prof. Sahib Singh, the fareedkot teeka, all of them have different interpretations! This is all good, these people have their own interpreations. But the only way you can ever know Guru Nanak Dev Ji, is to go meet him yourself. To read that bani, to contemplate it within your mind. Gurbani means something different to different people. We are on our own unique journey to the Guru. My interpreation or understanding will never be perfect! But thats fine, this is a lifelong journey, a relationship you build up. Why do we read nitnem everyday? Because there is a new lesson we can learn from bani everyday. I am not a perfect person and I am not a perfect Sikh, so of course my interpreations can't do justice to bani. Waheguru will give you the interpretation you are suposed to recieve. Some people will read bani literally and gain nothing, some people will see metaphors and understand the treasure of bani. This is all down to who Waheguru does kirpa on. If Waheguru wants to save that stinking stone, Waheguru will save that sinking stone.
  23. Guru Ji is not literally saying there are 9 continents. This was a common belief at the time, held by the people who he was talking to. He simply uses 9 continents as a metaphor for the whole world. Even if people across the world followed you and you had all the wealth, then what would you do? Without Naam, this is all worthless. Bani uses many metaphors, it is all poetry. The Gurus were speaking to many different types of people, so they used different ideas and concepts to teach people about Sikhi.
  24. Why would you want to vote for them? He is clearly just doing it for the votes, yet some of us are getting so excited that he visited a Gurdwara. Are some Conservative policies really something a Sikh should vote for? Tax cuts for the rich, massive public spending cuts, their involvement in Operation Bluestar and the massacre of Sikhs, passing "terrorism" laws which have the aim of restricting freedom, I could go on, but ask yourself, is this really a party a Sikh should support?
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use