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VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Ranajodh Singh, evidence much?

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Please phone these Gurudwarae and ask - most likely in April for Vaisakhi: http://www.gurdwaragurnanakprakash.com/p/contact-us.html http://www.gurdwaragurmatparkash.org/ Should have some info for you.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Ummm...he would lose. The Sikh Rehat Maryada clearly states that Sikh women can wear Dastaars. Someone go revoke his credentials please - he making other lawyers look stupid.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH You don't control - but as a community, you can denounce or say that it doesn't represent appropriate representation for the community. You can also take that feedback to the company and apply appropriate pressure. Also, explaining that such actions may actually hurt a community's sentiments and cause a loss of business will get their ear very rapidly. If a Muslim couple (woman with hijab) were proposed to do this by an ad company, they would think 100 times before ever even considering publishing such an advert. As for the wife comment: I don't know if that would matter. It is promoting a product to attract women and engage in behavior that is not in line with Sikhi. It's not a wedding ring advert. All know what sort of angle Axe takes in their ads.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH So now...is this one appropriate?

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Gurbani - your primary resource. Read as much as you can and if you cannot understand, read the translations (the usual disclaimers: head covered, shoes off, respectful treatment of the media on which the Gurbani is displayed). Everything else is at its periphery. All the physical requirements and discipline, process, procedures (Rehat) serve to strengthen and nourish Gurbani in your mind, body and soul. But the core of Sikhi is Gurbani (and Gurbani's directs you to Naam and Naam Simran (continuous rememberance of the Almighty. Focus on Gurbani and what it says, and when the cuirosity about Naam awakens, you are progressing. Sangat of Gursikhs at that point is essential for progression, with an aim towards becoming Amritdhari - a Gursikh). The rest will come, but getting some familiarity with Gurbani is vital to understanding what the essence of Sikhi is. Also, note that people will introduce divisions, controversy and opinions - that is their perspective. You need to read Gurbani and you will be blessed with your OWN perspective of Sikhi that God wants you to have. Stay far from that, as it will spoil the sweetness of Gurbani.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Let's do Ardaas for him - he will probably need it.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Speak to your doctor - if you do not want to part with your Kakkars, then perhaps an alternate scan, such as a CAT scan could be a possibility? CAT scans work with XRays, and are requested to be removed if they will obstruct the area being scanned. It's a possibility, not a guarantee...never hurts to ask.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Panthic Rehat Maryada states that cremation is preferable, but if it cannot be done, other means are fine. "However young and deceased may be, the body should be cremated. However, where arrangements for cremation cannot be made, there should be no qualm about the body being immersed in flowing water or disposed of in any other manner" Article XIX - Funeral Ceremonies

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH So again, Panth needs to unite and there is agrument on this forum...why? This is why the government doesn't need to try very hard with our community...we do the work for them and fall apart over the littlest things over and over. The same handful of things are argued over and over... Mool Mantar - whatever you have been told, do Jaap of it, not argue over it. This is not a matter that will be resolved on Sikh Sangat and serves absolutely no purpose to "discuss", because the "discuss" will turn into a My Baba/Jathebandi/gang is better than your Baba/Jathebandi/gang. It has been this way for decades. There is a Sikh dying and starving to unite the Sikh Panth under the Nishan Sahib and get unity and this is the exact opposite of that. Wake up - when it comes time to kill and torture Sikhs, they don't ask which Mool Mantar length you recite. Please learn some tolerance and have the heart to accept the tiny differences amongst our own and see the VAST commonality we share to move forward.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH No less than the Sarbat Khalsa being summoned will be appropriate to remove the current Jathedar from his position. If it is somehow done without the Sarbat Khalsa meeting, the backlash is that Sikhi will be fractured into Jathebandis with no central authority to issue any Hukamnamas or unify the Panth under the Akaal Takht Sahib. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS. Only Sarbat Khalsa can remove him. The government will put all obstacles in the Sikhs path to organize the Sarbat Khalsa (because the last time it met, Khalistan was declared. Big things happen when it meets) and will make every effort to dismantle, sideline, oppose from all fronts and use violence to prevent its occurance. Be warned: Simply calling for the Jathedar to be removed or, worse, ignoring the Jathedar's edicts (really of the Punj Singh Sahiban) will leave the Panth crippled and a prime target for victimization. No central Maryada will be enforced, no means of bringing grievances to a resolution will exist, all Jathebandis will be more siloed into their divisions (and may begin open animosity against each other) and the government will have that much of an easier time to make more inroads into Sikhi. Calm down, think this through. The Jathedar is not the problem. If there is one thing to do, it is to get rid of Badal parivar (the whole family - they are like the Gandhi-Nehru parivar - if one lives, he/she will take up the campaign against the Sikhs again) and make them all pay in such a dear fashion that the next one the government picks to be its replacement will think twice before ever crossing the Panth. May the Badal parivar meet such an end that all who even think of going down their path will shudder at the very thought of their end and think many times over before taking a government paycheck. And may the Panth make quick work of that next lineage that dares to oppose Sikhi in the form of a Sikh and remain ever vigilant.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Sorry..wrong Gursikh. :ohno:

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Was about to reply a whole counter-argument but decided that what needs to be said has been said. I hope to not have to reply again to this thread, as I have learned that they simply snowball and get out of hand. In person discussions are worth more time, more respectful and you can look a person in the eye and talk like Gursikhs. The internet does not afford that opportunity. Bhai N30 Singh, best of luck in your research, Sikhi Marag and raising your children to be Chardi Kalaa Gursikhs. Singh559 Jio...if you want to discuss this, I will gladly continue at GNP whenever you want. Maybe I will buy a Kirpan off of you yet? :blush2:

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH N30 Bhai Sahib, your kamai may be bearing fruit - you are becoming AntarJami and looking into my mind. :biggrin2: I had this picture in mind when responding to this topic. First, I am going to again reiterate that I am not in favor of a protest. But discerning right from wrong, and as a community, approaching individuals of the community to gently advise if something is not within Gurmat (and that applies to Mr. Ahluwalia). Bhai Jagmeet Singh has done more seva in a few minutes that I probably can do in 1000 lifetimes. BUT that does not absolve him from review by the Sikhs he represents. We must again apply the test of Gurmat - is the cover within the scope of treating the women in contact with his person like sisters/mothers/daughters? He has women next to him, and I cannot see that the woman in the black dress is making physical contact with him (can't see her arm through his arms). It appears that they are not engaging in physical contact with him in a fashion that can be seen as provocative. It is not in the same category as Mr. Ahluwalia from the overall setup (clearly making physical contact with him). Yes, it is "interesting" that only women are being portrayed along Bhai Sahib, and I think he would be best served to express very careful judgement on any media shots he is the spotlight of and keep the principle of mothers/daughters/sisters in mind at all times. The better question for all to ask at all times is if we believe that Guru Sahib is with us at all times (Gur Mere Sang Sadaa Hai Nalae), would what we are doing be considered appropriate? Now, what this should not turn into is a "What about this picture" scenario where every picture of a Sikh with a woman is reviewed. The test of Gurmat is there and can be applied by all. Similarly, we have the reference of Mahapurakhs such as Baba Nand SIngh, who instructed all Bibian that were coming to the thaath that they should be accompanied by a brother or male relative so as to preserve a decent, respectful atmosphere conducive to Bhagti and not conducive to the Punj Vikaars. We have Baba Harnaam Singh Rampur Khera, who was given the lesson to always look down at his feet by an elder Gursikh, which he stated saved him from a lot of vikaars. We should at least look up those role models that have achieved something truly in Sikhi and attempt to better our lives based on their life.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Yeah, that's all good, but there is a reason that ad is produced - it is there to add not only the cutting edge of fashion to the GAP, but also to attract Sikhs to the store (reason why it is in Davis, CA as a location perhaps and other major cities where SIkhs happen to be consumers?). Sikhs can make a choice to voice their opinions. What has to be understood is that companies go after your money. You encourage or discourage them by your purchases and feedback. I am not saying to do a protest. But a concerted effort in providing the GAP and other companies feedback on their advertising targeted to the community would get a change in the type of advertising. If the GAP learned that the Sikh community did not favor such ads, they could direct Mr. Ahluwalia to perhaps pose individually without a woman hanging off his body or perhaps take on a more conservative pose. Using such incidents as OPPORTUNITIES rather than FIGHTS is what the community has to move forward. Imagine if the Sikh community was so unified that it could politely present a request to the GAP, saying we represent XX thousand customers and XXX thousand more potential customers, would like to voice our feedback on this ad, present that they should modify the ads to be more conservative - if I was a store and knew this was a community willing to shell out the cash, I would make every effort to meet my customers' requests (more profit). It's all good saying that it is Maya, Akal Purakh's Hukam and similar bypass logic - but a Sikh doesn't take the Sanyasi path, isolate himself/herself and do Simran while closing all 5 senses to the world while it drowns in acts of Kalyug. A Sikh, should be a lotus that floats on the water of the world, not floating above the world, completely detached from it. If that were the case, then Sikhism has no cause to exist - the Siphai concept is very very much rooted in having your senses act on the indiscretions of the world. Never judge - sure. But what do you tell your kids? So lets say Nikka Singh and Piddi Kaur start to idolize Mr. Ahluwalia and then find other pictures of him in not so conservative poses - then? Will we be there to say, "It's all Akaal Purakkh's Hukam then?" Will we utter those words when our daughters are scantily clad draping themselves over men because it was ok in these ads? These ads are not so minor - they leave an impact on impressionable youth as the cool thing. If the parents do not put up a block and keep aloof of such things, the kids may very well emulate these things and become another sad chapter in our history. Yes, Akaal Purakh is in all and all acts, but that does not mean that God gave the Sikhs (Prageteyo Khalsa Parmatam Ki Mauj) permission to engage in all acts of human capacity. Yes, the Almighty is Namaskar Jog for his Bhog Bhogae (enjoyment of all pleasures) - doesn't mean the Sikh emulates it. Yes, the standards for every person with a Sikhi appearance is high - sorry, that is how the game is played. Yes, most will not meet those standards (in fact, only those Puran Gursikh/Mahapurakhs approach that perfection), but that does not mean we fail to identify that something is not correct and blindly applaud what is being portrayed. It is should not be a punitive "burn him at the stake", but at least a study in what is occurring within our community and whether it is appropriate. We should at least be able to discern what is right and wrong per Gurmat right? The excuse that Mr. Ahluwalia is not Amritdhari won't work. He is representing the Sikh image and I am 110% sure he knows that. It does not make sense at one point to say that he is doing a huge favor to the Sikh community (by virtue of his appearance) and in the same breath then say that he is not Amritdhari - that are opposing statements.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Apologies for any misconstruing of my statement. Call that post a pre-emptive strike...seen too many posts like this go down to a pee-pee contest of faiths.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Nothing stopping them from a Sikhi perspective. Would be unique and look different from others, but nothing in terms of style has been designated to one gender vs another.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Question: Has anyone done a google images search for Mr. Ahluwalia's pictures? Please do - there may be some pictures of him modeling that are not suitable to presentation of the Sikh image. I applaud his efforts...I really do. Given that I am from the U.S., we should take every opportunity to portray Sikhs in the mainstream. But the image that is portrayed is just as important...yes, he is in Sikhi saroop and as an individual, he is a good physical representation of a Sikh in modern society. However, some of his other images put him in situations that a Gursikh would never be caught in. Everyone is focusing on the Gap image, which...is not that big of a deal. BUT some of his other images with women are not as ideal. Easy for me to say...it's his job and livelihood and I can be Mr. Random on the internet, bashing work he has done for YEARS to get where he is today. But the Dastaar does come with a certain responsibility and a Sikh must conduct himself/herself accordingly. If you wanted to test this against Gurbani, Gurbani says to look at all as either your mother, sister or daughter/father, brother, son who is not your spouse. You can judge for yourself if Mr. Ahluwalia is representing the Sikh image appropriately from the below. And yes, there are many other pictures of him NOT in similarly questionable situations, but life is such: you can do a 1000 good things, but everyone remembers only the 1 bad thing you do. You can make your own determination, provided the admins let the pictures post and don't think they are questionable (very likely): [insert provocative and dishonorable images here]

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Excellent advice from Baba Hardev Singh Looloval this weekend and something to remember for all of us: "Why must we always do nindya of other faiths and their holy men? If we spent as much time doing ustat of Sikhi instead of nindya of other faiths and their holy men, we would be much more respected. There is a saying in Punjab, if you want to get respect for your father in the pind, you have to respect other peoples' fathers."

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH You really need to go to an Amrit Sanchar and talk to the Punj Pyare.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH So...are you implying that the Nihungs are in worse shape now than when the Mughals were around? They seemed to do OK with the limited resources at their disposal back then. Come to think of it, what funding is SGPC and the Panth at large providing Taksal, Nanaksar, AKJ, Kaar Seva Babae? It appears that they do get donations and means to survive (and grow, no less) by their seva. If Nihungs took over seva of utilizing their Shastars in service of the Panth, they would probably be more powerful than any other Jathebandi (think how much of Puinjab would donate arms, money and their families to that cause). Sant Jarnail Singh Ji did not have a treasure chest, but because he was willing to stand up and do seva of the Panth, the resources came to him from the Sangat.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Forget the chicken, jhatka this one: http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?/topic/72982-visiting-sikh-priest-received-90-days-in-jail-for-sex-assault/ Look, put the whole complex, deep, big-worded, mystical arguments aside and look at this a bit practically: With all of the corrupt "Sikh" politicians and genocidal Punjab Police officers, it really does not make sense to kill a chicken - its not like there is a lack of targets to practice on. With all of the jhatka going on to prove warrior status and infuse Shakti etc. etc., you would think that the Indian government would be shaking in their boots from the Nihungs doing jhatka on every Panthic enemy that dares to do anything against the Panth. Sadly, I haven't seen any Nihungs in a crusade to rid the Panth of such enemies. If exceptions are made for Nihungs due to their being warriors and Guru Da Ladli Fauj, do they not have a responsibility to act upon their special status in the Panth? If Taksal is teaching Santhiya, Paath, Keertan, Nanaksar is teaching utmost devotion and seva to Guru Sahib, AKJ is going Keertan seva - Nihungs are doing what exactly? If the role based model of Sikhi, where each Jathebandi has a role is to be accepted, are the Nihung Singhs actually serving their purpose? Jhatka is not supposed to be a way to get Bibek KFC or Mahaparshad - if everything that is used to defend jhatka is to be believed, the Nihungs would be an indomitable force that would fight to the last breath and body to liberate the Panth from its enemies - where are the Youtube videos of that? I don't see any Nihung brothers and sisters out there in force (not talking about individuals - entire Nihung regiments) waging Dharm Yudh against the enemies of the Panth. If you want to do Jhakta and claim this is the warrior's path - should there not be a warrior's output from those belonging to Nihung jathebandis? It's like signing onto a nation's army, performing all of the training, and then when a foreign nation's army attacks you, so sit there stabbing target dummies and polishing/oiling their guns. Something don't add up.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH There is only one I know of that is done every year and that is LA smagam. Details will eventually get posted here: http://akj.org/skins/one/programs.php?countryid=5&city=Los%20Angeles You may also want to call Gurudwara Gur Nanak Parkash: http://www.gurdwaragurnanakprakash.com/p/contact-us.html I had heard there may be one in October here.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Gurbani is Atal, but then you can choose to ignore it because you have moved on from the more "basic" Gurbani to more "advanced" Gurbani...I don't suscribe to that interpretation. Sorry, with savinderpalsingh, bachan of Punj Pyare are also Atal and Gurbani is Atal - a Sikh does not choose to ignore. If Gurbani is Agaadh Bodh, then it cannot be outdated and ignored because you have somehow become too advanced in spirituality. While I understand that there are different stages of spirituality, it does not mean that basics (i.e. Rehat given by the Punj Pyare, Gurbani for "beginners") are abandoned. Sorry, if Guru Gobind Singh Ji can get tankah from the Punj Pyare for bowing his teer to a samadh, I ain't risking it. Guru Sahib did not utter that the Rehat was dear to him, not the Sikh without reason. Sikhi being sharper than a sword's edge and thinner than a hair implies that there is a very straight and narrow path to follow.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH Choraan jaaran randiaan kutiarniaan deebarn vaedeena ki dosti vaedeena kaa khaan. Sifti saar naa jaarnani sadaa vasai Shaitan. Please refer to teekae in Punjabi to its meaning. It is from Sahib Sri Guru Granth Sahib JI. With emphasis on vaedeena ka khaan. Ang 790.