humble_kaur

Dearest Bhenji, I completely understand what you are getting at. Once again, I stress if you can discuss a topic with passion, with love, and not try to force people, then they do listen. They start to realize not all of these so called 'Sikh rituals' are correct. But certain people are conditioned to believe in certain ways. I truly believe everyone has their time. With Guru Ji's Kirpa, people will start to realize that the only True Guru is our Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. It took me many years before I came to understand what I once believed in, is in fact, just a ritual that has been carried on by generations. I have faith that people can change. I did.

Dearest Bhenji, I believe that before anyone should point fingers at other people’s views or perceptions, they should first ‘clean up’ their act at home. This includes myself. I am a hypocrite, I know. As I am writing this, I know I, myself, personally do not own or have even a single 'picture of our Guru', but my house is full of them. So, how can I go and point fingers at anyone? I also tried to reason with my parents that these pictures are not of the Guru themselves, but because of their lack of awareness, and because of this notion being engraved in their psyche, it can get difficult. But, I do have talks with my parents about what I am learning (hopefully correctly), and do discuss these issues with them. I find if you can discuss a topic with passion, with love, and not try to force them, then they do listen. They start to realize not all of these so called 'Sikh rituals' are correct. A Sikh is required to worship only one God and follow the teachings in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. A Sikh is not to worship any heavenly bodies, such as the sun or moon, or images, pictures, or paintings of gods, not even their own Gurus. The Gurus never permitted any paintings, busts, or sculptures of themselves to be created. They only taught and emphasized the philosophy of 'Shabad Guru.' jh dyKau qh nwil guir dyKwilAw ] Wherever I look, there the Guru has shown me that God is always with me. AMqir bwhir Bwil sbid inhwilAw ]2] Searching inwardly and outwardly as well, I came to see Him, through the Word of the Shabad. ||2|| They only emphasized the philosophy of 'Shabad Guru'. According to Guru Ji, Gurbani is the 'Shabad Guru'. bwxI gurU gurU hY bwxI ivic bwxI AMimRqu swry ] The Word, the Bani is Guru, and Guru is the Bani. Within the Bani, the Ambrosial Nectar is contained. guru bwxI khY syvku jnu mwnY prqiK gurU insqwry ]5] If His humble servant believes, and acts according to the Words of the Guru's Bani, then the Guru, in person, emancipates him. ||5|| Worshiping the pictures is none other than a Brahmanical ritual that people have implemented in their lives by putting them up in the Gurdwaras and in their homes. When I visited India, and went to many Gurdwaras, I noticed pictures of the Gurus. So how are we to convince someone that they shouldn't be there? It would be difficult cuz it has been engraved in the Sikh psyche. A lot of people have the pictures in their homes to show a sign of respect, some even have garlands around them. So if these pictures were made by the imagination of painters, and all differed, which is the true picture of our Guru? As stated before, no Guru allowed for their pictures, images to be painted. Therefore, we shouldn't have pictures in the Gurdwaras or our houses, instead the Gurus should reside in our hearts, our mind, our soul. The gyan, the Jot, is what our Guru is, so how can we possible take a picture of it? If you make the effort of understanding the Shabad Guru, then nothing can stop you from experiencing it day and night. Shabad Guru will be radiating all around you. In your mind, in your heart, and in your surroundings. We will begin to perceive God everywhere. These days, people do think a quick glance at Guru’s picture is enough darshan to keep them satisfied for a short amount of time until hunger strikes again. But what they fail to realize is that Guru is within us, and by reading Shabad Guru we, in fact, are feeding our hungry soul. Unfortunatley, the mentality of many has become so engrossed in depicting Guru’s pictures as of themselves, that they cannot let go of that notion. Majority of people I’ve talked to feel guilty if they do not show ‘respect’ to the Guru’s Pictures, and they seem quite appalled when I say that that picture is not my Guru. I agree with you that many parents these days use the ‘pictures’ as visual aids. But, from where I look at it, the world has become so busy, that we don’t even have time to sit with the children and discuss our beautiful religion with them. But I disgree with you when you say books written by certain people are full of bakwaas. If it wasn't for scholars like these, I would find it difficult to understand Gurbani. Gurbani is simple, but only if you take the time and effort to understand it. But by only understanding it, is not enough. You have to live it, experience it. Question that can be posed on many of the youth, and parents for that matter, is that, is there no time for God in your life? Maybe you have a Gutka at home that you have never opened. Maybe you have heard of the 5 Ks. What does having the 5 Ks mean? Do you even know why we wear them? Maybe you pass a Gurdwara each week that is nothing but a monument to you. You do not know what occurs in there. We have moved. We have strayed. We need to return. We need to repent, in order to find God. Bhul Chuk Maaf

Many happy returns of this day Gurpreet Veer Ji. Remain in Chardi Kala!

Beautiful Veer Ji! Yes, I totally agree with you. In Ardas, we are talking to God. So before we go to do Ardas, we should ask ourselves, do we even have faith in God, to Whom we are praying to. If someone is doing Ardas to God, and at the same time doubts God, then how can they have faith that their prayers will be answered? This day and age, many of our prayers go wasted as we have little or no faith in God, we doubt God. We forget to instill faith in our mind because our doubting mind sways back and forth from believing to not believing. Because we have not taken the time to fully understand the importance of the Ardas, in some cases were not taught how to, this becomes the reason why so many of our prayers go unanswered. Because our prayers are not answered, day by day we are losing faith in doing Ardas. No matter how many people are in a Gurudwara and are praying, there are only a handful that have full trust in God, and their prayers are answered. A doubting person’s prayer will never reach God. If we want our prayers to be answered, then we have to completely eradicate any doubts our mind may have. When we pray to God, we should have the same faith as a child as with their mother. I believe that Ardas does work. I have not always fully put my mind into it, but lately when I do pray, I can feel the power behind it. I went to the Gurudwara this evening, feeling very upset and hopeless. I knew in my heart that I believe in God, that I try my best to have 100% faith in him, but sometimes my faith is not as strong as I want it to be. We get tested over and over again on how strong our faith is. I didn’t have anyone I could turn to, but I knew One Person that I could, that was Waheguru Ji. When I do ardas and take a Hukamnama, sometimes I don’t know if God has answered my prayer or not. I believe that the Hukamnama is God communicating with us. I prayed to Him to give me strength, and what was in my heart. I was overcome by emotion. I was shaking while doing the Ardas, but as I put my mind at ease and let the Ardas make its way into my soul, a warm sensation came about me. I asked God to show me a direction, to give me His Hand. Tears were streaming down my face when this Hukamnama was read soriT mhlw 5 ] kir iesnwnu ismir pRBu Apnw mn qn Bey Arogw ] After taking your cleansing bath, remember your God in meditation, and your mind and body shall be free of disease. koit ibGn lwQy pRB srxw pRgty Bly sMjogw ]1] Millions of obstacles are removed, in the Sanctuary of God, and good fortune dawns. ||1|| pRB bwxI sbdu suBwiKAw ] The Word of God's Bani, and His Shabad, are the best utterances. gwvhu suxhu pVhu inq BweI gur pUrY qU rwiKAw ] rhwau ] So constantly sing them, listen to them, and read them, O Siblings of Destiny, and the Perfect Guru shall save you. ||Pause|| swcw swihbu Aimiq vfweI Bgiq vCl dieAwlw ] The glorious greatness of the True Lord is immeasurable; the Merciful Lord is the Lover of His devotees. sMqw kI pYj rKdw AwieAw Awid ibrdu pRiqpwlw ]2] He has preserved the honor of His Saints; from the very beginning of time, His Nature is to cherish them. ||2|| hir AMimRq nwmu Bojnu inq BuMchu srb vylw muiK pwvhu ] So eat the Ambrosial Name of the Lord as your food; put it into your mouth at all times. jrw mrw qwpu sBu nwTw gux goibMd inq gwvhu ]3] The pains of old age and death shall all depart, when you constantly sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord of the Universe. ||3|| suxI Ardwis suAwmI myrY srb klw bix AweI ] My Lord and Master has heard my prayer, and all my affairs have been resolved. pRgt BeI sgly jug AMqir gur nwnk kI vifAweI ]4]11] The glorious greatness of Guru Nanak is manifest, throughout all the ages. ||4||11|| I asked a chardi kala Bibi Ji sitting next to me to interpret what God said to us. She said, buchay, whatever your prayer was, and if you did it with full vishvaash, then God has heard it. I had tears rolling down my face. She said, buchay, there is something troubling you, keep faith in Waheguru Ji, stand tall with confidence, don’t let your mind wander away from Him for even a moment. Do Nam Simran and Nitnem 24/7, and you will see that He will Bless you.

Fateh WGJKKWGJKF Veer Ji, No, it is not disrespectful to work while listening to Gurbani/Kirtan. But, in some circumstances we cannot, so we should remember God internally by doing Naam Simran. You should constantly remember Waheguru Ji 24/7. Our thoughts, our actions should be virtuous. We should represent everyday of our lives, regardless of what we are doing, in the action’s of God. Every step we take, every decision we make, will be an act of God. AwT phr pRBu iDAwie qUM gux goieMd inq gwau ]1] rhwau ] Twenty-four hours a day, meditate on God. Constantly sing the Glories of the Lord of the Universe. ||1||Pause|| If one sits for 2 or 3 hours throughout the day doing Nitnem, then what would they do for the remainder? We go into a world where there is constant deceiving, lying, and backstabbing; an egotistic world, where the only intention of a shopkeeper is to sell his business regardless if you will benefit from it or not, where a politician is only trying to win your vote by making empty promises. But, the shopkeeper/politician needs to make a living too, so he may not perceive it as doing wrong. If you have a constant reminder of Gurbani, and are listening to Kirtan, then regardless of what you are doing, be it work, or at home, before speaking falsely, you will remember God, and speak the Truth, because Waheguru Ji is the Truth. If you carry on in your life and work remembering that every time I speak a ‘lie’ or deceive someone, then this action of mine will move me away from God. If we hurt someone, or do nindha of someone, then know that you have furthered the distance to God. Even if you are indulged in your work, and internally you are doing Simran, if you get a customer, then your concentration will be lost. But with Kirtan, there will be a constant reminder of God, and you remember to be humble with your customer and speak with honesty. Not only did you remain faithful to your customer and developed a lasting clientele, but you also spoke the Truth. God always helps those who speak the Truth. sMig shweI hir nwmu iDAweI ibrQw koie n jwey ] The Name of the Lord shall be with you as your Helper and Support. Meditate on Him-no one who does so shall ever return empty-handed. Remember we are merely a bodily shell for our soul, our body is not permanent, but the virtues are everlasting and will remain forever. Our virtues never die. There are no obstacles that will come in the way of virtues. A virtuous person has no enemies. If you help others, then they will return the favor and help you. pRB kY ismrin dusmnu trY ] Remembering God, one's enemies are repelled. pRB ismrq kCu ibGnu n lwgY ] Remembering God, no obstacles are met. We will constantly remember that we are disciples of the Shabad Guru. We sometimes forget how powerful our words or language can be. They can either be full of love or full of 'hate'. But if we see God in everyone, then should we really be using such foul language? No! We can eliminate our negative language and thought process by constantly having a reminder of Kirtan in the background and doing Naam Simran. Shabad Guru is our ‘living Guru’, our teacher. He guides us, protects us, and enlightens us. We don’t need to deeply understand Gurbani for it to affect our consciousness, because it is understood with the depth of our heart, not our head. You can meet a very knowledgeable person in Sikhi, but that is all they are. We may get a false impression that this person is a true Gursikh because of the words they write or speak, but in reality, they don’t practice what they write/preach. It’s all a façade. We run into all sorts of people and we try to obtain something from them, but, in the end we are disappointed, because it was merely the brain we were talking to, not the heart. God is very compassionate, we remember Him because of all the extroardinary Service He has provided us. We should speak of God's Words and act upon those words. If we meditate on Waheguru Ji, we become more balanced and content with life. By listening to Kirtan and doing simran, we can think more intuitively and not be overcome by ego. jo iesu mwry soeI suigAwnI ] One who kills this is spiritually wise. jo iesu mwry su shj iDAwnI ]5] One who kills this meditates intuitively. ||5|| We, humans, are fragile to the ever-changing society. We are confronted by many people and many situations, but when we think intuitively, we will never step into an unwanted situation. This is a part of all walks of life, be it with your family, friends, coworkers, and customers. Remember seva is one of the greatest things you can do, and to do it without ego, you will be rewarded with God’s Love. You can be the prime minister, or a clerk at a department store, and if your intentions are pure, then you can only do pure. By remembering the service you are providing for everyone, with nothing expected in return, with just love, we break ourselves from ego. jnI gurmuiK nwmu iDAwieAw ivchu Awpu gvwie ] The Gurmukhs meditate on the Naam; they eradicate selfishness and conceit from within. If we remember that seva is a selfless act, then we shouldn't expect to be recognized for it or appreciated for it. Be it seva at your employment, with family and friends, or in volunteer work, the more you do, the closer to god you will get. SO REMEMBER..... nwmu iDAwey so suKI iqsu muKu aUjlu hoie ] One who meditates on the Naam is at peace; his face is radiant and bright. Bhul Chuk Maaf, if I misinterpreted the Gurbani, as I am still learning.

self - edit (went off topic...oops)

Fateh Veer Ji, Thank you for your post. I couldn't have said it better myself. I agree with you that some posts, that have good intention to them, seem to go off topic and into discussions that are irrelevant. I, myself, seek inspiration from this site, but lately have been not visiting it as much due to the slandering that has become such a repetitive thing. No matter how much we debate a certain topic, the views of the poster will not change. They will write things irrationally based purely on emotion. I agree with you that if we are all here to learn Guru Ji's Word, then our words should be based on Gurbani. I know a few people on this forum that are starting to question what a Gursikh is. Is this the way we should talk to each other. We advertise love between us, but at the same time, we don't show it. There is constant nindha on here. I understand many have different views and opinions, some are more knowledgeable than others, but isn't this a learning process for all of us? If we are all students of Guru Ji, our Teacher, he would fail us all for behavior, regardless of how much knowledge one had. Knowledge is one thing, to implement it and carry it in your life is another. Many know a great deal, but like you said, the words they write surely do emphasize the character of the person. There was a post on Nindha. I suggest people should read it. http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?showto...=0entry121809

Nahi Bhenji, I actually was having difficulty trying to raise my spiritual level. I met an Uncle Ji, who teaches about spirituality and who I found very inspiring. He had given me this guideline. He said if you can manage this in your life, not only will you become a better person spiritually, but also become closer to Waheguru Ji. I discussed with him how youth these days, such as myself, are confused about Sikhi Jeevan, how can they obtain it? How can they increase their spirituality? So, he gave me this guideline to follow each day, and told me to share it with others. Along with my nitnem, I follow this guideline. Ever since I have implemented it into my life, I can see a difference. No day really seems to go to waste, it becomes productive. Many have already reached the stage of humbleness, compassion, and sewa, but there are a few that haven't. So give it a try!!!

Fateh Bhenji Please don't thank me. It is Waheguru Ji's kirpa. Thank Him continuously. Without Him, I am nothing. Praise Waheguru Ji continuously because He is the only one we can all learn from. Acru crY qw isiD hoeI isDI qy buiD pweI ] If one eats the uneatable, then he becomes a Siddha, a being of perfect spirituality; through this perfection, he obtains wisdom. pRym ky sr lwgy qn BIqir qw BRmu kwitAw jweI ]1] When the arrow of the Lord's Love pierces his body, then his doubt is eradicated. ||1|| myry goibd Apuny jn kau dyih vifAweI ] O my Lord of the Universe, please bless Your humble servant with glory. gurmiq rwm nwmu prgwshu sdw rhhu srxweI ] rhwau ] Under Guru's Instructions, enlighten me with the Lord's Name, that I may dwell forever in Your Sanctuary. ||Pause|| iehu sMswru sBu Awvx jwxw mn mUrK cyiq Ajwxw ] This whole world is engrossed in coming and going; O my foolish and ignorant mind, be mindful of the Lord. hir jIau ik®pw krhu guru mylhu qw hir nwim smwxw ]2] O Dear Lord, please, take pity upon me, and unite me with the Guru, that I may merge in the Lord's Name. ||2|| ijs kI vQu soeI pRBu jwxY ijs no dyie su pwey ] vsqu AnUp Aiq Agm Agocr guru pUrw AlKu lKwey ]3] Only one who has it knows God; he alone has it, to whom God has given it - so very beautiful, unapproachable and unfathomable. Through the Perfect Guru, the unknowable is known. ||3|| ijin ieh cwKI soeI jwxY gUMgy kI imiTAweI ] Only one who tastes it knows it, like the mute, who tastes the sweet candy, but cannot speak of it. rqnu lukwieAw lUkY nwhI jy ko rKY lukweI ]4] The jewel is concealed, but it is not concealed, even though one may try to conceal it. ||4|| sBu ikCu qyrw qU AMqrjwmI qU sBnw kw pRBu soeI ] Everything is Yours, O Inner-knower, Searcher of hearts; You are the Lord God of all. ijs no dwiq krih so pwey jn nwnk Avru n koeI ]5]9] He alone receives the gift, unto whom You give it; O servant Nanak, there is no one else. ||5||9||

Fateh Ji, I have looked at a few Punjabi-English Dictionaries, and this is the one that I found to be very useful. I borrowed this one from someone, that was kind enough to lend me an extra copy they had floating around. But I did see copies at Khalsa School Library. I'm not sure where you're from, but if you have a local store that sells them, this is the one I would recommend. Since there are many out there, this one has a green cover with an orange strip on top. It's called Punjabi University Punjabi-English Dictionary. I'm sure if you asked someone, they will know. Good luck!

Fateh, I am using the Punjabi-English Dictionary by Gurmukh Singh

Fateh Veer Ji, This topic was discussed a while back. There are some good posts in there you might want to check out. Hope they help! http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?showto...=0entry121365

Fateh, Once a person dies, the soul leaves, and we cremate the body. This has become a norm to cremate the body, but is not part of Sikhi. Forgive me, if I misinterpreted the following Gurbani thuks. But it clearly says that the body does not have to be cremated. iek dJih iek dbIAih ieknw kuqy Kwih ] Some are cremated, and some are buried; some are eaten by dogs. ieik pwxI ivic austIAih ieik BI iPir hsix pwih ] Some are thrown into water, while others are thrown into wells. nwnk eyv n jwpeI ikQY jwie smwih ]2] O Nanak, it is not known, where they go and into what they merge. ||2|| Many religions believe in cremation, while others don't, but neither way does it help the soul. Eie ly jwry Eie ly gwfy qyrI giq duhU n pweI ]1] The Hindus cremate their dead, while the Muslims bury theirs; neither finds Your true state, Lord. ||1|| I'm pretty sure that it does not state specifically in the Reht Maryada on how we should dispose of the body. If it was necessary to cremate it, rather than a norm, would this not have been addressed? Bhul Chuk Maaf

Fateh, I read that Sikhi does not restrict us in which way we dispose of the body. We can bury it, throw it in water, cremate it, as long as it is in a respectful manner. Whichever method you choose does not help or harm the soul, because the body was just a temporary shell for the soul. Once the soul departs, any treatment to the body doesn't affect the soul. To cremate is a convenient way for Sikhs to dispose of the body. But, unlike Sikhi, other religions and the way they dispose of the body does have a religious aspect to it and followers only dispose of the body as per what their religion says. Christians and Muslims bury their dead as it is against their religion to cremate them. Hindu's cremate their dead and dispose of the ashes in a sacred river. So, there is really no purpose in why we cremate the body. Bhul Chuk Maaf

Fateh, I have seen many of the sangat on this forum post that they don't know where to start by improving their life, they are unsure of things, a lot are suffering from 'depression'. Questions come up on how we can become closer to living a Sikhi Jeevan. It won't come without devotion. The more you devote yourself to something, the easier it becomes. Remember there is no such thing as a free lunch! I have adopted ten things in my life that have helped me to become an overall better person. We should all strive to live a virtuous life, but, we are all living in this material world, so we have to adapt to it as well. Hopefully this will help you as much as it has helped me. (note: order is not relevant to importance) FOR A SUCCESSFUL HAPPY LIFE 1. Practice morality, humility and compassion. 2. Manage your mind. 3. Manage your time. 4. Manage your money. 5. Look after your health. 6. Make conscious decisions. 7. Stay focused to your life goals. 8. Patience and perseverance are crucial for success. 9. God helps those who help themselves and others. 10. Do not harm or hurt others physically, mentally or financially.

You are right!!!! I got this in the email, and I thought it was amazing! But I failed to realize what you suggested. So searched the company name and found this: "The Truth: The story is fabricated. The picture was not taken by an oil drilling worker and is not simple, single photograph. TruthOrFiction.com found and communicated with the creator of the picture, underwater photographer Ralph Clevenger. Mr. Clevenger wrote: I created the image as a way of illustrating the concept of what you get is not necessarily what you see. As a professional photographer I knew that I couldn't get an actual shot of an iceberg the way I envisioned it so I created the final image by compositing several images I had taken. The two halves of the iceberg are 2 separate shots, one taken in Alaska and one taken in Antarctica (neither is underwater). The only underwater part is the background taken off the coast of California. The sky is the last component. It took a lot of research on lighting and scale to get the berg to look real. We have not posted the picture because the company that has the rights to it has not responded to our requests for permission to use it." But, it is very close to what a real iceberg would look. Just wanted to share one of God's Beautiful creations!!!! Bhul Chuk Maaf

This came from a Rig Manager for Global Marine Drilling in St. Johns, Newfoundland. They actually have to divert the path of these things away from the rig by towing them with ships! In this particular case the water was calm, and the sun was almost directly overhead so that the diver was able to get into the water and click this pic. Clear water huh? They estimated the weight at 300,000,000 tons. And now we know why they say one picture is worth 1000 words... And now we also know why the Titanic sank! One of God's Great Wonders !!!!!

The teachings of Guru Ji emphasized on the importance of Sikhi not recognizing any caste. All people were considered equal irrespective of their nationality or social positions. There is no difference between the rich or poor, man or woman, black or white, because ALL Humans were considered equal. God's light is equally present in all. It is the actions of people rich or poor, good or bad, that we become ignorant on forming this so called caste system. jwxhu joiq n pUChu jwqI AwgY jwiq n hy ]1] rhwau ] Recognize the Lord's Light within all, and do not consider social class or status; there are no classes or castes in the world hereafter. ||1||Pause|| They further emphasized the importance of equality by introducing a common area where all were welcome to come and eat, known as langar. Irrespective if you were a Hindu, Muslim, Caucasian, Sikh, all sat down at the same level and ate langar amongst each other. In our Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, many banis are incorporated which were written by sants and bhagats that belonged to "low castes". nwmw jYdyau kMbIru iqRlocnu Aaujwiq rivdwsu cimAwru cmeIAw ] Naam Dayv, Jai Dayv, Kabeer, Trilochan and Ravi Daas the low-caste leather-worker, jo jo imlY swDU jn sMgiq Dnu DMnw jtu sYxu imilAw hir deIAw ]7] blessed Dhanna and Sain; all those who joined the humble Saadh Sangat, met the Merciful Lord. ||7|| Guru Ji created a casteless society, but many people are so proud that they stick out their chest and boast “I’m a Jat!!!”..”I’m a Rajput!!!”…”I’m Ramgharia!!!”etc. But when a Gurmukh is asked the question should they not say, I’m a Sikh? Until we don’t release this notion from our minds of the so-called caste system, do we have a right to call ourselves a Sikh? Just because a boy or girl is born into a Jat family, are they different from someone born in a Rajput family? By holding on to this caste system, we automatically produce inequality. For centuries this has been engraved in the Sikh Psyche, this caste system. But Guru Ji says a Gurmukh should look beyond this because, gurmuK vrn Avrn hoie rMg surMg qMbol prcY] Gurmukhs go beyond the castes, colours and go about in equanimity like the red colour of betel leaf. When two Gurmukhs are ready for marriage, should they not look at the virtues and gunn in the other rather than what caste they are? I was experiencing the same thing when my parents were looking for a suitable husband for me. The first thing they asked was, “Is he a Jat?”. Then other questions would follow if the answer were yes. Should we follow the old tradition of what our parents believed in and limit our children’s future to find a suitable soul mate for them to carry on a Gresthi Jeevan? No! We should eliminate this caste system, and only attach ourselves to the Truth, Guru Ji’s Teachings. The more we understand Gurbani, the more we can educate our parents from this mindset. The more we attach ourselves to Guru Ji’s teachings, and experience Shabad Guru, the stronger our beliefs will become. Would He not find us a suitable mate when the time comes? Remember, by taking one step towards the Guru, the Guru will take thousands of steps towards you. God told us to live a humble and honest life. But I have seen these days that so many wars and hatred have broken out because we ignorantly involve caste as the main focal point. vrnw vrn n BwvnI Kih Kih jln bWs AMgXwrw] Different sections(castes) of society develop hatred for one another and finish themselves through squabbles as the bamboos, due to their mutual friction, producing fire burn themselves as well as others. Not only that, but I have seen that there are so many versions, castes of a Sikh. Should we not all be Guru ke Sikh? Gurdwaras are made based on caste system. How can you put Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in a place that only certain castes go to? We become hypocrites. We go to pray to our Guru Ji, but at the same time we go to a Gurdwara of our ‘caste’. God created light. His omnipotence gave birth to all. If all beings are born from the same light, how can some be good and some bad? One can only be ranked on their actions, their deeds. So don’t be proud of your caste, because this pride becomes the root of all evils. When one takes Amrit, Amrit is drunk from the same bowl, regardless of what ethnicity, class you are. You become one with your brothers and sisters. One argument I use now with my parents is that our first Panj Pyare were not all of the same origin, so how can we go beyond our Guru Ji’s Word? Bhul Chuk Maaf

Are you scared of death? How many times do you wonder what death is? Do you fear that you will die before you can achieve everything you wanted to in your life? Does death sometimes cause you to have unsettling dreams? When a loved one dies, do you question why they have passed away so suddenly? Do you get upset, or do you accept it? The Guru Ji, beautifully answers, icMqw qw kI kIjIAY jo AnhonI hoie ] People become anxious, when something unexpected happens. iehu mwrgu sMswr ko nwnk iQru nhI koie ]51] This is the way of the world, O Nanak; nothing is stable or permanent. ||51|| All of us are going to die one day whether we want to or not. It could be today, tomorrow, in a few days, months or years. So why worry about it? Nothing is stable or permanent. It is inevitable. Before I accepted Guru Ji into my life, I also asked many questions. I feared death. I didn’t know what death was, so I dreaded it. But, one would question, that first Guru Ji says why worry, then He goes on to say I cannot forget the fear of dying. This anxiety is eating away at me BY mrby ko ibsrq nwihn iqh icMqw qnu jwrw ]1] I cannot forget the fear of dying; this anxiety is consuming my body. ||1|| How can we at one end, not worry about death, and at the other, let it cause us uneasiness? But, if Guru Ji was so uncomfortable about death, then why did Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji offer his head, and welcome death? If it was the bodily death that Guru Ji worried about, then why did Sri Guru Gobind Singh, with his own hands, lead his sons into battle? If we interpret this shabad literally with the English translations without looking at the underlying meaning, then of course we can mistake it for Guru Ji being anxious of bodily death. But that is not the case. Guru Ji never thought of death as the death of the body. Then, what kind of death is He talking about? He is talking about the death of the mind. ijau pRwxI jl ibnu hY mrqw iqau isKu gur ibnu mir jweI ]15] Just as the mortal dies without water, so does the Sikh die without the Guru. ||15|| This is DEATH. A Sikh dies when he forgets the Guru, God, Shabad Guru. A Sikh dies when he attaches himself to the world, pondering day and night. Instead of worshiping Shabad Guru, he starts to praise the things around him. THIS IS THE DEATH THAT I AM SCARED OF. I know we are all going to die one day, by my fear is, by living in this world, I might get influenced and forget God. But with Guru Ji’s kirpa, I am able to overcome my fear. myrI pRIiq goibMd isau ijin GtY ] My love for the Lord of the Universe does not decrease. mY qau moil mhgI leI jIA stY ]1] rhwau ] I paid for it dearly, in exchange for my soul. ||1||Pause|| My love for God does not decrease. I love God more than my own life. I pray that this love for God, this thirst for Gyaan, this hunger for Shabad Guru never ends. I constantly worry that my mind will lose concentration, that the five vices may over power me. But the more I read Gurbani, the more I understand it, the less I fear this death. But, I fear my bodily death sometimes, because I wasted almost half my life before I welcomed Guru Ji into my heart, and now find that I don’t have enough time. There is so much to learn, so much to experience, but not enough time. So, pyaare Veer Ji’s and Bhenji’s, don’t waste your time like I did and regret it. Start to experience Shabad Guru in your lives. I have only started to, and it is definitely the most amazing thing. Don’t fear death, for it is inevitable, but fear the death when you become distant from Waheguru. Bhul Chuk Maaf

Fateh, I was having this discussion with a few people, and I still have come to the same conclusion, that if Guru Ji practiced polygamy as you say, then why did they not include it in their teachings? We also discussed that if Guru Ji emphasized equality among men and women, then the same would apply for women. If it was ok for a man to practice polygamy, then by equal standards, so should a woman. Why should a woman remain married to one man if she can have multiples? I know how a man would feel, if this was the case, how do you think a woman would feel to share her husband, her soul mate? I wouldn't tolerate it. What I found quite amusing is the fact that many of you have read up on the lives of Guru Ji, what He did as a human. But how many of you actually read and try to understand Gurbani, and incorporate it into your lives? Here on this youth forum, that is viewed by many, instead of talking about the gyaan that the Guru Ji's obtained and carried throughout their life, we are talking about their human life. Instead of focusing and educating the youth about Sikhi Jeevan, to experience it, we are focusing on minute things. Once again, I encourage everyone of you to read, understand, and implement Shabad Guru into your lives. Without the understanding and experiencing, you will always remain ignorant toward the Truth. Bhul Chuk Maaf

Can you provide proof of this? If you are referring to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, then you are mistaken. Guru Ji had an engagment and a wedding, hence two big functions. People distorted history by saying Guru Ji had two wifes, when in fact it was just one. They were mistaken because they veiwed these two functions as two different weddings. They were also led to believe this because of the two names, Mata Sundari Ji and Mata Jeeto Ji. It was one person, her name before wedding was Mata Jeeto Ji and after wedding she was known as Mata Sundari Ji. Some say he had a third wife, Mata Sahib Kaur Ji. Whereas Guru Ji was the spiritual father of khalsa, Mata Sahib Kaur Ji became recognized as the spiritual mother of khalsa. All these assumptions are because of our ignorance towards our culture. We take everything written as face value. Can you please reference this for me. Or provide me with where you have read this, or are you just assuming that this is what happened to Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Remember, not everything you read is credible these days, many facts, sakhiyans have been distorted. Frankly, this is the first time I have heard of such a thing! If Guru Ji condemned the custom of marriages, then why would any of the other Gurus get married? Would they go against what Guru Nanak Dev Ji condemned, go against Gurbani? Is that why we are told to live a Grehsti Jeevan by our Gurus? You say marraige is a social necessity. Well I beg to differ. Marriage is not just the joining of two physical entities, but it is a union of two minds and more importantly the joining of two souls. Hence, after marriage you become one mind, one soul. We, together, then strive to merge our souls with God. The couple lives a Grehsti Jeevan, follow the path of Gurmat, to love and live a truthful life. I don't believe it is wrong to deeply care for someone. Moh is attachment to someone, and kaam is lust towards someone. I don't believe either of the two can be defined as love. You can love and appreciate someone without being attached to them or have lust for them. Bhul Chuk Maaf

Fateh Veer Ji, I think this topic has made a slight twist!!!! Oops! Being content with my life doesn’t mean that I have stopped living my life. I still work to put food on the table, pay bills, etc. I work enough to accommodate the things I need. Being content doesn’t mean that I hibernate in my room, even though sleeping in does sound nice on those rainy days! I work for the basic necessities in life. Society is ever changing. To keep pace with the society, one does have to keep educating themselves. You can excel in many things, and still be content. Just because I am happy with my life doesn’t mean that I won’t strive to excel in bettering my knowledge of Gurbani, getting promoted at work, or being happy at home. But whatever you’re striving for, just make sure it’s by honest means. As the Reht Maryada says, “The true Sikh of the Guru shall make an honest living by lawful work”. Earn your livelihood through honest means. A person’s earnings, however large or small, should come from honest means. If a poor person can show contentment in their current state, then they have accepted what little they have and make the most of it. If they have the drive to succeed and break out of poverty, then that is no different from myself trying to get promoted to a higher position. I agree with you that I am speaking from the comfort of my home, and there are many out there that don’t even have shelter, or food for three meals a day. I have never been in that state so to answer this point of yours would seem unfair. But, if your spirits are high, and you have faith in God, regardless of what situation you are in, you should be thankful, and accept the Will of God. Everyone has dreams and hopes. I have dreams and hopes as well, and to some extent, still do. But I don’t dwell on them too much. I have adopted this philosophy to forget the past, stop thinking about the future, and concentrate on the day at hand. Before I was never content with anything, my family, my career etc. But once I accepted everything as God’s Will, I have found peace with myself and my environment. I had fallen under the misconception that whenever I did something good and gained something from it, it was all my doing, therefore I should be recognized for it. But when something went wrong and I lost everything, the first thing I would do was blame God. Once you start realizing that everything you have are God’s Gifts, God’s Blessings, then you begin to appreciate everything you have. I don’t worry about failure anymore. I have trust in God’s larger plan. This is a good point. In the days of our Guru, there were monarchies that ruled the world, just as we have governments today. People let their minds get the best of themselves at times. They let the five vices overcome them. To maintain peace in the world monarchies and governments were put in place. Not all give fair justice, but it keeps society in check. No. A lot of people are not content with their lives because they are always trying to compete with others. Who has the bigger house, the most expensive car, a well paying job, or the better body. In all this, they forget that true happiness lies within. You can never be content if you’re constantly trying to be better than the other. When a child is born, the only thing they want is milk. They don’t care about the clothes that you put on them, what their bank balances are. But once that child gets older, they like certain types of foods, they need to dress a certain way, and they have to drive fancy cars. They can never be content because there will always be someone that dresses better, or drives the better car. But if you accept what you have, and you are happy with it, then regardless of what the other person has, you will still appreciate everything you have. You become reasonably happy and satisfied with the way things are. You accept or make do with everything you have rather than making more demands. Hence, you become content. This is exactly why you have these questions, because you’re faith is not strong. I didn’t have faith in God at all. I blamed him for everything that went wrong in my life. But, once I started to read and understand Gurbani, I started to experience it. The first time I did, I couldn’t control the tears coming down my face. I couldn’t explain what was happening to me. My emotions were out of control. You have to have the hunger, the thirst. Once again, I will say to you, instead of questioning everything, keep an open mind. Read what people have been writing to you in answer to your questions with respect because they are truly trying to help you. I gained a lot of knowledge by reading many of the responses to your questions. Do Nitnem. Read a Shabad, understand it, and try to incorporate it in your life. Trust me, it works!!!!

I totally agree with you!!! If you make the effort of understanding the Shabad Guru, then nothing can stop you from experiencing it day and night. Shabad Guru will be radiating all around you. In your mind, in your heart, and in your surroundings. We will begin to perceive God everywhere. I love your analogy of “fast food” and Guru’s pictures. These days, people do think a quick glance at Guru’s picture is enough darshan to keep them satisfied for a short amount of time until hunger strikes again. But what they fail to realize is that Guru is within us, and by reading Shabad Guru we, in fact, are feeding our hungry soul. But like GuruKaLaL said, it’s “easier said than done”. The mentality of many has become so engrossed in depicting Guru’s pictures as of themselves, that they cannot let go of that notion. Majority of people I’ve talked to feel guilty if they do not show ‘respect’ to the Guru’s Pictures, and they seem quite appalled when I say that that picture is not my Guru.

Fateh, Sinister Veer Ji, once again, I request that you actually take the time to read and understand Gurbani. Experience it. If you remain ignorant and skeptical towards it, then how can you appreciate any answers we give you? Questions are always welcomed, like I have stated to you many times before, as well as many others have, this is a learning process. But, one question I pose to you is: Do you ever take into consideration the advice we give you? You call yourself a Sikh, yet you don’t want to follow the Sikhi Jeevan. I think you are very confused. You say that you never made any statements in your post; I suggest you go back and read it. You boldly accused God of several things. First of all, let me define salvation for you: =>the saving of somebody or something from harm, destruction, difficulty, or failure =>somebody or something that protects or delivers somebody or something else from harm, destruction, difficulty, or failure In my opinion, once a Sikh achieves salvation, they live to save others. I believe you are stuck in the notion of what Christians believed: believe in Jesus Christ for he sacrificed his life for the deliverance from sin or consequences of sin for all humanity. But that is not my belief. My belief is in order to achieve salvation is to live free of all vices, or at least try to. Living a life of truth and love, which help in eliminating the five vices that affect every one of us. How? By using Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as a guide. Guru Ji is not saying that we need to disassociate with the world in order to achieve salvation. They rejected such doings. They didn’t say to isolate yourself in the forests or mountains, remain hungry, follow rituals such as bathing in sacred waters, wear certain colors, or mark your body with certain colors. They told us to achieve salvation, among others, here and now. Sikhi states that the human form, in body, mind and spirit is the most advanced and perfect machinery for attaining salvation. This leads me to your next point: If your goal in life is not to obtain salvation, liberation and eternal bliss, then that is your choice. I cannot force you to change your views, instead I will respect your views, and I will state mine. I can only make you understand my point of view, but not force it upon you. It is entirely your choice. If you have questions of Sikhi, then you have every right to state them. But, if you question Sikhi, then on what basis do you want me to answer your questions without using Gurbani? Yes I agree with you, everything in life is a choice. Whether it is good or bad, it is YOUR decision. We can only assist or direct you to make the right choice, but in the end, the decision is up to you. Personally, I don’t believe in reincarnation. According to Sikh Faith, there is no such thing. What we are living today is our heaven and hell. If you live by following Guru Ji’s Words, then you are in heaven, and if you choose to live by ignoring Guru Ji’s Words, then you are living in hell. kbIr Awsw krIAY rwm kI AvrY Aws inrws ] Kabeer, place your hopes in the Lord; other hopes lead to despair. nrik prih qy mwneI jo hir nwm audws ]95] Those who dissociate themselves from the Lord's Name - when they fall into hell, then they will appreciate its value. ||95|| If you live according to the eight virtues, then how could you possibly live in hell? Wisdom: It can be achieved by hearing good, thinking good and doing good. A man of wisdom tries to achieve a high moral standard in his life and interaction with others. According to Sikhism, the first step to wisdom is to consider oneself as an ignorant person who has to learn a lot in life. Truthful Living: This is more than 'truth'. It means living according to the way of God i.e. the thoughts should match the words that a person speaks and his actions should also match his words. Justice: means freedom and equal opportunities for all. Respect for the rights of others and strict absence of attempts to exploit a fellow being. Temperance: means self control which has to be developed through meditation and prayers. A Sikh has to banish evil thoughts from his mind by constantly repeating Gods name and reciting prayers. Patience: implies a high level of tolerance and empathy for others. It requires control over ones ego and willingness to overlook another's weakness or mistakes. Courage: means bravery i.e. absence of fear. It is the ability to stake ones life for ones convictions and for saving others from injustice or cruelty. Humility: is a deliberate denial of pleasure at one's own praise and admiration. It means underplaying ones own strengths and respecting the abilities of others. Contentment: means refraining from worldly fears and submitting oneself to the will of God. The typical worldly fears can be fear of death, poverty, disrespect and defeat. It is this virtue that has given the Sikhs the moral strength to withstand the various atrocities committed on their community in the last three centuries. People often accuse God for what is happening in their lives. If you lie, and you fret everyday that someone may find out, you live in this constant state of worrying, then is that your own act, or the act of God? For He said to live a life of Truth. If you were to rob a person, a bank, and get caught and put in jail, then is that your own act, or the act of God? For He said to live a life of Justice. How can your mind be at ease knowing that you have lied, or you have robbed someone. You would be in constant torment. Even if you live a life of comfort, the idea that you have done something wrong will keep on haunting you. I think this punishment on its own is worse kind you can ever endure. This is living hell. If you incorporate the eight virtues in your life, then how can we suffer and be led astray. This is living in heaven. No one can save you, but can only assist you in trying to live a virtuous life. You wanting to come back as a cow or bee, to serve humanity, that is your choice. But like I said, I don’t believe in reincarnation. As stated before, Sikhi states that the human form, in body, mind and spirit is the most advanced and perfect machinery for attaining salvation. Like I stated prior to writing the translations, I am learning, and my translations may not be correct, it is my understanding. If you beg to differ, please do. I welcome your views. What I was referring to is in early morning we often have less disturbances or less distractions. So, in this context, what I mean by “poisoned” is that we have not yet had an evil or corrupting influence from somebody or something, that we have not been effected to perform devoted seva to our Guru Ji. Therefore, our concentration is much more intense, without outside influence. By getting up at Amrit Vela, you start your day off by remembering God, therefore, every action that you do, it will virtuous. It is not to say that those who do not start their days off by remembering God do not do good. But, it is a constant reminder. You should remember God every second throughout the day. That he is with you at all times. I agree for some it is difficult to get up at Amrit Vela due to work, or other circumstances. I’m sorry, where have I stated that hypnosis is my remedy to your questions. You say that our minds are sleep deprived, in a numb state, where you can’t think and question during the morning. Well, in your state, what difference does it make? You have yet to appreciate Guru Ji’s Divine Words. You throw question after question without taking into consideration any of the answers or advice we have given you. Why don’t you try it and see if it makes a difference instead of just speaking of it. Experience it first before you jump to your baseless accusations or assumptions. It doesn’t take much to speak or write what you think, but it is much more respected if you actually act upon it. Like they say, “Be a man of your word!” Well, I have not danced around any of your questions. It is you that has been quite entertaining in dancing around the many questions that have been posed to you. Do you fear that you have no answers yourself? Only questions, as seen several times, to which you don’t really take the answers into consideration. Why don’t you tell us your answers to your own questions, if ours seem far-fetched? Simple answer to your question. God created humanity; He can dispose of humanity. He is the Creator. He was here long before humans even stepped foot on this earth, and He will be here long afterwards. Let me ask you, what is humanity without God? What humanity would exist without God? You talk about animals preaching and praying. How are we different from animals? We, who ourselves do not meditate upon and appreciate God’s Words, does it make us any superior to animals? Look at the actions of people around you that don’t meditate on God’s Words, they seem very animal like to me. My opinions are based on morality. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is a guide that I use to live and experience this morality. My decisions, in the end, are my own. How I live my life is entirely up to me. I don’t need someone to grab my finger and lead the way. I chose to live and experience a Sikhi Jeevan, and I am absolutely content with it. Are you content with your life? To start off by saying 'I think' means you are unsure of where you stand in your views, in your opinions, in your life. Like I stated in my previous post, if you accuse God, then He should answer you. Bhul Chuk Maaf

Fateh Untitled Singh Veer Ji, A Sikh is not to worship any heavenly body, such as the sun or moon, or pictures, images, paintings of gods, not even our Gurus. The Gurus never permitted paintings, busts, or sculptures of themselves to be prepared. They only emphasized the philosophy of 'Shabad Guru'. According to Guru Ji, Gurbani is the 'Shabad Guru' bwxI gurU gurU hY bwxI ivic bwxI AMimRqu swry ] The Word, the Bani is Guru, and Guru is the Bani. Within the Bani, the Ambrosial Nectar is contained. guru bwxI khY syvku jnu mwnY prqiK gurU insqwry ]5] If His humble servant believes, and acts according to the Words of the Guru's Bani, then the Guru, in person, emancipates him. ||5|| Worshiping the pictures is none other than a Brahmanical ritual that people have implemented in their lives by putting them up in the Gurdwaras and in their homes. When I visited India, and went to many Gurdwaras, I noticed pictures of the Gurus. So how are we to convince someone that they shouldn't be there? It would be difficult cuz it has been engraved in the Sikh psyche. Alot of people have the pictures in their homes to show a sign of respect, some even have garlands around them. To know why people worship the Guru's picture, we should take a look at history, as Dr Gurbakhsh Singh stated: "When Keshdhari Sikhs during the 18th century were forced to leave the villages and live in the forests, the nonKeshdhari disciples took care of the Sikh Gurdwaras and the historical places. These disciples did not board the ship of Sikh Faith; they only held it in their hands but kept their feet stuck in the Hindu Boat. The Brahmanical influence, which was still holding their mind, obliged them to depict popular mythological scenes on the walls of the Gurdwaras as they were traditionally depicted on the walls of the Hindu temples. When the pictures of the Hindu gods and their consorts appeared on the Gurdwara walls, the pictures of the Gurus had also to appear as a natural sequence. All pictures, of course, differed and were subject to the imagination of the painters. The pictures from the walls moved on to the paper and were printed in large numbers to reach every Sikh house and every Gurdwara. Only a few vigilant managers did not permit any kind of pictures, howsoever 'genuine' or 'superior' they were claimed to be, to come even near the boundary of the Gurdwaras. Once the pictures of the Gurus were accepted as 'true' and 'good' by the masses, how could anyone stop them from taking the forms of idols and statues? Unfortunately, it appears that they are here to stay at least for the time being. During the 18th century, not only the nonSikh but antiSikh rituals were praticed in Gurdwaras without any objection because the Khalsa had moved to the forests. The sacred places were managed by the Sanatni (Brahmanical) Sikhs or by those Mahants who still believed in Hindu rituals even after associating themselves with the Sikh faith. When the Sikhs lost their Raj in Punjab in 1849, they had time to turn their thoughts towards their faith. They were surprised to find Sikhism already pushed out of the Gurdwaras by Brahmanical rituals. The worship of idols, whether of the Hindu gods or of the Sikh Gurus, is prohibited for the Sikhs. However, both were worshiped by the Sikhs in the precincts of the Golden Temple." So if these pictures were made by the imagination of painters, and all differed, which is the true picture of our Guru? As stated before, no Guru allowed for their pictures, images to be painted. Therefore, we shouldn't have pictures in the Gurdwaras or our houses, instead the Gurus should reside in our hearts, our mind, our soul. The gyan, the Jot, is what our Guru is, so how can we possible take a picture of it? I am a hypocrite, I know. As I am writing this, I know I, myself, personally do not own or have even a single 'picture of our Guru', but my house is full of them. Like yourself Veer Ji, I also tried to reason with my parents that these pictures are not of the Guru themselves, and told them of all the points I have stated in this post, but because of their lack of awareness, and because of this notion being engraved in their psyche, it can get difficult. But I do have talks with my parents, and what I am learning (hopefully correctly), I am discussing topics with them. I find if you can discuss a topic with passion, with love, and not try to force them, then they do listen. They start to realize not all of these so called 'Sikh rituals' are correct. Good Luck! Bhul Chuk Maaf