kharkusingh1996

reminds me of those hippy Sikhs who take their own GGS and perform interfaith weddings all over North America for their own agenda and think its perfectly fine as long as its outside the gurdwara.

As Sikhs its our duty to make sure GGS is in good hands and not being misused at all times.

Gud idea but some wouldn't agree, I think this is great idea, already there are organisations set up to help alcoholics in our community and things are being in place to have these sort of services accessible for our community. Gurdwaras are where most of our community goes and what better place to have these counsellors at. Just more need to get involved and get the ball rolling.

I just want to wait and see how gurdwaras will be running in 20 years or so when the next generation step in like us. For now most gurdwaras committees are no different from masands. That doesn't mean mean youth can't do anything though we have to work our way around these committees to at least have a basic ground to help sangat. Like I mentioned counseling before. There for sure are good Gursikh bibis/phenjis out there who can help out as counselors for their own local sangat and trust me it can make a big difference.

Here in America, sadly most gurdwaras have no what so support for sangat. I mean in UK you have guys have atleast couple organizations to support sangat in different areas but here its complete chaos.

Punjabi parents of this generation more over care about education than religion as they don't care who their child marries as long as she is standing on her own feet and blah blah blah.

Also in UK, you guys enough youth to stand up against interfaith weddings too from happening in gurdwara too but in America not even one has been avoided.

That seems to be quite an excessive period of ecstasy.

Still, seems like a very organised individual, even planning things like this in advance. An admirable quality.

shots fired

So I should do Amrit Vela? (I don't currently wake-up early enough).

You should try your best to do amritvels whether you wake up at 4 or 5 am or even earlier at midnight or even 1 do your nitnem and then go to sleep because sometimes school schedule can be hectic so any of those two ways can work out for getting your ninth/simran done during amritvela.

Other than that when you are alone and feel having the lustful urge, you should start simran right away where you are no matter what. That will help you overcome your mind thinking about it at that very moment.

Tighten your kacha veer ji its a difficult task to stop.

From own experience, what helps with me that i can go without it for weeks by doing simran during amritvela and listening to kirtan/simran as much as I can especially if your on the laptop just listening will tune your mind off of during such activity. But I have to be honest the rush starts kicking in always after a week in and more simran is needed to be done in order for me to focus and not get distracted by lust its a tough task but with simran and ardaas it can be cut off for good. For advice, start off a fresh day with amritvela path and simran and for that whole day focus on positive vibes that take your mind off of lust. Once you achieve day 1, try to get in the same notion and it might not work right away it can take weeks or months but getting into that habit might help.

I Heard a talk on Sikh2inspire about Kaam being a king of the court of the five vices which in a way I believe to be true . It seems to me the more books I read about Gursikh gems I can conclude some have mentioned kaam being the toughest vice to control for them of course due to them being celibate when talking about mahapurakhs. Back on topic, your not the only one going through this notion of fighting kaam, it'll affect you if you don't control yourself without doing simran your spirituality will fall apart. In other words, don't let kaam control you , it should be you controlling kaam in the end.

do extra chapaui sahib path too

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh

I will keep this brief because I am terrified someone will identify me...

I am an amritdhari girl and married to an amritdhari man. I thought the match was good, based on what he made me believe, but it's terrible. He became abusive, controlling, dictating and worse than that he restricts me developing my Sikhi. I am not allowed to go anywhere, or do anything. If I am at home during the day, I have to recount everything that I have done and no matter what I cannot please him. He compares me to other mens wives and says everything against me. I dealt with this as being my karam, but it's getting worse. He now says if we have a child that the child will have to go to India as it's less hassle for him, and also I can't breastfeed so that I can go back to work faster. When I speak out, he pips me to the post always and he speaks so much like a politician that even I end up agreeing with his warped point of views! I don't want to leave him, I would rather work at the marriage but even when others have spoken to him, behind closed doors he's become worse or threatened suicide if I "ruin his name". I feel so depressed, I even pocketed every painkiller in the house and took them to work with me because I couldn't face returning home but I didn't get an opportunity to take them as there was others around, then the feeling subsided. I cry every day, I dread him coming home everyday... What can I do???

Definitely contact Sikh Helpline as someone mentioned alreadt. Also, let us sangat know how everything goes if you followed any of the advice above.

Too bad the Muslim clerics in Dubai force Sikhs to keep the Nishan Sahib inside the gurdwara and ban any katha....

Bro by June 1984 Sant Ji were no longer Taksali + that's proved by the reality that a minority of the shaheeds in Bluestar Genocide were former Taksali's as Indira Gandhi and Congress had totally infiltrated Taksal bigwigs like Dhumma by then. Remember people like Dhumma were responsible for DamDami Taksal campaigning for Indira Gandhi + Congress in the 1980 elections. If DamDami Taksal hadn't supported Indira Gandhi in 1980 then the last 35years of hell could have been avoided. Sant Ji in June 1984 said none of these jatha's and samparda's mattered and that the only thing that counts is allegiance to the Sikh Panth in order to serve humanity like Sant Ji did.

Bro DamDami Taksal have no connection to Takht Sri Damdama Sahib as DDT originate from Bhinder Kalan.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji was Jagat Guru + Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji belonged to the whole Panth.

Baba Deep Singh Ji did not do Sri Chand Puja like DamDami Taksal + wouldn't have supported Congress in 1980.

DamDami Taksal was set up in the 20th century by Sunder Singh Ji after education from Pandits.

Hence their name was Nirmala Sunder Singh Ji (founder of DamDami Taksal in the 20th century).

Giani Thakur Singh Ji claimed that Sant Ji were still alive after June 1984 even though for the last 31 years plus the vast majority of the Panth realise that Sant Ji became shaheed trying to save innocent people from the Genocide launched by Indira Gandhi.

The Akal Takht should be lead the Panj Piare who are the five best Gurmukhs our Panth has to offer (regardless of jatha or samparda) as the only thing that should matter is the Sikh Panth and Sarbat da Bhala.

Pretty sure DDT dates back to Baba Deep Singh but the name changed though throughout time. Maybe I'm wrong though.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji started the Taksal and was it's first Jathedar, Baba Deep Singh Ji was the second. (So they had great leaders since the beginning, not just Jarnail Singh Bhinderwale), many shaheeds and great leaders have been Jathedars, many of whom are remembered. Thakur Singh wasn't a bad guy either. Who do you think should lead the Akal Takht? All the way since the 18th century not the 20th.

No doubt Damdami Taksal has had pooran mahapurakhs in their lineage of jathedars and great contributors to the panth like Sant Gurbachan Singh, Sant Kartar Singh and so on. But you think Dhumma was selected by the Taksal themselves? In no way I want to do nindiya of Dhumma but one has to agree he isn't fit for the authority of the Taksal. Even to this day the jathedar spot is in confusion at the Taksal as Badal picks his own choice who will do work for him. So sadly I have to say Taksal is monitored by the gov. but hopefully in the future that changes. In my opinion I would want someone picked from sarbat khalsa that should happen at Akal Takht. I support anyone who isn't afraid of speaking for the Truth and standing up for the Guru's teachings and has a high jeevan and has a good reputation already in the panth. Now I don't mind at all if it is a Singh or Jathedar from Taksal or Buddha Dal or neither to be honest. Right now I would want Bhai Amrik Singh Ajnala to be the Akal Takht jathedar who would be a big change for the Panth but that will never happen to be honest. He is a Taksali of course and I have no problem and he doesn't really associate himself with Dhumma as much as I know but I can tell you he is one of the only taksalis I really look up too from the 1970's and 1980's struggles who isn't quitting on getting justice.

Now interestingly though, in the 90's Shaheed Gurdev Singh Kaunke was Akal Takht jathedar for a while and however he was picked though through the indian gov. agencies spying at Harmandar Sahib, I will never understand how but he did do a lot of parchar in short time and ended up shaheed.

Where were these sikh "intellectuals" when sangat is blocked off from having Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji's darshan because Badals or a bollywood actor or actress or a political characters come to Sri Harmandir Sahib? Sangat is herded off like a bunch of sheep for these corrupt officials. Tie up your beard, write a couple of papers, sip tea in a comfy chair and now blame the common folk for the issues at Sri Harmandir Sahib? These intellectuals should be the first to be put on the chopping block. The Sikh youth is misdirected? What about the clowns in SGPC uniform? They have sold Sikhi for a rupee to the indian government. But these sikh intellectuals are hush about such betrayal of Sikhs. If the pen is mightier than the sword. Why haven't these sikh intellectuals solved the problem of corruption at Sri Akal Takht Sahib? Sant Jarnail Singh ji Khalsa had the pen and sword in hand. He was ready to use both appropriately.

Issue is not Sikh youth have lost direction. The issue here is the elders Sikhs (intellectuals, politicians, babas, professors, etc) who were to hold on to Sikhi izzat have sold the izzat of Sikhi for a rupee. Did Bhai Mani Singh ji, Baba Deep Singh ji, Bhai Taru Singh ji, or any other Gursikh compromise Sikhi teachings anywhere? NEVER!!!!! They rather give their head than let Sikhi fall. Today is the opposite. Make compromises, don't worry we are still Sikhs. Plus we achieve more worldly accomplisments by compromising.

These intellectuals can go to hell!!

Truly enough that's what Sikhi has become in Punjab today sadly. Most of them are sellouts.

You don't like the era Jarnail Singh Bhinderwale was in the Akal Takht? He's a taksali.

No, I support Sant Jarnail Singh Ji, but what I am trying to say we are all part of the Khalsa and picking favorites of who's hands the Akal Takht should go to is risky. Akal Takht has superiority. Seriously we don't know how our jathedars are picked out these days, but most likely ones who do service of Badal. Right now to be completely honest today's Taksal is not what is was like in the 20th century. Dhumma is big sellout and a disgrace to the Taksal. Once all Indian politicans especially Punjab ones have their hands off of Sikh institutions which only can be done with the sword and not the pen and our Sikh leaders are chosen wisely depending on their jeevan not their service to politicans then I will have some hope. But on a serious note, Akal Takht needs to be in hands of the Khalsa again not pakhandi Sikh politican sellouts.

There is one solution: give the Akal Takht to either the Budha Dal or the Taksal; our Panth isn't ready to do that, so then our Panth will keep elections.

Eh, I mean if it goes to either one you think the other will give alliance to them? Haumai is a spreading disease within our Panth and can even affect Singhs of either Taksal or Budha Dal it is risky in my opinion. Especially in the state of the two it will not be any good for the Panth. Sarbat Khalsa is the way to go in my opinion to decide the future..

Can Sikhs or non Muslims in general succeed working for a company that is mostly Muslim. From personal experience I have been in this situation once which only lasted a few weeks . Because I could sense the hatred that existed for non muslim workers.

But what about other Sikhs who find themselves in these situations? Is it a good idea to join one of these places that are mostly run by muslims and what are other peoples experiences.

I find there was definitely hostility beneath the surface. And Muslims would just like to be only with their own kind rather then a non muslim.

I think it can work out depending on the Muslims. Not all Muslims are stuck up and stick with their own kinds but many are like that unfortunately. They have a sense of superiority over others but not are like that again.

I like this.

My own peronal opinion is that this is your strength. The fact you don't have a dogmatic doctrine that you follow like mindless zombies.

I mean I am only just scratching the surface of your religion and culture here and I do feel out of depth but the fact that so much of your religion is open to intellectual debate and heartfelt soul searching can only help develop you as human beings.

Your religion is internal and not external if you know what I mean, you don't look to the without you look to the within.

Truly fascinating.

I have got one question though, if worship is based a lot on sound and voice then where are your female singing artists?

I mean with Christianity we have Gospel choirs and a lot of very successful singers came out of the Church for instance Whitney Housten.

Am I missing something here, where is the link between your all inclusive non sexist singing religion and your very successful female singing artists?

Where are they?

female singing artists? lol that is something we aren't concerned about producing singing artists to be honest. There are women kirtanis(play the harmonium and sing religious hymns). Whitney Houston might have been a singer but where was she on the stance of spirituality?

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji K Fateh

I am a young, 19 year old amritdharee female. I am born and raised in a typical punjabi family, however, we all do paath and are well into learning about Sikhi. I am the only daughter in the family, I used to be the girl who was into her, makeup, hair styling(i've never cut my hair) and basically all the usual girly stuff a typical girl is interested in. From a young age I have been attending gurdwara, sikhi classes and doing kirtan on the vaja. In 2013, we had our annual dastar day, where I tied the dastar for the first time and I fell in love with it. When I told my parents that I was considering wearing the dastar full time, they weren't against the idea (both my brothers have worn a keski since birth but aren't amritdharee) but objected by saying it was just a phase I was going through and I would change my mind. I few months later, in January 2014, we had a jatha come for a week and on the last day they were holding an amrit sanchar. During the second last divan, something in what they were saying me touched me so much that, almost 12 hours before the amrit sanchar I decided to take amrit. I am someone who never in my life even considered the idea of taking amrit but I don't know why, but I just felt that I was ready and had to take the leap of faith. I felt sitting in the darbar sahib that night, it was either take it now or never. So next day, I take amrit. I AM THE ONLY AMRITDHAREE IN MY FAMILY AND EXTENDED FAMILY.

Now almost year and a half on, I do my paath (timing is an issue - but something that can be worked on), follow my rehat, wear a dastar etc. The first full year, I was convinced fully, and also told others who asked me, that me taking amrit suddenly was the best decision ever and I would never look back, I feel so blessed to be on this path. HOWEVER, for the past few months my confidence has shattered. I can't stop my mind from falling weak to think that maybe I have made a quick decision- one which perhaps I should have thought about more carefully. I do my paath - I love doing paath, kirtan... I wouldn't be able to live without it... sikhi is my identity and one I'm so proud to be a part of BUT! My appearance.... I love my dastar but for the past few months I really miss the old me... the girl who was free spirited, carefree, girly,.. I MISS MY HAIR.. I MISS LETTING IT DOWN .. I WAS IN LOVE WITH MY HAIR!!! (I've never touched alcohol, cigarettes, drugs and I'm a strict vegetarian and have never entered a club apart from wedding functions with my family). I feel so weak when I say that I go to bed crying most nights these days because I feel so guilty that Mahraj knows what I'm wishing for.... to be free. I see other girls who are like the old me, who like to dance, wear makeup, style their hair etc but still keep intact with their sikhi, do their paath, learn about their dharam etc but aren't amrithdaree... I wish I took time to think about it and maybe today I wouldn't be sitting here crying whilst typing this up.

My family and friends and my community are so proud of me for the step I took a year and a half ago but what do I do now??? I literally feel that I have no one to pour my heart out to that would understand what I am going through.... I talk to Mahraj about this but I feel like I'm trapped... no matter what I do I'll only bring badness... If i continue the way I am, I'll never be a good gursikh, and if i go back to the old me, I'll dishonour and bring shame to my family- HOW WOULD I FACE THE WORLD... I have never done anything wrong up till date and don't intend to. But when I look at my family, my sisters, my cousins, I see the old me in them- The happy me!

I really need someone to advise me, I can no longer sit here with all this bottled inside me... I don't want to be depressed any more... PLEASE someone help me!

Waheguru Ji ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji K Fateh!

Its good to seek out help from online sangat as some members have given advice here for you. In my opinion, do an ardas and take a hukamnama for guidance by GGS. It feels like you want to be free as in having more freedom by letting your hair out and wearing makeup? I am kind of lost. I see that you are putting your eyes on today's modern trends of society where most women wear revealing clothes, makeup, drink, and go out clubbing. I am 18 and 1/2 years old and about to go to uni and as odd as it seems me being pretty good keeping rehit sometimes I have bad thoughts and it really makes me think. Also I have rarely good sangat here to so that puts me down also. But I feel where you're coming from.

It is best to follow your Guru than the world's ways as the world and its affairs are all false and misleading to one's faith. Temptations are dreadful and can really change your mindset so its best to remain steadfast. Your not the only sister I bet who's going with this situation too. Keeping your trust in Guru will help you overcome tough times in life as your dealing with it now. I seriously suggest you to find a Sikh sister or a group of Amritdharis who can really reach to you and help you out personally. Like you said your the only amritdhari in your family and extended family so there is no one who can really understand what issues you are truly dealing with. So it is best possible to seek out help from local Sikh sangat perhaps Sikh Amritdharis?

America won't do jack in my opinion. Don't depend on the UN to do anything either. Whats a few letters to Indian Gov. gonna do? Its up to Sikhs in Punjab to get together and make a plan to combat the oppression. We outsiders have a limited hand in helping with whats going on over there. Obama already gave a speech and nothing has changed.

I wonder if someone who has doubts about the existence of God, or a good old non-theist has ever had a spiritual experience that can't be explained away as the mind playing tricks or things of that nature? Or do only those who "believe" have such experiences? In that case do we "will" such experiences into existence? Or is there a deeper, karmic-based reason that you're more likely to such have experiences if you're open to that frequency of thought?

Same thinking as me, I believe that there are Truth seekers moreover agnostics you can say but who are iffy on their beliefs but might of have a spiritual experience without really following a specific way of life and later lead a religious life due to their own personal experience can be proof of something really happened to them To be honest, in the world today, people will make up stories here and there but those who do experience such things should keep it to themselves for their own sake and relationship with the Divine

It really varies from person to person. Karma too plays a huge role from your previous lives in your present in connecting with the Divine For example Bhai Rama Singh from UK who wrote a book about coming into Sikhi from a Hindu background explained because of him being in Guru Gobind Singh's fauj and being a granthi his previous lives he reaped a lot of good and for him but it still took time for him to come into Sikhi during his life though. He started to connect with the Divine at a young age and was kind of a Truth seeker like we see a lot today. So in the end i would say it varies from person to person.

Is there a difference between a religious experience and a spiritual experience? Serious question.

@singhcity - It's a decent book. But you're right, the scope of his work in this area is quite narrow. A bit frustrating but unsurprising.

religious experience perhaps can be a branch off of spiritual experience IMO

Respected Bhai Sahib (bir'ay :-) i understand why that is your sentiment.

But I believe each and every one of our great Shaheeds are with us daily in a spiritual sense to guide us every day through the examples of their supreme sacrifices and eternal kurbani for the oppressed and Sarbat da Bhala.

Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj and our Itihaas give us all the answers (and examples of true dedication to Sikhi) to every single problem the Sikh Panth faces today. It is solely up to us as ordinary members of the Sikh Panth who are alive today in May 2015 to actively put things right ourselves (rather than relying on others to usher in global justice - Khalsa Raj) in relation to the situation that we see before us with respect to female infanticide, illiteracy, poverty, biraderi, drugs, cancer and alcohol.

True, I forgot to point out that we can't just wait for some leader to do something for the kaum its just us ordinary Sikhs to make the Panth progress and make sacrifices to help the Panth fight such problems as you mention. We Sikhs do ardaas for chardi kala of the panth but need to understand doing ardaas then just sitting isn't justifiable to Akal Purakh. So i definitely agree with you. We Sikhs today will be lucky if Akal Purakh blesses us Panth with a great Sikh leader but as the situation is right now today Sikhs have to be bent to help out with numerous problems surrounding us especially in our homeland. Khalsa Raj is coming no matter what but the question is how can we make it come quicker? In my opinion, the answer is to become a nitnemi, rehitvaan, and tyar bar tyar Sikh and make a change within our communities especially in our Panth.But sadly, I can say we are struggling especially in our homeland.

Brothers i respect your viewpoint that perhaps Sant Ji is alive and in hiding as obviously Ajnala Taksal and SYFB have also expressed the same on occasion. However, I totally disagree. I fully believe that Sant Ji became shaheed in defending innocent unarmed civilian worshippers (along with other brave shaheeds of the Panth) from Indira's politically motivated "Bluestar" Genocide.

Sant Ji would never have spent the last 31years hiding out in some pind or in some mountain hideout near Sri Hemkhunt Sahib as our Hindutva opponents want us to believe. Sant Ji as the human rights campaigner they were would have tirelessly devoted every day in the last 31 years to fighting the ongoing silent Genocide the Sikh Panth are suffering from in relation to drugs, female infanticide, poverty, illiteracy, biraderi, alcohol and cancer.

Definitely agree with you, but Sikhs should believe Shaheed Singhs of the past will come back on Earth to establish Khalsa Raj and that includes Sant ji thats why everyone should look into shaheed sarovar sakhi that Gurbachan Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale experienced. He is definitely in chardi kala and will be back.

Even Badal took Amrit, he's popular because he betrayed Jarnail Singh Bhinderwale in the battle to protect Harmandir Sahib.

I never actually knew that really hm.... and of course during Operation Bluestar several of so called Panthik supporters of Sant ji betrayed him in order to save their own lives and Badal wanted Sant ji dead beforehand too. Rehat is a must.

Yeah I wonder what they tell these students just to do? Keep kesh thats all?! Really do we need future Badals and Makkars leading our Panth down the drain who also keep their hair but don't follow Sikhi at all? Or a future Akal Takht Jathedar who is under control and would rather follow worldly leaders advice instead of our Gurus. No, keeping kesh is not only the solution. One has to learn about Sikhi gurbani/ithiaas and have pyaar for the Guru so much that you will give your head a.k.a chak amrit and keep rehat and fight against oppression. Thats the kind of breed we need.

What does thumpers mean LOL.?

Different meanings to the word lol but I meant to say that the members of the site bash pro-dasam granth people and such.

Lol may find yourself in trouble for saying "dasam granth thumpers" I think most on here fall under that category.

lol i re-worded it wrong and meant the opposite of what i said woops.