Ishna

Yeah that is really nice, thank you.

Well, 14 is around the age when youths start to think about these kinds of things and ask these kinds of questions. Better to share information in this sort of sangat rather than with ones school peers, imho.

Howdy, I've found videos and information about tying dastaars, but I can't find any about jooras, except a little bit about the positioning. For a female, is it supposed to go over that little depression in the top of your skull, or just in front of it? If anyone has a link to a video or pictures -- anything, that would be great. Thanks.

ParwinderSingh, I posted my reply right after you posted yours! It is interesting just how quickly a whole house can get drunk! And often it leads to fighting, and things get broken, and people get sick everywhere. Iiew. But I'm with you on the snowball effect thing. Personally I've been drunk I think five times in my life, and three of them were most dishonourable... the first time I exposed myself, which is very embarrising in hindsight, and I can only remember it very faintly... the second time I ended up cursing someone (for a good reason, but still the wrong way to handle the situation), which I then tried very hard to reverse--these things were part of my previous religion... and the last time was in August, where I was crawling around on the floor because I wasn't sure I could walk without falling over, and then my housemate tried to take advantage of me.... And the most distressing part of it is that after that first incident I told myself I'd never get drunk again. Six months later, and the past event doesn't seem too bad that far back in hindsight, so why not try again? Same thing happens, and again I tell myself, "I'm not going to get drunk again!" Aaaand guess what happens six months later? Alcohol is not good. I don't know why I asked this question here in the first place now, I already knew the answer!

Thanks for your responses. It looks like this is a topic that is easily agreed upon by most Sikhs. Personally, I find that alcohol does have more disadvantages than advantages, and intoxication of any kind is dishonourable and usually leads to embarrisment. And at the end of the day you're intoxicated because you're poisoned, and where is the all-important logic in willingly poisoning your body for "fun"? *grows pointy Vulcan ears* joke!!! Now for the awkward task of telling my friend who just last night brought a very nice bottle of white to my house (of which I admit I did have half a glass) to share over a game of Lord of the Rings Risk with my housemates and I. Even after hinting at her that "I shouldn't be drinking this" she has still told me that if I want some more she can get it from her workmate cheaply (and it's very high quality), and then invited me to a winery with her next weekend. Then she offered to leave the unconsumed half bottle at my house for me, to which I politely insisted she keep. I showed no interest in these offers, but she's very pushy with these sorts of things. *takes a deep breath* But I've got to take that step, and approach this matter with my friend. Luckily she is the only friend of mine who sees me regularly and brings alcohol (we've never been drunk together, mind you). I've a history of declining drinks in the past so most of my family don't bother! It took them 19 years to get me to take my first sip! Anyway, enough rambling, I'm going to do some research on this and create a nice little informative e-mail about my decision. Thanks again, Ishna. PS. Simmal Tree:

Hello, I'm after the sangat's opinion and knowledge regarding Sikhi and alcohol. Obviously becoming intoxicated is not within Sikhi, but is it okay to have, say, a glass of wine with dinner, or to share a drink with your friends (champene at special occasions, etc) with the solid intention of not becoming intoxicated? I ask because I know that I can have half a glass of wine or mead without becoming intoxicated, and I am aware of the health benefits from red wine. If it is definately against Sikhi then I am prepared to give my little bottle of mead to my mead loving friend over here. Teehee. Thanks! Ishna.

Uh oh.. where does it say you can't use contraception? And if we're here only to do paat and simran, then why are we encouraged to be householders and live a "normal" functioning life? Why not head for the hills and become a recluse so no one can interrupt your simran and you can do simran until you die -- if God wants you to live then berries will appear in your mouth and you will never need to go out and find water. In moderation, sex with your husband or wife should be a nurturing, healthy activity that helps to foster strength in the relationship. I would like to see some evidence that forbids the use of contraception within Sikhi, thank you. With respect, Ishna.

I think it should all come down to personal choice. Especially in the case of rape, one rule will not cover all instances. If the woman feels severely violated and is determined to terminate the pregnancy, then it is her choice--she will have to live with the consequenses either way. I strongly do not believe that she should be denied the right to make that decision, especially by men (sorry if I offend). Now as for God's Will... if we are to take the stance that we can't interfere in a responsible adult couple's "accident" because it is God's Will that that has happened, then technically, how can we treat even a rash, if it is God's Will that we have a rash, or it is God's Will that we have cancer, or God's Will that our four month old child should catch measles and die? Seeya.

So, by believing that Amrit is an integral part of Sikhi, but not having taken amrit yet yourself, you are still classified as a Sikh?

Thank you.

Howdy, Does anyone know of a site that allows you to search Gurbani for shabads on a particular topic? For instance, there is a thread in GUPT about anger management, and someone has pasted a few lines of Gurbani to help the person deal with it. Did they know where this piece of text was, or did they have a tool to help them find it? Thanks.

I really don't know too much about these things, but from my perspective that bani (that is the right word, yeah?) explains itself: anDhee kammee anDh sajaa-ay. For your blind deeds, you will be blindly punished. bhukhi-aa day-ay na mardi-aa rakhai. Your idol does not feed the hungry, or save the dying. I think that is the punishment referred to. One may beg an idol for food and salvation, but at the end of the day you'll be "blindly" punished by not getting what you're asking for. Why does Akal Purakh personally need to punish someone when they will get their punishment by default? For example: A man is praying for water at an empty fountain. The fountain next to it is flowing freely but he doesn't see that, and he goes thirsty, and is in pain. Why then does the fountain with flowing water need to get up and smack him on the head? My personal observation, anyway.

Did your panj piyaray differentiate between decorative pins and pins to help hold your dastaar in place? Personally I can see how decorative pins upon one's dastaar may cause some problems. Are you sure that wasn't what they were referring to?

Aaah, dastaar! *hides under the table* No doubt I will get to that stage eventually, but I don't think I can straight away. I've seen some online videos of how some people tie theirs, but I still don't quite understand. Until I make contact with some Sikhs in the flesh who can guide me, I'm not going to try. But I have to start somewhere, and I need to find something to wear to the Gurdwara when I get the courage to go! Now, a rumaal is a bandana, right? I remember seeing a Sikh / Punjabi performer recently who sang with his daughters. One daughter's chunni kept falling off and she must have picked it up and put it back on at least 20 times over the course of the evening. When she was done singing though, she let it sit around her shoulders instead of over her head. Well, now that I know it can be of any sensible fabric, I will see what I can find. Thank you for your help.

Are chunnis made from a particular kind of fabric and in a particular way? I'm trying to find something appropriate for my noggin, but it's tricky since there are so many different kinds of fabric! Is it supposed to be sort of satiny, or stretchy and "clingy", sort of scratchy fabric? See-through-ish or not? Or does it not matter? Thanks!

Reading the news on the front of this site today I saw the article Two-year dispute rings in '06 at Sikh temple (http://www.sikhsangat.org/publish/article_713.shtml). Towards the end there is this sentence: What does Jesus have to do with Sikh appearance?

Are you right-clicking and "save file as", or whatever it says. It might ask to overwrite, in that case, say yes. If that does not work, you will need to delete the file yourself, if you saved it previously, or clear your temporary internet files (as Sikh Sing Khalsa suggested) and try again.

Firefox!! For The Win!!! Muahaha. *petpets her Linux machine*

The human skull is made up of segments that are not fused together at birth so the head is slightly flexible. This is so the baby can fit through the birth canal. It takes a little while (I have no idea how long) for the segments of the skull to bond together and become solid. That is why you need to be extra careful with baby heads. Now what does "dasam duar" mean? *blush* Ishna.