MisterrSingh

Glad to hear that, Singh Ji. One gets the impression those who strongly assert there is no salvation for a Sikh unless he or she spends the bulk of their spiritual efforts in a group scenario, are usually the types of opinion espoused by those ensconced in the daily social hullabaloo of a jatha. For such people going it alone is either a terrifying thought that doesn't bear considering, OR they simply are unable to cultivate a direct, one-to-one relationship with God, instead choosing to delude themselves into thinking that others can do the spiritual heavy lifting that is required of the individual.

Gurdwaras have become the playthings of the worst types of personalities to be found in our communities. Thankfully, a building is not a pre-requisite for joining with God. It becomes finding sangat that much more difficult, but I believe it's possible to go solo if there's no alternative.

The thing is, I reckon to us, in hindsight and observing from a distance, it seems a bit off. But for an average member of the sangat who was present I think it probably seemed quite normal if a bit boisterous. Watching something back on film heightens it for some reason.

I hear this a lot from well-meaning types. The sentiment is welcome, but when has it, in recent memory, ever been practiced? It's all tied into politics and convoluted caveats. I don't doubt there's one-off cases that we don't hear about where it happens, but as a widescale, common occurrence it doesn't happen as much as we like to convince ourselves it does. In fact, it smacks of self-congratulatory aggrandisement that bears very little connection to the reality of what Sikhs are truly like in this day and age.

Steady on there, bhenji, he's hardly Voldermort; someone else who believed in the supremacy of his own kind... hang on a bit, I think you're onto something! If Jagsaw starts calling some of us, "filthy mudbloods" then we're in trouble!

Generally, we make mistakes. Early on when I joined this site, I had a few sharp exchanges with a few guys, but it was wrong. There was no need for it on my end. You've got to treat people on here as if you'd converse with them in real-life. I do wonder if some individuals would talk to their friends, associates, or family with the same contempt and generally mean-spirited nature as they do on here. Taking trolls to task is one thing (as I've done on a few occasions), but getting nasty over a difference of opinion is not the best thing to do.

Some folk need to edit their thought processes and then, if necessary, edit their written words before hitting 'Post'. The content of a few posts on the past few pages have been completely uncalled for. Deadly wrong.

Three threads on similar subjects (Sikhs and Physicality / Sports) DO NOT require 3 seperate topics. This is plain trolling, clear and simple. I recall the same poster started similar threads on the same topic a few months ago. They clutter up the forum and make navigating the place an annoyance.

Going for a walk is a good way of de-stressing. If you can incorporate a few errands, then all the better. Breathing in the outside air, observing the world in motion, etc, it reminds us how small we are, and it allows us to keep our own lives in perspective, relative to everything around us. Breathe it all in. You'll feel better for it.

The headline is total bakwaas, particularly as it features above a picture of 3 Sikhs. It's suggesting that these figures are usually disunited from the rest of society, and only due to this tragedy have these people joined the rest of society to help others. A complete and total backhanded compliment and a stitch-up. They probably don't even realise the implications behind their choice of words. They talk about integrating and learning to peacefully and happily co-exist, yet they, consciously or otherwise, seem to be labouring under the impression that under normal circumstances we choose to cut ourselves from the mainstream. Misleading and erroneous.

If this thread is any indication, the titular Khalsa of "Raaj Karega Khalsa" are going to have their work cut out, lol.

Qwick, get to da chopper! The "chopper" quote is from Predator. The gif is from Commando ("Let off some steam, Bennett", "I lied", etc).

But... they make all kindz of gainz... all kindz.

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Putting aside the rights and wrongs of it - I offer no judgement on those issues - the answer to your question is this: walk away. From everything. But we aren't supposed to do that. It flies in the face of everything Gurbani instructs. You're meant to find a half-way house to reside. If you believe hard work and focus is "bla bla" because you can't be bothered to apply yourself, then that's a poor attitude. Best to find a wealthy husband so you won't have to worry about the bills, and then pray away to your heart's content.

They're certainly no collection of oil paintings... :/ Maybe it's the type of camera the coppers use, lol?

What? What type of machines do you envisage these proposed Sikhs to be; clunky, Robocop-type things? No, we're talking about machines that appear like you and I on the surface and even behave humanly; hair, skin, everything. Not shiny metal things with jerky movements. More important than that, their cerebral processes will be akin to ours. "One simple task" doesn't even come into it.

If Ranjeet's hypothesis comes true, I'd be curious to see how these beings, as Sikhs, would practice Sikhi minus the Punjabiyat (or even the South-East Asian) influences. There's a propensity to judge the likes of 3HO (who, to be fair, are indulging in a few strange practices) as non-Sikh, whether such opinions originate from a mild form of subconscious (or otherwise) discrimination or not I'm not sure. What the kattar amongst us will make of android Sikhs I shudder to think. Anyway, I bet the jathas will be falling over themselves to recruit them and encourage them to join their ranks, lol. At least they'll be safe from the sort who make a policy of weak, young boys being indoctrinated by holy men and their representatives. Maybe a machine is the only thing capable of following the truest form of Sikhi?

Good luck. Keep the faith.

Purely from a Sikh perspective, we understand that the soul that inhabits a body is the most important aspect of existence, in as much as through a particular lifetime worth of living, the aim is to leave this world closer to God compared to when we arrived. It may take a few lifetimes, but those cumulative efforts stay with us over many births, and eventually - hopefully - we reach a state where we are worthy of merging with the ultimate power. A machine doesn't have such a soul. It isn't born, but assembled. There will come a time when I'm certain machines will be indistinguishable from us in appearance and behaviour, but that still doesn't mean they'll possess a soul; something that exists beyond "this" as we see and feel and hear and experience life. Their behaviour and personalities will still be dictated by their human creator. There may come a time when A.I. becomes so advanced it does become "self-aware" and it believes it is the equal of us, because it resembles us, it speaks like we do, it does everything we do on the surface; it might also be capable of profound insights. But, as I said, to what end will such religious / spiritual efforts be when that machine comes to the end of its lifespan and there's no elemental life force inside of it that can journey onwards? If God were to begin infusing souls into machines, then that's another matter, and fair play to Him if he decides to do that, I have no qualms about it. It's a fascinating subject. Blade Runner, the film, asks and answers similar questions.

I've been under the assumption that A.I. (no matter how advanced) will always be hemmed-in by the parameters specified by the individual programming the A.I. A true A.I. will choose, in this example, to follow Sikhi - or not, as the case may be - like us humans. It must be a free choice IMO. Being programmed to be a Sikh and do everything we imagine the perfect Sikh to do is the true definition of parroting; incredibly convincing and life-like, but nothing but an imitation. Sure, on the surface, that particular artificial being could know SGGS Ji by heart, and does everything such a Sikh would do on a daily basis, but without a soul that originates from God, then to what end will all its efforts be? There's a novel by Kaguo Ishiguro called 'Never Let Me Go' that covers similar ground.

As cliché as it may sound, take each day as it comes. Only think about the day to come; don't let your mind run to the coming week, months, etc. You'll end up overwhelming yourself if you're fragile of mind at this time. Harsh truth: You must struggle. There is no other way aside from a lottery win, and seeing as most people don't win the lottery, you have no other alternative. There is the matter of faith and giving yourself up to His will totally, but I won't go into such things here, because you're responsible for young children, and it's a lot tougher to implement that stiff resolve when others, particularly children, are involved. Just know that God hasn't abandoned you or moved further away from you. You just have to find a way of getting closer to Him once again.

You should publish your findings in a journal.

To be fair to the people at that Gurdwara, are they actually wrong though? As Sikhs (and as believers in God), it's not unfair to say that atheists have, possibly, convinced themselves there is no God, and that life is wonderful without religion. Of course, they could easily turn around and say we've done something similar but slightly different at the other end of the scale. Although I wouldn't put it as bluntly and without explanation as the person being interviewed, I do think he has a point.