MisterrSingh

Males are being bashed all over, no matter what colour, race, or faith. Thankfully, some are waking up to this systematic onslaught, albeit subtle and on many fronts, and are doing their best to help those stuck in the mire, or even the youngsters coming up, to open their eyes. That's not to negate the serious problems of sexual abuse perpetuated by males. I guess decent, God-fearing Muslims must feel frustrated when they're all targeted for the actions of a sizable few of their kind. But for a Sikh organisation to come out with something like that isn't surprising. If only they paid more attention to their Sikhi instead of following their feminist doctrine with such passion, they'd realise the reality of matters. Stuff like this doesn't bode well for us, particularly in the west. It's always our lot that breaks rank. Other groups have a siege mentality and a "backs against the wall" ethos when they feel they're being unfairly targeted; Sikhs do the opposite and turn on each other without any provocation, in effect doing the opposition's work for them! I've never experienced or seen similar behaviour from any other group but ours. The same old story.

I should also add that you might want to look at what's causing these dark thoughts. Be honest with yourself and trh to identify what's causing your mind to be disturbed.

How do you return "home"? By becoming the best version of yourself, so that every thought and deed is permeated with goodness, not only for the benefit of yourself (peace of mind), but also for the benefit of those around you. As hard as it sounds you need to rein your mind in, put a leash on its wanderings. Nobody will come along and magically do that for you. So how does one achieve such a feat? Well, I'm assuming you identify with Sikhi, so in order to quell those dark urges you should begin with Gurbani. I expect most people to switch off at this moment, lol, but if you identify as a Sikh then it's the path you must take. Gurbani is for your soul. It should not be underestimated or dismissed as mere praying, even though it may seem that way. There's something contained within that is... it can't be explained by me it needs to be experienced. Admittedly, there is no point in reciting Gurbani or jupping Naam if, when you are going about your day, you are functioning and thinking and acting in opposition to the goodness of the Gurbani you recited earlier. Build up a routine (but not so that it becomes a mindless chore -- very hard to do but doable if the will is there) and make it a part of your life. Just believe I guess; try not to exhaust your mind with over thinking. When the fog begins to lift, then you can attempt to rationalise whatever you're experiencing. But first just give yourself to the experience with vigour and determination. Remember, YOU must do this; nobody else can or will, despite what some people will tell you. Nothing worth doing is easy, ever. As for suicide, don't bother. I don't like throwing around words like "sin" but suicide is the equivalent of taking another's life. It's an affront to God if you believe in God. Just don't bother.

Unlike others he doesn't seem to have been struck by narcissism and felt the need to develop a loyal following. Very rare in this day and age where titles like Giani, Bhai Sahib, and Sant are thrown around like confetti.

I've noticed the kind of ads that appear are not random. They're tailored to your browsing preferences away from this site. For me, I like to read about game development and the theories behind it, as well as films. Therefore the ads I get on this site are for websites which sell video games or films. If you're getting adverts for lingerie I would suggest that something is occurring at your end not this website's.

Wow, I didn't realise that I should be hanging around street corners, knocking back the Smirnoff, and rolling up a Rizla on account of being working class. See ya laters, guys, I know what I'm doing tonight!

You only have to see the self-hate and snobbishness from some Sikh journalists who write for English newspapers to notice that you're onto something with the above observation. They're the modern day babu's, bowing and scraping to their English sahibs who employ them, lol. They love knocking the mainstream or the religious. Who needs enemies when we've got friends like them?

Then it should be made clear that shabad kirtan has no place where those activities will take place. Now, I don't know the floor plan of this event, whether it's taking place in one location or spread across various rooms. If the event is largely being projected as a cultural showcase, then the organisers should be advised that folk dancing, no matter how apparently harmless, is not the place to have spiritual and religious Sikh prayers (from our scriptures, our Guru) being recited and heard. To be fair, the rest of the event seems pretty decent. Yes, I agree with Bundha Singh in regards to off-licenses selling all sorts of stuff whilst kirtan can be heard through the speakers, and that's equally wrong. This situation, however, requires us not to be gormless onlookers afraid to offend non-Sikhs due to it being a government funded event. If the taxpayer is funding this soiree, then fair play, but keep Gurbani out of it. You don't need to make a tamasha out of our scriptures to keep everyone happy. It's the equivalent of having a Christian choir singing hymns whilst there's a group of gaily dressed Morris dancers cavorting around a pole nearby, lol. It's very silly. If we don't speak up when something like this occurs, we are, in essence, giving the greenlight that we accept this disrespect even if it is unintended. Of course, there's a way of expressing your distaste, and acting overly indignant and offended doesn't go down well with those looking to demonise brown people who it's assumed are always upset by something or another, lol. A polite, conciliatory word with the right person should do the trick.

In my local Gurdwara there's word-processed posters on walls where there's a lot of "traffic" asking the sangat to dress modestly, addressing both females AND males, which I thought was a good thing, because you just know someone will start moaning about the oppressive patriachy telling our reticent wallflowers how to dress, lol.

It would be nice if both husband and wife were Gursikh, wouldn't it? I don't know, it would be a fresh start for both their lives, a new beginning, a new chapter. But I guess these things can't be forced as it kinda defeats the purpose of it all.

[imghttp://cloudfront-assets.reason.com/assets/mc/_external/2014_04/statist.jpg[/img] I wouldn't quite agree with the sentiment in the above picture in an ideal world, but on the other hand at least it's safe? Constant handling, incense, etc, surely isn't good for a saroop of that age? Would be nice if it were in Sikh hands, but rather that than somewhere it would go missing, or even worse, tampered with for political reasons. Not that the British are above such things, lol.

Life was so much simpler as a child. Good and evil, black and white. Since shades of grey have emerged things have turned a bit confusing. As children we are told (or at least it's implied) that the man with the flowing beard and splendidly regal dastaar is a person of high character; he is the best of us because he follows the orders of his Guru... on the surface at least. He is to be emulated and revered; he can do no wrong. Then we get a bit older and we see the veil begins to slip ever so slightly. The standard-bearer, the "ideal" man of God is anything but. When the pub-going white atheist - who you previously considered a waste of life - shows you more compassion and friendship than the so-called soldier of God, it really messes with your head and you realise nothing is as plain and basic as you've been lead to believe. If Guru Sahib is dyaal, then you don't fall off the wagon and look for a reason to abandon Him, because you realise he shouldn't be held responsible for the degeneracy of Man. If, however, your faith is built on brittle foundations and false assumptions, then the very thing you should embrace is the thing you turn your back on and begin to mistrust. But nobody, not any giani, parcharak, or sant tells us this, because it is to their advantage if they keep us ignorant and obedient. Better to increase the numbers if there aren't extraneous, grey-hued variables that could confuse us, you see. I am so very joyful that my Guru has none of the despicable attributes of Man. Anyone that tries to convince us otherwise should be looked on with suspicion and hostility. Saying that, there are rules to be followed else there's be chaos. If the Singh in question hasn't taken Amrit, then delay the marriage. If it's meant to be it will be. If not, then so be it. But such forethought and patience is very rare for our community, lol, coupled with the standard public perceptions which must be maintained (not) and not wishing to become subjects of gossip! I wonder how many just and good acts have been discarded due to worries stemming from what others will say or think?

It shows a snapshot of certain sections of our community, how they think, how they behave and conduct themselves. I'm glad this video was posted as it's a vivid reminder of the brazen stupidity sweeping our people.Some of them definitely aren't kids! There's a few that look older than me, although that could be attributed to years of alcohol consumption and drug use.

Occasionally I do think the same thing. Nobody listens anyway. They either think you're "extreme" or old-fashioned for "judging" them, lol. As the old Punjabi saying goes, "When your eyes begin to hurt, then will you consider wrapping them in bandages?" which is loosely translated as, "People only feel compelled to change when something negative directly affects their own lives."Live and let live. As long as you keep your nonsense away from me, i don't care what you get up to. I'm not the Sikh Police, lol. I can have my opinions though, hehe!

Written between 1650 and 1680 :o That's brilliant.

Great stuff! Now I understand where you're coming from. Well, I guess sometimes there isn't any ill intention or devious desire to mislead or indoctrinate; someone may just have a different interpretation of the facts, a different opinion. In cases like the above the best thing to do is present the opposing side of the argument with robust alternatives. Aside from losing one's cool and swearing vengeance or death on another, lol, I think that's the best way forward. Unlike certain followers of intolerant religions, we've been blessed with saintly attributes; of course when that approach fails then we always have the option to go down a different road!

Singh Ji, what we're seeing now has always gone on even as far back as the 90s. Back then it was heavily undercover, because even those who partook in such nonsense knew, on some level, what they were doing was wrong per se. Nowadays, the sharam has evaporated completely, and it's almost as if these young people are daring their elders to admonish them, lol. There's no fear anymore. It's a free for all. And it shall only get worse as the years go by, especially with the gutless, weak parenting and morals being shown by those within our community who are starting to raise families of their own, I.e. the recently married. Strap yourselves in, it's going to be a very dodgy ride.

People wonder why marriage rates are falling. You don't know what you're getting these days; where they've been or who they've been with. Being a good person is not a guarantee of getting your just desserts. Bakwaas across the board for guys as well as girls.

Such a bunch of wannabes. I get embarrassed when I see brown people acting like this. Deol is knocking on 50, what's she doing in a nightclub, lol?

What parts do you agree with? Which aspects of the article are not to your liking? Debate and discuss. Are you disagreeing with it because it equates aspects of Sikhi with a historically hostile - to the Sikh faith at least (despite the differences between Sufism and the brand of Islam that our Gurus confronted) - religion, or is it a deeper ideological disagreement? I'm not knocking you BTW, Singh Ji. I have an irrational aversion to most things Islamic, but it's something I'm working on, lol. I guess my point is that when criticising or disagreeing with something like the above, we must base our reaction on facts, else we'll come across as dim, reactionary half-wits. Disagree and highlight anything that is factually incorrect without a doubt, but don't allow personal bias that's rooted in irrationality or errors in comprehension to sway your judgement. Wish I could practice what I preach though, lol!

The way Asian guys in their teens to early 20s speak these days it's tough to ascertain what background they're from. I don't understand one thing though: I was born and raised in an incredibly rough part of town, mostly Jamaican families, but I never spoke with the Kingston twang, lol, not one bit. But you've got Asians raised in leafy suburbs, miles away from the wrong side of the tracks, and they speak as if they're from a rough council estate or something. How does that happen? They can't "pick up" the accent because they aren't surrounded by people who speak like that, so are they faking it?

I have a question: is there an official reason why meat isn't served in langar, since, apparently, rehat maryada says Sikhs can eat meat? BTW, I'm a vege since birth so I'm not looking for an excuse to start chomping on Maas, lol.

There's a slight difference between those you've mentioned and the kind being given to Sikh kids recently. It's a very subtle difference, but one worth noting: the ever-so careful Anglicising with a twist of Punjabifying (lol) which leaves enough wiggle room to counter any criticism. For example, take a standard name such as Arjun Singh (or Arjan). Sounds decent, easily pronounced, no problem. Yet it's not enough. The "modern remix" of this name would be Aryaan or Ariaan (to emphasise the 'Ryan' part and pronunciation of the name). I mean, what is that meant to be? It's neither one or the other. I miss the old names like Manmohan, Jagir, Gurbachchan, etc. These names have all but died out. It's a shame. I'm not joking, hehe, they were cool names. English people haven't jettisoned the likes of Jack, Tom, William, etc, and we all know how much Muslims love naming their kids Mohammed, so it seems it's our lot who jump the gun. Let's be honest, naming your kid some dodgy name isn't gonna propel him or her to unimaginable heights of success; if what he inherits genetically from his mum and dad is a propensity towards dimness then he or she will most likely be resuming that trend too, lol. But they never listen

Despite my earlier post I do kind of agree with you, brother. However, I just think a name is very important, especially for a minority such as Sikhs. If we - as in people who originate from Punjab - are ashamed or even reticent in continuing positive cultural practices such as naming our children according to our heritage and roots, then the child has very little chance in connecting to that rich heritage if he has no link to it, because I can guarantee you any parent that names their Sikh son Emraan or their daughter Jessie (no kidding) isn't gonna be the type of parent who will sit down and discuss cultural or religious issues with their child. It won't be enough to drop off the little blighters at Punjabi school on a Saturday and Sunday, and hope something sinks in; that's lazy parenting, but again, it's another trend amongst us which has gathered steam over the years. As parents you will have to do the lion's share of work. There's no point in expecting the giani at the Gurdwara or the teachers at Punjabi school to do the heaviest lifting. That kinda stuff begins in the home. Then you'll have these same kids in 14 or 15 years coming to forums like these complaining their parents didn't tell them anything about their culture or religion, by firstly not even giving them a suitable name! Yeah, I know there's some well dodgy people who have grand Sikh names and practically live in the Gurdwara, but that's an easy way out of confronting this uncomfortable truth. I'm not having a go at second and third generation Sikhs born overseas BTW; there's a fair amount of situations where the mother is Punjabi-born (and her husband is born in the West) yet even then these mothers insist on these type of names. I'll be honest, and again this'll upset some people, but this stuff is rampant where the female wears the trousers in the relationship, lol. I laugh because I'm typing it out and it sounds ludicrous, but it's something I've observed many times. So, guys, don't be pyjameh and let the missus boss you around; put your foot down and take control of your household and its future. Don't be a spectator and let things spiral out of control.

I think Bijla Singh's response has been very fair and considered. It may not immediately be digestible from certain perspectives, but I think it is best to approach questions such as these with humility and an "I know nothing yet I'm ready to learn" attitude. Most of it is down to faith too. What is religion but a leap of faith? BTW, I love certain aspects of Western culture, I really do, but it is not the be all and end all of modern existence. Don't be strong-armed into thinking that, "West = great and sophisticated" whilst, "East = irrelevant and archaic." Draw from both, but derive confidence and faith from Sikhi, because it really is a beautifully serene way to live one's life. Just don't get sidetracked or lured into blind alleys by Man. A Sikh wishes to merge with the Creator; the hard work has to be done by us. Nobody can put in a good word for us and slip us through to the other side, thankfully. Thoughts and deeds, cause and effect. Simple as that. The final four lines of Japji Sahib sum it up perfectly.