IronLion

Thanks for the great information!!

Hello, I was curious if there are any groups of followers of Guru Nanak who do not necessarily follow the teachings of the full Guru lineage. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh -I.

Hey everyone, I appreciate all the replies. It has been quite helpful and also clarifies for me when I read that God has form, but is formless in the same line. Thank you all for helping this make sense to me! Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh -I.

Hello... From my readings I understand God to be formless and genderless and incomprehensible. However, I have read in a couple placed that God created man in his image. How could humans be the image of God when God is formless and present in all of creation. To me it makes sense that God would be formless because this whole of creation is God and a manifestation of God. God isn't just a human figure sitting somewhere making the world go round. Can someone elaborate on this notion that God created humans in God's image? Thanks! Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh -I.

I think you just summed it up perfectly. The best thing you can do is be an example and as the child grows up he will be influenced by you as an example. I have two perspectives on this though: 1) from an adult convert to Sikhi and 2) as a parent of a baby whose mother is not Sikhi. First, I am Sikhi now, but I am 34 and have only been Sikhi for several months. I have always been "spiritual" starting as a child and have a long, maze-like, journey from being raised Christian to bouncing from atheism to Judaism to Buddhism (for the longest stretch) and now Sikhi. I wouldn't have been ready for Sikhi before now. I don't even think I knew about Sikhi until I was in my late 20's when I met a Sikh for the first time in my life and still didn't really know what Sikhi was. I still found Sikhi for myself though! This is Waheguru's plan for me - everything has a reason. The important thing now is that I am on the Sikhi path and for me to stay on this path. Second, I have a baby and that means thinking about the future for my baby. My fiance (his mother) isn't very spiritual, but her family is Catholic and she wants to expose him to Catholicism. I'm OK with that as long as I am able to expose him to Sikhi, as well. It is completely non-traditional and I know many here will probably shake their heads about that, but I am OK with it. I wasn't raised Sikhi, but I am now and I think the path I took set me up to be Sikhi and as I said, I don't think I would have been ready at an earlier age. My main plan is to lead by example. If he chooses Sikhi at an early age - great, if he finds it later in life - good, if he never finds it this life, well that is Waheguru's plan and I will accept it. As you said earlier, it's all Waheguru's hukam. I find myself saying that a couple times every day! I hope that my take from my couple perspective is helpful. I thank Waheguru daily for letting me find Sikhi - I hope that your new brother finds it, as I hope my son also finds it. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh -I.

Thanks, that makes me feel better. Most mornings I just listen to the banis, but a couple mornings each week I read along while I listen. -I.

Hello, I am new to Sikhism, but have immersed myself a lot and do morning Nitnem and Rehras Sahib and Kirtan Sohila consistently, as well as Simran once or twice a day. I am not at the point where I am keeping Kesh, or wearing a turban - although I would like to eventually, but will take my fiance some time to accept that... but, I have been sort of wearing a Karas. I like the idea of having something that is a constant reminder of my relationship with Waheguru and a reminder to follow the path when temptations arise. I have a traditional Karas, but the smallest size I can get over my hand is very large on my wrist, as I have small wrists, and is cumbersome and awkward at work - and I work a lot with my hands (in the medical profession). I have been looking for plain, steel bangles with clasps, although the smallest ones I can find still seem a little large on me. Are opened, cuffed steel bangles acceptable? I mean, anything would be acceptable for the purpose I want it for which is to be a reminder for myself of the path I have committed to and want to adhere to, but want to get the opinions of others, or to see if others have been in similar situations and how they remedied it. Currently I wear a wood bead prayer bracelet that I have from my longstanding time as a Buddhist. Thanks! Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh -I.

Thanks everyone. Your approach makes sense BhForce, I was just unsure of the etiquette about asking one if they are Sikh and wanted to get a go ahead from others. Thanks again! -I.

Hello, I am new to Sikhism. About 5 months ago I found Sikhism and developed a strong faith in it, but bounced back to Buddhism (which I had been for about 11 years) when I got some backlash from my fiance, but have recently in the past several weeks come back to Sikhism due to meeting the same issues I had before with Buddhism. Coinciding with my renewed faith in Sikhism, I moved into an apartment. The day that I moved into our apartment I saw a Sikh man (assuming he is a Sikh based on his dastar and beard). He lives across the park lot from me. I have seen him many times and spoke with him very briefly once while we passed each other walking our dogs. There is also one other Sikh man in the building next to mine. I think there is meaning behind my move into this apartment (it is temporary and circumstances were abrupt for it) in that I am now living very close to two Sikhs (I live in Florida and not a lot of Sikhs in my area) coinciding with my renewed faith in Sikhism. Seeing these men inspire faith in me. For a couple reasons I do not keep Kesh or wear a dastar at this time. I don't know if it is appropriate, or how I would go about it, but I would like to discuss Sikhism with my neighbors. I would be especially interested to know if they go to a Gurdwara, as I have not found a local Gurdwara when I search the internet for one. Any thoughts on this matter would be appreciated. Thanks! Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh -I.

Yes, completely agree with this statement. I have found a lot of similarities between Buddhism and Sikhism, but this is a huge difference and one that I desperately need.

Greetings, I am new to Sikhism (about 4 months) of reading and practicing as best I can. One of the aspects I like a lot is the encouragement of family life. Up until this point, I had been a practicing Buddhist for the past ~11 years. Having recently had a child and starting a young family, the strong teaching of renunciation of family life is one of the things that made me turn away from Buddhism. For me, religion/philosophy/way of life, is about support to keep being a positive and good person no matter how challenging life can become. I think that having a family is difficult and Sikhism gives one support to get through tough times. In addition, I think life should be celebrated and having a family does that I think. I was curious as to what the main reasons behind the encouragement of family life are in Sikhism. I know it is encouraged, but haven't really come across the why. Thanks everyone. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh - I.