Search the Community

This is not Sikhi. What is the right way to inspire others? What is the right way to deal with those who we disagree with or who stray from the path which we think is correct? We must understand historically nobody was ever forced, or pressured into Sikhi or a Sikh lifestyle. Guilt was not used, pressure was not used, infact only love was used. Yet we look around today and we see a lot of negativity towards each other. Even in Sikhs we have categories of Sikh, I am amrithdhari, he is kesadhari, he is sajh dhari, he is AKJ, he is taksali, and many other names are given. Yet they are all just means to have likeminded groups which has its benefits as you get concurring personalities who feel like they have support and encouragement. However there is a big downside to having these very strong individualized groups and that is disunity and judgment mentality which becomes prevalent. It turns into an US vs. THEM. When you hang around with similar minded people you limit your experience in general. You become very strong in your thinking however you become weaker to accept others and be open to things which may challenge you. Gurus always taught in the middle ground, they had patience and never hurt or forced anyone to choose beliefs. The natural way of the world is change, is acceptance and tolerance, it is the core of what a true Sikh should be. In this video I see two wrongs, but no right. The old man who was intoxicated was wrong; the young man who beat him down was also wrong maybe even more so. We are not doing anyone a favor by being hardcore or strict. If you need to be strict be so on yourself, do not force it down on anyone else. Its not surprising that we have had so much violence in our Gurghars, the core of this matter is deep rooted. We eventually segregate ourselves based on whatever is available, caste, status, mentality, etc. We do so now automatically even without second thought. Nobody is just a Sikh we tie our loyalties and mentalities to various groups or institutions, then instead of being a Sikh of the Guru, we are Sikh of this or that Jathebandi, this or that Gurdwara, this or that organization. We need to really be free from labels, a Sikh is a Sikh, is a Sikh.lets not get into our mentalities and start to define things, or defend things which we ourselves are unsure of. How can we judge others when we ourselves have so many faults? When we work internally then we automatically can influence change externally, without force, without effort it will come. This is not a competition; it is an experience and we have forgotten how to support each other. We are too busy trying to look better or make another look worse; we are constantly trying to prove ourselves all a game of the ego. Go ahead and be passionate, but dont forget to be compassionate along with it. Have the josh (passion) that can provide you unlimited faith, but have the hosh (intellect) which will guide your actions properly. Have the rehat which can make you disciplined but have the understanding that not everyone may think in that same mindset. So many things will divide us, but one fundamental thing unites us, we are all humans, who are learning through experience and mistakes. Give others the freedom, give yourself the freedom to learn in whatever manner you need to, the journey can be different to the same destination. Learn to uplift others regardless, as everyone is WORTHY to get support to have a help and encouraging no matter what their state or opinion. Respect others not because they believe as you do but because they have the same right to believe even if it is something not in line with your thinking. When Sikhs begin to see past the differences, and recognize the strength in respecting each other then we would have done some justice to our Gurus who not asked for the betterment of their own, but the betterment of all humanity sarbat da bhalla. http://princeofpunjab.blogspot.in/2013/05/this-is-not-sikhi.html