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So yes, its been 3 years since I came on this forum, I have become more and more interested in my Sikhi, and such, but I have realized that we are doing some things that Sikhism told us not to do. For example, not to have idols, and stones, and just worship to the formless god, yet we have portraits of our Guru's, and in some homes, we do mathadek to them. Isn't this a forum of ritualism where we think the Guru's are holy in someway, yet Guru Nanak said that he wasn't special he was the Humble Servant of God, yet we bow down to the pictures of them. Isn't god formless and that he is everywhere. ਦਸੇ ਦਿਸਾ ਰਵਿਆ ਪ੝ਰਭ੝ ਝਕ੝ ॥ ਧਰਨਿ ਅਕਾਸ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਪ੝ਰਭ ਪੇਖ੝ ॥ Ḏasė ḝisĝ ravi­ĝ parabẖ ėk. Ḏẖaran akĝs sabẖ meh parabẖ pėkẖ. The One God is diffused in the ten directions. Behold God in all the earth and sky. ਜਲ ਥਲ ਬਨ ਪਰਬਤ ਪਾਤਾਲ ॥ ਪਰਮੇਸ੝ਵਰ ਤਹ ਬਸਹਿ ਦਇਆਲ ॥ Jal thal ban parbaṯ pĝṯĝl. Parmėsvar ṯah baseh ḝa­i­ĝl. In the water, on the land, in the forests and mountains, and in the nether regions of the underworld, the Merciful Transcendent Lord is abiding. ਸੂਖਮ ਅਸਥੂਲ ਸਗਲ ਭਗਵਾਨ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਗ੝ਰਮ੝ਖਿ ਬ੝ਰਹਮ੝ ਪਛਾਨ ॥੧੪॥ Sūkẖam asthūl sagal bẖagvĝn. Nĝnak gurmukẖ barahm pacẖẖĝn.॥14॥ The Lord God is in all mind and matter, subtle and manifest. O Nanak, the Gurmukh realizes God. ॥14॥ sggs page 299 Here is another issue, in the news, people often consider Sikh's travel to Pakistan as "Sikh Pilgrims", in Sikhism, but we are not. I notice that when I go to the Gurdwara people often walk around the Guru Granth Sahib as some sort of ritual. I noticed it today, I just followed my father and walked around the Guru Granth sahib, clockwise which seems fishy.. Its like a Hindu tradition of walking around the fire which is ritualism and a superstition which is against Sikhi, well its called Lavan I reckon which they do in weddings. This is concerning as Sikhism prohibits these type of things, and I am having a feeling that certain cultural influences are leaking into Sikhism. For example, there have been reports of idols, of Guru Nanak in markets and such. This is really concerning, and I hope there will be a way to solve this issue.

Hello, I am currently working on a thesis project for my final year in my architecture course which involves researching a specific character in relation to the Tay River, in this case it is Duleep Singh, who is very much a character who has adopted both his traditional values and those he developed during his stay in the United Kingdom, and more specifically, Scotland. The term "hybrid identity" comes to mind, and I a very much interested in learning more about the Sikh community in Scotland. Are there any rituals, practices, or outlooks you may have that may perhaps contrast or differ from those of Sikhs in other parts of the world? What are some of the issues (if any) of practicing Sikhism in Scotland? What are your thought on Maharaja Duleep Singh? I hope I have asked my questions as sensitively as possible, I hope nothing I have asked or stated has come off as offensive as that is the last of my intentions.