Temple Allowed To Restrict Members Because Of Class

[2desi]

The followers of this temple consider Bhagat Ravidass as their Guru, they refer to him as Shri Guru Ravidass but inside their complex they have a saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. From their website, you can see the darbar hall and writing that says "Dhan Guru Ravidass" on the stage/podium right beside Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, they seem to believe that Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is merely the "Sikh Holy Book". The website also says "The gurdwara follows the rehat-maryada of Shri Guru Granth Sahebji."

http://www.gururavidasssabha.org/

Does anyone have more information on this place? Do the people follow some pakandi baba because their is a picture a person looks to be the head "Baba".

Also pictures of Ujjal Dosanjh and Dave Hayer:

Temple allowed to restrict members because of class

VANCOUVER -- The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has dismissed a complaint by two members of the Indo-Canadian community who were denied membership in a Burnaby Sikh temple because of their social ranking in India's caste system.

Gurshinder Sahota and Sohan Shergill said they were discriminated against by the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Temple because they belong to a higher caste in the traditional system of social ranking than do temple members.

Caste is a complex and much-maligned hierarchy that has historically divided Indian society according to occupational categories.

The 900 members of the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Temple belong to the lowest group, Dalits, formerly referred to as "untouchables" and often considered outside the caste system altogether. Sahota and Shergill are from the jat caste, which is traditionally a land-owning class in the Punjab and now makes up much of Metro Vancouver's Sikh community.

The decision, released this week, was hailed as an affirmation of temple members' right to gather as a "minority within a minority," said spokesman Jai Birdi.

"Since the decision has come out, the members are feeling quite empowered by it," he said. "They're feeling that this really reinforces their ability to come together as a marginalized community from India to talk about their heritage and historical unresolved issues and come up with some strategies for moving forward."

He added that the complainants are welcome to attend the temple's religious ceremonies and social programs.

"Our vision is that one day the community's confidence will increase to the point that they are not feeling oppressed . . . and then there will no longer be a need to restrict membership," he said.

The Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Temple was formed in 1982 to meet the needs of Dalits who "felt that they weren't fully welcome in the existing temples," Birdi said. Members follow the teachings of a 15th-century guru who preached against the caste system.

Birdi said temple-goers were worried that if membership was opened to non-Dalits, it would defeat the purpose of the organization.

The tribunal dismissed the complaint for two reasons: First, it found it does not have jurisdiction over temple membership; and, second, citing a prior decision regarding the United Native Nations, it agreed that the temple should be allowed to restrict membership to a minority group in order to promote the group's welfare.

Sahota and Shergill argued that by denying them membership, the temple was promoting the "evil caste system," according to the tribunal ruling.

But Birdi said that after centuries of social segregation and extreme poverty there is a need for Dalits to unite. He compared the struggle to that of Canada's First Nations and African Americans, groups that have gained a sense of pride and identity through organization and advocacy.

Although caste is not taught in the Sikh religion, in reality it still affects many aspects of life for Sikhs in India and Canada, with even local matrimonial ads specifying caste preference, he said.

Vancouver Sun

crolfsen@png.canwest.com

[SaRpAnCh]

When this Baba came Southall Singhs went down and were singled out as they did not fit in ,Singhs were there to keep an eye on any beadbi of Mahraj the cultists ran in with broom sticks but couldn't do nothing lol.

They were shook that they were going to get raided again like last time when they had murti pooja going on in the same complex lol,but yeah this baba has been around everywhere !

[buddasingh]

....Members follow the teachings of a 15th-century guru who preached against the caste system.....

Very interesting story. They have a point, but it does not mean that they have a valid conclusion. The decision of the tribunal is wrong. The only thing that would support the decision is a conclusion that the “temple” does not practice sikhi and/or nor does the group at large challenging them.

Assuming for a moment they are practicing sikhi, there could be a 100 different ways in which they could “come together as a community”, but to exclude membership in a faith group that suggests following sikhi is absurd and not supportable whatsoever. --- even if they are off base in their practice.

There is something ironically “equal” to a fault about all sides here (the groups, not necc the individuals). That is their denial, and the public shaming of their castism.