Sant, Babair, And God-men

[Gursikh Singh]

The ashrams of southern India are crowded with devout locals and Western "spiritual tourists" hoping to find enlightenment at the feet of swamis who are seen as living gods. There aren't just a handful of these "god-men" figures - there are 3,000 operating in Kerala alone. Jenny Kleeman reports allegations of abuse and exploitation (both financial and sexual) and offers a glimpse of a religious subculture that is memorably strange.

This video can give a Sikh viewer a retrospective look on how a similar trend for 'God-men' is inflicting ones own religion. I bring you, Sants, Babair, and God-men. Who know's, the way the Sant-culture is taking over, the Sikh's might be getting our own 'God-men' documentary soon.

The desire, the need for individuals to have a human mouth-piece for enlightenment, when our living Guru, the Guru Granth Sahib, is there for us to enlighten and is readily accessible. I guess some people just don't have the brain-power (more like not having the will or effort) to think deeply and contemplate Gurbani. They'd rather be spoon fed 'it' by a middle man.....

Download the video here

[Guest fordcapri]

Good find these self styles so called holy men, rob people not only of money but of real philopshy and message of religion.

[Amrit79]

These things ruin a culture.

[Guest fordcapri]

So called Sikh Sants are the biggiest frauds in this field.

If they deilvered real Sikhi to the sangat these so called sants wouldnt make any money instead they keep them in darkness and "vaarm" (ilusions)

[Gursikh Singh]

I read on the tapoban forum, (yes i know, :rolleyes: not the most reliable source of truth or fact), but an individual did post something very enlightening.

http://www.tapoban.org/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=49739&t=49739

This person said that, Baba Budha ji, (I would say the greatest and most finest Sikh to have ever walked this earth) never called himself, or was called, a Sant.

Yet no Sikh 'Sant' not even the non-Sant, Bhai Randhir Singh can ever compare against Baba Budha Ji. A man in a league of his own. A man who was blessed with having the darshan of 6 Guru's. A man blessed with the priveldge of anointing (tilak) the Guru's themselves.

In fact, I can't think of any individual in the Guru's time who was referred to as Sant, (except for the Guru's?).

Nowadays, Sant's are 'two a penny'.

[Jag_Singh]

I read on the tapoban forum, (yes i know, :rolleyes: not the most reliable source of truth or fact), but an individual did post something very enlightening.

http://www.tapoban.o...i=49739&t=49739

This person said that, Baba Budha ji, (I would say the greatest and most finest Sikh to have ever walked this earth) never called himself, or was called, a Sant.

Yet no Sikh 'Sant' not even the non-Sant, Bhai Randhir Singh can ever compare against Baba Budha Ji. A man in a league of his own. A man who was blessed with having the darshan of 6 Guru's. A man blessed with the priveldge of anointing (tilak) the Guru's themselves.

In fact, I can't think of any individual in the Guru's time who was referred to as Sant, (except for the Guru's?).

Nowadays, Sant's are 'two a penny'.

Nicely put again jee. Baba Budha was just truly a person in his own league, well thats how I too see it. So much knowledge, yet saying I don't know it, wow.

[Matheen]

In fact, I can't think of any individual in the Guru's time who was referred to as Sant, (except for the Guru's?).

Nowadays, Sant's are 'two a penny'.

In Gurbani, Bhagat Kabir Ji refers to himself as 'Sant' in one place, and Bhagat Prehlad is also referred to as a Sant. This is according to the grammatic rules of viyakaaran, as below.

(By 'Bijla Singh'):

ਸੰਤਕਾਮਾਰਗੁਧਰਮਕੀਪਉੜੀਕੋਵਡਭਾਗੀਪਾਏ ॥

In the above panktee, “Sant” is plural and is used for Sangat. The meanings are “Marag of Sants is climbing the ladder of Dharam (truth) and someone rare has the chance of walking this path”.

ਸੰਤਾਂ ਦਾ ਰਸਤਾ ਧਰਮ (ਸੱਚ) ਦੀ ਪਉੜੀ ਚੜ੍ਹਨਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਕੋਈ ਵਿਰਲਾ ਹੀ ਇਹ ਰਸਤਾ ਪਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ ।

ਸੰਤਪ੍ਰਹਲਾਦਕੀਪੈਜਜਿਨਿਰਾਖੀਹਰਨਾਖਸੁਨਖਬਿਦਰਿਓ ॥3॥

In this panktee, “Sant” is called Bhagat Prehlaad Ji and “Sant” means sevak of Waheguru or Bhagat of Waheguru. Calling Bhagat Prehlaad Ji a Sant is not against Gurmat and it is different than praising him.

ਕਿਆਅਪਰਾਧੁਸੰਤਹੈਕੀਨ੍ਾ ॥ ਬਾਂਧਿਪੋਟਕੁੰਚਰਕਉਦੀਨ੍ਾ ॥

This panktee was a little struggle to understand. Bhagat Ji is narrating his story and explaining the chain of events that occurred. He says how he was chained and thrown in front of an elephant. “What crime has this saint committed that he is being punished like this”?

Sants do exist and all of us can reach that avastha, however they are very rare because it isn't easy to earn Gursikhi.

[classicsingh]

Few days ago i went to the local tesco. when i was comming home, at the busstop this ''so called god man'' appoched me. he had a red patka (he was like 50 years old) one one had he had a white mala and on the other he had a kara. what made it wors he had a hindu god photo in his neck and a paper file with Guru Sahib's photo on it (may be he puts his money in it). he tried to preach some stuff and then i told him to go away and told him to stop using sikh to make money. when he went i told the police.

[Guest Bloom]

Gursikh Singh,

Do you have anything against the Gursikhs of Tapoban Sahib? Why did you say it is not the most reliable source of truth or fact? Please be specific.

Do you have something against Bhai Sahib Bhai Randheer Singh Jee?