Just Read

[KALLY]

We forget that we don't have to go to a Gurudwara Sahib that has some great history to do pilgrimage. When we have our True Guru with us at every moment why are we running around? The time we waste trying to visit all these holy places that are becoming more and more of tourist attractions, we could be spending with our Guru and deepening our relationship with him.

I know you're probably thinking, there is nothing wrong with visiting Gurudwaras with great history. I agree there is not but why do we just visit Gurudwaras like Bangla Sahib Ji which spend millions of dollars to attract us? Why don't we visit the Gurudwaras that have a great history but are not as well funded or well kept? Why aren't the Gurudwara Sahib Ji's that receive a lot of contributions helping to restore Gurudwara Sahib Ji's that aren't being kept very well?

Why? Because Gurudwara Sahib Ji's are becoming a place of business for many corrupt leaders. The leaders aren't to blame, we sleeping Sikhs are. The moment we wake up and find our pilgrimage in the words of our Guru instead of a physical location, we will become better Sikhs. All this corruption will come to an end when we Sikhs stop feeding the fire of evil. The corruption is evil, the seva is not.

Anything done by any human to honor and serve the divinity in another and without any desire for self-benefit is seva. That means there is nothing intrinsically wrong with making a Gurudwara Sahib out of gold. It is up to us if we want to donate for that cause. And if we really don't want this, we can donate to better charities and actually make a difference in people's lives by feeding them, healing them and inspiring them.

Why do we complain about the people that are behind these sort of projects, but then never do anything better ourselves?

Let us each set an example. Let each of us get involved and do something other than spend our energy complaining when someone else does something. Also if we really don't wish for this, then let us start going to Gurudwaras that listen to their Sangat and do the right thing. Even if this Gurudwara Sahib gets covered in gold and becomes a huge tourist attraction, do you think that the offerings made by the tourists will equal that of we Sikhs? Never!

So let us stop worrying about what others do or do not do. Let each of us look into our own heart and do what we know is right. Our Guru is everywhere! Not just in the Gurdwaras.

I say let them cover Bangla Sahib Ji in gold and let us all wake up and stop making a show of running to different Gurudwara Sahibs and instead let us offer ourselves, and all the earthly blessings Waheguru has bestowed upon us, to our True Guru, because that is our shelter and our salvation.