New With Sikhism

[Palarmux 18]

Sat sri akal!

I found sikhism few month ago, but to keep it short - I was depressed, cutting, listening suicidal black metal. Until I found artist called Snatam Kaur, at the moment I dont listen anymore black metal and I have found alot good music from sikh artists I have really thought to come into sikh, so I have few Question.

1. Is it turban necessary? I live in Finland and this country is pretty Racist. I dont scare that people laugh at me if I wear it, but I just dont like the way it look.

2. Is it ok to drink wine once in a while? I dont mean to get drunk - I just like the taste of wine and its becoming my hobby.

3. Any tips for meditation? Sometimes I have problems with meditation, I just dont get that chill/relaxing "state". I also have difficulties to open third eye, not sure if these 2 problems has connect or something.

4. I dont get that why we should chant while we meditate, I like to be in silence and just relax. Is it wrong?

I usually chant along when I listen some sikh artist (guruganesha sinhh, snatam kaur etc.)

5. Is it ok if I dont wear Kirtan, kanga and kaccha? I mean I just dont have money for those at the moment, and carrying knife in public is crime in Finland.

6. Is it Tattoos forbidden in sikhism?

[N30S1NGH 3,090]

Welcome to Sikhism, sikhism is way of life for me and i m sure for other sikhs as well.

I would say for time being concentrate on meditation/invoking good attributes - truth, compassion, patience, knowledge of divine, good intentions and de-attaching yourself from bad virtues which is consider lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego ..this can be done gradually via meditation as meditation will naturally give you peace of mind as soon you are getting drop of peace, river of peace bit by bit you will naturally will be de-attached from bad virtues. Try 20 minutes a day then slowly to one hour moving to 2 hours. After a year, all your other questions will be answered naturally and your foundation will be strong for you take initiation to Khalsa (baptism ceremony) ...Also with meditation also do voluntary work which we call seva in gurdwara or hospital(for further deattachment from material life) /homeless shelter etc. In old traditional times, sikhs would not take amrit (khalsa intitation) right away, they will prepare internally first then naturally have no issue preparing externally.

As far as meditation goes for beginners- breath is everything to attune your mind. Breath is totally connected with your mind, try holding the breath for couple for 30 secs, you will notice your mind does not wander away anywhere, its in the breath totally, so sit straight inhale in mind say vahi (wonderful) for 3 secs- 3 times vahi in mind and exhale out in mind say (guru- light/consciousness) for 3 sec- 3 times guru , in this way infuse your vahi and guru in your breath you can also feel its omnipresence all around everywhere during the meditation to be totally attuned in the meditation.

[GuptUnknown 141]

Www.youtube.com/#/user/basicsofsikhi

[N30S1NGH 3,090]

Also forgot to mention one of most important thing which is in your spare time, start reading gurbani and with utmost respect cover your hair/remove your shoes/wash your hands etc... I believe there are plenty of english translations website of gurbani. http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?S=y and start contemplating on it inside and do vichar( have inquiry of gurbani inside).

[SevadaarEKhalsa 37]

Start with your inner first, read and understand Gurbani. Read more about Sikh history.

It is okay if you start wearing Kara and Kachehra but you have to promise yourself and the guru that you won't do bad things with your hands and control your lust (don't panick if it takes time, many people hve a hard time with this, just build it up gradually).

If you chant in your mind it is good too. If you do good deeds it is a form of worship too. Waheguru knows what is in your mind and heart, so meditating silently is perfectly fine.

I would also recommend you to watch some of the BasicsofSikhi videos to gain more insight into Sikh beliefs, traditions.

http://www.youtube.com/user/basicsofsikhi

[taran0 461]

If you like snatam kaur try Niranjan Kaur too - really awesome... and best of luck to you on your journey....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqmh3pMg6u4

[simran721 27]

Sat Sri Akal Ji welcome to Sikhi. http://www.sikhnet.com/pages/introduction-sikhism

[BasicsofSikhi 98]

Thanks Gupunknown, - brother Palarmux, my first advice would be to have a look at our youtube channel and see if many of your questions are already answered on there. Dont worry too much about your actions (although its good to give up alcohol etc) but focus more on learning and getting to understand Gurbani (the Guru's words). We have gone through an english explanation of the very first prayer all Sikhs should read every day, the Japji Sahib. Go through that.

Good luck to you and you can join our facebook group (Basicsof.sikhi) for more info.

Sat Sri Akaal

[Palarmux 18]

Thanks for all answers so far, feel free to put more answers/tips etc. and N30S1NGH I have actually tried to find good website to read Gurbani, but never found one - your page seems good. What comes to meditation, I will try your way in that aswell!

[savinderpalsingh 699]

WaheguruJiKaKhalsa!!WaheguruJiKiFateh!!

1. Is it turban necessary? I live in Finland and this country is pretty Racist. I dont scare that people laugh at me if I wear it, but I just dont like the way it look.

Yes it is necessary . always keep your head covered

2. Is it ok to drink wine once in a while? I dont mean to get drunk - I just like the taste of wine and its becoming my hobby.

No, it is not . it is forbidden

3. Any tips for meditation? Sometimes I have problems with meditation, I just dont get that chill/relaxing "state". I also have difficulties to open third eye, not sure if these 2 problems has connect or something.

Meditate on the lords name "Waheguru" only if you take GuruGranthSahib ji as your guru .
Meditating on lords name without a guru is considered a sin , in almighty's court and that person is considered thief

4. I dont get that why we should chant while we meditate, I like to be in silence and just relax. Is it wrong?

I usually chant along when I listen some sikh artist (guruganesha sinhh, snatam kaur etc.)

answered in your 3 question

5. Is it ok if I dont wear Kirtan, kanga and kaccha? I mean I just dont have money for those at the moment, and carrying knife in public is crime in Finland.

if you get baptised , it is neccessary to cary kirpan all times. we consider dying before giving up our 5 K's . if you are not baptised . you dont have to wear them

6. Is it Tattoos forbidden in sikhism?

Yes, we like to keep our body as it is given by dont , do not like to alter it.

Main reason . Hair cutting is forbidden . so even smallest of hair on body is important and forbidden to cut

so yes tatoos are forbidden after you are baptised

[sat 537]

Do not rush into anything yet,it could be just a phase you are going through, it would not be right to disrespect the sikh or any other religion by converting and then going back or jumping onto another path, like you say its only been a few months, give it time, do plenty of research regarding sikh history and prayer translations, drinking alcohol, smoking etc is against sikhi and a big no when handling or praying using sikh prayers/writings. No need to dress like a sikh until you are 100% ready to become one, it is not just about the appearance of a sikh. you have to mentally commit to the way of life first and be ready to submit to the Guru fully and for ever, then when and if you are ready after Amrit then kirpan etc need to be worn (you need to do research regarding this), as for not liking the turban, that will definitely not help if you wish to become a sikh, like i said read about sikh history and take one step at a time , if you get peace from just meditation the just keep doing that, you will know when and if you are ready could be soon or many many years or even never, but please do not disrespect our religion or yourself by converting then deciding you were not ready etc. Good luck

[Palarmux 18]

I actually have new question in my mind:

How I will pray waheguru? how I should put my hands? how I start my prayer, how I end it??

[TheFancyBanana 747]

Thanks for all answers so far, feel free to put more answers/tips etc. and N30S1NGH I have actually tried to find good website to read Gurbani, but never found one - your page seems good. What comes to meditation, I will try your way in that aswell!

Yeah srigranth.com is a good place to start. If you want videos with translations then this youtube channel is good. http://www.youtube.com/user/wwRajKaregaKhalsaNet/videos

It has Sikh hymns and prayers with translations.

2. Is it ok to drink wine once in a while? I dont mean to get drunk - I just like the taste of wine and its becoming my hobby.

No, it is not . it is forbidden

Alcohol is forbidden if you take amrit.

1. Is it turban necessary? I live in Finland and this country is pretty Racist. I dont scare that people laugh at me if I wear it, but I just dont like the way it look.

If you keep your hair uncut, then you'll need a turban. If you begin to progress on the path of Sikhi, you may decide to keep your hair and wear a turban. For the time being it is fine and you don't have to wear it. Take it slowly, read and learn about Sikhi until you are 100% sure you want to follow this path.

[TheFancyBanana 747]

I actually have new question in my mind:

How I will pray waheguru? how I should put my hands? how I start my prayer, how I end it??

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L-VMJz9NKA6x1GBAsJx-CqGsLcK2fRW9hPEuXq2Lk_4/edit?hl=en_US

[N30S1NGH 3,090]

No worries opening about third eye so much, you will realize in overtime naturally, while these are bit intermediate stages ,they are also bit of distraction... just remember full peace of mind/thoughtless state is much more higher or closer towards meeting god than opening up third eye etc, your real self is beyond third eye, chakras etc.

Each one of us real self is ~ Pure existence consciousness awareness bliss ~ which does not have any thoughts whatsoever but we don't realize it as five bad attributes/vices- lust, anger, greed, atttachment and biggest the ego have super imposed themselves on our selves....Gurbani says- Man tu jot saroop hai, apna mool paichain - O mind, you are light recognize your own root.

Just to give you slight idea of signs of self realization slowly, think about three common states of human- awakened state(like we are now), dream state and deep sleep state/rem state which we all go through when we sleep...its thoughtless state..common thing between all three states that god/our real self consciousness which exist in all of us is witness of all three states Hence why after deep sleep we say i have very good sleep. Now ,one and biggest main difference between deep sleep state and gradual self realization state- in deep sleep state you are not consciously aware but its thoughtless but in gradual self realization state - its a thoughtless awareness state that thoughtless awareness is ~ Pure existence consciousness awareness bliss ~ .!!!

I do apologize in advance to you and rest of sangat for the post above i dont mean to overwhelm you with information but since you mentioned third eye, i wanted to share my thoughts on this.