What And Who Is A Sikh....

[ssinghuk]

In answering the OP's query, for a completely spiritual viewpoint, Dhan Dhan Dhan Sri Guroo RaamDaas Jee Maharaaj provides us with the definition of a 'Sikh' below:

This Shabad is by Guru Raam Daas Ji in Raag Gauree on Pannaa 305
mÚ 4 ] ma 4 || Fourth Mehla: gur siqgur kw jo isKu AKwey su Blky auiT hir nwmu iDAwvY ] gur sathigur kaa jo sikh akhaaeae s bhalakae out(h) har naam dhhiaavai || One who calls himself a Sikh of the Guru, the True Guru, shall rise in the early morning hours and meditate on the Lord's Name. audmu kry Blky prBwqI iesnwnu kry AMimRq sir nwvY ] oudham karae bhalakae parabhaathee eisanaan karae a(n)mrith sar naavai || Upon arising early in the morning, he is to bathe, and cleanse himself in the pool of nectar. aupdyis gurU hir hir jpu jwpY siB iklivK pwp doK lih jwvY ] oupadhaes guroo har har jap jaapai sabh kilavikh paap dhokh lehi jaavai || Following the Instructions of the Guru, he is to chant the Name of the Lord, Har, Har. All sins, misdeeds and negativity shall be erased. iPir cVY idvsu gurbwxI gwvY bhidAw auTidAw hir nwmu iDAwvY ] fir charrai dhivas gurabaanee gaavai behadhiaa out(h)adhiaa har naam dhhiaavai || Then, at the rising of the sun, he is to sing Gurbani; whether sitting down or standing up, he is to meditate on the Lord's Name. jo swis igrwis iDAwey myrw hir hir so gurisKu gurU min BwvY ] jo saas giraas dhhiaaeae maeraa har har so gurasikh guroo man bhaavai || One who meditates on my Lord, Har, Har, with every breath and every morsel of food - that GurSikh becomes pleasing to the Guru's Mind. ijs no dieAwlu hovY myrw suAwmI iqsu gurisK gurU aupdysu suxwvY ] jis no dhaeiaal hovai maeraa suaamee this gurasikh guroo oupadhaes sunaavai || That person, unto whom my Lord and Master is kind and compassionate - upon that GurSikh, the Guru's Teachings are bestowed. jnu nwnku DUiV mMgY iqsu gurisK kI jo Awip jpY Avrh nwmu jpwvY ]2] jan naanak dhhoorr ma(n)gai this gurasikh kee jo aap japai avareh naam japaavai ||2|| Servant Nanak begs for the dust of the feet of that GurSikh, who himself chants the Naam, and inspires others to chant it. ||2||

http://www.sikhitothemax.com/page.asp?ShabadID=1152

[harsharan000]

Satbachan96,

a Sikh means to be a disciple; and in sikhee, whosoever is a disciple/student/learner, as a practitioner of the teachings of Guru Jee, is simply called a Sikh.

Unlike worldly studies, careers, where if even masters that worldly sciences/gyan, in the end, that student, still retains its individual identity, thus remains in duality.

It is not by leading a girashtee life, or  the one of a bairagee, that one remains bound into duality.

One becomes free from bondage and all duality, by attaching ourselves through Gurbani, to the only one, permanent and eternal Truth, the source of all enlightenment, namely Wahiguru Akal Purukh.

And to attach oneself to Him, one firstly needs His kirpa above anything, then only that blessed being/jeeva, by practice of the Truth, remains unattached to the world and free from duality, by true devotion to Wahiguru alone.

In that sense, Gurbani tells us:

से छूटे सचु कार कमाई ॥

sae shoottae sach kaar kamaaee |

They alone find release, who practice deeds of Truth

 

अहिनिसि भगति रते वीचारी ठाकुर सिउ बणि आई हे ॥११॥

ahinis bhagath rathae veechaaree thaakur sio ban aaee hae |11|

Day and night, the devotees remain imbued with contemplative meditation; they become just like their Lord and Master.

In this way, we can see that the only practice which makes a sikh realize his/her objective of God realization, and ultimately becomes one like Him, by merging in Him, is by the parsad of His bhakti, given to us, by Him.

 

So brother, do not worry so much by the doubt of whether leading a married or a bachelor life, but in whatever circumstances our destiny has placed us, just be aware enough, in practicing the truthful devotion as per Gurmat, for then only one becomes a perfect true sikh not by word only, but by the deed of His bhakti.

 

Stay blessed.

Sat Sree Akal.