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Cutting Kesh Against My Will


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I am a child convert to Sikhi about roughly 1-year-ago. Now I want to keep my kesh and my parents force me to get my hair cut. Technically, I could just sit in place and not get into the car to go to the barbershop, but they treat me different and my life will become a living Hell. The Khalsa way is to explain it to them.I've tried but they say, "this is too far...and you are only twelve...you cannot grow out your hair". What can I do? I know the power is in God's hands, but I still don't know what to do.

Please help blessed Khalsa Panth Ji!

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

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Which country are you in brother?

As this is clearly against your human rights vis a vis freedom of religion. Don't give in to your parents.

Young brother, please go to your local Gudrwara and advise Panj Pyare of what your parent's intention.

In order that Panj Pyare or respected Sikhs locally may hold dialogue with your parents.

CALL: 0845 644 0704 (UK)
MOBILE: 07999 004 363 (UK)
EMAIL: info@sikhhelpline.com
WEBSITE: www.sikhhelpline.com

You are welcome to private message me or other forum Sangat local to you if we can be of any assistance. Good luck.

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Guest Jacfsing2

I am a child convert to Sikhi about roughly 1-year-ago. Now I want to keep my kesh and my parents force me to get my hair cut. Technically, I could just sit in place and not get into the car to go to the barbershop, but they treat me different and my life will become a living Hell. The Khalsa way is to explain it to them.I've tried but they say, "this is too far...and you are only twelve...you cannot grow out your hair". What can I do? I know the power is in God's hands, but I still don't know what to do.

Please help blessed Khalsa Panth Ji!

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

I would recommend leaving your parents, but again your still young. But your problem isn't unique as even Guru Nanak Dev Ji had his own father slap him for simply giving food to the poor. (He was a greedy man, but blessed). What I do honestly recommend would be is to have an open discussion with them and tell them you love them, but Sikhi is what you love more. It would hurt any parent to hear that their child left the faith they tried hard to keep, but it's just what has to happen to them.
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Which country are you in brother?

USA

Young brother, please go to your local Gudrwara and advise Panj Pyare of what your parent's intention.

My parents would be my only ride to get me there, and the nearest gurudwara where I am is 45 minutes away by car, so walking or riding a bike isn't an option.

What I do honestly recommend would be is to have an open discussion with them and tell them you love them, but Sikhi is what you love more. It would hurt any parent to hear that their child left the faith they tried hard to keep, but it's just what has to happen to them.

That would hurt there feelings because they always say that they love me and my siblings more than anything. But if that is what I must do I will.

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What religion are your parents bro?

Christian

Are there any Sikhs who live near you?

No.

lain everything to do them. The philosophy and why you want to keep your kesh. They might be scared about why you want to keep your kesh, they might not understand, so try to have an open conversation with them. Don't be scared, remain strong!

If they don't let you keep your kesh and don't understand why you want to do it, wait till you're a bit older. You are still quite young, so just wait till you're older to show them you are serious about Sikhi. Focus on learning about Sikhi, read the Guru Granth Sahib, contemplate its message and put it into practice. Focus on becoming a strong Sikh, when Waheguru does kirpa, you will keep your kesh.

Will do! Thanks for all your help.

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You sound extremely intelligent for your age. Do the following over weeks or months if necessary. The goal is not to convince your parents of anything but to educate yourselves as a family. You will grow up continuously and quickly in the next few years. Ultimately you will be deciding your fate.

First ask and learn about everything your parents want for you. What values they want you to have. What hopes they have for you. What concerns they have for you. If you don't have this relationship with your parents, develop it. Use humour, deference, curiosity, whatever is already comfortable in your relationship with your parents.

At some point ask your parents precisely what aspect of this that they have an issue with. Do not argue, rather do your very best to get in a discussion. Pretend it is not about you and you are speaking of someone else's situation from a bird's eye view.

Expect that your parents will make it personal. If they do ask them something along the lines of... 'may we just talk and discuss and learn without trying to convince anyone of anything'... Under no circumstances participate in arguing, it takes 2. If that means you have to exit the discussion and bring it up a few days later then do that.

When they make it personal, listen to them as expressing concern for you. Listen to their concerns and address them. They may base their concerns on wrong information but it does not mean their concerns aren't real and valid as concerns. They may also learn from you.

You want to develop a mutual trust and open dialogue if possible with your parents. You can then show them why you're interested in Sikhi. Tell them and show them online what kind of things interest you.

When the time is right, explain to your parents that so many children are engrossed in negative things...gaming addictions, drugs, online bullying, etc. So many are engrossed in positive passions whether that be gaming, a sport, a sports team, a hobby, martial arts philosophy. Tell them this is part of your passion, part of your identity just like any other child and for you the values are part of learning about life and growing up.

For a Sikh our hair is our spirit. Again when the time is right explain to your parents that you feel like by forcing you to cut your hair, they are cutting your spirit.

You little bro are like the panj piare slowly walking forward. You were not comfortably or conveniently Sikh by family. Some of us never make a choice to be Sikh. We 'love' it, but as a comfortable pride. But your love is definitely headed in the direction of being worthy of great things. In that regard, it is OK that you are challenged in your march and OK to challenge yourself and face hard questions from your parents. The panj piare were challenged to give everything. But they recognized this as being given everything. Your challenges are as you say 'power in Gods hands'.

As mentioned above, rest assured that the time will come soon when you will decide your own fate. Your parents will defer to your choices. In the meantime be strong and get even stronger. Learn learn and learn.

Another person who recognized giving his head as the same as being given everything is Bhai Randhir Singh. Read the autobiography of Bhai Randhir Singh and his amazing strength and perspective to be free in the face of torture. In particular in the latter half of the book.

There is a link here: http://vidhia.com/Bhai%20Randheer%20Singh%20Ji/Autobiography-Bhai-Sahib-Randhir-Singh-Ji.pdf

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