Intimidation In Sangat

[Guest Excluded Sikhs]

I have been an "active" part of my local gurghar since I was about 19 years old (I'm late 20s now) when I found Sikhi away from just the Punjabi culture.

Unfortunately, I have openly disagreed with and continue to disagree with certain powerful elements within our Sangat who in my opinion are hot headed and beat up anyone and everyone that doesnt tow their line.The groups I think mean well but have caused so much strife in the midlands, Im sure some sangat on here are familiar with some of these elements/issues where people have been beat up, for instance when it was falsely rumoured a Gurdwara was going to be turned in a Buddhist temple etc and Sikhs and their familes have been harassed/beat up by extremists elements with our own community. However, I have never voiced these issues outside the Sikh community because I am firmly believer that if Sangat should have disagreements it should be kept in house.

A Singh I was close too is currently serving a very long term prison sentence after being wrapped up in these issues and although he regrets it now he was misled to be involved in violent methods used by these people. Since he has been in prison I have become more isolated from the Sangat who without a doubt helped this Singh end up in prison but there has been zero support for his parvaar.

What has happened is these youth and its leaders have now easily caused 6 Singhs/Kaurs I personally know to completely leave Sikhi altogether because they have either been labelled as "feds" and literally beat up, intimidated and harassed. I personally have also stopped going to my local Gurdwaray which are the main powerhouses of these intimidating elements and now have to travel twice as much to avoid conflict.

I know feel so down. Its hit me this year and I know this is probably the lamest post and reasoning but for the first time ever since I was 19 I now dont feel comfortable going to the 1984 Remembrance Rally on Sunday and for the first time in over a decade wont go to avoid conflict. I now feel so isolated and have even been told I cant enter a certain Gurdwara because I "talk" like a fed - This is probably because I dont particularly talk with slang and have always pushed Singhs to not to resort to violence quickly and stay in the confines of the Law.

I will never leave Sikhi or anything like that!!! But without good sangat around you and the increased isolation I am feeling a disconnect. There is nothing I can do about my local Sangat, they are right in their own way and to them I appear to a liberal "hippy" Singh.

I have always pushed for panthic ekta and for Sangat to work together to resolve our issues. However there is so much division, right now I am feeling disconnected, lonely and disheartened. I see different Sikh youth groups are literally in open conflict with one another, how have we come to this?!

I just wish Sangat would reach out to each other and not resort to violence so quickly. I dont think people realise how many people are turning away from Sikhi because of the way we ourselves behave.

I hope no-one has been offended.

[kamc]

It's nice to see everything our Guru's taught is worth nothing in our gurghar's, growing up i think i may have been lucky as the Gurdwara i went to didn't have to much in the way of internal conflict and politics but lately i've been moving around the country and have been to different gurghar's and have seen a lot of it, kind of disappointing to be honest.

[Bundha]

I don't know much and don't know much about the Gurdwaras in the Midlands but how far are you from the main Soho Road Gurdwara?

I have not found much rivalry or backstabbing there , just go there do sewa.

[Questioner]

I feel exactly exactly the same. And I've been called a hippy Sikh too. I don't understand why these hot headed young Sikhs are left to their own devices, left to bully others and create conflict.

[MisterrSingh]

Gotta be strong. Can't hang onto the concept of sangat if the sangat is as lost as everybody else. Ultimately, all we need is Guru Sahib. These little social constructs we cling to are more of a distraction than anything of actual benefit to us spiritually. As with most things the theory is a lot more pleasant than the reality; if the sangat around you is lacking, then you don't need it. There is nothing like good, inspiring sangat, but if you haven't access to it then what can you do? Cling onto the hope they'll see the light and reform themselves? And what happens to you in the meantime?

[Balkaar]

A lot of the happenings in many Gurdware tend to get monopolized by a particular clique. These cliques have a tendency to be composed of the more belligerent and hardline members of the congregation, who can at once demonstrate a feverish zeal and the catty behavior of a high-school prom queen. Ironically, they spend most of their time at the Gurdwara nattering in the langar hall, whereas the more humble and self-effacing individuals will usually be within the Darbar keeping themselves to themselves. Seek out the latter, usually a bazurg mata or pita who doesn't consider the Gurdwara to be a glorified social club. Just sitting in their vicinity yields great rewards.

Good Sangat does not equal the people in attendance at your Guru Ghar. Good Sangat also doesn't just mean Sikhs. I, personally, have found the company of certain non-Sikhs to be much more rewarding and enriching than my chilly association with the self-professed Gursikhs who strut about the Gurdwara in blue-clad mobs. If you are an open-minded individual, your circle of friends and associates will usually be somewhat eclectic. After all, a hermetic upbringing and limited sphere of interaction are precisely the things that made the people of whom you speak as close-minded as they are. The society of such people is worthless. Just avoid them, I did, and I was taken aback by how very easy it was.

[InderjitS]

Good Sangat does not equal the people in attendance at your Guru Ghar. Good Sangat also doesn't just mean Sikhs. I, personally, have found the company of certain non-Sikhs to be much more rewarding and enriching than my chilly association with the self-professed Gursikhs who strut about the Gurdwara in blue-clad mobs. If you are an open-minded individual, your circle of friends and associates will usually be somewhat eclectic. After all, a hermetic upbringing and limited sphere of interaction are precisely the things that made the people of whom you speak as close-minded as they are. The society of such people is worthless. Just avoid them, I did, and I was taken aback by how very easy it was.

Fact remains and Gurbani attests to this, there is no Sangat like that of Gursikhs. Not saying don't take good from others but no one comes close to true Gursikh saathis who aid in crossing bhavjal saagar, facilitate simran, keep ego in check and where we can speak openly about dhils to make one stronger. Now in this context, who else other than company of Satsangat is capable of this feat? No one.

satsangat asthaan jagmag noor hai

lakh lakh sasiar bhaan kiran tharoor hai

Satsangati kaisee jaaneeai. Jithai eko naamu vakhaaneeai.

Eko naamu hukamu hai Nanak satiguri deeaa bujhaai jeeou

[Balkaar]

Fact remains and Gurbani attests to this, there is no Sangat like that of Gursikhs. Not saying don't take good from others but no one comes close to true Gursikh saathis who aid in crossing bhavjal saagar, facilitate simran, keep ego in check and where we can speak openly about dhils to make one stronger. Now in this context, who else other than company of Satsangat is capable of this feat? No one.

satsangat asthaan jagmag noor hai

lakh lakh sasiar bhaan kiran tharoor hai

Satsangati kaisee jaaneeai. Jithai eko naamu vakhaaneeai.

Eko naamu hukamu hai Nanak satiguri deeaa bujhaai jeeou

Of course, but Pooran Gursikhs are extremely difficult to find.

The passage from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji that you have posted states that Satsangat may be found where Naam is spoken. This isn't exclusive to Gursikhs (Sikhs professing an allegiance to Guru Sahib). Bhagat Ravidas, Baba Farid, Bhagat Namdev, Bhagat Kabir, all praised the Naam and were the equals of the most principled Gursikhs, but not one of them professed Sikhi. Guru Granth Sahib Ji is a commonwealth of the wisdom of men of God from several different faiths. Does this not testify to the fact that Satsangat and the understanding that the naam is hukam may be derived from the society of non-Sikhs as well?

We forget all to often that when we bow before Guru Granth Sahib Ji, we pay homage not just to all our previous Guru Sahibaan, but the Sufi Farid and the Hindu Namdev.

[InderjitS]

Of course, but Pooran Gursikhs are extremely difficult to find.

The passage from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji that you have posted states that Satsangat may be found where Naam is spoken. This isn't exclusive to Gursikhs (Sikhs professing an allegiance to Guru Sahib). Bhagat Ravidas, Baba Farid, Bhagat Namdev, Bhagat Kabir, all praised the Naam and were the equals of the most principled Gursikhs, but not one of them professed Sikhi. Guru Granth Sahib Ji is a commonwealth of the wisdom of men of God from several different faiths. Does this not testify to the fact that Satsangat and the understanding that the naam is hukam may be derived from the society of non-Sikhs as well?

We forget all to often that when we bow before Guru Granth Sahib Ji, we pay homage not just to all our previous Guru Sahibaan, but the Sufi Farid and the Hindu Namdev.

All Bhagats received Gurmukh naam as per

ਕਲਜੁਗਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਭਗਤ ਜਨਾ ਉਧਰੇ ॥

ਨਾਮਾ ਜੈਦੇਉ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਲੋਚਨੁ ਸਭਿ ਦੋਖ ਗਏ ਚਮਰੇ ॥

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਲਗੇ ਸੇ ਉਧਰੇ ਸਭਿ ਕਿਲਬਿਖ ਪਾਪ ਟਰੇ ॥2॥

Now just because Guru Ji was not in physical form it did not mean they were not around to deliver salvation to these pure souls. To believe that a non Gursikh can have bani daraj in Guru Granth Sahib is frankly preposterous. Without Satguru - not just any Guru, pir, devta etc, Gurbani is clear no one can attain salvation.

[GurburAkal]

What does fed mean?

Fed means Federal Agent or someone working for the government intelligence agencies