The Spiritual Strength of Woman

The Spiritual Strength of Woman - The following is an article that Shanti
Kaur Khalsa presented at the Women's Seminar at the World Sikh Samelan,
Amritsar 1995.

BANA: The Khalsa Uniform Bana is our own flag. Bana is our Nissan that
states unequivocally who we are. If we have the dress and fashion of a movie
star that makes a statement as to who we are. If we wear the clothes of
beggar that also tells the world what our status is. And if we wear the Bana
of the Khalsa, this makes a statement of strength that cannot be ignored by
the hardest of hearts. Bana is the image and dress of grace. Bana is the
five K's of the Khalsa: Kesh, Kachera, Kanga, Kara, and Kirpan. Each one of
these beautiful accoutrements gives us strength and beauty. Bana is a
statement that says, with a look, that I belong to Guru Gobind Singh, and He
belongs to me.

I belong to the Khalsa and Khalsa belongs to me as the drop of water forever
merges into the ocean. Guru Gobind Singh

I would like to share with you my own story and experiences in relation to
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/essays-on-sikhism/14512-the-spiritual-strength-of-woman.html
the Bana of the Khalsa. When I first became a Sikh, twenty-three years ago,
I had never seen an Indian Sikh woman. I knew only American Sikhs, and in
fact, very few of those. But I knew that Kesh and Dastar were part of the
5-K's of Guru Gobind Singh. And I knew that Guru Gobind Singh promised:

If the Khalsa maintains the distinct path, I shall give them all my
strength. But if the Khalsa leaves this path, then I will withdraw my
recognition.
Guru Gobind Singh

Well, as a young woman of 18 years, full of the spirit of life and the
excitement of discovering the teachings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, it never
occurred to me to not wear a turban. The Khalsa of Guru Gobind Singh wore
the dastar, and that was who I wanted to be. So it was with great sincerity
that I tied my first turban. From the moment I put on a turban, the effect
was immediate and exciting.

Physiologically speaking, the turban creates a dramatic effect on the body.
The human skull is not solid, but is made up of 52 moving plates, whose
alignment affects our well being and our mental processes. Osteopathic
Doctors have developed a science of cranial adjustments to treat many
general and specific ailments. By tying the turban, and thus creating the
proper pressure and angles, the bones of the skull are automatically
adjusted, and remain aligned throughout the day. In situations of mental
activity or emotional stress, when the cranial bones tend to go out of
proper alignment, the turban contains and maintains the integrity of the
skull. This contributes greatly to our strength and ability to succeed under
pressure. In addition to this, the effect of the Kesh properly combed-up and
the acupressure points that the turban presses at the temple contributes to
the person's ability to maintain an elevated state of mind, a higher state
of consciousness. All of this was apparent to me the very first day I wore
the turban of the Khalsa.

But as you can imagine, the most dramatic effect of wearing a turban is not
physiological, but rather it is social. Wearing a turban is to walk the
Niagara path. My parents and my friends were stunned. They thought they had
lost me, but of course they had not. Rather the experience of being distinct
has made me more committed to the welfare of those around me, because
everything I do is highlighted and examined by others.

Now that I have lived my life experiencing the benefits of the turban, I can
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14512
tell you honestly that you are missing a great advantage by not doing so. I
have been given the respect and the status of a spiritual woman, even when I
myself have been filled with self-doubt and misgivings. This I see as Guru
Gobind Singh Ji fulfilling his promise, giving me strength even when I do
not have strength myself. This beautiful dastar proclaims to the entire
world that I belong to Guru Gobind Singh and that is a reality I will never
deny.

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