Becoming sikh / going to the gurdwara

If a man wanted to become a sikh who in the gurdwara would he ask or go to. And how long does conversion take.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/get-involved/26425-becoming-sikh-going-to-the-gurdwara.html
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born2wonder ji,

Either Gyaniji or Narayanjot ji had very succinctly explained earlier that there is no formal ceremony to become a Sikh. You just start practicing being a Sikh.

Yes if you want to become a Amritdhari then there is a formal ceremony. But before you reach that stage, you must understand the Sikh way of life and its convictions and be comfortable with them.

YES JI..BEGIN PRACTISING...the GURMATT way of LIFE...as a beginning.
If you need any help..we ate SPN are always here...round the clock.

One does not become a Sikh by visiting Gurudwara. The following hymns of Sabd Guru can give a glimps in to the faith. By working and living the teachings contained in Sabd Guru one can make an honest attempt towards becoming a Sikh;

ਸੇਵਕ ਸਿਖ ਪੂਜਣ ਸਭਿ ਆਵਹਿ ਸਭਿ ਗਾਵਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਊਤਮ ਬਾਨੀ ॥ਗਾਵਿਆ ਸੁਣਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਕਾ ਹਰਿ ਥਾਇ ਪਾਵੈ ਜਿਨ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਆਗਿਆ ਸਤਿ ਸਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਮਾਨੀ ॥ ਬੋਲਹੁ ਭਾਈ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਿ ਹਰਿ ਭਵਜਲ ਤੀਰਥਿ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਿ ਤਿਨ ਕੀ ਊਤਮ ਬਾਤ ਹੈ ਸੰਤਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਥਾ ਜਿਨ ਜਨਹੁ ਜਾਨੀ ॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26425
Sayvak Sikh PoojaN Sabh Aaveh Sabh Gaaveh Har Har Ootam Baanee, Gaave-aa SuNe-aa Tin Ka Har Thaa-ey Paavai Jin Sat Gur Ki Aage-aa Sat Sat Kar Maanee, Bolhu Bhaa-ee Har Keerat Har Bhavjal Tirath, Har Dar Tin Kee Ootam Baat Hai Santahu Har Kathaa Jin Janhu Jaanee.

All the Sikhs and servants come to worship and adore You; they sing the sublime Bani of the Akal Purkh, The Master. Their singing and listening is approved by the Akal Purkh; they accept the Order of the True Guru as True, totally True. Chant the It's Praises, O Siblings of Destiny; the Akal Purkh is the sacred shrine of pilgrimage in the terrifying world-ocean. They alone are praised in Its Court, O Saints, who know and understand sermon. -----Guru Ramdas, Raag Dhanasari, AGGS, Page, 669-14 & 15

ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਗਲੀਈ ਢੂਢੀਐ ਕਥਨਾ ਕਰੜਾ ਸਾਰੁ॥ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਤਾ ਪਾਈਐ ਹੋਰ ਹਿਕਮਤਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥

Gi¬ān na galī¬ī dẖūdẖī¬ai kathnā karṛā sār. Karam milai ṯā pā¬ī¬ai hor hikmaṯ hukam kẖu¬ār.

Wisdom cannot be found through mere words. To explain it is as hard as iron. When the Akal Purkh bestows Its Grace, then alone it is received; other tricks and orders are useless.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 465-1

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨੋ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਵੇਖਦਾ ਜੇਤਾ ਜਗਤੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥ਡਿਠੈ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜਿਚਰੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ਹਉਮੈ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਚੁਕਈ ਨਾਮਿ ਨ ਲਗੈ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥ ਇਕਿ ਆਪੇ ਬਖਸਿ ਮਿਲਾਇਅਨੁ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਤਜਿ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਇਕਿ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਮਰਿ ਮਿਲੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਹੇਤਿ ਪਿਆਰਿ ॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26425
Satgur No Sabh Ko Vaykhda Jayta Jagat Sansaar, Dithai Mukat Na Hova-ee Jichar Sabd Na Karay Veechaar, Ha-umai Mail Na Chuk-ee Naam Na Lagai Pi-aar, Ik Aapay Bakhas Milaa-i-an DubiDhaa Taj Vikaar, Nanak Ik Darsan Daykh Mar Milay Satgur Hayt Pi-aar.

All the living beings of the world behold the True Guru. One is not liberated by merely seeing Him, unless one contemplates the Word of His Sabd. The filth of ego is not removed, and he does not enshrine love for the Naam. The Akal Purkh forgives some, and unites them with It self; they forsake their duality and sinful ways. O Nanak, some behold the Blessed Vision of the True Guru's Darshan, with love and affection; conquering their ego, they meet with the Akal Purkh. -----Guru Amardas, Raag Vadhans, AGGS, Page, 594-11

ਆਪੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੇ ਸੁ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਹੋਈ ॥
Āp bīcẖārė so gi¬ānī ho¬ī.

One who contemplates his own self is truly wise. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 152-4

ਨਾਵਹੁ ਧੋਵਹੁ ਤਿਲਕੁ ਚੜਾਵਹੁ ਸੁਚ ਵਿਣੁ ਸੋਚ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥
Nāvhu ḏẖovahu ṯilak cẖaṛāvahu sucẖ viṇ socẖ na ho¬ī.

You may bathe and wash, and apply a ritualistic tilak mark to your forehead, but without inner purity, there is no understanding.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 903-3

ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਜੇ ਤੀਰਥ ਨਾਵੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਨ ਜਾਨਾਂ ॥ਲੋਕ ਪਤੀਣੇ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਹੋਵੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਰਾਮੁ ਅਯਾਨਾ ॥ਪੂਜਹੁ ਰਾਮੁ ਏਕੁ ਹੀ ਦੇਵਾ ॥ਸਾਚਾ ਨਾਵਣੁ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ॥
Anṯar mail jė ṯirath nāvai ṯis baikunṯẖ na jānāʼn. Lok paṯīṇė kacẖẖū na hovai nāhī rām ėānā. Pūjahu rām ėk hī ḏėvā. Sācẖā nāvaṇ gur kī sėvā.

With filth within the heart, even if one bathes at sacred places of pilgrimage, still, he shall not go to heaven. Nothing is gained by trying to please others - the God cannot be fooled. Worship the One Divine God. The true cleansing bath is service to the Guru.-----Kabir, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 484-14 &15
ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਊਚਾ ਆਖੀਐ ਨੀਚੁ ਨ ਦੀਸੈ ਕੋਇ ॥
Sabẖ ko ūcẖā ākẖī¬ai nīcẖ na ḏīsai ko¬ė.

Call everyone exalted; no one seems lowly. -----Guru Nanak, Sri Raag, AGGS, Page, 62-12

ਪਾਠੁ ਪੜੈ ਨਾ ਬੂਝਈ ਭੇਖੀ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਇ ॥ ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਹਰਿ ਸਦਾ ਪਾਇਆ ਰਸਨਾ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਸਮਾਇ ॥
Paath Parhai Naa Boojh-ee Bhaykhee Bharam Bhulaa-ay Gurmatee Har Sadaa Paa-i-aa Rasnaa Har Sas samaa-ay.

Akal Purkh cannot be understood by reading scriptures; the deceitful pretenders are deluded by doubt. It is always found following the Guru’s teachings, and the tongue is permeated with Its Sublime Essence. -----Guru Amardas, Siri Raag, ASri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page, 66-18 & 19

Virinder S. Grewal

Begs the question... WHY did Guru Ramdass ji establish the Harmandar Sahib..and Guru Arjun Ji parkash the AAD Granth there ? Guru Arjun Ji established another five Gurdwaras in Amrtisar... Why do we have Gurdwaras ? Gurdwaras didnt come into existence AFTER the Gurus demise as did the CHURCHES 9which were established long after the death of Christ). Gurdwaras were set up by the GURUS during their Life times.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26425

IF there are shortcomings in the managemnts and administrations of gurdwaras..we must endeavour to REMOVE such..and not advocate ..throw the baby out with the bathwater ??

born2wonder ji

Here are some links about gurdwara and what happens there in the New to Sikhism Section

Langar - The Free Kitchen - A simple overview This thread is dedicated to newcomers to Sikhism or anyone else who may want to know more about the tradition of langar. The first post is again from the About.com blog of Sukhmander Khalsa. If you click on the pictures you will see a larger version of the photograph and a brief description of what is happening at each stage or preparation of langar and the langar itself. Langar is pronounced lun' ger. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. ...



Gurdwara - What to Expect - Prayers and Hukamnama This is the second part of a set of threads devoted to understanding what is happening when you first visit a Gurdwara. The images and text are taken from the About.com blog of Sukhmandir Kaur Khalsa.




Gurdwara - What to Expect - A simple overview Sangat ji There are topics that many newcomers to Sikhism ask about frequently. The first visit to a gurdwara is something that I have noticed causes a little case of nerves. It is understandable because when a religion is completely new -- and when services fall completely outside of one's past experiences - well, a person just doesn't want to feel stupid, act in ways that are culturally offensive, or be so baffled that nothing is learned A gurdwara which is the Sikh place of...
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26425
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26425

There are many photos on these threads that are very true to life.

born2wonder ji

Here is another useful thread Converting to Sikhism