Sat Nam, Ji, not to worry about being off topic. I, too, would rather do good works starting at home. Indeed, there is a very old saying, "Charity begins at home.", and this is true. One is reminded of how the stewards and stewardesses on the airline flights, when they are explaining how to use the oxygen mask, always tell the passengers to put their own mask on first, before attempting to assist someone else with theirs. The same is true here.
I beg everyone's forgiveness if I have been impatient, rude or snappish in my comments. My apologies.
We judge ourselves and each other all the time. We judge people on the way they are dressed, whether or not they are wearing makeup, jewelry, what sorts of shoes they wear, how they walk, move, how they talk, and whether or not they have tattoos, and if so, what sort of tattoo they have.
It is a most interesting phenomenon; we are told over and over again to not judge each other, and yet almost from birth we do.
Even though we as Sikhs are told that there is no such thing as caste, we still deal with it. Look at the want ads in newspapers for brides and grooms: how many say things like, "Caste No Bar" or, on the other side of the coin, "Jat Sikh parents searching for.....".
In Europe and the Americas people still look at each other and figure out to which class someone belongs. It is shown by their dress, eating habits, speech patterns and what their education level may be, as well as by what job they may hold and where and if they went to University.
Yet God and Guru does not judge us by such things. We are all loved equally by God, no matter what.
We have been given two priceless gifts beyond measure; Ceativity and Free-Will Choice.
We can do things no other can do. You do not see a tree driving a car or painting a canvas do you? No, you see trees doing tree things. Have you ever seen a badger draw up architectural plans for a temple? You do not see cows going scuba diving, you see ithem doing cow things. Yet we can do all these amazing things and more.
This is one reason why Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave us the Kara; it is a reminder, among other things, that we are to do Good Works with our hands.
We are not born with Karas on our wrists. Ultimately, it is our decision to wear one, along with the other 4 items, each with its meaning.
We come into this world naked; no clothes and no coherent speech. We are absolutely helpless on our own and must depend on others to assist us in learning how to make our way in this world.
It has been said that to get a tattoo is altering God's design, and it is not right to do that, that it is not natural.
It is not natural to wear clothing, build a house, build and drive a car, get one's teeth cleaned at the dentist, or use a knife and fork with which to eat. It is not natural to use a cup or mug to drink water or chai. It is not natural to have a doctor or midwife present at the birth of a child.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=2015
These things are learned.
So, in the purely natural state, it is not natural to engage in any of the activities we associate with not only living the lives we do, but it could not comsidered natural to live even as basically as tribespeople do.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=2015
They do not have cars; many walk or ride horses or donkeys.
Riding something is not natural; it is learned.
Squatting on the dirt floor of a hut and making a crude fire with which to cook meat is not natural; making fires and cooking are not natural; they are learned.
So where is it that we learn to judge each other all the time, even while we are being told by all sorts of authorities we should not be judging each other?
It is interesting that we totally embrace some avenues of learning, and completely reject others- and oftenly, in rejecting, reject the people who have chosen those avenues, judging those people to be "idiots" or "narrow-minded fools" and other such things, oftentimes simply because they look different, or do not wear their hair the way we do, or speak a different language than us, or pray in a different way, or express their devotion in a different manner.
So, back to tattoos: how might you or I look at someone who has "Wahe Guru" tattooed on their arm, as compared to someone who has "Mom" tattooed on their arm, as compared to someone who has the logo of a very loud Heavy Metal type rock band tattooed on their arm? Think about that for a moment. What do you think those tattoos say about the people who are wearing them? When you have clearly identified, within yourself, exactly what your feelings are towards each of these examples, think about yourself; and get this: everyone with whom you come into contact is judging you!
We judge each other oftenly without even realizing it; the habit is so strong!
Everything about you; the way you look, your clothes, your food, the way you eat it, your speech, your actions; everything is being judged by others. Also, almost everything about you is the result of a choice or a series of choices you have made.
You choose the clothes you wear, the food you eat, the way you eat it, how well you take care of your body, your health, your home, your environment, your education and your attitude.
A pertinent question could be posed: What is your attitude towards ________________(fill in the blank with any subject you choose) and how did you come by it?
So, back to tattoos: What, if any, attitude do you have towards someone who has a tattoo? How have you come to have the attitude you do towards that individual?
Do you see that individual as an "idiot" or do you see them as someone who is a brother or sister of yours who happened to make a particular choice? Are you judging them? Or perhaps you are judging their choice?
Compare how your various attitudes towards things and people make you feel. Some attitudes definitely feel better than others!
See how the various judgements you make have you feeling. Does it really feel all that great to judge? So often, when we are judging, what we are really doing is attempting to make ourselves feel better about ourselves by putting someone else "down". Does that really work in the long run? Is it really a compassionate thing to do?
So the next time you see someone who has a tattoo, think about these things. Then think about all the other things and concerns I have brought up- education, health, and all those sorts of matters.
Then ask yourself what your real priorities are in life.
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