Why Sikhism?

To start I will introduce myself and explain why I have asked this question to direct responses along a certain path.

I am Canadian, 21, and currently taking socio-political thought and religious studies. I am ethnically Indian, and born to Sikh parents, however my religious affiliation (if you can call it a religious affiliation) is atheism. I have always been interested in religion, and especially Sikhism because of my obvious background with it. I chose to explore Sikhism for a paper because of that very reason, and I thought what better way to gain insight then to ask those actively within the community.

I am asking this community to open up about their religion and beliefs and hopefully learn a lot in doing so. So with that out of the way, here are my questions.

1) What are the reasons you either believe you are sikh, or what makes you sikh.
2) Why did you choose sikhism over any other religion or lack of religion (please no hate comments towards other faiths).
3) Do you personally believe in evolution
4) What are your personal thoughts on reincarnation
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/islam/25448-why-sikhism.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25448
5) What do you feel about the role or state of Sikhism today.
6) (This may be a leading question, but growing up in an Indian household and experiencing Indian community, I feel it is a very important one to ask) What are your thoughts on Indian women/girls in modern society. And what would you say to Indian women/girls participating in interfaith/interracial marriages/relationships.

Thank you for all your help. I look forward to reading some insightful comments.

 
Do share your immediate thoughts or reactions on this issue? We value your views! Login Now! or Sign Up Today! to share your views with us.. Gurfateh!

Excellent questions Ryaad ji and I wish you good fortune with the thread. Hope it makes your research paper better. I will answer in a little bit, right now it is 1 am in the morning on my planet coordinates.

1) What are the reasons you either believe you are Sikh, or what makes you Sikh.

Guru's Will and my stubbornness

2) Why did you choose sikhism over any other religion or lack of religion (please no hate comments towards other faiths).

i am a Sikh but might not be a follower of Sikhism

3) Do you personally believe in evolution

Minds Evolve.

4) What are your personal thoughts on reincarnation

We reincarnate everyday. We kill the Me everyday and it is reborn everyday.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25448

5) What do you feel about the role or state of Sikhism today.

no comments

6) (This may be a leading question, but growing up in an Indian household and experiencing Indian community, I feel it is a very important one to ask) What are your thoughts on Indian women/girls in modern society. And what would you say to Indian women/girls participating in interfaith/interracial marriages/relationships.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25448

Depends on how religious you are.

Also on cultural compatibility, Value system compatibility and family acceptance.

amarsanghera ji
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25448

This is a good topic for discussion and your answers are intriguing enough to spur further discussion. I am still wondering about my own answers.

Hi Ryadd,

Welcome to the Forum.

1) What are the reasons you either believe you are sikh, or what makes you sikh.

For me there is no question that I am not a Sikh, even if I am not the best I can be yet, I am still reaching, learning and applying.

Part of this comes from my Form which initially connected me to the Teachings for Sikhi and made it more conducive to my practice, but moving further, I am completely submerged into this via the material I read, The company I keep, the places I go and my upbringing to name but a few.

2) Why did you choose sikhism over any other religion or lack of religion (please no hate comments towards other faiths).

Religious Affiliation, a natural affinity, which I feel is the same for almost all people initially, but my attraction to the Sikh Dharma stems from the fact that we have the complete original word of the Guru's and it is still preserved for all to see in the Harmandir Sahib, Aka Golden Temple.

But moving deeper then that the tolerance and acceptance that the Dharma teaches is hard to find in other Dharmas which such clarity and abundance.

The Dharma is founded on Love and Peace and I would describe it as leading the Holy Life whilst still being able to be a Family Man.

It teaches me to respect everyone, and fully acknowledges that there are other paths to enlightenment (My translation):

Rāh ḏovai ik jāṇai so▫ī sijẖsī.
One who realises that there is more then one path that leads to the One will be freed
Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ang 142

Because of this, I have become a very open person who looks beyond physical manifestation and look for the common underlying teaching and normally see parallels, which I would not have otherwise.

In doing so, my strength and conviction in Sikhi increases as other Dharmas teach the same topic from another angel so in understand it better. It reinforces my faith essentially.

3) Do you personally believe in evolution

Being perfectly honest, this has never been an issue for me on a Spiritual level as it does not alter my practice.

There is a story that goes that there was a person who was hit by an arrow dipped in poison and needed attention.
A person came and ran to help him. Just as he was about remove the arrow, the injured person stopped him and said before you do so, I need to know where the arrow head came from, Which tree the Shaft came from, the Flock to which the Bird who provided the feathers to make the Fletching came from, the name and ancestry of the person who shot him and where the ingredients came from to make the poison.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25448
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25448

The other person said I can tell you these things, but it would be of no value as it would not assist in relieving your pain.

On top of that, Science is always changing. I am pretty certain that you have heard of the Plum pudding Model, This then changed to the Proton-Neutron-Electron model and now we are moving towards string theory. Each has their place and will no doubt change with time.

Simply walk the path, Practice and everything will appear at the right time.

Thanks,

Lotus

4) What are your personal thoughts on reincarnation

Makes perfect sense to me. There are essentially 3 views to take upon death.

1) The body is but an organic matter and the consciousness, instincts and awareness it possesses is but a by-product of it. Upon Death, the body disintegrates and all consciousness stops immediately.

A passage to ponder upon:

Rāg gūjrī mėhlā 5.
Raag Goojaree, Fifth Mehl:

Kāhe re man cẖiṯvahi uḏam jā āhar har jī▫o pari▫ā.
Why, O mind, do you plot and plan, when the Dear Lord Himself provides for your care?

Sail pathar mėh janṯ upā▫e ṯā kā rijak āgai kar ḏẖari▫ā. ||1||
From rocks and stones He created living beings; He places their nourishment before them. ||1||

Mere māḏẖa▫o jī saṯsangaṯ mile so ṯari▫ā.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25448
O my Dear Lord of souls, one who joins the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation, is saved.

Gur parsāḏ param paḏ pā▫i▫ā sūke kāsat hari▫ā. ||1|| rahā▫o.
By Guru's Grace, the supreme status is obtained, and the dry wood blossoms forth again in lush greenery. ||1||Pause||

Janan piṯā lok suṯ baniṯā ko▫e na kis kī ḏẖari▫ā.
Mothers, fathers, friends, children and spouses-no one is the support of anyone else.

Sir sir rijak sambāhe ṯẖākur kāhe man bẖa▫o kari▫ā. ||2||
For each and every person, our Lord and Master provides sustenance. Why are you so afraid, O mind? ||2||

Ūde ūd āvai sai kosā ṯis pācẖẖai bacẖre cẖẖari▫ā.
The flamingoes fly hundreds of miles, leaving their young ones behind.

Ŧin kavaṇ kẖalāvai kavaṇ cẖugāvai man mėh simran kari▫ā. ||3||
Who feeds them, and who teaches them to feed themselves? Have you ever thought of this in your mind? ||3||

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ang 10

2) We have but One Life here on Earth and upon Death will be re-born in an Eternal state of Heaven or Hell. People who do not believe this are cast into hell immediately, irrespective of the fact if their practice was 'better' then the person who was born into it who push this philosophy.

3)The final option, The Dharmic one, is that this life is but one link in long chain of lives that we lead, and it will move forward into the future and has extended back into the past.
Depending on the way that we conduct ourselves we will be in better or worse position next time. This cycle continues indefinitely until we make a conscious effort to break away from it and become one with the Source.
Anyone can do this, irrespective of the Dharma they have been born into as long as they are made up of Simiar building blocks. This is my current understanding anyway.

5) What do you feel about the role or state of Sikhism today.

Could be better. The Dharma is incredible, but currently we are not to concerned about it, generally speaking.

Having said that There are organizations that are making headway in the correct direction, e.g. www.Sikhcourse.com and Sikh Research Institute as well as Khalsa Aid who help everyone practically.

6) (This may be a leading question, but growing up in an Indian household and experiencing Indian community, I feel it is a very important one to ask) What are your thoughts on Indian women/girls in modern society. And what would you say to Indian women/girls participating in interfaith/interracial marriages/relationships.

Please Note, I have to stress that this is my own personal view and I hope that you do not feel that this is for all Sikhs. I am but one voice in a sea of millions.

If I may speak frankly, I believe that Sikh Women are infact the real keepers of the Dharma and we are instructed to respect all women via scripture and the Gurus as one completes the other.

When you say Modern Society, may I ask you to qualify that? If by this you mean having pre-marital relationships, then I would have say that I am not for it.

In partaking in these relationships, one begins to align themselves with having multiple partners and when they get married, if they get married, these needs will most possibly not be fulfilled in the relationship, which can only really pressure them to look else where due to the habit cultivated.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25448

As a result, the more partners a person has, the less likely it is of them having a successful marriage and being Non-positive role models for their children if they have any.

Having had these conversations with others who say it is OK, when I ask them how they would feel if their mother had several sexual partners before they met their father, they do not look too pleased.

Interracial, I am frankly not too fussed as long as they have Dharma at heart, and these things will happen. Punjab was/is a massive melting pot of People from Persia, Greece, Central Asia, Afghanistan and the Middle East to name but a few, all adding to the ethical mix.

Interfaith, I am not too keen on, and if I may say without seeming non-forward, because it results in the dissolving of the Dharma, particularly as Sikhs are not to clued up on the teachings in the first place.

I have answered your questions as frankly as I could and I hope that is has been of some assistance Ryadd.

Please feel free to expand on anything.

My Best regards,

Lotus

Sikhism addresses both the Head and the Heart. That works for me. It is balanced, and it makes sense, emotionally, analytically, philisophically, and psychologically for me. Yes, I think the idea of evolution is a valid one, however I also hold that can be such a thing as spontaneous creation, so to speak.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25448
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25448

But perhaps this is not so much about others, and Sikhs, as it is about you.

Why are you an atheist?

It is intersting an atheist would even think about taking any sort of classes having anything to do with religion, which could be defined as follows:


A religion is a System by which an individual deals with the Spiritual or Divine aspects of living and how he or she incorporates those aspects into everyday life, and how he or she deals with the concept of Consciousness; how he or she defines Consciousness, and how he or she defines Spiritual.

You have quite a lot to think about. Good Luck!

yes good questions.

1) What are the reasons you either believe you are Sikh, or what makes you Sikh.

I'm a sikh as I belive in God, the ten Sikh Gurus, baptism via amrit, and hold allegiance to no other religoin.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25448

2) Why did you choose sikhism over any other religion or lack of religion (please no hate comments towards other faiths).

I converted to Sikhi because during my initial studies of it, I found that it contains all of the beliefs about God that I had already formulated during the course of my life.

3) Do you personally believe in evolution.

Yes I do.

4) What are your personal thoughts on reincarnation.

I also belive in reincarnation.

5) What do you feel about the role or state of Sikhism today.

You may find my thoughts on this a little odd. I have no feelings at all about the religion of Sikhi, I place more importance on the individuals route to God and personaly think that those who over worry about the state of Sikhi are too emersed in ego. Sikhi teaches us that all is in acordance with Gods will, so I do not worry about where God leads the religion nor the dogma, of the Sikhs.


6) (This may be a leading question, but growing up in an Indian household and experiencing Indian community, I feel it is a very important one to ask) What are your thoughts on Indian women/girls in modern society. And what would you say to Indian women/girls participating in interfaith/interracial marriages/relationships.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25448

I live in the uK, I am a 40 year old white English convert, it seems from my POV that there is a great divide between some of the older generation Indian immigrantes here and the younger. Of course the younger are more Westernised, however this has been going on since before I was born and I know some rather Westernised older Indians or those of Indian decent. The problems here are cultural though not religious. As to interfaith, or interracial relationships or marriages, it is good.

God has populated the world with a wounderous verity of people and mindsets, I think we should endevour to both enjoy and learn from this, rather than let our differancs divide us we should embrace them. On a personal note, my wife and I have been married for almost 20 years now, and it is soley because we are so differant that we have lots to talk about. Differance is good, when we learn to stop fearing it.