Recent content by akiva

Akasha Ji Agreed -- I assumed they supplied helmets (I've never seen a go-kart track here or in the US that didn't require them).

spnadmin ji The difference between this case and the kirpan case is the issue of safety and liability. And SHOULD the policy be reversed? Is it right to demand that someone else be responsible for my actions? (i.e. I'll wear a turban -- but if something happens to me YOU'LL be liable)

Long loose hair is also forbidden. Their sole concern is safety -- and not directed against ANY group. Since their business depends on that safety record, you can't fault them for the policy. (Since THEY would be liable if anything happened)

Religions espouse fasting either for self-discipline, self-purification, or individual or communal atonement. Different religions make different connections re fasting and others -- for example, there is a direct call to think about and feed the hungry and poor during Ramadan. That's a direct...

Personally? I found Ramadan fasting interesting in that I was definitely in a calmer, more peaceful and aware state of consciousness during the second half of the month. (That's because it's more a lifestyle pattern shift, which psychologically breaks old patterns of behaviour. That's usually...

There's no one answer -- each person has to look inside, honestly challenge their motives, and decide for themselves. Just to clarify my personal position: I don't fast anymore. (I have in the past -- over the decades I've fasted within several different religious systems, so I'm familiar...

I don't think that there's a direct "fasting serves the greater good" -- I think it's more "Fasting makes me a better person -- and my being a better person serves the greater good" "Fasting" can be replaced by many other actions -- meditation, prayer, etc. The key factor is that it make you a...

spnadmin Ji If I become a better, more aware and caring person (through whatever means) then the greater good is served. Not directly, but indirectly. There is a saying: Give a man a fish, and he eats today. TEACH a man to fish and he eats every day. I think that's relevant here. For...

Tejwant Ji Let's start over (to avoid the off-topic subjects) We both agree that Guru Nanak Ji was opposed to mindless/meaningless religious fasting It's understood in Sikhi that Guru Nanak Ji also was opposed to mindful/meaningful religious fasting. (My original question was on that point -...

Tejwant Ji spnadmin wrote: And of course we can delude ourselves in langar and in Turban Day. Langar practices in recent times have been similarly criticized when they are shows of personal wealth and keeping up with the 'jones'es' which can be the case in congregations that have rotating...

Tejwant Ji You misunderstood what I wrote. I did not claim all langar is mindless/meaningless. LIke spnadmin noted, the act of giving langar can be mindful or mindless -- the motive can be to feed others or to impress others. (I specified in my original post that I was talking about the...

Tejwant Ji 1) I never said all Langar is meaningless -- I was talking about the person giving langar -- and their motivation. 2) Turban Pride movement: see http://apkf.net/turbanpridemovement-new.html 3) A poster objected to fasting because it leads to pride. I pointed out that by that...

I never said langars are meaningless. Look at what I ACTUALLY wrote (and see spnadmin's reply to my comment -- which you didn't comment on, for some reason).

Tejwant Ji Are you accusing me of being dishonest? If so, then we have nothing to discuss. I have been nothing but respectful to you -- I expect the same in return. Furthermore -- your comments show you haven't read and understood what I wrote -- please read my posts again without looking...

spnadmon ji How is it hypocrisy? IT would only be hypocritical if the person saying it doesn't do it him/herself...