Can you tell me how to become a Sikh?

babyaly88 · #19 (**permalink**) 18-Mar-2011, 10:07 AM

ma'am if i may ask kindly.... i do not know the first thing about becoming a sikh. would you mind pointing me in the right direction?

I had the same conflict that you did. I baptised myself catholic in high school because a number of events I felt pointed to me being one. but after moving away from home I got a job in a nursing home and it became clear to me that I had no connection to the Catholic religion at all. After being extremely unhappy in relationships I met a guy that worked at the 711 on my way to work one day. I asked him about his turban and he informed me of Sikhism which I had never heard of in my life. I did some research and hung out with him more and he enlightened me on the religion. I feel that it connects more to me than anything i've discovered.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/new-to-sikhism/30539-can-you-tell-how-become-sikh.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=30539

if you could please give me a little advice it would be greatly appreciated

thank you very much.
Alicia

Mai Harinder Kaur · #20 (**permalink**) 18-Mar-2011, 10:45 AM

Hi, babyali88 ji!

I see this is your first post and I don't think there is a more important question.

I'll start at the beginning. What is a Sikh. According to the Sihkl Rehat Maryada, sort of the official rule book accepted by most Sikhs:

Quote:

The Definition of Sikh :

Quote:

Article I
Any human being who faithfully believes in
i. One Immortal Being,
ii. Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Sahib to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib,
iii. The Guru Granth Sahib,
iv. The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus and

Quote:

v. the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a Sikh

As you see, there is no ceremony and not actually doing anything in this definition. It is all "faithful belief" and, at the very end, "not [owing] allegiance to any other faith." This presupposes that the individual knows something of the 10 human Gurus and has studied at least a bit of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the eleventh Guru.

In practice, of course, there is much more to it. It really is necessary to be a part of the sangat, the community. Visit your local gurudwara, if there is one in your area. Perhaps your friend, if you are still in contact would take you.

I think it would be fruitful to start keeping at least two of the 5 outward symbols of the Sikh, the kesh (unshorn hair) and the kara (a steel sort of wristband), Unshorn hair, kesh, means all the hair of the body, from head to toe. Of course, not all Sikhs keep kesh, but I think it would be hard to feel accepted if you didn't.

I could go on and on and on...

Perhaps one of our members not from a Sikh family would continue from here.

harsimiritkaur · #21 (**permalink**) 19-Mar-2011, 01:34 AM

All humans are born with the desire to learn, to explore, the experiment, to feel, touch, taste, look. One constantly transforms his/her self from Manmukh to Gurmukh, daily making more adjustments through study of Guru Granth Sahib.