Can I be sure God wants me to be a Sikh? [PLEASE READ]

Rory · #1 (**permalink**) 02-Jul-2012, 08:38 AM

I have been reading a lot about Islam and Christianity lately, because I've always been afraid of Hell and God and I want to find the right belief to please God. I don't fully believe in either Christianity or Islam, I have studied each open-mindedly with open arms, there are things in both of them I do not understand and I don't think make sense.

I ignored Sikhi for a long time, I don't really know why. I read about it a long time ago, and for some reason when I found out there is no Sikhi hell I thought "no need to worry then, I won't get in trouble for not being Sikh so I'll concentrate on making sure I avoid the Islam or Christian hell if there is one! Better safe then sorry!"
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/questions-and-answers/38733-can-i-sure-god-wants-sikh.html

Recently I read the articles on http://faithfreedom.org/ and they made me doubt the Islam I was leaning towards. I doubt Christianity because of the doctrines taught by the Church which aren't in the bible..
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38733

How can I know Sikhi is a religion that won't lead me to hell..?
Please answer logically as you can.

I admire Sikhi very very much, I'm really leaning towards it, it seems like a positive, logical alternative to other religions while still respecting God.

I have a few questions though
-What happened to people who died before the first Guru? Will they be born as humans again?
-If it's only reincarnation, why does world population increase? Where do new souls come from?
-Why does Sikhi observe the same "rise before dawn" and halaal-meat (I know it's not called halaal but Sikh meat has to be slaughtered in the same way, I know the Sikh word is different but it's the same practice) rules as Islam?
-How does Sikhi draw from Christianity?

Thank you all very much, I only seek to find the truth I can believe in that pleases God the all-powerful

Luckysingh · #2 (**permalink**) 02-Jul-2012, 09:29 AM

I can give you a general answer that should make you understand.

Sikhism is ALL about NOW, this moment whilst you are livinig. The object is to live the sikh way of life and become gurmukh. It is NOT a preparation for death so that heaven or hell can be decided.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38733
However the ONE lord conducts everything and his sequence of events in creation are ALL upto him ! -to put it smply.
We shouldn't be concerned about what his system is for conductng the whole universe, if he wanted us to know then we would have known. What we DO know, is that we have this life and it is here and know that we should be concerned about.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38733
How he does what he does is ALL his will or Hukam that dictates everything, we are under his command, so we let it be!!.
This should explain the reincarnation, new souls, hell and heaven...etc.. We don't need to be worrying about how he conducts HIS HUKAM, do we ?

I have given you a very brief and logical answer, some members may be able to answer in more detail.

He is the creator and we, and all around us is the creation. He is within all that is created, so he is everywhere, he doesn't sit on a throne in heaven!!
We should connect with this creator in creation, we were created from him by him and in the end or for eternity we can merge back, so to say, as ONE again.

There is ONE and all is ONE.

Rory · #3 (**permalink**) 02-Jul-2012, 09:49 AM

Thank you very much Luckysingh, you've helped me understand a bit.

It's true the other religions I worried about were focused all on achieving safety in death.

Thank you very much.

If anyone could answer the little questions I asked, or just give your opinion in general, please do, I'm really keen on hearing opinions

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38733
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38733

Once again I don't seek to argue with anyone I just want to hear opinions and what you believe, I am approaching everything with an open mind here so please divulge all information you can.

Luckysingh · #4 (**permalink**) 02-Jul-2012, 10:41 AM

I think that first one should focus on accepting the lord and creation as one and all, and everything occuring under his command or hukam.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38733
I mean, as humans we may achieve evrything we possibly can using our god given brains, we can look after our god given bodies, fight against disease, take good nutrients and supplements to help preserve our organs..etc...etc.. BUT, whatever we do, in the end only the ONE decides how many breaths we breathe and when we die!!

So, I think it is easier to start with accepting that we are ONE, loving all and one, accepting his will, realising that we are to live as the truth with all mankind, accept that we are all equal and that god is within all and everywhere....

Doing this first, only then would I start investigating the concepts of reincarnation, karma, eating meat...etc... As they are ONLY CONCEPTS.
Sikhism does NOT say karma runs your life or that if you do bad you come back as a frog or if you do good you come back as a king,, OR neither does it say eat meat or don't eat, or anything similar.
Infact the words of the Guru or the teachings in the Guru Granth Sahib ji, guide you by making you think, it gives you wisdom and knowledge in the sense that you realise what is and what isn't.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38733

- You may be a little surprised by these statements, but there are many active threads just on the issues you questioned.
-That's why I said that I would worry about trying to get these concepts or answers after you feel comfortable and aclimatised with the simple sikh way of life.

It is ALL about learning and that is what sikh means (learner). But you don't have to be a sikh to be learning, the teachings are for everyone as the lord is ONE and for all of us.

The core of sikhism is simply the 'TRUTH' and we live to learn and experience the creation.

Hope that gives you some better scope.

Thank-you

harry haller · #5 (**permalink**) 02-Jul-2012, 14:44 PM

Roryji

thank you for your post, Luckyji has been most inclusive in his comments, and given a good overview, below is my own personal opinion at this present time, hope it helps.

Quote:

I have been reading a lot about Islam and Christianity lately, because I've always been afraid of Hell and God and I want to find the right belief to please God

I do not believe in heaven and hell, and I certainly do not wish to please God. This infers God has human qualities and is capable of being pleased. I feel God is more of an energy or a force, even a law. This law is obeyed for no other reason than it will result in peace, contentment, happiness. In time one learns to love this energy, this law, but it is the wisdom and understanding that feeds this love, not the act of pleasing another. I find such pleasing can result in wrong paths being taken in the vain attempt to 'please' God. In my view God is pleased when we follow the code of conduct that mirrors the law of God, the Hukam.

Quote:

I have studied each open-mindedly with open arms, there are things in both of them I do not understand and I don't think make sense.

When things do not make sense, many religions urge you to have faith. In Sikhism, when things do not make sense, you question, learn, debate, until they do make sense. Making sense is a big litmus indicator for Sikhism.

Quote:

How can I know Sikhi is a religion that won't lead me to hell..?

Well, firstly, in Sikhism, there is no hell, there is just the hell that we create on Earth that we call our lives, and it can be a hell....

You seem to be concerned about the afterlife, there are many debates about the afterlife in Sikhism, I personally favour the nothing theory, after death, comes nothing, you go back to where you came from, dust, and your essence lives on through the way you have lived your life, the people you have touched, whatever deeds you have done.

-

Quote:

What happened to people who died before the first Guru? Will they be born as humans again?

Unlike many religions, Sikhism does not believe it has the monopoly on enlightenment, what it teaches is that actions and thoughts count more than pointless ritual and displays of devotion. I believe enlightenment is available to those of any religion, indeed to that end, you will find enlightened Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews, whose beliefs mirror those of Guru Nanakji. As stated earlier, I do not believe in reincarnation, I am sure many born before the times of the Gurus reached enlightenment. The Gurus just made it easier for the common man to follow Hukam, with the minimum of fuss and bother, and directly, without the need for a priest.

Quote:

if it's only reincarnation, why does world population increase? Where do new souls come from?

it is not only reincarnation

-

Quote:

Why does Sikhi observe the same "rise before dawn" and halaal-meat (I know it's not called halaal but Sikh meat has to be slaughtered in the same way, I know the Sikh word is different but it's the same practice) rules as Islam?

This is an excellent example of the differences, the procedure you are referring to is Jhatka, it simply means the animal should not suffer, ideally being killed with a single blow. If this is not available it is not the end of the world, we use our brains, rather than invent a get around. Halal is where the throat is cut and all blood is drained, whilst being blessed.

Quote:

-How does Sikhi draw from Christianity?

There are many universal truths in the world, and a great many religions share them, Vouthonji, a member here, is a Catholic, yet has found many similarities between our two religions

Rory · #6 (**permalink**) 02-Jul-2012, 22:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckysingh

So, I think it is easier to start with accepting that we are ONE, loving all and one, accepting his will, realising that we are to live as the truth with all mankind, accept that we are all equal and that god is within all and everywhere....

Thank you for this.

I think I had some confusion, you've helped me understand everything a bit better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckysingh

Doing this first, only then would I start investigating the concepts of reincarnation, karma, eating meat...etc... As they are ONLY CONCEPTS.
Sikhism does NOT say karma runs your life or that if you do bad you come back as a frog or if you do good you come back as a king,, OR neither does it say eat meat or don't eat, or anything similar.

I understand. I think I might purchase a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, I feel like that might help me to come to my understanding of things better than relying on other people's understandings - it seems already that there's quite a variety in beliefs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by harry_haller

Roryji

Hey Harry, thanks for your reply. Can I ask what -ji means? : )

Quote:

Originally Posted by harry_haller

I do not believe in heaven and hell, and I certainly do not wish to please God. This infers God has human qualities and is capable of being pleased. I feel God is more of an energy or a force, even a law. This law is obeyed for no other reason than it will result in peace, contentment, happiness. In time one learns to love this energy, this law, but it is the wisdom and understanding that feeds this love, not the act of pleasing another. I find such pleasing can result in wrong paths being taken in the vain attempt to 'please' God. In my view God is pleased when we follow the code of conduct that mirrors the law of God, the Hukam.

That's interesting, I'll have to think about it some more - raised Catholic, I think it'll be hard for me to view God that way, as just a law or force; but what you are saying seems to make logical sense to me. In a way it seems ridiculous for God to have emotions relative to human ones..

Quote:

Originally Posted by harry_haller

You seem to be concerned about the afterlife, there are many debates about the afterlife in Sikhism, I personally favour the nothing theory, after death, comes nothing, you go back to where you came from, dust, and your essence lives on through the way you have lived your life, the people you have touched, whatever deeds you have done.

I am very concerned about the afterlife, I've read a lot of Qu'ran and Bible about hell/jehenna and I really don't want to end up there. That is why I had such interest in religion. But then I took a moment out from these hell-fearing religions and I feel extremely comforted by what Sikhi teaches, including what you have said about "back to dust", that seems like the most logical thing.
It doesn't seem to make sense that God would send someone to jehenna when they lived a good life and did their best to praise Him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by harry_haller

This is an excellent example of the differences, the procedure you are referring to is Jhatka, it simply means the animal should not suffer, ideally being killed with a single blow.

I read somewhere that one of the Gurus specifically told his people only to eat halaal. Is this true?

Ruqa · #7 (**permalink**) 02-Jul-2012, 23:04 PM

Rory Ji... 'Ji' can be used a couple different ways. when refering to someone, using it at the end of their name or instead of a name is like saying sir/madam it's a respectful term. Ji can also mean yes. Or if you use it like 'ji?' It could mean something like yeah? Or really? Or sorry? Or hey? Ok i'm finding it hard to explain in writing. It's easier to understand when the language is being spoken to you because then you can see facial expression and hear the tone it's been said in.

Rory · #8 (**permalink**) 03-Jul-2012, 00:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruqa

Rory Ji... 'Ji' can be used a couple different ways. when refering to someone, using it at the end of their name or instead of a name is like saying sir/madam it's a respectful term. Ji can also mean yes. Or if you use it like 'ji?' It could mean something like yeah? Or really? Or sorry? Or hey? Ok i'm finding it hard to explain in writing. It's easier to understand when the language is being spoken to you because then you can see facial expression and hear the tone it's been said in.

No, I understand you perfectly.

Thank you for helping.

Kamala · #9 (**permalink**) 03-Jul-2012, 00:35 AM

If you spend all your life worrying about hell and not actually doing some virtues you are damned :P but most likely reincarnated ^^