Das need guidence on this issue from learned

Dear Vijaydeep Singh Ji,



In this post, I respond to your questions in the same order in which you had asked.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/1512-das-need-guidence-on-issue-learned.html



(i) Shall we always keep our head covered?



Traditionally, in Punjab, the younger individuals used to cover their heads as a mark of respect to their elders. Guru Sahibs being our elder spiritually, and in many case age wise also, the same respect was shown to them. Today, our Guru is Sri Guru Granth Sahib and so we cover our head within the premises of Gurdwara giving it the same respect. Outside Gurdwara premises, according to my understanding, it is a personal choice. For men it is good to keep their head covered as then only their attire is completed and that is the way the civilised individuals should be. Within the house, in a family environment, covering the head is not essential.



(ii) Is it mandatory to visit Gurdwara daily?



In the premise of Gurdwara the environment is that of devotion and spirituality. This environment provides the synergy to the individual to evolve in these two attributes. Such environment is not there in market place. In addition, visit to Gurdwara allows the individual to benefit from Satsang, this way the individual who visits Gurdwara naturally get helped to evolve. More the individual frequents Gurdwara; larger is the benefit to her or him.



No attachment is good. If for some reason an individual is not able to visit Gurdwara, she or he should not feel guilty. At the same time visiting Gurdwara should not become a ritual. The visit should be used to meditate on the Shabad i.e. what is said in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, to incorporate its teachings in ones life and to evolve spiritually on the path to divinity.



Visiting Gurdwara is not mandatory, it is desired.



(iii) Is it compulsory to do Nitnem Paath daily?



As the name suggest it is supposed to be done daily. Again this too should not become a ritual. Doing this Paath is not an end itself. It is only a tool to evolve in spirituality. One has to understand what is said in the Paath and incorporate in one’s life. It takes some time before the essence of what is said in this Paath percolate deep into the being of the individual, repetition helps; it is for this reason it is said that one should do it daily. Once the individual has assimilated the teachings into her or his being the need of the Paath disappears, because this evolved individual is now an expression of what is said in the Paath; her or his life is in accordance with Nitnem.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1512



As no attachment is good, if for some reason the individual is not able to do Nitnem, she or he should not feel guilty.



Nitnem is necessary, but not in absolute sense. It depends on the individual’s level of evolution on the path of spirituality.



(iv) Shall we always have to take Bath first, then do Paath, then eat? Is it ideal or mandatory?



Essence of Paath is in mental concentration and emphasis on its understanding. If this is not achieved, it become a mechanical recitation, it becomes a ritual. So all that is necessary to concentrate and understand its meaning should be done.



If one is hungry, better to eat something so that one can concentrate. At the same time do not eat too much which makes it difficult for the individual to sit.



It is good to be clean when doing Paath, taking bath helps; it improves the blood circulation and freshens up the individual, allowing her of him to concentrate. But if one is having fever or is living in a very cold environment, not taking bath before sitting to do Paath, in my view, is not an offence against ‘The Sat’. Taking bath is civilised way of living.



Before doing Paath, bathing is desirable, but not essential, doing Paath with empty stomach is not a requirement at all.



(v) How should we behave with a person who trims his beard?



In civilised democratic society no one should impose ones views on others; this is the way to live with freedom in a very harmonious way. To uphold this value in society, our 9th Guru Sahib gave his life; we should never forget it.



We should treat individuals who trim their beard with love and consideration. No hatred or contempt should be shown towards them. Like any one of us, each one of the human being is a sovereign individual and her or his individuality should be respected even when we disagree with her or him.



This is my considered view.



(vi) Say after going to toilet, is ‘Toilet Paper’ as clean as water?



This is a matter of personal hygiene and the practice prevailing where one lives. Use of water is definitely more hygienic than the ‘Toilet Paper’. However, it no way affects ones evolution on the spiritual path.



With this I close



With love and respect for all.



Amarpal Singh

 
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!

Ek Oankar Wahiguru Ji Ki Fateh

Akal bless you Sahib Amerpal Singh Ji,

Das is also putting a few more doubts

How can a Sikh marray a non Sikh? Is her/his conversion to Sikhism is must ?


Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1512
If some lady is raped,What should be our attitude towars her ?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1512

Some people say idealy Sikh must eat in iron bowl/vesslle only?

What is the logic behind some Sikhs supporting applying water on genital after urinating(like Muslims apply mud) ? Is not it a ritualism?
Sometime often in the house of Sikh,non Sikh people tend to smoke or eat tobbaco,by mistake or even after knowing that we do notsupport tobbaco?
How should we react in such cases?As Das often react badly?

Often in the kitchen of some of the non Sikh relatives of Das,Halal meat is cooked or say If das goes to a party of Muslims freinds,Can Das eat veg food from there ?

Dear Vijaydeep Singh Ji,

One marries a non Sikh the same way as one marries a Sikh. Relation between different sexes existed before religions came into being. Marriage is an institution to allow what is not to be allowed outside it. This is the need of the society for social order and for continuation of human form. I donot consider conversion as a necessity because it is only external; it is a ritual. Sikhi needs to be understood and internalised into one's being. As the two live together ,over a period of time, it will naturally come if one of the two who have married is a Gurmukh, the other will follow.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1512
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1512

With love and respect for all.

Amarpal Singh

Dear Vijaydeep Singh Ji,

If a woman is raped, problem is with we men and not with the women. We must respect that woman as if nothing has happen. Even word of simpathy, may recall to her mind the traumatic experience which the lady has gone through. This way it will leave deeper scar in her mind. We should respect her, give her the dignity that any woman deserve and ensure that none in our family are brought up with male arrogance that leads to rape. The lady has done nothing wrong. Rape is a shame on we men.

The time when only iron and copper was being used by society, it was alright to eat from iron bowl. This has nothing to do with spirituality. as society has advances, there is nothing wrong in eating using ware that are clean, no matter what material they are made of.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1512
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1512

Washing with water is form the consideration of hygiene. I do not see any spirituality in it. Remaining clean is a trait of civilised society.

If some one wants to smoke in a Sikhs residence, she or he has to be told politely not to do so. in my office for more than 25 years I have a small slip pasted on the white board behind me which reads 'Your smoking is injurious to our health too. Thank you for not smoking'. No one ever smoked in my office.

My muslim freind, when they invite us to parties, they cook vegeterian food in a separate kitchen, or order them from a vegetarian hotel. How ever, we do not eat halal meat as it prolongs the suffering of the animal. It is this act that we want to avoid; yet we eat fish. In my opinion one should uphold the respect for all form of lives and live according to what one's conscience says. If by mistake some time one eats halal meat, one should not feel guilty. Guru Nanak Dev Ji did not ask if the meat came from halal or otherwise, when he was offered non-veg meal by one of his devotee (refer History of Sikhs by Dr Gopal Singh Ji). One should hold to the essence of the virtue i.e. respect for all form of lives, when it comes to its detail implementation some adjustment are needed as we live in this pluralistic world.

With love and respect for all.

Amarpal Singh

I feel the thread has been stretched as far as it would go. Anymore and it will break. For goodness' sake, this is NOT Sikhi that is being discussed here! Sikhi is to do with spiritual beings who also have a physical body and not the other way around. Let's try not to reduce Sikhi to a collection of some inane do's-&-dont's.

Harry Rakhraj ji

I agree with your statement that Sikhi is not a collection of do's and don'ts. Unfortunately some group of adherents of almost every religion I know of have a tendency to reduce the spiritual content to that very thing. Respected forum member Amarpal ji did his best to restore common sense, balance and practical instinct to the discussion, as he always has done and as is consistent with Sikh philosophy and Guru Nanak's own sense of reason.

I went back and re-read the entire thread. The thread starter at the time was converting to Sikhi. For new Sikhs these questions are always extra important. Partly because they notice the divide between the spiritual content of Sikhism, and the tendency of some of their associates to stress outward signs and behaviors. Someone needs to build the bride between inner and outer life for them. Amarpal was attempting that. Today I think the thread starter has managed to resolve his questions in his own way -- as he writes to me on a frequent basis. One person in the discussion was attempting a flame war but people ignored him.

This is an old thread. What happens often is this. When no more can be said, then a discussion falls to the bottom of the forum. The debate is forgotten. This was 2005, the date of the last post prior to your own. That is why the thread is not closed, and yet it seems to be simmering. Threads just have a life-cycle.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1512
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1512

I do not know if someone else will have more to add. Forgive my lengthy reply.

Narayanjot Kaur ji,
Having read your missive to me, I now realize exactly where I was coming from when I penned that post.

I come from a family of very staunch Sikhs, expats at that. You will appreciate that identity assumes a bigger than life role when you are in a minority. As you probably know, I am a sehajdhari Sikh. The act of shearing off your head, per se, does not amount to a big deal, much less conversion. But for my family,in those days, it was something even worse. The ensuing ostracism and pile up that followed took a long long time to heal. Heal it did but with scars. It's these very scars that sometimes press the buttons to do things like what I did today.

The post was not very objective, I now realize. And I am feeling somewhat foolish about it. But I learn everyday. A Sikh learns, that's his dharma.

I really do appreciate you taking time out to write to me.

Gurfateh.

Harry Rakhraj

Harry Rakhraj ji
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1512

I don't see your post as foolish at all! Your questions are legitimate. This is a debate that affects the panth from many directions. Fundamental question is "Who is a Sikh?" and there is no pat answer. That is why threads like these do not die out.