Who Is Sikh? Who Is Not?

I have a circle of friends who are very much into Gurbani, good people but rarely feel to be bound with a strict Sikh Maryada. As per their opinion, it is made by a group of people whose intention is to institutionalize a great religion and control it; their only guiding force is Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and literally that is what they do need and care and, they say that Sikhism is beyond boundaries. One of them is Ashok Khurana who once lost temper when he heard another our Hindu friend Bhavnesh used not respectful words for Guru Nanak, Ashok snapped, he slapped him, such strong emotions he harbors for Guru Ji. When I asked to show a little tolerance towards ignorant, he said”, it is not being ignorant, it is purposeful and when it comes to Guru, it’s hard for him to hold and put up with such trashy words.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/22319-who-is-sikh-who-is-not.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22319
In my eyes, he is a Sikh, struggling on a path. Question: if Ashok is not a Sikh as per Sikh maryada, what is he? Kindly share my views if you can.

 
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pk70,

I think that this thread will stir up some interesting debate. But for starters Who Is Sikh Who Is Not raises one set of issues. And Who is a Sikh per Rehat Maryada raises a different set of issues.

The Rehat Maryada, in my humble opinion, should not be viewed as a means of control. It took 2 generations of study and the input of scholars and spiritual people from all of Sikhi to finally come up with a document that gained consensual support in the Sikh community. The Rehat Maryada has perhaps been manipulated for political reasons by political operatives. And, when you ask, who is a Sikh per the Rehat Maryada? then we have to take a look at what it says. Again in my humble opinion -- it says in so many places -- A Sikh should... describing a path that A Sikh should follow. To me this allows for transitions in Sikh identity.

But here is the definition of a Sikh per the Rehat Maryada

The Definition of Sikh :

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

aad0002 Ji,
Thanks for giving a broad view on both sides; I am amritdhari but Guru Grannth Sahib Ji's study has changed my own views; historically, Tenth Master he turned victims into self defenders through Amrit ceremony, kept his heart open for those who adored Gurbani but didnt take amrit. Being a part of Guru's Khalsa, Sikhs in those days never never gave frown look who were not amritdharis as todays some amritdharis do. Now these some amritdharis behave like funatics of other faiths. They also feel they have a license to go direct to heaven seat or would be apporoved by Guru as true Sikhs. My stance is different; Guru ji asked to have amrit at a choice but it was not forced though History states that first time over 50000 took it( Vaguely, Pl dont question my numbers), many famous Sikhs of Guru Ji's time, remained " Sehaj Dhari" and were well respected. Sikh identity Guru ji gave will stay for ever even if some choose to be Sehajdharis" if they believe nothing but in ten Guru and Guru Granth sahib Ji. When I meet my friend like Ashok Khurana, and see how deeply he adores Gurbani and Guru and struggles to practice it, I feel he is a Sikh, how any one can measure his Sikhi basing on only one thing " amrit ceremony. Does amrit ceremony change people? I doubt it does so. Does Gurbani change people? I veryfy this with own experience. Understanding religion, one needs to grow up spiritually before passing own judgments on those who just differ. I strongly believe that a Sikh should take amrit but also support sehajdharis and resppect them as Sikhs of Guru. For me, measure is how a known Sikh lives. Is it as per Gurbani or just opposite and hypcratically singing Gurbani? Mere appearance has no value for me. In Islam, men are supposed to keep beard but many dont do, have they become less Muslims? Ceertainly not. What do you say on this please?

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22319

pk70 ji

are you a sikh?

pk70 ji

We are not necessarily in disagreement. Renunciation, pilgrimages and ritual baths do not alone bring us to awareness of the Satguru. I am not amritdhaari and may never be. The original context for taking amrit sanchaar was to show one's commitment to a principled way of life, to humility, to be God's servant. And this was and is sanctified by drinking the "ambrosial nectar" as symbolized in the amrit sanchaar ceremony. So we look around and many amritdhari are not living a principled way of life, they are not humble, they are not living in submission to God -- the world looks upside down. The one's who should be completely wrapped in the spirit of seva are instead wrapped in the spirit of politics.

But --is this surprizing? Not every amritdhari is so off the path. Many are wrapped in devotion and seva. So this is no different from what you would find in any other religious tradition or in any of their sangats or places of worship. In Christianity the scripture quotes Jesus as saying, "Oh ye of little faith!" In the janamsaakhi Nanak decides to throw handfulls of water to the west -- because that water will reach his herds of cattle before the water thrown to the east by the Brahmins will reach their ancestors. Many of us on the planet Earth need symbols and they need concrete proof, or they are ruled by concern for respectability and what other people think. It doesn't change my mind. It has always been this way and it always will.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22319
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22319

Got is not an amritdhari; He is the amrit. God does not go to gurdwara; He already dwells in all the sacred spaces in the form of Guruji. God does not ask for rituals; He celebrates Himself. He is also the Forgiver who pervades everyone. So my two cents -- have to move on.

P/S I have known people who were changed by amrit sanchaar in very deep and profound ways.

amarsanghera ji
Your question has made me aware of my being a Sikh who is struggling to stay on Guru path. Thanks for the question though!

In my experience;
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22319

A Sikh?

A sikh is a person who once claimed to be a sikh, then for a while claimed not be a sikh and then claims to be sikh again after further thought and evaluation.

I got it, what other word you can use for it, let me think, evolution of Sikh Soul?
Idea is out put of practical and " must needed" experience. Thank you.

pk70,

I knew that I was really a Sikh when I started dreaming about Sikhs. If a person is someone actually known to me, my sister or husband or mother, in my dreams they are the same as in real life. But in dreams where there are projects involving many people they are all Sikhs. Men with beards and turbans, kirpan. Women in chunnis' and braids. People unknown to you in dreams are projections from yourself. So the whole nine yards.