So You Think You Can Serve Your Gurdwara?

The Christian community is confronting the development of the “Sixth American:” those individuals who do not exist in or identify with any particular space and ultimately congregate together. These integrated congregations are hopeful signs that the elements of discrimination and racism which infiltrated most churches over the last two centuries are slowly being eradicated.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/26340-so-you-think-you-can-serve.html

Strangely enough, Sikh-Americans aren’t evolving in the same direction. In less than fifty years, Sikh-Americans have (get this) provided an anti-model for our adopted culture by dividing into self-identifying congregations, sects and denominations!


This may in part be explained by our natural connection to our social networks. Like members of other faiths, we choose to go to a place of worship that is attended by our families. We go where our friends attend. We go where our language is spoken. We are segregated by whether we are brand-spankin-new-citizens or third-generation Sikh Americans. We are separated by our interests and our jobs.


Yet now in nearly every major US city, ego, anger, and political infighting have helped to split a unified gurdwara into five polarized ones. We now have different ways of worshiping and understanding our Guru. We may choose to go to one that has a langar hall with tables and chairs. We have waiting lists for getting married at the gurdwara with the fancy zip code that is sprawled out on a grassy knoll, but we either don’t make efforts to get involved with seva otherwise or aren’t accepted by the self-segregating sangat that usually attend. We bicker intensely over who is behind our gurdwara fund management and invest a huge amount of energy crafting lawsuits against one another, but our energy suddenly fizzles out when it comes to addressing how to make these funds work for our community, both Sikh and non-Sikh.


Perhaps I can offer a firm slap to the back of our heads to remind us what a gurdwara is: it is a place of individual learning and spiritual growth and a center for the sadh sangat as well. It is a place where thoughts may be debated and challenged openly and then acted upon by the community as a whole. It is here where we continue to develop a spirit of chardi kala among our community.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26340


When will we see ourselves as part of a sangat? When will we start to see our currently fractionated community as an extension of our family? When will we be willing to take ownership of and responsibility for ourselves and community? We’re moving backwards at a pace faster than I’m comfortable to admit, and a majority of us don’t even recognize it. As long as we continue to ignore or think lightly of the situation, today’s divided gurdwaras will (and are already starting to) quickly recreate the social, economic, and political injustice and inequalities our Gurus and sangat steadfastly fought against centuries ago. What are you going to do to stop this?

 
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From my personal experience,I can tell you that I feel intimidated at times to do sewa at a Gurdwara where I am not emotionally connected to the sangat. I have come across women that just stare at me like I don't know what I am doing. Instead of teaching how sewa should be done they throw orders. I feel like I am invading their territory. Maybe this is an excuse for me,I don't know. Please someone help me get over myself so that I may serve my Guru with the respect HE deserves.

Susan Ji,

Here's an interesting slogan I read in a Gurdwara :-

Sewa karo ta mukdi nahi, Na karo ta rukdi nahi.
(If you serve there is no end to doing it, If you won't serve, then somebody else will do it, irrespective!) (translated by Aman Singh ...hope it makes sense??)

Here's my experience in doing sewa. I am hopeless in the kitchen sewa because instead of cutting the vegetables,
I end up cutting my finger. That's happened many times. And then comes the women who shout their orders.
I replied to a woman who threw orders at me as if I was a kuli there.
I gave it back to her spontaneously, " Buddey admi kolo bhaar chukande wo ?"

And she looked at me furiously and mumbled, "Je tuN bhudda ta sada ke haal ve?"
Anyway, that got her thoughts straightened out because she has never again spoken to me in two years.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26340
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26340
Now I concentrate on another type of sewa where I get to sit next to the gyani and sing with him.
It takes me to ecstasy and I enjoy it.

Thank you Namjap Ji
I think I need not be fearful of speaking back. What's the worst that can happen? The person just won't speak to me,which is proabably better anyway.

Susan ji

If I may intrude...you are invading when you ask to help with a seva. Those other women were helpless to refuse you, but they didn't not go for it. Let me explain. Culturally ...and not according to gurmat...seva is necessary for mukhti because you "wash off your spiritual filth, you negative karams." Seva is often held within families and guarded jealously. In India, one doesn't under some circumstances of seva EVEN VOLUNTEER to give a sevadhar a break. It is jealously guarded, jealously guarded, jealously guarded.......

My personal story with seva includes an episode where quietly covering for someone who might be late, or might have a family emergency, led to personal embarrassment. And the day when I decided I was going to end my seva it was considered so unthinkable it took a week or more to bring people to understand that I meant it.

what is the "sewa" we are talking about?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26340

i am bit lost in the context

Huck Finn ji

Are you asking me or Susan ji?

[quote=Narayanjot Kaur;109549]Susan ji

If I may intrude...you are invading when you ask to help with a seva. Those other women were helpless to refuse you, but they didn't not go for it. Let me explain. Culturally ...and not according to gurmat...seva is necessary for mukhti because you "wash off your spiritual filth, you negative karams." Seva is often held within families and guarded jealously. In India, one doesn't under some circumstances of seva EVEN VOLUNTEER to give a sevadhar a break. It is jealously guarded, jealously guarded, jealously guarded.......

My personal story with seva includes an episode where quietly covering for someone who might be late, or might have a family emergency, led to personal embarrassment. And the day when I decided I was going to end my seva it was considered so unthinkable it took a week or more to bring people to understand that I meant it.[/quote=Narayanjot Kaur]
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26340






Jealousy is non-gurmat. I believe if you share your sewa you are receiving double your blessings. After all Sikhs are supposed to help all mankind in which ever way possible and I believe this includes sewa. I guess I am just going to have to build up some courage, ignore the rudeness and just GO FOR IT! After all we are Guru Gobind Singh Ji's daughter's aren't we.

<
Are you asking me or Susan ji?>>

anyone

i am the one trying to jump into the discussion