Sikhs Who Do Not Keep Kesh

Dear Members,

This issue is quite a sensitive one but one of great importance to me. I'd like to know where Sikhs who don't keep their hair fit in? I am one of them.
I love gurbani, love the ideals of Sikhi...they sustain me. But I don't keep my hair, not for any other reason than I don't think my external identity is of any great significance. I dress appropriately, cleanly, and conduct myself respectfully, thats about it.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/36344-sikhs-who-do-not-keep-kesh.html

I'd like to know the most honest opinions of baptized Sikhs on what they think of their fellow Sikhs who don't keep their hair. I accept that baptized Sikhs are more committed, more knowledgeable and are at the forefront of Sikhi, and rightfully so. Where do you see those who don't keep their hair?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36344

I HOPE its not the most significant issue of how much of a Sikh one can be, that would be very discouraging. But I'm seriously beginning to doubt, because there is quite a harsh judgement from some. Especially when its people doing seva at the Gurdwara.

 
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!

__________________

You are a SIKH...just at a different "level"...( not in the sense of being lower/higher - just lateral level...as in a Class...every one is a student progressing at own pace..)
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36344

Remember our "religion" is NOT a religion per say....Its a WAY OF LIFE....we Live the Life gifted to us by the Creator...try and improve things, live better - as better human beings..more loving, more compassionate, more considerate..more truthful, more honest..as each day goes by...so that we arrive at a stage which Bhagat kabir Ji describes as...When we ARRIVED..we cried...and the World Laughed..but when we GO...we LAUGHED and the World CRIED !! IF we can go laughing..we have had a good going at being a Sikh....ALL those Hundreds of thousands of SIKHS Martyrs...standing in a long line behind Guru Arjun ji Sahib..... who GLADLY CHOSE DEATH - some horribly torturous and terrifyingly horrendous painful deaths even..EACH one--every SINGLE one of them went LAUGHING !!
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36344

So no reason to despair..be uncomfortable..feel any lesser or shortcomings...just keep on PROGRESSING....as we are all SIKHS from the first moment here to the last moment here. We dont try and "fit" in because we are DIFFERENT.

thank you giani ji!

The question of Sikhs keeping hair or not has been out there for long. Sikhism, as a religion, is extremely encouraging towards maintaining unshorn hair. This is the highlight of a Sikh's worldly identity. However, we have Muslims without reading namaz five times a day, Christians without Church , Buddhists who don't even give a thought to celibacy.......and Sikhs without unshorn hair.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36344
The argument that it all matters on the inside is very half baked cake sort of stuff; If the inside is devoted to the Guru, the inside obeys Guru's words, and maintaining unshorn hair is one of them. Meanwhile, I don't believe in excluding Sikhs(who don't keep hair) from the Gurudwara activities or from the Sikh community. They should, however, be encouraged to keep hair, and all this I say shouldn't be done forcibly in even the slightest meaning of the word. It is a personal choice, i agree, but we should promote unshorn hair among the Sikh community and show them the true meaning of doing so, how it is so deeply connected with the Sikh and our history.

Navdeepji

As you clearly love sikhi, you are a work in progress, at some stage you will reach a point in your life where you are so in tune with the creator, your soul will want to sing out in praise, at that point you may find a deep desire to take the physical form of a sikh, not only to complement the clear inner sikh in you, but also to inspire others and as a way of honouring the creator.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36344
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36344

Its a long road, we are all seeking enlightenment, long hair does not define a man, but I do believe that if/when you do find yourself close to that enlightenment you will want to share that joy by embracing the k's.

My own opinion on this is that utimately it is up to the individual Sikh what he or she is going to make of his or her Sikhi and much or little he or she is going to practise their Sikhi but ultimately only Guruji can judge us on our commitment to Sikhi and we should not critiscise another Sikh for his/her commitment and practice of Sikhi. I have seen many instances of Sikhs who do not have full identity even my favorite hate Sikhs who wear hindu strings on their arms that really gets this Singh going but i control my anger and think that they will have to answer to Guruji for their actions just as i will and lieave them to it, Me as someone who was not born to Sikhi but adopted Sikhi will do my best to live and identify my self as a Singh as you as an individual Sikh not only represent your self as a Sikh but you also represent the entire Sikh nation and religion and i am for want of a better word proud to identify myself as a Sikh and a bearded turbaned Punjabi Sikh stands out in a crowd want you are a 6 foot plus 350 pound bearded turbaned Irishman like me you really stand out

First things first, you don't love your parents for the approval of your 'siblings' or 'relatives'. You love them because you love them. Similarly you don't keep hair for acceptance from Panth, you keep them for they have been gifted to you by Guru Himself. Guru said that those who call themselves My Sikhs and Love Me, will keep their hair uncut. You just live up to that.

Isn't hair an ideal of Sikhi? Do you just love ideals or do you work towards them?

Hair is nothing external, Hair is part of you. After millions of years of evolution from monkey to human, we have lost our tails but kept thick hair on our head. Why? Because hair supports the high voltage neutral activity that goes on in our brain. It is not with us by chance!

You clean yourself for your mental peace. But you dress yourself to fit in the society. Guru is asking you to keep your hair not to fit in but for your peace.

What do I feel about people without hair? I pity them just like I pity myself for not listening to Guru and acting under the influence of Kaam (Lust), Krodh (Anger), Lobh (Greed), Moh (Attachment) and Ahankar (Ego). I see them wandering in this lifetime just like I am, when I don't get up for Amrit Vela. I don't see myself fit for part of Panj Piyare for giving someone Khande Ki Pahul, doing Akhand Paath or Kirtan. But I don't wish to do it to fit into definition of an Amritdhari. I do it for I promised Guru. And Jin Prem Kiyo Tin Hi Prabh Payo.

Guru has asked for Hair. If Guru comes to you and asks for something, will you be discouraged? Or jump with joy to do something for Guru?

People do so in their moment of weakness. They end up saying wrong words, rather than giving right advice.

Rest is up to you. It is your life and your way of living. Guru asks you not to cut hair. You may not or you might. Guru will surely find other way to convince you, so that you can go on your path of Sikhi without Hurdles and meet Him. But do you wish to wait more?

Waheguru ji ka Khalsa
Waheguru ji ki Fateh

So, who exactly is a Sikh? Should those who are not baptised with amrit not call themselves "Sikh" because they are not actually following what guru teaches?

Calkaur ji and Kanwaljit ji

If the only people allowed to call themselves Sikh were those people who follow Guru ji's teachings 100%, there would be very, very few people calling themselves Sikh indeed! Those following the essence of Sikhi in their hearts but not outwardly, well they couldn't call themselves Sikh. Similarly those who follow the outward show of Sikhi but don't follow the essence in their hearts, they couldn't call themselves Sikh either.

A Sikh is a student of Guru Sahib... student means they don't know everything yet. I think the term is fully applicable to anyone who is sincerely committed to Sikh faith, no matter where they are on the path. Only the individual really knows. They should be committed to growing on the path, and I personally believe that involves keeping kesh eventually. Everyone struggles with some aspect of discipline. I struggle with many! But I still call myself a Sikh because I have the intention of learning, moving forward and ultimately overcoming my shortfalls to be the kind of person who, if Guruji were to magically appear before me, he'd recognise me in my outward appearance and in the sincerity of my heart that I'm a Sikh. With Guruji's kirpa I will hopefully get there one day (with my fellow bhajis and bhenjis!).
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36344

I think the label of Khalsa would apply to those people who in their heart and outward appearance they are true Gursikhs but even they are rare in this world, with a lot of fake Khalsas running around looking like "real Sikhs" but really their hearts are full of the five vices.

On this topic, I was reading McAuliffe's first volume of The Sikh Religion last night and read this:

A Jogi went to visit the Guru and congratulate him on the large number of converts he had made. The Guru replied that he had few real Sikhs, as the Jogi himself would see. The Guru and the Jogi determined to proceed into the forest and there make trial of the Sikh converts who accompanied them in numbers. For this purpose the Guru assumed a terrible guise. He put on dirty, tattered clothes, took a knife in his hand, and proceeded with some hunting dogs into the forest, ostensibly in quest of game. On this several of his Sikhs fled. It was on that occasion the Guru composed the following:-- (go here to read the shabad and the full page of text)...

As the party proceeded they found the road covered with copper coins. Some Sikhs took them up and departed. Further on were found silver coins. Several Sikhs took up the silver coins and returned home. As the Guru's party proceeded further, they saw gold coins on the road. Several of the remaining Sikhs took up the gold coins and quickly vanished. Only the Jogi, two Sikhs, and the Guru's attendant Lahina now remained.

Even Guru Nanak realised there were many people who called themselves Sikhs, but weren't "true Sikhs". Not everyone "gets it" right away but to deny the sincere seeker the fellowship of Sikhs (and self-identification as one) I think is cruel.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36344

Hair is one of a number of things which make up the full Khalsa identity and you don't get there overnight.