Ok, I thought you were suggesting some sort of genetic superiority on part of the Sikhs, which is plainly not the case.

But I agree, kids should be raised as Sikhs, even if their parents are mixed. I see no problem with this, you live in the U.K., so like me you may have seen countless Muslims whose parents are of mixed races but are still raised up Islamically. So this is nothing new but a curious apathy has consumed many of our people.

I guess what I'm saying is that the nonSikh parent would have to accept that the kids be bought up as Sikh. But what about the countless (and there are many!) people from Sikh descent (pure breeds as you imply) who don't even bother to teach their kids anything about their roots. When I first went to Uni I was shocked to meet countless Sikhs with kesh who didn't even have the basic knowledge of their faith - they couldn't even name the 10 Gurus for instance and would say dumb stuff like it is against Sikhism to eat beef.

What I've noticed is that other members of other faiths make sure that their partners convert to their faith prior to marriage (hence the stupid moves of many loved up Sikh girls). Sikh men will have to do the same sooner or later. But this is cool because Sikhism is a nice faith and very few people would disagree with its fundamentals.

no
but u doing a sin by asking this question,go ahead do what u want to do

How is asking the question a sin?

What is this, the thought Taliban?

Dal singh ji you dont have any sense of humor
Go Watch FAWLTY TOWER
Best British Humor

I prefer Life of Brian myself...lol

Hi,

I am Vasudevan.Srinivasan a hindu from the south. I was searching the itnernet about the life and times of Guru Gobind Singh, when I chanced upon this forum.

There are a few mis-conceptions that I thought I should clear esp.. about hinduism.

Hinduism isnt monolithic (reference to someone who spoke about paap and punya).. In essense there are many like me who are hindus but dont believe in paap and punya. Atleast in the linear fashion of how after we die an account of our paaap and punya would determine hell or heaven.

Thats the amar chitra katha view of hindus. Some do conform to that view (esp in Garuda puranam).. but thats not the general view. The most accepted view of sin is as karma. Again karma means action and it can be good and bad. For the freedom of the soul from the trappings of maya, karma is undesirable. Be it good or bad. Therefore Sin is purely a concept of semtic relegions. Where there was a need to orgainse a society under one set of values.

Is there anything atall thats sinful ? Actions beget actions and reactions. Enlightened minds like the gurus and saints could see beyond their current lives into their past and determine for themselves how they had to act and conduct themselves. Those who are ignorant, would always need an external guide.

Thus sin is a product of maya. And as long as we are subject to maya (means ruled by sinfullness of actions) then salvation would be denied. Because we would still be trapped under the burden of maya.

Salvation isnt a concious goal, but an unstopable reality. Someone posted this poser, "if we do things for salvation arent we just selfish ?" Each soul seeks the universe like water seeks the sea. Thats the nature of soul. Its not a concious goal or a heartfelt desire. And you cant craft your way through it. When a person doesent apply his concious thought and mind and partakes in the joy of existence salvation is inevitable.

Ofcourse I am not talking from the point of view of Sikh philosophy but just philosopy in general.

But its really interesting forum. Would really appreciate if someone can point to me a good internet resource for reading the Guru Granth sahib in Gurmukhi and with an english translation..

Thanks in advance

vasu

Gurfateh

Appa Vasu Vanakkam(if yourself are from Tamil Nadu) or else Namaskaram.

Das will not go out of topic but was compelled to say a few words for your inputs.

1st,Hinduism is more secular thing realted to India.There is no faith called Hinduism.hindu means Indian and by this Tamil Brahmin in Sri Lanka can not be Hindu.

Faith which you talk about is Sanatan Dharma and as Sikh,we are the true followers of the same.

coming to Karmic concpet.Das rfecomends you to read 14th Chapter of Holy Gita.Lord Krishna was more a Sikh then a Hindu as he lived life beyond three qualites or Tri Gunas.So non Karma,we can not do good or bad but what God(Virat rupa of Lord Krishna) makes us to do happen.All is mammon but God only is true(That what means Sat Sri Akal/Truth is eternal).That Virat Rupa has no sinlge form or Rupa but all Rupas or forms are of that.That God is eternal/Akal and another name for same is Sanatan.


Then to have more info visit www.srigranth.org and Sri Dasam Granth Sahib also.

I agree the overall principle that hinduism is a collection of multitude of faiths defined by geography rathar than just one philosophy, or morality or value system as understood by many.

However geography alone isnt a rule. Hinduism is also defined by traditions, belief in gods, belief in rituals and some just belief. It just happened that a few linear thinking people (contrary to lateral thinkers) like MaxMuller chose to use geography as a way to define who a hindu is.

Hence to confine hinduism to just India is incorrect. There are hindus in bali, srilanka, fiji, west indies, africa and now in the new world.

I think becoming a hindu is plainly identifying yourself with the way of life. without meaning to usurp the identity of sikhs, I find that Sikh philosophy in some of its aspects closer to some of the hindu philosophies than those within the hindu philosophy.

Let me explain. There is a atheist sect within hinduism following sage nihili.. These sects dont believe in existence of god or one super power which guides the life of all things living. They call themselves hindu.

Contrarily, within hindus there are sects in bengalis who dont believe in vedas or dont recogonise their primacy. They follow the teaching of upanishads. They also eat beef traditionally and not because of muslim influence or western colonial influence.

The kali and agora tradition (closer to my belief believes in tantric rituals towards spirituality). They are also hindu in nature. Unfortunately, brahminic domination of philiosophical space is so overwhelming, many hindu traditions within have become almost extinct. Shankara's Adwaitha spelt the death knell to tantra.

I think the cultural aspect thats common between all eastern relegions can not be denied esp when regards to cyclics like rebirth, karma, dharma, maya, rna. Be it budhism, hinduism, jain, Sikhism. Its different from the linear concepts of sin, confession, judgement day, god.

Hust historically speaking even islam has transformed and absorbed many of the asian values. Thats why you see many islamic sects like shias, sunnis, ahmedias, bhoras all reinterpretting islam in different cultural settings relevant to the region.

christianity is however not interpretted in a local cultural setting. Christianity revolves around the western view of the world. Even the early asian christian orders like the syrrian christians have been severely overrun, their culture lost and their view of the christ's teaching totally erased. Its the greek, latin, european and now the American view of christianity thats propogated.

Philosophically, the teachings of the Sikh guru are more acceptable and maybe more relevant to most Indians. Maybe more of us follow his teachings along with the idol worship, fire rituals and other ritualistic traditions we are used to. Maybe some of us are not ordained sikhs as per the khalsa tradition.

Therefore the fear that Sikhism would become extinct is unfounded. Budhist teachings dint become extinct even though budhism as an identity floundered.

If a Sikh celebrates janmaashtami and if a punjabhi hindu makes his first son as a Sikh there is no really a dilution of relegious fervor. In fact, I wouldnt think a hindu converting to a Sikh as a erosion on hinduism. Its just a positive transformation. I wouldnt say the same for christianity. Its nearly impossible to live as an equal within the church when all the time you see god portrayed as a blonde hair, blue eyed, male.

ofcourse.. I am the culprit who digressed... but somehow I felt inspired.

I may be a tamil brahmin, but I really like Sikh teachings.

vasu..

Reply to two questions.

There is no restriction for sikhs to get marry with any race human being or colors as long as one is suitablle to get mary each other to lead their truthful life and understandings. It has been always recommended that it is more comfortable and understanding for the couple to understand each others way of life .They can get mixed up easly with each others and families's tradiditions.

Reference to the name given to us Hindu is totally related to once flourished Indu Velly civilisation until the Arayan came from Pershia and pushed lots of people people living in that Indus Velly to south India called now Tamil nadeau. They were all called Indu or hindu from poershisan words.

Then manu came and made , four devision of the people to spilt the society in to four purely on administerative point of view."HOW TO CONTROL THE SOCIETY"
Because of the illitracy and faith in moon ,sun,*****,the verginity ,cow,statues and what not until Guru Nanak ji came and said "No" to all these retual but one God . God can not be supposed or created,or explained as we are being little ray of the Almighty shining source.Period . Gurugranth sahib teaching us how to live a truthful life and remeber His name daily for thanks for His unlimited blessings.
There is nothing more to it. All the rest has been created by a man to suit to his own choices to have its own group secured by providing false creations or what suited the best to them.Rest is history what and how it happened in the past until today.

"TRUTH IS HIGHEST VERTU AND HIGHRE IS STILL TRUTHFUL LIVING":Guru Nanak Dev ji/

__________________
jas

No matter what caste or kind of soul mate you wish, it depends on your psyche or personal choice. If one is borne to a Sikh family, certainly he or she will opt for a Sikh partner. Inter-caste marriages do not go long, it is a wide known fact.

waheguru ji ka khalsa
waheguru ji ki fateh

with regards
gitika kaur{sggsji daughter}

__________________
i am a learner and will always be a learner