I have not come across a proper Sikh for so long now.
Please do hang around the forum awhile and you will meet some wonderful inspirational Sikhs here as i have.
My definition of a proper Sikh is, one that lives by how the SGGS expresses.
true, but there is no improper or proper Sikh though. A Sikh is simply a Sikh like you stated - one who lives by the Hukam of Waheguru Ji.
If the case is agreed that a lot of Sikhs are spiritually dead, then the social thinking of Sikhs has no strong foundation and this is the result of the current state of affairs.
i would have to disagree here as Sikhi is a very intimate emotion that most not are comfortable demonstrating - and thus rightly so, as it is a very personal connection. Besides on what grounds or by what rights can one judge another? how can i judge you? how can i assume if you are spiritually alive or if i am am spiritually undead in the first place?.
Sikhi has never had any respect for numbers ever. Each and every time Sikhs have been outnumbered they have managed to overcome the odds. The strong foundation runs deep and is not affected by a few less or more of us because the pillars or the foundations that the Nanak's laid run deep, very deep.
There are so many inspirational Sikhs i meet everyday that i curse myself at times for having been so blind before. we have two converts working as sewadars in our Gurudwara and both have turned Amritdharis. Both south indian and no way previously connected to Sikhism, Punjab or the Nanak's - both inspire the local sangat tremendously. The faith they possess is enviable.
i once asked the bhaiji at our Gurudwara as to how does he find the insiprational on a daily basis to live in the Rehat and he told me that he was told at the Gurmukh school that his life would be meaningful if he could Inspire (not convert) at least Five sikhs to partake the Amrit and live in the Rehat.
There is this Bibiji who is overweight, old and has severe joint pains but is there in the Gurudwara even before twilight each day. a storm that was huge devastated our city but could not stop this bibji from her sewa. (Google - Hudhud storm) . In the midst of the rubble, chaos - she was still there with the Shabad on her lips.
There is this dhabha owner who without any naga (without being absent) for the last three years at least hums a shabad as he frets over amusingly over the decoration of the most beautiful flowers in the Gurudwara each morning. Lol, and we are still at the Gurudwara - is someone keeping count of the Sikhs / inspirational Sikhs we met so far already.
i could go on and on, point is - would it make you a better Sikh if there were more inspirational Sikhs?. No, in a way - it does not matter - if i cannot see inspirational Sikhs it only means i do not wish to get inspired. on second thoughts is the list of inspiration from the Ten Nanak's, Shabazyade, Shaeeds, Bhaghats, endless others not enough?. Just one Guru Gobind Singh Ji seems overwhelming in inspiration to be brutally honest.
The current state of affairs to me is a sad reflection of my shortcomings- of myself , not you or the others. yes - i am alone responsible for it. Because if i can allow myself to get shamelessly inspired i must use the inspiration to live in the rehat without faltering. Where there is the Khalsa (even one - does not matter) there is nothing but chardi kala.
There were a lot of pretenders and fake followers during the Ten Nanak's reign too - it was never an ideal world and sadly it is the same now. But do we we waste time on the pretenders or fakes of the old - no. So what makes the Un-inspiring clan so important now?.
Just ignore them like we ought to and instead judge and correct ourselves. May we Live in the Rehat and inspire at least five others like the Bhaiji believes he should do. Let us remind ourselves that there was Bhai Kanhaiya ji who saw Nanak in the enemy too - how can we then not see the Akaal in a Sikh?.
on a lighter note:
- count the number of black Suv's that you come across today
- do this for a week and note the number each day - believe me it will increase each day
(the number of Suv's probably remain the same but you get better at spotting - the reason for the increase)
- next week replace the Suv's with Good people, kind souls, inspirational souls
(believe me the number will increase each day too)
so, let us inspire and get inspired. If the world is bad its because we make it so, lets clean up the mess - its time we do. if i were good, you would see my goodness and be good too. if we were both good - how could the state of affairs be bad?. i will therefore strive to be good and that is not tough too. I just need to be a Sikh, feel like a Sikh, live like a Sikh....
Sorry for the long post Theologian Ji.. just some random reflection on your post.