Langar And Its Place In Today's Gurdwara

[sardaul]

Sat Sri Akal to everybody on the net, I'm very pleased to read the article about Langer, it should be simple as it's written in historical books and for needy. Now a days it's become a function not to guru ji's principles.
On the net there are very intelligent people who have explained it right.
Thanks for the say.
Sardaul

 

[Tejwant Singh]

Langar is an expensive affair. It may cost $1000 or more to have one time langar on a given sunday. It is too much for the loving sikh families who love IK ONG KAAR but donot hv enough means to finance a langar although having the desire to do so and hence feel left out.The first thing to be changed is that Langar should be a collective offering of 5 families( Symbolically Panj Pyaras) and people from all different hues, creeds and faiths should be invited to partake in it so that they can also understand the sikhi spirit of brotherhood of mankind.


The original idea of Langar was to offer the meals to the needy before the diwaan so that the seeker may not be hungry while participating as Sadh Sangat, as we all know that empty tummies donot get filled with 'soul' food. Langar should be adapted to the present needs and the present needs are to serve the poor like Soup Kitchens opened by other religious organisations in the world over. We sikhs are wasting a great opportunity to serve others by serving ourselves with the feasts cooked in desi ghee. We have the great gateway through langar to connect with people of other faiths and religions by showing them the true sikh spirit and hence creating gurmat footprints for coming sikh generations to follow in this universal goodness rather than making the langar hall as a fashion show and a social gathering. In order to do that we as sangat in unison should demand that from our respective gurdwara management committees.

We should also have Gurbani Vicaahar in english so that the non Punjabi speakers ( which includes our sikh youth) could appreciate its richness and foresight that Gurbani gives us as a springboard to become better.

May be a youth management committee will be able to do that while the elders sit crosselegged on thier high chairs patting themselves at the back for creating thier ego inflators.

Tejwant

 

[DragonKhanda]

This is also a way to preach sikh way of life to others.

Sat Sri Akal
Let us be clear that it is not our purpose, at all, to convert or preach to others, especially when they do not want to be. We are here to do seva for pthersm and to serve our brotherhood of mankind.

Before we invite others to our respective Gudwaras, I think we should learn not to treat them like outsiders. This will be extremely difficult for many people, who just cannot get out of the mold society and media have created for them. It takes a strong Sikh spirit to take a part of yourself, and open your heart to someone else, and be happy; to not let negative or depressed thoughts take hold of you.Our religion is to the brotherhood, not to religion. It is to human values. This Kalyug makes it especially difficult to put yourself/ your heart, even temporarily,, on the line, but for what other reason were we born as Guru's Sikhs?

And also, where should we post notices for 'free food' ? At the local community college? Find shelters, at low-income stores (aka Salvation Army)? how shoudl this be worded? We cannot control who will see it, and it is for this that we need to be ready emotionally to handle such a crowd which some Sangat I know will find objectionable. Some people treat Guru ghar as a kind of refuge, the one place they can go and fit in and never be discriminated against. Having other people some in may put them on the defensive, and this leads to them acting in a not so open manner, and the very people we invited to eat with us will take away a negative impression and message to anyone they meet.

Sat Sri Akal

 

[Lionchild]

Just to add to the thread...

It is very interesting when you hear about skirmishes in temples over chairs and etc, it appears that many people just worry about the small things in sikhi! With or without chairs, pads, or matts, underneath it all --- it's still a langer hall.

While many poeple try to keep to the gurus "ways" why is it then we are allowing electricity and other modern equipment on premises? It seems that poeple only care about the appearance, and not the underlying concept and form of the langer hall. Which should be used to feed the hungry and also serves as a meeting place for sikhs.

We should really just move on and focus our attention to other more important matters.

 

[spnadmin]

Lionchild ji

What a great surprise! Someone has bumped this thread and now after a long time we get to hear from you in virtual time and space. ....Good. I agree with your assessment. The purpose of lungar is to share the experience of the sangat before and after darbar sahib. Fpr Guru Amardas it emphasized the equality of all who sat down together to share food. A communion of the like-minded before sitting before the Guru.