Curious to see how you view the 5 K's. Some people I have talked to ascribe great spiritual significance to each one, but when it come to utility, there is nothing. For example, almost all of the kirpans I have seen coming from India are not sharp at all. They're basically a thin strip of metal that has been stamped out in the shape of a kirpan. It's less functional than a butter knife.
What is the point of wearing such a kirpan? I guess if you viewed it only symbolically, you wouldn't see a problem. By that argument, though, you would have no problem wearing a necklace with a small half-inch plastic shaped kirpan on it (after all, it's just the symbol that's important, right?).
On the other hand, looking at it purely from a utilitarian perspective, the kangha kept in the hair ensures you always have a means to comb your hair and keep it tidy, no matter where you are. The kachhera preserve your modesty, etc, etc.
The way I see it: As tools, these 5 K's aid you in living the Gursikhi jeevan/lifestyle, but they in and of themselves don't make you any more or less of anything. It's like a person who keeps their hair but goes around getting drunk and passed out in bars, etc. The short-sighted focus from well-meaning folks has resulted in a myopic focus on the instruments instead of the lifestyle.
[AoG]
What is the point of wearing such a kirpan? I guess if you viewed it only symbolically, you wouldn't see a problem. By that argument, though, you would have no problem wearing a necklace with a small half-inch plastic shaped kirpan on it (after all, it's just the symbol that's important, right?).
On the other hand, looking at it purely from a utilitarian perspective, the kangha kept in the hair ensures you always have a means to comb your hair and keep it tidy, no matter where you are. The kachhera preserve your modesty, etc, etc.
The way I see it: As tools, these 5 K's aid you in living the Gursikhi jeevan/lifestyle, but they in and of themselves don't make you any more or less of anything. It's like a person who keeps their hair but goes around getting drunk and passed out in bars, etc. The short-sighted focus from well-meaning folks has resulted in a myopic focus on the instruments instead of the lifestyle.
[AoG]