Originally posted by : drkhalsa
In recent years young Sikhs are been told by certain individuals at universities, colleges and sikh camps that taking Amrit (Khande-di-Pahul) is not necessary for all Sikhs. Some people who preach this nonsense there go as far as to say that those who have taken Amrit are full of ego, continue to practice falsehood and are stuck in a ‘boring’ way of life. However, are these people preaching the message of Guru Ji, or are they preaching whatever their mind think is correct (i.e. manmat)?
According to the Panthic Sikh Rehat Maryada, (Section I, Chapter I, Article I) a Sikh is defined as:
Any human being who faithfully believes in:
i. One Immortal Being,
ii. Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Sahib to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib,
iii. The Guru Granth Sahib,
iv. The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus and v. the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a Sikh.
Through the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, ‘Khande Pahul da Amrit’ a Sikh person becomes initiated and makes a commitment of mind, body, wealth, life and allegiance only to Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Guru Granth Sahib Ji and to no one else. Taking Amrit and living the disciplined Sikh life is an act of love and dedication, which every Sikh should strive for if they consider the Ten Guru Sahibaans and Guru Granth Sahib as their Guru. On a practical level Guru Gobind Singh Ji ensured that no one is left deluded to think that Amrit is not for everyone. Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself requested the Panj Piaare to bestow upon him the gift of Amrit.
"To drink the Ambrosial Nectar of the Khanda (Amrit) is the primary instruction for the Sikh. He who abandons all other initiations is truly a great Sikh."
(Rehatnama Bhai Desa Singh)
"The angelic beings and the silent sages search for Amrit, the Ambrosial Nectar; this Amrit is obtained from the Guru. This Amrit is obtained, when the Guru grants His Grace. He enshrines the True Lord within the mind. All living beings and creatures were created by You. Only some come to see the Guru and seek His blessing. Their greed, avarice and egotism are dispelled and the True Guru seems sweet. Says Nanak, those with whom Vaheguru is pleased, obtain the Amrit, through the Guru. ||13||" (Ang 918, SGGS)
"I surrender my mind. I surrender my whole body. I surrender all my lands. I surrender my head to that beloved friend who brings me news of Waheguru. I have offered my head to the Guru, the most exalted. He has shown me that Waheguru is with me. In an instant, all suffering is removed. I have obtained all my mind's desires. Day and night, the soul-bride makes merry and all her anxieties are erased. Prays Nanak, I have met the Husband Lord of my longing. ||3||" (Ang 247. SGGS)
A Sikh is he or she who has a ‘nischaa’ or firm faith and belief in the ‘khande di pahul’or the baptism bequeathed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Therefore, a Sikh does not necessarily have to be Amritdhari, however, a Sikh is he or she who ‘faithfully believes’ in Amrit. As a result every Sikh should be committed to the aim of taking Amrit in their lifetime and becoming a fully fledged member of the Guru’s family known as the ‘Khalsa’. According to the Panthic Rehat Maryada, the Guru Khalsa Panth has clarified that you cannot claim to be a Sikh and (i)not faithfully believe in Amrit, (ii) consider Amrit as optional requirement of a Sikh, and (iii) not ever aim or work towards the goal of taking Amrit.
Gurmukh Singh can be reached at gurmukh.singh@panthic.org
In recent years young Sikhs are been told by certain individuals at universities, colleges and sikh camps that taking Amrit (Khande-di-Pahul) is not necessary for all Sikhs. Some people who preach this nonsense there go as far as to say that those who have taken Amrit are full of ego, continue to practice falsehood and are stuck in a ‘boring’ way of life. However, are these people preaching the message of Guru Ji, or are they preaching whatever their mind think is correct (i.e. manmat)?
According to the Panthic Sikh Rehat Maryada, (Section I, Chapter I, Article I) a Sikh is defined as:
Any human being who faithfully believes in:
i. One Immortal Being,
ii. Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Sahib to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib,
iii. The Guru Granth Sahib,
iv. The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus and v. the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a Sikh.
Through the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, ‘Khande Pahul da Amrit’ a Sikh person becomes initiated and makes a commitment of mind, body, wealth, life and allegiance only to Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Guru Granth Sahib Ji and to no one else. Taking Amrit and living the disciplined Sikh life is an act of love and dedication, which every Sikh should strive for if they consider the Ten Guru Sahibaans and Guru Granth Sahib as their Guru. On a practical level Guru Gobind Singh Ji ensured that no one is left deluded to think that Amrit is not for everyone. Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself requested the Panj Piaare to bestow upon him the gift of Amrit.
"To drink the Ambrosial Nectar of the Khanda (Amrit) is the primary instruction for the Sikh. He who abandons all other initiations is truly a great Sikh."
(Rehatnama Bhai Desa Singh)
"The angelic beings and the silent sages search for Amrit, the Ambrosial Nectar; this Amrit is obtained from the Guru. This Amrit is obtained, when the Guru grants His Grace. He enshrines the True Lord within the mind. All living beings and creatures were created by You. Only some come to see the Guru and seek His blessing. Their greed, avarice and egotism are dispelled and the True Guru seems sweet. Says Nanak, those with whom Vaheguru is pleased, obtain the Amrit, through the Guru. ||13||" (Ang 918, SGGS)
"I surrender my mind. I surrender my whole body. I surrender all my lands. I surrender my head to that beloved friend who brings me news of Waheguru. I have offered my head to the Guru, the most exalted. He has shown me that Waheguru is with me. In an instant, all suffering is removed. I have obtained all my mind's desires. Day and night, the soul-bride makes merry and all her anxieties are erased. Prays Nanak, I have met the Husband Lord of my longing. ||3||" (Ang 247. SGGS)
A Sikh is he or she who has a ‘nischaa’ or firm faith and belief in the ‘khande di pahul’or the baptism bequeathed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Therefore, a Sikh does not necessarily have to be Amritdhari, however, a Sikh is he or she who ‘faithfully believes’ in Amrit. As a result every Sikh should be committed to the aim of taking Amrit in their lifetime and becoming a fully fledged member of the Guru’s family known as the ‘Khalsa’. According to the Panthic Rehat Maryada, the Guru Khalsa Panth has clarified that you cannot claim to be a Sikh and (i)not faithfully believe in Amrit, (ii) consider Amrit as optional requirement of a Sikh, and (iii) not ever aim or work towards the goal of taking Amrit.
Gurmukh Singh can be reached at gurmukh.singh@panthic.org