Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa! Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh!!
I come from a family of Bandai Sikhs who came to Bombay after Partition in 1947. Growing up in the metropolis I have had the chance to meet and intermingle with Keshadhari Sikhs who have adopted practices that are shunned upon and clean shaven Sehajdhari individuals who recite the Japji, Rehiras and Kirtan Sohila religiously and bow their heads only to Guru Granth Sahib. After emigrating to the US almost three decades ago - I have run into many individuals who are disillusioned with their own faith and want to learn more about Sikhi but are hesitant to accept the tenets of the Khalsa. Even in some local Gurdwaras - only Keshdhari individuals are allowed into management. Is this fair?
The way I personally see it - choosing to be a Khalsa - yes it a personal choice that every one makes - it cannot be foisted or forced - brings one the special grace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj - "Haun Khalse Kao, Khalsa Mero" and yet I feel that accepting the Sehajdhari individuals will in the long run lead to the Quam increasing in size and importance as the message spreads. Having done a bit of comparative religion study - outside of Sanatan Dharma and Vedanta - Sikhism is the only religion that is straightforward and endeavors to bring each individual along without any exclusions.
Let us posit a hypothetical scenario - if a thousand individuals want to chant Waheguru and learn about Japji and Jaap but are hesitant to embrace the tenets of Khalsa - should we turn them away? Should it be all or nothing?
I would like respectful comments preferably backed up by why the individual is reasoning thus - not mere rants or outbursts
I come from a family of Bandai Sikhs who came to Bombay after Partition in 1947. Growing up in the metropolis I have had the chance to meet and intermingle with Keshadhari Sikhs who have adopted practices that are shunned upon and clean shaven Sehajdhari individuals who recite the Japji, Rehiras and Kirtan Sohila religiously and bow their heads only to Guru Granth Sahib. After emigrating to the US almost three decades ago - I have run into many individuals who are disillusioned with their own faith and want to learn more about Sikhi but are hesitant to accept the tenets of the Khalsa. Even in some local Gurdwaras - only Keshdhari individuals are allowed into management. Is this fair?
The way I personally see it - choosing to be a Khalsa - yes it a personal choice that every one makes - it cannot be foisted or forced - brings one the special grace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj - "Haun Khalse Kao, Khalsa Mero" and yet I feel that accepting the Sehajdhari individuals will in the long run lead to the Quam increasing in size and importance as the message spreads. Having done a bit of comparative religion study - outside of Sanatan Dharma and Vedanta - Sikhism is the only religion that is straightforward and endeavors to bring each individual along without any exclusions.
Let us posit a hypothetical scenario - if a thousand individuals want to chant Waheguru and learn about Japji and Jaap but are hesitant to embrace the tenets of Khalsa - should we turn them away? Should it be all or nothing?
I would like respectful comments preferably backed up by why the individual is reasoning thus - not mere rants or outbursts