Mere Sikhi

Mai Harinder Kaur · Feb 1, 2010

Some years ago, I read a book called Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. In it, he endeavored to answer the question, "After all the nonessentials are deleted, what must one believe to be a Christian"? Being a Christian, he was, of course, also trying to convince his readers to join his faith. We are not concerned with that, of course.

All this controversy about Darshan Singh has gotten me asking myself this very basic question. If we strip all the nonessentials off, what must one believe and/or do to be a Sikh?

I would start with accepting the ten Nanaks and their teachings and Shri Guru Granth Sahib Maharaj ji as our Eternal Guru. Even that leaves me asking questions. What does it mean to accept our ten human Gurus and now SGGS ji?

At first I was going to add "living according to the Sikh Rehat Maryada," but that immediately falls short. There are other Rehat Maryadas, such as the Gurmat Rehat Maryada (Damdami Takhsal), and of course, all of these (I think) are open to revision. Certainly, I would like to see some changes to the SRM, which I use as my blueprint of the Sikh life.

What can we all agree on (if anything) that a person must accept/do in order to have the right to call her/himself a Sikh?

Can we please discuss this?

What is "Mere Sikhi"? What is our faith/religion/way of life when stripped of everything that is not essential?

Rupinder.Singh · Feb 1, 2010

Dear Mai Harinder Kaur Ji,

I hope I am able to see these questions from your perspective.

I am not trying to answer but just sharing what my thoughts are.

For me religion/faith/way of life should guide individuals towards being a true human being. It is impossible for a common individual to define the living of a true human being. Being True Human being is an ongoing process which only comes through practice, practice and only practice.

Being "Mere Sikh" is not easy to achieve too, coz being "mere Sikh" is another name for being true Human being. Now most of us easily know what it takes to be a true Human Being, they also know what reflects being true human being, but problem stays when we ignore that knowledge and continue doing what we like to do according to 'Manmatt-Human Nature'.

We all know SGGS is wealth of knowledge, it is "Shabad Guru", and it is in written form, and anything written has to be read. Just like a common kid cant be scholar mere by looking at a a book from far, a Common man cant be a Sikh just by "Matha Tek" in front of SSGS

Sikhi is not a Group activity, Sikhi is an individual activity, it starts from the core of the inner-self, without working on that inner-core and claiming being Sikh is also being ignorant.

Now what are the Sikh practices

1. Practicing to Help the needy
2. Practicing to Stand against injustice
3. Practicing being truly Humble
4. Practicing being logical and transparent
5. Practicing being Aware and alert
6. Practicing being True
7. Practicing being Honest
8. Practicing not to fall in "Blind Faith" rituals
8. and the list goes on and on and on....

The complete list is in SGGS..

In my view this is mere Sikhi......which expands as we read, understand and practice SGGS with our every breath of our life.....Everything else is Human Nature...

Please.. share your views too...I would like to know what you know....:yes:

Thanks

seeker3k · Apr 28, 2010

Rupinder.Singh said:
Dear Mai Harinder Kaur Ji,

I hope I am able to see these questions from your perspective.

I am not trying to answer but just sharing what my thoughts are.

For me religion/faith/way of life should guide individuals towards being a true human being. It is impossible for a common individual to define the living of a true human being. Being True Human being is an ongoing process which only comes through practice, practice and only practice.

Being "Mere Sikh" is not easy to achieve too, coz being "mere Sikh" is another name for being true Human being. Now most of us easily know what it takes to be a true Human Being, they also know what reflects being true human being, but problem stays when we ignore that knowledge and continue doing what we like to do according to 'Manmatt-Human Nature'.

We all know SGGS is wealth of knowledge, it is "Shabad Guru", and it is in written form, and anything written has to be read. Just like a common kid cant be scholar mere by looking at a a book from far, a Common man cant be a Sikh just by "Matha Tek" in front of SSGS

Sikhi is not a Group activity, Sikhi is an individual activity, it starts from the core of the inner-self, without working on that inner-core and claiming being Sikh is also being ignorant.

Now what are the Sikh practices

1. Practicing to Help the needy
2. Practicing to Stand against injustice
3. Practicing being truly Humble
4. Practicing being logical and transparent
5. Practicing being Aware and alert
6. Practicing being True
7. Practicing being Honest
8. Practicing not to fall in "Blind Faith" rituals
8. and the list goes on and on and on....

The complete list is in SGGS..

In my view this is mere Sikhi......which expands as we read, understand and practice SGGS with our every breath of our life.....Everything else is Human Nature...

Please.. share your views too...I would like to know what you know....:yes:

Thanks

Dear Rupinder Singh ji,
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Your view are one of the best, Here I thought this forum was open discussion but what I see it is not. The moderators here are standing on guard with the daggers in their hand. They are ready to lynch you. They will jump on every article whether they have the answer or not. It should be left to the public. They should write how they feel. All I see about 6 moderators taking up the argument. I say argument because they make it argument not a discussion. At the same time they call ghost when Nanak argue with the sidhs.
The discussion about bani and life of the gurus are not allowed. I wonder why? Maybe they do not want to know the truth. You wrote 8 point out of many. Do you see any Sikhs practicing of them? The main one is “blind faith” which Nanak spend all his life trying to teach us not to fall for blind faith.
In SGGS all the gurus end the sloke by the name of Nanak. Yet in Dasam Granth non of the so called Gobind Sing’s bani end with Nanak’s name. Why did he brake away from the tradition? Gobibg Singh read the Granth’s bani he also read hi father’s bani. Yet he never used the name of Nanak, don’t that look strange? What really happened? Did Gobind wrote dasam granth? What 5 banis Gobind read at the timeof creating amrit? Were his banis were written by that time?
As far as the sidh goshat is concern, Is there any record by the sidhs that this argument had happened? Was this question n answer were written before that or was it written after the argument? It looks like Nanak wrote this when he came back after the argument. Was there any one who were writing as the questions n answers were being asked?
There are countless books and videos are made to prove that Jesus never existed. Yet we don’t see Christian attaching the authors. Try asking question about the bani be prepare to hire body guard that for sure you will be lynched.
I have heard in 50 to 70’s in the gurdwaras bhai ji talked against ram krishan and condemn the Hinduism openly. Now when people are asking the questions about the guru and bani one who asked is called traitor. When these so called guardians of Sikhism have no answer they will do any thing to defend their blind faith. This is what is going on in <?xml::

ffice:smarttags" /><st1

lace w:st="on">Punjab now. Some people are asking questions like why gurus had more then one wife? What really happened after Nanak’s death and why the so called gadi was kept in Amardas’s family? The minister of <st1

lace w:st="on">Punjab government and the jathedars are going after the people who are asking this question. Even here when one ask direct question no of the moderators reply.
Keep up the good work to wake up the public.
Seeker3k

spnadmin · Apr 28, 2010

seekr3k ji

Yes you are correct. The moderators are on guard. That is what they are for. There are many ways that a forum can descend into verbal chaos, and even laws can be broken. One of the reasons we exist is to enforce forum rules to keep discussions on track and interactions civilized enough so that discussions rather than insults are the words of the day.

What you have written above is not on the subject of this thread. The topic is "Mere Sikhi" and the thread is not an opportunity for anyone to vent frustrations with moderation. We are more lenient than most Sikh forums, and more disciplined than a site like Topix.

Please return to the topic. Any further digressions will be deleted. Thank you.

gursikhi.jeevan · Apr 28, 2010

"Meri Sikhi": Hmmmmmm I actually had to take time to think for a while. I call myself a Sikh but how am I a Sikh and what does Sikhi mean to me.

gursikhi.jeevan · Apr 28, 2010

Every 1s views of their relationship to God and their religion varies by their knowledge. The Sikhi I follow and will always follow is the one taught by our 10 guru's and SGGS Ji. Our SGGS Ji is a living guru and within it is our Sikhi.

No one can achieve Sikhi by calling themselves a Sikh. Each one of us have to earn it. Meri Sikhi mera jeevan aa jo assi apne gurus di teaching's nu follow karke earn karde aa.

Astroboy · Apr 29, 2010

If we strip all the nonessentials off, what must one believe and/or do to be a Sikh?

A Sikh is supposed to learn from all the encounters which one faces in life.
The Guru gives us lessons on everything in life.
For e.g. if you were engrossed in your profession as a goldsmith, the lesson:-

<table cellspacing="5"><tbody><tr><td>ਜਤੁ ਪਾਹਾਰਾ ਧੀਰਜੁ ਸੁਨਿਆਰੁ ॥
जतु पाहारा धीरजु सुनिआरु ॥
Jaṯ pāhārā ḏẖīraj suni▫ār.
Let self-control be the furnace, and patience the goldsmith.

</td></tr> <tr><td> ਅਹਰਣਿ ਮਤਿ ਵੇਦੁ ਹਥੀਆਰੁ ॥
अहरणि मति वेदु हथीआरु ॥
Ahraṇ maṯ veḏ hathī▫ār.
Let understanding be the anvil, and spiritual wisdom the tools.

</td></tr> <tr><td> ਭਉ ਖਲਾ ਅਗਨਿ ਤਪ ਤਾਉ ॥
भउ खला अगनि तप ताउ ॥
Bẖa▫o kẖalā agan ṯap ṯā▫o.
With the Fear of God as the bellows, fan the flames of tapa, the body's inner heat.

</td></tr> <tr><td> ਭਾਂਡਾ ਭਾਉ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਤਿਤੁ ਢਾਲਿ ॥
भांडा भाउ अम्रितु तितु ढालि ॥
Bẖāŉdā bẖā▫o amriṯ ṯiṯ dẖāl.
In the crucible of love, melt the Nectar of the Name,

</td></tr> <tr><td> ਘੜੀਐ ਸਬਦੁ ਸਚੀ ਟਕਸਾਲ ॥
घड़ीऐ सबदु सची टकसाल ॥
Gẖaṛī▫ai sabaḏ sacẖī taksāl.
and mint the True Coin of the Shabad, the Word of God.

</td></tr> <tr><td> ਜਿਨ ਕਉ ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰਮੁ ਤਿਨ ਕਾਰ ॥
जिन कउ नदरि करमु तिन कार ॥
Jin ka▫o naḏar karam ṯin kār.
Such is the karma of those upon whom He has cast His Glance of Grace.

</td></tr> <tr><td> ਨਾਨਕ ਨਦਰੀ ਨਦਰਿ ਨਿਹਾਲ ॥੩੮॥
नानक नदरी नदरि निहाल ॥३८॥
Nānak naḏrī naḏar nihāl. ||38||
O Nanak, the Merciful Lord, by His Grace, uplifts and exalts them. ||38||
</td></tr></tbody></table>

wizesikh · Apr 29, 2010

Mere Sikhi
When we love someone we call them My Love
Whatever we hold dear to us we add the word ME or Mere to it.

If you strip it down its not my sikhi at all. The person we tend to Love and call MY
is never ours to begin with. Instead we apply our own thoughts and emotions and make him or her ours.

When you strip away all the emotions and all of your implied thoughts.. it comes down to:

Teri Sikhi, - Because the Sikh way of life was not created by us but was shown to us by the Guru.

so the real question is, how did you apply Guru's Sikhi on yourself? and how will you continue to apply it?

-WizeSikh

spnadmin · Apr 29, 2010

wisesikh ji

I love your answer. This is only part of what we are given by our Gurus. One little glimpse into the endless resources that the Great Giver gives to you and to me and to all of us. And of course there is nothing asked by Him, because He already creates everything, everything is under His Hukam, and He is the Giver of All.

Perhaps Mere Sikhi is that effort we make when seek to uncover within ourselves "What is that offering?"

<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="98%"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="ggs">ਆਖਹਿ ਮੰਗਹਿ ਦੇਹਿ ਦੇਹਿ ਦਾਤਿ ਕਰੇ ਦਾਤਾਰੁ ॥
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="subhead">aakhehi mangehi dhaehi dhaehi dhaath karae dhaathaar ||
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="shlok">People beg and pray, ""Give to us, give to us"", and the Great Giver gives His Gifts.
</td></tr><tr><td class="rmenuheader">

</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="ggs">ਫੇਰਿ ਕਿ ਅਗੈ ਰਖੀਐ ਜਿਤੁ ਦਿਸੈ ਦਰਬਾਰੁ ॥
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="subhead">faer k agai rakheeai jith dhisai dharabaar ||
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="shlok">So what offering can we place before Him, by which we might see the Darbaar of His Court?</td></tr></tbody></table>
P/S by was of moderation, that the word "Mere" in the title is the English word that means the smallest, or the slightest, or the most basic. A few of us have thought "mere" was a punjabi word or that it was an alternative spelling of "miri."

The title asks, What is Sikhi in its simplest and most basic sense? :happykaur:

amrit.saggu · Apr 29, 2010

seeker3k said:
Dear Rupinder Singh ji,
fficeffice" />
Your view are one of the best, Here I thought this forum was open discussion but what I see it is not. The moderators here are standing on guard with the daggers in their hand. They are ready to lynch you. They will jump on every article whether they have the answer or not. It should be left to the public. They should write how they feel. All I see about 6 moderators taking up the argument. I say argument because they make it argument not a discussion. At the same time they call ghost when Nanak argue with the sidhs.
The discussion about bani and life of the gurus are not allowed. I wonder why? Maybe they do not want to know the truth. You wrote 8 point out of many. Do you see any Sikhs practicing of them? The main one is “blind faith” which Nanak spend all his life trying to teach us not to fall for blind faith.
In SGGS all the gurus end the sloke by the name of Nanak. Yet in Dasam Granth non of the so called Gobind Sing’s bani end with Nanak’s name. Why did he brake away from the tradition? Gobibg Singh read the Granth’s bani he also read hi father’s bani. Yet he never used the name of Nanak, don’t that look strange? What really happened? Did Gobind wrote dasam granth? What 5 banis Gobind read at the timeof creating amrit? Were his banis were written by that time?
As far as the sidh goshat is concern, Is there any record by the sidhs that this argument had happened? Was this question n answer were written before that or was it written after the argument? It looks like Nanak wrote this when he came back after the argument. Was there any one who were writing as the questions n answers were being asked?
There are countless books and videos are made to prove that Jesus never existed. Yet we don’t see Christian attaching the authors. Try asking question about the bani be prepare to hire body guard that for sure you will be lynched.
I have heard in 50 to 70’s in the gurdwaras bhai ji talked against ram krishan and condemn the Hinduism openly. Now when people are asking the questions about the guru and bani one who asked is called traitor. When these so called guardians of Sikhism have no answer they will do any thing to defend their blind faith. This is what is going on in ffice:smarttags" /><st1lace w:st="on">Punjab now. Some people are asking questions like why gurus had more then one wife? What really happened after Nanak’s death and why the so called gadi was kept in Amardas’s family? The minister of <st1lace w:st="on">Punjab government and the jathedars are going after the people who are asking this question. Even here when one ask direct question no of the moderators reply.
Keep up the good work to wake up the public.
Seeker3k

What is it to be a Sikh? Rupinder Singh has given a wonderful response and I believe there is no other. Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the way of life of a Sikh. To be a Sikh is to be a True Human being. People may choose to follow maryada's written by others, but the true Sikh Rehat is written in Guru Granth Sahib Ji as clear as crystal. Make the Guru your best friend and nothing else in this world will matter. This devotion has to be true, and not just so you can tell the rest of the world that you are a Sikh. This devotion has to be one blessed by Gods grace, and not your own will. This devotion is what makes one a Sikh. The true devotion to Naam can only come by Gods mercy on a soul-bride. We have an entire community who claims to be Sikhs, but unless one is walking the path through practice and constant self analysis/awareness we are not truly Sikhs. This is exactly how the "Brahmin" which means "one who knows himself" turned into a caste position--just as the definition of Sikh is changing. Nobody is born a Sikh, one must walk the path of Guru ji.

As per your above controversy-triggering questions- no offense but I believe they are all irrelevant. The question is what does it take to be a Sikh. The answer is Devote oneself to Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Any arguments beyond this are useless and will lead to never ending debate. If you wish to participate, be my guest. I found myself debating things, but as i submitted to my Guru, I've forsaken my intellect..I am happy, and I have only one thirst in life, by Gods grace.

God bless
Amrit

wizesikh · Apr 29, 2010

Sikhi in its most basic sense is and always will be oneness. It is a vision to see the world & the universe as a whole.

Religions of the past have divided mankind.
Countries, borders, polititians etc.. have all divided mankind...

Sikhi however has taken the route to unite mankind and show that deep down inside we are all one.

The first word of Japji Sahib states the The Purpose of the entire Sikh Faith.

That is why Satguru has made it clear... Raj Karega Khalsa ... at the end we will all realize that we are all ONE.

Aakhi rahe na koi.... our egos that separate us from each other will no longer remain.

So if you break it all down, the purpose of Sikhi is to realize that we are all ONE.

-WizeSikh

seeker3k · Apr 29, 2010

wizesikh said:
Sikhi in its most basic sense is and always will be oneness. It is a vision to see the world & the universe as a whole.

Religions of the past have divided mankind.
Countries, borders, polititians etc.. have all divided mankind...

Sikhi however has taken the route to unite mankind and show that deep down inside we are all one.

The first word of Japji Sahib states the The Purpose of the entire Sikh Faith.

That is why Satguru has made it clear... Raj Karega Khalsa ... at the end we will all realize that we are all ONE. Aakhi rahe na koi.... our egos that separate us from each other will no longer remain.

So if you break it all down, the purpose of Sikhi is to realize that we are all ONE.

-WizeSikh

Wizesikh,
<?"urn:

ffice

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> </o

>
Nice name u have. Is that mean all world will be khalistan?
seeker3k

amrit.saggu · Apr 29, 2010

Seeker3
Way to take things out of context?? Raj Karega Khalsa has far more depth than that. Truth will prevail. If you wish to follow and perpetuate media propaganda you can share it in some other forum- Sikh philosophy is for Sat Sangat.

God bless
Amrit

wizesikh · Apr 29, 2010

lol Khalistan? come out of your fantasy world. Sikhi is far to big to be contained within borders of a country.

Look around you Sikhs being 2% of india are located all over the world. No other minority has such power.

You cant chain down a babar sher in a small country...we need the whole universe to play around and roar

Think outside the box my friend...

amrit.saggu · Apr 29, 2010

I like how you think.

Mai Harinder Kaur · Apr 29, 2010

amrit.saggu said:
I like how you think.

So do I!

But none of this is answering my question:

"What must a person believe/do to be a Sikh?"

jasi · Apr 29, 2010

SS AKAL JI.

To all answers to what Sikhi is all about then read and understand Jap Ji Sahib as your GPS to pass daily life.

THREE RULES TO HAVE A HEALTHY LIFE STYLE

This is the reason Guru Nanak gave us 3 rules of thumb as our GPS to lead a life of a house holder, the three bricks for the foundation of the home of Miri-Piri.

1. Naam Japna. (DAILY HARD WORK AND LIFE STYLE)
2. Kirat Karni . (DAILY HARD WORK AND LIFE STYLE)
3. Vand kei Chakna. (VAND KEI CHAKNAH=SHARING BY HAVING REAPED THE FRUITS IN LIFE AND HELPING WHO NEEDS A HAND IN ANY WAY OR FORM,IRRESPECTIVE OF THIER,CRED OF FAITH .)

After reading JAP JI SAHIB what one can can ask for?

Jaspi

seeker3k · Apr 29, 2010

wizesikh said:
lol Khalistan? come out of your fantasy world. Sikhi is far to big to be contained within borders of a country.

Look around you Sikhs being 2% of india are located all over the world. No other minority has such power.

You cant chain down a babar sher in a small country...we need the whole universe to play around and roar

Think outside the box my friend...

No that is FANTASY
WAKE UP

harbansj24 · Apr 29, 2010

As far as the sidh goshat is concern, Is there any record by the sidhs that this argument had happened? Was this question n answer were written before that or was it written after the argument? It looks like Nanak wrote this when he came back after the argument. Was there any one who were writing as the questions n answers were being asked?

seeker3 ji,

Irrespective of the fact if anyone was taking notes during the question answer session, do you find anything wrong or illogical with the arguments? Has not Guruji, given logical and immortal arguments for the supremacy of "Naam" over the practices of hard penances, yoga, sidhis etc in the quest to understand the ultimate?

I think we should go into the substance of Guru Nanak ji's philosophy and the continuum established by the nine following gurus and ultimately put down in SGGS rather than to get into disruptive discussions of personal lives and styles of Gurus.

It is acknowledged and accepted that our Gurus were very superior Human beings with a highest level of intelligence. They were not prophets or "Divine beings". So on the path to understand the ultimate, they could enter into controversies and contradictions. The best part is that Guru Nanak himself in in Japji does not claim to know the ultimate. Far from it. In fact he says it is infinite and unfathomable. But that should not restrain a Sikh from seeking new knowledge. That is why he is called a Sikh or a permanent learner.

Having said this, in our path to learning we must also practice a modicum of reverence for those who have put us on the path of permanent learning. We should not get into the disruptive trap of of finding irrelevant loopholes in the personal styles and lives of the Gurus.

Personally in addition to what has been put so beautifully and precisely by Rupinder Singh ji, I would like to see a Sikh in his complete visual glory because that is the image that comes instantly to mind when the word Sikh is uttered. Many will disagree but that is my personal conviction.

Gurfateh and Chardiankalan.

wizesikh · Apr 29, 2010

Sometimes a simple answer is hard to accept.

How to become a Christian: Accept Jesus in your heart.
How to become a Muslim: Accept Allah in your heart.
How to Become a Hindu: Accept Ram in your heart.
How to become a Sikh?: Accept the Shiri Guru Granth Sahib.

Thats all it really takes. Accepting is the hardest part of them all.

Sikhi is not about building doorways to heaven, it is a way of life a path which one choses either to accept or not to accept.

So when you see a mona, a manmukh, turbaned alcaholic etc... claim they are Sikhs.. they really are Sikhs .. they may not practice it as boldly as you. But they have the thirst to claim they are sikhs, and trust me they will die arguing with you to keep that claim. Why? because inside they have accepted the Sikh way of life but may not be as strong as you to follow it on a daily basis.

So to answer your question, if you accept the fact that you are a Sikh, then you are a Sikh... In its most simplest and basic form... it is your acceptance that makes you a Sikh.

Mere Sikhi

Mai Harinder Kaur

Rupinder.Singh

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