Re: 1st Pauri: 3rd Ashtpadi: Sukhmani Sahib
Dear jaspi Ji,
True, Sikhi a common man's religion has not expanded to its cover the humanity. My understanding is that the problem is not with Sikhi but with Sikhs.
In the religions which had spread, there is a dedicated organisation whose sole role is to propagate their religion. The priest do this job and selfish as any human can be, they have distorted the original religion beyond recognition.
To avoid distortion Guru Sahib abolished priest hood from Sikh religion. This way we do not have designated individuals for this purpose. As a result, this task of propagating As Khalsa panth is a corporate religion, the task of propagating the religion, consequently fell on each and every Sikh. This task we still have to perform effectively.
A Sikh has to live by Sikhi, just saying that I am a Sikh is not enough. Being a member of this corporate religion, we have to activly take interest in all its activities - joining in ardas, gurupurabs, sewa, discussions of issues facing the panth etc. There is no Church or Pandas of Kashi who will do this for us. Each Sikh has to participate and effectively contribute. Having Granth Sahib at home is good, but participation in the Khalsa activities in Gurdwaras is a must - it is then that the Sikh is acting as a member of Khalsa Panth, otherwise she or he is and individual - a detached individual.
Sikh religion is knowledgebase, rational religion. Its teachings and its rational nature needs to be explained to all who are around us - first to our Sikhs and then to others. In explaining Sikh religion one does not have to take support from any ancient religion of the world. Sikh religion is original and self standing religion. All the current means of communication must be effectively used to prpopagate it. Each Sikh has the duty to explain and propagate this religion, we cannot look towards others to do it for us.
Sikhi is the right rational religion for this knowledge age in which we are living.
It is for this reason, I am here on this and other websites.
With love and respect for all,
Amarpal Singh
