Sat Siri Akal -
Siri Kamala ji,
sorry to say, but I dont agree with some of your points.
I am no expert, by any stretch, but I think it's important to keep in mind that the SRM is a code created by men -- specifically Sikh men, living in the Punjab, existing in a particular time and in a particular culture.
If Sikhism had evolved out of China, say...or Africa..., or Scandinavia... then what we'd see in the SRM would likely be very different because the cultural influences would be very different. I doubt there would be any talk of turbans because turbans were not symbolic of royalty in those places.
Yes, it is a Code created by man, but the Guru Granth Sahib ji as well, so where do you draw the line? What
IF like you say, someone else says the same about the Guru Granth Sahib ji and changes meanings, words - phrases ? Would this be tenable? No , it wouldnt! But sadly exactly this is happening, e.g. Deras, Soamis , 'Babas' ( I know pointing and someone else is bad, but you can´t deny the facts and truth)
And here again we go,
IF Sikhi had evovled out of China, there might be no 'fuss'/'talk' about hair or Turban, but about other things. Lets take the hair case -
MAYBE in China it would be mandatory to cut hair and have short hair , what
IF we take that
Scenario?
Perhaps an analogy
Let's say Waheguru ji is the moon. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is pointing at the moon (in other words providing us with guidance about how to become closer to God). The SRM is pointing at the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (in other words, attempting to explain to us what the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji says the rules are for being a good Sikh). I believe it is a mistake to point at a book about pointing at the moon and say that we are, in doing so, actually pointing at the moon. They are not the same thing.
Yes, pointing at the book and calling it moon would be wrong in this case. But the SRM, is not poining at the moon, it is just the
CODE OF CONDUCT, that should faccilliate our life. The SRM makes a compromise. It is the ambassador/mediator. Without norms like this we would live in {censored}aigne.
I understand the importance many people place on external symbols of one's religious/cultural identity, and maintaining the "purity" of that identity. Without those external symbols, it is easy for a group to become swallowed up by larger and/or more heavy-handed proselytizing faiths around it, so there is value in embracing those externally visible things which make Sikhs different from Hindus, or Muslims, or Christians, etc.
What I dislike is when I see people placing as much importance (if not MORE) on these external symbols, and on "rule following" for its own sake, than they place on actually *being* a good Sikh on the inside (i.e. meditating on the name, serving others, doing honest work, studying gurbani, etc.)
Exactly, thats why we have the 5 K´s to distinguish! It gives us an (different)
IDENTITY and thats almost the main point of the external Symbols. The external Symbols remind us of what we are, what we are doing and where we going! So they have an important ROLE to play! They are our Guidelines ! Here again, in life we have to make
COMPROMISES, just look closely on your environment, on the place you are living. So, what immediately will catch your eye is , that you are
ALREADY living accoriding rules! The Society, the ' democracy' , you are living in is MAN-MADE as well, but you , because you live there , already accepted and made compromises! For example, you have a court - that sends someone to jail if he had killed someone or stolen expensive items. So here you can clearly see, the point , right? This is just the same and applys here.
Futhermore think about the 'short comings' , people who are uneducated and/or have other problems? For them the SRM, is the perfect way to learn, develope theirselves. Because they have these Guidelines! Of course, we are Human beings, and we will make mistakes , this isn´t the question! But we will learn out of our mistakes! And that is so important about it. And the guidelines will help us defining ourselves, be it the SRM or any other Codes of conducts!
I believe it is possible to be a good Sikh on the inside who occasionally drinks, smokes weed, cuts hair, etc. Waheguru ji does not love us any less for falling short of the ideal.
Well said, Waheguru/Allah/God/Jah'we loves all the same.
And please don´t feel offendend, this wasn´t my intention, my writing style is just very odd.
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa , Waheguru ji ki Fateh!
