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Contradictions Of Opinion

Apr 4, 2007
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I like what Guruka Singh says about it when he says bana is something you should do for yourself, not for others. It is a reflection of your commitment, not to distinguish yourself.



ok, just a couple of things i have to mention... actually, one very important aspect of bana is that we are SUPPOSED to stand out in a crowd. we are supposed to be readily recognized so people can find us for assistance. we are never allowed to hide from danger or anything else, we must stand and face every injustice. our bana makes us equals, makes us kings and queens. in Guru ji's time, only rulers could wear Turbans. only certain castes could carry weapons. Guru ji gave EVERY Sikh a turban, a crown, making us ALL rulers. :) and making us all equals. (this really upset the mughals, by the way! lol...)

so in a way, it is for others as well as for us. :)


also, one thing no one has mentioned in this thread is the concept of Miri/Piri - Sant/Saphai. if we ONLY focus on the exterior, we're missing half of the equation. however, the opposite is also true. if we ONLY focus on "being sikh on the inside" (as many people like to say), we're also missing half of what it means to be Sikh.

just a thought. :)
 
Feb 14, 2006
512
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Interesting, that the very Panj Piare that instruct you not to think of anyone except the Gurus as your savior are now being presented as the Guru. Wouldn't that be thinking of them as your savior?
:hmm:
For me the point of the OP is to be careful not to let legalism overtake us. Like bureauocracy, when the rule becomes more important that the purpose for which it was instituted, we have strayed off the path.
The Panj Piare are Guruji's own saroop. The Panj Piare is Guru. When Dasam Pita Ji invested Gurgaddhi into Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, he also invested it into Panj Piare and the Khalsa Panth. You mention legalism and rules as straying off the path. Yet Gurbani is not manmade legalism and rules, its Guruji's hukam. When we stray from Guruji's hukam, we are off Guruji's path. Dasam Pita Ji did not include his own bani into Shabad Guru Ji. But it is still bani. And it is still the Panthic tradition. And there are still supportive sources to corroborate what Dasam Pita Ji said about the Khalsa. The Panj Piare was invested with Guruship when Guruji selected the 5 beloved ones and Himself bowed down to them. It's not a bureaucracy, it's a path with pyaar! Panj Piare make corporate decisions for the Panth.

Those rules you're talking about, that you say is "legalism" that overtakes us, is that the Rehit Maryada you're refering to? The code of conduct given to all amritdhari Sikhs? Because if your challenging the legitimacy of Sikh institutions such as the Panj Piare, the Khalsa, the Rehit Maryada, then you're also challenging the basis for Gurgaddhi of Shabad Guru Ji, since Shabad Guru was invested at the same time as Panj Piare. And as I said before, the bani of Satguru Gobind Singh Ji was not included in Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. So what do you base you belief in Gurgaddhi of Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji on?

Without some authoritative basis for definitions of Gurmat, no one can establish anything. So when some dedhari Indian government sponsored Hindutva cult comes along and says they have Sikh Satguru Ji... How do we prove they're not right and we should not all go join their cult? If Sikhs can't use authoritative definitions for fear of being legalistic... then nothing at all is clear about Sikhism. And anyone can say anything.

[SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]a. The Guru Panth (Panth's status of Guruhood) means the whole body of committed baptised (Amritdhari) Sikhs. This body was fostered by all the ten Gurus and the tenth Guru gave it its final shape and invested it with Guruhood.[/SIZE][/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Sikh Reht Maryada, The Definition of Sikh, Sikh Conduct & Conventions, Sikh Religion Living, India[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]


"Khalsa mero roop hai khaas.
The Khalsa is my complete image

Khalse maih hau karo nivaas.
I dwell in the khalsa

~Sarbloh Granth Sahib Ji
 
Jan 15, 2008
282
5
Kansas & Haiti
ok, just a couple of things i have to mention... actually, one very important aspect of bana is that we are SUPPOSED to stand out in a crowd. we are supposed to be readily recognized so people can find us for assistance. we are never allowed to hide from danger or anything else, we must stand and face every injustice. our bana makes us equals, makes us kings and queens. in Guru ji's time, only rulers could wear Turbans. only certain castes could carry weapons. Guru ji gave EVERY Sikh a turban, a crown, making us ALL rulers. :) and making us all equals. (this really upset the mughals, by the way! lol...)

so in a way, it is for others as well as for us. :)


also, one thing no one has mentioned in this thread is the concept of Miri/Piri - Sant/Saphai. if we ONLY focus on the exterior, we're missing half of the equation. however, the opposite is also true. if we ONLY focus on "being sikh on the inside" (as many people like to say), we're also missing half of what it means to be Sikh.

just a thought. :)

Thank you! This was a very good explanation. :)
 
Apr 4, 2007
934
29
[/left]

Interesting, that the very Panj Piare that instruct you not to think of anyone except the Gurus as your savior are now being presented as the Guru. Wouldn't that be thinking of them as your savior?


how could the panj piare administer Amrit to Guru Gobind Singh ji if they were simply five men? they are given the AUTHORITY of Guru ji, when administering amrit. after the conclusion of the amrit sanchar they go back to being regular (or rather extraordinary ) Gursikhs.
 
Jan 15, 2008
282
5
Kansas & Haiti
Harjas Kaur Khalsa,
Are the Panj Piare human beings? Do they instruct you not to take any as savior other than the Gurus? How, then, can you say they ARE Guru? Doesn't that mean you are taking them as savior, exactly as they instructed you not to?

This is my question.

My opinions about legalism are just my own and we will not agree on that. But I would appreciate if you had an answer to the above question.

Thank you Respectfully,

caroline
 
Jan 15, 2008
282
5
Kansas & Haiti
how could the panj piare administer Amrit to Guru Gobind Singh ji if they were simply five men? they are given the AUTHORITY of Guru ji, when administering amrit. after the conclusion of the amrit sanchar they go back to being regular (or rather extraordinary ) Gursikhs.

I understand this action as a symbol of humility and oneness. No one is high or low. There are many examples of royal, or holy teachers, leaders, prophets etc, serving people who would be considered lower than them as a symbol of proper humility and equality. Just like the 4 doors on the Golden Temple and the sharing of food in the gurdwara. (I won't mention the examples from other religions but you know what I'm thinking anyway. ;))

That's how I understand it. Not that they were transformed to deities or Guru.
 
Feb 14, 2006
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31
The door to liberation is the dasm duar. Naam Japna is the engine of our spiritual practice because the Naam Gurmatara we are given has the power to clean our subtle energy channels and pierce through the barriers in our 6 chakras allowing the energy to ascend and unlock the tenth gate, crown chakra. Only rehitvaan Gursikh Panj Piare who are Naam abiyaasi's can impart to someone the technique of Naam drirh at amrit sinchaar. No one but Panj Piare can impart this technique.


So is it fair to assume that nobody achieved this level of consciousness before the establishment of the first Khalsa?

ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਵੇਦੁ ਪੜੈ ਵਾਦੁ ਵਖਾਣੈ ॥
brehamaa vaedh parrai vaadh vakhaanai ||
Brahma studied the Vedas, but these lead only to debates and disputes.

ਅੰਤਰਿ ਤਾਮਸੁ ਆਪੁ ਨ ਪਛਾਣੈ ॥
anthar thaamas aap n pashhaanai ||
He is filled with darkness; he does not understand himself.


ਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਪਾਏ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਵਖਾਣੈ ॥੧॥
thaa prabh paaeae gur sabadh vakhaanai ||1||
And yet, if he chants the Word of the Guru's Shabad, he finds God. ||1||


ਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਉ ਫਿਰਿ ਕਾਲੁ ਨ ਖਾਇ ॥
gur saevaa karo fir kaal n khaae ||
So serve the Guru, and you shall not be consumed by death.
~SGGS Ji p. 231



ਐਸੀ ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀ ਇਕ ਰਾਮਿ ਉਪਾਈ ॥
aisee eisathree eik raam oupaaee ||
Such is Maya, the woman, which the One Lord has created.

ਉਨਿ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਖਾਇਆ ਹਮ ਗੁਰਿ ਰਾਖੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
oun sabh jag khaaeiaa ham gur raakhae maerae bhaaee || rehaao ||
She is devouring the whole world, but the Guru has saved me, O my Siblings of Destiny. ||Pause||

ਪਾਇ ਠਗਉਲੀ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਜੋਹਿਆ ॥
paae thagoulee sabh jag johiaa ||
Administering her poisons, she has overcome the whole world.

ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਬਿਸਨੁ ਮਹਾਦੇਉ ਮੋਹਿਆ ॥
brehamaa bisan mehaadhaeo mohiaa ||
She has bewitched Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਲਗੇ ਸੇ ਸੋਹਿਆ ॥੨॥
guramukh naam lagae sae sohiaa ||2||
Only those Gurmukhs who are attuned to the Naam are blessed. ||2||
~SGGS Ji p. 394​



ਈਸਰੁ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਸੇਵਦੇ ਅੰਤੁ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਨ ਲਹੀਆ ॥
eesar brehamaa saevadhae anth thinhee n leheeaa ||
Those who serve Shiva and Brahma do not find the limits of the Lord.

ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ਅਲਖੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪ੍ਰਗਟੀਆ ॥
nirabho nirankaar alakh hai guramukh pragatteeaa ||
The Fearless, Formless Lord is unseen and invisible; He is revealed only to the Gurmukh.
~SGGS Ji p. 516


Is Guruji capable of imparting Naam to whom he pleases? I thought this was something that came from inside and not outside and was only imparted to us by the Guru's grace.

Kind of like this: YouTube - What is Guru?

Thanks for your patience :)

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸਿਖ ਕਉ ਨਾਮ ਧਨੁ ਦੇਇ ॥
sathigur sikh ko naam dhhan dhaee ||
The True Guru gives His Sikh the wealth of the Naam.
~SGGS Ji p. 286



The Panj Piare are Guruji's sargun saroop. So when the Panj impart Naam to us, it's Guruji who does this. No one can get it any other way since Guruji doesn't have a dedhari form any longer. If it came from the inside and not the outside it would already be ours, how could it be implanted in you? It's like shaktipat. It comes from Guru.


ਗੁਰਿ ਪੂਰੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਦਿੜਾਇਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਚੁਕਾਇਆ ॥
gur poorai har naam dhirraaeiaa jin vichahu bharam chukaaeiaa ||
The Perfect Guru has implanted the Lord's Name within me; it has dispelled my doubts from within.

ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਿ ਗਾਇ ਕਰਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਮਗੁ ਦੇਖਾਇਆ ॥
raam naam har keerath gaae kar chaanan mag dhaekhaaeiaa ||
Singing the Kirtan of the Praises of the Lord's Name, the Lord's path is illuminated and shown to His Sikhs.
~SGGS Ji p. 1424
 
Apr 4, 2007
934
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That's how I understand it. Not that they were transformed to deities or Guru.

i don't think of it in terms of transformation or deification... they have the authority of Guru, they speak for Guru, they act for Guru, and they give us Guru's Amrit and Naam dhrir (infusion).


however, when they walk out the door of the Darbar Sahib after the Amrit Sanchar is over, they become individuals again and that authority is gone.

at least this is my understanding. :)
 
Feb 14, 2006
512
31
Are the Panj Piare human beings? Do they instruct you not to take any as savior other than the Gurus? How, then, can you say they ARE Guru? Doesn't that mean you are taking them as savior, exactly as they instructed you not to?

This is my question.

My opinions about legalism are just my own and we will not agree on that. But I would appreciate if you had an answer to the above question.

Thank you Respectfully,

caroline
I am not questioning the legitimacy of the panj piare, I am questioning what sounded to me like an implication of their deity.
Originally Posted by jasleen_kaur
how could the panj piare administer Amrit to Guru Gobind Singh ji if they were simply five men? they are given the AUTHORITY of Guru ji, when administering amrit. after the conclusion of the amrit sanchar they go back to being regular (or rather extraordinary ) Gursikhs.

I understand this action as a symbol of humility and oneness. No one is high or low. There are many examples of royal, or holy teachers, leaders, prophets etc, serving people who would be considered lower than them as a symbol of proper humility and equality. Just like the 4 doors on the Golden Temple and the sharing of food in the gurdwara. (I won't mention the examples from other religions but you know what I'm thinking anyway. ;))

That's how I understand it. Not that they were transformed to deities or Guru.
I have answered your question a few times now.

Guruka Singh Khalsa is a very nice man, but he's not exactly sharing mainstream Sikh teaching. Take the best of what you find here. Ultimately you have to follow a path of your own choosing. And that is perfectly fine. I am happy to try and answer any question you ask, and you don't even have to agree. (Definitely question what I say, I'm a morakh!) You're starting to wear kara and want to tie dastaar. I applaud you and hope you dive very deeply into Sikhi. 3HO people do a lot of good things as a Jatha. They were friends of Bhai Fauja Singh Shaheed at a time when being a friend was dangerous. I respect that.

"So Guru gives you a secret, he gives you a formula. And that is, for you, a thing you need individually and personally to connect yourself to that touchstone within yourself. And that thing is unique for each person. And that thing is what we call Naam. So people who are rigid in saying, "this is the only mantra or Naam is this and Naam is not that... It's a state of being. It's a frequency. It's an experience. It's deep. It's universal. No one owns it. It doesn't belong to this religion or that religion. It's much deeper than that." -Guruka Singh Khalsa
According to this rather loose definition of Naam ਨਾਮੁ (which literally means God's Name), it's a thing unique for each person, it's univeral, it doesn't belong to this or that religion. And it's only people being "rigid" who say "this is the only mantra...no one owns it..."

Well the deciding factor for a Sikh isn't anyones or even his own opinion, but what is Gurmat (mind and intention of the Guru). And unequivocally Gurbani is Gurmat. And if Gurbani says Naam is chanting the Name of the Lord, no other definition could be there. No matter if somebody had 20 million fantastic experiences and claimed to be a brahmgyani and fireworks were going off... he could not persuade a single Sikh to believe against Gurbani. Because Sikhism is about submission to a Satguru.

Even Harbhajan Singh Yogi. He was a Tantric yoga master. Did he write instructions about how to do yoga that 3HO follw? Or did he say, do it any way you like, whatever works and is unique to you is Tantric yoga and you can call yourself a Master? Last I checked, Kundalini Research Institute has very definite guidelines for their yoga practices and kundalini teacher training courses. Guruka Singh Khalsa is saying Naam is very loosely defined and individual and unique and no one has a monopoly on what it means. It can mean whatever an individual wants it to mean... But he wouldn't pass certification as a Kundalini yoga instructor with the 3HO seal if he didn't conform his yoga teachings and definitions to precisely what Yogi Bhajan and Sikh Dharma teach.

Is Yogi Bhajan more of a Master than Guru's bani?



ਸੁਣਹਿ ਵਖਾਣਹਿ ਜੇਤੜੇ ਹਉ ਤਿਨ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੈ ਜਾਉ ॥
sunehi vakhaanehi jaetharrae ho thin balihaarai jaao ||
I am a sacrifice to those who hear and chant the True Name.
~SGGS Ji p. 16


ਹਰਿ ਜਪਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇ ਤੂ ਜਮੁ ਡਰਪੈ ਦੁਖ ਭਾਗੁ ॥
har jap naam dhhiaae thoo jam ddarapai dhukh bhaag ||
Chant and meditate on the Naam, the Name of the Lord; death will be afraid of you, and suffering shall depart.
~SGGS Ji p. 57


ਵਾਹੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਚੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਲਧੀ ਭਾਲਿ ॥
vaahu vaahu baanee sach hai guramukh ladhhee bhaal ||
Waaho! Waaho! is the Bani of the True Word. Searching, the Gurmukhs have found it.

ਵਾਹੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਸਬਦੇ ਉਚਰੈ ਵਾਹੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਨਾਲਿ ॥
vaahu vaahu sabadhae oucharai vaahu vaahu hiradhai naal ||
Waaho! Waaho! They chant the Word of the Shabad. Waaho! Waaho! They enshrine it in their hearts.
~SGGS Ji p. 514


ਸਤਿ ਸਾਚੁ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ਆਦਿ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਸਦਾ ਤੁਹੀ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਵਾਹਿ ਜੀਉ ॥੩॥੮॥
sath saach sree nivaas aadh purakh sadhaa thuhee vaahiguroo vaahiguroo vaahiguroo vaahi jeeo ||3||8||
You are forever True, the Home of Excellence, the Primal Supreme Being. Waahay Guru, Waahay Guru, Waahay Guru, Waahay Jee-o. ||3||8||

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਗੁਬਿੰਦ ਜੀਉ ॥
sathiguroo sathiguroo sathigur gubindh jeeo ||
The True Guru, the True Guru, the True Guru is the Lord of the Universe Himself.
~SGGS Ji p. 1403


Forgive my assumption, but a lot of converts bring some prior religious teaching into Sikhism. Perhaps I'm mistaken. But the terminology of "legalism" is really an artifact of Christianity and used by those who challenge either their own Church traditions or even Judaism based on biblical passages where Jesus corrected corrupt religious leaders as legalistic and unspiritual. Protestant Christians get so annoyed over a concept like praying to the Virgin Mary, because that implied Catholic Christians were going against the Bible to make her a deity.

When you said, "Are the Panj Piare human beings?" I remembered if I shared something about any other religious teacher, my family would say in accusatory tone: "are they human beings?" It wasn't a question. The implication was only Jesus is God. They are human, they are fallible and make mistakes. Only Jesus is infallible. No disciples, no Church, no Popes, no doctrine could stand between an individual's interpretation and experience... and Jesus. But it doesn't translate to Sikhism.

Sikh teaching is somewhat different. And I suppose it's confusing because people talk about 10 Guru's. But, it isn't 10 Guru's, it's 1 Guru in 10 physical forms. All the 10 Guru's and the 11th Shabad Guru Ji Maharaaj have the same Jyot. The Shabad Jyot passed from one form to another like transmission. And when Guru passed Gurgaddhi (Guruship) to the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, he also passed Gurgaddhi to the 5 beloved ones, and also to the Panthic body of the Khalsa (Guru Panth). This is why Sarbat Khalsa can be convened over difficult matters. Because the Sarbat Khalsa, like the Panj Piare has the Guruship. They have the right to pass Gurmattas (declarations of Guru's intention).

Now as Jasleen Kaur Ji pointed out, an ordinary Singh goes for Panj Piara seva. But when the 5 are together, and only for the time they act as the 5 beloved ones, they have the transmission, they are Guru's sargun (perceivable) saroop (form). The moment the Singh comes out of Panj Piara seva, he is no longer a Panj Piara, but only an ordinary Singh. Guru Panth plus Guru Granth and Guruship of the Panj Piares is mainstream Sikh teaching. Naam


~Please forgive my mistakes and assumptions
 
Feb 14, 2006
512
31
Interesting. Intermediaries. Like Sikh priests passing out the body of Christ.

Wow. There are so many different philosophies the Sikh community.

Thank you for your explanation.
No, lol. Forgive that I'm not doing a better job of explaining. I think maybe we need a brahmgyani here. I'm doing my best but I'm not one.

Okay, let me try this. The Panj Piare are NOT Sikh priests. they don't mediate on our behalf or plead to Guru as our advocates. Please, try for a bit to empty your mind of previous Christian theological conditioning. because I sincerely believe your mistaking a whole cultural context. Guruji is NOT like Christ. He is not an avatar or an incarnation of God. And the Sikh religion is not like the Catholic religion.

It is not a philosophy of the Sikh community that Sikh priests are intermediaries. We may disagree on a hundred other things, but on this we agree... It is mainstream Sikh belief that the 5 beloved khalsas were elevated to the status of Guru Panth. It is not them individually or as a person elevated to status of Godhood. But as the Panj they have the authority and saroop of Guru to decide in temporal matters. When Akal Takht delivers a hukamnama for the Sikh Panth, it's decided by Panj Piare.

Try and understand this according to the Punjabi history as well, not Christian teachings which look harshly at "legalism" and the Jewish sanhedrin as corrupt unspiritual institutions which persecuted Christ. Try to understand how hard it was for the Sikh community to deal with the murder of a Guru and all his surviving sons and decide who would take His place? How does a community decide temporal matters of state and faith?

All these traditions, rehitnamay, granths have been preserved after the near destruction of the Sikh community. That's why Sikh scholars are still finding Guru's bani and compilations and rehitnamay and debating their authenticity before Akal Takht. Some rehitnamay confirm traditions which existed only by word of mouth because everyone who knew had been killed. Things like sarbloh rehit, shakti of sarbloh, Sarbloh Akal are still not well-known that had formerly been purataan traditional practices.

This isn't like bad "legalists" persecuting "nice" spiritual guys who want to do what feels best. This is more like a traumatized community trying to preserve it's identity under crisis. The Indian government is trying very hard to infiltrate the Sikh Nation to assert political control over Punjab. BJP-RSS is well-funded. They are fascist nationalists who work in concert with Congress Party against who they feel are enemies of India: Christians, Muslims, Khalistani Sikhs. They fund groups like Nirankaris, Radhasoamis, Naamdharis, and thousands of babas, dedhari guru cults and deras with the express political aim to redefine Sikh religion and bring it into conformity with radical Hindutva. This is Kalyug. It is a spiritual war. Are we ready to sacrifice?

YouTube - The Making of a Muslim Terrorist

YouTube - Shaheeds Of 1978

YouTube - 1984 teri yaad

YouTube - The Jathedar created by Khalsaforce.net

YouTube - Shaheed Kamaljeet Singh


Sikh religion loves and honors its shaheeds! A lot can be said about differing opinions whether its Naam abiyaas, keski rehit, strictness, legalism, lack of open-mindedness, etc. But the Akhand Kirtani Jatha more than paid a price in blood, torture and shaheedi for the Sikh Panth. And that says something about strict rehit Gursikh practices and points of contention. AKJ has left a legacy of honor forever that can never be denied to the Jatha. It is my ardaas we could all have such great spiritual jeevans as the Shaheed Singhs/Singhnia.

~Please forgive my foolishness


DHAN DHAN SHAHEEDI!
 
Jan 15, 2008
282
5
Kansas & Haiti
Harjas Kaur Khalsa,

Thank you so much for your informative and insightful post. It helped me a lot, although the brutality of humans towards each other is something I have never been able to really get my mind around. Thanks for the video links as well. What you are saying makes quite a bit more sense to me now, as does some of the things I tend to perceive as legalism.

Thank You!

caroline
 

Astroboy

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Jul 14, 2007
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The following controversial post by Balbir Singh had me thinking if he is a Sikh, RSS, Namdhari, Nirankari or Radha Soami or own self-styled Guru.
Was his intention to create confusion or meant to educate :-

Who told them that their Guru needs clothing?


Pray Truth for all and say Satsriakal!
Dear all!

Sikhs offer their Guru Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee Rumaalaas. Who told them that their Guru needs clothing?
Please explain.

Balbir Singh

He adds on to ask questions and make statements like:

May I ask if offering Rumaalaa is a technique of falling in love with the Guru? Did He ask for it once? Is this a universal technique?

Parents also feel that the child needs clothing. They should protect him. This is the common sense.
In my view Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee is not our child nor the Guru is sensitive toward climatic hazards.
The True Guru is singing about people who offer clothing to wear.

ਅਨਿਕ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਪਹਿਰਾਇਆ ॥
अनिक बसत्र सुंदर पहिराइआ ॥
"anik bastar sundar pehraa-i-aa."
Many robes are decoratively worn.

ਜਿਉ ਡਰਨਾ ਖੇਤ ਮਾਹਿ ਡਰਾਇਆ ॥੨॥
जिउ डरना खेत माहि डराइआ ॥२॥
"ji-o darnaa khayt maahi daraa-i-aa. ||2|| SGGS 190-17
Like scaring in the field are frightened.
 

spnadmin

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NanJap ji, Jasleen ji,


In this instance simple logic will work against your understanding what is going on. I often wonder myself.
 
Apr 4, 2007
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it's not a matter of logic, it's a matter of respect.

do we NEED to put fancy rumalla probably not. so why do we do it? to show our love and respect for our Guru ji.

i really don't see the point in over-thinking things like this. who does it harm if we wish to show respect to our great teacher? if others feel comfortable treating Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji as they would any other book, that's their wish. personally, i'd prefer to follow the example set my my Guru.
 
Jan 15, 2008
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Kansas & Haiti
While searching one of the links on this page for literature about Sikh history I found a link to a study by Harjot Oberoi called "The Construction of Religious Boundaries." The reference read like the thesis of the study was that present day mainstream Sikh theology (for lack of better word) was brought about as a sort of British conspiracy to fragment India and that it ended up creating a sort of doctrine that was never intended by the founders of Sikhism. It was pretty weird -- it seems to present the conflicts in the 80s as some sort of Sikh "terrorism."

Is this book part of the propaganda of the group that was brought up earlier?

And what about this accusation of Sikh "terrorism?" I watched a video a week or so ago of a news report in Canada that called the Khalistan groups a "terrorist organization."

It was awful!
 
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