Pardon my ignorance but I am a bit confused about this. The people who claim that this Sakhi is a moral lesson, then they also claim that Ik Ong Kaar taught our Gurus to be punishers as the whole Sakhi indicates where Ram Rai was banished by his dad Guru Har Rai who had supposedly changed one word in Gurbani.
So according to the understanding of the whole Sakhi by many, our 7th Guru punished his son for that rather than having a conversation for his supposed mistake in order to show him how Ram Rai could learn from his mistakes and move forward. The Two Words in the Mool Mantar- Nirbhau and Nirvair indicate to the contrary in my opinion.
Isn't learning from our mistakes the cornerstone of Sikhi?
How can anyone - including our Gurus- can banish people for being a Sikh, a learner, a seeker?
If we take the same thought process a bit further, then all believers in the so called dasam granth should be banished from Sikhi as well because they claim this as a second granth to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, our only Guru.
So, my question to those who believe in this Sakhi's morals,do they also agree with the punishing part by our Guru too in Sikhi ?
Some people seem a bit upset and angry in this thread and also is some others. No one talked about the understanding about the Shabad but asked about it according to people's own understandings. This thread is all about Sakhis related to the Shabad.
I have a request to make to those who seem angry at others and their styles including mine which can be quite blunt at times, please let's have a conversation about it rather than throwing stones at others; so all of us can learn from each other and hence become better Sikhs with the shoulders to lean on of the fellow Sikhs as Gurmat ideals urge us to.
Anger and dissatisfaction can lead us no where as far as our quest to learn from each other is concerned. Disagreements are part and parcel of the learning process. We should not shun away from it by expressing our anger.
I have talked about this particular Sakhi regarding the discussion I had in another forum with a very good Sikh scholar late Dr. Hakam Singh whom I personally knew very well. He used to give explanation of the Hukumnaama in English at the Alhambra Gurdwara in Southern California. He had mentioned this Sakhi in the Gurdwara too. After our interactions through emails and personal meetings,as he was a family friend and a very learned man, he happened to agree with my take and explained to the Sangat of the Gurdwara one day why this Sakhi would not have existed.
Following is the thread for all to read and agree or disagree with.
http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sakhis/16270-do-all-sakhis-compliment-gurmat.html
So, once again, I request you to ponder on just one question regarding this WHOLE Sakhi.
1.Does Ik Ong Kaar teach us to become punishers or to become good Sikhs where we can learn from each through our mistakes?
Lastly, I would like to personally apologise to those who have felt hurt with my blunt questions and comments taken anger, which have never been my intentions since I have been the part of this wonderful forum since 2004. I promise to be a better Sikh with the help of all of you.
I know we have lost the Anchor of this forum in Narayanjot Kaur ji who kept us on even keel all the times and worked very hard despite her ailment. We are all thankful to her for that. Spn would not be here without her vision.
Let's keep her vision alive by becoming mini anchors to keep this SPN boat afloat on an even keel rather than making it rudderless in the midst of the storm which we have been in after Narayanjot ji's passing away.
I promise to do my best. Please do not hesitate to point me out when I have fallen in that aspect but I request you all to help me get up, dust off and carry on this journey on which we are all together in the same Sikhi boat.
Thanks & regards
Tejwant Singh
