thank you, slightly worrying, but thank you,
Sure I am, but probably not in the way that makes me popular, for instance, only yesterday whilst visiting my parents, someone recounted the following story,
Jai Ram, Guru Nanak's brother-in-law was serving as dewan (steward) to the governor, Nawab Daulat Khan Lodhi of Sultanpur. It is said that both Jai Ram and Rai Bular were of the opinion that Guru Nanak was a saint ill-treated by his father; and thus Jai Ram promised to find a job for him in Sultanpur.
Guru Nanak's sister was deeply devoted to her younger brother. On their annual visit to Talwandi, when she noticed her father's impatience at her brother's indifference towards worldly activities, she decided to take him to Sultanpur. Her father gave his consent hoping he would choose a good profession.
Jai Ram got the Guru the post of a store-keeper of Nawab's state granary where the grain was collected as a part of land revenue and later sold. The Guru carried out the duties of the store-keeper very efficiently. The minstrel Mardana subsequently joined the Guru and other friends too followed. Guru Nanak introduced them to the Khan, who provided them suitable jobs in his administration. Every night there was Shabad-Kirtan (singing divine hymns).
One day he was weighing provisions and was counting each weighing as 'one, two, three... ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen'. When he reached the number thirteen (13)- 'Tera' (in Punjabi language Tera means number 13, and Tera also means 'yours', that is 'I am Yours, O Lord'), he went into meditation.
Guru Nanak went on weighing by saying, "Tera, tera, tera..." The customers were happy to receive the extra provisions and did not know how to carry so many goods. They could not understand the bounties of the Lord.
Ultimately the situation reached Nawab Daulat Khan when a charge was levied against the Guru that he was recklessly giving away grain. The Nawab ordered an inquiry which was conducted very carefully. The Guru's detractors were surprised when the stores were found full. In fact, the accounts showed an extra surplus in favour of Guru Nanak.
Unfortunately, my reply of 'utter shite' did not go down too well, I attempted to explain that this story made my Guru sound like a thief and a fool, who could do what he liked, and for whom God would cover him in his activities, this story does nothing to promote Sikhism in the way that I see it, and herein lies the problem, the story promotes stealing from the man you work for, so anyone reading it, could take from it that it is acceptable to steal from the man that pays your wages and give it away to all and sundry, I don't like stories that make my Guru look simple. I was chastised for my language and in the manner of my reply, but in my mind, the greater offence was the intimation that Guru Nanakji was a thief. I always think about the Guru, as I said, he is my best friend, no one speaks about my best friend like that.
No, I don't go to Gurdwara, I don't own a big merecedes, and I don't have any gold jewels or fine clothes, and I don't particularly need a special place to go to in order to be Sikhlike, or I guess, what I call Sikhlike, I also find the huge pictures of people I don't recognise staring down at me a bit unnerving, the food is also a bit rich for my tastes, as is the smell of agenda.
