Guru's Hair
It is mandatory for Sikhs to keep their hair uncut, Guru Nanak Dev ji said it and it was unquestionable after Guru Gobind Singh Ji made it part of our discipline.
However, it really makes me sad when people cut parts of their hair but keep other bits.
This is a bigger problem for the female sikh population, especially when it comes to eyebrows/facial hair. We, as sikhs, cannot remove ANY hair from the body. However, i can see why people do it (as i've done it many years ago).
If we are to be sikhs, i.e give our heads to the Guru through the Amrit ceremony, then we must live FOR Guru Sahib. I know it seems hard, but who cares what anyone in this world thinks.
When we die, they arent going to go with us, they arent going to be used as an excuse "I was thinking about what other people thought about me...". The only thing that will go with us is how much Naam Simran/Seva (Meditation/Service to Guru,Mankind) and how much we've erred in life.
It makes me even sicker when I find Singhs who say "I wouldnt marry a Singhni if she has facial hair", you wouldnt marry someone because of a gift your Guru has bestowed on someone? If Singhs think this way then they arent worthy or marrying sisters who have so much love for the Guru that they will keep their hair - to hell with what other people think.
If a Singh says that he wouldnt marry a female simply because of facial hair or other hair, than they arent worthy or being Guru's Sikhs. The Guru blesses us with kesh, but to us manmukhs it revolts us? We are the revolting ones if we think like this.
Vahegurooo
Guru's Kirpa
Recently i've been wondering as to wether i should re-start my gym sessions. The reason why I am giving it thought is that when I used to previously 'work out' i used to get very proud of my body.
When I'd walk around i could feel myself subconsciously puffing out my chest or I'd flex my arms for no reason.
I've come to the conclusion that I am going to re-start my gym sessions but the only way that I am going to be able to control my ego is by knowing that everything happens with Guru's Kirpa (Blessing).
In life when we win an award at school, or when we do a big Seva at the gurudwara its because the Guru has blessed us with the ability to do such a thing.
Without Guru Ji we cant do anything, it's only when we realise this that we can kill our personal ego/pride.
Quote taken from Siri Japji Sahib, the first Nitnem Bani (Everyday prayer) of the Sikhs.
(Please note, I have no real knowledge of Gurbani so these quotations may not be entirely relevant. Please leave a comment for my mistakes and forgive me.)
Recently i've been wondering as to wether i should re-start my gym sessions. The reason why I am giving it thought is that when I used to previously 'work out' i used to get very proud of my body.
When I'd walk around i could feel myself subconsciously puffing out my chest or I'd flex my arms for no reason.
I've come to the conclusion that I am going to re-start my gym sessions but the only way that I am going to be able to control my ego is by knowing that everything happens with Guru's Kirpa (Blessing).
In life when we win an award at school, or when we do a big Seva at the gurudwara its because the Guru has blessed us with the ability to do such a thing.
Without Guru Ji we cant do anything, it's only when we realise this that we can kill our personal ego/pride.
| hukmY AMdir sBu ko bwhir hukm n koie ] |
| hukamai a(n)dhar sabh ko baahar hukam n koe || |
| Everyone is subject to His Command; no one is beyond His Command. |
| nwnk hukmY jy buJY q haumY khY n koie ]2] |
| naanak hukamai jae bujhai th houmai kehai n koe ||2|| |
| O Nanak, one who understands His Command, does not speak in ego. ||2|| |
Quote taken from Siri Japji Sahib, the first Nitnem Bani (Everyday prayer) of the Sikhs.
(Please note, I have no real knowledge of Gurbani so these quotations may not be entirely relevant. Please leave a comment for my mistakes and forgive me.)
Amrit Vela
For a Sikh this is the best time in the day to meditate.
| muhO ik bolxu bolIAY ijqu suix Dry ipAwru ] |
| muha k bolan boleeai jith sun dhharae piaar || |
| What words can we speak to evoke His Love? |
| AMimRq vylw scu nwau vifAweI vIcwru ] |
| a(n)mrith vaelaa sach naao vaddiaaee veechaar || |
| In the Amrit Vaylaa, the ambrosial hours before dawn, chant the True Name, and contemplate His Glorious Greatness. |
The time given varies from person to person, jatha to jatha but around 12-6am is the best time.
Personally, this has always been (and still is) my greatest challenge.
As a teenager, I spent alot of my time in bed. Late nights we're brought on by computer games, late night television or simply laying in bed trying to get to sleep (with no luck).
The key to waking up is going to sleep. Our body needs atleast 6/8 hours of sleep depending on the individual. Maybe more if we are involved in stressful/physical activities during the day.
One day you might only sleep 4 hours and be fine, but the next day you need to remember to go to sleep that much earlier in order to 'catch up' on your sleep - otherwise it's really hard to maintain your waking up time.
The best way is to sort a time, and stick to it. Keep reminding yourself why your getting up. The Guru has told us countless times through Gurbani that the best time to meditate is in the ambrosial hours, and if we want something from God - be it a new car, good education or the Lords Name then we must do something for God.
Dedicating a minimum of two and half hours a day isn't hard, if we have our priorities right. The only thing certain in life, is death. And when we die the only thing that will go with us is the Mistakes we make everyday, and how much we've remembered God through Simran/Seva/Gurbani.
Why forget the Lord that gives us everything, and more?
Brother/Sister; Who are you?
As Sikhs we are a family, therefore we should see people who are similar ages to our family as such.
For example, if a female is around the same age as my sister would be - then she is my sister.
If a male is the same age as my dad, then he is my dad.
By looking at females/males in this way we do not have lustful thoughts. That's why its so important to bring this concept into our lives.
However, there are some people (possibly including myself) who mis-use this. If we are going to call each other brother/sister/mother etc then we cannot have lustful thoughts about the person, and we certainly cannot do anything that we would not do to our own blood.
This is very important, we must not kid ourselves into calling someone sister and then getting attached to her in an inappropriate way. This is why its best to only talk in groups of people. When we're put into 1-on-1 situations (online or in real life) we're alot more likely to say things that we wouldnt have said in the group.
The simplest way to find out if something is inappropriate, be it speech or conduct is to think if you'd do the same thing infront of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, surrounded by a group of people to your own sister/brother.
If the answer is 'No' or 'probably not' then we are doing wrong.
As Sikhs we are a family, therefore we should see people who are similar ages to our family as such.
For example, if a female is around the same age as my sister would be - then she is my sister.
If a male is the same age as my dad, then he is my dad.
By looking at females/males in this way we do not have lustful thoughts. That's why its so important to bring this concept into our lives.
However, there are some people (possibly including myself) who mis-use this. If we are going to call each other brother/sister/mother etc then we cannot have lustful thoughts about the person, and we certainly cannot do anything that we would not do to our own blood.
This is very important, we must not kid ourselves into calling someone sister and then getting attached to her in an inappropriate way. This is why its best to only talk in groups of people. When we're put into 1-on-1 situations (online or in real life) we're alot more likely to say things that we wouldnt have said in the group.
The simplest way to find out if something is inappropriate, be it speech or conduct is to think if you'd do the same thing infront of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, surrounded by a group of people to your own sister/brother.
If the answer is 'No' or 'probably not' then we are doing wrong.
Sikh Singh Sikh?
When a child is BORN into the Sikh religion now, they automatically gain the name "Singh/Kaur" however the meanings behind the name are not automatic. You can only become a lion/princess by acting like one.
When Guru Gobind Singh ji first gave us the names it was because the person had taken Amrit from the 5 loved one's. Only when we give our heads/minds/soul's to the guru should we use these names.
The most annoying thing is that when people use the name "SIKH/SINGH" in a barbaric manner, tattoo's etc. It has become a fashion symbol.
When a child is BORN into the Sikh religion now, they automatically gain the name "Singh/Kaur" however the meanings behind the name are not automatic. You can only become a lion/princess by acting like one.
When Guru Gobind Singh ji first gave us the names it was because the person had taken Amrit from the 5 loved one's. Only when we give our heads/minds/soul's to the guru should we use these names.
The most annoying thing is that when people use the name "SIKH/SINGH" in a barbaric manner, tattoo's etc. It has become a fashion symbol.
- To be a Sikh, you have to be a disciple of the Guru.
- The Guru is the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, which as we know is the embodiment of the 10 Guru's.
- The 10th Guru gave us the gift of Amrit, and if we haven't taken Amrit - or if we take amrit and don't keep up with the rehit, or commit one of the 4 "bajjar Kurehits" then we are not Sikh's of the Guru.
First Post
I'm going to attempt to keep this blog Sikhism related, but it's probably going to cover alot of things that happen in day to day life.
I want to address alot of the issues that I personally feel are important to us as Sikh's, many people will disagree with what I write or even what I think about it. If you do disagree/agree with things i publish please comment about them and i will try my best to explain myself.
I'm going to attempt to keep this blog Sikhism related, but it's probably going to cover alot of things that happen in day to day life.
I want to address alot of the issues that I personally feel are important to us as Sikh's, many people will disagree with what I write or even what I think about it. If you do disagree/agree with things i publish please comment about them and i will try my best to explain myself.
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