RSS/VHP

These are two factions of extremist Hinduism trying to influence/destroy our religion.

They have been altering our literature for many decades now, trying to influence people to believe that we are somehow a part of Hinduism. This could not be further from the truth.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the Sikhs first Guru and founder was indeed born to a hindu family. Just like Jesus was born to Jews and Mohammed was born to pagans, this does not mean that they followed their parents views on spirituality.

Numerous times within the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, our present Guru it says that everyone is equal, and that Brahmins rituals ways are false. Guru Nanak Dev Ji did not embrace the "sacred thread" ritual that was presented to him by his family, saying that he wanted a thread that would never break and go with him to the next world.

Guru Gobind Singh ji, our 10th Guru clearly states in our everyday evening Bani that:

"raam raheem puraan kuraan anek kahai mat eik naa maanyo."

"The Puraans, the Hindu scripture, praise and glorify Raam, and the Quran praises and glorifies Muhammad. Likewise, other religions talk of of their own prophets and glorify them as God. I do not accept any of these. "

However, due to our lack of understanding of our religion some of our people are falling pray to this and actually believe that Guru Nanak Dev Ji was given his power through some Hindu
demigod.

I say it again, we must educate ourselves otherwise we will fall pray to "backdoor" attacks like these on our religion.

It is important to understand that I do not dislike Muslim or Hindu people, in fact I have a lot of respect for anyone following their chosen path to God. What I dislike is people trying to manipulate our religion, and our own people not having the knowledge to do anything about it.

YOU GAVE GURU GOBIND SINGH JI YOUR HEAD,
BUT THEN YOU TOOK IT BACK
(A short poem about a Sikh who gave his head to his Guru (via Amrit) then left the rehit)
Guru Gobind Singh Ji tried, to keep you on the right track
You gave Him your head, but then you took it back

Turning your back on Guru Ji, how did it feel?
Or were you too busy convicing yourself, that "It's really no big deal"

Remember that day when you took Amrit and made a vow?
What happened to those promises, who is your Guru now?

You sold out your Sikhi, and that’s the plain truth
You ruined this precious life, saying "I want to enjoy my youth"

To make yourself feel better, you can say whatever you want to
But one dreadful day, your words will come to haunt you

And when that day comes, you will regret what you have done
You lost your honour, in a battle you should have won

This world is just maya, it will take your Sikhi away
Tell me, did you forget that you are gonna die one day?

When this dream called life reaches its end
Then who will be your saviour, your helper, your True Friend?

There is still hope, you need to sharpen your mind
Go towards Guru Ji, and the Truth you will find

To merge with God, you were sent to earth
Trying to impress the world, you wasted the human birth

Did you think of those mothers, who wore their babies around their necks?
Or did all you think about, was attracting the opposite sex?

The very same hair that Guru Ji put Amrit in
You grabbed the scissors, and committed the ultimate sin

Guru Ji's Sons gave their lives, so you can be a Sikh
Their Sikhi remained strong, with each and every brick

Now is the time, for you to wake up and take control
Guru Ji is the water, that will sooth your burning soul

Do you really want to come back to this hell on earth?
Wandering and suffering, birth after birth

You say you're not ready to take Amrit, thats always your reply
But think about this...are you ready to die?

You think you'll practice Sikhi, in the future when you are old
But tell me, do you know when your body will turn cold?

When it’s all said and done, you will be full of sorrow and regret
You'll want to go to Sach Khand, but the requirements were not met

Guru Ji's arms are wide open, and He is waiting for you
It’s time to take action, and do what you gotta do

Change your life RIGHT NOW!, don't wait another day
Tomorrow may never come, then what will be left to say?

That Guru Gobind Singh Ji tried to put me on the right track
I gave Him my head, but then I took it back.

Slander/Nindia

"Thus, the slanderer crumbles away.

This is the distinctive sign - listen, O Siblings of Destiny: he collapses like a wall of sand.

When the slanderer sees a fault in someone else, he is pleased. Seeing goodness, he is depressed.

Twenty-four hours a day, he plots, but nothing works. The evil man dies, constantly thinking up evil plans.

The slanderer forgets God, death approaches him, and he starts to argue with the humble servant of the Lord.

God Himself, the Lord and Master, is Nanak's protector. What can any wretched person do to him? " - Bilaaval, Fifth Mehl (Guru Arjan Dev ji) - ( Reference Ang(limb)/Page )

Racism

I myself have had to endure racists attacks against myself and my identity, and that is why I believe so strongly in the wisdom of the Guru and the truth of the Khalsa panth. With each attack against me my resolve only became stronger, to stay true to the ideals of Khalsa. If we didn’t have such a separate and distinct identity then others would not be able to find us and would not bother us, but they would also not be able to ask for our help. The Guru did not give us this identity in times of peace from the very beginning we were marked for persecution simply because of the way we looked. The Guru knew that our identity could bring us trouble but mandated that we live in Chardi Kalaa. Why did the Guru do this? Because the guru knew that by presenting us with challenges that we would have no choice but to be fearless and accept who we really are no matter what we face or we could become cowards and slither away.
With the security we have in our identity comes contentment and acceptance of the will of god. This is how so many Sikhs went happily to their deaths at the hands of tyrants all while chanting Gurbani.
You are young, as indicated in your post, and clearly passionate. I share that passion with you, I think every Sikh who has faced persecution is passionate and not satisfied with the current state of affairs. But we must always use our passion in conjunction with our minds and spirit and reflect on the Guru’s teachings for our guidance. It is easy to become angry with the world and the majority in your land or even your own community for being the cause of the injustice, but it is whether you allow the anger to consume you or how you act upon the anger that truly determines if you are Khalsa.
Take faith in Waheguru, and understand that everything is within the will and plan of God, then act according to your ideals which have been provided to you by the Guru. Does it change your commitment to the Guru, if your neighbor’s don’t even know about Guru Tegh Bahadur? Will you spend less time reflecting on Gurmat, because the society around you does not speak, or looks down upon, Punjabi? Will you not help a Hindu in need simply because he worships a cow or believes in Mangal Pandey? If you answer yes to this question then I don’t think you understand what Seva is and what our mission as Khalsa is.
I hold a personal belief that the most destructive forces on the planet today come from people who claim to be evangelical christians. As I write this I am sitting within inches of one (an evangelical Christian), whom I’ve grown quite fond of. My belief is founded in the actions of leaders in his community and how they interpret their doctrine. I cannot discriminate against him or denigrate him simply because I disagree with his leaders or his beliefs. What I can do, and have done, is engage him in conversation and we can reach a common understanding. Since I have met him he has changed his views on the war in Iraq, he has learned who Sikhs are and what we believe in. He has even expressed to me that while maintaining the belief that homosexuality and abortions are a sin, he must have tolerance towards people that believe otherwise. I have learned from him that while he believes in this mythical rapture like his leaders, he still believes that we should be good stewards of the environment and its ecology. So basically all the elements of his community that I find destructive he has renounced.
Now do you think we could have reached this understanding if I had told him he was a “bible-thumping intolerant who goes gaga over Bush”? This would be equivalent to “disgruntled cow worshippers [who] go gaga over mangal pandey.” I’m not trying to censure you, for making these remarks, I’m just trying to say that I believe it is these kind of comments and this kind of mentality that leads to the line of thinking that Khalistan is the only way. And if people who focus on the faults of others rather than serve-selflessly (seva) while reserving judgment are the founders of Khalistan, then what an intolerant place it will be and what a disgrace it will be for all Khalsa.

Hari Singh Khalsa (an extract from www.mrsikhnet.com)

Khalistan

This extract below is not my own writing, its from a young sikh from espanola (Hari Singh Khalsa) and agree with his views completly.

I can't say that I am pro or anti Khalistan, but I am pro Khalsa Spiritual Nation. The Khalsa Spiritual Nation that I speak of should encompass all the people of the world. Why should we be limited to such a small piece of geography when we believe that the lifestyle and teachings of the Gurus would benefit the entire planet? Every Khalsa should be a member of this nation before they are anything else. I am certainly Khalsa before I am American. I, and every Sikh should be, bound to God and moral responsibility before they are bound to the laws of the land they reside in, even if they are somehow in conflict.

I woke up this morning thinking about Khalistan and thought that if it did exists, none of the events of 1984 would have occurred and the human rights abuses in Punjab would likely not have taken place and continue to take place. However, if it did exist today and it was run by the current Sikh leaders of India, it would be a disaster. There is so much internal politics (vying for power), backstabbing, and corruption that nothing would ever get done.

In and ideal world, no countries would be based on a religion, even the Sikh religion and as Sikhs it is our duty to strive for ideals. If you did create a country in which the government was a Sikh government, who would be allowed to live there? and what would be the definition of a Sikh? If only amrit dhari Sikhs would be allowed to live in Khalistan, then wouldn't this be discrimination? which is strictly forbidden by the Gurus. If all religions were allowed but it was still considered a Sikh state, would the minorities have a say? If not, wouldn't this be oppression? If they do have a say, and they oppose the government being tied to a religion, shouldn't we respect this. Our Gurus never said this is the only path, therefore a Sikh government would be an oxymoron. In a country founded by Sikhs, populated by Sikhs and operated by Sikhs, the government must still be secular to respect the teachings of our gurus.

A secular government is what India claims to be, just as the other countries which house the majority of Sikhs outside of India. So by this logic we really don't need Khalistan, because we already have it, at least in words and ideals. If Khalistan were declared it would have the same fundamental laws as all the other non-secular democracies of the world and would probably resemble India more than any other country. Most people, including those who are pro-Khalistan know this, therefore the only argument people have is that Khalistan would implement the ideals better. For the most part people want Khalistan because they don't want Sikhs to have to endure the same injustices they have been enduring since the creation of India and this is quite understandable.

I believe, however, that as Sikhs we can find or create our own justice. Sikhs can continue to migrate outside of India to countries who have never targeted Sikhs for genocide (the US and Canada, for instance), if they feel this is there best option. Or Sikhs can start building their own nation within India. Sikhs are the most empowered people of any of the largest world religions. Our gurus made it VERY CLEAR that we do NOT need any human to interpret God for us. This makes us all individually empowered. It's time to stop placing faith in our leaders and all become leaders ourselves. Manmohan Singh is a great man from what I know, but I seriously doubt he will begin an independent investigation into Operation Blue Star, or have the Congress leaders who participated in the Delhi riots brought to justice.

Sikhs are already more powerful, smarter and wealthier than the rest of India. The Sikhs should be so well organized that they can bring India to its knees if their needs aren't met. India would starve without the food grown by Sikhs in India. Meaning Sikhs should be controlling this market, instead of producing more than the year before and getting paid less and going further into debt. This is one of the principles Bindranwale understood and this is what India fears. India would try to suppress a movement like this and that’s what the genocide was really all about. But we should be smart enough to circumvent India. As a Khalsa Spiritual Nation we should be able to make India inconsequential. For starters make this a grass roots movement with so many leaders, on equal footing that the Indian government can't kill a Bindranwale and silence the movement. Next have different approaches instead of just instantly making a threat to withhold Punjab’s goods and services from India.

These are the steps we need to take before bringing India to its knees: We need to get rid of the caste system which is still somehow mind-blowingly plaguing the Sikhs. We need to ensure no Sikh is in a struggle for survival, don't just take care of yourself take care of your neighbor and their neighbor. If you are a land owner and you employ Sikhs to work your lands, pay them a wage so that they can become land owners too some day, and if this is not possible share your land with them. Stop producing crops which deplete the water table, which require fertilizers and pesticides that pollute the environment, and stop producing crops for profit. Sikhs should grow diverse crops that can feed themselves and then sell the excess. Every Sikh should be given a standard minimal education and have the opportunity to reach the highest levels of education before ever having to support themselves or their family (this can be done). Step up support groups, so that one family can grow the food that all families in the group need to survive while the others pursue education and entrepreneurial endeavors. Have faith in god and your support group, that all your needs will be met, and there is no need for greed or hoarding of goods. People are greedy and backstab and vie for power because they are afraid of having nothing, Guru Gobind Singh said that we should have no fear. Never get into debt and help others to get out of debt. If people need credit they should get it from a Sikh with little or no interest. Stop eating meat, fried foods excessively, and drinking alcohol (you’d think this would be obvious). Do a daily sadhana or a some kind of routine which keeps all Sikhs in the nation as fits as warriors and as spiritual as saints. Elevate the status of women to the same as men. Ensure your daughters/sisters/mothers get the same education or more as your sons/brothers/fathers. No Sikh woman should ever need a man (even a Sikh man) to survive. How can we truly be empowered if half our population is forcefully made ignorant? Basically follow the lifestyle the Gurus prescribed, help others to do so, and teach others to help others to do so (this is seva).

If Sikhs in India can solve these hurdles, then we are ready to have Khalistan, but then Khalistan will have been made redundant, and we won’t need it. Then India will never be allowed to discriminate against Sikhs or manipulate Sikhs or misrepresent Sikhs, because Sikhs will be too powerful to allow it.

Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa
Whahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh

-Hari Singh Khalsa

Dastaars

Since the first guru to the 10th worldy Guru, each one wore a dastaar/turban.

When i was younger, i started off with a little joora, then moved onto patka then finally dastaar.

However, even when i tied a dastaar it was very small. Literally as small as it could be so it looked more like a hat from a distance than a dastaar. I'd often wear hoods to cover it up.

This all changed last year, i attended a keertan smagaam and everyone had the most beautiful dastaars on. The bigger they were the more I liked them, as soon as i got home i tied myself a big dastaar. It felt really wierd and awkward at the time, but after i spent a couple of hours that night retying it it felt good.

The real test was the next day, when i would go to work and expect people to say things. I was in utter shock when all i got were compliments, and from that day forth i wear my dastaar with pride. It makes us look different to everyone else, reminds us not to do bad things as we represent Guru Gobind Singh Ji and personally makes me feel honoured everytime i wear it.

We must respect our dastaars, for example we must keep them clean as possible and certainly not let them touch the floor even when we are tying them. In a way, they are not our dastaars - they are Guru Ji's - as he blessed us with it.

Now i have mixed feelings, when i go to the gurudwara and see sikhs with small "shakini" type dastaars on i get angry, but when i remember how i used to be (probably worse) it brings me back to earth. It is only when Guru does kirpa that we realise how important it is to tie a dastaar, that actually looks like a dastaar.

Saying this, we must make some effort ourselves - Guru Ji isnt going to come from heaven and tie a beatuful dastaar on our heads, we have to do it ourselves. and yes - people might make comments, but alot of people dont even believe in God.

We musnt disrespect our dastaars, or let others disrespect them - because they are a blessing given to us from our father. (Guru Gobind Singh Ji).