All1

Veer Fauge, it's great that you shared your thoughts. There were some really interesting ideas and questions in there. I guess the first thing i would say is that no matter what, don't get discouraged. Yes, there are a ton of things out there we could justifiably get down about, but going that route doesn't do anything for us... not personally, nor on a community level. I went through a similar phase, becoming disillusioned for a lot of reasons, including some of the ones you mentioned. Looking back, the problem arises when we start feeling we need to fix the world. We need to remember that everything that happens is within Hukam, so the universe is unfolding exactly as it should. Of course, we should do whatever we can to live right and make a positive difference, but there's no sense in trying to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. :arrow: You're right, the general Sikh ideal is one of a well-rounded, balanced, highly-evolved being who has a spiritual foundation, yet also contributes in a positive, practical way to society. Two questions though: how much to be involved in worldly affairs, and on what projects? That's where the spiritual foundation comes in... it's what will guide us accurately as to our destiny, where we fit into the grand scheme of things as one tiny piece of the cosmic puzzle. Like they say, "follow your heart". If you feel a stronger pull to the spiritual side, go with that. Maybe that's where you are in your personal journey. If you feel like complimenting that with social activism work, that's great too. As Sikhs, our goal is to be one with Vaahiguru, not to make the world a better place. If positively contributing to the world is part of it, fine. That's great, as long as the motivation is grounded in a spiritual base. This is what makes the Sikh brand of activism unique... it is rooted in spirituality. But most people make the mistake of ignoring their spiritual development and considering social activism the goal itself. For Sikhs, it is a means to our goal, not the goal itself. So don't feel overwhelmed, Veer. 8) The world was fine before we came into it, and it will go on just fine if we're not here. Having said that, on community level, i do think we should encourage more Sikh youth to be active politically, in some way or another. It's an integral aspect of the Sikh identity. There could be an interesting thought in there, or it could be nothing. Hard to tell as is.