I Am Intrested In Sikhism

[lightlamp4]

Hi. my name is cameron. im 17. and i am interested in getting closer to Sikhism and having more of it in my life. as i really like the sikh way of life. I dont have any religion or faith right now but i want to. Any advice?

[das]

It seems like you're already a Sikh (a learner/disciple). Spirituality is very important, but religion without spirituality is of no use. So, first be spiritual and then follow religion (discipline). I would suggest:

First for one year, sit in meditation for 2.5 hours daily for one full year. Meditation is chanting the name of God (you chose the name of God by which you would remember HIM) with full concentration. Once you complete one full year, God will guide you.

Note: Sikhs use "Waheguru" as the name of God and you can use the same for meditation or feel free to use another name. After all, we call our near and dear ones with special names and not their formal names.

Regards

Edited April 8, 2013 by das

[HSD1]

Welcome, it's always great to see people ask questions and want to know more. As well as meditation, there are many English translations of SGGS ji available on the internet that would be useful to read at your own pace and help you build faith.

What else is it about the SIkh way of life that interests you and that you wish to incorporate into your life?

Edited April 9, 2013 by HSD1

[kdsingh80]

You have posted this question on several sikh forums, so let me tell you that you are going to recieve contradictory answers from several members as Sikhism is now divided in sects and all people following them believe that their version is the only true version

Much better if you read some website and get knowledge of sikhism

http://www.sikhs.org/topics.htm

http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/

[lightlamp4]

It seems like you're already a Sikh (a learner/disciple). Spirituality is very important, but religion without spirituality is of no use. So, first be spiritual and then follow religion (discipline). I would suggest:

First for one year, sit in meditation for 2.5 hours daily for one full year. Meditation is chanting the name of God (you chose the name of God by which you would remember HIM) with full concentration. Once you complete one full year, God will guide you.

Note: Sikhs use "Waheguru" as the name of God and you can use the same for meditation or feel free to use another name. After all, we call our near and dear ones with special names and not their formal names.

Regards

Yeah spirituality is something I want. I have never done meditation before. Is that all I need to do? Just keep chanting?

[jaikaara]

let us know where you are located and we can try to see if any of us is closer to you or if we know the closest Gurdwara in your vicinity, to start with you can attend sunday prayer services , you can even volunteer there if you feel to.

[lightlamp4]

Welcome, it's always great to see people ask questions and want to know more. As well as meditation, there are many English translations of SGGS ji available on the internet that would be useful to read at your own pace and hekp you build faith.

What else is it about the SIkh way of life that interests you and that you wish to incorporate into your life?

the spirituality. I want to develop that. I'm not really a spiritual person but I want to be

[savinderpalsingh]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa !! Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh !!

Bhenji ,

Start with helping out in the Gurudwara , like community kitchen

or anyway you want to + keep reciting waheguru .

also you can do ardas /prayer to Guru Granth Sahib Ji . to help you out.

Before you read Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji .

Please make sure following points

Please clean your desk and your PC/Laptop

Please cover your head while you do so.

Make sure the PC/Laptop is on higher position to where you are sitting.

Please wash your hands while using it and refrain from using dirty hands

Bani hai guru ,guru hai bani

please respect Bani, it is the very form of our guru

Bhul chuk maff ji

[lightlamp4]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa !! Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh !!

Bhenji ,

Start with helping out in the Gurudwara , like community kitchen

or anyway you want to + keep reciting waheguru .

also you can do ardas /prayer to Guru Granth Sahib Ji . to help you out.

Before you read Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji .

Please make sure following points

Please clean your desk and your PC/Laptop

Please cover your head while you do so.

Make sure the PC/Laptop is on higher position to where you are sitting.

Please wash your hands while using it and refrain from using dirty hands

Bani hai guru ,guru hai bani

please respect Bani, it is the very form of our guru

Bhul chuk maff ji

I'm not sure how to pray. And why do I need to cover my head and wash before reading?

[das]

Yeah spirituality is something I want. I have never done meditation before. Is that all I need to do? Just keep chanting?

Yes, you need to do meditation (Chanting God's name with Full concentration). Your intention is the most important but knowing the technique would help you do better and faster; even though technique in itself is nothing.

Procedure for Meditation

========================

1. Cleanliness is important. e.g when you go to meet your near and dear ones (or for a date), you try to dress as best as you can. Then when you've a date with God (inner self) why don't you want to be clean. So, clean your body (take bath).

2. Sit in clean and quite place for meditation and if possible in morning (after taking bath) or evening (second preference).

3. Sit cross legged (if possible) with your head, neck, and trunk in one straight line and then relax your whole body. If this is not possible, sit in any posture you are comfortable with.

4. Close your eyes and chant God's name so that you can hear it. In other words, your tongue recites and your ears listen the name your tongue recites. This will help you to concentrate and your mind will not run from one place to another.

5. You can start from 11 minutes and slowly and gradually increase that time to 2.5 hours daily. But make sure that you meditate at the same time every day; because time is the prime condition of the mind. A habit is powerful thing. That which we have done repeatedly is our habit. When we do something again and again that action of ours will be stored in Mind's store house of mertis and demerits. That becomes motivation for us to do same thing again. Habits are motivations in life. Mind always leads us toward our habits. Therefore, make meditation your habit by doing it every day at same place and time.

Again, technique is important but intention is even more important. At last, devise the name by which would remember God OR chose Waheguru as Sikhs do OR choose Gods name from any other religion. And once start doing meditation, you will feel the difference and eventually youll get guidance from God.

Edited April 9, 2013 by das

[lightlamp4]

Yes, you need to do meditation (Chanting God's name with Full concentration). Your intention is the most important but knowing the technique would help you do better and faster; even though technique in itself is nothing.

Procedure for Meditation

========================

1. Cleanliness is important. e.g when you go to meet your near and dear ones (or for a date), you try to dress as best as you can. Then when you've a date with God (inner self) why don't you want to be clean. So, clean your body (take bath).

2. Sit in clean and quite place for meditation and if possible in morning (after taking bath) or evening (second preference).

3. Sit cross legged (if possible) with your head, neck, and trunk in one straight line and then relax your whole body. If this is not possible, sit in any posture you are comfortable with.

4. Close your eyes and chant God's name so that you can hear it. In other words, your tongue recites and your ears listen the name your tongue recites. This will help you to concentrate and your mind will not run from one place to another.

5. You can start from 11 minutes and slowly and gradually increase that time to 2.5 hours daily. But make sure that you meditate at the same time every day; because time is the prime condition of the mind. A habit is powerful thing. That which we have done repeatedly is our habit. When we do something again and again that action of ours will be stored in Mind's store house of mertis and demerits. That becomes motivation for us to do same thing again. Habits are motivations in life. Mind always leads us toward our habits. Therefore, make meditation your habit by doing it every day at same place and time.

Again, technique is important but intention is even more important. At last, devise the name by which would remember God OR chose Waheguru as Sikhs do OR choose Gods name from any other religion. And once start doing meditation, you will feel the difference and eventually youll get guidance from God.

Ok well i will chant Waheguru. I will try the meditation now.

[chatanga1]

First for one year, sit in meditation for 2.5 hours daily for one full year. Meditation is chanting the name of God (you chose the name of God by which you would remember HIM) with full concentration. Once you complete one full year, God will guide you.

I dont wish to misguide you or appear like im faulting the advice from the brother ive quoted above, but that is not good advice or a position to start with.

Being given 1 year, your mind will be constantly on the completion of that year in terms of time, your mind will look forward to that date and think " im really going to find Waheguru..." But what if it takes more than a year? No Guru has ever given a year as a timeframe to experience Waheguru.

By your own Karma you may experience Waheguru in 6 months, or in 6 years, but the objective is to never lose heart.

Also doing 2.5 hours each day, are you actually going to manage that? Cos only mainly experienced meditators or saintly people can manage that.

Set yourself a bar which you know is achievable and after this, you can begin to raise the bar as you see fit.

Also dont limit yourself to meditation to begin with on this path.

Read Sikh history and the read about the Guru's lives to help you as well.

[das]

Chatanga veer, it is NEVER mentioned that he will find God after one year. The intention of one year is: One year of regular practice would make a habit and will clean his mind to certain extend so that he can get more from his intution (guidance from Nature/God).

Secondly, regarding 2.5 hours, he has been suggested starting from 11 minutes and then slowly and gradually increase that to 2.5 hours.

At last he is free to practice whatever he wishes.

Edited April 9, 2013 by das

[lightlamp4]

Chatanga veer, it is NEVER mentioned that he will find God after one year. The intention of one year is: One year of regular practice would make a habit and will clean his mind to certain extend so that he can get more from his intution (guidance from Nature/God). Secondly, regarding 2.5 hours, he has been suggested starting from 11 minutes and then slowly and gradually increase that to 2.5 hours.

Yeah and i did it for 15 mins today for the first time. It was pretty good.

[savinderpalsingh]

Bhenji ,

Bani hai guru , guru hai bani

means

Bani (the word of the guru) is guru and guru is bani

our guru's Sri guru Arjjan Dev ji used to put

Sri Granth Sahib ji on bed and he himsself used to sleep on floor

its the code of conduct , bani comes from sachkhand from akal purak . the time less god

we treat it with respect , also please study a bit about culture of ancient punjab as well.

you will have many answers clarified

Cleanliness and treating bani with respect are very important in sikhism

[lightlamp4]

Ok now i am doing the meditation for 2 hours. It feels really good and is helping me a lot