Is Sikhi loosing it's identity?

[Aman_90]

The reason for me asking this question is due to this article. Read it, and please pass on your views.

http://www.herald-sun.com/orange/10-466062.html

My view to it is that its pathetic how we can be so easily judged! It seems as though no one is any longer aware that Sikhism is one of the 7 major religions around. I think we're just being taken away from the 7 major religions. Incidents such as these occur a lot now and they never use to. People judge others before even getting to see them, or knowing them. I don't understand - What would we have to do to make it appeal to them that there is a religion called Sikhism and that they shouldn't judge us so easily?

Sorry if this is a little harsh, but after reading that, this is what I felt!

Fateh

[Guest]

I dont believe that us sikhs have a unique idenitity. Jews, Christains and Muslims r meant to wear turbains! We're selfish in thinking that we got a unique identity, thats not why Guru Nanak came to this world for. He told us to workship the 1. Hindus used to even wear turbains before us. Ever since 9/11 i had this idea about out identity. Sikhs in the past didnt died because they they didnt cut their turbains, its cos they didnt cut there hair.

Turban in the Old Testament

Put on the turban as the Lord has commanded Moses: One of the

commands of God to Moses was to wear turban as the symbol of

prophethood, holiness and divine power. This was a command

obeyed by Jews and Muslims for centuries and ignored or

forgotten by Christians.

"They made the tunic of fine lines, woven work for Aaron and his

sons, the turban of fine linen, the tall head dress and their bands all

of fine linen, the drawers of finely woven linen, the sash of woven

linen, as the Lord had commanded Moses."

(Exodus 39,27)

The Turban, the Tunic, and the Drawer as the Priestly Vestment:

These three articles, the turban, the robe and the drawer continued

to be essential parts of the priestly dress among the Hebrews after

the exile. They all have an old independent history, and it is not

easy to explain how they came to be combined into an independent

priestly uniform.

"These are the vestments they must make: breast plate, ephod, robe,

embroidered tunic, turban and girdle."

(Exodus: 28-4)

The Turban as symbol of Dedication, Consecration and Essential

for Anointment: The anointing of men with missionary zeal and

prophetic missions required some ceremonial activities like pouring

oil and fixing some mark on the turban, which was actually the

crown of the priests. In a more refined form these ceremonies have

symbolically survived in the Punjab to the present.

They made a rosette of pure gold as the symbol of their holy

dedication and inscribed on it as the engraving on a seal, "Holy to

the Lord"; and they fastened it on a violet brand to fix it on the

turban at the top as the Lord had commanded Moses.

(Exodus 39-29)

He put the turban upon his head and set the gold rosette as symbol

of holy dedication on the front of the turban as the Lord had

commanded him. Moses then took the anointing oil, anointed the

Tabernacle and all that was within it and consecrated it.

(Leviticus 8,9)

Set the turban on his head and the symbol of holy dedication on

the turban. Take the anointing oil, pour it on his head and anoint him.

(Exodus 29-6)

You are to make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, "Consecrated

to Yahweh", as a man engraves a seal. You will secure this to the

turban with a ribbon of violet purple; it is to be placed on the front of

the turban. The tunic you must weave of fine linen and a girdle, the

work of a skilled embroiderer.

(Exodus 28-36)

Kingly Turban: The turban was the symbol of royalty and was used

in place of the crown. It was an article of kingly regalia. Throughout

the Islamic world, it continues to be used in place of the crown

where monarchy exists.

For Jerusalem's sake I will speak out. Until her light shines forth like

the sunrise, her deliverance like a blazing torch, until the nations see

the triumph of your right, and all kings see the glory. Then you shall

be called by a new name, which the Lord will pronounce with his

own lips. You shall be a glorious crown in the Lord's hand, a kingly

turban in the hand of your God.

(Isaiah 62:2-10)

http://www.massagedepot.com/pointsturban.htm

[Guest]

This Shabad is by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Aasaa on Pannaa 467

ma 1 ||

First Mehl:

likh likh parriaa ||

The more one write and reads,

thaethaa karriaa ||

the more one burns.

bahu theerathh bhaviaa ||

The more one wanders at sacred shrines of pilgrimage,

thaetho laviaa ||

the more one talks uselessly.

bahu bhaekh keeaa dhaehee dhukh dheeaa ||

The more one wears religious robes, the more pain he causes his body.

sahu vae jeeaa apanaa keeaa ||

O my soul, you must endure the consequences of your own actions.

a(n)n n khaaeiaa saadh gavaaeiaa ||

One who does not eat the corn, misses out on the taste.

bahu dhukh paaeiaa dhoojaa bhaaeiaa ||

One obtains great pain, in the love of duality.

basathr n pehirai ||

One who does not wear any clothes,

ahinis keharai ||

suffers night and day.

mon vigoothaa ||

Through silence, he is ruined.

kio jaagai gur bin soothaa ||

How can the sleeping one be awakened without the Guru?

pag oupaethaanaa ||

One who goes barefoot

apanaa keeaa kamaanaa ||

suffers by his own actions.

al mal khaaee sir shhaaee paaee ||

One who eats filth and throws ashes on his head

moorakh a(n)dhhai path gavaaee ||

the blind fool loses his honor.

vin naavai kishh thhaae n paaee ||

Without the Name, nothing is of any use.

rehai baebaanee marree masaanee ||

One who lives in the wilderness, in cemetaries and cremation grounds

a(n)dhh n jaanai fir pashhuthaanee ||

- that blind man does not know the Lord; he regrets and repents in the end.

sathigur bhaettae so sukh paaeae ||

One who meets the True Guru finds peace.

har kaa naam ma(n)n vasaaeae ||

He enshrines the Name of the Lord in his mind.

naanak nadhar karae so paaeae ||

O Nanak, when the Lord grants His Grace, He is obtained.

aas a(n)dhaesae thae nihakaeval houmai sabadh jalaaeae ||2||

He becomes free of hope and fear, and burns away his ego with the Word of the Shabad. ||2||

[Aman_90]

Hello, Thanks for the sources and information that you have willingly provided.

About Sikhs not having a unique indentity, I didn't actually mention that they had one, but people, such as yourself are aware that not only Muslims wear turbans and stuff then why call us Oslama Bin Laden? - We dont say things such as that then why should they? - We're aware of Muslims wearing turbans but we dont go round saying stuff to them. Thats the only confusing thing I have to say.

Fateh

[Guest]

Well, ive had personal experiences too like this but i have not been called Oslama Bin Laden yet, hopefully it would'nt happen to ne 1 of us here either. I feel we should correct these ppl, if they do call us Oslama Bin Laden, jus say to them, "Im a Sikh. Us Sikhs have fort with the Americans and the British in fighting the Germans in WW1 and WW2 and I dont follow Oslama Bin Laden".

[Aman_90]

Good idea. Thanks

Fateh

[SinghMunda]

Goray are so stupid of they think we are 'bin ladens' etc. After all, we don't group all of those who don't wear turbans to be the same. We could call them all hitlers, etc, but they are not all the same.

Moderator Note: The term Gora/y can be used as an adjective to describe something or someone as white or fair -this is NOT what you have alluded in your post, where it is clearly a racial term and your comments following it are a gross generalisation and insulting, which are NOT acceptable.

You have a valid point to make, but in the process as falling foul of the very thing you are protesting against. We have not edited your comments for purposes of transparency and example, in future ALL please take due note.

Thank You.

[Guest]

Its not there fault, its ours, we have not shown to people what sikhi is, and some of us havent got any idea what sikhi is. When Gora come to our Gurdawarey theres hardly anyone there that speaks english, I would love to see a Gurdawara in the UK which is ran by Goray then even i would get a better idea what Sikhi is. Just image it, the 3rd, 4th generation Asians that have english as there first lanauage, of all english speaking countrys can go to these Gurdawarey and learn bout sikhi. And in the Sat Sangat the Gurus shabad is given translations in english. But instead were using the money wrongly and making just clone Gurdawarey.

Why else do you think that Islam is getting stronger? All there Clarics can speak english.

It is time for us Sikh here now on this website!!!!!! To open up to the world!!!!!!!!!! This includes me!!!!!!!!!! Whenever you see a Gora or Kalla in our Gurdwaray try to go to them and say hi!!!!!!!!!! Ask them how are they doing?!!!!!!! The Gurdwara is also a place you can make friends not just for worship!! All of us here now should try to do this seva!!!!!!!!! :x

If you feel your ganna try to do this, reply back to this post!!!!!!!

If Waheguru is everywhere what have we to be afraid of!

Do not us any convertion tatics or anyking!!!

[SinghMunda]

I thought that MOST of the Muslim clerics in Uk, like Abu Hamza could NOT speak english, so the politicians want to get rid of them, or something like that. Correct me if I am wrong.

[Guest]

He's got 2 passports, if someones got 2 passports the government can get rid of that passport holder.

[Aman_90]

RupZ - Nice post. Gotta say, good thinking about that. - Have you thought, how many Gorai do you see coming into a Gurudwara? My local, there's 1 and in the others around, never seen any. It's hard to approach them considering they come do their mattah go have langar and are out. (Yup, the thought of coming counts!) However, sometimes situations could change. I mean, if you think about it; they could still get the wrong impression. Some Singhs/Singhnis in a Gurudwara are different from what they are outside a Gurudwara, the Gora could see a peaceful Sikh and then outside see the same person doing something else?

I'm willing to approach but I have to consider consequences too, even though not many may occur.

[Guest]

well i do get what you mean.

[Orchids]

when i go through the channels on sky TV to get to zee Tv i stumble upon a channel called muslim tv or something.. theres always a guy in a turban

[Guest]

Like i said, we havnt got a unique Idenity.

Do you think a Hindu with Cut hair (You do get Keshdheri Hindus) and a Indian Chrisitian look any different?

If a Christian Nunn had a head scraf, would she look any different to a Muslim Women with a Hajab?

If a Jew wore a Skull cap and a Muslim wore a Musilm kind of hat would they really look any different.

We're all lost in an identity war. Really we're all the same, brothers and sisters, why is there any need for a "Unique Identity"? What is a "Unique Identity"? If anyone can give me a line from Guru Granth Sahib or Dasam Granth that says sikhs have a Unique Identity then i'll say sikhs do.

Or when people are thinking identity, are they really thinking of style of life or just cultural identity?

To tell you the Truth, i used to get angry whenever i used to see a Muslim with a turbain, I knew this angre would effect me, esspecially on my Spritual Quest, but at the same time i knew that even muslims are our Brothers and Sisters so i started thinking we're the same. Anger can also Spearate people, make divisions, castes even worse. So this identity war is more harm then good.

[Aman_90]

Yeah ur right we havent got a unique identity, but dnt u think we shud? back in the day, none other than Singhs/Singhnis would be wearing Paghs and keeping Kesh...whats changed?

[Guest]

I think its because when we go to different countries and settle down, what we do without noticeing is that we're share our culture with other people, its not a bad think its a good. We also have to adopt some of their culture too so that we can live there.

[Aman_90]

Hmm..I guess you're right. Still still, doesn't give anyone the oppurtunity to go around and assume people are others without knowing them?

So many Sikhs are judged without being known! It's so..harsh!

Fateh