this topic is something i’ve been thinking about for a quite a while, yet i am not too sure how i’ve ignored it for so long… It is the topic of sikhi… well as in the west as its called SIKHISM. along with many other -ISM which have turned and sprung up. It is rather odd b/c no where with in Siri Guru Granth Sahib and Sri Guru Dasam Granth Sahib Ji, does Maharaj call Sikh Dharam as Sikhism, or an ISM. Its rather odd and quite the biggest misnomer. For this is where the “academics” with in the field of Religious Studies fail to understand the simplicity/complexity of the definition of “what sikhi is…”. yet at the same time, how are they to blame, when in reality it is still we “sikhs” who have no idea what we are, or what we are supposed to do, we guard and shield Sri Guru Granth Sahib from the outside world, or the only time we apply Sri Guru Granth Sahib or really read our banis, is when we have our own personal crisis with in our lives.
Yet out side of that context we like to keep Guru Ji separate from the greater context of our lives, or actually bring Guru Ji with us, for we view Guru Ji as a Burden. that is why we just keep Guru ji neatly tucked away, but draw from it, when we need something. Rather than sharing.
But the reason why i state that we keep Guru Ji neatly tucked away, is that well for some reason we SIkhs believe that, since we are an “ISM” like the other “ISM”s we just have to believe in God, and just have faith. But the practice of a dharam, is to end our Karmas. Not to add more Karma to the process. Yet thats the funny part, for the whole mystic approach of Sikhi has been Lost… I feel that its rather funny, and sad that when the British Raj came to India. The Sikh Empire was the last empire to fall, and be taken over by the British. The influence of British Imperialism and Christianity found its way in to the very practices of Sikhi. Such as these Notions of “heaven and Hell”, “Believe in God”, “Guilt”, Damned, Sinners. Other things such as having a fear of God, and not doign something means you’ll go to Hell.
OTher bizaree practices such as “Grantis” and having other people do your Paath and Prayers. Doubting your own sense of Divinity and asking other people to do Ardaas for you, what nonsense is this? also the biggest would have to calling Sri Guru Granth Sahib as a “holy book” but then in addition, Amrit Sanchaar as a “baptism” or has the same notions of a Christian Baptism, in the sense of by taking amrit, i’ll be guaranteed a spot in heaven and its so hard no one can do it, better put it off before i die.
Oh about the academic professors, who think and are confused by Sikhism, is that its rather hilarious if you think about it, and figure that there is no way that Sikhism can be an ISM, because Here with in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, by looking at Bhagat Di Bani, you have the writings of various Holy Saints & Sages. Shyeks, Bhagats, and most prophets are spoken of, and even most beliefs are mentioned such as Adam. Thus its funny because Guru Ji ends that sense of Duality we have about religion and our own beliefs with others. For fi on thinks that they have the right and only way to God, and others are wrong, thus they have created duality with in themselves abou te Divine, and inlieu of this Ego arises with in themselves.
also Sikhi, is all about sikhia, or learn. the only way to learn is by experiment. Its rather funny if you think about it, something Siri Singh Sahib spoke about, that “if you want to learn something read it, if you want to know it write it, and if you want to master it, teach it” , yet that is something to this whole teaching thing, in order to properly teach you have to practice it, for without the practice whats the point, book knowledge can only go so far.
