Previous

Next

Ask a Question

Summary of Question:	Talking About Sikhism, With Non-Religious Or Non-Sikhfriends
Category:	Other
Date Posted:	Friday, 12/08/2000 4:58 PM MST

To the great servants of the Guru, may God bless you with knowledge, unity and love. May God always keep your minds free of the five evils, and full of respect for the Word of the Guru, and all the sadh sangat of the world.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

I am an 18-year-old first-year college student in British Columbia, Canada.

I have family members and friends who are involved in religious groups or practices other than the Sikh way of life.

For example, I have a few Muslim friends, Christian friends and people in my social circle who don't believe in religion.

Often times, I am so absolutely inspired by my Guru and the Sikhs that follow my Guru. I am so absolutely amazed at the stories of the 10 Gurus before my Guru, and wonder where their courage and determination came from.

When I am led to tears, hearing the stories of the sacrifices of my Guru's Sikhs, I want to share my stories. However, how do I speak of the Sikh religion to my friends who rigorously follow the Muslim or Christian faiths? One of my best friends is an existentialist. She does not believe or is not ready to believe in the existence of God.

How do you suggest I talk about my religion with people who are not members of my religion?

Also - often I'm approached by religious people at my home or in downtown, who hand me magazines and pamphlets. I, frankly, find it rather offensive that people try to infiltrate their opinions into other peoples households, through decent looking magazines and such materials. For example, somebody came up to me in Downtown Vancouver, and requested that I donate money to a charity that sent money to poor people in India. In exchange I would receive a vegetarian cookbook that had some Hindu philosophy in it. I find things like these morally distasteful, as people try to change your views, and do not want to accept the materials, but at the same time I want to introduce my faith to these people. How can I do such a thing? How can I respectfully reject any religious materials from door-to-door religious salespeople? It is not that I don't want to learn about other religions... in fact I have a copy of the New Testament at home, and often ask my Muslim friends about their religion. However I am a Sikh of the Guru

and do not want people to try to change my respect for my Guru.

God Bless You all.

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

*******************************************************************************
Reply
*******************************************************************************
Greetings to you in the name of God the life of every soul and in the Name of Guru the life of every Sikh.

I can really feel your earnest and thoughtful situation.

First of all, as a devoted Sikh, you can study the religions of the world. It is helpful to be well read and educated....Guru Gobind Singh was extremely well read and encouraged this education. This will make you a very knowledgeable and help you understand others.

Then, sharing your stories of faith and courage to give others faith and inspiration from your Sikh orientation is fine. So few people know anything about our way and our history. Share away! I find people very interested in knowing about Sikhism and our Guru's and our beleifs and history.

There are so many people studying Buddhism these days. It is a way of thinking and treating the world with consciousness. Sikhism is also something that can be shared for the benefit of more people.

I really do not appreciate the people who come to my door with their message of "Jesus, the Savior". The reason is, they are coming to me uninvited and do not respect my beliefs, no matter what I want to share with them.

Your friends and associates are interested in you and what you believe in, so sharing your faith is sharing yourself with the people close to you.

Then also, just as the Guru's used their words to uplift people, sharing the word of the Guru to help a person in need is sharing a technology of consciousness that can work to help any human. Gurbani is a technology of sound current that will raise a person's awareness and bring peace to their minds. They do not have to be a Sikh or a religious person. It simply has an impact on the mind and the consciousness of the human being. You can read the booklet "Shabd Guru-Quantum Technology for the Aquarian Age", on Sikhnet to understand the scientific explanation of Shabd and Siri Guru Granth Sahib in Western scientific language.

In conclusion, relax and rejoice in the gift of the Guru that you have been given, and do not hesitate to share with those around you. You have so much love and inspiration and the people of this world are still in great need of love and inspiration.
God bless you.