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Summary of Question:	Am I Not A Sikh If I Follow The Panth?
Category:	General Q's from Non-Sikhs
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 12/03/2003 12:50 AM MST

Waheguruji ka Khalsa, Waheguruji ki Fateh,

Satsriakaalji, My name is Raj bhatia . I am born in family which follows Sanathan Dharma and Vaishnavism is predominantly followed.
I always had heard that a Guru was needed in spiritual upliftment. I had thought i would get one in person. I had failed to realize that time, that although I had gone through the life and teachings of the Ten Gurus, I was searching water near a river.
Later on I had accepted the 10th Guru, Guru Gobindsinghji Maharaj as My Satguru since i was always attracted to his personality. I generally recite the 'Jaykaraas' in time of distress and find peace and strength.
I have not gone through the 'Amrit' ceremony but accept myself as Dasve Padshaah's disciple. I intorduce myself as a Khalsa though i specify that i have not gone through the ceremony. I am clean shaved.
I also can read Gurumukhi and write somewhat too. I intent to make it regular. I chant the 'Mool Mantra' regularly 5 times in the morning.I ask Guruji's forgiveness for not giving all i should to the Faith.

I am a patriot and have Guruji as my ideal since He is called 'SARBANS DAANI'. A spiritual leader who sacrificed his whole family for the Nation.

Keeping in mind all what I told u ...do i not have the right to be called a Sikh ?

Please give me a solution.

Thanking you,

In the Service of Hindusthan and The Tenth Master,
Raj

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akaal. It is not for me to tell you that you are or are not Sikh. If you self-identify as Sikh, that is your business, not mine. But know this, sir. A Sikh bows to only one Guru, and that is Shabd Guru, as embodied in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. I cannot explain Shabd Guru but to say it is understood and known through naam jaapa or simran, kirtan, and recitation of/listening to gurbani. (Listen to Siri Guru Granth Sahib being read aloud in Akand Paath or on recording and see how you feel when you leave.)

The Guru of the 10th Sikh Gurus was always Shabd Guru, and when 10th master knew his time here was about up, he told his Sikhs that he was conferring Guruship on the Adi Granth, the bani collected and/or written by the Gurus before him (5th Guru first compiled Adi Granth; 10th Guru added bani of 9th Guru, which completed the Granth.) 10th Master is indeed a role model for all Sikhs, but he is not the Creator of the Creation. Read his Jaap Sahib, and see what he says about the Creator! The Siri Guru Granth Sahib's one and ONLY command is Jaap! Meditate! SGGS then, in nearly every Shabd, describes the benefits of naam simran, or what happens when we don't practice the naam and forget Waheguru. Guru ang sang,
-DKK