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Summary of Question:	Sikh-Faith
Category:	Other
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 7/19/2000 6:00 AM MDT

1.in rehras-chaupai, it is said,"(god)protect me by ur hands and destroy all my anemies. whereas in ardas we pray sarbat da bhala, does the word sarbat excludes our enemies?

2.y do in some gurudwara's sikhs celebrate new years eve? it is related to the christian calender and not to sikh calender,(baisakhi)
3.is it against our religion to have a drink of alcohol or is it bad only if u over drink and get drunk?some medicines contain alcohol.are they proihibitted for sikhs?
4.do u think the sikh religion has helped the world,the way that guru nank dev ji supposed it would?
5.what is the purpose of repeating paath over and over again if u dont under stand it?
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Reply
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1. All is God and all is God's doing. We recite "Benti Chaupii" as we would wish all acts of kindness and righteousness be protected. We ask for conscousness and goodness to live as God...to be like the sun that lights the way and shines on all. Because, God loves and cares for all His Creation.

In the Ardas we pray that we have the strenth to overcome and over look our shortcomings as well as the shortcomings of others. We pray to be givers, heroes and saints and to wish well to all and to spread good will to all God's creation....even if some do not wish well to us....so, God protect us from this.

2. Spending time with the Guru and the Sadh Sangat is always a welcome activity. In Western world where New Years eve is celebrated it is a good time to seek out the company of God, Guru and community rather than drinking and doing unconscious acts in other places.

3. Drinking alcohol is against the Sikh Rehit Maryada, the daily guidelines and beheviors for Sikhs as given by Guru Gobind Singh. Drinking alcohol and taking drugs alters your awareness and clouds your ability to to be clear and conscious. Prescription drugs are not in this category. The very tiny amounts of alcohol are usually catalysts or preservatives for the medication. Bottom line is that Sikhs should avoid alcohol.

4. These teachings have helped the world more than we can know at this time. I think that the teachings of Guru Nanak through Guru Gobind Singh are revolutionary. This world has hardly begun to experience the power and effect of these teachings. Just see how the future unfolds as Khalsa becomes born all over this planet. 960 million we shall be.

5. The power of path is not for the mind to understand...these sounds have power without your knowing the meaning. You have an experience from reciting these words, this is the power. This is called Naad Yoga. Repeating the sounds and absorbing yourself into them will change your vibrational frequency and give you a vast experience of yourself and your connection to infinity.

By repeating sacred sounds over and over again.... such as,reciting Jap ji Sahib.....you are applying yourself meditatively. You apply this meditation by absorbing your 3 trillion cells in focusing on the sound, making the sound, hearing the sound, becoming the sound....the net result is to have the experience of ecstasy...a god experience...you experience what the Guru felt when he spoke these God inspired words.

Try this: Put your right palm over your left palm and plave them over your heart at the center of your chest. Now, recite "Wha", purse your lips making the sound like water dropping into water. Then say "Hey"..by stetching your lips into a smile. Then say "Gu-Roo" like you are kissing God in Infinity. Do this with your eyes closed for 11 minutes each day. Sittting in a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Sit with a straight spine. Breathe deeply in between words. Let the thoughts come, but let them go as you keeep directing yourself to continue focusing on this meditation. When you are finished. Sit quietly and feel the energy you have created through this recitation. Feel this feeling and see the effects it gives you. It will give you great clarity and give you the true answers for your questions.

This is the sound of the ecstasy of God. It is a tritukee mantra. Mantra are repeated sounds that give you God awareness. Siri Guru Granth Sahib is made up of sounds that have this transformational power