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Summary of Question:	Who Is The Better Sikh?
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 3/09/2005 9:12 AM MST

SSA

When my aunt became an amritdhari, we were quite surprised as she was an easy going modern lady. Both she and her husband were leading "modern" lives, cutting their hair and only going to the gurdwara was part of Sikhism in their lives then. Thus, we were stunned by the sudden radical change.However, over time, we began to accept their decision and even started to respect them. There were times when i wished i was like my aunt as a complete Sikh. As my aunt became deeply involved in the Sikh faith, she became more detached from us. Whenever she use to meet us, she would subtly insult my mom,family and anyone who did not appear as a Sikh in physical appearance. It has to this stage that she appears to be condenscending and we feeling inferior and confused about the faith. Is humility not essential to the Sikh faith? I, myself, do not look like a amritdhari but do not believe that one should look down on the another just because i may accepted the Sikh faith completely. To me, its more important to be a good Sikh soul than outwardly showing that i am actually a Sikh but do not practise basic humanity. So who here then is a Sikh? Please advise.

WJKKWJKF
(REPLY) Sat Nam. A "Sikh" is literally a "Student of Truth." Some are good students, and some are not so good. The virtues and values our Gurus taught are perfect, the way we "students" practice them may not be perfect. Of course humility and basic humanity are at the core of the Sikh faith. Ideally, the inner and the outer match. Try to forgive your Aunt (forgiveness is another great virtue!) and think about how much dignity and majesty it would add to YOU if you were to take on the outer form. (Just a suggestion!) Blessings, SP