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Summary of Question:	Thai Boxing Ritual
Category:	Other
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 7/23/2002 5:50 PM MDT

i do thai boxing, and at the beginnin before a fight takes place in the ring u have to do a ritualistic dance where u ask the "gods" to help you.

wud it be wrong for a sikh to do this dance?

or is it ok if the sikh is aware the dance is ritualistic and their n no "gods" but waheguru. it is just part of the show...

it cnt be wrong if the sikh does not beleive in it right?

sunny

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Sat Siri Akal.

Dear Sunny,

I guess the question you have to ask yourself is - do the other people mean the dance when they do it? Are the people witnessing the boxing aware that it is just a cultural ritual? Or do they place spiritual/religious significance on it? If the other boxers and the audience genuinely place religious significance on this ritual, then it would be inappropriate for you, as a Sikh, to participate. It isn't so much a question of what you believe as what others will experience when they see you doing the dance. And, for the Sikh, the gods don't matter. Only the One matters. But if the entire form of Thai Boxing is such that the other boxers look upon it as a cultural ritual with no real significance, and the audience views it that way, as well - then do it a couple times and see how it feels. Your inner consciousness will always guide you correctly.

Hope this is helpful.

All love,

GPK