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Summary of Question:	Langar
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Monday, 5/13/2002 7:00 AM MDT

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

I am 18 years old and a student studying first year at university. My parents and my brother are amaritdharis but I am not. However, I'm hoping to be one in the near future and the reason for the delay is because I am preparing myself by doing part. I am hearing impaired and this arised at the age of two. Due to this disability, I find some words difficult to say. This is to give you my famiy background so that you are aware of my interest in Sikhism, even though I am not an amritdhari I am very passionate about my religion and I easily get upset if anybody disrespects it.

From the area of where I attend university, there is only one Gurudwara. It is newly built and opened up sometime in Jan. I went to the new Gurudwara yesterday and it was beautiful but there was one aspect of it that did not seem to seem to fit in the Guru's House. They made use of tables and chairs in the Langar Hall. Only two strips of hard mats were in place for those who wished to sit on the floor. Also, they wore shoes and most of the men did not cover their heads.

Having seen this, I was aware that they all had cut hairs ( one or two exceptions) including ladies, and gave me the impression that they were doing it for the sake of doing it and made it look like a social function. I hope I dont sound too harsh. Anyway, I spoke to somebody who liases with someone in charge of the Guruwara (he has cut hair and wore shoes in the Langar hall) and his reply was, "that is just a matter of opinion, everybody else wants to sit on chairs so let them do it". I was really polite to him and did not allow this to become a debate. I told him that this arrangement is wrong and all the other Gurudwaras are following the order from Hukamnamas, who issued this change. He said he knew that but its all politics. So I tried a different tactic and said that Guru Nanak Dev Ji served langar to the homeless and other unfortunates while they were sitting on the floor to show equality amongst all, and his reply was "that was 300 years ago, things have changed now."

I apologise for making this really long but I really need your advice. I have to tell you that i am deeply hurt by this incident. I know I shouldnt have felt this (and regret for doing so) but I thought what right does it give a man who doesnt even obey the full rehat to control the Gurudwara. I am looking forward to hearing from you and may Waheguru be with you always.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

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Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh.

When Guru blesses us with a love for His Hukam and a longing to see the spiritual teachings honored in their purest form, it is challenging to see something like what you're describing. So I have a lot of sympathy for what you're feeling. But let's look at your question: "What right does this man have to control the Gurdwara?"

Guru has given him this charge, and that's something to step back and realize.

The real question is, "What is Guru doing here?" Remember that our Guruji is very loving and never turns anyone away from His home. All Gurdwaras are built with four doors because every single human being is welcome to take shelter at His feet. There are many Sikhs who have decided that they want to have a connection with the Guru, but they do not want to maintain the full discipline of being a Sikh. They want to cut their hair, be modern, eat at tables and chairs because there is something inside themselves NOT READY to take the steps of: being visibly identified as a Sikh, sitting in humility with others as equals. Understand that the phsycial reality of the Gurdwara is a reflection of the psyche of the people involved.

Now, as humans, we are continually growing in our spiritual awareness. In the eys of the Guru, if they are coming to Gurdwara and meditating on Gurbani-well-at least that's a start. No one begins at the finish line. And many Sikhs want to be able to be together in congregation with the Guru, even if they aren't willing/ready/capable of living the discipline to its fullest. If you were Guruji, what would you do? Tell them-no-unless you folow every order exactly as I have given it, you cannot be with Me? Or - do the best you can, love Me the best you can, be with Me the best you can? It's all right. It's all God's will.

Life gives us all many challenges. We begin where Guru places us. It's a question of whether or not we keep walking forward. For these people, they are walking forward. For you, you want to begin in a different place. You're ready to sit in humility with others, your ready to be visibly identifiable, so you need to find other people who have the same depth of commimtent that you have and walk together with them. It's not about judgement or comparison. It's about honoring that Guru is with everyone and is guiding everyone in the same direction, even if, because of different karmas, we all start in different places.

Try to see how it is Guru's will that these things are occurring and surrender yourself to that will. And also know that you have the right to be with the company of people who can support your commitment without having to worry about people who have made other choices.

Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh.

GPK