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Summary of Question:	Taking Amrit
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 11/06/2001 6:45 AM MST

The first time I wrote to you was last year the message was displayed on 23rd October 2000 Titled "Am I Going Mental?" may be you could read the message first before giving a reply to this one as it will give you an insight into the problems I had.

Basically I have reached a stage in my life where I am having strong thoughts on taking Amrit; but am unsure of the pre-requisites. I am a 24 year old british born male sikh.
I now have kesh which is quite long and uncut, I have stopped trimming my beard however it is not long but I have no intention of getting it cut. I have my head covered with a bandona, as I have only recently learnt how to tie a turban but I have worn a turban in public recently. I can speak punjabi fluently but cannot read or write it.

I do "paath" everyday before I start uni and when I come home from uni, I have had "shabads" translated from my mother for example I have written words in english that can be pronounced in gurmukhi, ie:- "Ik Onkar". I am a strict vegetarian and do not drink alcohol nor do I smoke or do drugs. I dont go to clubs or have physical relationships with girls as I do not believe in sex before marriage.

I have a desire to take amrit and live in accordance with sikhism. I have now finally come to be confident with the way I look.
I am naturally quite hairy, one of the things God has blessed me with is being visibly hairy!

I used to trim and remove hair from my cheeks/face as my beard growth does not form a perfect arch line. I used to be embarrassed with my appearance because of my hair growth problem but now am confident I dont care what people think about my appearance.

I live and study in a white/English community, however there is a Gurudwara.

I want to know will I be able to get baptised even though I cant read or write Gurmukhi?

There is no one else in my family who is amrit shak so I have no other means of finding out the answer.

My cousins and family regard me as an unattractive backward person, but I dont care anymore, I used to, but not now the only people I regard as my family is my immediate family. I have regularly prayed to Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Mata Sahib Kaur begging them to accept me as their son but still I am unsure of whether I meet the criteria of becomming their baptised sikh.

My dreams are of religious base and I get immense pleasure and happines from praying and meditating the Gurus' name.

So could you please tell me if there is anything that I need to do before I can get baptised.

I hope you do understand why I need to know, because I do not want to take amrit by only knowing part of the pre-requisites.

Thank you for your time and patience.

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Reply
*****

Many blessings to you for writing this very good question. When it is time to take the Amrit, you know it in your heart. It is between you and Guru Ji only. It does not concern any one else. You do not have to be able to read and write Gurmukhi. You can read your Nitnem in English transliteration or translation. If your heart desires to learn Gurmukhi then rest assured, Guru Ji will give you the means do it. If your intent is pure, you shall have no problem at all.

All love and blessings to you in the Naam, the love of every Sikh, and in the Name of the Guru, the Light of every Sikh.

.....G