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Summary of Question:	Sikhs Conversion To Khalsa(In Appearance) Quite Ironical
Category:	Other
Date Posted:	Saturday, 8/03/2002 8:49 AM MDT

waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh

I am proud to be a sikh.I think sikhism is amongst the most commendable religions of the world.A few days ago a friend of mine asked me few questions which left me speechless I pondered over them a lot but in vain.I hope I can get this help from you.
1.He asked me that the evolution of khalsa panth was from sikkhism, lead by
guru nanak,who professed his ideas of simple living (saadgi) but don't you think
that the sikh transformation to khalsa has defeated the very reason of the same as every sikh in the world needs to spend a lot of time in dressing up,wearing
his turban nicely,combing his hairs,setting his beard etc. don't you think that
this is quite ironical.


2.He asked me that guru nanak was the founder of sikhism but he belonged to a hindu family and not just he but our first nine gurus were all from the hindu families .Though their pictorials resembles to the people of khalsa panth(i.e. with turban and beard) but don't you think that they were clean shaven.So what
is the problem is a person from your sect gets clean shaved,after all he remains a sikh if not a khalsa.

3.when guru nanak started professing his ideas many people became his disciples
and during the course till guru teg bahadur many people had started following sikhism for example sindhi's and pandits.It would have grown further but just due to its evolution to khalsa panth, which was just like closing the doors for the outside people by making their special identity as a khalsa.Since then there has not been much growth in numbers of sikhs and it is known as a minority religion now ,which could have been a major religion at this time by the virtueof the ideas it professes.Isn't is ironical too.

In the hope of getting solutions to these questions.

sat sri akaal

(REPLY)

Your "friend" is mistaken, Sikh Dharma is the fifth largest of the world's major religions. Probably it would be even bigger if we tried to convert people, but we don't. We respect all other religions and do not proselytize. Why is your "friend" trying undermine your faith with his ridiculous questions? We Sikhs are privileged to have a Guru, the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, which is forever, and is to be experienced, by reciting the sacred words it contains. I suggest that your "friend" try learning about the meaning of life and death by reading from The Siri Guru Granth Sahib, and that hopefully you are doing the same. Guru Gobind Singh established once and for all the Shabd Guru as our only Guru, and he matured our understanding of dressing in a way to be always recognizable, and to never cut our hair, so as to honor the Creator - the One God who gave us hair. It's not complicated, and it's not something to debate. Anyone can do as he or she pleases as far as living up to the Rehit - the Code of Conduct, but blessed are those who truly have surrendered to God's will by offering their heads to the Guru, so they can live in their hearts.

SP