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Summary of Question:	Drinking N Keeping Hair
Category:	Hair
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 10/04/2005 4:39 AM MDT

hi,

im a sikh girl, i fully belive in god and prayers and i go to temple every sunday and most wednesday. i have cut hair and i no thats it is against our religion and all..but i really dont feel its made me a different person. i still pray, i listen to path, i belive it guru ji. i dont understand how cutting your hair makes you different. people arent going to look at you and say theres a bad sikh girl/boy.there going to be like theres another indian person. if my dad keeps his hair but drinks does that make him a good sikh for keeping his hair or a bad one for drinking?i feel that as long as you belive in yourself and you blevie in guru ji and do prayers and all your being a good sikh...thers no point keeping your hair just because you have to...do it becuase you want to...and if you dont want to cut it...as long as you belive in prayer and how it helps..and you belive in guru ji your a good sikh!oh n reply me with your views anyone! my addy is [email protected]

(REPLY) Sat Nam. I can't judge anyone else but myself, and even I have to let God and Guru judge me, so I don't presume to say who is a good Sikh and who is not. I can tell you that I think drinking is against the Sikh way of life, and it is not good for the health or the brain. It certainly goes against any concept of Khalsa -- which stands for purity. That said, as far as hair is concerned, Guru Gobind Singh understood the VALUE of keeping hair, not for appearances, but because it is God's gift of energy and strength -- yes, it's true, hair is a protection and like an antenna picks up energy from the universe. You may believe this or not, but for centuries, enlightened people have let their hair grow long (never cutting it) and during the day, tie it up to the top of the head to bring the energy up to the higher energy centers -- or if you will, to the brain! Then cover the hair/head during the day to protect from dust, if nothing else! Ever hear the expression, "Let your hair down"? Well, it means to be loose and relax. Which is fine, when you're at home in the evening, but in public, a Sikh woman wants to preserve her grace, and be able to think clearly. I would suggest that you stop thinking in terms of good or bad, but rather in terms of what practices and habits will most help you as a person to fulfill your purpose in life. And hopefully, somewhere it has entered your head that the purpose of life is to recognize, unite with, realize, or meet the God who breathes in you! I wish you would go to the Sikhnet home page, and follow the links on the left hand side of the page and learn more about the principles and practices of Sikh Dharma. What we do is not for ritual, it is for our own benefit. Our Gurus gave us a way of living so that we could make the most of this human incarnation. It's wonderful to be a success in the world, get married, have children, etc, but that is NOT the purpose of life. The purpose is to become aware of the Divine Self that exists in us, AAD SUCH,JUGAAD SUCH, HAIBEE SUCH, NANAK HOSEE BHEE SUCH. If you felt right, in the depths of your soul for cutting your hair, you would not be asking this question. Now, I have a question for you, do you read your banis every day? Again, doing Paath is for your own benefit, to attune you to the wisdom and guidance of the Gurus, and clear your subconscious mind of the thoughts and feelings that are preventing you from experiencing God. What does the Siri Guru Granth Sahib tell us over and over? Chant God's Name! May God bless you and Guru guide you to fulfill your highest destiny, SP