Previous

Next

Ask a Question

Summary of Question:	A Few Questions
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 7/10/2002 12:53 PM MDT

Sat Sri Akal. I am a sikh boy living in London, UK. I have a few questions which i hope you will be able to answer for me. Firstly.. I have cut hair..does this make me a bad person? I Pray often and i belive in Sikhism a lot and all it's teachings. Secondly..Is it wrong to have a girlfriend? I dont have one at the moment but i was just wondering. Lastly What did our Gurus say about Smoking. Again, i dont smoke but i was just wondering.

Thank you very very much!

___________________________________________________________________________

Sat Siri Akal.

Does having cut hair make you a bad person? No. It does not make you a bad person. Being a Sikh is not something you are born into, it is a spiritual commitment that you choose. Having cut hair means you haven't committed to the discipline of being a Sikh. But it isn't a question of "bad" or "good."

Second: Is it wrong to have a girlfriend? Same issue. For many people, it is not wrong to have a girlfriend. A girlfriend is a very low-commitment proposition. You can have her one week, get rid of her the next. You know? A Sikh lives by honor, discipline and commitment. For a Sikh- a girlfriend isn't possible. A Sikh needs a stronger commitment than that. So - intimate relationships with the opposite sex are reserved only for married people because that type of relationship requires a commitment in order for it to be successful.


The Gurus taught that the only intoxicant worth taking was the intoxication of meditating and singing about the Spirit and the Divine. So all intoxicants - including smoking, alcohol, and drugs - are not needed by a Sikh.

There are two stages in choosing a spiritual path. One is - hey- I like it. The other is - wow- I'm going to commit to living the discipline in order to transform myself. You like Sikhism. And that's great. Sikhism is a very easy religion to like because it so universal and elevating. But to be a Sikh requiries more than agreeing with its principles. It requires a commitment to the discipline. Otherwise, it's just window-shopping.

Keep praying and keep believing, and ask the Guru's guidance. You'll be fine.

All love,

GPK