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Summary of Question:	Having Trouble At Gurdwara
Category:	Gurdwara
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 9/03/2003 2:21 AM MDT

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

i live in brisbane, Australia and i go to the Brisbane Sikh Gurdwara and there has been alot of argueing at the Gurdwara. There are two parties. a religious one and a not so religious one. Well after a few years the two parties have agreed on something. the religious party has the weekly program on the 1st sunday. and the other on the 2nd. and so on. well as all my Sikh freinds will be the next generation of Sikhs we were wondering if we should tell the adults to build a seperate Gurdwara from the non religious group. I need some help on what to do. and how to tell the parents

Thank you

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

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REPLY
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh. No, don't further divide the (adult) community by creating a separate gurdwara in relation to these two parties. However, you might consider organizing male & female youth to protest this division and/or to create an alternative that does not take sides with either party, but that represents the all-embracing aspect of Sikhi. This may be seen as divisive, but it is also a statement that both parties are not setting a good example of values & virtues for youth. Or consider creating a youth camp or Sunday camp where the youth lead their own gurdwara, kirtan, ardas, and take hukum. (I'm not talking about building a new space here.) You do not have to be a bhai sahib or amritdhari to run a gurdwara, no matter what others may say. As you know, a respectful gurdwara can be created just about anywhere. In other words, lead by doing, not by waiting on the adults to get their acts together. (My recommendation assumes that the youth are not nearly as divided as the adults. If they are, this will not work.)

Since it is clear from your post that some of the youth are very unhappy with this division, then the youth should consider what it is they want in a gurdwara, and then take that to the adults. Now, what you are going to run up against is the bhai sahibs who are paid by the gurdwara (management). This is going to freak them out. SO long as they are paid by the gurdwara, they will understandably put their income ahead of doing what's right for the community and for people's Spirit. Another option is to insist that youth be involved in every Sunday gurdwara, including kirtan, chauri, reading hukum, prasad, etc. Even have youth get up and tell a story of one of the Gurus, or a story of how they've felt the hand of Guru in their lives. Elsewhere on Sikhnet you can find information on protocol for how to run a gurdwara service. But don't just build a separate gurdwara. Use these ideas to come up with a solution that forces the adults to look at what they are creating. I hope this helps.
Guru ang sang,
-DKK