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Summary of Question:	What About People That Have Hair Cuts Or Trimmed Beards?
Category:	Hair
Date Posted:	Thursday, 6/14/2001 10:21 AM MDT

Waheguru ji ka khalsa

Waheguru ji ki fateh,
This not really a question rather a statement. Just because you're Punjabis, thta doesn't mean you're Sikhs. Anyone with a hair cut, or a trimmed beard, is NOT A SIKH. Anyone that claims to follow the teachings all of 11 gurus, but is without unshorn hair is not a Sikh. All people that practice Sikhism, must reject the claim of all there actual NON-Sikhs. Similarly, being born the son/daughter of 2 doctors, doesn't make u a doctor, neither does being born to a Sikh family make you a Sikh. There are many ways to prove what I have said, But I will not prlong this question.

MY REAL QUESTION is: Is this approach to beardless and turbanless Punjabis too militant?

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REPLY
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Dear One:

Sat Siri Akaal Ji. Actually, Sikhs should be hesitant to tell anyone who bows before Guru that he/she is NOT Sikh. I have known people who acted Sikh from within, though they cut their hair. While I personally find this dichotomy difficult to understand, I do not believe any of us can judge what is in people's hearts, or the status of their faith and religious belief. Remember what Kabir said: that when we criticize another, we criticize the Creator who made us all.

Generally, at some point in one's adult life, a person will conciously decide whether or not to observe the faith of their parents/family, and at what level. Until that point, however, most people will identify at some level with the faith of their parents, however loosely.

No doubt some people, Sikhs or not, will find your approach militant, and others will not. I think from here you should move your discussion to the Sikhnet chat room. Start here: http://www.sikhnet.com/Chat because this Youth forum is not really meant to be a DISCUSSION forum, it is Q&A. Thanks!

Guru rakha,
----DKK