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Summary of Question:	Youth Loosing Identity
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 10/24/2001 1:22 PM MDT

Sat Sri Akaal!

When I go to the Gurudwara I see the youth. They are no longer the future of Sikhism. The majority of them cut their hair. There is a growing idea that the 5 K's are only for Khalsa and non-Khalsa can do as they please.

More young adults are following this trend as well. If you had the opportunity to address a group of Sikh youth, what would you say to encourage them to be Gursikhs, Amrit or not?

Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh

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REPLY
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Sat Sri Akal,

As someone who was a youth not too long ago, I can tell you that there is nothing you can say to youths that will make them change their ways. It starts from early childhood, the parents must properly raise the child so that when he or she reaches adolescence he or she can have be a proper Sikh. If that is not the case, then only when the youth grows up will he understand the importance of Sikhi and following it.

If I were talking to a group of youths, I would have to tell them the problems we face as we get older and how the Gurus gave us a formula to overcome these problems. I would have to tell them that the Gurus and millions of other Sikhs didn't give up their lives for nothing. There was a reason, and that reason can be found by paath. And when you paath, your problems somehow seem to fade away and your life becomes easier to live.

Gur Fateh,
HSD