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Summary of Question:	Constant Re-Occuring Dreams Of Gurus
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Friday, 12/21/2001 5:12 AM MST

Satsriakhal,

I am a sikh male and I have constant re-occuring dreams.
My dreams (both when I am asleep and in day dreams) are of religious nature sometimes I see pictures/visions of Sikh Gurus and sometimes I see pictures/visions of Hindu Gods like Mataji and Shivji maharaj. I am happy whenever I have these dreams because I feel that I am blessed with thier 'darshan' in my dreams but sometimes I see snakes 'Naag-Devta' in my dreams and get confused because some people say seeing snakes in dreams is bad. I try not to be superstitous but can not help wondering how come I am seeing snakes.

Could you shed any light?

Also I have been asked by my non sikh friends to take them to the Gurudwara, which I shall. The thing that is hounding me is that what do I do if I get asked to go along to the Mosque with my muslim friends?

I am asking this because originally I had no problem as I have allways thought that God is one and is seen by differnt people in different ways and that by going to a mosque would not make me a muslim, but then some of my sikh friends have said that it will be unacceptable for a sikh to go to the mosque at prayer call.

Now I am totally confused.

Finally,

A family member had bought a copy of punjabi publication at Diwali, and I kept it because it contained some pictures of Gurus which I plan to put on my bedroom wall. There was also a picture of Laxmi-Ma, I kept that as well since I personally did not think it was right to discard the picture, but now I dont know what to do with it since I got told told as Sikhs we are not to associate with other religious figures. Please could you tell me if this true or taken out of proportion.

Thankyou
Gur Fateh.

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akaal Ji.
I cannot really TELL you why you have the visions/dreams you have. The BEST way to figure it out is to meditate, chanting the Naam for at least 11 minutes at a time, and asking Waheguru what the meaning of these visions is for you. However, I can tell you that considering that some folks have recurring NIGHTMARES, you are doing alright if you are seeing Gurus and not monsters! As for the snakes, it IS superstitious to think snakes are automatically bad. The Buddha and Guru Nanak (I think it was 1st Guru...?) both were protected by cobras once when they meditated. The snake also represents kundalini power, coiled at the base of the spine. When it expands NATURALLY (not forced) up the spine, it brings great knowledge. I think someone is trying to tell you something, but I URGE you to meditate for yourself on the meaning, not to ask someone to interpret it for you.

While there are many out there who disagree with me, if you are attending a mosque service as a means of SHARING a worship experience with a Muslim (and perhaps the Muslim does likewise at some point), then I do not think there is anything wrong with this. Sikhs respect everyone's right to worship as they choose, we cannot criticize one's form of worship. In today's world, INTERfaith understanding is SOOOOO important, and one way to gain that is to attend a worship service outside your own. In the end, follow your heart. You are right, God is everywhere, not just in a temple or mosque!!! If you go with this attitude, then no one can criticize you.

As for the picture of Laxmi Ma, if this being reminds you of some positive attribute that you wish to cultivate in yourself, then keep it and everytime you look at it, ask yourself how you are doing on bettering yourself. That's how I regard pictures of Gurus and other holy people. The Gurus' admonition against worship of representations of God or other gods is that (1) God cannot be identified as a single image, since God is All-in-all. and (2) other gods only represent a limited aspect of the Godhead. Gurus all made it clear they are devotees of God, and part of the All-in-all, but not the sum total of God. Moreover, the Sikhs' Guru is Shabd Guru, or word of God. It was with Guru Nanak, and remained so THROUGH Guru Gobind Singh to Siri Guru. If you can keep any representation of any saint or Guru and remind yourself that you bow only to God and Siri Guru, then the pictures do not lead you to false worship, but remind you of qualities to attain and cultivate. So, if you don't want the Lakshmi Ma picture, the
n give it to someone who perhaps will be thrilled to have it.
-Guru rakha, DKK