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Summary of Question:	The Situation In The West
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 3/26/2002 2:15 PM MDT

reading through the posts, has anyone noticed how the number of "dont give me no god rubbish, just give me a yes or no" questions are increasing???? i feel this is a prime example of how we cannot live in a westernised society at all - with all the temptations and the way sikhs want to 'blend in' - shows us how sikhs shouldnt live in a westernised society. if you want to live a life with less temptations and less of the 5 sins, move back to india!!! thats what im gonna do!!! this is not a blaze of the forum, you do your job well, it could not be done much better. the challenges we face are a test from waheguru; but most people are failing them!!! look at a gurdawara; over half the people there have cut their hair!!!

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Sat Siri Akal, ji.

With all the exclamation points !!! I can tell that this situation upsets you very much. The world has changed dramatically over the last hundred years and though many of those changes started in the West, they effect the entire world. A couple days ago, an article was published about Amritsar being the drug capital of the Punjab. There is no place for anyone to go externally to escape the challenges.

The only place to go is within ourselves, to find the strength through our connection with our own spirit to live our values in the face of these difficult and trying times. Actually, the West needs the Sikh spirit. It's the Sikh spirit that can give many Westerners another way to live their lives-a way that honors both the soul and the body at the same time. Something I tell myself all the time is: If it was easy, everybody would do it.

It isn't easy, but you can do your best to be a role model for others. The Guru teaches, ?They who, night and day contemplate the Name in their heart, their entire life becomes fruitful. They themselves swim across, deliver the whole world and their entire lineage is saved.? (Page 1264). So it isn't up to the world to do it-just YOU-and through that, a lot of other people will be released with you.

Sincerely,

GPK