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Summary of Question:	Hair
Category:	Hair
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 11/05/2003 5:19 PM MST

HI IAM A 19 YR OLD SIKH GIRL AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS REGARDING OUR SIKH FAITH WHICH IAM STILL KIND OF CONFUSED ABOUT. ALL MY LIFE I HAVE HEARD FROM MY PARENTS AND OTHER SIKHS THAT BEING BAPTIZED WAS A THING OF CHOICE AND THATS ITS BETTER IF UR BAPTIZED BUT IF UR NOT ITS STILL OK. MY QUESTIONS IS WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR HAIR FOR SIKHS WHO CHOOSE NOT TO BE BAPTIZED AND ARE U NOT CONSIDERED A COMPLETE SIKH IF UR NOT BAPTIZED? IS IT JUST AS IMPORTANT TO KEEP UR HAIR EVEN IF U HAVEN'T TAKEN THE AMRIT? AS FAR AS I KNOW IF U HAVEN'T TAKEN AMRIT U STILL HAVE THE CHOICE OF EATING MEAT, BUT IF YOU HAVE THEN AS PART OF THE REHIT MARYADA, UR NOT SUPPOSED TO EAT MEAT. THE OTHER THING IS WHEN I CAME FROM INDIA WAS MADE A WHOLE LOT FUN OF MY HAIR, PPL PULLED IT AND I DID EVERTHING I CAN HOWEVER I HAVE CUT MY HAIR B/C I WAS SCARED AND ALSO B/C I FEEL THAT IT IS HEALTHY FOR MY HAIR. HOWEVER I STILL FEEL THAT A SIKH WHO KEEPS HIS HAIR AND TURBAN WITH HIS HEART TRULY AND MEDITATES ON GOD'S NAME IS A TRUE SIKH B/C INSPITE OF SOCIETY HE OR SHE STOOD OUT FOR WHAT HE BELIEVED. THATS Y I WANNA GROW MY HAIR LATER IN LIFE AND WANNA BAPTIZE AND EXPERIENCE WEARING THE CROWN. B/C I STILL TODAY LOVE AND RESPECT THE SIKHS WHO GAVE UP THEIR LIVES AND STOOD OUT. DID GURU JI SAY THAT IF A SIKH CUT HIS OR HER THEY AREN'T A SIKH ANYMORE? AND WUT RULES MUST A UNBAPTIZES SIKH FOLLOW, I MEAN INCLUDING HAIR,MEDITATION, ETC? I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I LOVE MY RELIGION AND I FEEL THAT IF I BAPTIZED LATER AND DO IT FROM MY HEART I WILL FEEL PROUD TO SHOW MY INDENTITY AND IT WILL BRING MORE SELF CONFIDENCE.

(REPLY) Sat Nam. What are you waiting for? A Sikh has courage, commitment, and honors the hair that God gave him or her. There's a sort of fable about an old toothless wolf who boasts to everyone that he's a vegetarian! While you are young is the time to live according to the highest values. Dont be intimidated by anyone who "makes fun" of you. If you REALLY believe in the things you've said, then you can stand against the world, knowing that you are living and being for your God and Guru, and not to please the people around you. May God and Guru bless you with all you need to fulfill your highest destiny as a GurSikh. SP