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Summary of Question:	Self-Defence And Name Calling
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 6/19/2001 8:27 AM MDT

Sat Sri Akal,

I wanted to ask you a question regarding self-defence.
It will be best illustrated using an examples......

1.
Say if you got into a fight, then afterwards you see the same person again, would it be right t attack him?

2. If someone attacked one of your family members or a friend, and if you saw that person, would it be right to attack him/her?

3.
If somebody started swearing at you or one of your family members or friend, would it be right to attack him? Can this be counted as self-defence?

I thank you for your at time, please could you answer each situation separetly.

Baljit Singh
[email protected]

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REPLY
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Dear Baljit Singh:

Sat Siri Akaal. Good questions!

1. No. The thing to do to/with the person (depending on all aspects and circumstances ) is either (1) apologize and ask forgiveness; OR (2) avoid him/her at all costs. Actually, forgiveness is needed anyway. At some point one must forgive oneself and the other for the transgression involved. This can be done silently and sincerely in one's heart, it does not have to be face to face.

2. No, unless you are WITNESS to the attack. if you are there at the time of attack, then you have a right to take REASONABLE means to protect your friend/family members at that moment. (In some jurisdictions, if the response is greater than the attack or considered unreasonable, the one defending can be arrested!) The authorities should be consulted in either case. "Aapay beejh, apay he kao, Nanak hukumee avaho jao." As you sow, so do you reap. (Pauri 20, Japji Sahib). The ones that harmed your family will receive Divine justice, count on it, but don't watch or wait for it, and DON'T take justice into your own hands.

3. No. It would be unreasonable to physically attack a slanderer. You do not need to provoke a fistfight! Guru Gobind Singh said that "When ALL other means of persuasion have FAILED, THEN it is just to take up the sword." Slander as you describe does not justify the sword.

The wise man blesses the slanderer! God protects the honor of his saints. I know this may sound strange, but Guruji tells us that the one who slanders us takes on our karma. It is what the slanderer gets for slandering, and it is how God protects the honor of his saints. I can tell you it will blow the slanderer away to bless him. Review the 13th Slok and subsequent Ashtapadeeas of Sukhmani Sahib for an in-depth discussion of this teaching. You can search it on Sikhnet, and there are Gurmukhi/English versions of Sukhmani available for purchase.
If you cannot bless the slanderer, DO NOT LOWER YOURSELF TO HIS/HER LEVEL by swearing back. Keep your dignity and sheperd you and your family out of the situation, and chant Satnam Waheguru while you do. You will be covered.

Guru rakha,
-DKK