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Summary of Question:	What A I Shall Do ?
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Monday, 7/23/2001 3:00 AM MDT

IM BORN IN THE PHILIPPINES ! And i was batized in A Catholic Chruch Because ITS IS Requirement to us. BUT IM ASLO A INdian masses ? It that am going to indian gurbani masses . But i was Babtized as Cristian I Like Cristian Subject very Much Beacuse Im First Honor In Cristian Subject. But love to be a Sikh WHAT I SHALL DO????????

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REPLY
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Dear One:

Sat Siri Akaal. While all paths lead to the same True One, there are fundamental differences in the teachings of the Catholic faith and those of the Sikh faith that contradict each other.

If you want to be a Sikh then practice as a Sikh. If you want to be a Catholic, then practice as a Catholic. You can partake of both, but you cannot become AMRITDHARI Sikh and still practice as a Catholic. Actually, as an ex-Catholic, I know that the Catholic Church frowns upon observance of other faiths if you observe Catholicism. There is nothing that says an Indian HAS to be Sikh, or a Phillipino HAS to be catholic, despite what the national law is. Being baptized because it's a national law doesn't make you a Catholic except in name only. Practicing any faith devotedly makes you a member of that faith.

In the end you have to follow your heart. I cannot tell you what to choose. But I would like to suggest that fully invest yourself in one path only, and practice its teachings and disciplines. I have learned that it is very hard to practice divergent disciplines and make any real spiritual progress. It is not about the disciplines, it is about the constant shifts in focus.

So go FULLY into one or the other. If you choose Catholic, then go to mass daily, pray to the Saints, do confession, do novenas, the rosary, etc. If you choose Sikh, then attend Gurdwara daily, read from Siri Guru Granth Sahib, chant the holy Naam daily, recite 5 banis etc., and wear the form of Guru Gobind Singh. Experiment with it if you must, but do so fully for at least 6 months, a year is better, to get the full cycle of holy days or gurupurabs. Then you will know from your heart which path and practice is best for you.

God bless you,
-DKK