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Summary of Question:	On The Subject Of Fun
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Monday, 8/25/2003 8:17 AM MDT

Waheguru ji ka khalsa, waheguru ji ke fateh

Nice site you got here! I’d like to say great big thanks to the moderators and staff of sikhnet for getting me into Sikhi, It is with Gods grace that we have made contact.
I have a couple of questions that need to be answered, please help me answer my issues:-

1. I have made great sacrifices to become a sikh and one of those sacrifices is giving up my punker friends, we had fun in the old days, but the fun wasn’t always clean, they (and me) swore a lot, whenever they went out they drank and got drunk and their social discussions are on sex. This of course isn’t really a big sacrifice if you think about it but on the spiritual path I feel lonely and pretty empty compared to the fun we had which made me happy for a few moments. Well my question is that because all Sikhs in my town are similar to the punker friends (whether they listen to punk music or bhangra) I need company and guidance of the sikh path, Would you recommend any sikh clubs in the London area please? And especially those who are knowledgable of sikh philosophy interpreted in 3HO language, If you know what I mean.

2. Fun is something illusionary, something that gives us happiness for a little while, but still a teenager like me wants more and more. When I went to America to visit my cousins we had a lot of fun and in this time I forgot God, Sikhi and anything, which gave me my life, I was greedy and wanted to be absorbed in the fun. Now I know that time is against those who are greedy and in the end they feel empty. Looking at both paths – the way of the greedyman and the way of the saint- I don’t know which to choose because Sikhi doesn’t give me that thrill and fun doesn’t make me content. How can we gain happiness and strength from Sikhi? You tell me meditation can fix all problems, but I am impatient, either im bored in meditation or I just want that quick thrill- pppplllllleeeeaaaaasssseeeee help me cause time is against me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And here is a question on the yogic path

3. You say that naad is a powerful currents which leaves the soul in bliss, how come when I listen to it in gurudwaras I don’t feel that yogic high-ness!? Because I don’t understand it, I get bored and I just want that thrill of fun!
And another

4. Because I studied both yoga and Sikhi, I see not a lot of difference, but the question is that, is Sikhi just a religion copied from the beliefs of yoga or a whole different new thing? please enlighten me

<<<<< REPLY >>>>>

Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa
Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh!

Thank you for your kind words regarding SikhNet, Ji. We are grateful to be able to serve in this way. It is a labor of love for all of us - SikhNet staff and volunteers.

1. You have understood the true meaning of sadhsangat. When you decide to get straight with yourself, you naturally want to be in the company of people who are working on themselves, so that you can uplevel them and be upleveled by them. It is a natural thing to change the company you keep. Sometimes it is hard to leave your mates, but in the long run, anyone who is a true friend will love you for who you are, not because you are just like them.

I live in the USA and am not familiar with Sikh clubs in the London area, but I'm sure some UK forum readers will chime in with info for you on this topic. Meanwhile you can contact the Khalsa community in London either through Guru Kaur (phone: 7394.8587 - email: [email protected]) or Shiv Charan Singh (phone: 7272.5811 - email: [email protected])

2. Manmukh or Gurmukh? The eternal question. Whatever you focus your attention on - grows. It is not that meditation fixes all problems. It is that your own inner experience becomes indescribably sweet and you long for more. It is a natural process, but only if you are having a real and powerful inner experience. Contact the Khalsa I mentioned in the paragraph above and let Guru Ji guide your progress.

3. You make a great point here! It is a question of your own mental state, not the Guru's shabd. You must develop your own dhyana so that you can open yourself completely to the naad. It is Guru's grace. Just begin to understand how to control your own mind and the shabd will work its magic on you. "Man jeetai jag jeet!"

4. Please understand the meaning of the word "religion." It comes from the Latin re-ligio which means to return to your origin. The Sikh path is a universal path. It is not dependant on culture or nationality. It is a path of joy, seva, family and self-discipline. It is a path of responsibility for oneself and for others. Any "religion" that is true - that awakens you to connect to your own divinity - is valid. It is not the religion per se, but the honest practice of the lifestyle and the resulting inner experience. Those who call themselves Christian, Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist or Jew - but do not practice and experience God - are only putting a label on themselves.

And finally, keep up. . . and you will be kept up!

Walk towards your Guru, and he will embrace you and clasp you to his bosom.

With all love and blessings to you in the love of the Naam and the Light of the Guru.

Humbly, .....G