Previous

Next

Ask a Question

Summary of Question:	Sikhs Or Sects?
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 5/08/2001 7:23 AM MDT

Satsriakhal,

I hope my question does not offend others.
I would like to know if there is any valid information on the differnt types of sikhism.

My family at the moment has three groups:
1) Meat eaters, alco.drinkers, druggies and smokers
2) Radha Soamis
3) Believers in Raara Sahib Sants.

I want to know why so many people like the first group above are so anti
No. 2 & 3sikhs.
What is the big deal if a person sees the merits in accepting a 'Mahapursh' as their personal guru. The sants and Mahapurshs of the so called sects do not teach followers anything other than what is in the Gur-bani so why are they treated like outcasts by society?
Who are they harming if they live in accordance with the teachings of our Gurus, surely they are raising awareness for the importance of a gursikhi way of life.

******
REPLY
******
Dear One;
You question does not offend.

Broadly speaking, the reason group 1 doesn't like group 2 or 3 is because 10th Guru Gobind Singh gave the Guruship to the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. He said that any question a Sikh has could be answered by sincere query to Guru Granth Sahib. Said in other words, he gave the Guruship to the WORD, the Shabd Guru, which is personal/impersonal guru. So, group 1 folks think that Group 2/3 folks WORSHIP the Sants and Spiritual teachers as Guru, which goes against traditional Sikh belief and practice. Today's traditional Sikh worships no person, and bows to no one but Siri Guru Granth Sahib.

Incidentally, the Sikh rehit prohibits ingesting of any kind of addictive substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and 'recreational' drugs. The reason for this is that they cloud the judgement and pollute the body-temple wherein God is realized. So Group 2/3 look on people in Group 1 (as you have described) as not being true Sikhs either.

I hope this helps. Guru Rakha,

DK