What steps should I take if I want to become a Sikh and there are no Sikhs nearby?
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Respected Mauricio ji,
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh!
In reply to your question the undersigned wants to say that:-
1. “Sikh” is a “Seeker of Truth” and “Sikhism” stands for:-
(i) Oneness of Humanity;
(ii) No discrimination owing to gender, race, caste, creed, or color;
(iii) No empty rituals & worthless religious practices;
(iv) No life after death theories. Rather, it stands for salvation/emancipation, during the life time on getting rid of vices.
2. Further, Sikhism:-
(i) teaches a Sikh to live his life in the present, as per Hukam of Akalpurakh and teachings of ever living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib;
(ii) expects a Sikh to earn an honest living, remain connected with Akalpurakh all the time and share his honest earning with poor and needy;
(iii) expects a Sikh to be compassionate, kind, tolerant and is to love all i e. he is to reach the mental state of seeing Akalpurakh in everyone and hence having friends only and no enemies;
(iv) expects a Sikh to serve the humanity, without any distinction of caste, creed and religion.
The main difference between Sikhism and other religions is that Sikhism propagates salvation/emancipation, during the present life itself by getting rid of vices, while it is not so in case of other religions.
So, first of all you have to understand and work on what is stated above, maintain your appearance as was given by Akalpurakh, try to learn Gurmukhi so that you are able to read Guru Granth Sahib in the language it was written and slowly and steadily move forward. It is not a one day affair but one has to constantly remain on the watch and tread the path shown by Guru Granth Sahib,
Hope it helps. If you have any further questions, please do ask. If you find any deficiencies, please point out the same, for improvement in future.
Regards,
Your Brother
Hello dear brother:
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh!
Your detailed answer is well appreciated . I’ve been trying to get a glimpse of Sikhism for about more than two years now, through online sources because there are no nearby Sikhs where I live (the closest ones are a couple of 3HO Sikhs with a heavy emphasis in yoga, three and a half hours away by car from where we live).
Some of the details from your answer I was already familiar with (I have read a similar answer in some other question I looked for in this website), especially the ones in point #1, and I’m still working on to get those accomplished (so when you write “It is not a one day affair…”, I know what you mean!).
However, maybe my question was more about the “technical” details of the second part of your answer. For example, how can I remain connected with Akalpurah all the time? Or reaching a state of seeing Akalpurah in everyone? How can I maintain my appearance (which I don’t know what appearance you’re referring to) as was given by Akalpurah and how can I learn Gurmukhi? I hope you understand both my ignorance and the difficulty for me to understand and get all of these done without knowing and being supported by at least one Sikh person nearby. I know it’s complicated for you to tell me all of that at once, but maybe if we go one step at a time, providing the technical details of that step, we can make it. Or should I develop those questions in another thread?
Sincerely yours.
As understood by the undersigned, to remain connected with Akalpurakh all the time, one have to imbibe the teachings of Shabad Guru i.e. Guru Granth Sahib and implement the same in one’s daily life.
About seeing Akalpurakh in everyone, one doesn’t have to see shortcomings in others (Rather one have to see one’s own) and do good to all, even if someone does something, which one feels is not right.
About learning Gurmukhi, please take help of YouTube. Also, if you search, you may be able to find a website.
About maintaining appearance, you must be aware that Sikhs are not supposed to cut their Kesh (Hair) and maintain the same as are given by Akalpurakh.
Hope it helps. If you have any further questions, please do ask.
Regards,
Your Brother
My brother,The mail has been sent. Hope that the document sent helps you to learn Gurmukhi/Punjabi. If you want more, the undersigned will send.
Regards,
Your Brother
Thanks again brother. This is the kind of support sometimes one needs in order to walk in the path of Truth. Now that you mentioned Kesh, I can give you the following example: I always knew that I had to leave my hair uncut but was afraid to do it because both the culture I live in and my family consider that to be taboo. I used to cut my beard and hair as less as I could. But when I knew about the Sikhs I felt encouraged to stop cutting any hair at all. It’s been like two years since that happened. But then again, I’ve heard and read from some Sikhs that you are supposed to cover your hair with a turban, which can also be frowned upon by my society and family. I’m kind of ignoring that part of Sikhism so far, hoping I’m not sinning. Please feel free to correct me for any mistaken beliefs I may have.
So just to confirm, my priority now is to get a Guru Granth Sahib so that I can start studying it, right? Because so far I was relying upon the “three pillars” which I thought were more urgent than reading the Guru Granth Sahib.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_pillars_of_Sikhism
Keeping in view the situation you are in, you can become a student of the Guru first and slowly and steadily take steps to become a Khalsa, in due course of time. Another thing, you are not converting to Sikhism but by imbibing teachings of Guru Granth Sahib, you are adopting the way of life, shown by Guru Sahiban, which will help you to get rid of the vices and enable you to reach the stage of spiritual equipoise and spiritual bliss. The final goal is of emancipation/salvation in this life itself, without bothering what will happen after your physical death.
Please see this video also.
Amen to your last answer, brother. I will do my best. Although I did not understand the purpose of the YouTube video.
To learn Gurmukhi. If you search, you may find some websites also, which can help in this endeavour.
Brother, please search ,’punjabi learning books free download’ and go to https://archive.org and you will find a heading ‘Learn Punjabi in a month. Please download the pdf and see if you find it useful.
The video shows Sikhs chanting Waheguru. I don’t see why that would help me learn Gurmukhi.
No Brother, this video has nothing to do with learning Gurmukhi. This the undersigned had put in the App, just for listening by you because the participants are chanting ‘Waheguru Waheguru ‘in a very calming and soothing manner. For your learning of Gurmukhi, the undersigned will try to locate a good video or website and let you know.
Regards,
Your Brother
All clear brother. The website for learning Gurmukhi is not showing that heading you mentioned, but don’t worry, you have already helped me a lot.
Brother, if you will like to share your email address, I can send you on email.
I received them Brother, and found them to be very interesting. I will try to study them. Do you know if by any chance there is a similar one in spanish instead of english? I think it’s easier in spanish, but also, in order to share it with my wife or a friend/relative in case they’re interested too.
Please see if this App helps.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.LeranPunjabi.Lite3
Please see this also:-
https://learnlanguagesfromhome.com/apps-to-learn-punjabi/
Unfortunately, I’m not able to download google play apps in my IPhone.
For Apple phone you have to go to Apple Store and check.
Brother, click on the link below and download the App in your iPhone:-
https://apps.apple.com/in/app/learn-punjabi-gurmukhi/id883062859
Hope it helps.
I am wanting to convert to Sikhism but I need some guidance. My religion is in some ways very close to Islam despite being a Christian, although many would say that I am not Christian at all).
How does god forgive sins if there is only one god? And do women need to wear turbans or only men? Also I don’t think I will ever be able to learn Punjabi and gurbani because I can’t do Arabic or Japanese either. Will this be a problem?
My friend, I’m new in Sikhism. Go to the right top of this page, where it says “Ask a question” and formulate your questions there.
What I know is that sins are forgiven by meditating/praying/chanting the Lord’s name.
It’s not mandatory for women to wear turbans.
Punjabi/Gurmukhi was promoted by the Gurus themselves so it’s important to learn. The good news is that it is easy, way easier than learning arabic and japanese.
Hello OL. Answering to your question “Mauricio, did you become a Sikh with your family or alone? Trying to find a place in a new religion alone has been quite difficult. What do you say to family members who want to un-convert you? Is this a just me problem or is it usual?”
I’ve made the journey together with my wife. However, at this point we have stopped considering “religions” altogether, and just think of ourselves to be disciples (sikhs) of the Guru. We also consider Jesus to be a true Teacher, even though one has to filter a lot of Bible verses which were clearly not divinely inspired.
I understand the difficulty of your situation. Throughout years I have gotten a little isolated from family, friends and neighbors because of my evident search of the Truth, my way of thinking and, sometimes, my appearance (uncut hair, simple clothes, etc). My nearest relatives are not religious, so they don’t bother me as long as I don’t try to convince them.
My advise to you is as follows: you always have to honor your father and your mother as the Bible say. If both of them agree on something, that means it’s something worth considering it. I would try to get into an agreement with them so that they can understand and respect your religious decisions. As for any other family member, demand respect from them and put them aside if they don’t comply. As long as you’re good with God and with your parents, everything else will flow naturally in your favor.
Remember that God’s name is Truth… sometimes it’s very hard to accept that Truth.
Regards,
Your brother.
You need to visit ‘basics to sikhi’ on youtube I feel like you have a lot to learn. Anyone can call themselves a Christian and not follow the faith’ in the same way anyone can call themselves a Sikh and not follow guru granth sahib ji. Sikhism is based upon not what you call yourself but how you live your life and what you do. The way to eradicate your bad deeds is through karma and your actions and your devotion to Waheguru. Sikhism isn’t about someone forgiving you, it;s about you putting in the work to be a better human and connecting to the divine. It takes dedication not a quick fix. You don’t pray and then your sins go away. You must spend your lifetime in devotion.
Just do meditation 🧘♀️ if u do practice this one or half hour daily for a month u will learn everything from inside no need to ask anything from anyone , everyone will teach u only their religion specification. Because guru nanak, budh ,jejus and many more didn’t read any granth or follow any instructions from anyone. Religion is only search of inner no need to go out. AND U WILL BECOME SIKH WHICH MEAN LEARNER
Just do meditation 🧘♀️ if u do practice this one or half hour daily for a month u will learn everything from inside no need to ask anything from anyone , everyone will teach u only their religion specification. Because guru nanak, budh ,jejus and many more didn’t read any granth or follow any instructions from anyone. Religion is only search of inner no need to go out. AND U WILL BECOME SIKH WHICH MEAN LEARNER
I beg to differ. Jesus knew and followed the Torah (Moses/jewish law) to its perfection. He even told his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you.” (Matthew 23:2-3)
The Gurus believed in the Saad Sangat which is mentioned several times in the Guru Granth Sabib.
1. Then to whom Torah followed and this question will continue ..then who came first , to whom he followed. If u r talking about bible then according to bible god created the world in 6 days and on seventh he rested..if its true then hindus and sikhs perception is wrong…
2. If a sikh lives in africa his surrounding no sikh lives then where he will find saad sangat..
1. I don’t believe everything in the Bible, although I know it very well. I was under the impression that you stated that Jesus and other spiritual founders (Buddha, Mohammad, etc) got their ideas all by themselves, without any help from anyone, but I don’t think so… They all came from known spiritual traditions, were usually immersed in their own context and learned from spiritual books/leaders of their time and place. Even though at the end, they came up with something new, different and revolutionary.
2. Regarding the Saad Sangat, I have the same question… Perhaps Sikhs should encourage a missionary spirit that make them travel all around the world to establish and develop Sangats for people seeking the Truth. If I’m not mistaken, the Gurus did that. Where I live there is no Sangat, so my wife and I are kind of isolated and deprived of communitarian life…
I think your advise of meditating is good. What I have done so far is making positive changes in my life. But even meditation needs some guidance sometimes because I didn’t know how to meditate in the beginning and I had to watch some Nanak Naam videos in YouTube to learn that.
Its good u have wide knowledge but every book is written after the experience of any individual not before.
And for meditation just focus on ur breathing inhale and exhale while sitting crossed leg, or on chair or laying with zero state of mind.
Different people have different experience but make ur experience best…
Best wishes enjoy ur life
And i beg apologize if i disturbed ur feelings
its wrong my darling.. i was a islam.. the prophet are those choosen by God to spread holy message of God to humankind.. same as the gurus… they were given the holy words by waheguru and later wrote the guru grant sahib… same as the prohet.. guru nanak and muhammad have said the same thing.. “whatever I hear from God, is what i say and write”
ok darling.. thx for the downvote.. i hope i can correct myself… only akal purakh Waheguru knows the ultimate truth.. may waheguru be by ur side and guide you to the right path….wjkk.. wjkf
I appreciate your advise and good intentions. Pray for us. Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki phateh.
Mauricio, did you become a Sikh with your family or alone? Trying to find a place in a new religion alone has been quite difficult. What do you say to family members who want to un-convert you? Is this a just me problem or is it usual?
I haven’t been on this conversation thread in awhile…I’m not sure if I should be making a new question instead.
About sikhism vs other religions I have some questions:
My former religion had similarities to Islam and I like Islam but I notice some flaws in practice (as with every other religion because people aren’t perfect).
I especially have questions about Sikhism as it relates to gay people after one of my family members feels gay or whatever it’s called when girls like girls (she says gay).
To be clear, she is not planning to convert to Islam or Sikhism although who knows in the future if she might. She’s agnostic meaning she doesn’t know what to believe.
I have searched the web but most websites either are Gay Pride or hateful with little in between and most don’t explain gay religious beliefs.
Sorry my question is a little unclear. I’m asking what is the sikhism view of being gay and how does this relate to other religions? But I’m mostly just asking about the first part because I can ask people of other faiths for a comparison.