Can I consider myself an unbaptized Sikh if I don't live near a gurdwara but want to follow the Sikh lifestyle and worship as a Sikh? I ask out of respect and want to ensure it’s acceptable within the Sikh community. Is it okay to identify as an unbaptized Sikh? Does the Sikh community generally accept those who are not baptized?

Respected Brother/Sister,
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh!

In reply to your question, the undersigned wants to say that there is no such condition that a Sikh should necessarily live near a Gurdwara. If a Sikh has a home near a Gurdwara, then that is great.

Now we come to the question of unbaptized and baptized Sikh.

Please be kind to read the following Pangti of Shabad of Fifth Guru Person, Guru Arjun Sahib, in Raag Maru, which is located at Panna 1083-84 of Guru Granth Sahib:-

ਨਾਪਾਕ ਪਾਕੁ ਕਰਿ ਹਦੂਰਿ ਹਦੀਸਾ ਸਾਬਤ ਸੂਰਤਿ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਸਿਰਾ ॥੧੨॥ {ਪੰਨਾ 1084}

ਪਦ ਅਰਥ: ਸਾਬਤ ਸੂਰਤਿ = (ਸੁੰਨਤਿ, ਲਬਾਂ ਕੱਟਣ ਆਦਿਕ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਰਹ ਨਾਹ ਕਰ ਕੇ) ਸਰੀਰ ਨੂੰ ਜਿਉਂ ਕਾ ਤਿਉਂ ਰੱਖਣਾ। ਦਸਤਾਰ ਸਿਰਾ = ਸਿਰ ਉਤੇ ਦਸਤਾਰ (ਦਾ ਕਾਰਨ ਬਣਦੀ ਹੈ) , ਇੱਜ਼ਤ-ਆਦਰ ਦਾ ਵਸੀਲਾ ਹੈ।12।

ਅਰਥ: (ਸੁੰਨਤਿ, ਲਬਾਂ ਕਟਾਣ ਆਦਿਕ ਸ਼ਰਹ ਨੂੰ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ) ਆਪਣੀ ਸ਼ਕਲ ਨੂੰ ਜਿਉਂ ਕਾ ਤਿਉਂ ਰੱਖ = ਇਹ (ਲੋਕ ਪਰਲੋਕ ਵਿਚ) ਇੱਜ਼ਤ-ਆਦਰ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਵਸੀਲਾ ਬਣ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।12।

In this Guru Sahib is teaching that one is not to disturb the appearance (ਸਰੂਪ), given by Akalpurakh. Rather, keeping it as it is a way to get respect. Therefore, one has to first get convinced about remaining in Akalpurakh’s Hukam and maintaining the Sikhi Saroop. This is for the unbaptized Sikh.

Now coming to the subject of getting baptized, what in common parlance is called taking Amrit. The word Amrit, appears in Guru Granth Sahib a large number of times, which makes it absolutely clear that Shabad/Naam (Gurbani) is Amrit. For example, Guru Sahib guides us;-

ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਸਬਦੁ ਪੀਵੈ ਜਨੁ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਪਰਮ ਗਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥੪੧॥੯੨॥ {ਪੰਨਾ 393}

ਅਰਥ: ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ! (ਉੱਚੇ ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਗੁਣ, ਮਾਨੋ) ਹੀਰੇ ਜਵਾਹਰ ਹਨ, ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਜਪ ਕੇ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਇਹਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਖ਼ਜ਼ਾਨੇ ਭਰ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ ਤੇ ਕਦੇ ਇਹਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਥੁੜ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੀ। ਗੁਰੂ ਦਾ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਜਲ ਹੈ, ਜੇਹੜਾ ਭੀ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਇਹ ਨਾਮ-ਜਲ ਪੀਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਉੱਚੀ ਆਤਮਕ ਅਵਸਥਾ ਬਣ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ।2। 41। 92।

So, imbibing the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib, getting rid of vices, becoming a righteous/virtuous person or Gurmukh amounts to taking Amrit daily. One has to make efforts to become one with Akalpurakh and Shabad Guru, who are embodiment of each other, and reach the stage of spiritual equipoise and spiritual bliss. The first goal is to achieve spiritual emancipation/salvation in this life time itself.

Now coming to Dastar, which is necessary for both unbaptized and baptized Sikhs, the dastar is our Guru’s gift to us. It is how we crown ourselves as the Singhs and Kaurs, who sit on the throne of commitment, to our own higher consciousness. For men and women alike, this projective identity conveys royalty, grace, and uniqueness. It is a signal to others that we live in the image of Infinity and are dedicated to serving all. The turban doesn’t represent anything except complete commitment. When you choose to stand out by tying your dastār, you stand fearlessly as one single person standing out from six billion people. It is a most outstanding act.

Now we come to the ceremony of ‘Amrit Sanskar,’ as per ‘Rehat Maryada (Code of Conduct), laid down by Akal Takhat Sahib.

Actually, what we take from Panj Piaras is not Amrit but ‘Pahul’, which in common parlance is named as ‘Amrit’ and the ceremony is named as ‘Amrit Sanskar’. Please see pages 27 to 31 of ‘Sikh Rehat Maryada’, under the heading ‘Amrit Sanskar’, which are devoted to the ceremony of taking Pahul. Please click on the link below to read the ‘Sikh Rehat Maryada’:-

https://sgpc.net/?page_id=653

Now coming to the question why it is necessary to take Pahul?

The practice of giving Pahul was started by the Tenth Guru Person, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, on the Vaisakhi day of 1699, to prepare a disciplined force of ‘Sant Sipahis (ਸੰਤ ਸਿਪਾਹੀ)’, so as to fight against all kind of oppression/tyranny/ persecution/atrocity/cruelty.This disciplined force of Sant Sipahis came to be known as Khalsa i.e. Akalpurakh’s own, who rose above the fright of death and fought all kind of oppression/tyranny/ persecution/atrocity/cruelty in the past and continue to do so.

Now coming to the Five Ks (ਪੰਜ ਕਕਾਰ Pañj Kakār), which are: kesh (unshorn hair), kangha (a comb for the kesh, usually wooden), kara (a bracelet, usually made of iron or steel), kachera (a white undergarment), and kirpan (a small sword of any size, shape or metal). The Five Ks are not just symbols, but articles of faith that collectively form the external identity and the Khalsa devotee’s commitment to the Sikh Rehni, ‘Sikh way of life’. A Sikh who has taken Pahul is required to keep all the five Ks, being the command of Tenth Guru Person, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.

So, keeping in view the above discussion, first of all please convince yourself that you can live a disciplined life, in which you will have to maintain both Baani and Baana, get rid of vices, become a righteous/virtuous person (Gurmukh), become one with Akalpurakh and Shabad Guru, who are spiritually embodiment of each other and achieve the stage of spiritual equipoise (ਆਤਮਿਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ) and spiritual bliss (ਆਤਮਿਕ ਆਨੰਦ). The final goal is to achieve spiritual emancipation/ salvation in this life time itself (ਜੀਵਨ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੋ ਜਾਣਾ).

So, consider and become a Khalsa i.e. Akalpurakh’s own. There should be no duality in your mind, which, if there, will mean that you will neither be here nor there. Dear one, the Gurbani teaches us:-

ਜਉ ਤਉ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਖੇਲਣ ਕਾ ਚਾਉ ॥ ਸਿਰੁ ਧਰਿ ਤਲੀ ਗਲੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਆਉ ॥ ਇਤੁ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਪੈਰੁ ਧਰੀਜੈ ॥ ਸਿਰੁ ਦੀਜੈ ਕਾਣਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ॥੨੦॥ {ਪੰਨਾ 1412}

ਅਰਥ: ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਜੇ ਤੈਨੂੰ (ਪ੍ਰਭੂ-ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਦੀ) ਖੇਡ ਖੇਡਣ ਦਾ ਸ਼ੌਕ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ (ਆਪਣਾ) ਸਿਰ ਤਲੀ ਉੱਤੇ ਰੱਖ ਕੇ ਮੇਰੀ ਗਲੀ ਵਿਚ ਆ (ਲੋਕ-ਲਾਜ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ ਹਉਮੈ ਦੂਰ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਆ) । (ਪ੍ਰਭੂ-ਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਦੇ) ਇਸ ਰਸਤੇ ਉੱਤੇ (ਤਦੋਂ ਹੀ) ਪੈਰ ਧਰਿਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ (ਜਦੋਂ) ਸਿਰ ਭੇਟਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਏ, ਪਰ ਕੋਈ ਝਿਜਕ ਨਾਹ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਏ (ਜਦੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ ਕਿਸੇ ਝਿਜਕ ਦੇ ਲੋਕ-ਲਾਜ ਅਤੇ ਹਉਮੈ ਛੱਡੀ ਜਾਏ) ।20।

Hope it helps. If you have any further questions, please do ask. If there are any shortcomings please do point out the same for improvement in future.

Regards,
Your Brother