Is Westernization causing a loss of traditional Sikh values and customs?

Respected Preet ji,

Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh!

In response to your question as to whether westernization is causing loss of traditional Sikh values and customs?, the undersigned will like to brief you about Sikhism as under:-

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 spiritual salvation/emancipation, during the life time itself, by getting rid of vices.

2. Guru Granth Sahib starts with Jap Baani of First Guru Person, Guru Nanak Sahib, and the Baani starts with, what is called Mool Mantar, which defines the attributes of the One God (Akalpurakh), with whom a person can become one, with the help of Shabad Guru:-

ੴ (Ik Onkar) (One Universal Creator God);

ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ (Sat Naam) (The Name Is Truth);

ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ (Karta Purakh) (Creative Being Personified);

ਨਿਰਭਉ (Nirbhau) (No Fear);

ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ (Nirvair) (No Enmity or Hatred),

ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ (Akal Moorat) (Image of the undying);

ਅਜੂਨੀ (Ajuni) (Beyond Birth);

ਸੈਭੰ (Saibhang) (Self-existstant);

ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ (Gur Parsad) (By Guru’s Grace).

Therefore, the First Guru Person, Guru Nanak Sahib, himself had made it very clear, in the very beginning of the Guru Granth Sahib, that there is one creator God and He is not in human form but resides everywhere and in every living being.

3. In his discussion with Yogis, the First Guru Person, Guru Nanak Sahib had made it very clear that his Guru was Shabad when he said Shabad Guru Surat Dhun Chela (ਸਬਦ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਧੁਨਿ ਚੇਲਾ).

4. Further, Sikhism:-

(i) teaches a Sikh to live his life in the present, as per Hukam of Akalpurakh (Divine Law) 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.

5. Guru Granth Sahib teaches a person/Sikh to get rid of vices, become a righteous (ਸਚਿਆਰ) /virtuous (ਗੁਣਵਾਨ) person (Gurmukh – ਗੁਰਮੁਖ). The goal of becoming a righteous/virtuous person was laid down by the First Guru Person Guru Nanak Sahib, in the first Pauri (stanza) of Jap Baani itself, when he said:-

Kiv Sachiara hoiey, Kiv Kude Tute Pal,

Hukam Rajai Chalna, Nanak likhya Naal.

ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥

6. Once a person/Sikh achieves the goal of becoming a righteous/virtuous person and becomes one with Akalpurakh and Shabad Guru, who are spiritually embodiment of each other, he will live a disciplined life and achieve the stage of spiritual equipoise (ਆਤਮਿਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ) and spiritual bliss (ਆਤਮਿਕ ਆਨੰਦ). The final goal is to achieve spiritual emancipation/ salvation (enlightenment) in this life itself (ਇਸੇ ਜੀਵਨ ਵਿਚ ਆਤਮਿਕ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੋ ਜਾਣਾ) since there is no concept of salvation/ emancipation, after death in Sikhism.In other words, there is no concept of reincarnation (ਆਵਾਗਉਣ) after death, which is a concept of Hinduism.

7. Imbibing the above teachings, of Guru Granth Sahib, is what is called Sikhi.

8. From what is stated above, you can very well see that Sikhi has nothing to with rituals (Karamkands) and is nothing but carrying personal values, each and every moment of life, which one carry while living anywhere in the world.

9. 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