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Asked: 2022-03-31T21:29:27+00:00 In:

what does it mean to be a Sikh? what do you have to do to call youself a sikh?

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what does it mean to be a Sikh? what do you have to do to call youself a sikh?
what does it mean to be a Sikh? what do you have to do to call youself a sikh?
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    1. hkandola
      Scholar

      WHO IS A SIKH.
      In Punjabi SIKHNA means a learner, seeker, disciple, or student. The disciples of GURU NANAK were called SIKHS. Who is SIKH of GURU NANAK, NOW SGGSJI is well defined in the text of SGGSJI. Unfortunately, over time SIKH religious leaders erroneously created different classes of SIKHS including, SEHAJDHARI SIKHS, KESADHARI SIKHS, AMRITDHARI SIKHS AND PATIT SIKHS. In the SIKH REHAT MARYADA (1945) a SIKH is defined as, a woman or man who believes in one ALMIGHTY, ten GURUS, (GURU NANAK TO GURU GOBIND SINGHJI), SGGSJI, and BANI and teachings of ten GURUS and the AMRIT of DASMESHJI and does not believe in any other religion. The Gurdwara Act of 1925 and the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee have different definitions of SIKH. All these definitions are in contradiction with the definition of a SIKH in GURBANI.
      Let us discuss some examples of who is a SIKH according to GURBANI. GURU says AMRIT NEER GIAN MANN MAJAN ATHSATH TEERATH SANG GAHAI. GUR UPDES JAWAHAR MANAK SEVAI SIKH SO KHOJ LAHAI (PAGE 1328) meaning one who deeply contemplates on SHABAD, BANI, DIVINE WISDOM, destroys his or her ego and individual self, realizing the a spiritual awakening and thus enjoys bliss in life, is a SIKH. In the context of SGGSJI a TRUE SIKH AND GURU HAVE NO DISTINCTION. GURU says GURU SIKHU, SIKHU GURU HAI EKO GUR UPDES CHALAAI (PAGE 444) meaning those disciples of the GURU who destroy their INDIVIDUAL SELF and EGO (JEEVAT MARNA) and live the teachings of the GURU in daily life merges with the GURU, BECOMES ONE WITH GURU. GUR SATGUR KA JO SIKH AKHAAI, SO BHALKAI UTH HAR NAAM DHIAAI (PAGE 305) meaning TRUE SIKH OF THE GURU does not get up in the morning and get engulfed in worldly affairs, but does meditation on the SHABAD, NAAM.
      Culturally and traditionally all disciples of NANAK proudly call themselves SIKHS. We all must realize however, that vast majority of us do not know what it means to be a SIKH. NANAK has awarded a very high title to a GURSIKH saying JANN NANAK DHOOR MANGAI GURSIKHKEE. I do not become SIKH by: keeping long hair; Tying turban, dumala; dressing a particular way; taking Amrit; going to Gurdwara, doing seva; practicing TEERATH ISHNAAN; doing Naam Simran and many more such rituals. As I explained above, I am not a SIKH as long I, THE EGO, INDIVIDUAL SELF, is alive.
      I say there is nothing to despair about. We all are born in the house of NANAK. To be a SIKH, find solutions to life problems, enjoy a better life, and have peace and happiness. NANAK is asking all of us to pay a price, PEHLA MARAN KABOOL, JEEVAN KEECHHAD AAS meaning DESTROY YOUR INDIVIDUAL SELF, EGO AND BECOME ONE WITH SATGURU. Are we all ready for this?