Sadly,
in recent times it seems that many Sikh youngsters are going towards
dividing themselves in groups and stressing their group is the right
group and the other groups are not legitimate, mistaken, or worst still
not Sikhs because they don't believe what they believe. Throughout Sikh
history, Sikhs have enjoyed the support of being in Sangat in the forms
of small groups (jathas), but no one believed that their group was the
Panth - the Panth is much greater than any group.
Many
Sikh Saints who may have had differences in their interpretation and
observance of Maryada (Code of Conduct), shared the one common thing -
the love of the Guru and the thirst and hunger to please the Guru.
Looking back at the lives of the Great Sikhs, you realise that they
agreed to disagree with fellow Guru-fearing-and-loving Sikhs and had a
mutual respect with one another. They still considered those with
perhaps different beliefs, like whether Dharnas should be sung or not,
whether Rag Mala is read or not, or what school of thought they
followed in pronouncing Gurbani, as fellow Sikh brothers and sisters.
One
more recent example in history is Baba Jarnail Singh jee Bhindran Wale,
who showed that the authority of the Sri Akaal Takht comes before our
own respect-worthy personal Maryadas we follow and practice. Whilst
staying at Sri Harimandir Sahib (Amritsar), Baba jee instructed his
Sikhs not to impose their Dera's Maryada there or in any Gurdwara and
instead uphold and respect the Maryada of Sri Akaal Takht Sahib. Why?
It showed Baba jee's reverence for the One-Panth and believing we are
all - whether individuals or groups - members of this One-Panth.
May
Guru jee do kirpaa on us all that our Sikhi is built on pursuit for
Guru jee's kushee (happiness) and kushee of the Panth and avoid getting
stuck enmity and poison filled anger over the way someone else recites
Paath or where they got santhiyaa from or not, how someone does Simran,
whether someone can do Swaas Swaas simran or not, where someone recites
Mool Mantar up to, how someone else does Keertan, which length Rehraas
someone recites etc. Isn't it more important that someone recites
Paath, someone actually does Simran (whether it is just repeating
Waheguru with their Rasnaa (tongue) or with their Swaas (breaths)),
someone actually meditates on Guru's Word whether up to GurPrasaad,
Nanak Hosee Bhee Sach or even just meditating on one-single word of the
Guru! Raag keertan is part of our history and culture that the Panth
should preserve, but aren't we all capable of singing the true Raag -
love? Should we get annoyed with someone else's Nitnem (daily prayers)
and become negative whether they recite long, short, or medium-size
Rehraas - isn't it praise-worthy that they are doing Nitnem?
May Guru jee bless us all.
Many
Sikh Saints who may have had differences in their interpretation and
observance of Maryada (Code of Conduct), shared the one common thing -
the love of the Guru and the thirst and hunger to please the Guru.
Looking back at the lives of the Great Sikhs, you realise that they
agreed to disagree with fellow Guru-fearing-and-loving Sikhs and had a
mutual respect with one another. They still considered those with
perhaps different beliefs, like whether Dharnas should be sung or not,
whether Rag Mala is read or not, or what school of thought they
followed in pronouncing Gurbani, as fellow Sikh brothers and sisters.
One
more recent example in history is Baba Jarnail Singh jee Bhindran Wale,
who showed that the authority of the Sri Akaal Takht comes before our
own respect-worthy personal Maryadas we follow and practice. Whilst
staying at Sri Harimandir Sahib (Amritsar), Baba jee instructed his
Sikhs not to impose their Dera's Maryada there or in any Gurdwara and
instead uphold and respect the Maryada of Sri Akaal Takht Sahib. Why?
It showed Baba jee's reverence for the One-Panth and believing we are
all - whether individuals or groups - members of this One-Panth.
May
Guru jee do kirpaa on us all that our Sikhi is built on pursuit for
Guru jee's kushee (happiness) and kushee of the Panth and avoid getting
stuck enmity and poison filled anger over the way someone else recites
Paath or where they got santhiyaa from or not, how someone does Simran,
whether someone can do Swaas Swaas simran or not, where someone recites
Mool Mantar up to, how someone else does Keertan, which length Rehraas
someone recites etc. Isn't it more important that someone recites
Paath, someone actually does Simran (whether it is just repeating
Waheguru with their Rasnaa (tongue) or with their Swaas (breaths)),
someone actually meditates on Guru's Word whether up to GurPrasaad,
Nanak Hosee Bhee Sach or even just meditating on one-single word of the
Guru! Raag keertan is part of our history and culture that the Panth
should preserve, but aren't we all capable of singing the true Raag -
love? Should we get annoyed with someone else's Nitnem (daily prayers)
and become negative whether they recite long, short, or medium-size
Rehraas - isn't it praise-worthy that they are doing Nitnem?May Guru jee bless us all.