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Hi! Am trying to advance spiritually in sikhi, however i continually get thoughts of nindia in my mind, especially when sitting in sangat. No matter how hard i try, my mind just keeps thinking bad of others. I dont know what to do, i dont want to think bad but I cant control the thoughts. Is there anything that can be done? I really wana move forward in sikhi and get closer to maharaj but this is a major blockage. Thank you

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Waheguru ji ka khalsa, Waheguru ji Ki fateh ji. I would like to enquire if anyone here know where we can get middle to good quality shasters at a reasonable price in India. Does anyone know where to get budha Dal Shaster?

Seeing how young Sikhs of today are surrounded by so many different ideologies, religions, sexualities, etc in a very confusing world of competing idea's how would you raise your kids to learn and be proud Sikhs? Even if they do not take amrit or keep their unshorn hair, how would you instill that loyalty to sikhi and pride in them?

WJKK WJKF I recently got married, around 10 months ago, and my wife moved in with myself and my family. My family are religious to an extent but dad and bro are pagg wale with cut beards. The first few months of marriage were okay, from around April we have seen a lot of issues, such as : 1. "your wife doesn't do anything" ie when the mrs cooks and it isn't to my parents approval they won't eat it. 2. If we go out during the weekend / for dinner or social - we get told we are being disrespectful and that we have too much money for our own good. 3. I've just decided to grow out my Dari and have it prakash- that's also been ridiculed. Don't get me wrong every family has issues and every marriage has teething problems. We've had our ups and downs but the other week we got told quite viciously to leave the house as we were not wanted. So I adhered for myself and my wife a rented apartment etc. My question I guess is how would you have dealt with it ? It just feels as if the world and its dog is after us at the moment. any suggestions / help is appreciated thanks WJKK WJKF

Sangat ji, Generally, for the last 2 years I have been dealing with my depression. There have been ups and downs, but I have completely lost any faith I ever had. I was blessed with Amrit 3 years ago, but when my depression started to really get me down, my Paath gradually decreased, and now I can't remember the last time I sat down to read and paath, or to recite simran or listen to kirtan. I have many distractions of which I can't escape from, and I do feel like of all times, now is that hardest for me to try to get back up. But this needs to happen now, I am now at a point where I am so numb when I am talking about all of this - I don't feel like I want to get back into Sikhi, but of course, I know I should, I know it's the only thing that can help. I really don't want to offend anyone, so if you do feel offended, I apologise, but please realise you can't understand everyone's situations and lives. Before anyone says call so and so, talk to so and so; I have talked to a therapist, and although it is helpful in certain aspects, it doesn't help me get closer to feeling less numb, or get closer to Sikhi. I have surpassed that stage of suicidal thoughts and whatnot so please don't tell me to call sikh helpline, etc. Everything is nothing now, I feel so weak physically and mentally. Please don't say anything about family or friends because I have no one to depend on, and this is an extremely personal journey. I don't think I have much time left before I really distance myself from Sikhi. Please advise me on what to do? I am so sorry for such a bad attitude towards such a precious life, please forgive my mistakes, and don't take what I have said to heart.

Has the Sikh community lost its sense of sarbat da bhalla by becoming to focused on 'panthic' issues?

Vjkkvjkf, What is the procedure to bring a kirtini jatha from India to Canada for kirtan hazri at gurdwara in Ontario? Thanks Simardeep Singh

Today we are releasing a very relevant video that explains why makeup, body enhancements and other artificial and worldly ways to decorate one’s body are not in accordance with Gurmat. This video by Bibi Sanmukh Kaur, a young Canadian born Gursikh bibi, is geared towards Amritdhari bibian who are not fully convinced why they should not use modern techniques to do makeup, wear ornaments and do other body decorations. We give our perspective on why doing makeup is not in accordance to Gurmat and we hope that it will be received by viewers in a positive sense because our aim is not to belittle anyone but we are doing these videos solely with the purpose of educating Sikhs about Gurmat code of conduct and important Gurmat principles. If you find something violating Gurmat, please bring it to our attention by contacting us at +1 647 771 3047 (whatsapp). ਅਜ ਅਸੀਂ ਵੀਡੀਓ ਇਸ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ ਤੇ ਰਿਲੀਜ਼ ਕਰਨ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਵਿਚ ਬੀਬੀਆਂ ਵਾਸਤੇ ਮੇਕਅਪ ਕਰਨਾ ਜਾਂ ਹੋਰ ਸੰਸਾਰੀ ਸਿੰਗਾਰ ਕਰਨਾ ਕਿਉਂ ਠੀਕ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ। ਕਈ ਭੁੱਲੀਆਂ ਭਟਕੀਆਂ ਹੋਈਆਂ ਸਿਖ ਬੀਬੀਆਂ ਗੈਰ-ਸਿਖ ਔਰਤਾਂ ਦੀ ਰੀਸੇ-ਕੁਰੀਸੇ ਫੈਸ਼ਨ ਅਤੇ ਮੇਕਅਪ ਕਰਨ ਵਿਚ ਪਰਵਿਰਤ ਰਹਿੰਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ ਜੋ ਕਿ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਠੀਕ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਇਹ ਕਿਉਂ ਠੀਕ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ, ਇਹੋ ਅਸੀਂ ਇਸ ਵੀਡੀਓ ਵਿਚ ਤਫਸੀਲ ਨਾਲ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ ਜੀ। ਸਾਡਾ ਮਕਸਦ ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਨੀਵਾਂ ਦਿਖਾਉਣਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ ਬਲਕਿ ਅਸੀਂ ਤਾਂ ਕੇਵਲ ਇਕੋ ਇਛਾ ਰਖਕੇ ਇਹ ਵੀਡੀਓ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਤਮਾਮ ਗੁਰੂ-ਨਾਨਕ-ਨਾਮ-ਲੇਵਾ ਸੰਗਤ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਦੀ ਸਹੀ ਅਰਥਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਧਾਰਣੀ ਬਣੇ ਅਤੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਖੁਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਕੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਜਨਮ ਸਫਲ ਕਰੇ। ਜੇਕਰ ਆਪ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਮਨ ਵਿਚ ਕੋਈ ਸਵਾਲ ਹੋੇਵੇ ਜਾਂ ਕੋਈ ਸੁਝਾ ਹੋਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਜ਼ਰੂਰ ਸਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੇਠ ਲਿਖੇ ਨੰਬਰ ਤੇ ਸੰਪਰਕ ਕਰੋ ਜੀ +1 647 771 3047 (whatsapp). https://www.facebook.com/127297381123228/videos/222666964919602/

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh! Why is it hard to inspire others to live a Gurmukh lifestyle, when it's meant to be good for people? Also why don't most people learn lovingly, but only want to learn when there is something else involved, (pressure to learn). I hope everyone improves and tries to follow Guru Sahib, but sometimes it just fails. How can I improve myself, so that more people are willing to listen? I feel my heart is in the right place, but nothing happens. Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Sangat Ji, I am providing a small donation to Everything's 13 and the great thing is my work place (Salesforce) will match my monthly donation so essentially the donation becomes doubled. Salesforce need to verify the status of Everything's 13 charitable status as well as contact a member of the charity to set up the donation process/verify bank details. I have contacted Everything's 13 as per there website contact details but have received no reply to e-mail and the phone number seems dead. Can anyone confirm a person that can be contacted at the charity so that I can provide the correct contact details to Salesforce? Harpreet

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh! The purpose of this question is mostly to ask why so many of those who consider themselves Sikhs get easily swayed by various groups such as RSS, Pakhandi Baba organizations, Badal, Other faiths brainwashing, and so on? The reason I wanted to know is if there is some huge mental problem that our community isn't addressing that should be addressed that we get swayed this easily, or whether our loyalty as a whole to Guru Sahib, isn't really legit and mostly Sikhs viewing themselves as merely Sikhs for being born into a Sikh family. Adding on to that is why Sikhs are more interested in keeping our Pre-Sikh traditions over the time period when we have so much better stuff as Sikhs, (I don't know if they live in pre-1469 times or post-1469)? And finally why are Sikhs as a whole getting an inferiority complex, when Punjab before anyone came there was the best society in the world, (it would have been better as a theocracy, but it's still good enough), our people are starting to have Ghulami complex to Goras and others which I don't understand why? Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

My husband is Amritdhaari Sikh and he is divorcing me after domestic violence and abuse .i still believed that my husband loved me I can't let go of the feeling of love towards him My husband is Amritdhaari Sikh and he is divorcing me after domestic violence and abuse and making false criminal charges on me just after 6 months of our marriage.. I was married here and came from India and was confined at home for 6 months..there were many daily instances of differential treatment with me and of abuse with me daily..i still believed that my husband loved me but after he put me through the most horrible situation, i still can't let go fo the feeling fo love towards him..everyone is saying I am saved by Waheguru but why do i still want to be with..i still want to talk to him once..i was thrown out of their house in a demeaning way and still i have feelings for him..why? What should i do...he has applied for divorce too and i dont want to divorce him..i love him truly and i have no one to go back to..my parents are not alive..am homeless in a foreign country..why did he do this to me after all this sikhi talk at his home and i was to take Amrit with him on this Baisakhi..why is this happening?

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh! How to control wasting time on useless stuff and focus on building productivity in Gurmat or personal things? Sometimes, I genuinely feel like I could do something so much more; however, it all gets wasted away in stuff that I don't really need or think other people need, (this website being one example, where it just seems like debates and nobody really learns anything). Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Hi there, I'am 21 and a Sikh girl and I have been thinking of getting a tattoo, is getting a tattoo against are faith because it does not disobey Waheguru. God wants us to be honest people, work hard , share with others and pray to him. Yes in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji it clearly states we should not drink or smoke, but however I'am unsure about whether or not it has anything against us having tattoo's. I was thinking of getting a small tattoo of a khanda on my wrist, some people would object saying if you drink alcohol then it's wrong however I do not do that, therefore I believe there is nothing wrong with getting it done. People drink and smoke whilst wearing a kara which i personally think is even worse because that is one of the 5 k's which was given to us by God, therefore having a tattoo and not smoking and drinking should surely be better. Also getting a khanda is just showing how much love I have for my faith and therefore I want it on my wrist as a symbol of always being part of the Sikh religion. I know lots of people who have tattoos who then decided to take Amrit, however them having tattoos didn't stop them or have an effect on how much they love their religion. I'm also a non-amritari , therefore me getting a tattoo at this stage would not be wrong because I'am not an amritari therefore I should be allowed to get it done as I have not fully stepped onto the path of God. When or if I ever do step onto this path and if I have tattoo's that will not stop me from becoming an Amritari or effect how much love I have for my Guru.

What is the meaning of gur-prasad?

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh! How different is the Bhagti movement from Sikhi? It seems like there are lots of overlaps and the only real difference I could find was the need for Gur-prassad, (among the entire movement not the 15 bhagats, who did believe in Gur-prassad). Also if they are really very similar, what prevented those from the Bhagti movement from being Sikh during the Hindu mass conversions to Islam? Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Couple of months ago, Wikipedia page for Sikhism was edited. Instead of showing Sikhism as the fifth-largest global religion now it shows it as the ninth-largest religion. The fifth place has been taken by some "Folk religion". Sixth is Taoism, Seventh is some "Shinto" and Eighth "Falun Gong". (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_religious_groups#Medium-sized_religions)

Hello, I am seeking advice from the Sangat on a dilemma that I am in. For the past four years I have been reading gurbani. I was raised in a Sikh (non-amritdhari) family. I am a Mona myself. After reading gurbani, and completing a sehaj paat, I have fell at the feet of Satguru. I am addicted to doing paat and listening to Katha. I have also been having thoughts of keeping my Kesh, to the point where I can not stop thinking about it. I don't feel like cutting my hair and I feel as though Kesh is the missing piece of my spiritual journey into Sikhi. I have been married for 7 years now, and I have discussed keeping my Kesh with my wife. She does not feel that I need to and that I can be spiritual without Kesh. She also says that I should wait until later in life. We have disagreed on this and I feel as though sat guru is giving me the jewel of Kesh. On the flip side, I'm not sure how it will affect my marriage. Guru Nanak Sahib Ji also said to live a gristi Jeevan. I'm just reaching out to see if any one else in the sangat has had similar issue and can relate, or offer some advice. Thank you, Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Once again 3HO are at it trying to justify their practices of yoga. Through an article written by Harjinder Singh Khalsa, the claim is yoga (posture, breathing, mudras and mental techniques), specifically kundalini yoga aids the mind to where the person is able to focus on Shabad Guru. This sounds very innocent and some are probably fooled by it too. Let me rephrase, a lot of Punjabi Sikhs are fooled by this teaching of 3HO. Harjinder Singh Khalsa tries his best to make a case for 3HO. 3HO have been sought after because they make many wild claims. They use numerology to name one manmat practice. Yet some Sikhs like Harjinder Singh Khalsa feel 3HO are being targeted for no reason. I'm start off with what Harjinder Singh Khalsa says, yoga does not lead to mukti. This is very true and yet he goes off on a tanget and says kundalini is approved in Gurbani to help aid the mind for meditating on Gurbani. From Harjinder Singh Khalsa article it is evident he does not have the knowledge to interpret Gurbani or he intentionally went with an English translation that will sway his reader to approve of kundalini yoga as an aid. Or he's lazy and did not check with credible sources on interpreting Gurbani. On ang 909 Satguru is speaking about what is the true way to achieve mukti. Satguru directly speaks to yogis and their false show of being holy, they have lost the plot and don't know how to achieve mukti. Harjinder Singh Khalsa at the beginning of the article accuses others of not presenting shabads in the correct manner, who speak against yoga. But Harjinder Singh Khalsa leaves this line out when quoting ang 909. jogI jugiq gvweI hMFY pwKMif jogu n pweI ]10] ਜੋਗੀ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਗਵਾਈ ਹੰਢੈ ਪਾਖੰਡਿ ਜੋਗੁ ਨ ਪਾਈ ॥੧੦॥ jogee jugat gavaae'ee handdai paakhandd jog na paae'ee ||10|| (ਹੇ ਸੰਤ ਜਨੋ! ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਭੇਖ ਦੇ) ਪਖੰਡ ਨਾਲ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦਾ ਮਿਲਾਪ ਹਾਸਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ; (ਜਿਹੜਾ ਜੋਗੀ ਨਿਰਾ ਇਸ ਪਖੰਡ ਵਿਚ ਪਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ, ਉਸ) ਜੋਗੀ ਨੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ-ਮਿਲਾਪ ਦੀ ਜੁਗਤੀ (ਹੱਥੋਂ) ਗਵਾ ਲਈ ਹੈ, ਉਹ (ਵਿਅਰਥ) ਭਟਕਦਾ ਫਿਰਦਾ ਹੈ ।੧੦। Yogi, you have lost the Way; you wander around confused. Through hypocrisy, Yoga is not attained. ||10|| Harjinder Singh Khalsa went out of his way to accuse others, but get's caught in his own arrogances. He quotes ang 909 to say the following: siv nagaree mehi aasan baisai gur sabadhee jog paaee ||11|| Sitting in Yogic postures in the City of God, through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, you shall find Yoga. ||11|| dhhaathur baajee sabadh nivaarae naam vasai man aaee ||12|| Restrain your restless wanderings through the Shabad, and the Naam will come to dwell in your mind. ||12|| (Guru Amar Das J; GGSJ: 909) When I went on Sikhitothemax.com, I found the same translation into English on their site. Whoever did these translations did a horrible job of representing the Guru. The line in bold tells a lot about the person who did the translations. "Siv nagaree" is being translated as "city of God". Here the word "Siv" is referring to the devta Shiva as the Hindu God. Yet the translator refuses to say shiva and writes God. For whatever reason the translator refuses to do a literal translation for this first part. But then for the second part of the tuk, the translator has no problem doing a literal translation of "mehi aasan baisai"....."sitting in yogic postures". You can't have it both ways, when it comes to translating. It's one or the other; be literal or describe the allegory. Anyone reading this translation will be completely misdirected as Harjinder Singh Khalsa. So how should this be translated. We know from other Shabads, Shiva is not seen as Vaheguru and is not to be taken as the Guru either. Therefore a literal translation of the line is not correct. To translate "mehi aasan baisai" literally to suit a person's agenda will not be happening here. Neither will "Siv nagaree" be translated to promote someone else's agenda. "Siv nagaree" in Gurmat is speaking about dasam dwar. A Sikh in the dasam dwar is to "mehi aasan baisai" which means to gain focus. On what do we gain focus on in the dasam dwar? Guru's Shabad and the end result is Jog (not yoga). Jog means union with Vaheguru. So here is the whole line together: siv nagaree mehi aasan baisai gur sabadhee jog paaee ||11|| In the dasam dwar focus on the Guru's Shabad and gain union with Vaheguru. Here is another translation in Punjabi below. Those who can read Punjabi can see, "siv nagaree" is being translated as sadh sangat and "mehi aasan baisai" is translated as focused on Guru Shabad. isv ngrI mih Awsix bYsY gur sbdI jogu pweI ]11] ਸਿਵ ਨਗਰੀ ਮਹਿ ਆਸਣਿ ਬੈਸੈ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਜੋਗੁ ਪਾਈ ॥੧੧॥ siv nagaree mahi aasaN baisai gur sabadhee jog paae'ee ||11|| (ਹੇ ਸੰਤ ਜਨੋ! ਜਿਹੜਾ ਜੋਗੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਵਿਚ ਜੁੜਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਨੇ) ਗੁਰ-ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦੀ ਬਰਕਤ ਨਾਲ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ-ਮਿਲਾਪ ਹਾਸਲ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਜੋਗੀ ਸਾਧ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਵਿਚ ਟਿਕਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ (ਮਾਨੋ) ਆਸਣ ਉਤੇ ਬੈਠਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ ।੧੧। When you look up Bhai Sahib Singh translation in Punjabi, he translates exactly the same as the Punjabi translation above So at this point we have achieved the goal to say yoga, kundalini yoga postures are not promoted in Gurbani. There is more to say on this article written by Harjinder Singh Khalsa, but I will have to save it for another day. I have added the link to Harjinder Singh Khalsa article below. https://www.sikhnet.com/news/yoga-sikhism

Best way to make all of India Sikh? Why cant Sikhs spread the faith in india. Or are we more concerned about how to bhangra dance like some sissys.

Vaheguru Ji ka khalsa vaheguru Ji ki Fateh The gurdwara sahibs near me all have padshed saroops of maharaj and sometimes I get into doubt that my Guru is not present although they are present everywhere. How can I remove this doubt??

WGKK WGKF, My name is Gabriel, I am 19, I study Law at Oxford. Ex-Muslim convert to Sikhi, In my youth i was friends with a ''Sikh'' girl i say that because she's not religious at all, the type that groomers target, anyway the relationship completely broke down, she made up a bunch of lies, we tried to date a few times, tried to convince her to go gudwara but no. Anyways she has completely ruined my reputation in the Sikh community as if it's not hard enough being Ex-<banned word filter activated>. She went around telling everyone i was a Pakistani Rapist (I'm Black and Arab) and we've never even kissed just hugged. She called the police, they dropped it but it was still in the newspaper i took amrit after anyway so it contains my old name. I do not wish to get married, but i wish to raise children in the future, i don't think anyone would except me now, is there anything that permits surrogacy in sikhi?

Having seen pictures of the Shaheedi jatha heading towards Jaito , it is clear the Blue Nishan with Katar Dhal and Kirpan was used , so when exactly did the new symbology enter into existence and who introduced it and what was their reasoning because I could find anything wrong with our own Nishan Sahib ? I have read read that this has elements which correspond with ancient babylonian symbology which the freemasons are into.(moon symbol) and looking at Rattrays khanda symbol it is not really clear about the thinking behind it .