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Summary of Question:	caste
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Friday, 10/13/2000 9:35 PM MDT

This is my first time being on this site, and I must truly say that you have done a wonderful and an amazing thing for all sikhs both young and old. I was born a sikh, but there was a time in my life that i felt like i did not want to be a sikh. Maybe it was my insecurities as a young adult but i think majority of it had to do with the fact that this community does not educate the young about the teachings of this religion but pressures them to act the good deeds, pray three times a day and do not do anything that upsets or lowers your father's dignity. I know alot of this has to do with the caste system, and at times it seems as my religion is defined by my culture and caste rather than the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. I wanted to know whether we will ever see an end to this idea of class divisions, and why do sikhs still cave themselves into it, even after guru nanak said that creed is not what should seperate manhood especially within it's own communities. Sometimes it seems as though I can never escape this fal

se teachings by my community. We see divisions among our own people. The other day, I went to a nearby Gurdwara, and it was named after the Ramagarhia caste. At the same time I was also asked which caste I belonged to. IT sickens me because the reason i attend the gurudwara is to be united with god and maybe reach salvation oneday, not be asked which caste i belong to. Why is it that there seems to be that every gurdware is run by a particular caste and most of the people attending belong to that caste. Do people feel at ease when they attend a gurdwara run by their own caste members?
In the past year i have begin to learn the different aspects of sikhims which are totally different from what i was taught whether at home or outside. Now i must say i am truly understanding the meaning of Gurusikh. I want to follow the path of the Gurusikh and pass on the teachings of Guru Nanak. One of the things missing in this community is compassion, not for beings in poverty, but for those of us who are defined by our caste which should not even exist in this religion. We are all united by the wahagure but seperated by man made divisions. What can we, young adults of the future, can do to improve the lifestyles ( the way of living) of the sikhs of the future? should we let our children be guided by their caste?

Thanks
Kulwinder

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The Court of the Guru belongs to the Guru. The Sadh Sangat is a faceless assembly of devotees who come to the Court of the Guru with love and devotion. It is within the Guru's court that they get transformation, upliftment and grace....But, even you have not forgotten caste.

Although the Indian society you refer to is infested with the shortcomings of caste system, it is also embellished by a 3,000 year technology of "graceful living". This tecnology does not really exist within the Western world as a way of life.

What I am pointing out to you is good and bad exist side by side as the 2 sides of the same coin. You cannot have one without the other.

This is not to discourage you in your quest for a finer more true devotion in the Gurdwara. I truely understand your frustration as the Sikh Gurdwara's usually they are always dividing and are completely infiltrated with politics.

The best thing for you is for you.....to do exactly what you wish others would do. Do not even see, think or acknowledge caste anywhere.

Go to the Guru with your devotion and with only love and respect and kindness for all. Educate yourself and others in the pure observence of Sikhee, Gurupurabs, History and values. Go through the corruption around you just as Guru Teg Bahadur walked up to the door of the Harimander Sahib, and was turned away....but he did so in grace rather than in anger or revenge.

To live as a pure beautiful lotus flower on the slimy water is the metaphor of our lifestyle. Even within the Court of the Guru there is tremendous corruption. After all, this is the Kaljug. And this is why the Sikhee will prosper and flourish among the Western world where so many who are looking for truth will find it at the feet of the Guru.

As a young person, why not start a club of "Gurus' soldiers". I think you could find a better name! There are so many youth groups and scout groups. Why not you create your dream? The idea is simply to get together with like minded people and do study, sehej Paths(use English Guru), Akhand Paths, kirtan groups, martial arts, gatka classes, learn horseback riding, whatever it take to have fun and apply the technology of the Guru to your lives as a group support. You can start with just a few. It will grow. The young people do not even have to be Sikhs. The socalled "American Sikhs" have no caste in their families....so I believe that there is a better future. Check and see if there are any Gurdwara program's run by the Western Sikhs in your locale.

In conclusion, be positive, keep up and fight the negativity of your own mind and win....in fact....give your doubt and pain to the Guru....the Guru can handle it....then you can have all the elevation and intuition that the Guru will give to you.