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Summary of Question:	Amrit
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Monday, 3/28/2005 12:05 PM MDT

WJK WJF

as you are in doubt aware - The month of vaisakhi is upon us, and again it is time to celebrate the annual birth of khalsa.

I was wondering if you could help me, I need alot of in depth info about amrit, ie how and why it affects you spiritually, and your body (real life scientific facts would be most useful) and examples of that in history.

We all know the sakhi of Kesgarh sahib, but its the stuff behind the amrit i'd like to know, things like - is it true without amrit you willl not obtain true salvation. (such as the story of the hill raja, who wasnt baptized and asked Guru Gobind Singh for a place in his feet, in Sach Khand, but Guru Ji replied, if you had asked for anything else, I could give it you, but that is reserved for amritdharis only).

and again its imporatant for me to understand the scince behind the amrit.

i have been trying to reserach this for a while, as we are going to do a workshop at the gurdwara soon, but i'm finding it sooo hard to get the info.

if you could help me, i'd really really appreciate it

Kind Regards

WJK WKF
(REPLY) Sat Nam. When you take a science class in school, in addition to the lectures by the professor, there is a lab in which you need faith to try the experiment yourself, and get your own results. -- If you do it correctly, with the right ingredients and in the right sequence, you get the right result. Amrit is a personal experience, based on faith, but no matter how many other people tell you about its benefits, you will not know until you experience it for yourself. The first ingredient is faith, the second is attitude, and the third is commitment. I don't know if anyone has ever done any research to find the information you are asking for, and I doubt if it is actually available. For myself, I know it is REAL. But that doesn't prove anything to you. Everything we read in history is hearsay, and though it may be accurate, it doesn't ensure what YOUR personal experience will be. All the testimonials in the world, extolling the benefits and blessing of taking Amrit will not -- and cannot -- convince anyone of its value. What we do know is that if a person sincerely wants Guru Gobind Singh to become his father, and to be "reborn" in the Khalsa family, and if a person sincerely desires to commit himself (or herself!) to living according to the purity and piety of the rehit given by Guru Gobind Singh, then that is the reason to take Amrit. It actually goes beyond "reason" -- it is the soul's longing to belong and to prepare for the return Home when the soul leaves this temporary experience in the physical body. I'm sure this is not the response you were hoping for, perhaps someone else may have something further to offer. What taking Amrit CAN give a person is strength, courage, and happiness -- but again, the result depends upon with what attitude the person has. I personally discourage people from taking Amrit until they are really sure that they want to make a lifetime commitment -- for it is a vow you don't want to take lightly! It is NOT just a ritual. It's for real. SP (BTW, at the beginning of your posting, I think you meant to say "no doubt,) not "in doubt.")