Previous

Next

Ask a Question

Summary of Question:	Rituals
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 10/18/2000 2:53 PM MDT

Today, in Sikhism, there are a lot of rituals without meanings. One of this is the keeping of hair. God is described as formless "ajuni sabhang". So why should we keep a certain identity to please him. The basis of sikhism is to get away from rituals. The founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak himself stated this. In Japji Sahib, 6th pauri, it is said "tirath naavaa jay tis bhaavaa vin bhaanay ke naa-ay karee.

If I am pleasing to Him, then that is my pilgrimage and cleansing bath. Without pleasing Him, what good are ritual cleansings?" Explain this. and do not state that hair is natural so we should keep hair because diseases are also natural but we do not accept diseasees.
***************************************************************************
Reply
***************************************************************************
There are no meaningless rituals in our way of life. You may not have discovered the meaning, however. It may take some effort to find out the scientific reasoning behind each thing that we do in our way of life, but it is a very worthwhile thing to do. It is a standard of living that the Gurus' designed to perfect the man. It only seems meaningless whn you do it without any understanding of why.

Rather than assume that everything is meaningless, why not take the time to study the answers already given to....Kesh, kara, kirpan, etc in the Sikh Youth Forum.