Who is a Sikh?

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Who is a Sikh?

Fortunately for us, this question has been answered by the Gurus who created this word; so it not difficult to arrive at an answer. However, it appears that many politicians and the Courts in India have taken it upon themselves to redefine this word. This is not a wise move. The Sikh Gurus over a period of 239 years established the faith known as Sikhism and in so doing gave meaning to the word "Sikh". It appears that the politicians are not satisfied with what the Gurus have said and wish to make their own definitions. This cannot be acceptable to the follower of the Sikh Gurus.

Rather than get unnecessarily involved in these ugly proceedings let us turn to what has been said in the Guru Granth Sahib regarding this word - Sikh or Gursikh?

Summary of the message of Gurbani

Gurbani's definition of a Sikh can be summarised as follows:

• 1. A true Sikh of the Guru mediates on the Lord's Name regularly early everyday.
• 2. The Guru's Sikh stays away from evil deeds
• 3. Instead of just pursuing the gathering of wealth and property, the Guru's Sikh is happy to meet the Guru and follow the teachings of the Guru.
• 4. The true Gursikh will side with the Guru always and not turn his back when things get hard.
• 5. Have faith in Gurbani and trust what it says as ordained by the Lord.
• 6.
• 7. The Sikh remembers The Guru at all times and acts according to his instructions.

Gurbani

1. This Shabad by the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das gives in one compact paragraph the precise definition of a Gursikh. What is interesting is that most of the condition pertain to the frame of mind and the habits that endear the Sikh to the Guru rather than to the physical form. It is accepted that this may have been developed by later Gurus, but what is important to understand where the importance was laid by the Gurus in the initial stage of Sikhism. Further, the later Gurus did not modify this shabad or add anything very different to the holy Granth to reflect any major change in this definition.

The important of meditating on the Lord's Name is central and main theme of the whole hymn. Then comes the need to do this yourself and to encourage others to do it; finally the prefered ways to carry out this practise. In the early hours; after bathing but standing or sitting is not important to meditate on His name. Keep the Lord in your mind at all times!

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This article is part of the series on the "Message of Gurbani"