These days when we see youngsters from Punjab,
we see they have become more westernized
or 'yanky', who seems to be influenced by Americans or Hollywood.
Bollywood too pushes our youngsters into westernization
by telling them how to cut and style their hair, or how to shave or how to look younger.
It's OK. It's not wrong. This is also Guru Maharaj Jis hukam
But why is this really happening? Have we given them something to understand the importance of their actions?
Have you given them immense pride, so as not to follow that path? No.
You haven't given them the path; the good and bad effects.
We should look at both. Western culture has many good as well as bad points.
Siri Singh Sahib Ji always used to say that the best thing about the culture is that you question everything.
Everything is questioned to see what are its good and bad points.
Both sides should be considered.
Let the youngsters taking that path, research and question their actions.
Allow them to research and question our Dharam. Let them try.
Let them try to do simran, which will allow them to understand the power within them.
'Naal Eanay Dosti, Kade Na Ave Raas.' [Friendship with a fool never works out right.]
No where is it told that all youth should become saints,
Everyone commits mistakes.
You will never be able to find peace,
If you don't allow youth to learn and commit mistakes.
Its not that they are entirely wrong.
We have to give them time, the chance to try and the path to follow.
However, in this age they have already matured
and if you didn't allow them to learn at an early age,
then this task might be a little more difficult.
People say that its necessary to learn Punjabi to be a Sikh.
They have joined 2 things, your Punjabi culture and our Sikh Dharma.
Both of them are different, but you forcibily join them together.
Learing punjabi is a very good thing, as its a new language for me.
Punjabi isn't my mother tongue, yet I learned the new language
And I really enjoy speaking in it. But is it necessary to learn it? No.
A Sikh can also be one who understands the true meaning of Bana, Bani, Seva, Simran
and has brought them in their life and follows Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
You cannot tell him that he isn't Sikh.
When one brings Guru Maharaj into ones life, then one becomes a Sikh.
Also, there are many languages in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib
Punjabi is just one, English is also in the Guru.
'Tu Mera Gurhaai, Ek Pita, Ekas Ke Hum Barik.'
Tu Mera Gurhaai, where 'haai' in English means 'high'; English language is also there.
If you learn Punjabi you might understand 'Ek Pita'
'Ekas Ke Hum Barik' and 'Tu Mera Gurhaai' you might be able to understand, maybe.
But who has studied proper Punjabi is still not able to understand the entire SGGS Ji.
So, the most important thing is not to learn Punjabi, but to do Sadhna, spiritual practice, and Banis.
Only reading banis from SGGS Ji doesn't sharpen our mind;
We can read any book or take any knowledge to sharpen our mind.
Granth is the 'knot' that is tied around.
And Guru Granth means that the knowledge written will help you reach high spirits
And help reach your highest potential. That is said to be Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Every line in SGGS Ji itself is a complete mantra,
Which increases our inner Shakti (power).
Just listening Gurbani causes hormonal changes in you, and speaking causes extra changes.
and you don't even need to understand it.
And what I feel, is that Punjabis fail to understand this, that you just want to understand SGGS Ji intellectually;
What is written? Why is it written? What is the meaning? Leave the meaning aside. Just do it. Just read it.
An Akhand Paath creates a vibration, the effect is so powerful and so pure that it has no limits.
You should do it, definitely. But leave the mental logic aside.
A Punjabi problem is to look at things intellectually;
"Guru Maharaj has said this", "No Guru Maharaj has said that, what you said is wrong"
You have to leave this argument behind and take in the experience,
Which is the most important in my opinion.
I am not saying that Punjabi culture is wrong, as its a very beautiful culture.
The poetry, the phrases, the idioms, beautiful beautiful things.
the food, the dance, all these make Punjabi culture very beautiful.
Be proud to say that this is your culture. It's not my culture.
I've been living here for 20yrs, yet I have imbibed many things within me from it.
Like I am chatting in Punjabi right now, I feel very happy.
The beautiful phrases, poems, the dances - bhangra and giddha
These all are beautiful things. Nothing wrong.
Only when you look at things in the wrong perspective, does it become wrong.
Allow the children to play, this all is the game of God;
This is your culture. But Sikh Dharma is not your culture.
Sikh Dharma came from the same land as the Punjabi culture, but is not stuck inside of that culture.
Sikh Dharma is to spread everywhere, and is spreading and affecting all.
It's not just for Punjabis
It is very pure and precious and will not stop spreading.
But the Punjabi culture itself is beautiful and you should be proud of it.
Punjabi culture has many shortcomings too, and so many good things.
But there isn't any shortcoming in Sikh Dharma.
Guru Maharaj Ji says that we don't have any caste,
yet we say that my name is Sidhu or Arora, these are castes,
This is what you have attached ourselves; even though Guru Maharaj Ji has told not to.
This is where 'Punjabi' becomes 'Sikh', "I am such n such Sidhu".
which is a Punjabi caste, or Arora or Kashatria.
You say that you want to be different from the Hindu Dharma, yet you still add your caste.
This caste system is part of Hindu Dharam and isn't a part of our Dharam.
What has happened between Hindus and Sikhs is because you were unable to leave aside your caste.
We do not have any caste, Punjabi culture has added the caste, which is wrong.
But the good thing in Punjabi culture is that,
every village, wherever you throw a stone, there is a Gurdwara
and the prakash (light) of Guru Maharaj Ji, is in Punjab.
You serve langar to the sangat and listen to kirtan,
all this is so beautiful and bringing Sikh Dharma forward.
Your culture isn't wrong, and my neither.
And together we should build an equal culture, that brings our Sikh Dharma forward.
I can say that we white Sikhs have a huge shortcoming,
that we do not fully understand seva.
We white Sikhs are not doing seva as correctly as we should. You Punjabi people are.
You are performing the seva, and pushing forward the spirit of seva.
We aren't, but we are learning how from you.
And will keep on learning, and maybe one day we will completely be able to learn from you.
But, what lacks in Punjabi Sikhs that you have stopped doing simran.
People have gone away from simran, thinking that it makes you Hindu.
You don't want to become like Hindu's, but they are our brothers.
The knowledge of Guru Maharaj Jis ways of doing simran is now being followed by white Sikhs.
And you can learn from them. No problem.
Together, we all can become complete.
I am not saying that every gora sikh you meet will win your heart,
as its the gift of simran that when you do simran it wins your heart.
The knowledge of simran is with us and the spirit of seva is with you.
Together we can be complete.
And it is our sincere request that we bring oneness and togetherness.
If I have said anything wrong, I apologize.
My motive is to inspire everyone and share high spirits, and happiness with all.
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh!