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Lest We the Sikhs Go Astray
The practice of the Sikh way of life has been laid out by the Gurus in simple, practical manner, emphasising hard work, honest living, love of fellow humans and through them service of the Almighty. This way of life had been stripped of charms and myths, jargon, rituals and exploitation of man by man in the name of religion or economically by precept of birth. The last three-four decades have seen the Sikh practices being infected with what the Sikhs themselves term ritualistic and find them in total violation of their code of conduct as documented be the community collectively and has the formal sanction of the Panth-document called the Sikh Rehat Maryada. Questions are being raised about almost every Sikh practice as more and more practices are deviating away from the true Sikh ethos and purpose. An erosion of massive magnitude is taking place. In this concise and topical book, the author highlights the meaningful and correct approach of the Sikh practice and confronts them with what is actually happening: be it mechanical rendition of prayers, reading of the holy book or individuals buying salvation of payment, the wasteful spending of the institutions and treating historical places as sources of income by encouraging "pilgrimages" so clearly decried in Sikh scriptures. The clarification of the Sehajdhari concept is enlightening and sets at rest the unnecessary controversies being rained today with political and disruptive intents. The emphasis on every individual being required to be ready for all tasks underscores the Sikh emphasis on individuals' own practices rather than buying religious services from professional granthis, which is very nearly creating a new priestly class among the Sikhs and which the Gurus had categorically and decisively banished from Sikh society. The book warrants reading by all who want a better understanding of Sikh practices and especially for the Sikhs for whom it is a course corrective reminder where they have already gone astray. The author speaks from his heart and brings to the book the correct Sikh perceptions he has inherited. It would have added to the pleasure of reading if the Gurbani passages quoted were also given in original, alongside the English transliteration. |
THE title is a polite reminder, but also highlights
the extent to which the precepts and practices of the Sikh way of life
have deviated. This book with its 19 essays outlines the key practices
of Sikhism as dictated by the Gurtram and Sikh history, its
traditions and ethos.