A letter to Sikh student
My very dear Sikh children,
Guru Fateh, God's blessings and my best wishes. First of all I have my great regrets and seek your forgiveness that you do not have the same pleasing childhood as we used to have--- fresh air, beautiful, shady peepal and sheesham trees with rustling lush-green leaves, chirping birds, playful swings attached to the trees, sweet fragrance spreading out of flower plants and bushes, large open and airy compounds, soft murmuring springs and streams, scintillating stars at night and blue sky in the day and so many other free natural bounties. These beautiful gifts of nature have been snatched away from you. We, as parents, are the cause of it. You may not feel the absence of nature's beautiful gifts as you never experienced them but we feel heartbroken. We are trying to provide you the luxuries of life. You have your own rooms; costly toys controlled with remote devices; your uniforms that give you pride and individuality; libraries, full of books; different subjects to study at school; heavy and attractively coloured school bags and special tuition lessons to learn more. You have become so used to these luxuries that you need cars, buses, motorcycles etc to take you to school and other destinations. Your monthly school-fees amount to what was our total expenditure of our two to three years of study. Statistically and in money terms you all, definitely, seem to be luckier than us! But I really pity you when I compare your physical strength, mental energy, quickness, personality and shyness of your eyes with those in my childhood. Your obesity, spectacled eyes, anger, hatred, irritating nature, excessive competitiveness, etc force me to think that by snatching air, water, vegetation, earth, sky and stars from you and replacing it with artificiality and false hopes of happiness we have provided you with big vacuums in life. You will never forgive us when you later realize what you gained and lost. For the time being I am happy in your current happiness. Actually, I love you all as you are my Guru's children. You are our present and future, as also our pride. I sincerely wish that all the luxuries which you are enjoying today would always remain yours. I am also yours, which is why I am writing you this letter to share my views with you. Your Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and Guru Nanak Dev ji are my Guru also. That makes us brothers and friends irrespective of age. Your aim in life must have been to progress. This you must have been taught in schools and by your parents to progress by bits, to start from nothing and to achieve higher goals. I am, first of all, going to ask you a simple question through this letter what is progress? Is it moving forward in life? To increase what you already have? To accumulate? Is this progress? What's our aim or our destination? Where are we heading towards? Some say that you should follow others or move in such a speed so as to leave all others behind. This world is full of people. Many are ahead of you and many are after you. One single individual is of little significance in this vast world. That's why Guru ji in Japuji Sahib has talked of billions of devotees of God and then talked of billions of wicked people as well. To keep on just moving in the worldly procession is no progress. What has American or European progress given to humanity? Firstly we have extremism, terrorism, fear, instability, weakness of heart and mind, general insecurity and secondly we have polluted environment, where pure water and pure air and even normal temperature on earth are getting scarce. Is this the future of mankind? So our first question remains, what is the real meaning of progress? You're fortunate, privileged and honoured to be children of Sikh parents. It should be your primary duty to recognize the right Sikh way of life. Have you ever talked and discussed about your Sikh faith with your parents, grand-parents, friends etc? If yes, then it is good and if not, do it today. You can help create their interest in you and make it a regular practice to discuss it every day, may be, after meals. Ask, understand and identify your heritage. Let me suggest some questions that you may as- what was the real mission of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and nine other Gurus? How did they spend their lives and how did they guide their Sikhs? What is the real face of Sikhism, internally and outwardly? What is simran, pathh, service to humanity, kirtan etc and what is the role or use of each? What is the relation of Sikh institutions, sangat, gurudwaras, langar, daswandh etc to our life? What is the meaning or value of amrit (Sikh baptism), marriage, life's last journey etc in Sikhism and why must we seek Guru Granth Sahib in all these ceremonies. Why do we pray? Why do we need Guru Granth Sahib's blessings and protection in our success, failure, sorrows, tragedies, happiness etc.? How should be the life of children, youth and old men as per Sikhism? What is worldly or material progress and what is spiritual progress in Sikhism? These questions and their answers do not start and end at once. We should think over them regularly. In this way, you will get your strong character, courage, support- system, culture etc. and you'll attain ultimate inner peace and happiness. These questions are very important and you should have answers that satisfy you. If your parents, relatives or friends cannot guide you or do not satisfy you, you can ask your gurmukh (devoted and practising Sikh) teachers, uncles or aunts. If they too cannot satisfy you then you can visit the libraries and consult good books on Sikhism,spirituality, history and health. Do consult Gurbani for final answers to your fundamental questions. If still you are not able to find the answers you can contact me; my address and telephone number is mentioned at the end of this letter. I am ready to discuss with you all your problems at school or at home. Sikhism is not another system or thought of life. It is the right way to live a life. Try leading your life according to Guruji's advice. This is going to give you the real happiness and a life full of purpose as also the real love of God, life, people and environment. TO BE CONTINUD................... |
All times are GMT. The time now is 12:58 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
(c) Spiritual Forums