Responses to

That story is about me. I remembered going out of my way to not look stuffy or so that Sikhism would not appear to be a religion as the word Sikh means student. Sikhism is a yoga lifestyle. I think Nicole did justice to our interview. I had forgotten all about that until now. Some of what I said was a bit off the wall. The story of Sikhs killing Indira Ghandi is probably the most misunderstood.

The sikhs were caught in the middle of an International power play. The USSR, who wanted to be free from the American wheat market, was begining to paint the Sikhs to look like terrorists to give Ghandi an excuse to attack them. At that time The USSR was India's exclusive military supplier and had enormous influence in the India Military. It was common to see Soviet generals at restaurants throughout India. When Indira realized she had been duped she started making concessions to the Sikhs. When someone attacks your Holiest Shrine you don't put loyalists of that religion on the Prime Minisiters security detail who authorized the attack. If you want to know who had her killed find out who was in charge of that.

Although Nicole accurately recorded our conversations most of what I said was said as a marketer trying to attract college kids to yoga classes. I was being intentionally off the wall so Sikhism wouldn't appear to be religous or dogmatic which I don't think it is either. Sikhism is the Yogic Science of life. I would take my comments with a grain of salt and not consider them past someone trying to appeal to college kids. I do believe that yoga can end terrorism because it brings peace and I will let you decide if Sikhism says women are superior based on a a comment made by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th of the Sikh Gurus.

"When you Lord got done with your creation. You wanted your energy represented on earth and so you created Woman".

Religion has dismissed/tried to control women from the time men began because women spiritualize and upgrade things. The men didn't want that. They were lazy and afraid of womens' strengths so they made up stories like the Garden of Eden. That women tear men down spiritually and cannot be trusted. Men run the terrorist organizations and women run the peace organizations. What is there to fear except growth. That is what tose courses were about.

As far as religions and woman go, all any woman has to do when her confidence is down (because 5,000 years of anti woman religious programming has gotten to her) is to just say "I am the creativity of the Creator"

So how does on find Nicole? I would like to say hello.

Sarab Sarong Singh
6/7/07

definitely an interesting read that triggered memories and questions for the author.

My name is Amrit Khalsa and I am currently a Hampshire Student. Actually, i think i am the only one right now. But I am abroad in Costa Rica for the rest of the semester. A hampshire friend forwarded me the article wondering what i would think of it all.

Being raised sikh was something incredible that made for a life that has required an open mind and full understanding for all that is misunderstood. As a white girl in Texas, whose brothers and sisters were in India for ten months of every year for school and whose parents had the same strange name, it was much easier to be accepting of seemingly strange lifestyles and alternative thought, all of which i feel is infinitely valuable. And there are many aspects of sikh teachings that i think can be applied to anyone, despite religious affiliation or opinions on god and organized religion.

so my question is, nicole, what is your affiliation with Hampshire, and after this article what are you doing with kundalini yoga and where do you find yourself after such an encounter as you had with the ashram? I am asking as a person who is still discovering what sikhism means in my life and how i can find a balance in its teachings for myself and for other people. Of all the paths and ideas that exist in this world, how can the individual make their own collection to better themself and make for at least a little peace? let me know what you think, and what you are up to over yonder in massachussetts. I will be back in the spring, but otherwise you can email me if you feel like a conversation.

much respect.

Amrit
10/27/06

As a sikh it is essential to take amrit ordered from our great guru, then we should do the essential things to become a sikh. Our guru has given us the 5 banis to read everday, jap ji, jap sahib, swayvie sahib, chopai sahib and anand sahib. We as sikhs should meditate on Waheguru and we should always help when someone is in need. A sikh becomes a true sikh when he has controlled the 5 vices. A sikh should always have bani and bana intact. These instructions were all given by the 5 beloved ones when we take amrit. The 5 beloved ones are in the light of our beloved guru. waheguru ji ka khalsa, waheguru ji ki fateh!

Naginder Singh
12/10/03

Read the story, Sikhs.

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