hi, I find this article very positive sign of transition in the mindset 0f people which is onset of ether age, When humanity will be freed/salvaged from mis beliefs, dogmas, misinterpretation of holy books by dealers/sellers of religion. SIKHISM IS ONE SUCH RELIGION WHERE MASTERS THEMSELVES GAVE US PURE VALUES, TRUTH OF LIFE ITSELF WITH THEIR OWN HAND SCRIPT, LEAVING NO CHANCE FOR DEALERS/SELLERS OF RELIGIONS TO MISGUIDE THE HUMANITY. RISE OF KHALSA IS POSITIVE SIGN OF TRUE SPIRITUALITY ON EARTH. THANKS FOR THIS ARTICLE

Hi, I came across this article and I also am so happy and proud that Sikhism is now bein opened up to people not born into the Faith. Guru Nanak and all the other Guru's who followed, went about spreading the word of god, and not converting people, but sharing the message. So i openly welcome new followers, and hope they get the chance to follow this amazing religion

Sikhism has always accepted converts from any walk of life, race, nationality, age or gender. This is one of the most prominent features of Sikhi. In Sikhism there is no discrimination.

Sikhism is seen as very unfavorable and hypocritical by non-Sikhs, first of all there is a report in Canada after a poll was carried out showing that Sikhs are seen unfavorably due to their manipulative control freakery of politicians to have things their way only, at the same time, genuine Sikh preachers of peace and harmony were murdered in Austria, Sikhs rioted in many countries after this, they also rioted on many other occasions in their own temples by making old people eat food from the temple floor, well, so much for tolerance and respecting elders?? Recently in UK there were death threats against a Sikh woman playwright of a play, 'Behzti' at the same time several honor killings took place against Sikh girls because they wanted to marry other caste or Muslim men. Faith? What faith?

shame Asif is being negative about such a tolerant faith. A distinction needs to be made between the 'teachings' of a faith & what practioners do of their own will. At least treatment of women in Sikhism is egalatarian & polygamy is forbidden. Sikhs have also given lives fighting for the Western allies, they are very well integrated in society in Western countries & not short of a penny either! according to the 2001 census Sikhs in the UK have the most house ownership Vs. all other religious communities in Britain. Admittedly every community has issues, perhaps Asif should look into those of his own before providing such 'sweeping statements'.

I'd like to thank the writer 'Proud to be a Christian' for the balanced view given in their comment. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for Asif Khan. I am a Sikh and am proud of my religious heritage whilst also respecting other religions. This tolerance of other faiths is one of the basic tenets of the Sikh faith. Would Mr Khan like to explain what he means by the sweeping statement "Sikhism is seen as very unfavourable by non-Sikhs." Obviously tolerance and understanding is not one of his beliefs. All I can say Mr Khan is...people who live in glasshouses shouldn't throw stones! Sikhs have defended the rights of many religious groups in the past and just a thought Mr Khan; it's interesting that you never hear of suicide bombers being bred by the Sikh religion isn't it? Oh and get your facts right about the 'Behzti' play as well; it was a protest against the SETTING of the play ie members of the Sikh community found it insulting that the backdrop for the play was a gurudwara. I seem to remember books being burned that had been written by a certain author named Salman Rushdie and the issuing of a fatwa against him. I won't even start discussing honour killings because I think you can guess already what my thoughts on that subject would be. Just a thought but i wonder what happens to those Muslim girls who choose to marry outside of their religion. So, unless you profess to be an expert on the Sikh faith, which I'm guessing you aren't, then please keep your views to yourself but if you insist on making them known then back them up with balanced arguments. Thankyou.

One Creator, One Universe, Fatherhood of one Almighty Creator, and brotherhood or equality of all humans . Gender Equality, normal married life with one spouse, no celibacy for priests or anybody, and no asceticism, idolatory, caste system, no worship of millions of Devis/Devtas, maintain and respect the human form as created by God with natural hair and do not disfigure it if you believe the Human represents the image of God. God is believed to a Spirit rather than body. The formless eternal Spiritual Being (God) cannot be seen, rather His existence felt like fragrance of flower, which cannot be seen, but still felt. His omnipresence has been from the very beginning of the Universe, all through the ages, and will be thee most certainly for ever because He is neither born, Nor dies, He is self-existent beyond time, birth, and death. He can be realized with the guidance of an enlightened Spirit (Guru), presently Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh Scripture) WORD GURU (1430 PRINTED PAGES OF truth revealed to Guru Nanak and his successors, and various other saints, Bhagats, whose writings included in the Sikh Scripture. Through the practice of virtuous good deeds we draw ourselves closer to Him, and deviating from the moral standard path, we go astray and away from Him. The effort is human, and the ultimate grace is the Almighty who acts like an impatrial Supreme Judge depending on a person's virtuous deeds, actions rather than convictions alone. NAAM JAPO, KIRAT KARO, WAND SHAKO (meaning: Remember the Lord, Earn Thy Living through moral /honest means, and sharing with the destitude helpless needy. Sprituality, universal brotherhood, fraternatiy, charity, equality, and moral conduct is the path of the Sikh Religion. The values are most modern, and no myths, superstitions, and false meaningless beliefs and rituals. This is Sikhism, the Modern Relgion for the future of Mankind.

I was born and raised in 3HO Sikh Dharma to American Sikh converts and students of Yogi Bhajan. I was sent to India to a boarding school called GNFC when I was 8 years old. I remained in school until graduating at 16. I was physically abused and neglected. Yogi Bhajan ordered his students to send their children away at very young ages, and when parents learned of the abuses, he ordered them to continue sending them to India. This article fails to state that most, if not all, white Sikh Converts are in some way connected to Yogi Bhajan's 3HO and are usually indoctrinated through Kundalini Yoga classes and teacher's training. Yogi Bhajan did not teach to simply adhere to Sikhism, yet some of the practices (and I avoid the use of the word tenets) of Sikhism were part of 3HO practices, such as long hair, turbans, vows, and religious ceremonies. At age 18 I cut my hair. Yogi Bhajan instructed my mother to literally evict me from her home, and she listened to him. I was ostracized from the community, the community that promised to make me rich if I dropped out of college to work for their businesses for 5 dollars an hour. I was told by Yogi Bhajan in these exact words after I had left: "You will crash and burn". I now know that 3HO to fits the classic definition of a cult, and that when I was leaving to live my own life as I saw fit, I was told I would fail. If the editors of this story would like to know more about 3HO, and more about the lives of 2nd generation adults who were sent away to India at ages as young as 6 years old, please contact me. satgurschnrub@gmail.com my blog with photos is at http://www.indiakids.blogspot.com This is not a comment toward the Sikh religion as a whole. 3HO had many rules and practices that are not part of Sikhism, but are constructs of Yogi Bhajan's leadership. I can't believe Congress has acted so carelessly! Sincerely, Kelly

I am a sikhfaith follower for the last 75 years.I have come across many sikhs who are short of all but their own type of sikhism.i met bhaja who was so rude to many that he was swearing most of the time.his plan to make a sikh homeland khalstan is different what the sikhs wish to have a country of their own.i am for the nation for sikhs this is the nation which was on this planet not in heaven or hell.The simple truth for a sikh is that he loves his creator and His creation I was the first to tell all sikhs that the creator does not hate anyone.being a good human is all a person needs to be if the childern were separated from their parents it was foolish for americans to follow blindly.bhajan was a retired custom officer who made dollars out of a simple truth that the man or woman must be as good as his creator to be one with him other paths or pugdandees are not good a good sikh hindu muslim or christian must respect the creator and the creation of the creator and he must be good to be as fine as the creator who had sent him on this planet.

Satsriakal, I read this topic and found it interesting enough to write it back as a comment. Here are some very good things from sikhism: - "Die in such a way that you would never have to die again" "Do not abandon this world,but abandon the worldy affairs" " Let YOU live in the world but world in YOU" " Timeless in the time is the manifestation of God" " Journey to a path of the truth should be accompained by the truth only" "Hundreds of scholors and genuises be there but only one who had kept the name of God always in his/her heart is not seen by the noose of his/her death"

I think Sikhism teaches righteousness and live life truthfully. The downside I have is the cultures of the followers and some their values contradict their beliefs. Yet some Sikhs are so modern with their religion and values partially where they have grown up. I think Asif may have seen a problem in a small area that must be all Sikhs behaviour-it is not. Asif if you visit the U.K. you will find that Muslims are least favorite religion by some people and they are sick to death of them getting their way. Thing is not all Muslims are bad are they so we cannot label everyone. Anyway I am an Athiest by the way but I do respect religions and they have one message of equality which many faith followers seem never to follow. I've found Sikhs and Budhists quite modern in their values. Maybe due to when they formed their religion against Vs' older religions and values but I guess it's how the individual followers any religion and what they value as behaviour. I think people can use religion but need to look for answers from within and use logic.

@Asif Khan, your comment does not represent the views of Muslims and come across slightly bitter. You are confusing the actions of some Sikhs with the religion of Sikhism. I don't think there are any tenents in the Sikh faith which sanction the activities you describe. You should be careful of blaming the religion for the non-religeous actions of the followers. I think you will find many examples of crimes carried out by those born as Muslims, not necessarily practising the religion or particularly religeous, that carry out bad acts. Should their individual actions reflect on Islam? Whereas followers can be bad, all religion aspires to be good and pure. With the media hysteria on Muslims at the moment, I would have thought you knew better then this. The struggle today is between people with faith and those without; regardless of the path you take.

Really liked the story and its discussions. I am not a Sikh but live in Amritsar and have seen these so called "White Sikhs" roaming in the city in Rolls Royce sometimes! They even go to salons and lead a same life as normal teenagers do. But one thing- the girls are really gorgeous and that too without any makeup and dresses ..thats the real beauty they have..the spiritual beauty.

I am a Hindu .Many in our extended family are Sikhs.Some of my close friends including childhood friends are Sikhs.We find Sikhism a simple religion and a religion with modern outlook.Equality of all is one of the greatest virtue taught by Gurus.In many ways, I find their teachings as an extract of many religions .

I am a sikh born and brought up in a Mumbai, am presently in New York. I feel that Sikhism as a religion is very tolerant and lets you lead a modern life without rigours of rituals. It lets you decide how much importance religion is in your life which is in tune with what I believe in Karma. All the same, I can walk up to gurudwara any moment I feel like and immerse myself in the peace of the place. @asif: Please keep your personal vendetta against Sikhs to yourself. You are talking about one report and a few incidents of rioting which is peanuts compared to the worst of other religions.

The highest common factor of all religions is simply kindness. That includes true selfless 'sewa' - for the benefit of all people ( not limited to the grounds of Churches or Gurudwaras.Mosques etc). It also encompasses kindness towards your kids and even strangers in the street. Young children need the love and support of their parents - but by sending them to a boarding school and depriving them of their parents' love is not kindness. If parents feel the need to listen to so-called 'Yogi's' or 'Baba' or 'Sant', when theinspirational Guru Granth Sahib is available and the formidable 10th Guru clearly forbade the following of any other human being, then those parents a doing a disservice to Sikhism, their kids and to the concept of parenthood. Dont have children if you are not going to love and care for them and most importantly ENJOY them. Bad parenting nurtures evil and may of society's ills are attributable to bad parenting. I commend 'Kelly' for her courage and ability to recognise this and wrench herself out of the grip of misguided parents. May the true Wahe - Guru bless you and bring contentment into your life. God does not see religions but acts of kindness - THE HIGHEST COMMON FACTOR IN ALL RELIGIONS Asif dwells on the LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATER of all religions ie extremists - who quicly to turn to violence as they do not possess the intellect to deal with the issues in hand. Asif - what you say maybe factual and I assert extremism is nutured at home by BAD PARENTING. If you beat a kid for not studying he/she will naturally rebel and quicly turn to violence in later life. If you dont truly love your kids then they will seek love elsewhere. SIKHS are instructed to only use violence as a last resort and only IN SELF DEFENCE.

a non-Punjabi sikh is a very interesting concept. maybe rajvinder singh will lead the way in britain . .