Vaisakhi: looking back at ourselves

Vaheguroo jee ka Khalsa!
Vaheguroo jee kee Fateh!

As much as we like to celebrate ourselves in another year of the panth, I think its more important to look back and ask ourselves: "What has our panth done in the past year?"

I'm sorry to say, but this isn't like many of the Vadhiayaa posts that I've been seeing going up on most blogs... mostly because if the panth reaching God is our goal, this past year I've seen many many steps backwards.

But why is that? I see daily more kids being involved in sikhi, doing keertan, simran. More "sikhs" deciding to keep their hair, take amrit, and be willing to teach others. But at the same time, many many more vulgar, insulting, violent punks that have tarnished the panthic reputation as a group of saint-soldiers.

Take a look in any sikh forums these days... vulgar language, disrespect for others, death threats... its soo wonderful that we have these people calling themselves sikh. They run out, and wherever a site posts about sikhism, they swear, ramble, threaten... destroying a hard earned reputation that sikhs have worked centuries to obtain. I constantly see videos of sikhs fighting amongst themselves, filled with petty hatred, bickering...

So what can be done? At some point, I think we have to teach our friends, the youth, that a religion, like any organization, has standards. And I think that its up to us to help to approach those who have problems, and do what we can to ease their transitions... hate and anger are the two most painful vices that any person can have! Our gurus gave up their lives, and even with a sword, fought with love... let us hope that we all learn to do the same.