May 10th -- Paath Session Summary
Caste is a huge issue in today’s society especially when it comes to things such as marriage. When one marries from a “high-caste” to a “low-caste” there is a belief of “family dishonor”. We all know this is not part of Sikhi so why does it still occur?
Caste resides in Punjabi culture and not in the Sikh religion. However, it is hard to separate the two. One must decide which is more important, their religion or culture, since Punjabi culture contradicts the Sikh religion in many ways and vice versa.
The members believe as time goes by, slowly ‘caste-ism’ will surely die down. Since mostly the elders and not the younger generation hold onto the caste system. The elders still have that mindset that they must not associate with ‘lower’ social-classes or castes unless they want their image in society to be tarnished.
Also, for example, a person with a higher level of education (university degree) would not want to marry a person who let’s say is a high school dropout. In this example, SSA members believe that these two social groups have different views and they may not be able to get along. Like minds/social groups will tend to get along better.
A good thing? Need to marry within social group, how can a person marry their servant?
It used to be easy to marry within caste because their families will get along, but it is wrong to say that another caste is less intellectual or at a lower level?
Base the family culture on ‘Sikhi Jeevan’ instead of the ‘caste system’ and this will get rid of any distinction !!
Social groups are different from the caste system. (For example, even if one is of a ‘higher caste’, and the ‘lower caste’ makes more money and is part of a ‘higher social group’, one will still regard them as being at a lower level than them)
Root of problem: Society is so worried about how they look and what other people view them as. They don’t want to marry their children to another caste, worrying about what other people will think about them. It is all one big ego contest.
If you have a friend who’s going onto the wrong path, for example, drinking, clubbing, etc., and you try telling the person this path is not right and will lead to pain in the future, but they don’t listen, and up getting hurt, what should you do?
Depending on the age group, there are different things you can do.
Younger Siblings - The parents play the biggest role in shaping a chld's future. It is the parent's responsibility to raise their children properly, with both love and discipline.
Mid-teen to early 20s - Spend more time with them, maybe your positive attitude will rub off on them. Can't prevent them from doing anything, but best thing to do is set a good example.
Also, people learn from their mistakes. Sometimes the best thing to do is try all you can, if it doesn't work, then maybe they need to make the mistake, realize it, learn from it, and then move on.
Sometimes some parents can be an obstacle between children and their Sikhi. Some parents have a problem with their children going further into Sikhi (more so girls than guys). What is the right thing to do in this situation? Disobey parents and further your Sikhi, or listen to your parents, because after all, they are your parents?
Parents usually have a problem with their daughters going further into Sikhi because of the same issue as castes ... 'What will society think?'. They believe that no one would want to marry their daughter if she goes too deep into Sikhi. This discourages many girls not to get into Sikhi because some parents use lines such as 'you won't look beautiful and no one will want to marry you' and as we all know, most girls (as well as guys) are already sensitive to how they look.
Children need to bring their parents more into Sikhi and make them understand why they are doing what they are doing. They need to help their parents jst as their parents helped them while they were growing up to see what Sikhi is really about. Inspiration can come from the oldest member of a family, or the youngest member of the family, inspiration knows no age, it can come from anywhere.
When someone tells you “I’ve never heard of a Sikh, what’s a Sikh?” How do you respond? What are good ways to sum up Sikhi in few words or phrases to let the person know what Sikhi is about but at the same time not present them with an essay so they can actually remember what was said?
The best and most simplest way to start -- Sikhs believe in one god. It is a monotheistic religion (distinct from Hinduism). Sikhi is a revealed religion and not an offshoot of something else: came straight from god, creation of Sikhi not by man, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is our present Guru (from 15th century). Answer their questions in a simple yet informative manner.
Caste resides in Punjabi culture and not in the Sikh religion. However, it is hard to separate the two. One must decide which is more important, their religion or culture, since Punjabi culture contradicts the Sikh religion in many ways and vice versa.
The members believe as time goes by, slowly ‘caste-ism’ will surely die down. Since mostly the elders and not the younger generation hold onto the caste system. The elders still have that mindset that they must not associate with ‘lower’ social-classes or castes unless they want their image in society to be tarnished.
Also, for example, a person with a higher level of education (university degree) would not want to marry a person who let’s say is a high school dropout. In this example, SSA members believe that these two social groups have different views and they may not be able to get along. Like minds/social groups will tend to get along better.
A good thing? Need to marry within social group, how can a person marry their servant?
It used to be easy to marry within caste because their families will get along, but it is wrong to say that another caste is less intellectual or at a lower level?
Base the family culture on ‘Sikhi Jeevan’ instead of the ‘caste system’ and this will get rid of any distinction !!
Social groups are different from the caste system. (For example, even if one is of a ‘higher caste’, and the ‘lower caste’ makes more money and is part of a ‘higher social group’, one will still regard them as being at a lower level than them)
Root of problem: Society is so worried about how they look and what other people view them as. They don’t want to marry their children to another caste, worrying about what other people will think about them. It is all one big ego contest.
If you have a friend who’s going onto the wrong path, for example, drinking, clubbing, etc., and you try telling the person this path is not right and will lead to pain in the future, but they don’t listen, and up getting hurt, what should you do?
Depending on the age group, there are different things you can do.
Younger Siblings - The parents play the biggest role in shaping a chld's future. It is the parent's responsibility to raise their children properly, with both love and discipline.
Mid-teen to early 20s - Spend more time with them, maybe your positive attitude will rub off on them. Can't prevent them from doing anything, but best thing to do is set a good example.
Also, people learn from their mistakes. Sometimes the best thing to do is try all you can, if it doesn't work, then maybe they need to make the mistake, realize it, learn from it, and then move on.
Sometimes some parents can be an obstacle between children and their Sikhi. Some parents have a problem with their children going further into Sikhi (more so girls than guys). What is the right thing to do in this situation? Disobey parents and further your Sikhi, or listen to your parents, because after all, they are your parents?
Parents usually have a problem with their daughters going further into Sikhi because of the same issue as castes ... 'What will society think?'. They believe that no one would want to marry their daughter if she goes too deep into Sikhi. This discourages many girls not to get into Sikhi because some parents use lines such as 'you won't look beautiful and no one will want to marry you' and as we all know, most girls (as well as guys) are already sensitive to how they look.
Children need to bring their parents more into Sikhi and make them understand why they are doing what they are doing. They need to help their parents jst as their parents helped them while they were growing up to see what Sikhi is really about. Inspiration can come from the oldest member of a family, or the youngest member of the family, inspiration knows no age, it can come from anywhere.
When someone tells you “I’ve never heard of a Sikh, what’s a Sikh?” How do you respond? What are good ways to sum up Sikhi in few words or phrases to let the person know what Sikhi is about but at the same time not present them with an essay so they can actually remember what was said?
The best and most simplest way to start -- Sikhs believe in one god. It is a monotheistic religion (distinct from Hinduism). Sikhi is a revealed religion and not an offshoot of something else: came straight from god, creation of Sikhi not by man, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is our present Guru (from 15th century). Answer their questions in a simple yet informative manner.
Part Two of Paath Session Summary will be posted shortly ...
Great discussion guys !!
Great discussion guys !!
Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh
posted by m.kaur at
9:05 p.m.
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