By Rupinder Singh New Jersey

Life as a Sikh in America, depends upon a Sikh’s opinions on a number of things regarding his personal life, his environment and most important of all his faith and belief in his religion Sikhism.

A Sikh, as soon as he lands in America he is in an unknown and unfamiliar land. He is in a completely different atmosphere and environment. It will take him quite a lot of time to adjust to his new environment. American environment consists of people of many races and religion.

A Sikh has trouble finding a job because the employer does not realize that when he gets a job, he will do his best and will make the employer proud.

As a Sikh starts to get familiar to his surroundings he is then able to cope with some of his other problems and conflicts in America. His family is very important to a Sikh. He understands the need of his family and he tries to provide everything which he possibly can. Unlike the Americans, a Sikh is very close to his family, he cares for his wife, son and daughter. He tries to find out if his family members are having a hard time with their friends or students in his children’s school. Most of the time in the beginning the children will have trouble. It could be the language barrier, and the students. The language barrier can be slowly omitted or can be totally eliminated. The trouble with the students can be major and serious. A Sikh has to work with the school and his children to resolve the conflict. As being a Sikh a child can get by teasing, by just ignoring the prejudice of the students, but when the ignorant kids touch the turban or hit a Sikh child, he must tell them with some force or tell somebody older. Sikh parents must always take action against it.

Adjusting to the new community and its members can take a lot of time, but a true Sikh never gives up and keeps on pushing, and succeeds in the end because he believes in Sikhism.

Sikhism is a very modern religion. Hinduism believes in worshiping the stone statues and photos. Many Catholics believe in Satan (The Devil). Sikhism does not believe in those rituals. Instead Sikhism believes in a realistic God, Wahiguru. Sikhs today worship their holy book Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Granth Sahib restricts a Sikh from taking drugs, drinking alcohol, and smoking cigarettes, which no other religion in the world restricts. A Sikh in America must come to Gurudwara, and talk about his troubles with other Sikhs, so they can help, and also, share his happiness with other Sikhs.

A Sikh must not become a Westerner. He must not follow other people, he must follow his strong and determined will for being a true Sikh of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. A true Sikh is one who has taken Amrit, wakes upat4a.m., takes a bath, does his path of Five Banies, in the morning. In the evening he does Rahras and before going to bed he does Kirtan Soheala. Kirtan Soheala builds a perimeter around a Sikh, which protects him at night.

GURU GOBIND SINGH JI SAID, “A SIKH NEVER HARM’S ANYONE, AND ALSO HE DOES NOT TOLERATE HARM TO HIM FROM OTHERS”

A Sikh is deliberately made different by Guru Gobind

Singh Ji because they wanted a Sikh to stand out from ordinary people.

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 18, 1989