Letter to Editor: Dear Editor:
Read your News Report “Sikh Group in Drugs’’, October 2 8, 1996, Page 3, with great sadness. A few miscreants have brought shame to the entire community. Sikhs enjoyed “their freedom” when everyone looked up to us when our morals were so high that Hindus took pride in converting their elder sons into Sikhism. We have brought disgrace upon ourselves by distancing ourselves from the high ideals of our forefathers and founders of our faith.
We talk of independent Khalistan, but what sort of foundations are we paying for this place of the Pure? Wake up my brothers and sisters. It is HO for introspection. Let us log, within us and let us work on making ourselves worthy of this Khalistan. Baljit Singh Sidhu Colonial Heights, VA
Sir, I am of the Sikh faith. I like to read the translations of the Gurbani texts, usually go to the Gurdwara, attend the Sunday Class, and I firmly believe that there is One God. He is the Creator, and as a Sikh, I accept that I must function under His hukam, God loves; He is compassionate; He is just; and there is no shortage in His bounty. Gurjit says that he gives and gives, until the recipients get tired. However, there are some matters that puzzle me:
- Two boys are born: one to poor parents; the other to very rich parents. Both are God’s creation. The one in the very rich family obviously has a much better growth environment than the one born in a poor household. Our natural parents feel that they must treat the siblings equally, so why is it that there is apparent discrimination in God’s realm?
- Some religious say that what is written is cast in stone, and cannot be changed; but Gurjit says that by living according to God’s hukam, a person can improve one’s lot. This may happen if (e.g.) of the two boys, the one from the poor household, does, through his own sustained efforts, ultimately tum out to be materially a great success; and the other one, Inspite of his better start, tums out to be a rogue and vagabond. If these results are reached entirely by the good efforts of one, and the bad ones by the other, then that would seem to Suggest that a person is free to do what he likes, and that God does not take any part in it. Off, on the other hand their destiny is guided by the hand of God, this why does not divine direct the” both towards good? Since me boys did not have a choice in the first place, how is it that the one is need was enabled to overcome his inherent handicap, and to acquire the ability to effect an improvement in what God has already written for him? And why was the one who was already well placed, allowed to drift into bad ways?
- Holy books tell us that a person should not spend time in asking for material and illusory things that rather we should only ask Him to show us the way to Himself. This leads to the logical conclusion that we should leave it to God to decide what is best for us. Also, in view of the supremacy of God, that is an acceptable com cept; but because some people inherently given more and others are left to struggle to survive, appears to suggest that somehow some form of favoritism is being practiced. That, of course, is not one of God’s attributes, as explained in Sikhism.
4, so, where can I find the answers? Respectfully, Wahiguruji ka Khalsa Wahiguruji ki Fateh (Baljee Singh) Grade 10. Montreal, Quebec.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 23, 1996
