Sikhi is a wonderful East Indian religion for Westerners to explore and learn something about. Sikhi and science are highly harmonious worldviews. Sikhi is Universalist, honoring of all Sacred Ways, of all people. For Sikhs the Creator and the Creation are ONE and the same; thus Sikhi is free from the Western mind/body split, and Sikhs do not believe in original sin. Sikhi is completely feminist, not sexist "in theory" one bit, and Sikhi actively fights caste and class, and Sikhi rejects personality cults, and authoritarian hierarchies; among many other virtues.

And Sikhs have repeatedly proven themselves capable of huge and amazing, unified, acts of righteousness down through their history. The true stories of Sikhs are heart-meltingly inspiring, and Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh path in India, a mere 500 years ago, was one of the sweetest and most powerful humans to ever walk on Earth.

For Sikhs keeping their hair uncut and up in a turban, with beards and all other body hair left untouched, is one of the five symbols of being a Sikh, specifically designed by the soldier/saint Guru Gobind Singh, who was the last in the linegae of embodied Sikh founders and teachers. Each of these five symbols - uncut hair, comb, bracelet, sword and underwear - are to be kept on a Sikh's body at all times. These symbols are active reminders to Sikhs of a whole set of vows.

Sikhs vow to stay wholesome, authentic and natural, free from smokes and booze and kicks (symbolized by uncut hair), Sikhs vow to stay washed (comb) and Sikhs vow to jump right in, every single time, to defend the oppressed (sword). Yes, every single time! Yet Sikhs vow to ONLY defend, never to attack (bracelet). And Sikhs vow to control their sexual energy (symbolized by their underwear). Sikhs hold all women and men as Sisters and Brothers and Sikhs do not romanticize/fantasize/sexualize about others. They resist fantasy and embrace reality. TRUTH is important to Sikhs, so they commit their lives to Truth's service. And Sikhs say prayers each day, and Sikhs open their hearts and sing praise to the Creator/Creation each day, and Sikhs do daily meditation as well!

Sikhi is NOT an easy path in other words! To imagine that 25 million Sikhs worldwide are keeping such amazing and difficult daily vows is, frankly, unbelievable. And in truth, Sikhs, flung around the modern world, living in Diaspora, as well as those still living in turbulent Northern India, are presently flailing from various degrees of trauma and culture shock.

This has a lot to do with the fact that back in 1984 the Indian Government took troops in and attacked Sikh's most central Gurdwara, the Golden Temple in Amritsar India. It was a massacre and Indira Gandhi died as a result of this incident. Can you imagine if the USA government decided to blow up a New York City Synagogue? Anyone remember WW2 these days?

This is one of the many things that Sikhs find frustrating about Westerners. We USAers so conveniently space out history and we don't track World News; seemingly trusting USA media completely. Meanwhile most Sikhs in my experience know their history and they work hard to stay up on current events as well. For instance, Sikhs remember fighting in defense of the Jews, like it was only yesterday. In truth, it was only 60 years ago.

One lifetime.

In contrast most USAers appear to have already forgotten all about the Persian Gulf War, and most of our children know little or nothing about the Vietnam War much less WW2.

Since the 1984 attack and slaughter of Sikhs by the Indian Government, Sikhs have been in an uproar, of course. Sikhs have been steadily streaming out of India and the India Government has infiltrated Sikh politics and temples so heavily in the Punjab that Sikhs living in Diaspora no longer trust anything that is happening there. Alcoholism and drug abuse, domestic violence, cults, saints and saviors, and hopelessness are all UP among Sikhs. Carpetbaggers are everywhere. The younger generation is rebelling against the elders. And lots of people who wear turbans and beards, and say they are Sikhs, aren't keeping the Sikh vows one bit.

Still Sikhs are romantic and Sikhs are proud. Sikhs have a tradition and a role and a history. And I personally find that the most lukewarm Sikh still jumps into social justice activism faster than most USAers can comprehend.

Right now, Sikhs in the USA are fearlessly facing the misdirected outbreak of Hate Crimes towards them, and reforming themselves, and inspiring others, extremely quickly and dramatically. We have a lot to learn from Sikhs about accepting the need for change and about how to do it quickly. It has been a total privilege for me, since the Terror of September 11, 2001, to work side by side with arguably the greatest warriors on Earth, the Sikhs, to combat racist backlash here in the USA, towards our Muslim and Sikh citizens. It is really inspiring to watch Sikhs reaching out now, and educating USAers about the Sikh religion.

Of course, Sikhs are also a bit embarrassed to be suddenly center-stage in front of a USA audience, because many Sikhs aren't living up to their own religious standards and they truly want to be better and show their best face to the world. Yet for USAers, who have already lived in this country for a generation or two, Sikhs and the problems Sikhs face look completely understandable, familiar and normal. Most Sikhs are from India and they are new immigrants to the USA, trying desperately to keep what they value from the Old Country and eager to embrace the best that Western culture has to offer as well. Most USA Sikh elders can't speak English, but their 3 year old grandchildren babble English a mile a minute and are computer pros. The religion of Sikhi isn't supposed to be male-dominated; but right now, in truth, it is. And the push seems to be for every Sikh son to become either a Doctor, or Lawyer, or Engineer, or a millionaire Businessman.

Same old story as for all the rest of USAers. Yes, indeed, except for our Native Americans, we are all immigrants here!

Yet Sikhs, though typical USA immigrants for sure, are different too. Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708), the 10th and final embodied Guru of the Sikh faith, rejected the Hindu Guru-Disciple relationship and transferred his power and authority onto our scripture, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (Great Wisdom Book Teacher) and the Panj Piare'; our congregations. By doing so Guru Gobind Singh made Sikhi a non-authoritarian religion.

Every Sikh's boss is this book of sacred poetry. And this book, the Sikh's One and Only Guru and Guide through life, instructs Sikhs very clearly to do Seva, "service" that benefits all humankind, to actively pursue social justice as a basic part of daily spiritual practice.

Thus, Sikhs don't imagine that it is a coincidence that Sikhs are being racially targeted in the USA right now. Sikhs don't proselytize one bit, yet we know that it is past time that we educate Westerns about yet another marvelous spiritual path/religion from the East. Sikhs believe that all religions, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Paganism, Shamanism and so forth, all have wonderful gifts to give humanity and great lessons to teach us all. Sikhi does too.

And one of the greatest gifts that Sikhs have to offer our hopeless world is our conviction that actively working for social justice is itself a very powerful and necessary spiritual practice for each and every human on Earth.

Here is what Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) himself wrote concerning Social Justice As Spiritual Practice and what he had to say about the politics and religious fanatics of his own day.

SAVAYYE translated interpretation by Dr. Nikky Guninder Kaur , Colby U, Canada. (I have changed or added a word or two to her interpretations. The true meanings must be experienced in the language of Gurmukhi.)

There is ONE Being, Victory to the wonderful Guru (personal guide, God within, Beloved Teacher). The composition of the Tenth Nanak My wonderful Guru, I recite the Savayye by Your Grace.

1. I have seen hosts of purists and ascetics, I have visited the homes of yogis and celibates. Heros and demons, practitioners of purity and drinkers of ambrosia, hosts of saints, from countless religions from all countries, yet I have yet to see followers of the Creator/Creation. Without LOVE for the Almighty, without Grace from the All Wonderful, all practices are without a grain of worth.

2. Drunken elephants draped in gold, first among giants in blazing colors, herds of horses sprinting like gazelles, swifter than the wind, the people bow their heads to strong-armed rulers. So what if they are such mighty owners: at last they depart barefoot from the world.

3.Conquerors of the world march triumphant to the beat of kettle drums. Their herds of handsome elephants trumpet, their royal steeds lustily neigh. These rulers of the past, future and present, can never be counted. Without worshipping the Supreme Sovereign, all end in the house of death.

4. Pilgrimage, ablutions, and charities, self-restraint, and countless rituals, study of the Vedas, Puranas, Kateb and Qur'an, all scriptures from all times and places, ascetics subsisting on air, practicing celibacy - countless such I have seen and considered. Without remembering the ONE, without LOVE for the ONE, all Masters and actions go to naught.

5. Inured and invincible warriors in shining armor, determined to crush the enemy, proudly think, mountains may grow wings and fly away,> but never us. They can shatter their enemy, they can wring their foe, they can crush legions of drunken elephants, but without the Grace of the ONE, Creator/Creation, they too must depart this world.

6 Countless heros and warriors who stand fast against the blows of iron, who conquer lands and enemies, who crush the pride out of drunken elephants, who raze sturdy castles, or who gain the world by words, they are all beggers at the Divine Portal, the Divine Ruler is the only Giver.

7.Gods, demons, serpents, and ghosts contemplate Your Name (GOD's identity, Ultimate Mystery, Infinity) in all times - past, present, and future. All creatures of land and sea You instantly create and destroy, their virtuous deeds are heartily celebrated, their pile of misdeeds utterly eradicated. The devout go happily in this world, their enemies sink in shame.

8. Rulers of mortals and mighty elephants, leaders of the three worlds, performers of endless rituals and charities, winners of brides in countless swayamvara rites, like Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu and Sachi's husband, they all end at last in death. They who touch the feet of the Transcendent UNITY, they alone are freed from the cycle of birth and death.

9. How futile to sit in contemplation like a stork with both eyes closed. While trying to bathe in the seven seas (reference to the 7 chakras) we lose this world and the next. How futile to sink into misdeeds, we only waste away our life. I tell the truth, do listen to me, they alone who LOVE, find the Beloved.

10. Some worship stones, some bear them on their heads; some wear phalluses around their necks. Some claim to see the ONE in the South; some bow their heads to the West. Some worship idols, some images of animals, some run to worship the dead and their graves. The entire world is lost in rituals - but none knows the ultimate mystery of the Great ONE.