MB Singh Wrote:
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> Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
>
> Sangat Jee, based on the inputs above; I try to
> gather something.
>
> Kulbir Singh Veer Ji at the end of his post;
> points out that it is not justified to say good
> bye to a good thing of Gurmat if we find a mention
> of it in other religions. Guru Sahib in Gurbani
> give definitions of a true Brahmin or a Muslim.
> So, when a Khalsa follows those Hukams of Guru Ji;
> he reaches those standards of a Brahmin or a Mulla
> unknowingly and
> automatically.------------------------Brahmin in
> its honest quest of God did come up with the
> theory of Choice or Bibek based actions. For him;
> food sources or different preparations or persons
> preparing food were a matter of concern or
> consideration. For others it was not of any
> relevance. That is why; people started calling
> these Bibek based considerations as Brahminism.
> There is nothing wrong in it. If a real Brahmin
> concept finds parrallel in Gurmat; people will
> certainly call us Brahmin. Health Sciences also
> supports us for certain activities called Bibek or
> Brahminism.
>
> But, as mentioned in above posts; we do not
> disriminate based on any casteism; we do it based
> on their actions. Ultimately "thoughts and
> actions" of a person make him/her worthy of our
> company or Sangat. This is one major difference.
>
> How Bibek is different from Brahminism:
>
> Actually, when we are trying to explain that; it
> is certainly not true Brahminism. It is failed or
> corrupted Brahminsim; which is popular in general
> and comes under the category of BIPRIN KI REET. It
> is the Brahminism, which is misguided and takes a
> person away from the path of God. It finds solace
> in rituals devoid of any personal love of God or
> His Kudrat (nature) or His creations.It is the
> path; which is miles and miles away from the path
> of Guru Nanak Sahib. (Though the simple actions of
> Sharda or love bring Brahimins under the category
> of nice ones of the type of Sudama, the friend of
> Krishna) This BIPRIN Ki REET is cruel and inhuman.
> It treats animals as Gods but humans as animals.
> (We know a lot about it and suffered a lot from
> that too.) It will not allow, low caste to enter
> their homes or places of
> worship.---------------But with passing of time;
> they have changed a lot. This type of "Failed or
> unreal Brahmins" are also rare. Their modern
> educated children find nothing wrong in sharing
> things apparently with low castes.
>
> Anyway; the irony of the situation is that; Gurmat
> Bibek is being followed by some of the sikhs only.
> Not by non-sikhs; but by sikhs themselves; they
> are termed as Brahmins among Sikhs.
>
> Now; my brothers and sisters; it is your duty to
> follow the path of the Guru in a way that it
> should not be Brahminism; (though it may look like
> Brahminism). We must know that all Amrtdhari sikhs
> are on the Path of Guru. They belong to your Guru.
> At least they; do deserve your attention. Do not
> get isolated; to be forced to live a life of
> superiority. Please do interact.
>
> And if we fail to see tender feelings, innocent
> motives, affectionate activities; honest love and
> emotional outbursts in our brothers and sisters
> and mother and father around; they are correct if
> they call us Brahmins.
After reading this post it appears that there is a thin line between Brahanism and Bibek in which many Sikhs often confuse the two. For me Bibek is to eat food that has been blessed and made according to the GUrus teachings it has less to do with cleansiness.
While for Bahamans the main emphasis on cleansiness. I see no point in washing a water tap after someone else has used it that to me is acting like a Bahaman, nor do I have a problem with shaking anyones hands as long as they are not smoking or have just smoked. It appears people are trying to incorporate Hindu cultural practices into Gurmat Bibek. We are getting to much into rituals by doing such things. In Sukhmani Sahib Guru ji mentions we should make efforts to do internal cleaning. That place which Naam exist is the purest. I see no reason to emphasize to much on external cleaning.
When Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji was in Delhi he helped those that had leporsy which couldnt be considered as a hygenic practice. Yet Guru Sahib went out of his way to help these people even at the cost of his own life. BHai Fauja SIngh Ji use to pick up feces around the Gurdwara . Bhagat Puran SIngh Ji also did the same thing , he also too care of people and lived with people who did not have high standards of cleansiness. Yet to me they are true Khalsa . Those who wore pure on the outside and inside. Unlike the Bahamas who like to wear their loincloth on the outiside and fool people of their nobility, these Khalsa Singhs did not wear the Khalsa Uniform on the outside as a show they lived up to the ideals of Khalsa and thus they were true inside and true to their roop on the outside.
jugath dhhothee surath choukaa thilak karanee hoe
bhaao bhojan naanakaa viralaa th koee koe ||1||