CEREMONIES IN SIKHISM
Gurbani - CEREMONIES IN SIKHISM:
The institution of the Khalsa entails a certain additional disciplinary outfit in the shape of baptismal forms and vows, which are often misunderstood. It is true that if religion were only a matter of individual concern there would be no need of forms and ceremonies.
But religion as taught by the Gurus, is a force that not only ennobles individuals but also binds them together to work for nobility in the world Organization is a means of enlarging the possibility, scope and effectiveness of this work. In order that an organization itself may work effectively, it is necessary that the individuals concerned in it should be able to keep up their attachment to the cause and a sufficient amount of enthusiasm for it, it is, however, a patent fact that men by their nature are so constituted that they cannot keep their feelings equally high strung for a long time at a stretch. Reaction is inevitable unless some means are devised to ensure the continuity of exertion. This is where discipline comes in, which keeps up the spirit of individual against relaxation in times of trail and maintains their loyalty to the cause even in moment of ebb. This discipline, or what is called esprit de corps is secured by such devices as flags and drills and uniforms in armies and certain form and ceremonies in religion. Uniformity is an essential part of them. They create the necessary enthusiasm by appealing to imagination and sentiment, and work for it in moments of depression. They are a real aid to religion, which is essentially a thing of sentiment. Man would not nee them if he were only a bundle of intellectual and moral senses; but as he has also got sentiment and imagination, without which the former qualities would be inoperative, he cannot do without articulating his ideas and beliefs in some forms appropriate to sentiment.
These forms must not be dead but a living index of his ideal, waking up in his vivid intimation of the personality that governs his religion. They should be related to his inner belief as words are to their meaning, tears to grief, smiles to happiness and a tune to a song. It is true that sometimes words become meaningless, when we no longer heed their sense, or the language to which they belong becomes dead. It is true that sometimes tears and smiles are only cloaks for hypocrisy; and a tune mere meaningless jingle. But there is no denying the fact that when their inner meaning is real and we are sincere about it, they do serve as very helpful interprets. Forms are the art of religion like art on Nature, these forms impose certain limitations on the ideal, but at the same time they make the ideal more real and workable for general use.
From the history of Sikhs in the past as well as in the present, it is quite evident how effectively these baptism forms, with the accompanying vows of purity, love and service, have aided them in keeping themselves united and their ideals unsullied even in times of greatest trial. While keeping the Sikhs associated with their Guru and maintaining his spirit amongest them they have not produced any narrowing effect on their beriefs or modes of worship. All worship and ceremoney whether in temple or home whether on birth, marriage or death consists or nothing else but praying and chanting hymns. Could anything be simple?
Author : Gurbaani.com
The institution of the Khalsa entails a certain additional disciplinary outfit in the shape of baptismal forms and vows, which are often misunderstood. It is true that if religion were only a matter of individual concern there would be no need of forms and ceremonies.
But religion as taught by the Gurus, is a force that not only ennobles individuals but also binds them together to work for nobility in the world Organization is a means of enlarging the possibility, scope and effectiveness of this work. In order that an organization itself may work effectively, it is necessary that the individuals concerned in it should be able to keep up their attachment to the cause and a sufficient amount of enthusiasm for it, it is, however, a patent fact that men by their nature are so constituted that they cannot keep their feelings equally high strung for a long time at a stretch. Reaction is inevitable unless some means are devised to ensure the continuity of exertion. This is where discipline comes in, which keeps up the spirit of individual against relaxation in times of trail and maintains their loyalty to the cause even in moment of ebb. This discipline, or what is called esprit de corps is secured by such devices as flags and drills and uniforms in armies and certain form and ceremonies in religion. Uniformity is an essential part of them. They create the necessary enthusiasm by appealing to imagination and sentiment, and work for it in moments of depression. They are a real aid to religion, which is essentially a thing of sentiment. Man would not nee them if he were only a bundle of intellectual and moral senses; but as he has also got sentiment and imagination, without which the former qualities would be inoperative, he cannot do without articulating his ideas and beliefs in some forms appropriate to sentiment.
These forms must not be dead but a living index of his ideal, waking up in his vivid intimation of the personality that governs his religion. They should be related to his inner belief as words are to their meaning, tears to grief, smiles to happiness and a tune to a song. It is true that sometimes words become meaningless, when we no longer heed their sense, or the language to which they belong becomes dead. It is true that sometimes tears and smiles are only cloaks for hypocrisy; and a tune mere meaningless jingle. But there is no denying the fact that when their inner meaning is real and we are sincere about it, they do serve as very helpful interprets. Forms are the art of religion like art on Nature, these forms impose certain limitations on the ideal, but at the same time they make the ideal more real and workable for general use.
From the history of Sikhs in the past as well as in the present, it is quite evident how effectively these baptism forms, with the accompanying vows of purity, love and service, have aided them in keeping themselves united and their ideals unsullied even in times of greatest trial. While keeping the Sikhs associated with their Guru and maintaining his spirit amongest them they have not produced any narrowing effect on their beriefs or modes of worship. All worship and ceremoney whether in temple or home whether on birth, marriage or death consists or nothing else but praying and chanting hymns. Could anything be simple?
Author : Gurbaani.com
posted by eprayas | 5:04 AM
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