Using examples from Baani and Twarikh(history), I'll be exploring the importance of internal dialogue about controversial topics. A large number of the modern Panth are comfortable in their position on the path of spirituality and action, an attitude which fails to advance the state of the Panth and, honestly, the world. And while I don't intend to antagonize the entirety of the Panth on their lack of open discussion, perhaps my attempt at Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's slap-in-the-face approach will spark some inspiration.
Sitting upon his fraudulent throne of pocketed donation money and underpaid Raagis, he--a Don Pardhaan, of sorts--prides himself for becoming the President of a “Gurdwara”, now a glorified business with loose connections to Gurbani. Diverting your eyes from this marvelous sight, however, you notice a sign glued onto every door of this depressing complex: “No Politics,” it reads.
Of course! Restricting the advancement of the Gurdwara by antagonizing any discussion of its policies is not only a great way to stay in power but also a blatant projection of the man’s closed off outlook on Sikhi. And while not all of us necessarily know this type of Pardhaan (personally, I just thought of that one Jus Reign video), this Gurdwara scenario is an analogy for the Sikh Panth: it is those who ignore questioning and any sort of change that fail to grow themselves and, subsequently, the Panth itself. Thus, as a Sikh living in a world so heavily influenced by other religions, the media, national politics, etc, it’s becoming increasingly important to invite, recognize, and discuss controversial topics to solidify our beliefs and improve the state of our faith.
Like the Don Pardhaan, many of us, whether we care to admit it or not, are stuck on our path of Sikhi; there are obstacles hindering our ability to continue learning the truth of our existence. In our JusReign character’s case, the source of this obstruction was his belief that what he is doing is right, but this was a pretty straight-forward example. For many, discovering your hindrance is not as easy; it requires a ton of internal dialogue and introspection, which may lead you to a confusing position on Sikhi. When I was in middle school, I loved two aspects of the Sikh faith: Kirtan and my Saadh Sangat. As I grew into my consciousness, however, I questioned the existence of a “God”--something I assumed we believed in based on the westernized, judo-Christian version of Sikhi I had access to. In short, I didn’t believe in a “man upstairs,” but it took me years to admit it. I was so scared because I thought that by questioning a core Sikh ideal, I was admitting to bastardizing the Sikh faith. But now, through camps and other more reputable sources, I know and feel more comfortable knowing that we believe in an all-permeating energy rather than an immortal, heavenly Santa Claus snapping things into existence.
The point of this anecdote is that by questioning what I already knew about a confusing subject, I found what halted my progress on this path of Sikhi, and by attaining the truth, I was finally able to continue learning about Gurbani.
But this is just on a personal level… Sikhi isn’t and will never be a purely internal philosophical faith; through the lens of Miri (temporal strength) and Piri(spiritual strength), we’ve applied our philosophy to advocate and fight for social change since the era of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Thus, introspection is equally as important as extrospection(questioning one’s political, social, and philosophical environment), and apart from Guru Angad Dev Ji and Guru Amar Das Ji’s transitions into Sikhi and their Guruship, I see Guru Nanak Dev Ji as the prime example of what it means to embody Miri and Piri.
From rejecting his position as a Brahmin to advocating for equality across all races and religions in Asa Ki Vaar, not only did Guru Nanak challenge the notions of those around him, but he was also extraordinarily ahead of his time. He wasn’t just an Indian Socrates; Guru Nanak called out tyrannous leaders and disrupted the political and social atmospheres of the 15th century. That being said, looking to reform and searching for external controversy is not for the faint of heart. The idea of Piri isn’t just gaining political power to carry out agendas influenced by the media or even the political views of those around you. Every argument, position, or idea you put forth should solely be based on the teachings of Gurbani because of their timeless and incorruptible nature.
And on that note, whatever controversy you look to tackle, whether it be the abolition of institutionalized racism or even the reformation of the Rehat Maryada, do so with Gurbani as your primary resource--or else, of course, you’ll end up banning women from doing Kirtan at Darbar Sahib ;)
Finally, it’s not your job to fight the big fight or do big things… It's your job to fight the good fight and do good things.