INNER OR OUTWARDLY APPEARANCE!
Just by wearing religious robes or having the appearance of a religious person, one does not become a spiritual lover of God. Just by having a religious appearance, ones mind is not cleansed. Just by having a religious appearance, one is not liberated. Just by having a religious appearance one does not become a good person. Just by having a religious appearance one is not happy, peaceful or content!
The religious appearance is very important for spiritual people, especially for Sikhs. The attire, all the Sikh symbols (panj kakaar) have a massive and meaningful place in the Sikh faith. They help towards ones spirituality massively but one has to recognise this and use and allow these symbols to help us progress in Sikhi, as amazing, loving, beautiful individuals.
Many of us think we have our appearance so therefore Guru Ji is closer to us. We are blessed to be baptised and blessed to have been given this blessed appearance but it does not end there. We have a huge responsibility on our shoulders.
What responsibility do we have?
We are Sikhs of the Guru, so therefore we should have every quality a human being can adopt. We should be extremely virtuous to all. We need to develop love, compassion, truth, contentment, patience, forgiveness and all the rest of the beautiful qualities in existence. We need to be pure human beings. We need to teach by example. The world needs to look towards us for guidance, strength, support and for us to fill them with happiness in their lives, just by them meeting us.
Can we honestly say our character is of the above? Because that's the way our character used to be many years ago and there are many examples of it in Sikh history. Are we still living that life style or have we just become "THE SIKHS OF APPEARANCE." Do we realise we are being judged for everything we do? Do we realise there is no short cut? Do we realise nobody apart from the True Guru can really support us and bless us through this terrifying world ocean? Are we true to Guru? Do we live by all their spiritual teachings? Or have we become Sikhs only on the outside?????
We talk about others. We expose others. We love this taste (ras) of bringing others down. Then we suffer, when it comes to bite us back through karma. We sewed the seed, we have to reap the outcome. As Sikhs do we know a massive teaching is to "dekh ke andith kardhayna" (to see something wrong, then to ignore it and then speak to the individual In person in a loving manner to put them back on the right track. All this is fine without another soul finding out).
Do we understand the panj pyaare (five beloved ones) have a huge blessed seva (service). Their seva is supposed to stay in the room of the Amrit sanchaar and not a soul should find out about anything that went on in that room, as Guru sahib blesses the Amrit to the abhlakees. Even their families are not supposed to know, as this is a service given by Guru Ji himself.
These are just a few examples we have talked about today of religious people failing to be spiritually inclined and more physically orientated.
Just remember! We are judged by our every action. If we are not practicing to be blessed, loving, spiritual souls then there is no point in having a religious appearance, as this brings the importance and respect of religion and faith down drastically. Just because we belong to a certain faith, group, religion does not mean we will be saved or better than the other. The work and practice is one of a life time for an individual's loving relationship with God and Guru. No other third person can intervene and save us.
If we reside the one Name of Vaheguroo (God) within our heart with every breath, Guru sahib Ji will bless our every action and guide our lazy mind through this life in great, loving ease themselves. This is when the physical appearance of an individual is accepted by Guru Ji. Otherwise it's a massive hypocrisy and we need to change this if we want to make the world a better and more spiritual place. We need to get rid of the mere shells and replace them with beautiful rubies, emeralds and gems.
Come to know the nature of your own mind, In which there is no self, no other but only God.
Guru Amardas Ji Says, "You may torment your body with extremes of self-discipline, practice intensive meditation and hang upside-down, but your ego will not be eliminated from within.
You may perform religious rituals, and still never obtain the Naam, the Name of the Lord.
Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, remain dead while yet alive, and the Name of the Lord shall come to dwell within the mind.
Listen, O my mind: hurry to the Protection of the Guru's Sanctuary.
By Guru's Grace you shall be saved. Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, you shall cross over the terrifying world-ocean of poison."
Vaheguroo!
