Faith

Who Needs Miracles?

AJITPAL SINGH

As adults, we have the maturity and resources to educate ourselves about Sikhi and develop informed opinions based on our research.



But what about our kids?



They are too young to do it themselves – partially because their minds haven’t developed enough to absorb such complex concepts, and partially because they are distracted by myriad other things the world has to offer them. In such a situation, the onus is upon us to get them started on the right foot.



There are many ways to achieve this.



The oft used method is reading to them stories or sakhis from our Gurus’ lives - as these tend to hold their attention far better than long, abstruse lectures on gurbani or ritual recitation of paatths.



But in our zeal to encourage and inspire them, we sometimes tend to cross the line. We embellish the stories with elements of folklore and add our own little touches here and there. It is very important to pay due attention to the message being passed at such times.



In no time, our kids will grow up and start thinking about the examples we gave them. They will analyze and tear them apart based on principles of logic and rationale they would be fast developing. If some of our stories do not live up to their touchstone, they will be discarded and, worse still, they will completely sideline the countless others in the same vein.



The best way to avoid this, as well as ingrain the message in their young minds, is to focus on the moral of the story, rather than the dramatic elements.



For instance, we all know that Guru Nanak travelled all the way to Mecca during one of his Udasis to spread the true message of God. On one occasion, he was reprimanded by one of the qazis for pointing his feet towards the Kaaba. In response, th sleeping Guru requested the Qazi to move his feet so that they pointed in any direction where God wasn’t present.



We all know the qazi couldn’t do it. But is it really important to dwell on the fact- that the Kaaba actually moved each time to the direction his feet were moved?



Surely that is not the message Guru Nanak or the sakhi wished to convey. What is important, is the moral of the story - the qazi could not point the Guru’s feet in any direction where God was absent, as He is omniscient.



If our child gets this message, our time was worth it.



Is it more important to stress on the milk and blood aspect of the story about Guru Nanak’s audience with Bhai Laalo and Malik Bhaago? Or is it important to teach our kids that Guru Nanak chose to partake in the simple fare at an honest man’s hut instead of the vast spread at a dishonest, rich man’s palace.



Surely Guru Nanak did not intend to portray himself as a karaamati baba to his followers; even he would have wanted the actual message to be imbibed instead.



Did Guru Gobind Singh actually behead and bring back to life the Punj Pyarey on that glorious Vaisakhi day in 1699? Did he use the blood of a goat instead to fool the audience? Did he even use blood at all? I have seen many an adult belabour pointlessly about this for hours



But my question is - Does it really matter?



The fact is – the Guru asked for the heads of his loyal followers and one by one, the Punj Pyarey came forward – undeterred by the risk and danger. They were not scared even in the face of death. They did not care about their own lives, their families and other worldly attachments. When it came to answer the call of their Guru, they answered it in body and spirit. In doing so, they truly understood the message of Guru Nanak, centuries after it was uttered -



jau tau prem khelan ka chao / sir dhar tali gali mori aao

“If you wish to play the game of love, come to me with your head on the palm of your hand.”



Surely we couldn’t have had a better start to the Khalsa. Surely that’s the message to uphold in the face of worldly adversities. That is the message one should get from the incident, rather than arguing about the nitty-gritty of the actual goings on.



When mentioning these stories to your kids, which aspect of these do you think will stick with them as they grow up? The actual miracles within the story or the message they espouse?



Sikh history is replete with such incidents, each one giving us a lesson more valuable than the one before – all we need is to pass this glorious history to our next generation by presenting it in the right context.



Where else can they learn selfless service to society as with Guru Harkishan; sacrificing your life for truth and justice as with Guru Tegh Bahadar; or the unparalleled valour as with Guru Hargobind? Where can they learn that even as kids – be it Gobind Rai at the tender age of nine or, later, his younger sahibzaadey of an even more tender age – you can be more enlightened than adults who are far older and more experienced than you?



Our kids might also be exposed to other religious texts as they grow up. They may encounter other myths and legends. They may encounter fantastical myths - including the Ramayan and the Mahabharat – via television, books or the internet.



Do not discourage them to explore these. Rather, give them the gift of an analytical thought process - so they can sift through the dramatic elements, and ultimately absorb the core message, which is the same across all religions, for the most part.



With the changing times and circumstances, Sikhism (and other religions) will constantly face new questions and challenges. As our kids grow up in this new world, they will constantly face struggles of identity and existence.



During such times, only a deep understanding about one’s beliefs, values and culture and the logic behind them will be able to hold their interest. And that realization will come, only if we openly discuss and debate on such matters with them and teach them to think for themselves.



Lest we bind them to rigid doctrines and risk losing them ..





July 30, 2014



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