THE KHALSA (II)
My attempt to start a discussion on the history of the Khalsa has mainly failed. Kashmir Singh (BSF) made a useful contribution in pointing out that the Khalsa principle was already taught by Guru Nanak. He also said that Bhai Nand Lal did take amrit, but the problem is that there is no reliable historical record for either his version or for the opposite.
So let us concentrate on what we do know and try and live by that. Guru Nanak wrote : If you want to play the game of love you have to carry your head on the palm of your hand. The game of love is our love for God and God’s love for us. In order to play this game you have to be willing to give your head, or in other words : to give all.
When Guru Gobind Singh asked for people to come forward and give their heads, he meant exactly the same thing : the game of love requires total commitment, to the point where the Sikhs, the Khalsa would be willing to risk their lives. The essence is not martyrdom, it is fighting the good fight.
Guru Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh, the 8 other human Gurus, The Guru Granth and the Guru of Gurus (God), all want us to remember God with all we do and want us to be servants of all creation.
In times of dictatorship, foreign occupation, religious persecution this can lead to ‘using the sword’, in (not so perfect) democracies like we have in the UK we fight against injustice and stand up for the rights of all by peaceful means.
Being a soldier in a national army has nothing to do with being a Khalsa. In recent times soldiers in the British Army have taken part in actions in Ireland, the Falkland Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan, all areas of conflict where British might was/is not necessarily right.
Soldiers in the British Indian Army have fought against the Afghans in the North West Frontier Province and in other colonial conflicts on the side of the oppressor. Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army occupied the east of Afghanistan and Jammu and Kashmir and if the British had not beaten him to it, he would have occupied Sind. I cannot accept that occupying the territory of other nations is according Khalsa principles.
Do remember that the Khalsa Knight, the Sant Sipahi (saint-soldier) is not fighting from anger or greed. Do remember the symbolisms of the sweet water stirred by the sword. Do remember that standing up against injustice and defending the oppressed is all part of Guru’s game of love.
Whatever the differences between 1699 and 2008, the Khalsa will find more than enough injustice in today’s world to fight against.
