The
Thoughts of an Amritdhari Gay Man
by
Jasvinder Singh Aul
27th May
2008
[NB -
This article was first published on Sikhnet.Com, and is published with
kind permission of Mr Aul]
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Siri Wahe
Guru JI Ki Fateh...Sat Nam Jio,
In response to whether there has ever been an "Amritdhari" who has
continued to practise the lifestyle of a Sikh while being a
homosexual, I will have you know that in fact I am one who would fall
into that category. It is my constant prayer and hope that there will
be more who will have enough courage to "come out" of the closet and
shine and be liberated just as I have.
It is my firm belief that if we cannot even read the first two words
of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and understand them to their fullest,
then there is no need to go on faking a way of life to live nor go on
to read any of the remaining 1430 pages of this beautiful scripture.
Ik Ongkar, Sat Nam - Everything stems from these two concepts.
Ik Ongkar - There is but ONE Creation - even homosexuals, bisexuals
and transsexuals are part of that same One Creation set on this earth
plane by the Infinite Paramatma.
Sat Nam - Truth is Thy Name - the only way that we can actually say
this every morning in our daily Japji Sahib Bani and for those of us
that have any dealings or connections with the 3HO Foundation or North
American Sikhs; greet everyone in the communities around the world
with this "Sat Nam" phrase, as if we are actually living up to OUR OWN
TRUTH.
By being Gay or Bi and being honest about this type of sexual
orientation to the entire world around us, while living up to the
spirituality of the Sikh faith and not the religious aspects, only
then can we say to people Sat Nam and really mean it. Only then can we
read our Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and repeatedly chant Sat Nam. Only
then can we read our daily Banis as an "Amritdhari" and not be a
hypocrite at the same time.
Living the life of a spiritual Sikh is definitely like walking the
double-edged sword (Khanda) however, in the symbol of the Adi Shakti
we also see that if we land up swaying one way or the other in life's
trials and tribulations, while it would be very easy to get cut by one
of the edges of this sacred Khanda, we also have the two swords of
Siri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji (Miri and Piri) ready to catch us with
the dull side in towards us.
This is very symbolic and represents the life of every Sikh who
attempts to live up to the values and examples that our beloved Sikh
Gurus brought to us during their reign on this earth plane.
It is my honest opinion that in the Sikh faith, "it is not the life
that you lead BUT the courage that you bring to it". If I, one person,
can stand tall in the crowds of many as an Amritdhari Sikh who has a
great deal of respect and love for the Guru, while being a homosexual
and living up to the essence of Siri Guru Gobind Singh Ji's message to
the entire Sikh race, then what am I doing wrong?
I too, am part of that Ik Ongkar, that Sat Nam; and was it not
EQUALITY that Guru Amar Das Ji preached to the universe during his
reign?
Why then should I be discriminated against simply due to the fact that
I was born a Gay Male? I practise the spirituality of Sikhism not the
religion nor the politics or the social acceptances. I could care less
for those aspects of any world religion.
I am a spiritual being having a human experience, therefore my
spirituality is more important than that of my sexual orientation.
Living up to diversity is a challenge in life, but through the love
and guidance of the Guru, anyone can overcome these blocks in the road
to liberation.
I strongly urge and welcome any other Gay, Lesbian, Bi or Transsexuals
out there who are Sikhs struggling with the difficulty of living up to
who you are as a Sikh and how this affects you to contact me via
e-mail (jazzy1977@hotmail.com) as I have gone through the experience
and if anything, this experience has brought me even closer to the
Lotus Feet of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
In closing I leave you with one thought of Naam Dev Jio:
Awsw bwxI sRI nwmdyau jI kI
Asaa Bani Siri Naam Day-o Ji Ki
Aasaa, The
Word Of The Reverend Naam Dayv Jee:
eyk
Anyk ibAwpk pUrk jq dyKau qq soeI ]
Ayk Anayk Bi-aapak Poorak, Jat Daykhau Tat So-ee
In the one
and in the many, He is pervading and permeating; wherever I look,
there He is.
mwieAw icqR bicqR ibmoihq ibrlw bUJY koeI ]1]
Maa-i-aa Chitr
Bachitr Bimohit, Birlaa Boojhai Ko-ee
The marvellous image of Maya is so fascinating; how few understand
this.
sBu
goibMdu hY sBu goibMdu hY goibMd ibnu nhI koeI ]
Sabh Gobind Hai, Sabh Gobind Hai, Gobind Bin Nehee Ko-ee
God is
everything, God is everything, Without God, there is nothing at all.
Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji: page 485
Sat Nam Ji
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Siri Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh
