Sikhism - Self Governing

Guru Nanak wrote:
haranaa(n) baajaa(n) tai sikdaaraa(n) eanhaa parrihaa naao ||
Deer, falcons and government officials are known to be trained and clever.
faa(n)dhee lagee jaat fehaaein agai naahee thaao ||
When the trap is set, they trap their own kind; hereafter they will find no place of rest.SGGS||1288

Sikhism is by nature rooted in altruistic service and betterment of mankind. A Sikh is governed by gurmat or Rehit Maryada, a code of ethics based conduct, having both spiritual and temporal aspects. Sikhs have an attitude of conservatorship towards creation which implies respect and responsibility towards our planet, its people, and indeed all the myriad co-inhabitants of this earth.

Citizens of the United States including Sikh Americans are facing election choices which could well have long term effects both economically and ecologically. Candidates for president are running neck in neck towards the finish line. Both candidates offer hope for change, but with very different ideas of what that change ought to entail.

Obama Quote: "People who love this country can change it. And that’s our most enduring responsibility – the responsibility to future generations. We have to change this country for them. We have to leave them a planet that’s cleaner, a nation that’s safer, and a world that’s more equal and more just."

McCain Quote: (in rebuttal) "Thats not change we can believe in."

Sikhs immigrants are a relatively new minority in America. Though they will be affected by election outcome, many Sikhs with US citizenship are not yet of voting age. Other Sikh Americans may be ineligible to vote due to immigration status.

When US elections are over and a president selected, no matter who wins or loses the presidency, any person wishing for change, regardless of whether a Sikh, or US resident, has the option to self govern.

How can you be such an individual? What can you do to bring about the change you'd like to see?

Be the change you'd like to see. Take an active role. Lead by example. Ask your family members, friends, classmates, co-workers, associates, and sangat to participate in self governing with you.

Economy and ecology are directly related to each other. Become informed by educating yourself about your personal carbon footprint and how to reduce its impact on our sensitive environment with self management. Aligning yourself with an attitude of environmental responsibility is the first step on the road of self governing and fair distribution of global resources. Below are just a few of the ways to get started.

• Reduce and conserve energy consumption
• Reduce, recycle, and compost waste
• Reduce expenditure and consumer consumption
• Support local enterprise and small business
• Volunteer in your neighborhood and community
• Manage health with diet and exercise
• Make your home environmentally friendly
• Budget minded environmentally friendly products
• Choose aid-oriented entertainment
• Enrich the environment, plant a tree
• Employ organic lawn managementwithout pesticides
• Use bio fuels and other sources of renewable energy
• Use public transportation
• Get involved in Animal Rights
• Support Green communities - Go on Green vacations

  There are many simple options, such as hanging clothes to dry, sweeping instead of vacuuming , and carrying your on bag when grocery shopping, that conserve energy which can help to safeguard and ensure our ecological future. Please contribute and share some of your own ideas towards positive change.

  Join the discussion in the Sikhism Forum