What Was Your Life Like Before Sikhism?
I was vain and insecure and traumatized by the teachings and education practices of the religion of my parents. Their faith worked for them, but not for me.
What Do You Like Most About Sikhism?
I must confess that the appeal was more Miri [material] than Piri [spiritual] in my case. I was impressed with the soldiering traditions of the Sikhs and how impressive the beard and turban were. It was only later that I began to appreciate Sikh spirituality.
What is Your Greatest Challenge?
Become more forgiving and less angry. It is easy to forgive when someone apologizes first. Unconditional forgiveness is something else. Mark Twain said that anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured. I agree.
What Are Your Goals?
Be a good husband; parent; grandfather; age gracefully; do good Sewa; take Amrit before departing this life.
Why Did You Choose Sikhism?
When I was 17, I worked as a bellhop in a hotel in Manhattan to earn money for college. Once, a young Sikh couple arrived. I asked them many questions about India and their religion, which they patiently answered and I never forgot these people.
I returned from the Vietnam War in 1968 and was very demoralized and suffering from mild post-traumatic stress disorder. In 1971, India and Pakistan fought and Bangladesh was born. Nightly, a Sardar [Sikh] general gave a press conference and I was again very impressed with the turban and his self-confidence without arrogance. I began studying Sikh military history.
How Did Choosing Sikhism Change Your Life?
The great Australian Sikh ragi [musician], Dya Singh, once said that Sikhi is the world's best kept secret. I agree. Whereas the Saroop [beautiful form] of the Sikhs may not be for everyone; the principles of our faith are for the entire world. Sikh principles reflect the core values that I had always believed in: one universal God; respect for all other faiths; community service; fighting injustice; helping the poor and downtrodden.
Lessons Learned
- Post-9-11 prejudice against Muslims; Sikhs, and others with Middle Eastern appearance has been quite painful for me. I fought and bled for this country in the Vietnam War only to be insulted because of my Saroop by some Americans who believe that bigotry is a form of patriotism.
