Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
Two years ago I used to do the same eat meat, cut my hair and do things Guru Ji would not approve of.
But know I've been vegetarian for nearly a year and my Sikhi has gotten much stronger than what it was before.
My family is the same as yours. My dad drinks and cuts his hair accept on his head. And the want me to be more "modern" even though it would mean going against what Guru Ji has taught us.
My Punjabi is bad, but I realised that doesn't make a difference. I read the romanised translation of bani, and hopefully soon learn Gurmukhi.
Bang on, you can't pick what aspects of Sikhi you want to follow. You have to follow even the stuff you don't like but after that becomes sweet.
My advice would be to take small steps and slowly build up your Sikhi.
Start with Mool Matar and learn the meaning and do simran theres many videos/audios on YouTube and Soundcloud to get you into it. Start with 5 minutes and slowly build up.
Check out these Naam simran audios:
NKJ
Acapella Jatha
Check out Bhai Jagpal Singh Ji
Sikh 2 inspire
GurSevak Jatha
There are many places to help English speaking Sikhs:
-The best imo is Basics of Sikhi, they have a YouTube channel and they have a lot of content that will help you..
Check out their playlists
-Bhai Sukha Singh UK
- Sikh 2 Inspire
As your getting into Sikhi check out Sikh 2 Inspire, Bhai Sukha Singh UK and the daily Hukamnama found on Sikh net. There should be a thing at the top that says English, download it and Bhai Sukha Singh Ji does a Katha in english.
Learn about Guru Ji and the Gursikhs. Check out this link
Also always ask questions it's a good way to learn. Just ask them here or on other sites.
Make sure you hangaround with Sikhs. If you cant do theres online forums like
Sikh http://www.sikhsangat.com">Sangat you can ask questions on their they will give better answers than me.
SikhNet also have their own
Sikhi ain't easy but key is to take small steps Dhan Guru Amar das Ji says in Anand Sahib:
The lifestyle of devotees' is
different as they follow the difficult
path of Bhagtee: worship – recitation
of His Name.
They give up the love of foods:
overeating, greed, ego, desires, and
do not talk much: stop demanding, keep
reciting the Name of God.
The path they take is sharper than a
Khandaa and finer than a hair i.e.
very difficult. (Khandaa - Two-edged
straight sword. To worship God is very
difficult)
Those who by the grace of the Guru
(Master) have given up dependence on
themselves (Surrender to God), His
fragrance settles down in their
bodies. (His fragrance – Those who
become selfless and rely on God, His
Name gets set in ...
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