singharnoldpalmer's profile - activity

Thanks for your answers all. I'd like to clarify again that I do not use drugs to meditate or be spiritual. Rather, while having smoked once, I came to understand my own spirituality better (having written brief snippets of my thoughts while high, I reflected upon them sober).

I am not using "drugs, fish or wine" to get closer to Sikhi, as it were. But rather it was understanding of my role as a person in the world/universe (more specifically putting my sense of self [a quite literal "ego"] into a more humble perspective)I had while high, that I think has made me understand the importance of spirituality and meditation in my daily life.

I have to disagree in Saroop Singh's interpretation of Bhagat Kabir's shabd "if you think you are getting close to Sikhi by using weed you ARE WRONG"

" Kabeer, those mortals who consume marijuana, fish and wine,no matter what pilgrimages, fasts and rituals they follow, they will all go to hell." I do not seek to redeem my drug usage through fasts rituals or pilgrimages. Rather, I still consider my life to very much revolve around the principles of Naam Japna Vand ke Chakna and Kirat Karni.

My argument here is that my marijuana usage has not brought me closer to Sikhi. Rather it has helped me understand why the principles of spirituality are important and what my relative role as an individual is in this world (i.e. that my sense of self as an egotistical being is not important as important as I once used to believe. This understanding gave me a newfound and deeper appreciate for the the three fundamental principles of sikhi, and my active choice to enact those in my daily life has brought me closer to my religion.

Now with that clarification, I am curious to see what you all have to say. Again, thank you so much for your time, thoughts and love. It is much appreciated.

Fateh!

Its not the physical turban that we should be so ritualistcally worried about. Its a piece of cloth. The signicance behind it... behind wearing it proudly is whats important. If putting in your mouth helps you tie it than do so. Logic people. Logic!

I'd like to add a thought about premarital sex, feel free to respond...

Premarital and extramarital sex is a supposed nono in our community. My personal belief on this issue is that when this idea was proposed people were being married at extremely young ages (as pubescent teens or even younger). It logically makes sense. In the US, it is a growing trend that most don't marry until mid to late 20's or even beyond. Our bodies have natural sexual needs that are biologically intrinsic. I think refusing sex before marriage is then dumb. I agree to gurumustuk's point that you should use sexual relations as a manifestion of your connection with a person as it is much more meaningful... but to overarchingly say premarital sex is not allowed is plain dumb in my opinion

It keeps yo chin warm in the snow. Other than that, quit believing bullshit people tell you. A unique identity is given to us so we can be challenged and face difficulty. Why? So we can rise up, meet that challenge, be confident about who we are and not shy away from problems. Why? Because we are here to make a difference in the world, and we need to be courageous and confident in order to do so... makes sense?

Fateh,

I am a 21 year old Sikh student at University. I use marijuana recreationally and have found I have become more spiritual and attached to Sikhi. For clarification, this increased attachment to Sikhi is not while I am high, but rather in my life in general (as a result from my meditations about my own spirituality while high). In recent years, I have been struggling to reconcile spirituality with science in the past and have found that using marijuana in combination with academically studying philosophy (both eastern and western), reading Gurbani and its translations and drawing from my what I have learned from camps, mentors, and other Sikhs about the religion, has actually helped me become more religious. Prior to using marijuana, I found it difficult to understand the point of meditation, felt less connected with the concept of god residing within the creation and Guru Nanak's three principles of Naam Japna, Vand Ke Chakna and Kirat Karni.

I have a few questions for the community:

1) Can someone point to verses in the Guru Granth about drugs in Sikhi so I can myself read them

2) Is it fair to generalize all drugs as bad in the same way? From personal experience I would definitely say alchohol is worse than marijuana and has no intellectual benefits (i.e. different perspective to view things from)?

3) What reasons (besides health (dont say smoking is bad, there are other ways like edibles and that's really not what I am concerned about in this post) would you argue, from both a religious and spirtual, and philosophical perspective against drug usage.... particularly marijuana?

4) hows about other psychedelics?

Thanks for your time... really interested in what you have to say. I am particularly interested in responses from you older folks who grew up as or with hippies in the 60's and 70's, or others who have consumed marijuana. Really not looking for conservative fox newsy type marijuana will make you a bad person arguments but something logical.

Again, I'd like the discussion/responses to be focused and limited to academic/philosophical, experience based (please no drug addict sob stories though) or direct scripture references. In my own case, I can assure you I am at no risk of addiction/abuse, so please don't worry about that. Its really more of a intellectual curiosity I need satisfied rather than "advice."

Thanks! Although I can't she is good at braiding :)

What ways do you sikh men keep up your joora while having sex, or do you leave it down? I have tried both but the joora opens frequently (granted I do not tie it the traditional knotted style) and loose/open hair can be annoying.

Any tips?