KHALSA
The Tenth Master writes: When I had become one with God, He said
to this worm, "Now, you will be called my son. I created you to
show My Panth to the world. Go, spread Dharma, and show people
how to refrain from foolish practices." (DG, p.57) and, "My venerable
Guru (My father, The Ninth Master), gave his life for the sake
of Dharma. 'You have to spread Dharma everywhere, defeat and capture
the corrupt and the tyrant.' This is why I have come to this world.
All True Seekers should understand this clearly, I took a human
birth only for this purpose: To promote Dharma, to nurture genuine
Sainthood, and to destroy the roots of all corruption." (DG, p.57)
Khalsa is the highest, and the most glorified state, of a Sikh,
who has attained spiritual perfection. The term 'Khalsa Panth'
is used to indicate a fellowship of Sikhs who are adherent to
the principles taught by the Ten Sikh Masters. Some baptized Sikhs
have now started to use this word as their last name.
The term Khalsa (God's Own) is reserved for those Gursikhs who
have perfected the spiritual principles of The Tenth Master. Khalsa
is a spiritual clone of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who is the father
of Khalsa. Therefore, only a Gursikh, after accepting the Amrit,
can hope to realize this ideal. However, taking Amrit is not an
automatic conversion into a Khalsa. Amrit is just a beginning
on this Path. It is wrong to assume that a baptized Sikh is a
Khalsa. The word, Khalsa, is used more as an adjective rather
than a noun. Khalsa is a rare soul.
How rare is Khalsa? Most Sikhs of today have probably never met
one. Most of those who meet a True Gursikh do not recognize him.
To be able to recognize him, you need to have an intense desire
to meet such a person. He does not advertise himself! As Kabir
Ji said, "Kabir, having found the Divine gems, do not display
your goods. Neither is there a market, nor recognition, nor a
customer willing to pay the price for your priceless merchandise."
(SGGS, p.1365)
Sikhs may respectfully call each other Khalsa. However, calling
ourselves Khalsa does not make us Khalsa. For a Khalsa Gursikh,
in his humility, this word represents an ideal that he will continue
to revere all his life. He sees Khalsa in the Sangat, or another
Gursikh, and ignores his own greatness. This is why the Sangat
is often called Khalsa Ji, or Guru Khalsa Ji. Though the term
"Guru Panth Khalsa" is popular, it stands for only such Gursikhs
in the Sangat. A Gursikh, or a Khalsa Gursikh, would not consider
himself worthy of such an honor. He would not accept to be called
a saint, a sadhu nor a guru, either.
Others can do whatever they desire, but a Khalsa (A Sikh Saint)
strictly follows the rules of the Tenth Master, and does not go
around offering personal initiation to seekers. However, he does
not hide away from the Sangat. Being humble, he is always nurtured
by the spiritual sharing with the so-called common people. As
The Tenth Master said: "I am glorified and sit on a throne only
because of the mercy of these Sikhs, or I would be lying on the
streets, just like the millions worthless like me." (DG, p.645)
Saint Scholar Shri Naranjan Singh Ji would not let anyone bow
to him, or call him a saint. Hindus and Sikhs, whoever met him,
became firm followers of Guru Granth Sahib. The mere sight of
him at the feet of Guru Granth Sahib convinced others that this
Holy Scripture is a Living Guru. This is the conduct (Jugat) of
a Perfect Sikh Saint. He appealed that all Sikhs should say, "Dhann
Shri Guru Granth Sahib" (Guru Granth Sahib is Glorious), five
times every morning when they first open their eyes. He said that
if you did this every day for forty days, you could see that Guru's
Light (Jote) lives in Guru Granth Sahib.
The word "Khalsa" has several meanings. The most common is "Pure."
Shri Naranjan Singh Ji described one meaning of Khalsa as "Property."
Here is the definition of Khalsa in the words of The Tenth Master:
"Day and night, he worships the Living Light. He does not entertain
any thought of duality. Perfect Love and perfect conviction adorn
his personality. How can he follow fasting (rituals) or, even
by accident, pray to an idol or a grave? His pilgrimage will be
Daan (giving), mercy, self-discipline of tolerance, and self-control.
He sees only the One, One God everywhere. Only when The Perfect
Light fully illuminates his heart, can you call him Khalsa. Otherwise,
he is not Khalsa." (DG, p.712) and:
"One who knows the delight of abiding in the Overself alone, is
Khalsa, worthy of adoration. There is not a miniscule difference
between him, me, and my beloved God." (SLG, p.668)
Let us not dishonor this word by using it in a trivial manner.
The Tenth Master has attributed the highest virtues to Khalsa:
"Khalsa is my Dharma and my aim. Khalsa is my innermost secret.
Khalsa is my Perfect True Guru. Khalsa is my brave and true friend.
Khalsa is my intellect and my knowledge. Khalsa's form is what
I meditate on now. I cannot say enough in praise of Khalsa…………..If
I had as many tongues as the hair on my body, still I may not
be able to finish counting all the virtues of Khalsa. I belong
to Khalsa, and Khalsa belongs to me, just like the sea and the
drop of sea. Khalsa is the army of God. Khalsa has emerged now
only because of His own wish." (SLG, p.667)
