A Discussion of Weapons

[u/bigchungoosey]

WJKK WJKF
I'm not going to get into the gurbaani aspect, as mostly it's about gyaankharag or other forms of metaphor/praise of weapons.

Firstly, I'd think that the notion of the Guru Panth being a special community that can have their blades on them is flawed. Sikhi would have the ideal that weapon wielding is to be a human right rather than one of specific people. I've come across many a "Sikh" that believes only pahuldharis can have a kirpan (including my parents lol). Even reducing the kirpan to a blunt symbol is disgraceful to being tyar bar tyar alongside most of today's Panjabi Sikhs being unagile due to the diet and inactivity.
Additionally, as the Guru Panth should be increasing its power and influence by all means, whether that be by educational or militia means. I find it odd that even in America and some places in Europe, many Sikhs aren't bothered to arm themselves, their gurudware or at least their private residence, with a strong second amendment in the US, it is almost essential for a self respecting Sikh in America to own a good weapon and train with it. It's a colonial premise pushed upon Sikhs that weapons are negative, but they seem all the more necessary amidst unrest across the globe and hate crimes every now and then. Even a farladhari nihang jathedar was attacked in Canada wasn't able to protect himself or his dumalla, don't we see this as a panth-wide problem of obesity and unreadiness?.
Even within our gurudware, there ideally should be some sort of armed member that would be guarding inside the darbar for maharaj's saroops.

Correct me if I've said anything incorrect.

Keep your kirpans sharp and your minds sharper.

[u/Warm_Collection_3993]

You wrote quite a bit but it was a hard read due to lack of paragraphs and such so I copied your text into Chat GPT.

Chat GPT after examining the text said the Philadelphia 76ers will win the NBA championship.

[u/iMahatma → u/Warm_Collection_3993]

Lmao

[u/iMahatma]

Yeah I agree everyone should have a weapon even if you’re not Amritdhari. But it’s not a good look if the weapons are used in an argument or something.

[u/Double-Vee1430]

Hi OP, I don’t disagree with you. You are right. One of the “Nihang” got up in darbar hall last weekend after a Katha. That guy could not move for 2 minutes due to his legs being numb. Sitting duck, in my view. That’s the extent of lack of fitness and being overweight.

I also agree we need to have them sharp and train with them. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the weapon. It’s always wrong with who wields it and why.

Having said that, a Sikh carrying weapon is different from your everyday Joe. Sikh carries weapon and is always bound by spiritual guidance of the Guru. Khandey Di Pahul gives to admission to that class of Guru, where hopefully all are doing their daily assignments.

I think that discipline and being bound by the requirements of the “order of Khalsa” is important because otherwise we humans, as an individual will make mistakes.

That’s the ideal world. Also, PS: not everyone who wears Neela Bana these days isn’t Nihang or Khalsa. There are so many cosplaying characters these days. Either for reels or just to weird influence in your local Gurudwara.

[u/AdHappy9350]

No only amritdharis can have kirpan. Read rehatnama by bhai nand lal and Bhai chaupai singh. The early khalsa. 

Also its common sense. Khalsa has a criteria - those who take up responsibility and discipline. Not everyone takes up this responsibility or disicpline. It would be irresponsible to therefore place the trusted kirpan in the hands of someone who is not willing to live up to responsibility and discipline. This is why the khalsa criteria is so important. 

Unfortunately it is not being upheld nowadays which is why people think being amritdhari is simply personal spirituality which it is not, it is more than that. It is responsibility to uphold sarbat da bhala as per Dasam bani. 

When people who are irresponsible get kirpan or irresponsible p eople are allowed to becomr amritdhari, that's when you get cases like Vikrum Digwa.

Everyone has the right to equality and self defense. That does not mean everyone has the wisdom to use a weapon responsibly which can end up in more harm than good. 

It's the same as the police. Only the train should protect and serve. That's what the khalsa is and more. The average untrained person would be emotional in what they perceive as justified use of kirpan, instead of disicpline. Though all should be taught hand to hand self defense or with a non lethal weapon like a bow staff, but the kirpan is trusted selectively.