SIKHI/ਸਿਖੀ/ਸਿੱਖੀ

ABSTRACT

Sikhi/ਸਿੱਖੀ-discipleship-ਸਿਖ੍ਯਾ ਧਾਰਨ ਕੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਯਾ। Sikhi is the way of life for a disciple as per the teachings of the Sabd Guru, which has to be followed at every step of his/her daily life. It is not just a verbal statement but one has to live it to progress on the path of spirituality. The wishful religion has to be of proof and performance but not purely of promise by birth to Sikh parents or physical identity and should be by the attraction of the principles set in AGGS for the newcomers coming under Its fold. Sikh religion is not a missionary faith.

ਸਿਖੀ ਸਿਖਿਆ ਗੁਰ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥

ਨਦਰੀ ਕਰਮਿ ਲਘਾਏ ਪਾਰਿ ॥

Sikẖī sikẖi¬ā gur vīcẖār. Naḏrī karam lagẖā¬ė pār.

Reflecting on Guru’s teachings is the path for the disciple, who then being blessed by Guru’s Grace, crosses the worldly ocean.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 465-10,11

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Vichar on the Sabd is to understand and reflect on the teachings in daily life with altruism.  It is not just a simple belief or blind faith but action on the Sabd with deliberation, contemplation, and living the teachings in day to day life in word, thought, spirit, and deeds. In fact, it is the latter, which will define the faith of the individual, rather than the physical appearance or by birth just as a book cover does not reveal its contents unless reading. The word Sikhi comes in many hymns of Sabd Guru;

ਗੁਰੂ ਸਮੁੰਦੁ ਨਦੀ ਸਭਿ ਸਿਖੀ ਨਾਤੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਜੇ ਸਿਰਖੁਥੇ ਨਾਵਨਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਤਾ ਸਤ ਚਟੇ ਸਿਰਿ ਛਾਈ ॥

Gurū samunḏ naḏī sabẖ sikẖī nāṯai jiṯ vadi¬ā¬ī.Nanak Jay Sirkuthay Navan Nahi Ta Sat Chatay Sis Chaaee.

The preceptor is like the ocean, and all his Teachings are like the river. Bathing in these brings exaltation. O Nanak, if the ones with plucked hairs abjure bathing, then they merit throwing seven handfuls of  dust on their heads.----Guru Nanak, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 150-6

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਾਚੀ ਸਿਖ ਸੁਣਾਈ ॥

ਹਰਿ ਚੇਤਹੁ ਅੰਤਿ ਹੋਇ ਸਖਾਈ ॥

Saṯgur sācẖī sikẖ suṇā¬ī. Har cẖėṯahu anṯ ho¬ė sakẖā¬ī.

The True Guru has imparted the True Teachings that one should always think of the Akal Purkh, who will be the Support in the end.-----Guru Amar Das, Raag Majh, AGGS, Page, 117-19 and 118-1

ਗੁਰਸਿਖੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਬੀਜਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਫਲੁ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਏ ॥

ਓਨਾ ਹਲਤਿ ਪਲਤਿ ਮੁਖ ਉਜਲੇ ਓਇ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਗਹ ਸਚੀ ਪੈਨਾਏ ॥

Gursikẖī amriṯ bīji¬ā ṯin amriṯ fal har pā¬ė. Ona Halat Palat Mukh Oujlay Ouay Har Dargeh Sachi Painaey.

By reflecting on the teachings of the Guru is planting ambrosial nectar, and obtain God as their ambrosial fruit. Their faces are radiant in this world and the next; and they are robed with honor in God’s court.-----Guru Ram Das, Raag Gauri, A GGS, Page, 302 -18,19

ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਬੀਜੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਭਲੇ ਨੋ ਹਰਿ  ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਖੇਤੁ ਜਮਾਇਆ ॥

ਗੁਰਸਿਖੀ ਹਰਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਬੀਜਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਫਲੁ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥

Sabh Ko Beejai Aapnay Bhalay No Har Bhavai So Khet Jamae-aa.Gursikẖī har amriṯ bīji¬ā har amriṯ nām fal amriṯ pā¬i¬ā.

They all plant for their own good, but God causes them to grow only that field with which It is pleased. The Guru’s teachings is planting the Naam of God's Ambrosial Nectar, and obtains Its fruit of Amrit (Nectar).-----Guru Ram Das, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 304-8 
                                                                                                                                                      

ਕੋਈ ਵਿਛੁੜਿ ਜਾਇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਪਾਸਹੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਕਾਲਾ ਮੁਹੁ ਜਮਿ ਮਾਰਿਆ ॥

ਤਿਸੁ ਅਗੈ ਪਿਛੈ ਢੋਈ ਨਾਹੀ ਗੁਰਸਿਖੀ ਮਨਿ ਵੀਚਾਰਿਆ ॥

Ŧis agai picẖẖai dẖo¬ī nāhī gursikẖī man vīcẖāri¬ā. Ŧis agai picẖẖai dẖo▫ī nāhī gursikẖī man vīcẖāri▫ā.

If someone separates himself from the True Guru, his face is blackened, and he is destroyed by the Messenger of Death. He shall find no shelter, here or hereafter; the teachings of the Guru have made them realize this in their minds.-----Guru Ram Das, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 311-19 and 312-1

ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ਜਿ ਦਿਤਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਸੋ ਸੁਣਿਆ ਸਿਖੀ ਕੰਨੇ ॥

ਜਿਨ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਭਾਣਾ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਚੜੀ ਚਵਗਣਿ ਵੰਨੇ ॥

ਇਹ ਚਾਲ ਨਿਰਾਲੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ ਗੁਰ ਦੀਖਿਆ ਸੁਣਿ ਮਨੁ ਭਿੰਨੇ ॥

Upḏės je ḏiṯā saṯgurū so suṇi¬ā sikẖī kannė. Jin saṯgur kā bẖāṇā mani▫ā ṯin cẖaṛī cẖavgaṇ vanne. Ih cẖāl nirālī gurmukẖī gur ḏīkẖi▫ā suṇ man bẖinne.

The Sikhs listen to the Teachings imparted by the True Guru. Those who surrender to the True Guru's Will are imbued with the four-fold Love of God. This is the unique and distinct life-style of the Guru oriented: listening to the Guru's Teachings, their minds blossom forth.-----Guru Amar Das, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 314-9,10

ਗੁਰਸਿਖੀ ਭਾਣਾ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਗੁਰੁ ਪੂਰਾ ਪਾਰਿ ਲੰਘਾਇ ॥

ਗੁਰਸਿਖਾਂ ਕੀ ਹਰਿ ਧੂੜਿ ਦੇਹਿ ਹਮ ਪਾਪੀ ਭੀ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਂਹਿ ॥

Gursikẖī bẖāṇā mani¬ā gur pūrā pār langẖā¬ė. Gursikẖāʼn kī har ḏẖūṛ ḏeh ham pāpī bẖī gaṯ pāʼnhi.

The Sikhs of the Guru accept and obey God's Will; the Perfect Guru carries them across. O God, please bless me with the dust of the feet of the Guru's Sikhs. I am a sinner - please save me.-----Guru Ram Das Slokes, AGGS, Page, 1424-8

ਸਿਖੀ ਅਤੈ ਸੰਗਤੀ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਕਰਿ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਿਆ॥ 

ਅਟਲੁ ਅਥਾਹੁ ਅਤੋਲੁ ਤੂ ਤੇਰਾ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਰਾਵਾਰਿਆ ॥

Sikẖī aṯai sangṯī pārbarahm kar namaskāri¬ā. Atal athāhu aṯol ṯū ṯerā anṯ na pārāvāri▫ā.

The Sikhs and the entire congregation recognize You as the Supreme God and bow down to you. You are unchanging, unfathomable and immeasurable; You have no end or limitation.-----Satta Balwand, AGGS, Page, 968-10

Conclusion:

1. The present Guru of Sikhs and forever is AGGS and nowhere It describes the present definitions used for being a Sikh.
2. The only things it refers to is Gurmukh (Guru oriented) or Manmukh (Self-willed.)
3. Any religion to a person is a personal and private thing.
4. Institutionalizing a religion loses its perspective on spirituality and promotes controlling followers.
5. Moto should be to live and let live, The God’s light is present in all so how one can be good and the other one bad.ght ip how  good and the other one bad;

ਫਰੀਦਾ ਖਾਲਕੁ ਖਲਕ ਮਹਿ ਖਲਕ ਵਸੈ ਰਬ ਮਾਹਿ ॥

ਮੰਦਾ ਕਿਸ ਨੋ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਾਂ ਤਿਸੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਕੋਈ ਨਾਹਿ ॥

Farīḏā kẖālak kẖalak mėh kẖalak vasai rab māhi. Mandaa Kis No Aakheeai Jaan Tis Bin Koyee Naahi.

Farid, the Creator is in the Creation, and the Creation abides in God Whom can we call bad? There is none without God.-----Sheikh Farid Sloke 75, AGGS, Page, 1381

Guru Gobind Singh ( in anecdote 12 in the Sao Sakhi book, page 44-47)  clarified the essence of the word Sikhi, as it was being misunderstood by many. 

1. Dhand Di Sikhi- ਧੰਧ ਦੀ ਸਿਖੀ- Occupational Sikhi.
2. Dekha Dekhi Di Sikhi- ਦੇਖਾ ਦੇਖੀ ਦੀ ਸਿਖੀ- by seeing that Sikhs are well to do, others become Sikhs.
3. Hirsa Hirsi Di Sikhi- ਹਿਰਸਾ ਹਿਰਸੀ ਦੀ ਸਿਖੀ -Sikhi of Greediness or ambition like Manmukh.
4. Sidak Di Sikhi- ਸਿਦਕ ਦੀ ਸਿਖੀ -Sikhi of sincerity and rehat.
5. Bhabh Di Sikhi- ਭਾਵ ਦੀ ਸਿਖੀ- Sikhi of understanding, contemplation, and reflection with action in daily life, which is the actual Sikhi as I understand and is found in rare Sikhs.