Why we need to love what you have... And a bit about Sikhism
Years ago, while lounging at the pool in my apartment building in Aventura (North Miami Beach) I've met a wise Sikh man.
He was visiting his relatives, and he took some time to relax and enjoy the outdoors hot tub and the warm Florida winter's sun.
He was wearing a small bathing suit and a large turban...
The religious people I've encountered in my young life, advocated modesty, by covering most of the body and hair.
Even the less religious do not cover their hair, but cover their bodies in public.
Here was quite the opposite.
The man was in speedos, but wearing a turban.
When he joined me in the Hot Tub, he did not remove his turban.
Our conversation was easy and light, almost like a friendly chat, but as I saw that he was so willing to answer all of my inquiries, I got braver and more direct and our conversation deepened into a serious philosophical and religious discussion.
Being a spiritual seeker with an insatiable thirst for knowledge and wisdom,
I viewed this 'chance encounter' as a gift from the Universe.... An opportunity to pick the brain of a man who holds intriguing beliefs, and as an opportunity to hear some insights and interpretations, as well as practical applications, first hand.
The practical application of people's beliefs, is all that matter to me.
I am not enamored with following rituals and rules, but I am intrigued at how you can apply what you believe, to make your own human experience here on earth, more joyful, enriching and expanding.
I have read about Sikhism in books and was impress with its basic wisdom.
Sikhism is only about 500 years old.
It is considered currently to be the youngest religion in the world.
Like with every religion or thought system, I find myself needing to navigate and filter through the habits, practices and traditions, to try to get into the hidden wisdom which is usually universal and shared through all of them..
I liked the concept of Oneness, unity with all, service and equality, which Sikhism advocates.
I will add a list of the basic principles of this young religion, at the comment to this note.
That day in the pool, I was happy to get a glimpse into how the philosophical concepts of his religion, applied in practical manners in daily life.
So we talked about living with honor and about making an honest income by honorable means.
I've always believed that this is a good principle to live by.
But during the years, and even more recently, I've noticed how many people are not even aware when they do dishonest things.
It is as if the inner moral compass, can be set on 'low' without people being aware of it.
It is obvious that making an honest living, does not include stealing, deceiving people, any kind of crime or profiting from selling harmful products, but there are SO many grey areas in between..... And in today's world, it needs much reflection and soul searching.
I will give you a few examples.
Al Gore, the USA Vice President and environmental advocate, talked once about the fact that his father, was a farmer who grew tobacco plants.
Years later, his daughter, Al's sister, passed away from lung cancer.
Her painful illness and deterioration, devastated their family.
This raises a big question, if a tobacco farmer is doing something wrong, by providing this industry with the necessary plants that eventually may end up harming people....
Some will say no, he is just a farmer...... Growing plants which are natural..... He just gets on his tractor, plow, irrigate the plants... he is not doing anything harmful.....
The tobacco companies are the ones who dry, process and package the cigarette and they are the responsible ones.....
Others may say that it is the sole responsibility of the person who actually smokes them, and that neither the farmer nor those who roll, distribute, market or sell, them, are responsible.
And if everybody is responsible, then even the advertising company who wrote the campaign for the cigaret company is doing dishonest things..... And that includes everybody who works for this advertising company... Including the writers, the secretary and the doorman, who is also an integral part of the process...
This is just one question with no right or wrong answers.
The moral answer is in the way you want to see things and run them through your own understanding.
The secret is NOT in WHAT you choose to do, but in HOW you do it.
Everybody seems to think that manual labor, is a simple and honest living.
Romantic people have idolized ideas and images of simple monks, chopping wood or carrying water....
But even manual labor, has many ways in which people behave with dishonesty.
I've recently met a man who felt very self righteous and honest, because he was not a 'business man' which he associated with dishonesty, but instead, he worked as a handy man, doing simple handy jobs for people.
He complained that many times, he felt humiliated, when the people who hired him, watched over what he did, as if he was about to steal something from their homes.
I did not agree with his world views, but I sympathized with him.
Nobody likes to be treated or suspected as a crook, before he has done anything....
Later, he told me that many times when he was asked to replace a part on a job he was hired to do, he would collect money for a NEW part, but buy a USED one and install a used, or refurbished part instead, and keep the difference in money.
He shrugged his shoulders as he said it, saying that the people who hired him, will never know the difference....
To me, it was CLEAR now, why he rarely got any referrals, lacked money and did not have enough work.
By choosing to do so, he was betraying trust, acting in a dishonest way, and to top it of, he was not even being aware that he was doing anything wrong.
By having his moral compass set on 'low', he was radiating vibrations of a dishonest person, that caused people to watch over him, when he worked at their house.
Both I and the Sikh man, were in total agreement that honesty and honor, does not come from WHAT you choose to do, but from the WAY you do it, and the love and care you bring into it.
You can be a devoted and kind CEO, providing jobs and enriching people's lives, or be a dishonest electrician or plumber, or the reverse.
This Sikh man, said other wise things.
He said that his religion, advocate that we should not harm the body with tobacco or other intoxicant.
He said that it is not a sin against GOD, but it will make your own life here miserable....
He told me that it is NOT mentioned in his religion, but the way he likes to think of his body, is as if it was on LOAN.
As if his body was LOANED to him, for a short use, and that one day, he will need to return it, and it is HIS responsibility to return it in a very good condition.
He said that we tend to treat things BETTER, and more carefully, when they are not ours.
At the time, I liked what he said a LOT.
But again, through the course of living life, I have noticed that this is not true for all of us.
I have noticed that those who are not able to care for their own things, with gentleness and respect for the usefulness they bring into their lives, are not also careful with other people's things.
They are just not wired to understand, that gratitude comes from the HEART and it extends outward to EVERYTHING you touch.
Material things are NOT just objects.
They are energy flow, like everything else in the universe.
Being kind to things, is the same as being kind to animals or other people, because it does NOT come from what is in front of you, but what is INSIDE of you.
Gentleness and care, starts IN YOU, and radiates out into the world.
Taking care of your body as if it were on loan, will only work if you respect other people's things in the same way you respect your own.
Back to the handy man I've mentioned before, when he stayed with us, I lent him one of my computers which cost me A LOT..... and which I occasionally still used.
I've lent him my digital camera, my bike, and my headphones.... And of course he slept at my home.
He treated everything I loaned him with different degree of disrespect.
He always had his reasons....
He left my expensive bike dumped on the grass, instead of in the store room or under cover, because he used it too late at night....
He spilled sweet canned coffee on the night stand, and on the floor next to it, with splashes on my expensive computer, and did not even bother to clean any of it.
Instead, he went boating, leaving me to clean his mess and finally, I claimed back my computer, head phones and digital camera, which he never put away carefully or treated with respect.
He did not treat MY things with LESS respect than he treats his OWN.
He was simply unaware that inner gentleness and respect, does not depend on what you are treating, but on the gentleness you have inside.
Again, to me, it was no wonder when he told me that his own computer, is a piece of junk which does not work often, but he does wonder why.... Because it is only one year old....
When you treat everything around you with care and concern, you cultivate kindness and concern inside yourself.
It does not matter if it is a piece of glass in your window, a floor you wash with care or an old car.
People want new and beautiful things.
But if you were able to treat your old things with love and care, you will not be craving so many new things so often.
You will be able to generate joy from looking at your old wooden table, gleaming at you with a shining light..... Radiating back to you, all the care and love that you gave to it...... All the times you've oiled it with care...... All the love that your home vibrates.
When you love your environment, and you treat it with kindness...... When you treat your own body with care and respect, you create for yourself a loving space, and a nourishing space.
The SIZE or your house or how modern, and expensive it is, does not matter AT ALL......
ALL that matter, is the way it feels inside of it...... The warmth that it radiates....
You can convert any humble home into a sanctuary for the soul....by loving and caring for your surrounding.... By appreciating your environment and feeling grateful for everything... For its usefulness and for its beauty.
All things, if looked at with love, can be beautiful.
As I write this, I realize that some people might translate this to mean that I am advocating being attached to things or clinging to them.
My advice got nothing to do with clinging or attachment to things.
If a plate or a glass, or a bicycle broke, fix it, glue it or throw it away, and do not feel remorse, regrets or self criticism.
You do not have to be clingy or overvalue things, in order to benefit from being caring and gentle.
Respecting things, respecting yourself, respecting other people, animals, plants and the planet, are ALL CONNECTED......
By cultivating care and respect inside yourself, you are teaching and learning YOURSELF, how to honor and to respect ALL and EVERYTHING.
Basic Sikhism concepts:
1. There is only One God
one creator.
Do not worship demi-gods or idols.
2. Treat Everyone Equally
Do not show distinction or rank because of race, class, or gender.
3. Live By the Three Primary Principles
- Be always absorbed in meditation and prayer. (this refers to YOUR MIND, not to your body. It means keeping your mind calm, reflective and focused on truth and ASKING for guidance)
- Make an honest income by honorable methods.
- Share earnings and selflessly serve others.
4. Avoid the Five Sins of Ego
Practice daily prayer and meditation to reduce the effects of ego like:
Pride
Lust
Greed
Anger
Attachment
5. Become Baptized
Be spiritually reborn by taking part in the baptism ceremony conducted by the "Five Beloved" Sikhs, who prepare and administer immortalizing nectar to initiates.
6. Keep the Code of Honor
Live according to specific individual, and communal, ethical and spiritual commitments. Forsake worldly ties.
Abide by the guru's teachings.
Practice daily worship.
7. Take Part in Fellowship
Worship together and sing God’s praise.
Cook and eat together.
Serve each other.
8. Follow the Four Commandments (four is easier than ten...)
Do not dishonor the creator’s intention by cutting the hair.
Do not harm the body with tobacco or other intoxicants.
Do not eat sacrificial meat.
Do not commit adultery.
9. Recite the Five Daily Prayers
Repeat the morning prayers.
Repeat the evening prayer.
Repeat the bedtime prayer.
10. Wear the Five Articles of Faith (aha... Rituals rituals...)
Wear the Sikh undergarment for modesty and health.
Wear a wooden comb in the turban to keep hair clean and untangled.
Wear a steel wristlet as a sign of faith.
Wear hair uncut, to honor the creator’s intention.
Wear a small sword symbolic of defending the religious rights of all faiths.
He was visiting his relatives, and he took some time to relax and enjoy the outdoors hot tub and the warm Florida winter's sun.
He was wearing a small bathing suit and a large turban...
The religious people I've encountered in my young life, advocated modesty, by covering most of the body and hair.
Even the less religious do not cover their hair, but cover their bodies in public.
Here was quite the opposite.
The man was in speedos, but wearing a turban.
When he joined me in the Hot Tub, he did not remove his turban.
Our conversation was easy and light, almost like a friendly chat, but as I saw that he was so willing to answer all of my inquiries, I got braver and more direct and our conversation deepened into a serious philosophical and religious discussion.
Being a spiritual seeker with an insatiable thirst for knowledge and wisdom,
I viewed this 'chance encounter' as a gift from the Universe.... An opportunity to pick the brain of a man who holds intriguing beliefs, and as an opportunity to hear some insights and interpretations, as well as practical applications, first hand.
The practical application of people's beliefs, is all that matter to me.
I am not enamored with following rituals and rules, but I am intrigued at how you can apply what you believe, to make your own human experience here on earth, more joyful, enriching and expanding.
I have read about Sikhism in books and was impress with its basic wisdom.
Sikhism is only about 500 years old.
It is considered currently to be the youngest religion in the world.
Like with every religion or thought system, I find myself needing to navigate and filter through the habits, practices and traditions, to try to get into the hidden wisdom which is usually universal and shared through all of them..
I liked the concept of Oneness, unity with all, service and equality, which Sikhism advocates.
I will add a list of the basic principles of this young religion, at the comment to this note.
That day in the pool, I was happy to get a glimpse into how the philosophical concepts of his religion, applied in practical manners in daily life.
So we talked about living with honor and about making an honest income by honorable means.
I've always believed that this is a good principle to live by.
But during the years, and even more recently, I've noticed how many people are not even aware when they do dishonest things.
It is as if the inner moral compass, can be set on 'low' without people being aware of it.
It is obvious that making an honest living, does not include stealing, deceiving people, any kind of crime or profiting from selling harmful products, but there are SO many grey areas in between..... And in today's world, it needs much reflection and soul searching.
I will give you a few examples.
Al Gore, the USA Vice President and environmental advocate, talked once about the fact that his father, was a farmer who grew tobacco plants.
Years later, his daughter, Al's sister, passed away from lung cancer.
Her painful illness and deterioration, devastated their family.
This raises a big question, if a tobacco farmer is doing something wrong, by providing this industry with the necessary plants that eventually may end up harming people....
Some will say no, he is just a farmer...... Growing plants which are natural..... He just gets on his tractor, plow, irrigate the plants... he is not doing anything harmful.....
The tobacco companies are the ones who dry, process and package the cigarette and they are the responsible ones.....
Others may say that it is the sole responsibility of the person who actually smokes them, and that neither the farmer nor those who roll, distribute, market or sell, them, are responsible.
And if everybody is responsible, then even the advertising company who wrote the campaign for the cigaret company is doing dishonest things..... And that includes everybody who works for this advertising company... Including the writers, the secretary and the doorman, who is also an integral part of the process...
This is just one question with no right or wrong answers.
The moral answer is in the way you want to see things and run them through your own understanding.
The secret is NOT in WHAT you choose to do, but in HOW you do it.
Everybody seems to think that manual labor, is a simple and honest living.
Romantic people have idolized ideas and images of simple monks, chopping wood or carrying water....
But even manual labor, has many ways in which people behave with dishonesty.
I've recently met a man who felt very self righteous and honest, because he was not a 'business man' which he associated with dishonesty, but instead, he worked as a handy man, doing simple handy jobs for people.
He complained that many times, he felt humiliated, when the people who hired him, watched over what he did, as if he was about to steal something from their homes.
I did not agree with his world views, but I sympathized with him.
Nobody likes to be treated or suspected as a crook, before he has done anything....
Later, he told me that many times when he was asked to replace a part on a job he was hired to do, he would collect money for a NEW part, but buy a USED one and install a used, or refurbished part instead, and keep the difference in money.
He shrugged his shoulders as he said it, saying that the people who hired him, will never know the difference....
To me, it was CLEAR now, why he rarely got any referrals, lacked money and did not have enough work.
By choosing to do so, he was betraying trust, acting in a dishonest way, and to top it of, he was not even being aware that he was doing anything wrong.
By having his moral compass set on 'low', he was radiating vibrations of a dishonest person, that caused people to watch over him, when he worked at their house.
Both I and the Sikh man, were in total agreement that honesty and honor, does not come from WHAT you choose to do, but from the WAY you do it, and the love and care you bring into it.
You can be a devoted and kind CEO, providing jobs and enriching people's lives, or be a dishonest electrician or plumber, or the reverse.
This Sikh man, said other wise things.
He said that his religion, advocate that we should not harm the body with tobacco or other intoxicant.
He said that it is not a sin against GOD, but it will make your own life here miserable....
He told me that it is NOT mentioned in his religion, but the way he likes to think of his body, is as if it was on LOAN.
As if his body was LOANED to him, for a short use, and that one day, he will need to return it, and it is HIS responsibility to return it in a very good condition.
He said that we tend to treat things BETTER, and more carefully, when they are not ours.
At the time, I liked what he said a LOT.
But again, through the course of living life, I have noticed that this is not true for all of us.
I have noticed that those who are not able to care for their own things, with gentleness and respect for the usefulness they bring into their lives, are not also careful with other people's things.
They are just not wired to understand, that gratitude comes from the HEART and it extends outward to EVERYTHING you touch.
Material things are NOT just objects.
They are energy flow, like everything else in the universe.
Being kind to things, is the same as being kind to animals or other people, because it does NOT come from what is in front of you, but what is INSIDE of you.
Gentleness and care, starts IN YOU, and radiates out into the world.
Taking care of your body as if it were on loan, will only work if you respect other people's things in the same way you respect your own.
Back to the handy man I've mentioned before, when he stayed with us, I lent him one of my computers which cost me A LOT..... and which I occasionally still used.
I've lent him my digital camera, my bike, and my headphones.... And of course he slept at my home.
He treated everything I loaned him with different degree of disrespect.
He always had his reasons....
He left my expensive bike dumped on the grass, instead of in the store room or under cover, because he used it too late at night....
He spilled sweet canned coffee on the night stand, and on the floor next to it, with splashes on my expensive computer, and did not even bother to clean any of it.
Instead, he went boating, leaving me to clean his mess and finally, I claimed back my computer, head phones and digital camera, which he never put away carefully or treated with respect.
He did not treat MY things with LESS respect than he treats his OWN.
He was simply unaware that inner gentleness and respect, does not depend on what you are treating, but on the gentleness you have inside.
Again, to me, it was no wonder when he told me that his own computer, is a piece of junk which does not work often, but he does wonder why.... Because it is only one year old....
When you treat everything around you with care and concern, you cultivate kindness and concern inside yourself.
It does not matter if it is a piece of glass in your window, a floor you wash with care or an old car.
People want new and beautiful things.
But if you were able to treat your old things with love and care, you will not be craving so many new things so often.
You will be able to generate joy from looking at your old wooden table, gleaming at you with a shining light..... Radiating back to you, all the care and love that you gave to it...... All the times you've oiled it with care...... All the love that your home vibrates.
When you love your environment, and you treat it with kindness...... When you treat your own body with care and respect, you create for yourself a loving space, and a nourishing space.
The SIZE or your house or how modern, and expensive it is, does not matter AT ALL......
ALL that matter, is the way it feels inside of it...... The warmth that it radiates....
You can convert any humble home into a sanctuary for the soul....by loving and caring for your surrounding.... By appreciating your environment and feeling grateful for everything... For its usefulness and for its beauty.
All things, if looked at with love, can be beautiful.
As I write this, I realize that some people might translate this to mean that I am advocating being attached to things or clinging to them.
My advice got nothing to do with clinging or attachment to things.
If a plate or a glass, or a bicycle broke, fix it, glue it or throw it away, and do not feel remorse, regrets or self criticism.
You do not have to be clingy or overvalue things, in order to benefit from being caring and gentle.
Respecting things, respecting yourself, respecting other people, animals, plants and the planet, are ALL CONNECTED......
By cultivating care and respect inside yourself, you are teaching and learning YOURSELF, how to honor and to respect ALL and EVERYTHING.
Basic Sikhism concepts:
1. There is only One God
one creator.
Do not worship demi-gods or idols.
2. Treat Everyone Equally
Do not show distinction or rank because of race, class, or gender.
3. Live By the Three Primary Principles
- Be always absorbed in meditation and prayer. (this refers to YOUR MIND, not to your body. It means keeping your mind calm, reflective and focused on truth and ASKING for guidance)
- Make an honest income by honorable methods.
- Share earnings and selflessly serve others.
4. Avoid the Five Sins of Ego
Practice daily prayer and meditation to reduce the effects of ego like:
Pride
Lust
Greed
Anger
Attachment
5. Become Baptized
Be spiritually reborn by taking part in the baptism ceremony conducted by the "Five Beloved" Sikhs, who prepare and administer immortalizing nectar to initiates.
6. Keep the Code of Honor
Live according to specific individual, and communal, ethical and spiritual commitments. Forsake worldly ties.
Abide by the guru's teachings.
Practice daily worship.
7. Take Part in Fellowship
Worship together and sing God’s praise.
Cook and eat together.
Serve each other.
8. Follow the Four Commandments (four is easier than ten...)
Do not dishonor the creator’s intention by cutting the hair.
Do not harm the body with tobacco or other intoxicants.
Do not eat sacrificial meat.
Do not commit adultery.
9. Recite the Five Daily Prayers
Repeat the morning prayers.
Repeat the evening prayer.
Repeat the bedtime prayer.
10. Wear the Five Articles of Faith (aha... Rituals rituals...)
Wear the Sikh undergarment for modesty and health.
Wear a wooden comb in the turban to keep hair clean and untangled.
Wear a steel wristlet as a sign of faith.
Wear hair uncut, to honor the creator’s intention.
Wear a small sword symbolic of defending the religious rights of all faiths.
