The kirpan, or ceremonial dagger, is worn by many devout Sikhs
Sikh representatives will not attend an inter-faith meeting with Pope Benedict XVI when he visits the US next month.
Posted on 03/06/2008 5:53:55 PM PST by markomalley
Sikh representatives will not attend an inter-faith meeting with Pope Benedict XVI when he visits the US next month.
The kirpan, or ceremonial dagger, is worn by many devout Sikhs
They say this is because the Pope's guards in the US will not allow them to wear their "kirpan" ceremonial daggers.
Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist representatives are meeting the Pope in Washington.
The kirpan must be worn by all baptised Sikhs (Khalsa), after an order issued by the faith's leader Guru Gobind Singh, in 1699.
Sikhs are being replaced by representatives from the Jain religion at the ceremony.
The problem is the kirpan - the Sikhs' ceremonial dagger which they wear as an article of faith that literally symbolises the Sikh commitment to resist oppression and injustice.
A statement from the World Sikh Council said they were disappointed the secret service had not been able to respect the religious rights of Sikhs.
They said they were not able to attend if it meant renouncing a fundamental tenet of their faith.
A spokesman for the secret service has been quoted as saying they understood the dagger was a religious object for Sikhs but by definition it was also a weapon.
Pope’s Guards think that Sikh leaders would take Pope out?
I can’t wear my cermonial Glock in the Post Office, they don’t get to wear their pig-stickers to see the Pope.
So there.
No...rather the US Secret Service.
Is this precaution sensible? Its not a Gun, they can’t see the guy trying to pull it out.
That’s what I was thinking. I practically cannot carry my cerimonial Morning star anywhere I go.
Would you chill out! Do you know why they carry the Kirpan? Well Professor Morgana will tell you! To defend themselves against muzzies! YES! At one point in their religion they were being attacked by the muzzies that one of their Gurus said that it was okay to defend themselves. So hey, as a Catholic myself, I say let the Sikh carry the Kirpan and maybe he will defend the Pope against any muzzie that goes rabid in the house!!!
Sikh and ye shall find.
I follow the rules in this country.
So shall they. Or they canst stay to home.
Appeasment and political correctness is going to get us all killed.
Kirpan literal means “weapon of defence” (”Kirpa” means “mercy” and “Aan” means “bless”), as opposed to the talwar, a weapon of offence.
Typically made from iron, kirpans range in blade size from 3 inches (7.6 cm) to over 3 feet (90 cm)and Sikhs in the west wear kirpans of about 3.5 inch (9 cm) blade size.
The kirpan has both a physical function, as a defensive weapon, as well as a symbolic function. Physically it is an instrument of “Ahimsa” or non-violence. The principle of ahimsa is to actively prevent violence, not to simply stand by idly whilst violence is being done. To that end, the kirpan is a tool to be used to prevent violence from being done to a defenseless person when all other means to do so have failed. Symbolically, the kirpan represents the power of truth to cut through untruth. It is the cutting edge of the enlightened mind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirpan
This is not political correctness this is religious freedom as is granted in the constitution.
That is the rules of our country and it applies to religions different than our own. Sorry if you do not like it that is tough! If they lose religious freedom than we will too.
The Sikhs have done nothing to harm us unlike the muzzies. I feel safe with a Sikh around because I know that they do not like muzzies just like we do not. They will not tolerate a muzzie going rabid and will take him out at a drop of a hat! Sikh are great warriors.
Understanding the Kirpan for non-Sikhs
by Sandeep Singh Brar
The Kirpan (ceremonial sword) worn by followers of the Sikh religion sometimes raises questions or concerns among people who are unfamiliar with the religion or it’s tenants. The Kirpan is an ingrained part of the Sikh religion and is in many ways it’s religious symbolism is similar to the Cross in Christianity. Just as a Cross is worn be devout Christians, baptized Sikhs are required to wear the Kirpan. The Kirpan is no more symbolic a weapons than the Christian Cross is symbolic of a torture instrument.
Sikhism is a 500 year old religion with over 20 million followers worldwide. It is ranked as a major world religion with even more followers than Judaism for example. Guru Nanak (1469-1539) who preached a message of One God for all of humanity founded it. He stressed loving devotion to God and universal principles of morality, truth and honest living and full equality of mankind irrespective of race, caste, creed or sex. Nine successive prophets succeeded Guru Nanak, the line ending with Guru Gobind Singh in 1708. Sikhism is not a new-age movement, cult or sect, but a well established and respected major world religion with it’s own distinctive beliefs and practices.
The Kirpan has been an integral part of the Sikh religion since it’s early inception and has a very sacred religious symbolism for Sikhs. To suggest that it is a `dagger’, or a `weapon’ or merely a cultural symbol is both misleading and offensive to Sikhs.
To Sikhs the Kirpan is religiously symbolic of their spirituality and the constant struggle of good and morality over the forces of evil and injustice, both on a individual as well as social level. The usage of the Kirpan in this religious context is clearly indicated in the Sikh holy scriptures (Sri Guru Granth Sahib) and wearing it is ment to inspire a Sikh in their daily life;
“To forsake pride, emotional attachment, and the sense of `mine and yours’, is the path of the double-edged sword.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Devgandhari, pg. 534)
“From the Guru, I have obtained the supremely powerful sword of spiritual wisdom. I have cut down the fortress of duality and doubt, attachment, greed and egotism. The Name of the Lord abides within my mind; I contemplate the Word of the Guru’s hymns.” (Guru Ram Das, Maru, pg. 1087)
Guru Gobind Singh introduced the metaphor of the Kirpan to refer to God and his qualities;
“O Sword, O Conqueror of continents, O Vanquisher of the hosts of evil, O Embellisher of the brave in the field of battle. Thy Arms are unbreakable, Thy Light refulgent, Thy Glory and Splendor dazzle like the sun. O Happiness of the holy, O Crusher of evil intent, O Subduer of sin, I seek Thy refuge.” (Guru Gobind Singh, Vachitra Natak, Chapter I)
The practice of Sikhs carrying the Kirpan as a religious symbol can be traced back to the lifetime of the sixth Sikh prophet, Guru Hargobind (1595-1644). Guru Hargobind regularly carried two swords, symbolic of a Sikhs spiritual as well as temporal obligations. Guru Hargobind introduced Sikhs to the concept of being a Sant-Sipahi (Saint-Soldier). A Sikh must be a Saint always meditating and remembering God. At the same time a Sikh is also expected to be a soldier, a person taking part in their social responsibilities to their family and community. Following the path of law, order and morality as laid out by the Sikh Gurus.
It was Guru Gobind Singh, the final living Sikh prophet who formally instituted the mandatory requirement for all baptized Sikhs to wear the Kirpan at all times. He instituted the current Sikh baptism ceremony in 1699 which is referred to as the `baptism of the sword’ (khanda di pahul). During the ceremony sugar crystals and water are stirred in a steel bowl with a Kirpan before the initiate drinks the mixture. During the baptism ceremony the initiate is instructed in the duties and obligations of becoming a Khalsa (one belonging to the Divine). The Khalsa is expected to live by the high moral standards of the Sikh Gurus at all times which includes such things as abstaining from smoking, drinking and other intoxicants, performing daily prayers and always maintaining the distinctive physical symbols of Sikhism on their person. The most noticeable of these being uncut hair and carrying the Kirpan.
This injunction appears in the Reht Maryada (The Official Sikh Code of Conduct); “Have, on your person, all the time, the five K’s: The Keshas (unshorn hair), the Kirpan (sheathed sword), the Kachhehra (drawers like garment), the Kanga (comb), the Karha (steel bracelet).” (Reht Maryada, Ceremony of Baptism or Initiation, Section 6, Chapter XIII, Article XXIV, paragraph (p))
The Reht Maryada does not specify the length of the Kirpan or how it is to be worn by the devotee. Kirpans can be anywhere from 3 foot swords carried by Sikhs on religious festivals, marriages and parades, to a few inches in length. They can either be worn over ones clothing or under the clothing. The Kirpan is usually kept sheathed except when it is withdrawn from it’s casing on such occasions as consecration of the ceremonial sweet pudding distributed during religious ceremonies.
To suggest that the Kirpan is a weapon is both incorrect and misleading. If it was instituted as a weapon, then would Sikhs not be expected to carry guns today? Guns were in common use during the time of Guru Gobind Singh. If the Kirpan was purely a soldiers weapon for Sikhs, than why do they not also carry a shield as well or other armour? Why do modern armies and soldiers carry swords on ceremonial occasions? Because it is symbolic of their military tradition and heritage. In the same way Sikhs carry the Kirpan at all times because it is symbolic of their religious tradition and heritage.
http://www.sikhs.org/art12.htm
ping...
>> they don’t get to wear their pig-stickers to see the Pope. <<
Given the Sikh’s longtime difficulties with the Mooselimbs, “pig-sticker” is a great term, actually.
>> The Kirpan is no more symbolic a weapons than the Christian Cross is symbolic of a torture instrument. <<
I empathize with the Sikhs, and see the root problem of this, whether Benedict is willing to say so or not, to be the inherent dysfunction of ecumenism, not the Sikh faith in particular.
But, come on... a ceremonial cross is no weapon, A kirpan, honorable as its intention may be, is still a weapon and a grave security threat.
> But, come on... a ceremonial cross is no weapon, A kirpan, honorable as its intention may be, is still a weapon and a grave security threat.
If I were the Pope, I would feel alot safer being guarded by a contingent of Sikhs than a squad of Secret Servicemen. Same deal with the Ghurkas. Or the Scots.
If I were the Pope, I’d let them wear their kirpans, khukris, or sgean dubhs all they wanted. No worries.
That’s true in that Sikhs view their holy book as an incarnation of God, but I have to say that despite being deceived every Sikh I’ve met has been a man of honor and they are not fooled by the Mooslims in the slightest. Like Mormons they have the wrong religion, but tend to be okay as people.
Although I'm disappointed that the Sikhs' non-attendance is because they can't wear their daggers and not out of anti-ecumenical principal.
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