Piety by Proxy: Who Are We Kidding?

May 26th, 2009 by Khushwant Singh Source: www.sikhchic.com

Many years ago, I happened to be in Nanded (Maharashtra) and went to Hazur Sahib gurdwara to pay homage to the Tenth Guru, Gobind Singh, who was assassinated there in 1708.

It is one of the most sacred of gurdwaras.

I came across something which baffled me.

There was a row of cabins separated by thin walls of plywood in which a dozen akhand paths (non-stop reading of the Guru Granth by a relay of paathees - readers) were being performed with no one listening to them.

I sought explanation from the head granthi (caretaker). He told me people from India and abroad sent money for akhand paths, to be followed by Guru-ka-langar, as thanksgiving or for wish fulfilment.

I could not comprehend how prayers recited by someone else could benefit a devotee who paid for them.

However, I found such practices more prevalent in other communities, as well.

Hindus have havans (fire ceremonies) performed at distant places.

Muslims pay expenses to people going for Haj, hoping that benefits will accrue to them.

Even Mirza Ghalib pleaded with Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar to take him along on Haj and he would give his tswaab (benefit) to his majesty. However, the British did not allow the Mughal king to leave Delhi.

What came as a big surprise to me was to find that Europeans, Canadians and Indian Christians are also into outsourcing prayers. Well-to-do English, Canadians and Americans, who can't be bothered to go to church, paid for holy masses in euros or dollars, outsourcing religious rituals to Kerala Christian priests.

I read about it in the latest Private Eye of May 15. To wit: "The outsourcing of American and European jobs to low-wage countries like India has been happening for years," Archbishop Jacob Thoomkuzhy told reporters in Kerala, "and religious outsourcing is no different. Because of shortage of priests in the industrialised world, prayers for the dead and holy masses are being paid for by the westerners, then offshored to India."

"It is a lucrative business for churches in Kerala. Mass intentions that are paid for in dollars or euros are carried out here by local priests. The prayers are recited, and the fees paid by westerners help cash-starved parishes here. So what's the problem? " asked the Archbishop.

For example, when British newspapers whipped up a storm about David Beckham's affairs, a Beckham fan from London paid 350 euros for a mass to save the soul of his hero.

The holy mass, however, was not held in a London parish.

It was outsourced by the church authorities to a Bishop in India, who passed it to a remote church at Anthikad in Thrissur diocese, where the mass took place.

"We do not want to look at this commercially, but it is a huge boost to the local religious economy here,'' said the Archbishop.

 

Comments

August 13, 2009 - 12:34pm lovepreet b

aye!

I KNOW! That's SO wrong! It's like the backwater Medieval Times, [around the same time our Guru ji's came to Earth] where the pope sold indulgences---a "go to heaven" free card with his signature on it, for profit. Why the darn do we need to go back to that??? Medieval times was a time of poorness, unruliness and a HUGE fear of God!!! WHY AGAIN?!?!?! Does anyone---the peeps selling these at the gurdwaras, hmm---know WHAT it took to get to where we are today???? A lot of sacrifice, persecution, suffering, HORROR and now you want to go BACK??? To the people who bought one: You can't 'buy' God, or his Grace. You EARN it. Sorry if I offended anyone, xoxo, lovepreet
May 28, 2009 - 5:47am arshi (not verified)

Our pathetic state of affairs

Recital of Guru Granth sahib, in whatever form, 'Akhand', 'Sehaj' or casual is always a good thing - the effort is never wasted. Guru Arjan Patshah says "parabh banee sabad subhaakhi-aa. Lord’s praises as enshrined in the Guru’s shabad are the best utterances. gaavhu sunhu parhahu nit bhaa-ee gur poorai too raakhi-aa. rahaa-o. SO CONSTANTLY SING THEM, LISTEN TO THEM, AND READ THEM." The effort put into Gurbani never goes to waste - even if there is no audience. The waves the reading of Gurbani generates are releases into the cosmic world can only bode well for the human race. However, it is the intention of the organisation and the people behind this (and their greed) that comes into question and must be criticised. The individuals who pay for recital of Guru Granth Sahib, be it in the form of an Akhand Path or Sehaj Path obviously do it in good faith and intention. Often the marketing and pressure is so strong that most kind hearted individuals are persuaded to sponsor Paths. They are, at least, supporting and promoting Gurbani, though lack of their own participation stands out like a sore thumb. The underlying reason behind aggressive marketing is ofcourse money and greed and this does not apply just to 'Paths by proxy' but to the entire process in which our places of worship are run. I have pioneered organisations in London, donated (from Guru's blessings) to many organisations. However, these organsations have now become means for visiting jathas to line up their pockets and for the prabandhaks to foster social and political contacts. Worrying times lie ahead for Sikhism but I am sure - with Guru's Grace - we will triumph in the end.
May 27, 2009 - 11:51am himmat_singh

Theo and Gagandeep: Multiple Akhand Paaths

Sat Sri Akal

Gagandeep ji, there is absolutely no reason why people should not do as they wish with their money. If by using money to fund the paath, which perhaps, because as you say, they are unable to read Bani, it brings them peace of mind, that can only be good. The rest of the sanghat also gets an opportunity to listen to the paath.

Theodorus ji, it can only be good if by paying some money, in the knowledge that some of it is put to charitable purposes. If it is used to pay for the paathis, who would otherwise struggle, then that’s a great use of money.

However multiple paths running concurrently in the same hall are, in my humble opinion, open disrespect of Gurbani. Gurbani is intended to be heard, and I have witnessed when these paaths run concurrently, in UK. You may have been to some as well. All the paathis do not keep in sync with each other, and they can’t be expected to either. So we get the situation when one paathi gets to say, Page 246, and the loudpeakers were connected to his booth. Then, for the sake of another family who paid for another paath, speakers are switched to “their” path. So it switches to another paath, who happens to be on say page 230. So the sanghat listens to the same pages twice. Then after a while, say 15 pages, it switches back to the first or another paathi who is ahead, say on P262 by now. So the sanghat now misses out P246 to P262 altogether. This happens repeatedly throughout the two days. Also on, say, the Friday evening, all these paaths are disconnected, whilst the sanghat listens to the Kirtanees, as the Gurudwara has arranged that in the same hall as well, as part of its regular program. So the ones who paid for the Paaths have no opportunity to listen to any Paath at that time, even though there are several running.

Only one paath is required, recited clearly and completely. If money is required to provide this then fine. Some resources are obviously required. However if there are surplus funds because of multiple requests then it not impossible for the money to be channelled to more needy causes, rather than to the particular Gurudwara which was paid these funds.

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Of all religions, the best religion is to chant the Name of the Lord and maintain pure conduct.(266-13)

May 27, 2009 - 11:30am stand for truth (not verified)

but what is the need...........

i am not able to understand what is the need of such RITUALS/practice. is this the one way of generating income? if yes.why? isn`t beadbi of guru granth sahib. it looks like a factory. sikhism is not brahmnism, it looks like a simple brahminical ritual. sikhism came into being to put an end to evils devouring souls of individuals and handicapping society, but ironically sikhism has fell pray to these evils. shame on us. gurbani is to feed and nourish our soul. what is going to happen by mere continous reading." padiye jeti aarza, padiye jete saans, nanak likhe ek gall hor houmei jhakhna jhak" if you read all the book and grasp nothing, whats the use. our souls are ailing, they need nector of gurbani. "je ko khaave, je ko bhunche, tis ka hoe urdhaaro". merely reading rituals will not help us, we should not only read, but also understand and apply gurbani in our daily life. we have not submitted ourselves to our guru in a true sense. thats why nowadays we are facing all these problems. WORDS OF CAUTION by TENTH MASTER " JAB EH GAHE BIPRAN KI REET, MEIN NA KAROO IN KI PARTEET" the only thing i can understand and i can support what theodrus ji has written "I can support people there. I then know the money I send will be earned by somebody who at least knows gurbani (so he/she is probably a Sikh?)"
May 27, 2009 - 10:24am devatma (not verified)

a great topic, a western perspective

sat nam Thanks for posting this. The Gurus showed us a means of maintaining our awareness of God. By vigilant self-examination, we make sure our hearts are engaged when we speak of our Gurus or read Gurbani. Ritualized action is action without consciousness. However, it is easy to judge, especially by apprearances. And in the West, we are accustomed to frowning upon the intersection of faith and commerce. Why? It is a basic reality that Faith Groups need money to survive. The problem is that practically every religious authority in history has abused its power. Should we be upset by this? Maybe. Should we be surprised when it happens? Probably not. I like to recall "The Canterbury Tales", the middle-English fableaux verse about a group of pilgrims. At turns subtle and profane, it has a whole cast-within-a-cast of clerical characters, all but one of whom are corrupt. The reason I recall these stories? Because it shows me these problems are older than me and that they may always exist; and by the amazing characterization, it compels me to have compassion for even the most vicious of these characters. Their holy appointments are merely routine for them, and so they end by acting unconsciously, even ruthlessly. Understanding through compassion is the way to move beyond appearances. It puts soul in contact with soul. This is the way the Gurus taught us to live. Systemic problems within religions exist, but it is the power within each of us which allows us to rise above them. wgjkkwgjkf dev atma singh
May 27, 2009 - 8:37am Manjit Singh

There is nothing wrong with this if hearts are pure!

Gangandeep Ji, I think you mean, he or she, when talking about devoteees. Talking about mere rituals, here is another beautiful shabad on pg 1353: http://fateh.sikhnet.com/sggs/translation/1353.html#slok%20shsik®qI%20mhlw%201%20]
May 27, 2009 - 8:28am Khalsa Gagandee...

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

I just want to say that there are three modes of sewa: Tan naal (By physical body), Man naal (By devoted mind) and Dhan naal (By Money). Although we are supposed to do the sewa by all the three means but if there is some problem with one mean, the other means can be used as well. So i think if a devotee cannot read gurbani he can do this, but he should make sure that the money sent by him is utilised in a proper way, I mean some check should be there.
May 27, 2009 - 1:34am himmat_singh

Multiple Akhand Paaths

Sat Sri Akal

Theodorus ji, it may be interesting to note where any practice originates, but I’m not sure whether this should affect why the practice takes place today. People should be able to analyse the situation, in terms of what is reasonable, in today’s world. If not, some could even use basis of past practices recommended by past priest/gurus/prophets to justify an act such as a human sacrifice to a sun god. God may not evolve, but His subjects are quite capable of evolving physically and mentally. Does He not expect them to?

Doing as many Akhand Paaths as possible makes money for the Gurudwara, and there are plenty of people willing to pay. The reasons why they are willing to pay will be multifarious. Even when they know it is nonsensical to pay, some will still do it. So the chances of the practice not continuing for the foreseeable future, are pretty much next to nil. Money always talks for some; it apparently buys God’s Grace, and the people who have set up their businesses as intermediaries of God are most willing to accept whatever is offered, instead of acting professionally. They of course set higher market rates, whenever demand exceeds supply.

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Of all religions, the best religion is to chant the Name of the Lord and maintain pure conduct.(266-13)

May 27, 2009 - 5:47am Theodorus

I do not approve, I understand

himmat singh ji,

Of course this practice has nothing to do with religion it is purely economical. The fact that people believe that they can buy God's Grace is not only wrong but stupid too. It surely was not my intention with my comment to say that I approve of this practice because it makes a mockery of a religious practice.

In this case there is an other side to the practice though, an economical one. If you are poor and you can earn a living by reciting gurbani then what is wrong with that? I can even imagine that it is more honourable to earn your living like this than just getting free gifts (from people abroad).
I mean I'm a westerner, suppose I wanted to support people in the punjab how would I go about? I can randomly select somebody and send him money then I have no idea where that money ends up, I can send money to a Gurdwara but who knows where that money ends up? So by 'buying' recitation time (although I know it is nonsensical) I can support people there. I then know the money I send will be earned by somebody who at least knows gurbani (so he/she is probably a Sikh?).

Come to think of it, it was exactly the reason why I payed the Catholic parish for 10 masses when my mother died. I have not attended one of them (I knew it was nonsensical to that respect). It was just a. A costum b. The thing to do and c. To thank the pastor for the work he did with the funeral.

That still is no reason to maintain this practice though but it is understandable and it will not easily stop.

May 27, 2009 - 11:47am stand for truth (not verified)

well said sir

sir you said very well, the only thing i can appreciate inthese rituals is supporting people who knows how to read gurbani. but sir i have seen at many places in india ,most of the time, those people ( many non-sikhs also) who go for such ritual, unknowingly disrespects guru granth sahib. no body is interested in listening gurbani during akhand path. all those who boast, they must ask themselves deep inside their heart "how many akhand paths they have attended ,for how many hours they have truly heard gurbani and how much they were able to understand". ground reality is nobody (generally) ever listens to gurbani for even one hour daily. even if one do, but he/she will not understand entirely.people come when akhand path starts and forgets and they again comes at samapti. in between what happened nobody knows. though bitter but true. SO SAHEJ PAATH CAN BE THE ANSWER.
May 27, 2009 - 12:04pm himmat_singh

Stand for Truth: Sehaj Paath is best

Sat Sri Akal

Stand for Truth ji, I think you are absolutely right about Sehaj Paaths being the answer. It cannot be right to "race" to finish a paath, because of time limits. Sometimes, a few paathis even skip some pages, late at night when they think no-one is paying attention. This is normal, because as you say, many of the families do not listen to much of the paath at all.

Even part of a sehaj paath, read slowly, so people can grasp what is being said, understand it, and then act as Guru ji advises, would be much better, in my humble opinion.

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Of all religions, the best religion is to chant the Name of the Lord and maintain pure conduct.(266-13)

May 26, 2009 - 10:12pm snowy

no assassination

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Sikhchic wrote:
Many years ago, I happened to be in Nanded (Maharashtra) and went to Hazur Sahib gurdwara to pay homage to the Tenth Guru, Gobind Singh, who was assassinated there in 1708.

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As a Sikh its improper to say assassination.

I believe there was an attempt at assassination by Pathans.

I believe a Sikh is suppose to use the term Jyoti Jot Saemiah or Their Spirit is with the Everlasting.

Please forgive me if I too have mistranslated and kindly correct this fool as well.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

May 26, 2009 - 9:51pm 1sikh

True business is to listen and practice Gurbani

This practice which people have started is essentially incorrect. Gurbani should be recited, listened, and most important, practiced in our lives. People who hire proxies to do ‘Gurbani Path’ are misguided. This is the responsibility of the Granthi (caretaker) to ensure that there are people listening to Gurbani. ‘Akhand paths’ in a row with no people listening is a bad business.
May 26, 2009 - 9:06pm Theodorus

Infuence from Christianity?

I think this practice stems from Christianity as there you have a 'class' of people that intermediate between God and the Congregation (normal people). These Priest, monks, nuns etc. have a full time job in intermediating (of course they do other things within the congregation too) so they need to be payed.
I know in the Catholic church (in my country) it is not uncommen to pay for 10 masses when somebody dies and after that one mass per year. Often these masses are combined for several persons at once. You are suppose to attend these messes though. When they are 'outsourced' that is not possible.
It even has become more of a tradition. When my scouting group organised a big outdoor event the organisation went to a nuns cloister nearby with a gift (meat products) asking the nuns to pray for good weather during the event. Although people do believen in this it is more culture than religion.
So having somebody that is suppose to be closer to God than you is not uncommen in the Catholic church and it is also a very old 'custom'.

May 26, 2009 - 5:46pm Baljit Singh

Rituals !!

Gurbani is for making our lives richer and fulfilling. We sikhs have started this Akand Paths Rituals, totally opposite to what our GURU JI intented. It is now basically a social event for get together. We need to get back to the basics of our SIKHISM if we wish to prosper. Love and Sikhi to all

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