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Summary of Question:	Loving The Rehit Or The Sikh?
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Saturday, 6/02/2001 10:50 PM MDT

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

Khalsa Ji...i have heard that Guru Gobind Singh said "Rehit pyari mujhko Sikh pyara naahi",meaning that "i love the Rehit and not the Sikh"...and at the same time on this forum i have read that Amrit is a choice and not a compulsion...don't these 2 contradict each other?...its also said that one can be dear to Guru Gobind Singh only upon taking Amrit...well,more dearer i mean to say...please shed some light on this...also i must say u are doing a great job in awakening the Sikh youth of today...keep up the good work ji :-)

SatSriAkaal!

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REPLY
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Dear Seeker--
Sat Siri Akaal. [FYI-This forum is moderated by volunteers who have full-time jobs and families. Please be patient!]

First of all, this line/shabd was not written by Guru Gobind Singh, it was written by Bhai Desa Singh Ji (sorry, I do not know who he was). I will give you the full english of this shabd (page 1015 of Amrit Kirtan), because it will help answer your question:
"I love the Sikh Rehit; the Sikh himself is not my beloved.
The one who lives the Sikh lifestyle is my Sikh; he is my master and I am his disciple.
Without the Rehit no one can be a Sikh; without the Rehit one will face difficulties at all times.
Without the Rehit he cannot be comfortable at all; that is why a Sikh should be committed to the Rehit."

Amrit is a choice. Remember that Amrit and the Rehit are GIFTS of Guru Gobind Singh to his Sikhs.
What this Bhai Sahib is saying is that the Sikh who takes this GIFT, and makes the commitment to Rehit is completely one of Guru Gobind Singh's own, because she/he has put their head (ego) in their hand and said to Guru: "I am Yours." Those Sikhs who take Amrit become sons and daughters of Guru Gobind Singh & Mata Sahib Deva, who are thus BOUND to honor, protect, and serve them. The line about 'facing difficulties' indicates not that an Amritdhari Sikh will have a challengeless existence. But the Rehit gives that Sikh the presence of Guru to face the times with victory, knowing VICTORY IS ASSURED. It is the Rehit that makes Sikhs 'strong as steel and steady as stone'. There is this subtle difference between a Sikh and an Amritdhari Sikh. That said, I have seen a lot of Sikhs who act Amritdhari but are not, and just as many Amritdhari who do NOT act it. I have also seen people take Amrit more than once, which is remarkable.
So we cannot judge Sikhs solely by whether or not they are Amritdhari.

What this shabd implies is that Amrit is not a thing to take lightly. It is a Gift and a sworn commitment to do one's best to live the Rehit. That is why it has to be a choice, because not everyone will feel it is their time to receive this gift. Guru loves all his Sikhs, but He has a special commitment to Amritdharis. Amrit should never be forced, and no one should take Amrit who is so young that they do not understand it.

God bless you to take Amrit when Guruji says "it's time!"
--DKK