Take One Step to Educate, They Will Take Two to Learn!

Three days before Thanksgiving, I was invited by the Interfaith Religious Committee: Grand Canyon Council, Boy Scout of America to talk about Sikh faith to a group of about 100-150 people. The majority of them were young children though some adults, primarily parents, were also at hand. They were part of "Ten Commandments Hike" Arcadia Neighborhood, Phoenix Arizona and scheduled to hike on Friday their eighteenth hike, a day after Thanksgiving 2013 which incidentally also happened to be Hanukkah.

I was asked to talk about the Sikh Perspective in relation to the 5th of their "Ten Commandments of God," as per exodus, Chapter 20, Verses 2 through 17. In addition, they asked me to inform the children about the fundamental Principles of the Sikh Faith providing some basic insight.

The 5th Commandment as described is, "Honor Your Father and Your Mother." I found this Commandment of their faith to fit right into Sikhism as well as the Indian culture. Respecting parents happens to be the fundamental cultural and religious artifact of all the Dharmic faiths of India. Likewise, the importance of mother among people of India needed no introduction. Likewise informing then about basic principles of the Sikh faith, Sikh Identity presence of Sikhs in the West, in the U.S. and Arizona and our Gurudwaras including the local ones, was something I have been doing since 9/11.

What was interesting to note however, and what truly makes this write up interesting was their deep interest and a strong urge to learn about the faiths of others. In fact about 30 adults and children came to me after the talk to personally discuss and learn more about local Sikh Gurdwaras and Sikh faith. While the talk lasted for only about half an hour, I was kept busy interacting with them for the next hour. Before finishing, they invited me to the stage and honored with a plaque thanking me for providing them positive information about Sikh faith.

I am convinced more than ever that the people around us in this country are interested to learn about others' provided one is willing to share one's belief in a positive way making sure that one doesn't tread upon their faith in any way, shape or form. Our Sikh identity as well as our Indian culture will be accepted more positively if we put serious effort to take a step. They are ready to take two steps and receive us with open arms and learn about us, our philosophy, our identity and our lifestyle. The ball is in our court. Please open the door!

Dr. Jaswant Singh Sachdev, M.D., F.A.A.N
Phoenix, Arizona 

*Author of 1. "Square Pegs, Round Holes" www.SquarePegsRoundHolesBook.com and 2. "Sikhism: Points to Ponder; Perspectives of a Sikh Living Abroad," as well as a recently published masterpiece about the cross-cultural dilemma of Indian subcontinent diaspora, 3. "One Coin, Two Sides," For details of the this new book, please go to the LINK http://inkwellproductions.com/one-coin-two-sides.htm

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