Homosexuality and Sikhism
Encyclopedia
Sikhism
has no specific teachings about homosexuality
. The Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib
, does not explicitly mention homosexuality.
(the temporal Sikh authority), has condemned homosexuality while reminding visiting Sikh-Canadian Members of Parliament
(MPs) of their religious duty to oppose same-sex marriage
. In a report published in March 2005, Vedanti said, "The basic duty of Sikh MPs in Canada should be to support laws that stop this kind of practice homosexuality
, because there are thousands of Sikhs living in Canada, to ensure that Sikhs do not fall prey to this practice."
ਸੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਸਖਾ ਬੰਧਪੁ ਹੈ ਭਾਈ ਜਿ ਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਭਾਣੇ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਵੈ ॥
ਆਪਣੈ ਭਾਣੈ ਜੋ ਚਲੈ ਭਾਈ ਵਿਛੁੜਿ ਚੋਟਾ ਖਾਵੈ ॥
ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੁਖੁ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਪਾਵੈ ਭਾਈ ਫਿਰਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਪਛੋਤਾਵੈ ॥੧॥
"He alone is a Sikh, a friend, a relative and a sibling, who walks in the Way of the Guru's Will. One who walks according to his own will, O Siblings of Destiny, suffers separation from the Lord, and shall be punished. Without the True Guru, peace is never obtained, O Siblings of Destiny; again and again, he regrets and repents. ||1||"
(Ang 601)
Guru Sahib gave Sikhs Hukam (Order). Hukam and Rehit (discipline) put boundaries on our behaviour. We all need discipline in life. Some may say why we do you stop people from smoking, you do not believe they are equal to you? But reality is everyone is equal, but as a Gursikhs, we choose a 'Niraala Panth' (a Distinct Path). The 'Niraala panth' is defined by Rehit and Hukam.
Marriage is two souls merging into one. However even this union which is not based on Kaam (lust), but love, respect and within Gurmat, even that is also temporary. The true Union is between a person and Akaal - this is permanent. When one achieves that union, everything else is put into perspective and is incomparable. Even if a person is naturally homosexual, as one cannot become one, or a person is heterosexual and full of lust (Kaam) or not, and lives as a true disciple of Guru, all of them should search for this 'true union', because without it there is no way to quench their thirst. To obtain this union, one has to forsake all, and live in the discipline of Gurmat Rehit (discipline in accordance to the Guru's Way), and have a longing for the Darshan, Blessed Vision, of Waheguru.
On the contrary, it is also important to note in Sikhism that any type of emotional attachment to family plays a factor in attachment to Maya.
"In egotism and Maya, they are eating toxic poison. They are emotionally attached to their children, family and home. The blind, self-willed manmukhs come and go in reincarnation. " - Ang 161 Line 12 Raag Gauri Guaarayree: Guru Amar Das.
"This emotional attachment to Maya and family, and the love of duality, is a noose around the neck. " - Ang 166 Line 12 Raag Gauri Guaarayree: Guru Ram Das.
"Emotional attachment to family does not exist, when the True Lord abides within the heart." - Ang 232 Line 12 Raag Gauri: Guru Amar Das.
"Beholding your family, you are lured away by emotional attachment, but when you leave, they will not go with you." - Ang 64 Line 19 Sri Raag; Guru Amar Das.
It is an underlying fact that Sikh's should strongly focus on their relationship with God. "When you are confronted with terrible hardships, and no one offers you any support, when your friends turn into enemies, and even your relatives have deserted you, and when all support has given way, and all hope has been lost, if you then come to remember the Supreme Lord God, even the hot wind shall not touch you. " - Ang 70 Line 6 Sri Raag: Guru Arjan Dev.
Many Sikhs who have homosexual desires will try to overcome what they believe to be lust by marrying a member of the opposite sex and having children. This has led to a belief among some Sikhs that there are no homosexual Sikhs. This belief can, in turn, cause distress to those Sikhs who do find themselves attracted to members of the same sex. Though with more and more openness in thinking and change of attitudes of parents and peers, some Sikhs have come out in front of their friends and family.
Like progressives from other faiths and backgrounds, The sikhs who do not condemn homosexuality believe that it is not unnatural, but is normal for a minority of adults. These Sikhs stress that homosexuality is not discussed nor specifically banned in any of the writings of the Guru, and that the family lifestyle the Guru encourages can be cultivated by two members of the same sex. In fact, the Guru's silence on homosexuality has led to a history of ambivalence on the topic.
It also important for all Sikhs, whether or not they are a part of the LGTB community or not, to realize that Sikhism highly emphasizes universal equality, acceptance and most importantly love.
"He is within - see Him outside as well; there is no one, other than Him. As Gurmukh, look upon all with the single eye of equality; in each and every heart, the Divine Light is contained." - Ang 599 Line 1&2 Raag Sorath; Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
has no specific teachings about homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. The Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Granth Sahib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
, does not explicitly mention homosexuality.
Conflicting Views In Modern Sikhism
Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, of the Akal TakhtAkal Takht
The Akal Takht of the Timeless One or Seat of God. It is one of the five seats of temporal authority of the Sikhs equivalent to any parliament of world sovereign country. Akal means The Timeless One - another term for God. Takht means 'seat' or 'throne' in Persian...
(the temporal Sikh authority), has condemned homosexuality while reminding visiting Sikh-Canadian Members of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MPs) of their religious duty to oppose same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
. In a report published in March 2005, Vedanti said, "The basic duty of Sikh MPs in Canada should be to support laws that stop this kind of practice homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, because there are thousands of Sikhs living in Canada, to ensure that Sikhs do not fall prey to this practice."
Homosexuality in scripture
According to the Sikh Rehit Maryada, the Anand Karaj (Sikh marriage) can only be between a Sikh man and woman only. Sexual relationship can only be between the couple married under the Anand Karaj maryada. Denouncing the practice of same-sex marriages, Jathedar of Akal Takht, issued a directive with the seal of Sri Akaal Takht Sahib that prohibited any Gurdwara in the world to hold such ceremonies. Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti described same sex marriages as an ‘anti-Gurmat’ trend that had no place in Sikhism.ਸੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਸਖਾ ਬੰਧਪੁ ਹੈ ਭਾਈ ਜਿ ਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਭਾਣੇ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਵੈ ॥
ਆਪਣੈ ਭਾਣੈ ਜੋ ਚਲੈ ਭਾਈ ਵਿਛੁੜਿ ਚੋਟਾ ਖਾਵੈ ॥
ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੁਖੁ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਪਾਵੈ ਭਾਈ ਫਿਰਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਪਛੋਤਾਵੈ ॥੧॥
"He alone is a Sikh, a friend, a relative and a sibling, who walks in the Way of the Guru's Will. One who walks according to his own will, O Siblings of Destiny, suffers separation from the Lord, and shall be punished. Without the True Guru, peace is never obtained, O Siblings of Destiny; again and again, he regrets and repents. ||1||"
(Ang 601)
Guru Sahib gave Sikhs Hukam (Order). Hukam and Rehit (discipline) put boundaries on our behaviour. We all need discipline in life. Some may say why we do you stop people from smoking, you do not believe they are equal to you? But reality is everyone is equal, but as a Gursikhs, we choose a 'Niraala Panth' (a Distinct Path). The 'Niraala panth' is defined by Rehit and Hukam.
Marriage is two souls merging into one. However even this union which is not based on Kaam (lust), but love, respect and within Gurmat, even that is also temporary. The true Union is between a person and Akaal - this is permanent. When one achieves that union, everything else is put into perspective and is incomparable. Even if a person is naturally homosexual, as one cannot become one, or a person is heterosexual and full of lust (Kaam) or not, and lives as a true disciple of Guru, all of them should search for this 'true union', because without it there is no way to quench their thirst. To obtain this union, one has to forsake all, and live in the discipline of Gurmat Rehit (discipline in accordance to the Guru's Way), and have a longing for the Darshan, Blessed Vision, of Waheguru.
Family living
One of Sikhism underlying values is family living. Sikhs are expected to live in a family environment in order to conceive and nurture their children in order to perpetuate God's creation. Some Sikhs have interpreted this to mean that homosexuality, which cannot result in procreation, is unnatural and against God's will. This argument is viewed by some to not be the strongest as a minority of heterosexual couples are not able to produce children. Other Sikhs point out that as a homogenous group, heterosexual couples normally can produce children with just under 10% http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/EB-e/prb0032-e.pdf reporting problems. And as a homogenous group homosexual couples have a 100% infertility rate. These Sikhs also point out that the basis of which the minority of heterosexual couples cannot produce young is not their sexual orientation. Where as in homosexuals, the entire basis for their infertility as a couple is their sexual orientation, So engaging in a heterosexual coupling would not be a factor in infertility but, engaging in a homosexual coupling, would be a factor in infertility. Thus these Sikhs reason that as being in a homosexual couple is a factor in infertility, a homosexual couple is not part of the family environment.On the contrary, it is also important to note in Sikhism that any type of emotional attachment to family plays a factor in attachment to Maya.
"In egotism and Maya, they are eating toxic poison. They are emotionally attached to their children, family and home. The blind, self-willed manmukhs come and go in reincarnation. " - Ang 161 Line 12 Raag Gauri Guaarayree: Guru Amar Das.
"This emotional attachment to Maya and family, and the love of duality, is a noose around the neck. " - Ang 166 Line 12 Raag Gauri Guaarayree: Guru Ram Das.
"Emotional attachment to family does not exist, when the True Lord abides within the heart." - Ang 232 Line 12 Raag Gauri: Guru Amar Das.
"Beholding your family, you are lured away by emotional attachment, but when you leave, they will not go with you." - Ang 64 Line 19 Sri Raag; Guru Amar Das.
It is an underlying fact that Sikh's should strongly focus on their relationship with God. "When you are confronted with terrible hardships, and no one offers you any support, when your friends turn into enemies, and even your relatives have deserted you, and when all support has given way, and all hope has been lost, if you then come to remember the Supreme Lord God, even the hot wind shall not touch you. " - Ang 70 Line 6 Sri Raag: Guru Arjan Dev.
Many Sikhs who have homosexual desires will try to overcome what they believe to be lust by marrying a member of the opposite sex and having children. This has led to a belief among some Sikhs that there are no homosexual Sikhs. This belief can, in turn, cause distress to those Sikhs who do find themselves attracted to members of the same sex. Though with more and more openness in thinking and change of attitudes of parents and peers, some Sikhs have come out in front of their friends and family.
Like progressives from other faiths and backgrounds, The sikhs who do not condemn homosexuality believe that it is not unnatural, but is normal for a minority of adults. These Sikhs stress that homosexuality is not discussed nor specifically banned in any of the writings of the Guru, and that the family lifestyle the Guru encourages can be cultivated by two members of the same sex. In fact, the Guru's silence on homosexuality has led to a history of ambivalence on the topic.
It also important for all Sikhs, whether or not they are a part of the LGTB community or not, to realize that Sikhism highly emphasizes universal equality, acceptance and most importantly love.
"He is within - see Him outside as well; there is no one, other than Him. As Gurmukh, look upon all with the single eye of equality; in each and every heart, the Divine Light is contained." - Ang 599 Line 1&2 Raag Sorath; Guru Nanak Dev Ji.