None of us ever achieve "perfect" Sikh practice in terms of human
achievement. Even if we do everything we are supposed to do most everyday, if our hearts don'tin that process then we haven't succeeded in being a true Sikh yet. Sikhi has lots of challenging rules to live up to, but it is not really about following rules. Rather, Sikhi is about falling in LOVE, more than it is about rigorous and righteous adherence to discipline. Yet, of course, true Sikhs are extremely disciplined. Yet Sikhi blooms, it is a seed that sprouts and grows within us, more than it is about following a Code of Conduct from an external religious source of authority. Sikhi is like a dance and it is not much like a goose-step. It takes GRACE to be a true Sikh. Sikh vows keep Sikhs, because Sikhs have no power to keep Sikh vows. Sikhi is about GOD's glory and the Divine's miraculous ability to change us, not about whether we humans can be impressive and do what others say we are "supposed" to do.

I mention this because soon as you ask Sikh women to stand as Panj Piaré they may tell you they are not worthy! This is s a good indicator that your instincts are right, this IS a good woman to ask to stand as Khalsa!

Now some Sikh women need to be asked to take part in Panj Piaré and some Sikh
women need to be given training in public speaking. And there are Sikh Grandmothers you will want to ask to speak about Sikhi to the World in Punjabi with someone translating.

Look into your life. Who is the most dedicated and devotional Sikh woman you know? Who is the most enthusiastic Khalsa woman, even if she isn't completely disciplined yet?

It is time to get serious with these women and remind them that it is really important for Sikh women to step forward as Khalsa right now. And for the sake of Sikhi, I pray that we can hush Sikh men up and put Sikh women out in front of Western and World media. The World will listen to Sikh women in a way they won't listen to men wearing turbans and swords right now.

Obviously, the likelihood of Sikh women standing as Khalsa in Gurdwaras all over the World this week goes way up if we actually ASK women to participate. And, we need to offer Sikh women protection from any male backlash. If real violence is expected then have the city police and the media ready. "SIKH WOMEN CLAIM EQUALS RIGHTS!" is not such a bad headline to wake up to!

And my Sikh Bros, if asking fails, I highly recommend BEGGING committed Sikh
women to stand as Khalsa this week.

And Sikh Sisters, I too beg you, stand as Khalsa even if the men are not asking you to. Sikhi is on a World stage and half of the World's audience is women. The other half is men, and half, perhaps, of all men really love women and are pro-women andhearted to working side by side with women to stop War on this planet, White Supremacy and to stop environmental destruction.

The other approximately half of the men of the World, and the women who like such men, are committed to Baboon Troop dynamics and male superiority and
domination and into limiting the freedom and scope of women everywhere.

So it would be wonderful were we to win the friendship of this World's women for Sikhi.

Now of course, in Sikhi men and women are equal, and normally both genders should be standing as Khalsa and both facing the media. But given the present World audience, I, as a Theater Director and publicist, am just itching for a big hook with which to drag all Sikh men off the stage. It takes education before people from other cultures will understand the Khalsa turban, beard and sword symbolism. And since the World audience trusts women more than men right now anyway, I think we should let Sikh women educate the World about Sikhi. People will believe us and be impressed when Sikh Sisters assert that Sikhi is not racist, sexist or class-ist and they will believe it when we tell our story.

WOMEN I beg you. For the sake of Sikhi stand as Khalsa NOW. Turn like fierce
tigers on any man who would stop Sikh women from claiming equality with men immediately!

We Sikhs still imagine that we are playing to the audience of other Sikhs.

Pause please, and look out there.

Sikhi is on the WORLD STAGE and there are a bunch of militant looking Sikh men facing the World audience and no Sikh women in sight. What are people suppose to think other than that Sikh men keep our women silent like the Fundamentalist Muslims do?

Please Sisters, get the men offstage before we really embarrass and misrepresent ourselves any further. I beg you. Step forward and share true Sikhi with the World.

Kamalla Rose Kaur is a professional writer, theater director, workshop and seminar leader, publicist, events planner and singer.

USA born of Irish descent, Kamalla Rose Kaur embraced Sikhism in 1972 at age 18. She tried everything for over twenty years, including frantic practice of Yoga, until she learned "why Sikhs are so adament about having the Sri Guru Granth Sahib as their only Guru."

The author welcomes comments and feedback: Love&Light. Her articles are available in archives.