As described by Bhai Gurdas Ji, I concur with the author on his conclusion ('The Guru Loves Us Despite Our Faults', Jan.25) that, as humans, we are bound to make mistakes and a kesdhari Sikh is no more pious or at a higher spiritual level than those who have not adopted the saroop of Sikhi.

However, while reading the article, I felt that the author was trying to justify his not having kes but yet being a good Sikh. I don't say it with any feeling of malice towards the writer but to remind us that Bani explicitly states that only the one true Guru can judge as to who is worthy and who is not. Therefore, we should never have this perception of ourselves that I have done good in my life so I am just as pure or better than others (or I have passed many tests) because once you think like this all the good deeds done have no worth as it is a sign of Maya.

Who is a true Sikh and who is not is a very delicate issue and is not up to moorakhs like us. Being an Amritdhari Sikh myself, I don't consider that I have met even a small portion of the virtues and characteristics of a Sikh as described by Bhai Gurdas Ji, forget about being a Gursikh.

I sincerely recommend to the author the writings of Bhai Gurdas Ji describing what is a Sikh. Through his writings you will realize that saroop is a requirement for the body to become a vessel before receiving the ambrosial nectar of naam. Therefore, one does not have a true form without the saroop and naam and these two have to be there because one cannot work without the other.

On the other hand, Bhai Gurdas Ji says also that to sustain a combination of these two is like walking on the edge of a very fine and sharp sword and thus there are only a few virlay in this world who are true Sikhs. We are merely trying to take or initiate the first steps on a long journey of Sikhi.

I personally think that the saroop, for most people including myself, has become a mere symbol and that's why we feel so far away from the creator (spiritually) while he resides in everyone of us.

Darshpreet Singh (Bhatti)