<div>SARBAT KHALSA & GURMATA
I.J. Singh
In a few days, July 21st to be exact, the Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI.org) holds a daylong
community retreat on what for Sikhs is the age old and revered but neglected idea of Sarbat
Khalsa.
In the popular Sikh mind the concepts of Gurmata and Sarbat Khalsa are inseparably
intertwined, and with good reason. Together, they provide Sikhs with an enlightened instrument
of management that depends on participatory self-governance, accountability and transparency in
decision making.
One could argue persuasively that, now, perhaps it has fallen on times that have earned it a bad
repute but today I leave that detail to readers.
Sarbat Khalsa is convening of the Sarbat (Entire) Khalsa (Amridhari Sikhs). My two-word
parenthetical definition of Khalsa as Amritdhari Sikhs is the commonly understood meaning
of Khalsa. Keep in mind that not every Sikh is a Khalsa but every Khalsa is a Sikh. The word
mataa is counsel or a resolution by a group on an actionable matter; the prefix gur indicates that
the assembly resolving an issue is of Sikhs that are acting with awareness of and in the name of
the Guru.
What makes the recommendation binding on all Sikhs and not easily open to caveats -- with
no opportunity to nitpick
More...
I.J. Singh
In a few days, July 21st to be exact, the Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI.org) holds a daylong
community retreat on what for Sikhs is the age old and revered but neglected idea of Sarbat
Khalsa.
In the popular Sikh mind the concepts of Gurmata and Sarbat Khalsa are inseparably
intertwined, and with good reason. Together, they provide Sikhs with an enlightened instrument
of management that depends on participatory self-governance, accountability and transparency in
decision making.
One could argue persuasively that, now, perhaps it has fallen on times that have earned it a bad
repute but today I leave that detail to readers.
Sarbat Khalsa is convening of the Sarbat (Entire) Khalsa (Amridhari Sikhs). My two-word
parenthetical definition of Khalsa as Amritdhari Sikhs is the commonly understood meaning
of Khalsa. Keep in mind that not every Sikh is a Khalsa but every Khalsa is a Sikh. The word
mataa is counsel or a resolution by a group on an actionable matter; the prefix gur indicates that
the assembly resolving an issue is of Sikhs that are acting with awareness of and in the name of
the Guru.
What makes the recommendation binding on all Sikhs and not easily open to caveats -- with
no opportunity to nitpick
More...