sikh spirit june/july 1999

What is the Sikh attitude to mercy-killing? Today there is a lot of pressure on politicians to legalize mercy-killing. In certain countries, mercy killing of patients suffering from incurable diseases or terminal illness has been regulated by law. It is left either to the discretion of the physician or the patient. Several groups including some doctors groups support the right of the individual to die with dignity and their literature contains some instructions for those who desire a painless suicide. The tendency towards the death-wish is fostered by present-day tensions and the conflicts of our competitive society. Mental illness is on the increase, and some people, in a fit of depression, may welcome death as a relief from the torture of living. What is the Sikh view on this important subject of Euthanasia or mercy-killing? Is it right to end a life on account of the pain and agony faced by the patient? Is the physician under a duty to end life, when the terminally ill patient asks for relief in death? The Gurus regarded suffering as a result of man's Karma. Man must have the moral courage to bear his suffering without lament. He should pray for the grace of God to enable him to put up with pain in a spirit of resignation and surrender. There is no place for mercy-killing in Sikhism. The Gurus tackled the problem of sickness and suffering by providing medical relief and alleviation of pain. Guru Arjan built a leprosarium at Tarn-Taran. Guru Har Rai established a hospital at Kiratpur. It is reported that he supplied a rare herb to emperor Jahangir for the serious illness of his son. After all suffering is a part of the human condition and has a place in God's scheme. Suffering also prompts man to turn his thoughts to God; "Suffering is a medicine; happiness is a disease." The Gurus rejected suicide, as it is an interference in God's plan. Many Sikhs faced torture and ultimate death at the hands of tyrant rulers and fanatic leaders, though they could have found relief through suicide. Birth and death are the prerogatives of God and under His command, and it is no business of man to oppose the Divine Will. Mercy-killings and suicide is opposed to God's will. It is the duty of the State and society to alleviate the suffering of citizens by medicine, surgery or psychological treatment. Even the expert physician has no right as such to end life. If he cannot cure or heal, he should not destroy life. Late Dr Gobind Singh Mansukhani
	issue 46 august 1999 ISSN 1466-2078 Published by Sikh Spirit a project of Akaal Purkh Ki Fauj P O Box 3 Brentford Middx TW8 9XP Tel: 0705 064 8307 Fax: 0870 056 7683 Email: editor@sikhspirit.com Web: www.sikhspirit.com

C O N T E N T S Shabad It's an Ants life or is it? The Challenge of the Fauj Poets Corner Home Page

In this Shabad, Bhagat Kabeer speaks of Hinduism and Islam, but the lines could equally be referring to any tradition. The other faiths are not criticised, but Kabeer Ji says that God is One, who is the same God for all people no matter what they believe or practice.

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It’s an ant’s life or is it?

One morning I 'wasted' nearly an hour watching a tiny ant carry a huge feather across my back terrace. Several times it was confronted by obstacles in its path and after a momentary pause it would make the necessary detour.

At one point the ant had to negotiate a crack in the concrete about 10mm wide. After brief contemplation the ant laid the feather over the crack, walked across it and picked up the feather on the other side then continued on its way.

I was fascinated by the ingenuity of this ant, one of God's smallest creatures. It served to reinforce the miracle of creation. Here was a minute insect, lacking in size yet equipped with a brain to reason, explore, discover and overcome. But this ant, like the two-legged co-residents of this planet, also shares human failings. After some time the ant finally reached its destination - a flower bed at the end of the terrace and a small hole that was the entrance to its underground home. And it was here that the ant finally met its match.

How could that large feather possibly fit down that small hole? Of course it couldn't. So the ant, after all this trouble just abandoned the feather and went home. The ant had not thought the problem through before it began its epic journey and in the end the feather was nothing more
than a burden.

Isn't life like that! We worry about our family, we worry about money or the lack of it, we worry about work, about where we live, about all sorts of things. These are all burdens - the things we pick up along life's path and lug them around the obstacles and over the crevasses that life will bring, only to find that at the destination they are useless and we can't take them with us.


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The Challenge of the Fauj On 10 July the three Sikh Scout groups run in partnership between the Akaal Purkh Ki Fauj and the Scout Association gathered together at Chalfont Heights Scout Camp for the Vaisakhi Challenge Day. The day was a celebration of Vaisakhi, doing activities, playing challenging games and learning new crafts. The day started at 9am with the scouts ranging from age 6 to 20 plus many leaders gathering smartly dressed in their uniforms ready for a day of fun, challenge and variety. After speeches from Acting National Commander Avtar Singh, Ranvir Singh, International Office and Group Scout Leaders Daljit Singh from Southall, Randip Singh from Reading, and Bhupinder Singh from Greenford, the activities began. The Scouts from all three groups were split into separate patrols ready to tackle a raft of challenging physical and intellectual activities, but with FUN as the key word. Each patrol was awarded points for their performance on the bases which ranged from constructing a stretcher and erecting tents to turban tying and football skills. After lunch which was kindly provided by the Daljit Singh and Bhalvinder Kaur Chana and family the next set of fun activities began, this time without the point scoring. The highlight being the tug-of-war in each scout section. At the end of the day all the scouts got back into their uniforms for the prize giving ceremony. In each section each member of the highest scoring patrols won a gold, silver or bronze medal. Each scout was also awarded a special medal and certificate of attendance, to remind them of the special Vaisakhi celebration. After the Leaders presented the awards to all the scouts a special award was given to Simran Kaur (age 8) for wining the badge design competition. The special Vaisakhi Sikh Scouts badge has been made up and was given to all the scouts to wear proudly on their uniforms. Finally the day ended when a plaque was planted marking the tree which was adopted by the Fauj telling all visitors to the camp site about Vaisakhi. A time capsule containing many items given by the scouts was also buried to be unearthed 50 years from now. For more information about Sikh Scout Groups please contact: Bhupinder Singh, Greenford group Tel: 0181 248 9588 Daljit Singh, Southall Group Tel: 0181 571 3740 Randip Singh, Reading Group Tel: 0118 926 5419
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During the Vaisakhi celebrations a poetry competition was held in Glasgow, Scotland. The prize winners were invited to a grand Kavi Darbar to recite their poetry. Here we present some of the poems that won prizes from different age groups.
Vaisakhi Tricentenery
It all began in 1699 Which was a really happy time The Guru’s father had been killed But his heart had been fulfilled He gathered all the Sikhs to a tent He asked for peoples heads but nobody knew what he meant Then finally one brave Sikh came to say I’ll give up my life because I’ve worshipped you ‘til this day The Sikh entered the tent feeling very proud As he went in there was a sigh from the crowd He came out and pretended the man was dead And they thought the blood was from the man’s head He did the same thing four more times And he knew what was going through peoples minds Each time he came out people ran away But he said to them ‘Please stay’ I’ve got something to show you, don’t be afraid You will be proud of the thing I have made So everyone gathered together once again He opened the curtain and there were five men dressed the same These are my beloved ones Now they are my five sons By dressing like them we can show That we are Sikh so let everyone know Most of them took Amrit and were baptised After doing this they would pray at night and sunrise They would wear all five the K’s And show their Sikh Khalsa faith Kanga, Kes, Kara, Kachera and Kirpan Should be worn by every woman and man Kaur and Singh would be their middle name They would respect each religion exactly the same After three hundred years we are still proud Of our Sikh religion in this European crowd If it wasn’t for Guru Gobind Singh we wouldn’t stand out And that’s what Vaisakhi is all about Geeta Kaur Devgun age 12 1^st prize winner Community groups K’s Kirpan is the sword In the middle it is curved Sikhs only get it When its well deserved Kacha is the shorts worn by females And other members of the family That are males Under the turban The Khanga keeps the hair in place Can’t move or get tangled It just doesn’t have the space Kesh is hair Grown very long It’s not allowed to be cut It has to be strong Kara is the bangle Made of strong steel Representing the oneness of God Something we know is real Khalsa is the celebration 300 years ago it was formed Panj pyarey willing to give up their lives For the religion they loved Amna Ali age 11 1st prize winner Primary schools
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What is the Sikh attitude to mercy-killing?