Word: sikhism
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...pursue goals he though would bring him happiness; he found a good job and compassionate lover. But he felt incomplete in both. He joined the Peace Corps and lived in western Africa for two years but remained dissatisfied. However, in 1972, he started meditating and was attracted to Sikhism. Today he says, "Nothing in my life I would change. I wouldn't live any other way." A graduate of Harvard Business School, he realizes the advantages of his novel dress, saying his business colleagues "never forget the guy with the turban...
...those who do devote themselves entirely to Sikhism must direct both their lifestyles and "consciousness" to the faith. In addition to mediating regularly, Sikhs abstain from tobacco, alcohol, meat, and sex out of marriage. Each wears a kesh, a turban around unshorn hair, as a "crown of spirituality;" a kathera, or special cotton underwear, to "remind" him of his chastity; and a kara, or bangle, to signify commitment to truth and freedom from life's "entanglements." Each Sikh also cariesa kauga, or comb, to symbolize cleanliness, and a small sword called a kirpan to defend neighbors and the family...
...despite his devotion to Sikhism, Mahan Singh says one may "merge the finite self with the infinite self through many methods. It's just important that you follow the way to the end, take the teaching and follow it to the ultimate...
...adherents are flushed with the rosy beauty of new faith. "We got involved in Sikhism so we could re-establish a direction in our lives based on real principles," a young Jewish woman at a Los Angeles ashram told TIME Correspondent James Wilde...
Bhajan has his critics-and they are severe. Many traditional Sikhs insist that yoga has no place in their religion. Sikh Historian Trilochan Singh says Bhajan's synthesis of Sikhism and Tantrism is "a sacrilegious hodgepodge." Far more important, High Priest Jaswant Singh, a leader of the Sikhs in eastern India and comparable in status to Bhajan Backer Tohra, last week denounced Bhajan's claims. He and his council professed to be "shocked" at Bhajan's "fantastic theories." Yoga, Tantrism and the "sexual practices" taught by Bhajan, the council declared, are "forbidden and immoral...