Introduction (Who is this for?)
ੴ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਿਹ
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Beloved Khalsa Ji! You might be surprised at this title and think - without a doubt: ‘Of course, the Khalsa are distinct from the Hindus. Why was it important to write that we are not Muslim, Christian and Buddhist either?’ The answer to this doubt is in the form of a humble request: Those who have complete faith in Guru Sahib, live their lives based on Gurbani, and know the rules of the Khalsa Dharam - I have not written this book for them. This granth has been written to teach those brothers [and sisters] whom the following historical examples are not reaching:(In brief:)
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‘One time, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji had placed a lion’s skin over a donkey and let it roam free in the jungle. All the humans and the animals thought it was a lion and became so scared that they didn’t come close to it. The donkey felt free from having to carry people’s things and became quite fat from eating freely in people’s fields - worry-free. The donkey spent its days around Anandpur Sahib in bliss but one day, the donkey heard the braying sound of its fellow donkeys then ran to the potter’s house. He went and stood by the farm animals’ feeding trough. The potter recognized his donkey and took off the lion’s skin then started to load him with weight to carry and hit him with a stick.
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This example was given by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj to their Beloved Sikhs in order to teach: ‘Oh My Wonderful Children! I have not just made you a lion just in appearance like this donkey. Instead, I have made You my Children who are filled with all of the great qualities and liberated you from the traps of caste and class based segregation. I have placed You in the Lap of Mata Sahib [Devan Ji]. If you forget my teachings then forsake the Khalsa’s Holy ways and return to the caste/classes which I took you out from then you will become like this donkey and your duty to your faith & bravery will all go to waste’ (Paraphrased from GurPrathaap Sooraj Prakash, Ruth 3, Ansoo 22)
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There are many of our (Sikh) brothers who have turned their backs to this teaching. They happened to call themselves a ‘Singh’ but still refer to themselves as belonging to the Hindu Dharam. They see the following practices to be harmful: living according to Gurbani, seeing Sikh Dharam as Supreme, and knowing & claiming the Hindu Dharam as different. The reason for this is because they haven’t thought about their own religious texts nor read Sikh history. They have only discussed other faiths’ texts and listened to the teachings of people who have only misled them their entire lives. It is sorrowful that these brothers [and sisters] have forgotten all about the Great Actions of our Supreme Worshipworthy Father Vaheguru (the one who raises the ones who were treated as lowly, made the poor into kings, made jackals into lions and birds into hawks). Instead, they follow the ones who are against Gurmat, stuck in hypocritical traps. So, they waste away their human life to become forsakers of the Khalsa ways.
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This book specifically refers to the Khalsa being distinct from the Hindu Dharam as most people already see themselves as separate from other traditions but due to ignorance, the Khalsa is treated as a sect of the Hindu Dharam.
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I say with conviction that my lost brothers [and sisters] will read this book then walk on the path of their own Dharam and will want to become part of the Khalsa as the true children of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji Maharaj. They will be able to say with firm belief:
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We are not Hindu
May 14th 1897 CE (1 Jaett)
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In this version of the book, the introduction is followed up with Hukamnama's and letters of approval from the Sikh Takhts and major Sikh asthaans/institutions. The first is from Takht Sri Hazoor Sahib (Abchal Nagar) Nanded (dated Mithee Chaeth Sudhee 7, Sammat 1955). The second is from Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib (dated Vaisakh 6... 19 April 1898). The third is from Guru Ki Kanshi, Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo (dated 25th Baisakh... May 8th 1898). The fourth from Sri Muktsar Sahib (dated 27th Baisakh, 1898). The fifth from Chief Secretary of the Khalsa Divaan (Lahore; dated 8th May, 1899)
