The hardest thing to do in life is to face the truth. At the same time, it is the most liberating thing that one can do. As humans we go through life which looks like a random series of events full of our actions and reactions, but within those details there is deeper meanings, lessons and guidance. Guru Nanak started Gurbani with the truth. Holding it to such high regard that it was the essence of what God/Universe or higher power was. He spoke the truth in different ways he put the mirror Infront of society to show how hypocritical it was or how it made no sense.

It was really the simplest yet most powerful way to start the revolution that would eventually be called Sikhism. A revolution that would stand for other faiths even if it didn’t have similar beliefs, a revolution that would feed anyone, a revolution that treated everyone equally, and a revolution that stood by the truth no matter what the cost.

Whether or not today we as Sikhs are standing and holding those ideals as they were preached is debatable but not the point of what I wanted to write.

I want to admire those heroes in our families, and communities, who hold this line. Who no matter what the cost have the courage to stand up for their own truths. Fully knowing they may be marginalized, scrutinized, maybe even chastised.

June is pride month, and though I have always had enormous respect for those who are in the LGBTQ communities that respect has grown immensely in recent months. I have seen firsthand the courage and power it takes for someone to go against every comfortable option to stand in their true and beautiful light.

This is a controversial topic for all religions and ours is no exception. There are polarizing views mostly with Gurbani used as ammunition to debunk or make evil assumptions of perversions.

Whenever I have thought about this topic I only see Guru Nanak, I only see him holding that mirror to society and standing with all of those who have the courage to be who they are, be truthful to their reality. That is the whole point of spirituality, the whole point of any religion, of Gurbani of all the actions we do, it all boils down to being able to have the strength to stand in our truth no matter what it is.

For that I wish all LGBTQ Sikhs and non-Sikhs a very happy Pride month. Everyone can have their views or opinions but the person who can look in the mirror and understand who they are, can go to bed peacefully with their own reality, and who does not live in duality but in their own truth, is in fact truly following the path of Sikhi.

P.S. - I'll not be pulled into a debate on this in the comment section if you disagree, I ask that you respectfully unfriend me, there will be no hard feelings, I promise

#pridemonth #lgbtqia