Remember Those Who See the Faults of Others but Overlook Them

by Sat Jivan Singh Khalsa

The words from our Ardas acknowledge the challenge facing us today: “Dekh ke andith kita“, “Remember those who have seen the fault of others, but overlook those faults.” Every time we pray, we acknowledge that human shortcoming of seeing the faults in others. This is normal, human behavior. But through the grace of our Guru we can transcend this human condition and be granted the divine inspiration to look beyond the flaws to see God in every human being. If it were easy, we would not have to pray daily for the strength and ability to do so. It is extremely difficult. How important is this ability? Obviously very important because we remember those who achieve this in the same breath as our remembrance of the Punj Piare, the Four Sons of the Tenth Master and the Forty Liberated One. We must seek that Divine aspect within our human consciousness in order to achieve this.

At a time when the world seems to be taking sides against us we cannot allow ourselves to start picking each other apart. We lose before we even begin if we cannot overcome the human propensity to find fault and allow the Divine Spark within us to see that Divine Spark within others. My humble request is that we avoid the natural human tendency to rush to judgment, find the ability to look beyond these faults for the moment and maintain our unity.

In 1971 I made a decision that changed my life forever. I became a Sikh of the Guru. During my thirty years as a Sikh the hardest thing I have had to deal with has not been the negative reactions of the American people to my turban and flowing beard or the bigotry and discrimination I experience at the hands of the citizenry of my native land. What has been most difficult and painful for me has been how the members of my chosen religious community seem to find ways to create fights within itself, to allow itself to be divided; to let itself be torn apart from within by seeing every difference, then dissecting and magnifying them. One of my early lessons about my new faith and my new religious family was that if we did not have a common enemy to fight we often turned upon ourselves and began to tear ourselves apart. It was so difficult watching the fights, which were usually power struggles over position and control. It still is.

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10 Responses to “Remember Those Who See the Faults of Others but Overlook Them”

1. Anonymous says:

   August 4, 2005 at 9:10 am

   fair point made and i do agree, we should remain united.

   But is it not OK to question?

2. Gurumustuk Singh says:

   August 4, 2005 at 9:30 am

   It is not what you say…it is how you say it.

   I have noticed that many of the times when someone questions something, the person is already pretty set in what they think is right or wrong and are merely trying to prove that they are correct. The intent is not openminded and in a position to learn. This is the problem.

   If we take a more open stance when questioning something and open up to try to learn another perspective (honestly), then we can do so much. Even if you don’t agree with the perspective you can still disagree in a non-judgmental way.

3. Anonymous says:

   August 4, 2005 at 9:36 am

   Gurumustuk Ji,
   Are you going to post any new pictures or videos of what is happening in Espanola gurudwara???

   We really enjoy watching the videos and pictures..

   Please respond..

4. Anonymous says:

   August 4, 2005 at 9:43 am

   Gurumustuk Ji,

   I know this is off topic. I’m probably moving to Eugene in the next few weeks for a new job and I was wondering what you could tell me about the Sikh community there. I understand it’s pretty large.

   Thanks,

   SSingh

5. Manjit Singh says:

   August 4, 2005 at 10:28 am

   Sat Nam,

   Thank you for your thoughts and comments about keeping things in perspective and not losing focus of tasks at hand. I am learning new things everyday.

6. Free time says:

   August 4, 2005 at 12:29 pm

   Does Sikhnet Need Sewadars?

7. Anonymous says:

   August 4, 2005 at 2:07 pm

   Sikhs at times forget that Nanak said “Na Koi Hindu, Naa Musalmaan”. We are all human beings first.
   The spirit should be more scared than the symbols. After all, even WaheGuru is formless.

   The symbols, concerns and politics of Sikhs the world over may not be same, but we are united in spirit.( see the history and frustrations of Catholicism). We need a boader attitude in Sikhi and make amends with larger Sehajdari Sikh community soon .

8. balwinder says:

   August 4, 2005 at 5:26 pm

   Can u define “sehajdhari sikh” please?

9. isingh says:

   August 4, 2005 at 7:23 pm

   thank balwinder i was wondering the same thing but didn’t want to sound stupid. you brave soul you!
   :)

10. Anonymous says:

    August 4, 2005 at 10:50 pm

    Guru pyareon

    Sahejdhari Sikhs are those who follow the path of Guru Nanak but dont wear the dress code of 10th Master(or more precisly dont keep up with their hairs)but follow da ideology of sikhism.