The word “Khalsa” has been hugely misunderstood by most Sikhs. Please try to understand its real meaning. It is the extremely high spiritual state (Atmik Awastha) of a person that makes him or her a Khalsa:
In whose heart shines the full Divinely Radiant Light is a true a pure Khalsa.
That Khalsa meditates on the Ever-radiant Light day and night,
and rejects all else but the one Lord from the mind.
That Khalsa is decorated with perfect love and faith,
and believes not in fasts, tombs, crematoriums and hermit cells, even by mistake.
That Khalsa KNOWS none other than the one Lord Himself
(and doesn’t need to find God in) the performance of acts of pilgrimage,
charities, compassion, austerities and self-control.
Guru Gobind Singh in Dasam Paathshaah on Page 1
The Khalsa is the one who
- has achieved complete enlightenment,
- has lighted in themselves a complete silence – Param Jyot
- has seen their own radiant soul (Puran Parkash) as a golden body
- has become a completely truthful person – Sachyara
- is serving the truth, sees only truth and nothing else, speaks the truth, and lives an absolutely truthful life, has made every single part of their body saturated in “Sat Naam”
- is always drinking the Naam Amrit,
- is in Puran Hukam,
- is a Maha Parupkari,
- is a Param Padvi, and
- a Puran Brahmgiani.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself was a Khalsa. That is why he was able to create more like himself , like one candle lights another:
Gur Sangat Kini Khalsa Manmukhi Duhela
Waho Waho Gobind Singh Aape Gur Chela
From the Guru’s Sangat Khalsa was created
Wondrous Wondrous Gobind Singh
Himself the Guru and the Disciple.
Bhai Gurdas the second.
This is what Khalsa is that is why the tenth Guru has said:
Khalsa is my special form
I reside within the Khalsa.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji further blessed the Khalsa with unlimited power and called the person who was a Khalsa a Satguru… khalsa mero satguru poora.
After giving so much to Khalsa, Guru Gobind Singh Ji defined some divine rules to help the Khalsa keep himself in check:
Rehat Pyari Mujh Ko Sikh Pyara Nahi
Rehni Rahe Soi Sikh Mera, O Thakur Me Uska Chera
Rehat Bina Nahi Sikh Akhawe Rehat Bina Dar Chotan Khawe
Rehat Bina Sukh Kabhoon Naa Lahe, Taan Te Rehat Su Drid Kar Rahe
The Khalsa was created by Guru Gobind Singh under God’s divine will (The Hukum of Shri Akal Purakh). If the Khalsa didn’t follow these divine laws and keep Himself in check (as pre the rules – Rehat) then he would lose all of his spiritual Powers:
So what was and still are the rules (Rehat) for the Khalsa:
Atam Ras Jeh Janye So Hi Khals Dev Prabh Meh Moh Meh Taas Meh Ranchak Nahin Bhed
A Khalsa is the one who enjoys the Atam Ras – spiritual bliss – and who has been elevated to such a level that there is no difference between him, the SatGuru and Akal Purakh. A Khalsa is a King of all creation (14 Lok Parlok). He rules over the entire universe
The God-conscious being is the Creator of all the world.
SGGS 273
The Khalsa is a Living God on Earth. He brings both ends together, one end is that of God’s court (Dargah) and the other one is on this Earth – the congregation –
He Himself is the Master of both worlds.
SGGS 277
However rather than get big-headed with his spiritual power, the Khalsa remains a slave of God’s slaves –a Dassan Das (Slave Of God’s Slaves)s. That is what really means when we read “Raj Kare Gaa Khalsa” – The Khalsa will rule. It means that the Truth will prevail and only Truth will rule over the universe.
Khalsa sees all equally becaue the Khalsa sees God in all. He is above all caste prejudices and worldy ties
The only religion for him is Akal Purakh, Naam and Seva of Sangat. The Tenth Guru’s beloved five (Panj Pyare) were completely enlightened beings (Puran Brahmgianis). A Khalsa has always and will always rule over the entire universe, because what ever he will say that will happen –
Nanak: Whatever the Lord’s slave utters with his mouth,
proves to be true, here and hereafter.
SGGS 681
Whatever the Khalsa says God will honor it, that is how much God loves His Khalsa. A Puran Brahmgiani is the only one who is a Khalsa, otherwise all other are (Nakhalas) – not a khalsa
Guru Gobind Singh Ji never fought for a piece of land. He fought for Truth. He picked up his weapons to protect the people from the criminal acts of the cruel rulers of the time. He sacrificed everything he had his Father – Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Ji and his sons to end the crime, to serve the Truth, to serve the Sangat, to serve The Naam – The Hukum.
Look at Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s unlimited contribution to uplift the society. He has squeezed the complete divine wisdom (Puran Gyan) in these few verses, and anybody who follows this will become a Khalsa.
Please take Guru Gobind Singh Ji as your role model and try to become a Khalsa. If you sincerely commit yourself to become a Khalsa, you will definitely become one like Him.
Similarly the words – Gursikh, Gurmukh, and Jan also signify very high spiritual levels and have very deep meanings. So when we address ourselves and others with these words we should make sure we deserve to be called by these words or not. We should show utmost respect for these words, because these definitions are coming from Gurbani.
Please forgive this moorakh (fool) for any misrepresentations made in these words.
Very humbly, dusting your feet with self’s beard;
Dassan Das (Slave Of God’s Slaves)