Acronyms?

[Harman]

I dont know how everyone feels, but i guess thats what this forum is all about.. but im not down with using "WJKK WJKF" or other such shortened greetings. I think it trivializes the importance of the words and makes it seem like its being said for the sake of being said.. I know no-one means it that way but I think that my point is a valid one.. maybe we should stop being lazy and just write out the whole thing (i noticed Pally does)...

or, maybe i dunno what im talkin about... lemme know.. thats what these boards are for.

[Pally]

You know Harman, I never did really think about it. And now that I do, I honestly felt that writing out the entire thing has more meaning to myself.

I don't wanna say am against or think its wrong, because who am I to define how to be a Sikh, so don't get me wrong...but when people say "Khalsa, Fateh", is that incorrect as well? I tried saying it and I just didn't feel "right" saying it like that.

I think, as the future of the Sikh Kohm, instead of changing Sikhism to fit our "high tech" lives more, we should preserve its Purity.

I'd love to hear everyone elses opinions. Again, I'm here to learn. My views are that of a lowly individual looking to become a Sikh, so I'm not as knowledgeable as you all are.

[vdhillon]

Ya, I think you may have a point Harman, I think it's just easier to have it as an acronym rather than type it all out and a lot of people do that probably because they're lazy (I know I'm at fault for doing this a few times) but I think the meaning of the words do get lost when we place it as an acronym. I bet a lot of people don't even know what it means, I knew I didn't know what it meant for a long time until a few years ago; the Khalsa belongs to Waheguru, Victory is gifted by Waheguru.

[Gurinder]

I generally try to refrain from using acronyms but sometimes it just is more convenient. But Harman and Pally both make good points and I think we should all do our greetings in full from now on.

[Gopi]

Hey everyone,

I don't think that it is a really big deal whether one types WJKK WJKF or Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh. I think that everyone wants to show respect to Waheguru and The Acronym is more convenient to use when doing posts and what not. Here's my reasoning, when everyone reads WJKK WJKF they do not just read the letters, but they say fateh, in my mind it accomplishes the same thing.

Gurpreet Singh Vinning

[sangram]

I agree with Harman. Using acronyms for religious greetings trivializes there importance and meaning. Although it may be convenient to use them in message boards and many people may, would you walk up to someone and say “WJKK WJKF”?

[Mez]

Harman, you brought up a very good point. I also find it disrespectful when people shorten the term of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to like SGGS, but thats just my personal opinion, I don't think they should be given shortcuts, as I find that disrespectful.

[jas]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
I remember one day Sant Baba Hari Singh Ji did katha on this topic for a whole hour. Basicly he said if you cant say Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh properly, dont say it at all. He said that if your going to abbreviate it in speech, it loses its meaning and it is also disrespectful. I think that this applies to typing it out as well. If you cant take out the time to type it out properly, then dont type it at all. Also if we start abbreviating things, where will it stop.

[Jaspreet]

I agree as our Gurus taught us not to be lazy and to say the whole fateh out so it makes one think about the meaning as well as constrain from being lazy. That is why a Sikh is told to wake up at "amrit wela" (4am) and do Nitnem, not just because it is early in the morning and it is quiet but it was put into place to keep the Sikh active and "combat-ready".