Why Do We Still Go to the Gurdwara/Church?

Sometimes we pause and wonder: Why do I keep coming to the gurdwara every week?
We already know the basics of the Sikh Religion. We know the teachings. So what draws us back?

Sure… we come for reminders. We come to reset, to recharge. But deep down, there is something more happening here.

Let’s think about the pillars of Sikhi: Ik Onkar, Naam Japna, Kirat Karni, Vand Chhakna, Seva

Naam Japna (meditation)—we can easily do at home.
Kirat Karni (Honest earning)—we do out in the world.
Even the sewa we do here, like preparing langar, often ends up benefiting our own community.

So we ask again: What is the real value of being here?

Maybe the answer is simple, yet profound: Saadh Sangat (Saadh= spiritually enlightened, Sangat= group of people).

On our own, we may not be Saadh. We are human—imperfect, learning, growing. But when we come here… when we truly bow our heads… something inside us softens. Something opens. Something shifts.

We feel a pull to become better Sikhs, better humans.

And when people with that intention gather in one place, something powerful happens. We uplift each other, we inspire each other, we bring out the best in one another.

So what does it take to move toward being a Saadh?

It’s not about clothes, not about rituals, not about looking spiritual. It’s about qualities—the kind of qualities that make the world brighter:

• Humility: Not seeking praise or recognition.
• Truthfulness: Being honest and genuine, without manipulation or hidden motives.
• Compassion: Treating everyone with respect, no matter their status.
• Discipline: Keeping control over anger, desires, and emotions.

Every one of us has a piece of this inside.  And when we walk into the gurdwara, we’re not just coming to take a bow.  We’re coming to give—to give our kindness, our respect, our positive presence all around us.

And when each person offers even a little… the sangat transforms. It becomes Saadh Sangat—a place that lifts the heart, calms the mind, and strengthens the spirit. In those moments—no matter how brief—the gurdwara becomes more than a building. It becomes a beacon of light. A home of Chardi Kala. A place where we walk out a little better than we walked in.

That’s why we come. Because together, we don’t just gather—we rise.

But if we ever feel that Saadh Sangat is missing, then we must look gently at ourselves. Are we bringing the right attitude? Or are we slipping into politics, judgments, backbiting, and frustrations? If we come to the gurdwara but bring those behaviors with us… then we are the ones blocking the light we came here to receive.

The gurdwara is sacred. But it becomes truly powerful only when we show up with the qualities that make it shine. So let’s come with open hearts. Let’s come ready to uplift and be uplifted. Let’s come to build the Saadh Sangat we all long for. Because when we do that, the entire community lives in Chardi Kala.

And that is why we still come to the gurdwara.

If we come to the gurdwara but engage in behaviors that pull each other down, then we must reflect deeply:
Are we truly honoring this sacred space?
And are we truly honoring ourselves?