He who created Maya also attached in us the craving for it.
Guru Arjun (Guru Granth Sahib, p.179)

The style of the Sikh is characterized as much by what he or she does not do as by what he or she does. As he journeys through life he seeks grace to avoid the sticky web of maya. Brilliant minds have been harnessed to weave this web and the most beautiful people have been recruited to spread the word. Some webs are woven to extract money off of other's insecurities. Enormous markets are created by such web-weavers for tobacco, alcohol, cosmetics, etc. There is little regard for the physical well-being of those trapped. Spiritual web-weavers provide rituals which promise to purge all sins and create an inner bliss. Often these rituals are at best a waste of time, at their worst they can rob one of one's own mind. Social web-weavers create social customs and taboos...many to control and exploit others. Before examining the Sikh style, let us take a look at some of the webs the great style masters of the world have woven. These webs titillate our body, mind and spirit, but for the Sikh, they represent a misguided existence.

In many African countries young girls suffer the humiliating and disgusting ceremony of circumcision. In countries around the world newborn boys are routinely circumcised. As the child leaves the warmth and comfort of the mother¹s womb, he is greeted with this terrible, painful cut. The style masters who encourage parents to volunteer their children for these rituals are not any slick Paris or New York advertisement agents...they are religious or tribal leaders. These branding rituals give them tremendous control over their flock.

A group which has consistently been manipulated by male style masters is the women of this world. From the burkas of Afghanistan to the breast implants of the Western countries; from the foot binding of China to the Sati of India; from the anti-birth control policies of powerful religions to female infanticide practiced by so many cultures, styles have been developed for women to keep them from controlling their destiny. In many countries the cultural norms are set by the dominant males. Often the women have little say in the matter. In Western countries the web is woven in such a manner that the woman follows the pre-chosen path all the while thinking that she is making the decision herself. What else can explain the fact that over one million otherwise healthy women in the United States alone have had breast implant surgery for no reason other than that the culture has generated an atmosphere where such a practice thrives?

Physical deprivations and suffering bring no approval.
Neither does changing robes or application of dust to the limbs.
When the link to Nam is snapped, only grief results.
Guru Nanak (GGS, p. 226)

Tobacco products make up a trillion-plus dollar market. Thousands of people make a great living farming and selling this legal drug. Millions other pay for this by getting lung cancer. In the 1940s the tobacco industry recruited Olympic athletes to spread the word on the joy of smoking. The claims were simple...smoking enhances your physical abilities! Later, as it became clear that the effect of smoking was in fact exactly opposite, the industry recruited beautiful men and women. The new theme is...if you smoke you are a non-traditionalist; someone who walks an independent path! While the multi-millionaire industrial leaders laugh all the way to the bank, young children around the world light up their cigarettes imagining themselves looking like the rugged cowboy or the adventurous gorgeous lady.

A group which has consistently been manipulated by male style masters is the women of this world. From the burkas of Afghanistan to the breast implants of the Western countries; from the foot binding of China to the Sati of India; from the anti-birth control policies of powerful religions to female infanticide practiced by so many cultures, styles have been developed for women to keep them from controlling their destiny. In many countries the cultural norms are set by the dominant males. Often the women have little say in the matter. In Western countries the web is woven in such a manner that the woman follows the pre-chosen path all the while thinking that she is making the decision herself. What else can explain the fact that over one million otherwise healthy women in the United States alone have had breast implant surgery for no reason other than that the culture has generated an atmosphere where such a practice thrives?

The disciples keep the beat, the Guru dances. He taps his feet, rolls his head.
Dirt is kicked into his hair. The audience watches, enjoys and returns home.
For a few crumbs of bread is this elaborate dance. He dashes himself in the ground.
Guru Nanak (GGS, p. 465)

Oil drops in their eyes create a flood of tears to show how they feel other's pain!
A rich disciple is served delicious food.
A poor one begs, but cannot see their faces.
Such beasts loot the masses; little is their connection to God.
Guru Gobind Singh (Dasam Granth, p. 715)