Baptism brought Balraj Singh Grewal back from the brink.
After being in a depressive state, Grewal held on to his faith and embraced baptism into the Sikh religion, which brought his life back.
“I am a changed man, my ethics and responsibilities are different,” said Balraj. “From an aggressive, impatient person to a calmer and more composed one.”
Balraj used to drink excessively as an alcoholic, which had a negative impact on his family and his life.
Due to his drinking habits, he was unable to establish a bond with his children and used to feel awful about it.
Balraj decided to make a change and began visiting gurdwaras, a place of workship for the Sikh community, with his kids. He eventually started participating in charity work there, and that made him feel blessed.
“My children had a great influence on me, as they used to go to Sikh Gurmat Camp, and shared their experiences that they had over there,” said Balraj.
“These camps showed a viewpoint on how getting baptized can change your life for the better,” said Balraj’s son Jagveer Singh Grewal.
Jagveer and his brother aspired to live a religious and meaningful life. This led them to go through the Amrit ceremony of baptism, and they encouraged their family to do so too.
The Amrit ceremony of baptism is a sacred ceremony in Sikhism that allows everyone to become members of Khalsa which means “alliance of the pure.”
The five main parts of Amrit are worship one God; read the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh’s religious scripture; serve others; refrain from worshipping any created object or living things; and join the Sikh congregation.
After the ceremony, Balraj’s lifestyle and behaviour drastically changed. His life improved more than he could have ever imagined. He thinks the life he once had was a deception, and religion offers a colourful alternative that teaches people how to live simply.
Balraj wants to promote Sikh ideals and teachings that have assisted him in achieving mental peace. Since the whole family has been baptized, Balraj believes it is easier to communicate and exchange thoughts as they all follow the same principles.
“Everyone has [their] own choice, but I would say that people born in Sikh families should follow these principles, as it is a part of their culture,” said Balraj.
It also benefited him financially, as he used to spend a lot of money on liquor which he could save now and use for a better purpose.
“I was jeopardizing my physical health but now I feel like I have made a transition of treating my body,” said Balraj.
Being baptized is not an easy thing, Jagveer recommends anyone who thinks of getting baptized should be fully ready and committed to it.
“After baptism, we have to do prayers in the morning, afternoon, and night. that can help us throughout the day gives us peace of mind teaches us,” said Jagveer.
“I saw a big change in my father because he went from someone who used to drink a lot and eat meat, to becoming this person that, is all about religion and more connected with God, my mother and father both became less stressed, happier.”
