Khalsa is my (Guru Gobind Singh’s) true form,
Within the Khalsa I abide
Khalsa Mehima, Sarbloh Bani
Upon his departure for Sachkhand, Guru Gobind Singh gave the Gurgaddi to two things, the Shabad Guru Granth Sahib (the Gyaan of the Guru), and the Guru Khalsa Panth (the Roop of the Guru). If the Granth is the brain, the Panth is the body. In this way authority was vested into the Khalsa, so long as they maintained Rehit and adopted Gurmat.
The True Guru is said to have 12 forms, just like Hari's Saint is as bright as the 12 suns. [Note: Each month the Suraj is thought to ascend on a different chariot to travel through a different route in the sky].
Any subsequent “leader” was a mere servant of the Khalsa, and not ever meant to be the other way around. This is exemplified with gift given to Banda Singh Bahadur and the subsequent looting of that gift, by the Khalsa. Here is an excerpt from Rattan Singh Bhangoo’s Prachin Panth Prakash:
As stripped Banda Singh complained to the Guru (about the Singh’s act), The Guru went into peels of laughter with immense joy.
The Guru remarked that with Singh’s forcible possession of their legitimate right, His mission of empowering the Khalsa Panth has been fulfilled. (12)
Sri Prachin Panth Prakash, Episode 29
Anyone who takes on a position to lead the Khalsa is doing so as a tool of the Khalsa. No one can give an order to the Khalsa, they can only make a suggestion. It is up to the Khalsa to decide whether to accept or not. This applied even to Guru Gobind Singh! There is the example above of the Khalsa defying the gift given to Banda Singh, but there is also the Hukams the Guru Khalsa gave to Guru Gobind Singh during the Battle of Chamkaur to escape, go rebuild strength and keep the movement alive.
Satguru had conferred sovereignty on the Khalsa Panth, As well as on each individual Singh of that fraternity. Wherever a Singh sets his foot and settles on earth, He establishes his own self-reliant/autonomous sovereignty (Takht).
Sri Prachin Panth Prakash, Epidode 90
This shared status of each individual member of the Khalsa is actually the basis upon which the Misl system arose. It was a way for the Khalsa to reconcile that each one of them had equal status, but also fall into hierarchies to achieve particular goals. Each Khalsa had the freedom to leave a Misl and join another, or start their own, thus maintaining each individual’s freedom of choice... Somewhat.
It wasn’t perfect sure, and Azadism has argued extensively in favour of the Misls but with a few tweaks to get it exactly how Guru Sahib intended (at least in Azadism’s opinion). But one of the primary basis's of this advocacy is to recognise and respect the mandate from the Guru to the Khalsa that each has that status. A Misl system (again, with a few tweaks), is the most compatible method of governance for the Guru Khalsa Panth.
ਵਹੀ ਵਰਤਾਰੋ ਭੁਜੰਗਨ ਵਰਤਾਯੋ । ਆਪਸ ਗੁਰ ਚੇਲਾ ਕਹਿਵਾਯੋ ।
After being initiated by the five initiated ones in the same manner,
He (Guru Gobind Singh) came to be known as Teacher-disciple rolled into one (“Aape Gur-Chela”).
This has been the tradition from the very beginning,
As Guru Nanak had also accepted Guru Angad as his Guru. (21)
Sri Prachin Panth Prakash, Epidode 15
It was not pakhand when Guru Gobind knelt down to receive Khande Di Pahaul from the Guru Khalsa on Vaisakhi. He truly meant what he was showing, that the Khalsa is now equal in status.
Khalsa is just one way of doing Sikhi, but it is a way sanctioned and launched by the human manifestation of the Guru itself. And it is the one way that was given Gurgaddi. By becoming Khalsa, you become the Guru. This is the ultimate apotheosis and a gift given by Guru Gobind Singh to anyone who is willing to put in the effort to follow a Rehit, adopt the mentality and engage in Dharam Yudh.
Guru Sahib is NOT some unobtainable ideal. The whole point of Sikhi is to reach the exact same status! This is not blasphemy, this is the gift the Guru gives!
ਸੋ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਦੂਰਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਤੂੰ ਹੈ ॥
God is not far way, God is YOU!
Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 353
So it is incredibly frustrating watching those who wear the Bana of Singhs then act like complete sheep and shut off their free-thinking ability for others. The Khalsa has been given such a royal status, yet we still act like beggars?
Not only do we already have a leader (the Guru), that leader passed his leadership to the Khalsa. We will follow every other mandate except this one because people are confused and distracted by their attachment to intermediaries and middle men.
I am by no means saying these offshoots, Sant babai, Jathedars etc have no value, many indeed do. But as guidance, not gospel.