1) Panthic Agenda above group agendas. It is completely okay to be affiliated with a particular group or Jathebandi. In fact, when I hear Gursikhs complimenting other Gursikhs on their "Panthic Soch" it is usually because they both belong to a group and yet somehow transcend that group. Belonging to a group should not interfere with being aware of what is best for the Panth-at-large. This means sometimes being willing to hide credit for your group's accomplishments and crediting those accomplishments instead to the Panth-at-large. This means knowing when the Panth needs your group to come together with others instead of always insisting on being separate. A particular group atmosphere might be completely serene and a gathering of Gursikhs from different backgrounds might be somewhat chaotic but there's something special about the latter as well. Sometimes it's necessary to put your group to the side and come together for the greater good of Panthic Chardi Kala. This also means ensuring the unity within particular groups as well. If we cannot ensure the unity of Jathebandis how can we possibly work towards the unity of the Panth?
2) No superiority complex with regards to other Gursikhs. You might believe that your Jathebandi or interpretation of Sikhi has really figured something out that has escaped the majority of other Sikhs but be a little humble with that belief. We do not have avasthaa or spirituality meters. The simple grandmother at the Gurdwara who has no group affiliations who is doing bhaandiyaa dee sevaa with love for the sangat might have more blessings from Guru Sahib than the most well-connected people in your group. The fact is that Gursikhs with no group affiliations or other group affiliations might have figured out some things that we haven't. Sikhi is an ocean and we shouldn't assert our superiority over others when we should be focusing on our own practice first. Finally it is important to sometimes overlook the faults of others to preserve unity. I recall a Saakhi of a Sikh of Guru Nanak Dev Ji who had a house guest who posed as a Sikh but actually stole the Sikh's possessions and tried to escape. The Sikh realized that the house guest was a fraud but did not even tell his own wife so no one would think badly of the individual who posed as a Sikh even though he wasn't actually a real Sikh. Point being, we should be forgiving of others and do our best to overlook the faults of other Sikhs.
3) No desire to enforce one's beliefs or group agenda on others. Sometimes, particular Gursikhs are eager to enforce their beliefs on the sangat. Enforcing one's beliefs/maryada is fine in a group setting but is not the best idea in a more Panthic setting (such as a large Gurdwara where the entire sangat is attending). I remember once, there was a saanjhaa (collective) program organized and a youth with the AKJ insisted that all keertanees at the program should wear keski or otherwise he wouldn't want to attend. This was clearly against the spirit of the collective program because it was a desire to enforce the AKJ group ideology on others. Similarly, other youth may have a desire to enforce their interpretations of Bani length on others which is also not the best approach.
4) Relations with Gursikhs from different backgrounds. It's disheartening to me when someone from a particular group has friends only from that group. I would say to make the effort to have friends from Jathebandis that are not your own. This also helps you avoid "othering" Gursikhs from those beliefs or backgrounds. There are other benefits too. It creates links that can foster communication and open dialogue between those groups. It can help teach you about different elements of Sikhi that you might not have been exposed to earlier.
5) Committing yourself to the Sangat. In general, most Sikhs like to live as lone rangers. Sangat is a sporadic part of their lives at best. It is not a routine. It should be a routine. Everyone should be connected to a Sangat. There should be routine parts of the week where you go into sangat and participate in that sangat and sacrifice yourself, your sleep, your carefree life, for the benefit of building a sangat that is special. This can be a keertan program or a weekly youth darbar or some other form of Sangat. Every Sikh needs to build a love for Sangat within themselves and unless you have that love for Sangat within you, it would be hard to have Panthic Soch.
6) Believing in Freedom. You can't be Panthic if you don't believe in freedom. Freedom for the Panth from Indian politicians. Freedom for all humans from slavery and injustice. Someone with Panthic Soch is someone who has a strong aversion to injustice and someone who is part of the struggle to defeat it.
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