Sikh Gears

I've just been looking through Sikh Gears (www.SikhGears.com) they have soem pretty neat stuff. Like the funky polo shirts from Rainsbai and bomber jacket with khanda embroidered.

Verry cool check it out.

www.SikhGears.com

Southall Youth Keertan Recordings

Recordings from Novembber Southall youth keertan are now up on www.SweetSikhi.com. The next end of month youth keertan falls on this weekend comming on Saturday 30th from 7.30pm in the upper hall. We are currently working on getting a live broadcaste up hopefully with Guroo Sahibs Kirpa.

For more info keep tuned into the blog :-)

TOMTOM One Sat Nav £143.99 delivered

Yes its time for the xmas sales once again. I just purchased a TomTom One Sat Nav for £143.99 from currys website.

The sat nav is actually sale priced at £159.99 but then you can use a discount code to get a futher 10% off. If you want a futher 3% cash back on the £143.99 then use a site called www.quidco.com.

Excellent price ... Go via Quidco for 3% cashback. Sleek light-weight design and ultra-compact size. Use code bppod10 to get this price.

Features : Pre-installed Maps Of GB | Plug and Play Functionality | Touchscreen Operations | Accurate Turn-by-Turn Voice Instructions | Crystal-clear 3D Graphics | Postcode Navigation | Built-in Bluetooth Connection | Built-in Speaker | PC Connection | SiRFStarIII Chipset

Combining portability, touchscreen technology and an elegant design, the TomTom ONE will show you the way wherever you're travelling in Great Britain. It's easy to use thanks to the award-winning plug and drive navigation software, already pre-installed on a memory card. No need to download complicated software, just plug it in and start using it immediately. You can also take advantage of TomTom HOME, the software package that manages content between a PC or MAC and TomTom. Using TomTom HOME, you can easily plan routes, download voices, obtain traffic alerts and install maps to keep the TomTom up to date.

Weekend

This weekend is busy and if your not doing anything then you should be. There will be some excellent stuff on the stall at Coventry Rainsbai tomorrow night so check it out.

Saturday/Sunday

Youth Smagaam Rainsbai & Amrit Sanchar

Saturday 23rd December 2006 7pm to 6am the next morning
Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha,
47 - 49 Cross Road,
COVENTRY
CV6 5GR

An amrit sanchar will also take place tomorrow from 8pm. Give your names to Bhai Taranjeet Singh on 07859 054452.

Transport from Bradford, West Bromwich, Southall, East London, etc. If you want to find out about transport from other places then call Bhai Taranjeet Singh 07859 054452.

Sunday
Bhog (completion) of Sri Akhand Path Sahib - 5.30pm
Guru Nanak Gurdwara
High Street, Smethwick, B66 3AP
Bhog Sri Akhand Paath Sahib followed by Katha/Keertan Darbaar.

LONDON
Youth Gurbani Workshop
Central Gurdwara (Khalsa Jatha)
62 Queensdale Road, Shepherd's Bush, W11 4SG
6pm-7pm

Sold Out!

I been waiting all day after I herd ebuyer.co.uk was going to get stock. An hour before going live they posted that the product was going to be in stock. Apparently he said it was like 20 people to each consoul. It sold out in minutes. Amazon sold out day before in 3 minutes. Ebuyer just crashed lol.

Anyway bring on PS3 haha :)

Nintendo Wii

I dont belive I'm posting this but here it goes. If anyone knows of any where that has the new Nintendo Wii in stock then please let me know asap please. Thanks :)

I am overflowing with sins...

hm Avguix Bry eyku guxu nwhI AMimRqu Cwif ibKY ibKu KweI ]

ham avagun bharae eaek gun naahee a(n)mrith shhaadd bikhai bikh khaaee ||

I am overflowing with sins and demerits; I have no merits or virtues at all. I abandoned the Ambrosial Nectar, and I drank poison instead.

This Shabad is by Bhatt Bal in Svaiyay Mehl 5 on anng 1406

http://www.sikhitothemax.com/page.asp?ShabadID=5451

Dasam Duar

According to Sikhism the Tenth Gate can only be opened by the Guru's
grace and is vital for Self-realization and enlightenment.

The energy channels of the Ida, Pingala and Shushmanaa:
These three dwell in one place.
This is the true place of confluence of the three sacred rivers:
This is where my mind takes its cleansing bath.
O Saints, the Immaculate Lord dwells there;
How rare are those who go to the Guru, and understand this.
The all-pervading immaculate Lord is there.
What is the insignia of the Divine Lord's dwelling?
The unstruck sound current of the Shabad vibrates there.
There is no moon or sun, no air or water there.
The Gurmukh becomes aware, and knows the Teachings.
Spiritual wisdom wells up, and evil-mindedness departs;
The nucleus of the mind sky is drenched with Ambrosial Nectar.
One who knows the secret of this device, meets the Supreme Divine
Guru.
The Tenth Gate is the home of the inaccessible, infinite Supreme
Lord.
Above the store is a niche, and within this niche is the commodity.

Raam Kalee, The Word of Baynee Jee, Adi Granth, p. 974.


Please read deailed explaintion about Dasam Duar in Bhai Sahib Randheer Singh's book "Anhad Shabad Dasam Duar"
Some Excerpts from this book:

There are two types of liberation. The first one liberates from rebirth cycle of transmigration and attained by envisioning The Effulgence of soul being. The second liberation is riddance of the invisible and causative bodies, on envisioning The Full Glory of The Supreme Soul.

Soul being is revealed when mind becomes motionless and breath is stopped, while Supreme Soul revelation is on the opening of the Dasam Duar.

To clarify further, it is brought out that Guru Nanak was not merely a son to Mehta Kalyan Das and an ordinary person. No common person becomes immortal whereas He is described thus in Revealed Gurbani:

The invisible and causative bodies are rid of on envisioning The Supreme Being when The Dasam Duar is opened. The strong Door opens with the key of Gur Shabad, 'Waheguru', Naam. Naam is available with Satguru, Guru Nanak, The Manifested Form of The Supreme Being.

You are The Satguru for all The Four Ages, Yourself as 'Parmesar', The Supreme Being. [1406]

The above quote clearly emphasizes that Guru Nanak is Satguru for all times to come from the very beginning and He is The Manifested Spirit of The Supreme Being, playing the role of Satguru at all different worlds. It is a serious lapse to think of The Supreme Redeemer, Satguru Nanak Dev Ji, as limited to a small Nation of Sikhs instead of belonging to the entire mankind now and forever!

Coming back to Naam Key, bestowed by Satguru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Even though He is not in our midst as a body, He enshrined His Spirit in Gurbani of Sri Guru Granth Sahib before leaving. Now His Spirit in the Presence of , through the medium of Five Beloved Ones, bestows Gur-Shabad, Naam, on the spiritual seekers. This process shall continue forever blessing all the deserving persons of this world.

In confirmation of the truth that before coming to this world, Satguru Nanak Dev Ji was engaged in the work of redeeming persons on other worlds, we have the witness of the son of Pir Gulam Dastgir. He was taken by Guru Nanak Dev Ji for a visit to countless Galaxies and underworlds. Our scientists have still to discover a planet that is inhabited by human population.

This leads us to conclude that all persons desirous of their redemption should present themselves before The Five Beloved Ones in thePresence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, to get bestowed with Gur- Shabad, Naam. Thereafter, ceaseless devotion to the practice of Naam is efficacious in the opening of Dasam Duar.

Mukhon Satnam Bolda

Tell me what god feels like?

Soon after her brother was born, little Sachi began to ask her parents to leave her alone with the new baby. They worried that like most four year olds, she might feel jealous and want to hit or shake him, so they said "NO." But she showed no signs of jealousy. She treated the baby with kindness and her pleas to be left alone with him became more urgent. They decided to allow it.

Elated, she went into the baby's toom and shut the door, but it opened a crack - enough for her curious parents to peek and listen. They saw little Sachi walk quietly up to her baby brother, put her face close to his and say quietly, "Baby, tell me what god feels like? I'm starting to forget."

This made me think, I found this particularly interesting as it comes into line with gurmat. In gurmat we hear again and again that before we came o be born as humans we where with Akal Purkh (god) and we came here with the purpose to jap naam. Elder Gursikhs often explain that when a child is born it cries very loudly from the shock of birth and being bought into this life. Before birth it is connected with vaheguroo jaaping naam constantly but when it is born that connection is broken. As we go through life our dasam duar (tenth Gate) closes up with maya as we grow in kaljug and pollute out spirituality with 5 thieves.

Through naam jaap swaas swaaas can we create him connection once again. :)

The Rose Bed

The Rose Bed

There was a servant whose master was a prince. The prince would take his servant with him to a place where he used to rest. This place was a beautiful garden that had a wonderful smell. In this garden there was a bed of roses. The prince used to come to this garden to sleep on this bed of roses and he used to feel so happy!! He would ask his servant to watch over him and wake him when an hour had passed. The servant used to do this everyday and upon waking the prince would go for a walk on his own.

One day after the servant had woken the prince, the prince went for his usual walk. The servant thought to himself "I wonder what kind of bliss the prince attains from resting on this beautiful bed of roses?" Upon contemplating on this thought he decided that he would also try and rest upon this bed of roses. And so he did...but in doing so he forgot that there was nobody to wake him up...

He fell asleep on the rose bed. Meanwhile, the prince returned from his walk and saw the servant asleep on the rose bed!! He ran over to the servant and kicked him as hard as he could. The servant awoke startled!! The prince was overcome with anger and started to beat the servant. The servant begged for mercy, but the prince would not stop. The servant was screaming with pain, but still the prince did not stop. The prince beat him so badly that his bones were visible through his ripped skin. The prince continued beating him, then, the servant began laughing out aloud...

The prince stopped and was amazed that the servant was laughing, he couldn't believe his eyes. He said to the servant "I have beaten you senseless yet still you laugh, tell me why!" The servant replied "Oh master, you have punished me so severely for sleeping on this bed of roses for this past hour, the reason I laugh is if my punishment is this, then what will yours be as you have been sleeping on this bed of roses all your life!!!"

The prince was overcome with guilt, he realised that he had been wasting his life while the servant was the one who was really the master, because of the service he had been providing all this time!!

End of Month Kirtan

Last Saturday of every month we have youthKeertan at Park Avenue Gurdwara Sahib, Southall. These youtube videos have been made by Bhenji Sukhmani Kaur (skaur). Audios of the monthly keertan darbaar are up on www.SweetSikhi.com.

The first video is of Bhai Harjinder Singh Ji Lallie and Jatha.


This one is of Acapella or as the stage secretary uncle said "Bibi Gurpal Kaur Midland vale!" lol.

Southall from 30 years ago

Im just taking a breaking from writing my course work up. Im having to go through financial ratios of Ted Baker Plc and another company. Its so long! Any way I just came across some intresting pics from Paramjit Singh's Blog.

Southall 30 Years ago, ok so it might not be that wiked but I found it intresting lol. I should really dig up my parents old pics of 20+ years ago theres some really funny ones! Trust me! haha :P

I bet theres still some Panjabi houses with the same or similar wall papper in Southall... hehe

Southall Station! Wow I recognise sign! it doesnt seem to have changed much!

"this was southall, little over 30 years ago, when the first Sikhs came from east africa. in late 60's to early 70's, west london had a difference face altogether. they brought with them their colourful and lively culture which has transformed society today."

Google Videos

This Video is of Delhi smagam. There are many more up on google video this is just one, and if you search ikirtan you'll find loads from ikirtan.com. Bhai Apardeep Singh Ji is an awesome keertani I remmber when we all stayed around singhs house in derby night before the Rainsbai during the smagam few months ago. Bhai Apardeep Singh was doing keertan as was Bhai Abinash Singh, it was wiked. Chardi Kala ;-)

I particularly love the Video at 20 Mins when Bhai Sahib keeps singing "baba mun mat Varo".

V for Vendetta

I watched a film called V for Vendetta yesterday. It’s about a person known as V who is oppressed by a new form of government which takes over UK and becomes a communist state. The story is not really about V. He is such a larger than life figure; it can be argued that he is not a character at all. In truth, it is about the people whose lives V enters. It is about what happens when the ideals V represents are given a chance to grow. It is about freedom, and identity, and the responsibilities that go along with it. Interesting film say a few parallels with Sikhi at times.

Have a look at this clip.


This clip I found was amazing. Often the kirpan is questioned by people saying its nothing compared to a gun. True a gun is a great weapon but I belive 90% of time its about the art of using the weapon as the way you use it it the important thing. He also says an intresting thing, ideas are bullet proof, food for thought. :)

I give it 8 out of 10.

Never Argue With A Child

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal, its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher ireiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah". The teacher asked what if Jonah went to hell?" The little girl replied, Then you ask him".
______________________________________________________________

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who as working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I'm drawing God." The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like." Without missing a beat, or looking
up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

______________________________________________________________

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother has several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?"
Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white." The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"

______________________________________________________________

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture. "Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer; she's a lawyer,' or That's Michael. He's a doctor.'" A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher. She's dead."

______________________________________________________________

A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face." "Yes," the class said. "Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?" A little fellow
shouted, "Cause your feet ain't empty."

______________________________________________________________

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching." Moving further along the lunch line,at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples.

Sad News, Loss to Panth

Vaheguroo yesterday at end of month youth keertan in Southall Bhai Harjinder Singh Lallie came amoungst other keertanis including Accappella Jatha. Bhai Harjinder Singh give some sad news at start of his katha about Raagi Bhai Avtar Singh Ji, saying he had done Akaal charana. Its very Sad Raagi Bhai Avtar Singh Jis keertan is amazing he has done endless seva for panth and will be greatly missed.

Here is come news about Raagi Bhai Avtar Singh Ji from DiscoverSikhi:

http://www.bcsikhyouth.com/2006/dhan-sevak-safal-ohu-aaeia/

Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki fatheh!!!!

Guru pyare saadh sangat jee,





As you may know, a jewel of the Khalsa panth, Shiromani ragi Bhai Sahib Bhai Avtar Singh Ji has left this earthly realm for permanent residence in the charan-kamal of Akaal Purakh Vaaheguroo. With his spiritual strength, amazing talent, inviting voice, enchanting stories, and inspiring lifestyle, Bhai Sahib Bhai Avtar Singh Ji shined a bright star in this dark, dark age. Bhai Sahib's son, Bhai Kultar Singh Ji, had recently joined to do keertan with his father, and is also blessed with a spiritual sophistication, and an ability to beautifully articulate Punjabi sakhis into English as well. How fortunate and blessed are we, that the Guru has given us this art of gurmat sangeet, and these beautiful enlightening teachings of Gurbani, to ferry us across the world ocean. Using these tools, Bhai Avtar Singh ji was blessed by the Guru, and in doing so also brought blessings to countless other fellow Gursikhs.

Bhai Sahib had leukemia, which is a type of cancer. The nature of cancer is to destroy healthy cells, and to spread through the body. However cancer did not defeat Bhai Avtar Singh ji. Bhai Avtar Singh ji spent his life destroying bad thoughts, and spreading goodness through the world. How would cancer destroy such a person? Only Bhai Sahib's five-elemental body was destroyed, but reflecting the light of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, following the legacy of his brothers Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji, and Bhai Dayala Ji, Bhai Sahib Bhai Avtar Singh Ji's spirit is amar (immortal).






The Ragi Jatha of Bhai Avtar Singh Ji, Bhai Kultar Singh Ji and Bhai Swarn Singh Ji represents an unbroken Gurmat Sangeet tradition that goes all the way back to the times of the Gurus. Bhai Sahib Avtar Singh Ji's father, Bhai Sahib Jwala Singh Ji was an accomplished Ragi, who imparted his knowledge of Gurmat Sangeet to Bhai Sahib Avtar Singh Ji and his older brother Bhai Sahib Gurcharan Singh
Bhai Sahib Avtar Singh Ji and Bhai Sahib Gurcharan Singh Ji have rendered invaluable service to the Sikh Panth by preserving Gurmat Sangeet in its pristine form. They accomplished this by their unwavering commitment to the tradition over the years even as Gurmat Sangeet was being subverted by the pressures of popular culture and film music. The crowning achievement of their career was the publication of 'Gurbani Sangeet Prachin Reet Ratnavali' in which they documented hundreds of traditional Gurmat Sangeet compositions handed down from generation to generation in an unbroken oral tradition.
The Jatha has been renewed upon its being joined by Bhai Kultar Singh, Bhai Avtar Singh Ji's son, who gave up his professional career to return to his roots and propogate the family's tradition as exponents of Gurmat Sangeet.


Update (June 2005)






After a hiatus of 59 years, Bhai Avtar Singh Ji picked up a Taus again, thus bringing back to the practice of Gurmat Sangeet the use of a stringed instrument. These recordings, made during his visit to the Boston area in June 05, feature Bhai Sahib accompanying himself on Taus. Bhai Sahib Ji was extremely pleased to hear kirtan by the children of the Boston Gurmat Sangeet Project; some of the recordings by the children, made during his visit are also featured on this page.


During his Katha in the June 10 recordings, Bhai Sahib Ji mentions the children's kirtan in generous terms. On June 11, Bhai sahib ji sang a magnificent Asa Ki Var, playing his Taus for the entire two hours ! In the Asa Ki Var, he sang fabulous shabads in Devgandhari, Prabhati, Asavari and Bhairavi. The same evening, at Millis he sang, perhaps one of his best renditions that I have had the pelasure of hearing, of an ancient Dhrupad; the shabad was Gun Naad Dhun Anand Bhed.


Source - Gurmat Sangeet Project (www.gurmatsangeetproject.com)

Samsung E900

I have a couple of pay as you go E900 for sale. If you would like to buy one let me know there at knowcked down rates. I thought I would use my blog business use to. Anyway I was just reading Discover Sikhi and i came across a post about a Pink Vaja! yep its on Davinder Singh's blog

"It was PINK!! Yes! Pink. And worse it had a sticker that said ‘specially made’ the person who bought this didn’t buy it because they didn’t have a choice, they got it ‘specially made’ because they liked pink so much!"

I asked for...

I asked for Strength.........
And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom.........
And God gave me Problems to solve.

I asked for Prosperity.........
And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.

I asked for Courage.........
And God gave me Danger to overcome.

I asked for Love.........
And God gave me Troubled people to help.

I asked for Favors.........
And God gave me Opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted ........
I received everything I needed!

BUTTERFLY

Something intresting I found:

BUTTERFLY

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.

The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.

We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!

Workshop And Keertan Darbaar

Vaheguroo Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguroo Ji Ke Fateh

An interactive Sikhi Workshop and Keertan Darbaar will be held on

Saturday 18th November 2006

Interactive Sikhi Workshop covering Sikh Way of Life, Spirituality, Identity and Challenges Facing Sikhs will be from 3.00 – 6.00pm

Keertan Darbaar 6pm till late

At Gurdwara Nanak Darbar (North London)
136 High Road
New Southgate
N11 1PJ
020 8368 2484/7104

Please pass on the message and bring your friends along.

Vaheguroo Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguroo Ji Ke Fateh

Sweet Sikhi Articles

There are a number of articles on SweetSikhi.com which are worth a read here is one:

Naam – the Divine Name

Vaheguru's presence is everywhere, supporting all things at all times – in today’s language we could say the energy structure of the whole Universe. The Indian mystics and Sikh Gurus call that presence of Vaheguru, of the Supreme Light Energy Being – ‘Naam’.

Other people call it by different names and don’t always associate it with Vaheguru. New age people and Reiki practitioners call it "Life Force", Indian Yogis call it the "Praana", Chinese martial artists and monks call it "Chee", Christians call it "The Holy Spirit". Essentially it is the presence of Vaheguru, which is inside us, and supporting absolutely everything. There is nothing in this world, which equals the value of the Divine Name. The Lord and His Name are identical. They are one. The Power of Naam holds the whole creation together, including the elements of Nature. All the universes stand projected and are held together by the Power of Naam. Naam is the support of all beings; Naam is the support of the whole universe. Naam unites the devotee with the Lord. Naam cements the bond, the true relationship of the worshipper with the Worshipped.

Naam is the food of the lover of the Divine Name. Hunger does not trouble him. Naam is
his eternal companion and he needs no other friends because he is never alone. Naam is
his true shelter and he does not, therefore, seek any other shelter. Naam is his existence,
as he cannot live without Naam. Naam is his honour, as he never cares for any worldly
honour.

Some Teachings from Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee
􀂃 Men and women are equal
– “Why call woman bad? From her, great kings are born.” (473)
􀂃 See Vaheguru in everyone and everywhere
– “Amongst all is the Light-You are that Light.” (13)
􀂃 No one is lower than another person – the Divine resides in all of us
– “O my mind! You are the embodiment of the Divine Light - recognise
the true origin of yourself.” (441)
􀂃 There is a Universal Religion of Truth, which is the best religion.
– “Of all religions, the best religion is to meditate on Naam and maintain
pure conduct.” (266)

Naked eyes

Sikhi was never of any importance to me. I was still young, and always believed it was something that people did in their fifty’s to pass time. I wanted to “live life to the fullest,” and that wasn’t possible if I was living the lifestyle of a Sikh. I didn’t care to understand the concept of God, or why people had so much faith in Him. All I cared about was looking good, and having as much fun as I could before I got married (I knew my parents would marry me off to a Sikh). If I was to get into Sikhi it would be a lot later in my life.

I had just turned 22, and because I had finished my degree and was able to support myself, I thought it was time that I went my own way. I had been under the control of my parents all of my life and although I respected that they were devoted to Sikhi, I knew that it wasn’t what I wanted in my life.
I had been thinking about getting my hair trimmed for a while. I was getting sick of putting my hair up in a bun. My eyebrows took after my Pitha Jee, bushy as can be, and I couldn’t wait to get those plucked.

I didn’t tell my parents since I felt I was old enough to make my own decisions. I knew it was a bit selfish of me to go behind their backs, but I didn’t think too much of it.

I went into the shop and got my hair trimmed a couple of centimeters and had my eyebrows shaped. There was a look of accomplishment when I looked at myself in the mirror for the first time. The reflection showed a new person, it was the person I always wanted to be.

“Freedom!” I remember thinking to myself.

I drove up into the garage of the house I had lived in for the last ten years of my life, and hoped that it would recognize me. As I walked into the house, I could feel my heart beating rapidly. My parents were in the kitchen so I walked in hastily, said my hello’s and headed into my room.

I didn’t stay long enough in the kitchen to see my parents’ reactions. Matha Jee had just looked up at me when I left and Pitha Jee was too absorbed reading the Punjabi newspaper.

I could hear murmurs coming from the living room. And then for a couple of minutes they stopped. My heart was beating so fast.

“Simran?” I could hear my mom calling for me.

At first I didn’t want to answer.

“Hunjee Matha Jee?” I whispered back hoping she wouldn’t hear me.

“Can you come outside please?”

“Okay, I’ll be there in a minute.”

I started feeling guilty for cutting my hair but kept my composure and walked down the hall towards the living room.

My parents were sitting cross legged on the rug, holding gutkay in their hands. My mom looked up at me and handed me a gutka and then nodded her head downwards (her way of telling me to sit down).
It was the first time since I can remember that my parents called me to do paat with them. At first I wanted to get up and tell them I had work to do but then I just felt relieved that they weren’t yelling at me, so I sat down beside my mom and read along with Reharaas.

Reharaas was finally over, and by this time I was yawning and just wanted to go to bed. We all got up to do ardaas. Pitha Jee did it. Although I didn’t care for Sikhi, ardaas was the one aspect of Sikhi that meant something to me so I actually listened to the ardaas.

Pitha Jee came to the end of the ardaas. He did ardaas for Reharaas and then in a calm loving tone he asked, “Guru Sahib Jee, please bless our daughter with a Gursikhi life.”

Matha Jee was sobbing. I wanted to cry as well, not because I felt guilty but because I was hurt. Why would they do that to me? They could have done ardaas on their own time.
I didn’t sleep that whole night. Pitha Jee’s words kept running through my head no matter how high I turned up the radio.

Two months had gone by. I kept my distance from my parents and even when Matha Jee tried to talk to me I gave her one word answers. Although two months had passed, I could still hear Pitha Jee’s voice from that night. His ardaas was straight from his heart and I was afraid that it would come true. I had even done ardaas to undo the ardaas he did.

That night my good friend was having a keertan at the Gurudwara. I never liked going to anyone’s programs, especially if they were at the Gurudwara, but that day I kept getting this push from inside to go.I arrived at the Gurudwara early and after failing to find someone I knew I proceeded towards the main darbar hall. I took a glance at Guru Granth Sahib Jee to make sure I was walking in the right direction. As I looked down at the ground I felt warmth take over my body. I felt calm. The vision of Guru Granth Sahib Jee covered with royal blue ramalay was grounded in my mind. I stood still for a moment and embraced the vision in my heart. Everything
around me slowly disappeared. I took a step forward and then another, until I had reached the end. I looked up at the Guru. My mind was silenced in admiration of the beauty that was in front of me. I once again remembered Pitha Jee’s ardaas and started to shed tears. Kneeling down to matha taake I could hear Pitha Jee’s words so clearly, “Guru Sahib Jee please bless our daughter with a Gursikhi life.”
The moment my forehead touched the Guru’s Charan I could hear whispers in my ear. I was trying to listen to what was being said but I couldn’t make out the words. I concentrated and tried again to listen to the sounds.

“Vahe-Guroo. Vahe-Guroo. Vahe-Guroo…”

At that time I didn’t know what to think of the moment. But, with the energy I had left I got up and sat in the Sangath. Time had vanished. My eyes were tightly fastened together and my mind was still. A soft white filled the room and I could hear more voices repeating “Vahe-Guroo.” I absorbed myself in the moment.

Some time had gone by and I could see two figures appear in the distance. They were too far away for me to see if they were male or female but I could see that one was shorter than the other. I couldn’t see any details because the colours were meshed into one blur consisting of black, red and a pale brown. I tried to focus on the two figures hoping that I could piece together who they were.

The two figures had vanished and then for a split second materialized again and this time I could see them clearly.

That was the day that my Pitha Jee’s ardaas had been answered. I took Amrit a week later. Every night in my ardaas I ask that everyone be blessed with a Gursikhi life.
There are still days that go by when I feel distant from Sikhi. But, when those days come, I think back to the day when Guru Sahib Jee, with my naked eyes, showed me the Piyaar in the face of Bhai Taru Singh Jee as his scalp was being cut away from his body.

Return to blogspot

I’m returning to blogspot after we had problems with the .com and its gone offline, I think I prefer blogspot anyway although I don’t know how often I will blog as I’m busy with other stuff at the moment.

I was watching alpha etc airing of keertan from Sri Harimandir Sahib and this shabad was being sung by the raagi jatha was beautiful.

gurmuiK jIvY mrY prvwxu ]

guramukh jeevai marai paravaan ||

The Gurmukhs are celebrated in life and death.

Awrjw n CIjY sbdu pCwxu ]

aarajaa n shheejai sabadh pashhaan ||

Their lives are not wasted; they realize the Word of the Shabad.

gurmuiK mrY n kwlu n Kwey gurmuiK sic smwvixAw ]2]

guramukh marai n kaal n khaaeae guramukh sach samaavaniaa ||2||

The Gurmukhs do not die; they are not consumed by death. The Gurmukhs are absorbed in the True Lord. ||2|| Whole Shabad click here

Bhai Kamaljit Singh

	Click on the "Download" for the relevant shabad to download. (m) aukhad tero naam dayal - [bhai kamaljit singh].rm	3,746 KB
	aukhi ghari na dekhan deyi - [bhai kamaljit singh].rm	3,215 KB
	deen ke daate kirpa karo - [bhai kamaljit singh].rm	4,184 KB
	kurbaan jaayi - [bhai kamaljit singh].rm	3,634 KB
	main gareeb sach tek tu - [bhai kamaljit singh].rm	6,429 KB
	man kyon bairaag karega - [bhai kamaljit singh] (very late start).rm	1,818 KB
	raen dinas gur charan araadhi - [bhai kamaljit singh].rm	5,368 KB
	ramdas sarovar naate - [bhai kamaljit singh].rm	1,379 KB
	teri tek tera adhaara - [bhai kamaljit singh].rm	5,817 KB
	tu beant ko virla jaane - [bhai kamaljit singh].rm	4,052 KB
	tu main maan nimaani - [bhai kamaljit singh].rm	4,623 KB