Guru Gobind Singh Ji had a marvellous foresight; he wanted his Sikhs to have a strong soul, which we achieve by our prayers. He also wanted us to be physically fit and have a disciplined life and Hola can be taken as a symbol or a day, which would remind us that Sikhs need to be physically fit also.
Also, Guru Patshaah wanted us to seek for active forms of entertainment. When one is involved in horsemanship, soldiery, swordsmanship and archery or any other form of sport of today we are actively involved in it as against the passive forms of entertainment like watching television, playing computer games and so on and so forth.
Physical fitness flows from discipline skills. These skills include the ability to organize our life to meet our basic needs adequately, rest, diet, health, hygiene, exercise, reading, prayer, etc. It will help if we draw up an action programme for the acquisition of self-discipline skills. Two important moments of the day are when we get up in the morning and when we go to sleep. In the morning, when we are fresh from sleep, we can resolve to practice this self-discipline and at night we can ask ourselves an account of how have we practised them. Then we may resolve for the following day and go on disciplining ourselves.
Of course, some of you who are reading this are already doing all these because you are at a higher level of functioning and are trying to actualize your potential but this is just a humble effort to share some of my views with all of you.
For Sikhs this is what HOLA day signifies, to make our self externally and internally strong and not by merely wasting our life and doing the things blindly what others do that bear no fruits.
So, let all of us try to be Victorious by overcoming our evils, our own enemies Kaam, Krodh, Lob, Moh & Aanhkar.
|| kaam kroDh lobh moh jeetahu aisee khayl har pi-aaree|| (Ang 1185 SGGS)
Conquer sexual desire, anger, greed and worldly attachment; only such a game as this is dear to the Lord.
|| janam padaarath jin chali-aa naanak aa-i-aa so parvaan thi-aa. || (Ang 1007 SGGS)
Those who depart after having been victorious in this priceless human life - O Nanak, their coming into the world is approved.
www.DiscoverSikhi.com
MORE VIDEOS COMMING TOMOROW
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Friday, March 10, 2006
Student Akhand Paath
Sukha Singh the light glowing from his head.
Harjeet Singh from KCL getting his best side on camera!
The Singhs Cooking !! (I gave them lessons before I left!)
Mumeet Penjee Teaching the Singhs with the Velna
Sody Singh Burning the parshadai. Dont Blame me Singh!! LOL :PMore Info on www.BOSS-UK.org
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Cure of Cancer - Power of God
Power of God
Gurbani as a cure of cancer.
When recitation of Gurbani cured me of deadly cancer, I experienced God. If God is with
me, who can be against me? Not even the deadliest disease of cancer can take my life away and that is exactly the divinely inspiring message of the truly miraculous story of my victorious battle against bone cancer which was medically diagnosed to be multiple myloma.
It was the continuous recitation of Gurbani that not only cured me of bone cancer that had already destroyed most of my bones in my skeleton, but also shattered my will to live. The blessings of Guru Granth Sahib not only triggered and accelerated the processes of complete and total cure in my body, but the Guru also enabled me to experience God. This also inspired me to pursue Nam therapy to totally and permanently get rid of otherwise fatal bone cancer.
Can Shabad-Kirtan and faithful recitation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib save me from fatal clutches of cancer? Can such a miracle happen?
These were the posers that repeatedly crossed my mind and also dominated my dreams. Initially, I dismissed such ideas and being a science researcher with American educational background, I did not even believe in the existence of god. I have always been taught by my American scientists, teachers and professors that our life and the universe are governed by the irrefutable and irreversible laws of science and that God was nothing but a 'concept' or an illusion invented by timid and non-scientific minds. Hence, I have never been to any place of worship and also never prayed. But not anymore.
It was April 27th 2002 when three different teams of oncologists and hematologists from Mumbai, Surat and Ahmedabad presented me with the unanimous medical investigation reports based on their repeatedly unanimous findings, they passed their judgment with one voice that my life is going to end in a few days as the deadly cancer called multiple myloma has ruined most of my bones that are functionally vital for my survival. On April 29th , I had completed three and half years of painful life as a terminally bed-ridden cancer patient. I was slowly dying of cancer. The bony structures of my right ear had been eaten away by bone cancer that gave me total deafness in my right ear. Repeated audio graphs done by several E.N.T. surgeons proved beyond doubt that the decibel loss was irreversible and so immense that Dr. A.B.R. Desai in Mumbai, who is reputed to be the final authority on E.N.T. ailments, told me that there was something very tragically wrong with the bones in my right year and after trying several treatments, Dr. Desai told me that he has no medicine for my ailment and that I will never be able to hear with my right ear. The reputed E.N.T. surgeon Dr. Farida Wadia of civil hospital was of the opinion that if the loss of hearing in the right year was not due to nerve deafness and was really a symptomatic manifestation of some un-diagnosed ailment then the hearing will return after that un-diagnosed ailment is cured. Is she blessed with 6th, 7th and 8th sense? I guess say so because that is exactly how the events ran their course.
Dr. Farida Wadia was also using her imagination like telescope in time and exactly predicting things which were yet to come. Later, it was Dr. Kiran Shah, the senior most reputed oncologist hematologist in Surat who himself performed bone marrow analysis and gave me the shocking news that I am not only suffering from bone cancer called multiple myloma but the cancer has already destroyed much my vital bones. As per his advise, electrophoresis of the blood and MRI - [ magnetic resonance imaging] - of brain and skull as well as Citi Scan were also done at Mahavir General Hospital which confirmed beyond doubt that I am slowly but surely dying of bone cancer. I had been loosing appetite and had developed dislike for food. [anorexia nervosa] in between, I had also suffered from tumor on the right side of my head which gave me excruciating headache and giddiness. I lost orientation and would fall after walking for 30 seconds. As soon as cancer was diagnosed, I was immediately admitted to government civil hospital and six chemotherapy sessions were administered – one every 28th day. This further destroyed my appetite and all the hair on my head and body were gone. I suffered these agonies for more than three and half years when on April 27th 2002, three teams of doctors and oncologists advised me that I should prepare my will as I had only a few days left.
Now, this was the phase when the divine miracle began to take shape. It was Sardar Kesar Singh, the owner of reputed " Kwality Group of Hotels and Restaurants" in Surat and his son Sardar Manjeet Singh, who suggested to me that I should undertake a pilgrimage to the holy Golden Temple at Amritsar and offer Akhand Paath and Ardaas with complete faith and total devotion and pray before Sri Guru Granth Sahib to cure me of my cancer and bless me with good vibrant health and long life to remain in his service. I initially, took this suggestion very lightly and argued back that I do not understand Punjabi or Gurmukhi and would therefore, not follow any word of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and whatever brief knowledge of Sikhism and Sri Guru Granth Sahib I acquired was in April of 1999, when I wrote six researched articles on the 300 years of Khalsa celebrations published in the Indian press. But, Sardar Kesar Singh, who is also the president of Gurdwara at Udhana-Surat, convinced me that Sri Guru Granth Sahib's blessings are not restricted to those who speak or understand Punjabi or Gurmukhi. It is the faith and sincere devotion to the Guru which makes you worthy of his blessings.
I found Sardar Kesar Singh's advice very much inspiring. Moreover, my sister-in-law Miss Kunti, a staunch devotee of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and a faithful follower of principles of Sikhism since her childhood, was equally instrumental in motivating me to undertake this pilgrimage. She taught me the basic philosophy of Sikhism and brought me a copy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in English. My mother-in-law Ms.Shanti Hotchand Khatri, have a separate room at their bungalows at Baroda where they offer prayers, Ardaas and listen to Shabad Kirtans every early morning. Their persuasion proved to be decisive.
So we left by Golden Temple Mail express train which departed from Surat at around 1-15 a.m. on April 29th 2002. We were received by the staff of Golden Temple and particularly Sardar Diljeet Singh Bedi who is in charge of liaisons with press and the public. Myself being a leading journalist, foreign-educated researcher and U.S.A. trained science writer, was given a VIP treatment and given accommodation in room no. 16 of Sri Arjan Dev Niwas. Since I had only a few days to live according to my doctors, they quickly made preparations for Akhand Paath and Ardaas after I paid Rs 2100 as fees. My wife Kanta, my daughter Halley and my brother-in-law's daughter Puja also sat with me. I was permitted to photograph and tape-record entire Akhand Paath as well as Shabad Kirtans which I wanted to keep listening till I was to breathe my last on my death - bed.
But I was never to be lying on my death-bed because the moment the Granthi started reciting the Akhand Paath , I began to feel streams of energy entering and flowing thru my body. It rose majestically from the pages of Shri Guru Granth Sahib like a serene cool flame of light entering my body through my fingers. The excruciating pain which I had suffered while struggling to reach the Golden Temple also disappeared. After 48 hours, I got up on my own two feet and began to feel and enjoy such vibrant health that I almost ran with joy towards Sri Arjan Dev Niwas and quickly climbed the stairs to my room no. 16. My appetite returned. I first took bath and then visited Jaliyanwala Bagh and then went to the 'Hotel Cityheart' and for the first time in three and half years I enjoyed a variety of Punjabi and Chinese foods which I had missed like deserts miss the rains.
We returned to Surat on 18th May 2002 and on 25th May again bone marrow analysis and electrophoresis tests were done on my body. No cancer was detected. Hence, to obtain second medical opinion, the samples were sent to Mumbai and Ahmedabad and medical doctors there also confirmed that the bone cancer is gone. My oncologist at Ahemedabad Dr. Pankaj Shah was preparing for stem cells transplant on me which was to have cost me Rs. nine lakhs. The entire medical world was taken by surprise. All doctors agreed that this is, indeed, a miracle because there is no medicine in Allopathy that can cure deadly cancer within 48 hours and effect a 180 degree change. The latest electrophoresis : serum protein test done is dated April 7th 2003 at Abha Clinical Laboratory. The doctors have signed this medical test report with comments: " no myeloma band."
I have preserved all the medical reports and x-rays done before and after the Akhand Paath and Ardaas at Golden Temple and they all tell the true story of my miraculous cure. Ever since this miracle, I am not only experiencing Guru's vibrations within me but also feel God's spiritual energy within me which inspires me and guides me in thought and deed, and vibrate in unison with him. I am joyfully back to " cheers and gears of life.", soulfully sharing my God-Given spiritual energy with those who love and faithfully listens to Guru Granth Sahib and enrich their mind, body and soul with divinely vibrant health.
Now, I am enjoying the life of guru-inspired faith and taking Sri Guru Granth Sahib and God as my constant companion. It is the miracle and the divine magnetic spell of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, which I also realized through Nam therapy that has not only blessed me with healthy life but considering my greatly vibrant health, spiritual strength and new youthful looks and glamorous shining black hair, the same oncologists tell me that I am totally free of all kinds of diseases. I myself feel so close to the Guru that something tells me that I will live for 125 years and remain in Guru's service and bring true love, happiness and inspiration to all my friends.
My life has taken a spiritual turn. I get sound sleep without any sleeping pills. Since 25th April 2002, I am no longer on any medicine. I read Nitnem and get sound sleep and get up early to read Paath and enjoy Shabad Kirtan on Punjabi TV channel. Guru's teachings have gone a long way in dispelling the darkness of ignorance. Guru has not only changed my destiny but made me a devotee with the faith that is not blind but enlightened.
So often, I see and meet Gurus in my dreams and they taught me a new healthy life-style to give happiness to others. I am never angry. I have no bad habits and always remain jovial. Now, my motto is: ' people enjoy the happiness they feel. But I enjoy the happiness I give. Guru's one of the teachings says : " Kirat Karani and Wand Chhakana." - meaning: earn the fruits of your hard work ‘Naam Japana’; and share your fruits with others with love. I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when not feeling it. I believe in God even when he is silent. There is one God. God is truth. He is the creator of the universe and all beings. He is without fear and without hatred. He is the eternal being and the divine soul, birth less, self enlightened. He is enemy to none. Through grace of the Satguru he is met. Diseases and sins are destroyed by hearing the name of God says Guru Nanak. The Name, revealed to me by Guru's advice, is the breath of my life and the praise of the lord is my life's vocation. "Truth is great but greater than truth is truthful living." says Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The Khalsa belongs to [the wondrous guru ] God; all victory of is the victory of [the Wondrous guru ] Wahe Gurujika Khalsa- Wahe Guruji ki Fateh.
Mr Vasu Bhardwaj
Journalist, Science Writer, Corporate Analyst
701-Chinmaya Apartment, Anand Mahal Road, Behind Bhulka
Bhavan, Adajan, Surat, Gujarat-395009
Tel: 0261 – 2690033, 0261 - 224 00 99
Mobile: 09825113636
E-mail vasuamerica@yahoo.com
Taken from: www.SikhIssues.blogspot.com
Gurbani as a cure of cancer.
When recitation of Gurbani cured me of deadly cancer, I experienced God. If God is with
me, who can be against me? Not even the deadliest disease of cancer can take my life away and that is exactly the divinely inspiring message of the truly miraculous story of my victorious battle against bone cancer which was medically diagnosed to be multiple myloma.
It was the continuous recitation of Gurbani that not only cured me of bone cancer that had already destroyed most of my bones in my skeleton, but also shattered my will to live. The blessings of Guru Granth Sahib not only triggered and accelerated the processes of complete and total cure in my body, but the Guru also enabled me to experience God. This also inspired me to pursue Nam therapy to totally and permanently get rid of otherwise fatal bone cancer.
Can Shabad-Kirtan and faithful recitation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib save me from fatal clutches of cancer? Can such a miracle happen?
These were the posers that repeatedly crossed my mind and also dominated my dreams. Initially, I dismissed such ideas and being a science researcher with American educational background, I did not even believe in the existence of god. I have always been taught by my American scientists, teachers and professors that our life and the universe are governed by the irrefutable and irreversible laws of science and that God was nothing but a 'concept' or an illusion invented by timid and non-scientific minds. Hence, I have never been to any place of worship and also never prayed. But not anymore.It was April 27th 2002 when three different teams of oncologists and hematologists from Mumbai, Surat and Ahmedabad presented me with the unanimous medical investigation reports based on their repeatedly unanimous findings, they passed their judgment with one voice that my life is going to end in a few days as the deadly cancer called multiple myloma has ruined most of my bones that are functionally vital for my survival. On April 29th , I had completed three and half years of painful life as a terminally bed-ridden cancer patient. I was slowly dying of cancer. The bony structures of my right ear had been eaten away by bone cancer that gave me total deafness in my right ear. Repeated audio graphs done by several E.N.T. surgeons proved beyond doubt that the decibel loss was irreversible and so immense that Dr. A.B.R. Desai in Mumbai, who is reputed to be the final authority on E.N.T. ailments, told me that there was something very tragically wrong with the bones in my right year and after trying several treatments, Dr. Desai told me that he has no medicine for my ailment and that I will never be able to hear with my right ear. The reputed E.N.T. surgeon Dr. Farida Wadia of civil hospital was of the opinion that if the loss of hearing in the right year was not due to nerve deafness and was really a symptomatic manifestation of some un-diagnosed ailment then the hearing will return after that un-diagnosed ailment is cured. Is she blessed with 6th, 7th and 8th sense? I guess say so because that is exactly how the events ran their course.
Dr. Farida Wadia was also using her imagination like telescope in time and exactly predicting things which were yet to come. Later, it was Dr. Kiran Shah, the senior most reputed oncologist hematologist in Surat who himself performed bone marrow analysis and gave me the shocking news that I am not only suffering from bone cancer called multiple myloma but the cancer has already destroyed much my vital bones. As per his advise, electrophoresis of the blood and MRI - [ magnetic resonance imaging] - of brain and skull as well as Citi Scan were also done at Mahavir General Hospital which confirmed beyond doubt that I am slowly but surely dying of bone cancer. I had been loosing appetite and had developed dislike for food. [anorexia nervosa] in between, I had also suffered from tumor on the right side of my head which gave me excruciating headache and giddiness. I lost orientation and would fall after walking for 30 seconds. As soon as cancer was diagnosed, I was immediately admitted to government civil hospital and six chemotherapy sessions were administered – one every 28th day. This further destroyed my appetite and all the hair on my head and body were gone. I suffered these agonies for more than three and half years when on April 27th 2002, three teams of doctors and oncologists advised me that I should prepare my will as I had only a few days left.
Now, this was the phase when the divine miracle began to take shape. It was Sardar Kesar Singh, the owner of reputed " Kwality Group of Hotels and Restaurants" in Surat and his son Sardar Manjeet Singh, who suggested to me that I should undertake a pilgrimage to the holy Golden Temple at Amritsar and offer Akhand Paath and Ardaas with complete faith and total devotion and pray before Sri Guru Granth Sahib to cure me of my cancer and bless me with good vibrant health and long life to remain in his service. I initially, took this suggestion very lightly and argued back that I do not understand Punjabi or Gurmukhi and would therefore, not follow any word of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and whatever brief knowledge of Sikhism and Sri Guru Granth Sahib I acquired was in April of 1999, when I wrote six researched articles on the 300 years of Khalsa celebrations published in the Indian press. But, Sardar Kesar Singh, who is also the president of Gurdwara at Udhana-Surat, convinced me that Sri Guru Granth Sahib's blessings are not restricted to those who speak or understand Punjabi or Gurmukhi. It is the faith and sincere devotion to the Guru which makes you worthy of his blessings.
I found Sardar Kesar Singh's advice very much inspiring. Moreover, my sister-in-law Miss Kunti, a staunch devotee of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and a faithful follower of principles of Sikhism since her childhood, was equally instrumental in motivating me to undertake this pilgrimage. She taught me the basic philosophy of Sikhism and brought me a copy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in English. My mother-in-law Ms.Shanti Hotchand Khatri, have a separate room at their bungalows at Baroda where they offer prayers, Ardaas and listen to Shabad Kirtans every early morning. Their persuasion proved to be decisive.
So we left by Golden Temple Mail express train which departed from Surat at around 1-15 a.m. on April 29th 2002. We were received by the staff of Golden Temple and particularly Sardar Diljeet Singh Bedi who is in charge of liaisons with press and the public. Myself being a leading journalist, foreign-educated researcher and U.S.A. trained science writer, was given a VIP treatment and given accommodation in room no. 16 of Sri Arjan Dev Niwas. Since I had only a few days to live according to my doctors, they quickly made preparations for Akhand Paath and Ardaas after I paid Rs 2100 as fees. My wife Kanta, my daughter Halley and my brother-in-law's daughter Puja also sat with me. I was permitted to photograph and tape-record entire Akhand Paath as well as Shabad Kirtans which I wanted to keep listening till I was to breathe my last on my death - bed.
But I was never to be lying on my death-bed because the moment the Granthi started reciting the Akhand Paath , I began to feel streams of energy entering and flowing thru my body. It rose majestically from the pages of Shri Guru Granth Sahib like a serene cool flame of light entering my body through my fingers. The excruciating pain which I had suffered while struggling to reach the Golden Temple also disappeared. After 48 hours, I got up on my own two feet and began to feel and enjoy such vibrant health that I almost ran with joy towards Sri Arjan Dev Niwas and quickly climbed the stairs to my room no. 16. My appetite returned. I first took bath and then visited Jaliyanwala Bagh and then went to the 'Hotel Cityheart' and for the first time in three and half years I enjoyed a variety of Punjabi and Chinese foods which I had missed like deserts miss the rains.We returned to Surat on 18th May 2002 and on 25th May again bone marrow analysis and electrophoresis tests were done on my body. No cancer was detected. Hence, to obtain second medical opinion, the samples were sent to Mumbai and Ahmedabad and medical doctors there also confirmed that the bone cancer is gone. My oncologist at Ahemedabad Dr. Pankaj Shah was preparing for stem cells transplant on me which was to have cost me Rs. nine lakhs. The entire medical world was taken by surprise. All doctors agreed that this is, indeed, a miracle because there is no medicine in Allopathy that can cure deadly cancer within 48 hours and effect a 180 degree change. The latest electrophoresis : serum protein test done is dated April 7th 2003 at Abha Clinical Laboratory. The doctors have signed this medical test report with comments: " no myeloma band."
I have preserved all the medical reports and x-rays done before and after the Akhand Paath and Ardaas at Golden Temple and they all tell the true story of my miraculous cure. Ever since this miracle, I am not only experiencing Guru's vibrations within me but also feel God's spiritual energy within me which inspires me and guides me in thought and deed, and vibrate in unison with him. I am joyfully back to " cheers and gears of life.", soulfully sharing my God-Given spiritual energy with those who love and faithfully listens to Guru Granth Sahib and enrich their mind, body and soul with divinely vibrant health.
Now, I am enjoying the life of guru-inspired faith and taking Sri Guru Granth Sahib and God as my constant companion. It is the miracle and the divine magnetic spell of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, which I also realized through Nam therapy that has not only blessed me with healthy life but considering my greatly vibrant health, spiritual strength and new youthful looks and glamorous shining black hair, the same oncologists tell me that I am totally free of all kinds of diseases. I myself feel so close to the Guru that something tells me that I will live for 125 years and remain in Guru's service and bring true love, happiness and inspiration to all my friends.
My life has taken a spiritual turn. I get sound sleep without any sleeping pills. Since 25th April 2002, I am no longer on any medicine. I read Nitnem and get sound sleep and get up early to read Paath and enjoy Shabad Kirtan on Punjabi TV channel. Guru's teachings have gone a long way in dispelling the darkness of ignorance. Guru has not only changed my destiny but made me a devotee with the faith that is not blind but enlightened.
So often, I see and meet Gurus in my dreams and they taught me a new healthy life-style to give happiness to others. I am never angry. I have no bad habits and always remain jovial. Now, my motto is: ' people enjoy the happiness they feel. But I enjoy the happiness I give. Guru's one of the teachings says : " Kirat Karani and Wand Chhakana." - meaning: earn the fruits of your hard work ‘Naam Japana’; and share your fruits with others with love. I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when not feeling it. I believe in God even when he is silent. There is one God. God is truth. He is the creator of the universe and all beings. He is without fear and without hatred. He is the eternal being and the divine soul, birth less, self enlightened. He is enemy to none. Through grace of the Satguru he is met. Diseases and sins are destroyed by hearing the name of God says Guru Nanak. The Name, revealed to me by Guru's advice, is the breath of my life and the praise of the lord is my life's vocation. "Truth is great but greater than truth is truthful living." says Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The Khalsa belongs to [the wondrous guru ] God; all victory of is the victory of [the Wondrous guru ] Wahe Gurujika Khalsa- Wahe Guruji ki Fateh.
Mr Vasu Bhardwaj
Journalist, Science Writer, Corporate Analyst
701-Chinmaya Apartment, Anand Mahal Road, Behind Bhulka
Bhavan, Adajan, Surat, Gujarat-395009
Tel: 0261 – 2690033, 0261 - 224 00 99
Mobile: 09825113636
E-mail vasuamerica@yahoo.com
Taken from: www.SikhIssues.blogspot.com
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Quotes
Some quotes I found intresting. I have also added quote of the day, should change daily. :) Click here for more.
In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.
Blaise Pascal
Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.
Kahlil Gibran
Millions long for immortality who don't know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Susan Ertz
All our knowledge merely helps us to die a more painful death than animals that know nothing. Maurice Maeterlinck
Faith is a commitmant to the world's transformation through GOD to a kingdom of justice and peace.
The highest of distinctions is service to others
Don't tell God how big your storm is, tell the storm how big your God is!
Sweetness and humility is the essence of virtue. ( Guroo Nanak Dev Jee )
"Life is like a game of cards; the cards represent the materiality of existence, the hand you are dealt the element of chance and the way you play the game free will!"
(Gurnam Singh 2003)
In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.
Blaise Pascal
Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.
Kahlil Gibran
Millions long for immortality who don't know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Susan Ertz
All our knowledge merely helps us to die a more painful death than animals that know nothing. Maurice Maeterlinck
Faith is a commitmant to the world's transformation through GOD to a kingdom of justice and peace.
The highest of distinctions is service to others
Don't tell God how big your storm is, tell the storm how big your God is!
Sweetness and humility is the essence of virtue. ( Guroo Nanak Dev Jee )
"Life is like a game of cards; the cards represent the materiality of existence, the hand you are dealt the element of chance and the way you play the game free will!"
(Gurnam Singh 2003)
Monday, March 06, 2006
SGPC Changing Maryada
Change in Maryada draws criticism
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 5
The amendment in the Sikh 60-year-old Rehat Maryada by the SGPC has evoked a strong reaction from Sikh intellectuals.
Mr Gurcharnjit Singh Lamba, a Sikh intellectual and Editor of monthly ‘Sant Sipahi’, has said the Sikh Maryada was formulated after marathon discussions and hence any amendment without taking the Sikh Panth into confidence was unacceptable to the sangat. He was here today to pay his obeisance at Harmandar Sahib.
A comparative study of two versions of the ‘Sikh Rehat Maryada’ - one of 1945 and the recent one published by the SGPC - shows glaring discrepancies.
Questioning the wisdom of changing the Article on re-marriage, Mr Lamba alleged the amendment was aimed to benefit certain influential persons who had indulged in bigamy. The original Rehat Maryada clearly mentions that no Sikh could remarry when his wife was alive. However, the amended Maryada has added the word ‘generally’ that reads, “Generally, no Sikh should marry a second wife if the first wife is alive.”
Another glaring amendment in the new version is on the definition of a Sikh. The Punjabi version of the original Maryada gives the definition of a Sikh as “Any human being who believes in all Sikh Gurus in One Immortal Being, (ii.) Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Sahib to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, (iii.) Guru Granth Sahib, and the utterances and teachings of the 10 Gurus and baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a Sikh.
However, the amended Punjabi version has deleted ‘Dassan’ (meaning all 10 from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh).
Mr Lamba further alleges that the deletion of ‘plucking of gray hair’ from the new version of Maryada was a blunder on the part of the SGPC.
He also criticised a section of the Sant Samaj for pursuing its own Maryada which was in sharp contrast to the original version, passed with the consent of the Sikh sangat.
Unbelievable they had the nerve to even think about changing it. AGPC are just meant to distribute the Panthic maryada which was decided upon on by Sarbat Khalsa. They actually have the nerve shows how free Sri Akal Takath Sahib is. If the Jathedar isn’t under any prabandi (restrictions) he will summon the head of SGPC and punish them but I really doubt the happening. Its so fustrating its hard enough getting the Panth to follow Rehit Maryada which was at the time formed collectively by the panth. Today people have formed there on sects, and dera passing of there own mardyadas as the ones from times of Guroo Gobind Singh Sahib. How messed can we get its unbelievable.
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 5
The amendment in the Sikh 60-year-old Rehat Maryada by the SGPC has evoked a strong reaction from Sikh intellectuals.
Mr Gurcharnjit Singh Lamba, a Sikh intellectual and Editor of monthly ‘Sant Sipahi’, has said the Sikh Maryada was formulated after marathon discussions and hence any amendment without taking the Sikh Panth into confidence was unacceptable to the sangat. He was here today to pay his obeisance at Harmandar Sahib.
A comparative study of two versions of the ‘Sikh Rehat Maryada’ - one of 1945 and the recent one published by the SGPC - shows glaring discrepancies.
Questioning the wisdom of changing the Article on re-marriage, Mr Lamba alleged the amendment was aimed to benefit certain influential persons who had indulged in bigamy. The original Rehat Maryada clearly mentions that no Sikh could remarry when his wife was alive. However, the amended Maryada has added the word ‘generally’ that reads, “Generally, no Sikh should marry a second wife if the first wife is alive.”
Another glaring amendment in the new version is on the definition of a Sikh. The Punjabi version of the original Maryada gives the definition of a Sikh as “Any human being who believes in all Sikh Gurus in One Immortal Being, (ii.) Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Sahib to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, (iii.) Guru Granth Sahib, and the utterances and teachings of the 10 Gurus and baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a Sikh.
However, the amended Punjabi version has deleted ‘Dassan’ (meaning all 10 from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh).
Mr Lamba further alleges that the deletion of ‘plucking of gray hair’ from the new version of Maryada was a blunder on the part of the SGPC.
He also criticised a section of the Sant Samaj for pursuing its own Maryada which was in sharp contrast to the original version, passed with the consent of the Sikh sangat.
Unbelievable they had the nerve to even think about changing it. AGPC are just meant to distribute the Panthic maryada which was decided upon on by Sarbat Khalsa. They actually have the nerve shows how free Sri Akal Takath Sahib is. If the Jathedar isn’t under any prabandi (restrictions) he will summon the head of SGPC and punish them but I really doubt the happening. Its so fustrating its hard enough getting the Panth to follow Rehit Maryada which was at the time formed collectively by the panth. Today people have formed there on sects, and dera passing of there own mardyadas as the ones from times of Guroo Gobind Singh Sahib. How messed can we get its unbelievable.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
The Most Difficult Test: Bhai Manjh
The Most Difficult Test: Bhai Manjh
Researched and Written by Admin www.tapoban.org
Introduction
In the time of Guru Arjan Dev jee, there was a powerful and rich Jat by the name of Teeratha. Teeratha was a follower of the Muslim sect of Sakhee Sarvar. He was the local leader of this sect and had hundreds of followers who all respected him. Teeratha would regularly lead the members of this sect on a pilgrimage to the main Sakhee Sarvar shrine now in Pakistan.
Meeting the Guru
Once when passing through Amritsar, Teeratha decided to visit Guru Arjan. He had heard that there was a great Guru who had a large following and this Guru was spiritually enlightened. He was curious to know who this Guru was and what he would say. He decided to stop off and see the Darbar of Guru Arjan. When he saw the Darbar, he saw that people of many different backgrounds, and castes were all sitting together and living in harmony. He also heard the keertan in the darbaar and the keertan left a permanent mark on him. He heard of the great gift of naam and the thirst to have this gift rose within him. He was the leader of hundreds of Sakhee Sarvar followers but he could no longer follow that path. He realised that Sikhee was the path he must follow.
He came to Guru Arjan Dev jee and introduced himself. Guru jee saw how rich and powerful Teeratha was and when Teeratha begged for naam and to be initiated into the Sikh faith, Guru jee replied, "Being a Sikh is no easy thing. The path is finer than a hair and sharper than the khanda. The primary principle of Sikhee is humility." Teeratha again repeated his request. Guru Arjan Dev jee then said, "Why do you want to be a Sikh? You are a rich and powerful man with hundreds of followers. You can continue on the easy path of Sakhee Sarvar, because the Sikh path is very hard. If you become a Sikh, you will lose your followers and all their respect and you will lose your wealth as well. You may even have to pay for this decision with your life. What use is there in becoming a Sikh for you?" But Teeratha was insistent he begged that nothing mattered. If he lost everything it would not matter, he needed naam. With tears in his eyes he begged for naam. Guru Arjan Dev jee accepted his request and initiated him into Sikhee and gave him Naam.
Teeratha decided to not return home and took leave of his followers. He decided to stay with the Guru for some time. The Sikhs knew that Teeratha was from the Manjh clan and began to call him Bhai Manjh. Bhai Manjh did seva in the darbaar and one day Guru Arjan Dev jee called him and asked him to return to his village and preach Sikhee to his old followers.
Return to the Village and Disaster
Bhai Manjh returned to his village and began the work of preaching Sikhee to the followers of Sakhee Sarvar. In his home, there was a shrine to Sakhee Sarvar which was revered by all the local followers. Bhai Manjh reached home and immediately had it demolished. Many of his old followers who had considered him a Guru heard Bhai Manjh's message that Guru Arjan was the true Satguru and the source of all happiness. They too decided to become Sikhs and began to recite baaNee. Bhai Manjh and the new devotees of the Guru decided to build a Dharamshaala (Sikh place of gathering) in the village where they could daily meet and do sangat.
While the construction of the Dharamshala was still going on, some Sakhee Sarvar leaders came to the village and saw that so many followers had become Sikhs. They spoke to Bhai Manjh and asked him to renounce Sikhee or face a terrible price. They said that he was powerful and a high official in the Sakhee Sarvar sect and he would lose all this if he did not come to his senses. Bhai Manjh sent them away and was insistent that he would remain a Sikh. The Sakhee Sarvar leaders left the village but heaped countless curses on Bhai Manjh and vowed that he would regret his decision.
Within a few days of this event, one night, all of Bhai Manjh's cattle died. It was unexplainable how all cattle could die in one night. In the following nights, cattle began to die in neighbouring houses as well. The villagers began to believe that perhaps the curse of Sakhee Sarvar was responsible and by becoming Sikhs and destroying the shrine, they had made a serious mistake. More and more cattle began to die each night and the villagers decided to break off from Bhai Manjh. They declared that they had nothing to do with Bhai Manjh and his new religion. They removed him from his position as village head. Bhai Manjh now began to lose his wealth as well and soon poverty entered his home.
Poverty
Before, poor and needy people used to come to Bhai Manjh to request for help and money. People would still come now but he himself was living in abject poverty. Bhai Manjh had absolutely no extra wealth to give to anybody. Bhai Manjh was in a desperate situation and he decided to visit the new village head. Bhai Manjh offered his home to be rented out for some money so he could feed his family. The village head agreed to the proposal but added the condition that Bhai Manjh's wife would become his housemaid. His wife would be paid for her labour as well.
Bhai Manjh returned home absolutely shattered. He was once the most powerful man in the village and today he was being forced to make his wife a maid. When Bhai Manjh's wife asked him what the village head had said. Bhai Manjh haltingly explained the offer he was given. Bhai Manjh's wife listned and then said that in such hard times she too was willing to make sacrifices and if they had to lower their dignity by doing a job such as that of maid, then so be it. They had to marry off the ir young daughter and needed money to raise their family. Bhai Manjh's wife agreed to go work for the village head.
Bhai Manjh fell asleep that night in deep sadness. The next morning his wife would leave to begin her new job. He thought of Guru Arjan and wondered why the Guru would put his Sikh through such pain. How could the Guru allow him to see such days? Then understanding dawned: this must be the Guru's test. The Guru had said that he would have to sacrifice his all for Naam. Bhai Manjh was determined not to fail this test. He felt shame that he had ever questioned the will of the Guru.
Serving the Guru
The next morning Bhai Manjh's wife gathered her clothes and left for the village head's home. Bhai Manjh decided to also leave the village. He left for Amritsar with his daughter and decided to spend his time doing seva. Bhai Manjh began to take the seva of bringing wood for the langar, cleaning the dishes, serving the visiting sangat and any other seva he could find. The Guru too heard of Bhai Manjh's sevaa. He called Bhai Manjh to come see him.
Bhai Manjh and his daughter appeared before the Guru and bowed. They stood before Satguru Arjan and waited for him to speak. Guru Arjan asked, "Bhai Manjh, where do you eat?" Bhai Manjh replied, "Satguru, I eat from your langar…"
Guru Arjan jee then said, "well then, what you do is nothing but wage-labour isn't it?"
The sangat was stunned. They knew Bhai Manjh had sacrificed his entire wealth and prestige to become a Sikh and now did more seva than anyone else in the Darbaar. How could Guru jee have humiliated him like this in front of everyone? After all, the Langar was open to everyone, why would Guru jee say such a thing?
Bhai Manjh was once a powerful and proud aristocrat with hundreds of followers. He now hung his head and then said, "Satguru, you are wise. Please give me the wisdom to understand and accept your Hukam." Guru jee did not reply. Bhai Manjh then bowed and took his leave with his daughter.
Bhai Manjh now decided to no longer eat in the langar. He decided to collect two bundles of wood from now on and he would give one to the langar and sell the other to earn his living and use it to purchase his food. Bhai Manjh's daughter asked her father why the Guru was so merciless to him. Bhai Manjh immediately replied, "No no! The Guru is merciful. He is testing our faith. We can not fail."
The Final Test
Bhai Manjh would rise early and begin to collect wood for seva and also to sell. After giving the first bundle and selling the second, the two would return to the Darbaar and do seva all day. He would put all his extra money into the Golak. Guru jee once came to Bhai Manjh and asked why he still stayed despite being so poor and having lost everything. Guru jee said he should go home. Bhai Manjh replied, "Mahaaraaj, please never speak of having to leave your feet. Sachay Patshah, worldly wealth is a dream and so it comes and goes. Nothing is lost. I have lost my worldly wealth and found your true treasure of Naam. No thief will take this treasure from me and no King will seize it. " Guru jee gave his blessings to Bhai Manjh and moved on.
One day early in the morning when Bhai Manjh was going to the langar to give wood, such a dust storm arose that he could see nothing. Bhai Manjh stumbled and fell into a well. Day broke and Bhai Manjh still had not returned and everyone understood he must be in trouble. The Sikhs began to search for him and heard him call out from the well. One Sikh ran to Guru Arjan to tell him what had happened and Guru jee immediately dashed bare foot to the well. They threw a rope into the well and asked Bhai Manjh to pull himself out. Bhia Manjh jee called from the depth of the well, "Please, first pull the wood out for the langar! If they become wet, they will be of no use and not burn. If I am wet, nothing will happen." Bhai jee tied the wood bundle to the rope and had it pulled out. Only then did Bhai Manjh pull h imself out.
When Bhai Manjh climbed out of the well, Guru Arjan was standing before him. Bhai Manjh fell at Guru jee's feet. Guru Arjan asked, "Bhai Manjh! What have you gained by following me? You have lost your wealth, your status, and even your wife. You have lost everything!"
Bhai Manjh held Guru jee's feet even tighter and with tears in his eyes replied, "No Satguru! I have not lost anything. I have only gained. Please don't push me away, this is my only request of you…"
Guru Arjan Dev jee then said, "Bhai Manjh, your sevaa has borne fruit. Ask for anything you want."
Bhai Manjh replied, "Guru jee, bless me that I may never want anything. May I always be content"
Guru jee replied, "It will happen as you request. But still, request something Bhai Manjh…"
Bhai Manjh then said, "If you are happy with me, then have this mercy. It is Kaljug. Please do not scold and test so harshly. May your Sikhs not have to bear such hardships."
Guru Maharaj again said, "This too will happen, but still request something Bhai Manjh." Bhai Manjh finally replied, "May my consciousness remain at your feet and may I never forget the meditation of your Naam. If you wish to bless me, then bless me with gift of limitless faith."
Guru Arjan heard these words and then said, "Manjh is the beloved of the Guru and the Guru is beloved of Manjh. Manjh is the ferry of the Guru who will ferry across the world ocean."
Guru Arjan sent Bhai Manjh home and told him all had been returned. Bhai Manjh did not understand how this would be possible, but had complete faith in the Guru.
Everything Restored
Bhai Manjh's wife had been working in the house of the village head and she made such an impression on him that he decided to make her his sister. He requested that she take the responsibility of raising his only son. He also gave back Bhai Manjh's home where she could raise the boy. Bhai Manjh returned home and was informed of all that h ad happened and was stunned.
Bhai Manjh never left the support of the Guru. Even at the darkest time he had faith it was all a test and if he stayed firm in his faith, nothing would happen to him. Bhai Manjh was appointed the entire Doaba area to preach Sikhee and he opened a Dharamshaalaa in his home. The langar that Bhai jee opened was famous all around. Many people became Sikhs because of his parchaar. When Guru Arjan Dev jee came to visit the Doaba area in 1596, he made a point of specially visiting Bhai Manjh and praised him for his parchaar.
Bhai Manjh jee is the embodiment of faith and perseverance. Nothing in life could turn him away from the Guru and in the end, the Guru kept and protected his Sikh.
http://forums.waheguroo.com/index.php?showtopic=13550&view=findpost&p=110429
Researched and Written by Admin www.tapoban.org
Introduction
In the time of Guru Arjan Dev jee, there was a powerful and rich Jat by the name of Teeratha. Teeratha was a follower of the Muslim sect of Sakhee Sarvar. He was the local leader of this sect and had hundreds of followers who all respected him. Teeratha would regularly lead the members of this sect on a pilgrimage to the main Sakhee Sarvar shrine now in Pakistan.
Meeting the Guru
Once when passing through Amritsar, Teeratha decided to visit Guru Arjan. He had heard that there was a great Guru who had a large following and this Guru was spiritually enlightened. He was curious to know who this Guru was and what he would say. He decided to stop off and see the Darbar of Guru Arjan. When he saw the Darbar, he saw that people of many different backgrounds, and castes were all sitting together and living in harmony. He also heard the keertan in the darbaar and the keertan left a permanent mark on him. He heard of the great gift of naam and the thirst to have this gift rose within him. He was the leader of hundreds of Sakhee Sarvar followers but he could no longer follow that path. He realised that Sikhee was the path he must follow.
He came to Guru Arjan Dev jee and introduced himself. Guru jee saw how rich and powerful Teeratha was and when Teeratha begged for naam and to be initiated into the Sikh faith, Guru jee replied, "Being a Sikh is no easy thing. The path is finer than a hair and sharper than the khanda. The primary principle of Sikhee is humility." Teeratha again repeated his request. Guru Arjan Dev jee then said, "Why do you want to be a Sikh? You are a rich and powerful man with hundreds of followers. You can continue on the easy path of Sakhee Sarvar, because the Sikh path is very hard. If you become a Sikh, you will lose your followers and all their respect and you will lose your wealth as well. You may even have to pay for this decision with your life. What use is there in becoming a Sikh for you?" But Teeratha was insistent he begged that nothing mattered. If he lost everything it would not matter, he needed naam. With tears in his eyes he begged for naam. Guru Arjan Dev jee accepted his request and initiated him into Sikhee and gave him Naam.
Teeratha decided to not return home and took leave of his followers. He decided to stay with the Guru for some time. The Sikhs knew that Teeratha was from the Manjh clan and began to call him Bhai Manjh. Bhai Manjh did seva in the darbaar and one day Guru Arjan Dev jee called him and asked him to return to his village and preach Sikhee to his old followers.
Return to the Village and Disaster
Bhai Manjh returned to his village and began the work of preaching Sikhee to the followers of Sakhee Sarvar. In his home, there was a shrine to Sakhee Sarvar which was revered by all the local followers. Bhai Manjh reached home and immediately had it demolished. Many of his old followers who had considered him a Guru heard Bhai Manjh's message that Guru Arjan was the true Satguru and the source of all happiness. They too decided to become Sikhs and began to recite baaNee. Bhai Manjh and the new devotees of the Guru decided to build a Dharamshaala (Sikh place of gathering) in the village where they could daily meet and do sangat.
While the construction of the Dharamshala was still going on, some Sakhee Sarvar leaders came to the village and saw that so many followers had become Sikhs. They spoke to Bhai Manjh and asked him to renounce Sikhee or face a terrible price. They said that he was powerful and a high official in the Sakhee Sarvar sect and he would lose all this if he did not come to his senses. Bhai Manjh sent them away and was insistent that he would remain a Sikh. The Sakhee Sarvar leaders left the village but heaped countless curses on Bhai Manjh and vowed that he would regret his decision.
Within a few days of this event, one night, all of Bhai Manjh's cattle died. It was unexplainable how all cattle could die in one night. In the following nights, cattle began to die in neighbouring houses as well. The villagers began to believe that perhaps the curse of Sakhee Sarvar was responsible and by becoming Sikhs and destroying the shrine, they had made a serious mistake. More and more cattle began to die each night and the villagers decided to break off from Bhai Manjh. They declared that they had nothing to do with Bhai Manjh and his new religion. They removed him from his position as village head. Bhai Manjh now began to lose his wealth as well and soon poverty entered his home.
Poverty
Before, poor and needy people used to come to Bhai Manjh to request for help and money. People would still come now but he himself was living in abject poverty. Bhai Manjh had absolutely no extra wealth to give to anybody. Bhai Manjh was in a desperate situation and he decided to visit the new village head. Bhai Manjh offered his home to be rented out for some money so he could feed his family. The village head agreed to the proposal but added the condition that Bhai Manjh's wife would become his housemaid. His wife would be paid for her labour as well.
Bhai Manjh returned home absolutely shattered. He was once the most powerful man in the village and today he was being forced to make his wife a maid. When Bhai Manjh's wife asked him what the village head had said. Bhai Manjh haltingly explained the offer he was given. Bhai Manjh's wife listned and then said that in such hard times she too was willing to make sacrifices and if they had to lower their dignity by doing a job such as that of maid, then so be it. They had to marry off the ir young daughter and needed money to raise their family. Bhai Manjh's wife agreed to go work for the village head.
Bhai Manjh fell asleep that night in deep sadness. The next morning his wife would leave to begin her new job. He thought of Guru Arjan and wondered why the Guru would put his Sikh through such pain. How could the Guru allow him to see such days? Then understanding dawned: this must be the Guru's test. The Guru had said that he would have to sacrifice his all for Naam. Bhai Manjh was determined not to fail this test. He felt shame that he had ever questioned the will of the Guru.
Serving the Guru
The next morning Bhai Manjh's wife gathered her clothes and left for the village head's home. Bhai Manjh decided to also leave the village. He left for Amritsar with his daughter and decided to spend his time doing seva. Bhai Manjh began to take the seva of bringing wood for the langar, cleaning the dishes, serving the visiting sangat and any other seva he could find. The Guru too heard of Bhai Manjh's sevaa. He called Bhai Manjh to come see him.
Bhai Manjh and his daughter appeared before the Guru and bowed. They stood before Satguru Arjan and waited for him to speak. Guru Arjan asked, "Bhai Manjh, where do you eat?" Bhai Manjh replied, "Satguru, I eat from your langar…"
Guru Arjan jee then said, "well then, what you do is nothing but wage-labour isn't it?"
The sangat was stunned. They knew Bhai Manjh had sacrificed his entire wealth and prestige to become a Sikh and now did more seva than anyone else in the Darbaar. How could Guru jee have humiliated him like this in front of everyone? After all, the Langar was open to everyone, why would Guru jee say such a thing?
Bhai Manjh was once a powerful and proud aristocrat with hundreds of followers. He now hung his head and then said, "Satguru, you are wise. Please give me the wisdom to understand and accept your Hukam." Guru jee did not reply. Bhai Manjh then bowed and took his leave with his daughter.
Bhai Manjh now decided to no longer eat in the langar. He decided to collect two bundles of wood from now on and he would give one to the langar and sell the other to earn his living and use it to purchase his food. Bhai Manjh's daughter asked her father why the Guru was so merciless to him. Bhai Manjh immediately replied, "No no! The Guru is merciful. He is testing our faith. We can not fail."
The Final Test
Bhai Manjh would rise early and begin to collect wood for seva and also to sell. After giving the first bundle and selling the second, the two would return to the Darbaar and do seva all day. He would put all his extra money into the Golak. Guru jee once came to Bhai Manjh and asked why he still stayed despite being so poor and having lost everything. Guru jee said he should go home. Bhai Manjh replied, "Mahaaraaj, please never speak of having to leave your feet. Sachay Patshah, worldly wealth is a dream and so it comes and goes. Nothing is lost. I have lost my worldly wealth and found your true treasure of Naam. No thief will take this treasure from me and no King will seize it. " Guru jee gave his blessings to Bhai Manjh and moved on.
One day early in the morning when Bhai Manjh was going to the langar to give wood, such a dust storm arose that he could see nothing. Bhai Manjh stumbled and fell into a well. Day broke and Bhai Manjh still had not returned and everyone understood he must be in trouble. The Sikhs began to search for him and heard him call out from the well. One Sikh ran to Guru Arjan to tell him what had happened and Guru jee immediately dashed bare foot to the well. They threw a rope into the well and asked Bhai Manjh to pull himself out. Bhia Manjh jee called from the depth of the well, "Please, first pull the wood out for the langar! If they become wet, they will be of no use and not burn. If I am wet, nothing will happen." Bhai jee tied the wood bundle to the rope and had it pulled out. Only then did Bhai Manjh pull h imself out.
When Bhai Manjh climbed out of the well, Guru Arjan was standing before him. Bhai Manjh fell at Guru jee's feet. Guru Arjan asked, "Bhai Manjh! What have you gained by following me? You have lost your wealth, your status, and even your wife. You have lost everything!"
Bhai Manjh held Guru jee's feet even tighter and with tears in his eyes replied, "No Satguru! I have not lost anything. I have only gained. Please don't push me away, this is my only request of you…"
Guru Arjan Dev jee then said, "Bhai Manjh, your sevaa has borne fruit. Ask for anything you want."
Bhai Manjh replied, "Guru jee, bless me that I may never want anything. May I always be content"
Guru jee replied, "It will happen as you request. But still, request something Bhai Manjh…"
Bhai Manjh then said, "If you are happy with me, then have this mercy. It is Kaljug. Please do not scold and test so harshly. May your Sikhs not have to bear such hardships."
Guru Maharaj again said, "This too will happen, but still request something Bhai Manjh." Bhai Manjh finally replied, "May my consciousness remain at your feet and may I never forget the meditation of your Naam. If you wish to bless me, then bless me with gift of limitless faith."
Guru Arjan heard these words and then said, "Manjh is the beloved of the Guru and the Guru is beloved of Manjh. Manjh is the ferry of the Guru who will ferry across the world ocean."
Guru Arjan sent Bhai Manjh home and told him all had been returned. Bhai Manjh did not understand how this would be possible, but had complete faith in the Guru.
Everything Restored
Bhai Manjh's wife had been working in the house of the village head and she made such an impression on him that he decided to make her his sister. He requested that she take the responsibility of raising his only son. He also gave back Bhai Manjh's home where she could raise the boy. Bhai Manjh returned home and was informed of all that h ad happened and was stunned.
Bhai Manjh never left the support of the Guru. Even at the darkest time he had faith it was all a test and if he stayed firm in his faith, nothing would happen to him. Bhai Manjh was appointed the entire Doaba area to preach Sikhee and he opened a Dharamshaalaa in his home. The langar that Bhai jee opened was famous all around. Many people became Sikhs because of his parchaar. When Guru Arjan Dev jee came to visit the Doaba area in 1596, he made a point of specially visiting Bhai Manjh and praised him for his parchaar.
Bhai Manjh jee is the embodiment of faith and perseverance. Nothing in life could turn him away from the Guru and in the end, the Guru kept and protected his Sikh.
http://forums.waheguroo.com/index.php?showtopic=13550&view=findpost&p=110429
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Manmukh to Gurmukh
An account of a Gursikh Student on how Sikhi found him
When I was at College
When I was at college, I was just one of the guys. I drank, smoked, did drugs, played with the girls and I used to love it! I was trying to get the best looking girls and thinking I was the man. I would shave my head every Sunday with a razor and kept my goatee trim for Monday! I would also show off my tattoos to the girls and thought I was Tupac’s brother!
One day, when I was bunking off my lessons as usual at college, one of my mates had kept his Kes (hair) and wore a Dastar (turban). I went up to him, and said “Bruv, what are you doing? You ain’t gonna get the girls like that. Why have you kept your hair and beard?” You see I never had a clue about Sikhi. He said to me “Do you know your Guru?” I just looked at him with a blank face! He then asked me “Do you know your 10 Gurus in order” You know what I said? I shamefully said, “I know the first one! What’s his name again?”
My friend then said to me “Just find out about your Gurus and you will see.” That thought had kept going through my head, I didn’t know why, but it kept ringing in my ears, “Find out about your Gurus and you will see!” So I thought, why not? I know more about Islam and Christianity than my own faith. I went home and picked up a book about the 10 Gurus and couldn’t stop from reading it. I felt so at peace with Guru jee’s teachings I felt like crying with joy.
What I found in Guru jee’s teachings I could find nowhere else, in no other religion. Guru jee was pulling me closer and closer. Guru jee had taught his Sikhs to meditate on God’s Name “Waheguru”, so I thought “Why not and try it?". I went to a Simran (meditation) program, where people of my age engaged in reciting Waheguru’s name and I felt so at peace that I joined in and was touched with love. I could feel Guru jee’s pyar (love). No other buzz I had felt was as good as this neither alcohol, drugs, nothing else!Nothing had beaten this buzz of, Waheguru’s name.
After that I just wanted to get closer to Guru jee, Guru Granth Sahib jee. I took that step and it was the best thing I had ever done. I wanted to know more and more. I was so in love. I read the inspiring stories of the Singhs and Singhnees. I read about the equality between man and woman in Sikhi. Believe! It’s just beautiful!
We just need to take that step towards Guru jee. My step was my friend who kept his Kes and reading simple stories of the Gurus. I took that one step and Guru jee took a thousand steps towards me, with open arms, that I might feel the love of Guru jee.
All I have to say to my brothers and sisters is just take one step towards your Guru; whether it be a book, a simran CD, or just reciting Waheguru with pure love, and you will see! You will see Guru jee taking a thousand steps towards you! Just take ten minutes of your busy schedule to learn about Sikhi. You are the future. You are the future Sikhs. We have to know about our roots. If we stop learning and caring about Sikhi then where will we be in twenty years time?
Guru jee loves you. He is our father. Lets show our father appreciation, do Seva, do Simran, help your brothers and sisters, join in the Sikh society at college or uni, bring your mates along to Sikhi Week events and talks, and help at the Gurdwara.
If I have made any mistakes, please forgive me and I offer my humble apologies.
Waheguru jee Ka Khalsa
Waheguru jee Kee Fateh
A Gursikh of the Panth
www.SweetSikhi.com
When I was at College
When I was at college, I was just one of the guys. I drank, smoked, did drugs, played with the girls and I used to love it! I was trying to get the best looking girls and thinking I was the man. I would shave my head every Sunday with a razor and kept my goatee trim for Monday! I would also show off my tattoos to the girls and thought I was Tupac’s brother!
One day, when I was bunking off my lessons as usual at college, one of my mates had kept his Kes (hair) and wore a Dastar (turban). I went up to him, and said “Bruv, what are you doing? You ain’t gonna get the girls like that. Why have you kept your hair and beard?” You see I never had a clue about Sikhi. He said to me “Do you know your Guru?” I just looked at him with a blank face! He then asked me “Do you know your 10 Gurus in order” You know what I said? I shamefully said, “I know the first one! What’s his name again?”
My friend then said to me “Just find out about your Gurus and you will see.” That thought had kept going through my head, I didn’t know why, but it kept ringing in my ears, “Find out about your Gurus and you will see!” So I thought, why not? I know more about Islam and Christianity than my own faith. I went home and picked up a book about the 10 Gurus and couldn’t stop from reading it. I felt so at peace with Guru jee’s teachings I felt like crying with joy.
What I found in Guru jee’s teachings I could find nowhere else, in no other religion. Guru jee was pulling me closer and closer. Guru jee had taught his Sikhs to meditate on God’s Name “Waheguru”, so I thought “Why not and try it?". I went to a Simran (meditation) program, where people of my age engaged in reciting Waheguru’s name and I felt so at peace that I joined in and was touched with love. I could feel Guru jee’s pyar (love). No other buzz I had felt was as good as this neither alcohol, drugs, nothing else!Nothing had beaten this buzz of, Waheguru’s name.
After that I just wanted to get closer to Guru jee, Guru Granth Sahib jee. I took that step and it was the best thing I had ever done. I wanted to know more and more. I was so in love. I read the inspiring stories of the Singhs and Singhnees. I read about the equality between man and woman in Sikhi. Believe! It’s just beautiful!
We just need to take that step towards Guru jee. My step was my friend who kept his Kes and reading simple stories of the Gurus. I took that one step and Guru jee took a thousand steps towards me, with open arms, that I might feel the love of Guru jee.
All I have to say to my brothers and sisters is just take one step towards your Guru; whether it be a book, a simran CD, or just reciting Waheguru with pure love, and you will see! You will see Guru jee taking a thousand steps towards you! Just take ten minutes of your busy schedule to learn about Sikhi. You are the future. You are the future Sikhs. We have to know about our roots. If we stop learning and caring about Sikhi then where will we be in twenty years time?
Guru jee loves you. He is our father. Lets show our father appreciation, do Seva, do Simran, help your brothers and sisters, join in the Sikh society at college or uni, bring your mates along to Sikhi Week events and talks, and help at the Gurdwara.
If I have made any mistakes, please forgive me and I offer my humble apologies.
Waheguru jee Ka Khalsa
Waheguru jee Kee Fateh
A Gursikh of the Panth
www.SweetSikhi.com
Bush And Rice - Joke.
Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China.
George: Great. Lay it on me.
Condi: Hu is the new leader of China.
George: That's what I want to know.
Condi: That's what I'm telling you.
George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes.
George: I mean the fellow's name.
Condi: Hu.
George: The guy in China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The new leader of China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The main man in China!
Condi: Hu is leading China.
George: Now whaddya' asking me for?
Condi: I'm telling you, Hu is leading China.
George: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China?
Condi: That's the man's name.
George: That's who's name?
Condi: Yes.
George: Will you, or will you not, tell me the name of the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he's dead in the Middle East.
Condi: That's correct.
George: Then who is in China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir is in China?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Then who is?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Look Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of China.
Get me the Secretary General of the U.N. on the phone.
Condi: Kofi?
George: No, thanks.
Condi: You want Kofi?
George: No.
Condi: You don't want Kofi.
George: No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk.
And
then get me the U.N.
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi?
George: Milk! Will you please make the call?
Condi: And call who?
George: Who is the guy at the U.N?
Condi: Hu is the guy in China
George: Will you stay out of China?!
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi.
George: All right! With cream and two sugars.
George: Great. Lay it on me.
Condi: Hu is the new leader of China.
George: That's what I want to know.
Condi: That's what I'm telling you.
George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes.
George: I mean the fellow's name.
Condi: Hu.
George: The guy in China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The new leader of China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The main man in China!
Condi: Hu is leading China.
George: Now whaddya' asking me for?
Condi: I'm telling you, Hu is leading China.
George: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China?
Condi: That's the man's name.
George: That's who's name?
Condi: Yes.
George: Will you, or will you not, tell me the name of the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he's dead in the Middle East.
Condi: That's correct.
George: Then who is in China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir is in China?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Then who is?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Look Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of China.
Get me the Secretary General of the U.N. on the phone.
Condi: Kofi?
George: No, thanks.
Condi: You want Kofi?
George: No.
Condi: You don't want Kofi.
George: No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk.
And
then get me the U.N.
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi?
George: Milk! Will you please make the call?
Condi: And call who?
George: Who is the guy at the U.N?
Condi: Hu is the guy in China
George: Will you stay out of China?!
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi.
George: All right! With cream and two sugars.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Calming the Mind
Don't give your mind permission to get disturbed
a disturbed mind is easily influenced
a disturbed mind is easily influenced
This will cost you your peace
Learn to maintain your peace
by freeing yourself from attachments
competing or comparing yourself with others
will not allow you to focus inwards
An inner focus allows you to
keep your eye on your higher self
Remember your original nature
It allows you to forge a like with the Divine
Then it becomes easy to recognise useless thoughts
and replace them with a spiritual perspective
Introversion replaces inner sorrow
with praise for God
you feel delight. You feel renewed.
keep your eye on your higher self
Remember your original nature
It allows you to forge a like with the Divine
Then it becomes easy to recognise useless thoughts
and replace them with a spiritual perspective
Introversion replaces inner sorrow
with praise for God
you feel delight. You feel renewed.
God is teaching us how to turn within
so listen very carefully.
Keep a check on yourself and change
Don't wait for others to say something.
A calm mind is not just peaceful
It is focussed, self-Directing and Divine.
so listen very carefully.
Keep a check on yourself and change
Don't wait for others to say something.
A calm mind is not just peaceful
It is focussed, self-Directing and Divine.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
And God said No
Author - Unknown
I asked God to take away my pride,
And God said "No."
He said, "It's not for Me to take away,
But for you to give up."
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
And God said "No."
He said, "Her spirit is whole,
Her body is only temporary."
I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said "No."
He said, "Patience is a byproduct of tribulation,
It isn't granted, it's earned."
I asked God to give me happiness,
And God said "No."
He said, "I give you blessings,
Happiness is up to you."
I asked God to spare me pain,
And God said "No."
He said, "Pain tells Me what to heal,
And brings you closer to Me."
I asked God to make my spirit grow,
And God said "No."
He said, "You must learn how to grow,
And I will prune you to make you fruitful when you ask."
I asked God to help me love others,
As much as He loves me,
"Ah finally,
You have the idea."
I asked God to take away my pride,
And God said "No."
He said, "It's not for Me to take away,
But for you to give up."
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
And God said "No."
He said, "Her spirit is whole,
Her body is only temporary."
I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said "No."
He said, "Patience is a byproduct of tribulation,
It isn't granted, it's earned."
I asked God to give me happiness,
And God said "No."
He said, "I give you blessings,
Happiness is up to you."
I asked God to spare me pain,
And God said "No."
He said, "Pain tells Me what to heal,
And brings you closer to Me."
I asked God to make my spirit grow,
And God said "No."
He said, "You must learn how to grow,
And I will prune you to make you fruitful when you ask."
I asked God to help me love others,
As much as He loves me,
"Ah finally,
You have the idea."
Khalsa Princess (true story)
This was the time when the army of Mir Mannu was going from house to house searching for Sikhs. Many of the Sikhs took shelter in jungles but some Sikhs who were living with their families in the cities and could not just leave right away or join any jathas. They were captured by the army and all were being sent to Lahore. Most of the prisoners were Sikh women and children. Many of the old women were killed on the way because they were weak and could not walk for a long time. All of the Singhnis and their children were put in Lahore jail. For labor they were given "chakkis". They were given no food or water. This was a way to torture them so they would leave Sikhi. They were separated from their children. Everyday muslims would come and taunt them by saying "where is your Khalsa now?" They can't even come to rescue you. All of them have been killed by the army. So it is better for you to accept islam and live a rich happy life." Singhnis never ever thought of leaving Sikhi. They kept reciting "Waheguru Dhan Guru Waheguru Waheguru".
All children were separated from their mothers and were given no food or water. Then muslims started killing the innocent children by throwing them up in the air and landing them on sharp spears. Some children were cut into pieces and garlands were made out of their pieces. Then they put those garlands around the necks of Sikh mothers. But the faith of Sikh women was unshakable. One of the women was very beautiful and Qazi wanted to marry her. He would come everyday and try to convince her to accept him but she never did. She had a son who was less than two years old. One day upon leaving, qazi gave orders to some of the army men to torture her and her son so she would give up her faith.
One night the cruel animals (men) tied her up first and then started torturing her son. They hung her son upside down, took a knife and started to cut into his flesh from the neck all the way down to stomach. Singhni kept calm and kept praying "Guru Ji, Jaan Jayai par Dharam Na Jaayai". Then they slowly cut her son into pieces and he became shaheed. Then they started beating the Singhni with sticks and "chabuks". They hung her upside down and left. She stayed that way all night. In the morning they took her down but she was unable to get up and walk. She lay there by the wall, did Nitnem and then did Ardas "Sacchay Paatshah Ji, Saari Raat Aap De Bhanay tay Sukh Naal Beetee Hai. Aap ji da kotaan kot shukar hai, aap jee nay aapnee amanat vaapas lai layee hai. Aggay waastay vee bhanay vich chalan da uddam ball bakhsis karna. Daata Ji, praan jayai par Sikhi na jayai. Mehar karni"
Hearing this some of the guards were shocked and wondering what Sikhs were made up of? Some of the guards left their jobs by saying "These Sikhs are religious people. We cannot torture these innocent souls. Even their women and children are so strong and brave. They will rule Punjab one day." Some fanatic muslims were enraged by this. They started to torture her again. Heavy weight was put on her body and her bones were crushed. They hit her with sticks. After so much torture she became shaheed but she never gave up her faith. Only word that came out of her mouth was "Waheguru Waheguru". When Singhs heard the news of the tortures, they attacked Lahore and freed all the prisoners and punished the criminals. At the same time Mir Mannu died a horrible death.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
All children were separated from their mothers and were given no food or water. Then muslims started killing the innocent children by throwing them up in the air and landing them on sharp spears. Some children were cut into pieces and garlands were made out of their pieces. Then they put those garlands around the necks of Sikh mothers. But the faith of Sikh women was unshakable. One of the women was very beautiful and Qazi wanted to marry her. He would come everyday and try to convince her to accept him but she never did. She had a son who was less than two years old. One day upon leaving, qazi gave orders to some of the army men to torture her and her son so she would give up her faith.
One night the cruel animals (men) tied her up first and then started torturing her son. They hung her son upside down, took a knife and started to cut into his flesh from the neck all the way down to stomach. Singhni kept calm and kept praying "Guru Ji, Jaan Jayai par Dharam Na Jaayai". Then they slowly cut her son into pieces and he became shaheed. Then they started beating the Singhni with sticks and "chabuks". They hung her upside down and left. She stayed that way all night. In the morning they took her down but she was unable to get up and walk. She lay there by the wall, did Nitnem and then did Ardas "Sacchay Paatshah Ji, Saari Raat Aap De Bhanay tay Sukh Naal Beetee Hai. Aap ji da kotaan kot shukar hai, aap jee nay aapnee amanat vaapas lai layee hai. Aggay waastay vee bhanay vich chalan da uddam ball bakhsis karna. Daata Ji, praan jayai par Sikhi na jayai. Mehar karni"
Hearing this some of the guards were shocked and wondering what Sikhs were made up of? Some of the guards left their jobs by saying "These Sikhs are religious people. We cannot torture these innocent souls. Even their women and children are so strong and brave. They will rule Punjab one day." Some fanatic muslims were enraged by this. They started to torture her again. Heavy weight was put on her body and her bones were crushed. They hit her with sticks. After so much torture she became shaheed but she never gave up her faith. Only word that came out of her mouth was "Waheguru Waheguru". When Singhs heard the news of the tortures, they attacked Lahore and freed all the prisoners and punished the criminals. At the same time Mir Mannu died a horrible death.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Portrait of Bravery
Portrait of Bravery Maj. General M. Khan of Pakistan wrote in his
book 'Crisis of Leadership' about the bravery of the Sikh soldiers during
the Indo-Pak war. Here are some excerpts: "....the main reason of our
defeat was Sikhs fighting facing us. We were helpless to do anything in
front of them. Sikhs are very brave and they have a great craving for
martyrdom. They fight so fiercely that they are capable of defeating an
army many times bigger than theirs." "....On 3rd December 1971, we
fiercely and vigorously attacked the Indian army with our infantry
brigade near Hussainiwala border. This brigade included Pakistan army's
fighter Punjabi regiment together with the Baloch regiment. Within
minutes we pushed the Indian army quite far back. Their defence posts
fell under our control. The Indian army was retreating back very fast and
the Pakistani army was going forward with a great speed. Our army reached
near the Kausre-Hind post. There was a small segment of the Indian army
appointed to defend that post and their soldiers belonged to the Sikh
Regiment. A few number of the Sikh Regiment stopped our way forward like
an iron wall. They loudly greeted us with the ovation of 'Bole-so-Nihal'
and attacked us like blood thirsty hungry lions and hawks. All these
soldiers were Sikhs. There was even a dreadful hand-to-hand battle. The
sky filled with roars of 'Yaa Ali' and 'Sat-Siri-Akal'. Even in this
hand-to-hand fighting the Sikhs fought so bravely that all our desires,
aspirations and dreams were shattered." ".....In this war Lt. Col Gulab
Hussain of Baloch Regiment got killed. With him Major Mohammed Zaeef and
Captain Arif Alim also died. It was difficult to count the number of
soldiers who got killed. We were astonished to see the courage of those
handful of Sikh soldiers. When we seized the possession of the
three-storey defence post of concrete, the Sikh soldiers went onto the
roof and kept on persistently opposing us. The whole night they kept on
showering fires on us and continued shouting the loud ovation of
'Sat-Siri-Akal'. These Sikh soldiers kept on the encounter till the next
day. Next day the Pakistani tanks surrounded this post and bombed it with
guns. Those handful of Sikhs got martyred in this encounter while
resisting us, but other Sikh soldiers then destroyed our tanks with the
help of their artillery. Fighting with great bravery they kept on
marching forward and thus our army lost its foothold." "....Alas, a
handful of Sikhs converted our great victory into a big defeat and
shattered our confidence and courage. ." "....The same thing happened with
us in Dhaka(Bangladesh). In the battle of Jaissur, the Singhs opposed the
Pakistani army so fiercely that our backbone and our foothold was lost.
This became the main and important reason of our defeat and the Sikhs'
fancy for martyrdom and mockery with death for the sake of safety and
honour of the country, became the sole cause of their victory." Similar
type of comments were made by Pakistani army in East Pakistan under the
leadership of General Niazi while surrendering their weapons to General
Jagjit Singh Arora. The bravery and spirit of sacrifice of Sikhs were
respected and honoured by one and all. May God rest the souls of all the
fallen soldiers (Sikhs and Pakistanis), in peace. Thought: "Sawa Lakh
se ek laraun, chirian to(n) main baaj taranun, tabhe Gobind Singh naam
kahaun" (Unless I raise one to stand against many, cause sparrow spurn
hawk, I shall not deserve to be called Gobind Singh.) Regards Sodhi Singh
book 'Crisis of Leadership' about the bravery of the Sikh soldiers during
the Indo-Pak war. Here are some excerpts: "....the main reason of our
defeat was Sikhs fighting facing us. We were helpless to do anything in
front of them. Sikhs are very brave and they have a great craving for
martyrdom. They fight so fiercely that they are capable of defeating an
army many times bigger than theirs." "....On 3rd December 1971, we
fiercely and vigorously attacked the Indian army with our infantry
brigade near Hussainiwala border. This brigade included Pakistan army's
fighter Punjabi regiment together with the Baloch regiment. Within
minutes we pushed the Indian army quite far back. Their defence posts
fell under our control. The Indian army was retreating back very fast and
the Pakistani army was going forward with a great speed. Our army reached
near the Kausre-Hind post. There was a small segment of the Indian army
appointed to defend that post and their soldiers belonged to the Sikh
Regiment. A few number of the Sikh Regiment stopped our way forward like
an iron wall. They loudly greeted us with the ovation of 'Bole-so-Nihal'
and attacked us like blood thirsty hungry lions and hawks. All these
soldiers were Sikhs. There was even a dreadful hand-to-hand battle. The
sky filled with roars of 'Yaa Ali' and 'Sat-Siri-Akal'. Even in this
hand-to-hand fighting the Sikhs fought so bravely that all our desires,
aspirations and dreams were shattered." ".....In this war Lt. Col Gulab
Hussain of Baloch Regiment got killed. With him Major Mohammed Zaeef and
Captain Arif Alim also died. It was difficult to count the number of
soldiers who got killed. We were astonished to see the courage of those
handful of Sikh soldiers. When we seized the possession of the
three-storey defence post of concrete, the Sikh soldiers went onto the
roof and kept on persistently opposing us. The whole night they kept on
showering fires on us and continued shouting the loud ovation of
'Sat-Siri-Akal'. These Sikh soldiers kept on the encounter till the next
day. Next day the Pakistani tanks surrounded this post and bombed it with
guns. Those handful of Sikhs got martyred in this encounter while
resisting us, but other Sikh soldiers then destroyed our tanks with the
help of their artillery. Fighting with great bravery they kept on
marching forward and thus our army lost its foothold." "....Alas, a
handful of Sikhs converted our great victory into a big defeat and
shattered our confidence and courage. ." "....The same thing happened with
us in Dhaka(Bangladesh). In the battle of Jaissur, the Singhs opposed the
Pakistani army so fiercely that our backbone and our foothold was lost.
This became the main and important reason of our defeat and the Sikhs'
fancy for martyrdom and mockery with death for the sake of safety and
honour of the country, became the sole cause of their victory." Similar
type of comments were made by Pakistani army in East Pakistan under the
leadership of General Niazi while surrendering their weapons to General
Jagjit Singh Arora. The bravery and spirit of sacrifice of Sikhs were
respected and honoured by one and all. May God rest the souls of all the
fallen soldiers (Sikhs and Pakistanis), in peace. Thought: "Sawa Lakh
se ek laraun, chirian to(n) main baaj taranun, tabhe Gobind Singh naam
kahaun" (Unless I raise one to stand against many, cause sparrow spurn
hawk, I shall not deserve to be called Gobind Singh.) Regards Sodhi Singh
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Why are we waiting?
I’m gone try and post when I can but won’t be a lot of stuff by me. I’ve got so much stuff I want to write about past experiences and things that have happened but I just don’t have time at the moment unfortunately at the moment. I’ve taken a lot on and have lots to do and not getting it done. So I need to seriously concentrate on that. I will aim to blog a few times a week with stuff I find on my pc or net which I think others will find interesting to.
One thing I have realised since starting university is to say no to people and don’t let them suck you in with there talk. Everyone is concerned about number one, i.e. themselves and I guess it’s a man eats man world out there so you have to be the same. Some times I guess you have to be cruel to be kind. This probably won’t make sense to you but it’s not meant to.
One thing I have realised since starting university is to say no to people and don’t let them suck you in with there talk. Everyone is concerned about number one, i.e. themselves and I guess it’s a man eats man world out there so you have to be the same. Some times I guess you have to be cruel to be kind. This probably won’t make sense to you but it’s not meant to.
vahiguroo
Today was weird. I have to run from one part of London to another for simran at Sikh Society and as I was about to cross the road a car went past with a coffin. you automatically imagine to se a big one for an adult but it was really small and white. I was just taken back a bit, made me realise as well that we never know when we are going to go.
Any way after simran I went back to my campus for my seminar and on the way back some med students where collecting for a charity. The charity was for youth who would not live to see there 19th birthday.
I was just thinking I’m only what 20 and I have just started to live in my terms where by I got my bit of freedom and stuff. I dunno it just brings things home to you.
I guess I will end on, Live life to fullest, enjoy have fun but most importantly realise your goal in life and jaap naam. Vahiguroo.
Any way after simran I went back to my campus for my seminar and on the way back some med students where collecting for a charity. The charity was for youth who would not live to see there 19th birthday.
I was just thinking I’m only what 20 and I have just started to live in my terms where by I got my bit of freedom and stuff. I dunno it just brings things home to you.
I guess I will end on, Live life to fullest, enjoy have fun but most importantly realise your goal in life and jaap naam. Vahiguroo.
Monday, February 13, 2006
How Sikhi Is Different?
Please take time to visit this link, Click Here
This weeks article on Gupt Naam Abhiyaasee's blog is on "How Sikhi Is Different?" The article seeks to show this through a comparision between Sikhi and other world religions through gurbani. It ends with how SIkhi is different. Pass it on to your freinds and family :)
Gupt Wannabe Naam Abhiyaasee:
"Can you please email this article any brothers and sisters who are not very familiar with Gurmat and Gurbani or those wishing to learn more about Sikhi. Or alternatively introduce them to the blog."
This weeks article on Gupt Naam Abhiyaasee's blog is on "How Sikhi Is Different?" The article seeks to show this through a comparision between Sikhi and other world religions through gurbani. It ends with how SIkhi is different. Pass it on to your freinds and family :)
Gupt Wannabe Naam Abhiyaasee:
"Can you please email this article any brothers and sisters who are not very familiar with Gurmat and Gurbani or those wishing to learn more about Sikhi. Or alternatively introduce them to the blog."
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Heaven and Hell
Heaven and Hell
Guru Arjun Dev ji sung
Amrit priya bachan tuhare.
Raj na chaho, Mukat na chao
Man preet charan kamalareh.
Your words are nectar,
I don't desire Kingdom (Raaj) and I don't want Liberation (Muktee)
my mind (only wants) the love of your lotus feet'.
People think Muktee is the thing to get, i.e salvation or liberation or freedom from the bonds of the world. People want heaven where they meet all there relatives and have the house and garden they always dreamed about. But Guru Arjun Dev ji is light years ahead of that stage and sings:
Man preet charan kamalareh
my mind (only wants) the love of your lotus feet.
But isn't having the love of Guru ji's lotus feet the same as heaven or mukti?
No, a giani jee gave the following example : it's like a little boy who's lost in a shopping mall. At first he loved spending hours in the toy shop, then he really wanted to go to the sweet shop and eat all the chocolates. In the end he started crying because he wanted his mummy. He ran past the sweet shop, he ran past the toy shop, the only important thing was finding his mummy and she'd pick him up and hug him to the chest.
Sikhi is not about going to heaven or hell (the shops), but about going back to sit in Gurdev-Pita Guru Nanak Ji's fatherly laps, it's about being absorbed in the lovelight of Guru ji's Lotus feet. And being absorbed in the love of God's Lotus Feet is to do naam simran with humility and love.
Guru Arjun Dev ji sung
Amrit priya bachan tuhare.
Raj na chaho, Mukat na chao
Man preet charan kamalareh.
Your words are nectar,
I don't desire Kingdom (Raaj) and I don't want Liberation (Muktee)
my mind (only wants) the love of your lotus feet'.
People think Muktee is the thing to get, i.e salvation or liberation or freedom from the bonds of the world. People want heaven where they meet all there relatives and have the house and garden they always dreamed about. But Guru Arjun Dev ji is light years ahead of that stage and sings:
Man preet charan kamalareh
my mind (only wants) the love of your lotus feet.
But isn't having the love of Guru ji's lotus feet the same as heaven or mukti?
No, a giani jee gave the following example : it's like a little boy who's lost in a shopping mall. At first he loved spending hours in the toy shop, then he really wanted to go to the sweet shop and eat all the chocolates. In the end he started crying because he wanted his mummy. He ran past the sweet shop, he ran past the toy shop, the only important thing was finding his mummy and she'd pick him up and hug him to the chest.
Sikhi is not about going to heaven or hell (the shops), but about going back to sit in Gurdev-Pita Guru Nanak Ji's fatherly laps, it's about being absorbed in the lovelight of Guru ji's Lotus feet. And being absorbed in the love of God's Lotus Feet is to do naam simran with humility and love.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Fourteen Good Resons Why Society Needs Religion
In today’s Britain,the people are increasingly drifting away from religion and God.For some it is a disillusionment,dislike and distrust of the Church.While others say that religion causes wars and conflicts and bad-blood.The new generations of ethnic minorities like Sikhs,Muslims and Hindus don’t find religion meaningful and attractive enough.Perhaps they want help in understanding its importance and meaning.Perhaps their elders are not competent enough to explain and exemplify religion to them.Or maybe they are too busy raising families and earning livelihood,etc.Whatever the reason,fact is that religion is fast eroding from its place in peoples’ lives and I would like to state fourteen good reasons why we all,and society in general genuinely need religion in our lives :-
Religion
1.Religion helps to regulate our conduct and behaviour in society by providing a set of morals and value-system for human existence.
2.Religion guides our actions in life, putting a check on criminal tendency in human nature.
3.A true religion will ensure peaceful co-existence,love and harmony among human beings.
4.Religion keeps our feet firmly planted on the ground even when our heads are up in clouds because of fast-moving technology resulting in hectic and stressful lifestyle.
5.A true religion gives you a clear conscience while performing an action or taking a difficult decision,like resorting to arms in self-defence or in war.
6.Religion ensures balance in a life where negative social influences can be increasingly disruptive,immoral and corruptive for the mind.
7.As a science of self-improvement,religion offers a therapeutic and success-oriented lifestyle,a victorious way of life.
8.Religion prevents deterioration of the mind due to dehumanization and desensitization caused by highly mechanized modern living,thus providing stability.
9.True religion is the manifestation of mercy - God’s mercy for His Creation and man’s mercy towards his fellow-beings and environment(Creation).
10.Religion prevents us from being carried away by the tides of the times,because a true religion has an eternal value-system.
11.True religion protects the human rights of everyone and prevents their violation.
12.True religion ensures social justice,equality and security for all its adherents.
13.True religion ensures a happy,holy,healthy mind in a healthy body.
14.True religion provides for good governance of society and good care of its citizens.
Sikh religion satisfies ALL of the above criteria,and is therefore the most perfect religion or way of life for all humanity.
Misgivings about the future of Sikhism:
One often hears from some concerned Sikhs or even non-Sikhs,that Sikh religion is in danger of gradual extinction.In support they cite various reasons like influence of Western lifestyle,lack of adherence by existing or younger members of the faith,or interference by external forces.
Actually there is no long-term threat to Sikhi,because Waheguru is Himself the all-powerful,all-knowing Creator and originator of Sikhi.He is 100% behind his Sikhs with all His Might.Sikhism is powerful and stable beyond words.It is The Way for modern times and the modern world.It is the answer to humanity’s problems.Time will tell.Have faith.Do YOUR bit for the Guru.Let us each do our bit - be good Sikhs.Be practising Sikhs.Leave the rest to Waheguru.We only have to follow our Guru for all our needs.And the Panth will automatically sort out the worldly matters,like Raaj,etc.
History proves that Sikhs are survivors.They will always come out victorious in any and all circumstances despite heavy odds.Remember that Khalsa is destined to usher in Satyug after the apocalyptic demise of the present Kalyug.So let us everyone get baptised into Khalsa while we still have the chance.
Hail to Sikhism, the greatest religion ever , and forever!
Wahegurujee Ka Khalsa.Wahegurujee Kee Fateh.
by, Bharat Vir Singh
Religion
1.Religion helps to regulate our conduct and behaviour in society by providing a set of morals and value-system for human existence.
2.Religion guides our actions in life, putting a check on criminal tendency in human nature.
3.A true religion will ensure peaceful co-existence,love and harmony among human beings.
4.Religion keeps our feet firmly planted on the ground even when our heads are up in clouds because of fast-moving technology resulting in hectic and stressful lifestyle.
5.A true religion gives you a clear conscience while performing an action or taking a difficult decision,like resorting to arms in self-defence or in war.
6.Religion ensures balance in a life where negative social influences can be increasingly disruptive,immoral and corruptive for the mind.
7.As a science of self-improvement,religion offers a therapeutic and success-oriented lifestyle,a victorious way of life.
8.Religion prevents deterioration of the mind due to dehumanization and desensitization caused by highly mechanized modern living,thus providing stability.
9.True religion is the manifestation of mercy - God’s mercy for His Creation and man’s mercy towards his fellow-beings and environment(Creation).
10.Religion prevents us from being carried away by the tides of the times,because a true religion has an eternal value-system.
11.True religion protects the human rights of everyone and prevents their violation.
12.True religion ensures social justice,equality and security for all its adherents.
13.True religion ensures a happy,holy,healthy mind in a healthy body.
14.True religion provides for good governance of society and good care of its citizens.
Sikh religion satisfies ALL of the above criteria,and is therefore the most perfect religion or way of life for all humanity.
Misgivings about the future of Sikhism:
One often hears from some concerned Sikhs or even non-Sikhs,that Sikh religion is in danger of gradual extinction.In support they cite various reasons like influence of Western lifestyle,lack of adherence by existing or younger members of the faith,or interference by external forces.
Actually there is no long-term threat to Sikhi,because Waheguru is Himself the all-powerful,all-knowing Creator and originator of Sikhi.He is 100% behind his Sikhs with all His Might.Sikhism is powerful and stable beyond words.It is The Way for modern times and the modern world.It is the answer to humanity’s problems.Time will tell.Have faith.Do YOUR bit for the Guru.Let us each do our bit - be good Sikhs.Be practising Sikhs.Leave the rest to Waheguru.We only have to follow our Guru for all our needs.And the Panth will automatically sort out the worldly matters,like Raaj,etc.
History proves that Sikhs are survivors.They will always come out victorious in any and all circumstances despite heavy odds.Remember that Khalsa is destined to usher in Satyug after the apocalyptic demise of the present Kalyug.So let us everyone get baptised into Khalsa while we still have the chance.
Hail to Sikhism, the greatest religion ever , and forever!
Wahegurujee Ka Khalsa.Wahegurujee Kee Fateh.
by, Bharat Vir Singh
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Friday, February 03, 2006
Done
I just had last exam. woohooo
Now I got a music assesment and coursework this weekend. And start of the new semester on Monday. :(
All audios from keertan at penjee Simrit Kaurs house are now up.
Click here for simran playing on rsingh blog (bibi Prajeet Kaur)
Click here for simran playing on Gurbani Khajana blog (bibi Ishpreet Kaur)
Now I got a music assesment and coursework this weekend. And start of the new semester on Monday. :(
All audios from keertan at penjee Simrit Kaurs house are now up.
Click here for simran playing on rsingh blog (bibi Prajeet Kaur)
Click here for simran playing on Gurbani Khajana blog (bibi Ishpreet Kaur)
Thursday, February 02, 2006
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