The Panthic Otpreka

Great Article

2007-08-09T19:28:00.001-04:00

Source:
http://www.sikhchic .com/article- detail.php# q1)

Ek Sikh Barabar Sava Lakh
by Dr. DIPANKAR GUPTA

Sikhs may be just two per cent of India's population,
but in their self-image and deportment, it is as if
they constitute two hundred per cent of India's one
billion. As the saying goes: "Ek Sikh barabar sava
lakh" ("Each Sikh is a Legion"). Even during the worst
days of the Partition, Sikhs never felt insecure about
their religion, as their Hindu counterparts did, and
continue to do.

Why then, does a small, insignificant sect like the
Dera Sacha Sauda, that does not even claim to be Sikh,
get mainstream Akalis and a large number of everyday
Sikhs so hot and bothered? This Baba is no medieval
tyrant and martyrdom of any kind would be thoroughly
wasted on him. He is a minor figure, whose demonising
by the Akalis raised his stature and downgraded their
gurus who gave up their lives in far more glorious
battlefields.

The question then is: How did the Sikhs suddenly turn
so insecure? When did it happen and where were we all
looking? Or did the lights suddenly go off in the
changing room?

The original Panthic Party, which later morphed into
the Akali Dal after 1947, never evinced such worries
either, and those were very difficult times. They
regularly participated with the Congress before
Independence. The party even supplied the Congress
with a stable of leaders, from Pratap Singh Kairon to
Swaran Singh. On election campaigns in undivided
Punjab, the Panthic Party frequently displayed the
Congress symbol along with its own. On no occasion did
any of this to-and-fro movement from the Panthic Party
and back threaten Sikhism. Nor did the Shiromani
Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee declare Kairon or Swaran
Singh, or any of the others who took their political
blood lines to the Congress, apostates or tankhaiyas.
Sikhism had that much confidence.

In 1899, when Sardar Kahn Singh Nabha wrote Hum Hindu
Nahin (We are not Hindus), he did not castigate any
other religion, but just said the plain truth. The
Sikhs were not Hindus and let the record state the
facts. It was not as if he was prompted to write this
tract because of the perceived fear that Hinduism was
eating up Sikhism. In this sense, he was not the
mirror opposite of Swami Dayanand, who took every
other religion, including Sikhism, as a threat to the
Hindu faith.

Nabha's interjection was to remind his readers of the
symbolic energies at the heart of his faith, without
deriding non-Sikhs, nor, even for a moment, hoping to
proselytise other religions to his own. Even the Singh
Sabhas and Chief Khalsa Diwan of that period were
intent on crafting a separate Sikh identity and not in
impressing their own thought prints on their immediate
religious neighbours.

Interestingly, in the sixty years after Independence,
the Akali Dal has never used the Partition to evoke
partisanship the way Hindu parties, and sadly, the
Congress even, have done from time to time. This is
indeed quite remarkable. Sikhs, too, had suffered
along with Hindus in their migration to east Punjab
and beyond. And yet, unlike Hindus, the Partition is
history for Sikhs, and not a source of political
energies.

When I was working with re-settled rural Sikh refugees
in Punjab and Haryana, what struck me the most was
that they found my questions, which recalled the
Partition, quite stupid. So many of these Sikhs told
me to move on and not keep looking over my shoulder
for monsters and chimeras of the past.

That was such a relief. Hindu refugees, in general,
were still agonising over the Partition and related
stirring tales of their experiences during those
times. Most of this recall was highly adorned, as my
Hindu respondents in the early 1990s were either
babies or playing in the mud in knickers when 1947
happened. Some post-Partition Hindu families even held
prayer meetings to solemnly remember the day they were
ousted from their homes. I found none of this among
Sikh refugees. It is no surprise then, that even a
sectarian party like the Akali Dal has no use for the
Partition as a leavening political agent.

Later, during the bad days of Khalistan, a large
number of Sikhs felt that they were humiliated by the
Indian state, but on no account did they believe that
their religion was under threat. Khalistanis were, of
course, baying to the contrary from the margins, but
an overwhelming majority of Sikhs did not politically
side with these secessionists, though they were widely
admired for giving the hated agents of the government
a tough time. This is not an "a-ha" moment, for, in
spite of the trauma post-Bluestar, Sikhs were willing
to look ahead the instant Prime Minister V.P. Singh
visited Punjab with a healing balm.

The Khalistani years, if one may call them that,
however demonstrated that in times of crisis, it was
not as if there were Sikhs and Sikhs. Regardless of
caste and origin, all Sikhs came together. This is
where the difference lies when we come to the Sikh
over-reaction to Dera Sacha Sauda. There are now Sikhs
and Sikhs and the lines are drawn along the grooves of
caste.

Most of the animus against Baba Ram Rahim came from
the Malwa region of Punjab, where Jat Sikhs are
politically dominant. It does not matter really if
Jats vote Congress today and Akali tomorrow; it would
always be a fight between "lions". Dera Sacha Sauda
trampled on this territory, by bringing in non-Jats to
kick up dust and spoil the Jat-versus-Jat slugfest.

This is why Baba Ram Rahim was so profoundly despised
in Jat-dominated Akali circles. It was not because he
was undermining Sikhism, so much as using his "low
caste" followers to defeat Jats in their own lair that
made Baba Ram Rahim such a hated poster-boy for the
Akalis. If the Congress had won without his support,
that would still have been acceptable.

It is not true, as the Akalis allege, that in the
advertisement put out by Baba Ram Rahim he dressed
like Guru Gobind Singh. His turban did not have a
kalgi (plume), he was stirring Rooh Afza (or
something pink) with a ladle and not with a sword
(which is Khalsa tradition), and furthermore, he was
wearing pink and not blue, not even white. No icon of
Guru Gobind Singh can ever be depicted in that colour.
Chhatrapati Shivaji's popular imagery looks closer to
Guru Gobind Singh than this pink spectacle.

And yet many Sikhs blindly believed the Akalis when
they said that Baba Ram Rahim was imitating Guru
Gobind Singh and thus, mocking Sikhism. The majority
of such Sikhs did not bother to verify the facts, as
they were primed to believe anything against him. It
was their Jatness, not their Sikhness, that Baba Ram
Rahim deeply hurt. In the 1980s, Hindus, too, eagerly
believed the tale that the Anandpur Sahib Resolution
was secessionist. The drive to hate always numbs the
better senses.

At the end of the day, what is most depressing is that
Sikhs are becoming caste-ridden, and more and more
like Hindus. If this trend continues, then Sikhism
will probably find its greatest threat from within and
not from figures clad in baby pink.

Dipankar Gupta is professor of social sciences at
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

[Courtesy: The Hindustan Times]

Singh and Kaur Ban in Canada (Immigration)

2007-07-24T00:36:00.001-04:00

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/23072007/3/canada-common-sikh-names-banned-under-canada-s-immigration-policy.html

CALGARY (CBC) - A Calgary woman waiting for her husband to arrive in Canada is upset by a long-standing immigration policy that forces people with the surname Singh or Kaur to change their last names.

Tarvinder Kaur, who is pregnant, said her husband Jaspal Singh's application to become a permanent resident has been delayed for well over a month because of his last name.

He has no choice but to legally change his name in India so he can get to Calgary before she gives birth next month, she said.

CBC News has obtained a copy of a letter sent from the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi to Singh's family stating that "the names Kaur and Singh do not qualify for the purpose of immigration to Canada."

"Why are we needing to make a different last name?" said Kaur. "You choose what your last name is going to be and if it's always been a certain way, then why should you have to change it?"

Traditional Sikh names

Singh and Kaur are common names in the Sikh community. In a tradition that began more than 300 years ago, the name Singh is given to every baptized male and Kaur to every baptized female Sikh.

The names are used differently by different people. Some use Singh or Kaur as middle names, while others use them as their last names.

Karen Shadd-Evelyn, a spokeswoman with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, said the policy preventing people from immigrating to Canada with those last names has been in place for the last 10 years.

"I believe the thinking behind it in this case is because it is so common. [With] the sheer numbers of applicants that have those as their surnames, it's just a matter for numbers and for processing in that visa office."

Citizenship and Immigration Canada says there is no such policy against other common last names.

Kaur, who was born in Canada, says that's unacceptable.

"If it's going to be a standard policy it should be standard with all common last names. Why is it that it's only Singh or Kaur that's being attacked by this?"

Commercialization and Exploitation of Sikhi

2007-07-13T23:47:00.000-04:00

An Akhand Paath is being held inside a hospital in Brampton.

Why?

An akhand paath is for spiritual fulfillment, to concentrate on bani, to take lahaa from bani.

To me it seems that this Akhand Paath is just so some people in the community can make links with others and show that they have the communities support by bringing out people to an Akhand Paath. It seems like a show. They have made an Akhand Paath into an event.

It makes no sense to bring Guru Sahib to a hospital. Parading around Guru Sahibs saroop to different functions like this for political reasons makes no sense. Where is the Satkar for Guru Sahib?

Hopefully this is not the start of a trend.

http://bramptonguardian.com/saf/community/article/29180

Akhand Paath this weekend at new Brampton Civic Hospital
The Brampton Guardian
Wednesday July 11 2007
Staff Report

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BRAMPTON - William Osler Health Centre Foundation's Canadian Sikh Committee, in association with William Osler Health Centre (WOHC) and the Sikh community will be holding an Akhand Paath Friday, July 13 through to Sunday, July 15 in the atrium of the new Brampton Civic Hospital (BCH).

Doors open for the duration beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, and will remain open until the end of Bhog (concluding ceremonies) on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

Akhand Paath is the name given to the practice by Sikhs of the continuous recitation without any break of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Sikh scripture, from beginning to end of its 1,430 pages.

It is anticipated that between 5,000 and 10,000 local residents may attend the ceremony over the three days.

Those attending the Akhand Paath at any point over the three days are required to enter the hospital site from Sunny Meadow Boulevard, east of Bramalea Road, and park in the assigned area in the parking garage.

Said WOHC President and CEO Robert A. Richards. "We invite our entire community to come and experience this truly magnificent event."

True Sewa

2007-06-23T14:52:00.000-04:00

Ang 1264 Line 2 Raag Malaar: Guru Ram Das

hir kI syvw siqguru pUjhu kir ikrpw Awip qrwvY ]2]

har kee saevaa sathigur poojahu kar kirapaa aap tharaavai ||2||

To Serve god is to medidate on him. With his kirpa he carries us across and allows us to serve him. ||2||

----

Without meditating on god all the good deeds we do are just that, good deeds. To make it sewa we must meditate on the lords name.

De Ja Vu? - Are You Ready ?

2007-05-21T22:51:00.001-04:00

"This is not at all a good trend," says former Punjab police chief K.P.S. Gill. But in his opinion it is all a predictable consequence of the fact that successive governments at Chandigarh and Delhi "have been overly lenient in dealing with remnant Khalistani elements."

The retired super cop insists that the only way out is for the Centre and the state to take tough action. "Sikhs have never been known to display a mob mentality and if tackled in time, it will not at all be difficult to control the problem," he said, suggesting in remedy, "a few no-nonsense lathicharges to dispel any doubts that the government knows its business."

Failing the firm hand that Mr Gill is advocating Punjab could very easily slide right back into the nightmarish Eighties.

http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/opinion/op-ed/return-of-the-khalistanis.aspx

Pirates and Emperors

2007-03-09T00:11:00.001-05:00

India A Democracy?

2007-02-16T21:20:00.001-05:00

Sikhs in America

2007-02-10T22:51:00.000-05:00

Revolutionaries: Malcolm X

2007-02-06T15:11:00.000-05:00

Malcolm X started out living on the streets, a life of crime. Trying to be like the white man by straightening his hair. He went to prison and was introduced to the Nation of Islam. When he got out he started preaching against being slaves, he dressed well,and taught the masses to arm themselves to get their rights and be treated properly.

Malcolm X on a trip to the middle east realized the Nation of Islam was teaching the wrong islam, he came back and preached against them, and continued fighting for the rights of the oppressed. He was eventually assassinated.

He dedicated his life to the cause, and he was never afraid to accept his mistakes and correct them. Without Malcolm X leading the revolution on the streets, Martin Luther King could never have achieved what he had. The peaceful protest by Martin Luther King would never had any teeth to it if Malcolm X had not been in the streets and doing the ground work.

Obviously the Americans don't want to recognize Malcolm X because he took an aggressive stance towards them, while Martin Luther Kingtook a more peacful and friendly stance. So now Martin Luther King has his own day, while Malcolm X is forgotten.

This post goes out to Malcolm X, and the vision he had of bringing rights and freeing oppressed African Americans from the evil society which pits people against each other based on race and money.

Those Americans

2007-01-04T19:48:00.000-05:00

Behave: When You Go Away For University

2006-12-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Revolutionaries - Tupac Shakur

2006-12-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Please excuse his language, and concentrate on his message. Tupac realized the exploitation of the poor people in America who are stuck in the ghetto with no way out. He realized the system is designed to keep the poor, poor - and make the rich richer. His mother was also a Black Panther, a part of the Black Rights Movement. Tupac tried to inspire change through his music.

Anyways have a watch.

JGSK also did a post on Tupac

Revolutionaries - Hugo Chavez

2006-12-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Das, will be posting about revolutionaries for a while. We should study revolutionaries, they are great people that strive to bring good to the world. They fight against this imperialistic evil in the world. Power to the People !

The North American Media feeds us so much garbage, they show Hugo as a evil man. But he is the exact opposite he is bringing freedom to his people, he is helping those in need, he is bringing down oil prices for poor countries/people. He is doing exactly what the imperialistic powers cant stant because it brings down their profits.

Power to the People !

I posted This documentary a few days ago, it is a MUST WATCH!

Here are a few other videos of Hugo Chavez.

Heres an interview transcribed

Who Am I Trying To Impress?

2006-12-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

No Time To Sleep

2006-12-05T22:22:00.000-05:00

kbIr sUqw ikAw krih auiT ik n jpih murwir ]

kabeer soothaa kiaa karehi out(h) k n japehi muraar ||

Kabeer, what are you doing sleeping? Why not rise up and meditate on the Lord?

iek idn sovnu hoiego lWby gof pswir ]128]

eik dhin sovan hoeigo laa(n)bae godd pasaar ||128||

One day you shall sleep with your legs outstretched. ||128||

Must Watch Documentary - Hugo Chavez - Power To The People

2006-12-05T20:14:00.001-05:00

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5832390545689805144

The Cleaning Women

2006-12-03T14:15:00.000-05:00

A janitor (Bhangee or Jamaadaarni) spends his time in inspecting and cleaning filth of others; then he loads it up and carries on his head. A slanderer is a self-appointed Bhangee who finds faults in others and then, by engaging in gossip and back-bite, carries the load of their trash (sins) on his own head. In the process, he simply
ends up turning his own body, mind and intellect into a "trash basket" for the sins of others. Very appropriately, the Gurbani likens slanderers to a "cleaning-woman".

False-mindedness is the drummer-woman; cruelty is the butcheress; slander of others in one's heart is the cleaning woman, and deceitful anger is the outcast-woman (sggs 91).

Slander me, slander me - go ahead, people, and slander me

2006-11-30T11:10:00.000-05:00

Slander me, slander me - go ahead, people, and slander me.
Slander is pleasing to the Lord's humble servant.
Slander is my father, slander is my mother.
If I am slandered, I go to heaven;
the wealth of the Lord's Naam abides within my mind........
The slanderer is drowned, while I am carried across (sggs 339).

Bhagat Kabir Sahib had a jealous neighbour, whose only pastime was slandering (Nindaa) Kabir Sahib; day in and day out. One day this foolish man died. People thought that the news of this man's death might make Kabir Sahib very happy. To the contrary, when Kabir Sahib found out about it, he became very sad. His devotees naturally inquired as to why he was sad instead of being happy. Kabir Sahib said " the reason I feel sad, now as my slanderer is gone, who will wash my sins off and take upon himself". The Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) declares that there are countless such slanderers (Nindak).

Sant Attar Singh on How to Live According to Gurmat Part 5

2006-11-26T18:29:00.000-05:00

Preachings of Sant Attar Singh Ji on how to live a life according to gurmat principles:

21. Living to the Will of the God and obeying His command is real Gursikhi. Whatever He does is right. There is peace in His Will.
"So Sikh Sakha Bandhap Hai Bhaee Je Gur Ke Bhanee Vich Aavae" (601)

"Hukam Maneia Hovae Parwan Tan Khasmae Ka Mehal Piaesee" (471)

"Hukam Razaee Chalna Nanak Likhia Naal" (1)

"Jo Hoaa Hovat So Jaanae. Prabh Apne Ka Hukam Pachaanae" (286)

"Mane Satgur Hukam Hukam Manaiya Bhana Manae Hukam Gur Phurmaya" (Bhai Gurdas Ji)

"Ek Mun Ek Aradhna Baber Jande Varaj Rahaave.
Hukmee Banda Hoi Kai Khasmae Da Bhana Tis Bhowae." (Bhai Gurdas Ji)

22. One should never indulge in rough or harsh talk while sitting in Sangat in the holy presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
"Gaafal Gian Vihoonia Gur Bin gian Na Bhal Jio.
Khichotaan Veegochiae Bure Bhala Duae Naal Jio.
Bin Shabdae Bhae Ratia Sabh Johi Jamkaal Jio" (751)

"Bahoota Bolan Zakhan Hoi. Vin Bole Jainae Sabh Soe" (661)

23. One should come in time to attend the holy congregation. Sant Ji Maharaj always emphasized on this and advised, "Late comers hurt the feelings of those who sit attuned with Him. Let it be raining torrentially or there is a storm, one must be punctual and stick to the given timings."
"Zakhar Zhangi Meeh Varsae Bhee Gur Dekhan Jaee Samund Sagar
Hovae Bhoo Khara Gursikh Langh Gur 8 Peh Jaee." (757)

24. Peace will prevail and the country will have no problems when you will have a common kitchen.
"Sabhee Sanjhiwaal Sadain Too Keesae N Dishae Bahra Jio" (97)

Akal Int'l Youth Camp - Atlanta

2006-11-23T23:29:00.000-05:00

Check out this camp

DEc 25 - 30

http://www.kalgidharsociety.org/camp/ATLANTA/2006/atlanta-06.asp

Sant Attar Singh on How to Live According To Gurmat Part 4

2006-11-20T17:04:00.000-05:00

Preachings of Sant Attar Singh Ji on how to live a life according to gurmat principles:

16. Feelings of brotherhood and fraternity are achieved only by listening to the holy hymns in congregation (Sangat).
"Beesar Gai Sabh Taat Parai Jab Te Sadh Sangat Mohe Paayee.
(Pause)
Na Ko Bairee Nahe Bigaana Sagal Sang Hum Ko Ban Aaee.
Jo Prabh Keeno So Bhal Manieo Eh Sumat Sadhu Te Paaee.
Sab Meh Rav Rehaa Prabh Ekae Pekh Pekh Nanak Bigsaaee" (1299)

"Sabh Ko Aaesae Teree Bettha Ghat Ghat Anter Too Hai Vootha.
Sebhe Sanjhiwal Sadain Too Keesae Na Dishe Bahara Jio." (97)

"Gursikha Eko Piar Gur Mitaa Pootan Bhaieean Gur Satguru Bolho Sabh Gur Aakh Guru Jeevaeea" (648)

17. One who craves to make a speech, should not and one who does not like, should deliver a speech; when requested.
"Aaver Updesai Aap Na Karae Aavat Javat Janmae Mare" (269)

"Pareea Jeti Aarjaa Pareh Jete Sas Nanak Lakhae Ek Gal Hor Haumai Zakhna Zakh" (467)

"Kaetae Kaheh Vakan Keh Keh Jawna Ved Kaheh Vakhiaan Ant Na Pawna Pareea Nahi Bhed Bujhia Pawna" (148)

One who want to make a speech, his lecture would be based on his egoism or cleverness but one who does not have such a craving, he would be guided in his lecture by the Almighty and words uttered by him would flow smoothly from his inner soul.

"Re Jan Mun Madho Sio Laeeya Chaturae Na Chaturbhuj Paieya" (324)

"Keh Kabir Bhagat Kar Paiya Bholae Bhai Milae Raghraiya" (324)

18. Peace will prevail in this universe when all the human beings will get up early in the morning, take bath, medidate on The Divine Name recite holy hymns, and sing praises.

"Gur Satgur Ka Jo Sikh Akhae Su Bhaalke Uth Har Naam Dhiawae.
Udam Kare Bhalke Parbhati Ishnaan Kare Amrit Sar Nahvae.
Updes Guru Har Har Jap Jape Sabh Kilbikh Paap Dokh Leh Javae.
Phir Cherae Diwas Gurbani Gavae Behndia Uthdia Har Naam Dhiavae.
Jo Sas Giraas Dhiae Mera Har Har So Gursikh guru Mun Bhaivae.
Jisno Dyal Hovae Mera Swami Tis Gursikh Guru Updes Sunnave.
Jan Nanak Dhoor Mangae Tis Gursikh Kee Jo Aaap Jape Aurah Naam Japavae" (305)

19. Unless one gets away with the attachment of body and ego, the veil of ignorance is not dispelled and he would not be able to achieve the sphere of God consciousness.
"Sadho Eh Tan Mithia Jano.
Ya Bhitar Jo Ram Basat Hai Sacho Tahe Pachano" (1186)

20. Concentration on Akal Purakh and a stage of oneness with Him cannot be achieved unless one shuns attachment with the worldy materialistic things.
"Drisatmaan Hai Sagal Mithena. Ek Mangao Daan Gobind Sant Rena" (1083)

"Jo Deesai So Sagal Binasae Jio Badar Kee Chaaee.
Jan Nanak Jag Janeo Mithia Rehio Ram Sarnaee" (1204)

"Eh Jag Dhoae Ka Pahar Tai Sacha Maniea Kih Beechaar" (1187)

"Re Nar Eh Sachi Jie Dhaar Sagal Japat Hai Jaisae Supna Binsat Lagat Na Bar" (633)

Sant Attar Singh on How to Live According to Gurmat Part 3

2006-11-17T15:43:00.000-05:00

Preachings of Sant Attar Singh Ji on how to live a life according to gurmat principles:

11. One should not make an appeal for money is Sangat in the holy presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. If everybody contributes his 'Daswandh' (One tenth of one's income) there will be no shortage of funds and all the programmes will run smoothy.
"Ghal Khai Kich Hathon Deh Nanak Rah Pacchane Sayee" (1245)

12. In holy congregation, Ardas (prayer) need to be performed briefly and the requests too be short.
"Vin Boliaa Sabh Kich Janda Kis Aagee Keechai Ardas Nanak
Ghat Ghat Eko Vartada Sabad Kare Pargaas" (1420)

Sant Ji Maharaj also used to advise that it is not appropriate to stand with a naked sword in hands before Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji while offering prayer (Ardas). It is befitting to make a request with folded hands before the Master.

13. One should always use one's tongue for meditation and praising the bounties of the Almighty. It should not be used for evil speaking, back-biting, uttering hateful words, or bestowing good fortunes and curses.
"Rasna Japti Toohee Toohee" (1215)

"Rasna Japae Na

Nam

Til Til Kar Katiai" (1363)

"Rasna Gun Gopal Nidh Gayan.
Shant Sehaj Rehus Mun Upjio Saglae Dookh Palayan" (174)

14. The highest degree of meditation is to bear adusive, harsh or rough language of any one without any reaction.
"Ustat Ninda Dou Tiagae. Khojae Pad Nirbana" (219)

"Nindo Nindo Moko Log Nindo. Ninda Jan Ko Khari Piyari" (339)

"Ridae Sudh Jao Ninda Hoe. Hamre Kaprae Nindak Doe" (339)

"Ninda Kare so Humra Meet. Nindak Mahe Hamara Cheet" (339)

"Loken Kee Chaturae Upmaa Te Baesantar Jaar.
Koee Bhala Kahao Bhavae Boora Kahao Hum Tan Deeo Hai Daar." (528)

15. Those are the religious deeds which lead to the achievement of the God consciousness (Atam Pad).
"Sarab Dharam Meh Shresht Dharam.
Har Ko Naam Jap Nirmal Karam" (266)

Sant Attar Singh on How to Live According to Gurmat Part 2

2006-11-15T14:11:00.000-05:00

Preachings of Sant Attar Singh Ji on how to live a life according to gurmat principles:

6. Spiritual Humility is not possible without selfless service.
"Sewa Karat Hoi Nihkami Tis Ko Hot Prapat Swami" (286)

"Kar Kirpa Jiskae Hirdae Gareebe Bassave.
Nanak Eehaan Mukat Aagae Sukh Paave" (278)

"Gur Sewa Te Sukh Oopjae Phir Dukh Na Lage Aaaye.
Jaman Marna Mit Gayaa Kaale Ka Kichh Naa Basai" (651)

7. Rising above the trinity of Tamo, Rajo and Sato is considered as achieving the stage of God consciousness or opening of Trikuti. Realizing the God within is the opening of Dasam Dwaar.
"Trikuti Chhutae Daswa Dar Khule Tan Mun Khiwaa Bhai" (1123)

"The Chand Na Suraj Pawan Na Pani. Sakhi Jaagi Gurmukh Jaani." (974)

"Dinas Na Raen Baed Nahi Shastra Tahaa Basse Nirankara" (484)

"Begampur Saher Ko Naun. Dookh Andoh Nahin The Thau" (345)

"Gurmukh Anter Sehaj Hai Mun Charyaa Daswai Akaas
Tithai Oongh Na Bhuk Hai Har Amrit Naam Sukh Vaas
Nanak Dukh Sukh Viaapat Nahi Jithe Atam Ram Pargaas" (1414)

8. Sabad Guru Surat Dhun Chela (943). Sant Ji Maharaj clarified that our guru is 'Shabad' only. Never was body guru nor it will be in future. It is not appropriate to worship 'body'.
"Bani Guru Guru Hai Bani Vich Bani Amrit Saare' (982)

"Wah Wah Bani Nirankaar Hai Tis Jewad Avar Na Koi.
Wah Wah Agam Athah Hai Wah Wah Sacha Soi" (515)

9. All Jantras, Mantras and Tantras fade away with the supremacy of Gurbani (The Divine Hymns).
"Dhur Kee Bani Aayee. Tin Sagli Chint Mittai" (628)

"Sunat Japat Har Naam Jass Tan Kee Door Ballai.
Mahan Mantra Nanak Kathe Har Ke Gun Gaaee" (814)

"Kajar Koth Meh Bhaee Na Kaaree Nirmal Baran Banio Ree.
Maha Mantra Gur Hirdai Basio Acharaj Naam Sunio Ree" (384)

"Ram

Nam

Jo Jan Japae Andin Sad Jaagai.
Tant Mant Nah Johee Tit Chhakh Na Lagai" (817)

10. 'Panth' means Gurmat Way of Life. Masses does not mean Panth. Those who follow the messages of Dashmesh Pita are Panth.
"Charan Chalo Marg Gobind.
Mittae Paap Japiai Har Bind" (281)

"Poora Satguru Janiai Poore Poora That Banaya.
Poore Poora Sadhsang Poore Poora Mantra Dhrirayaa.
Poore Poora Param Ras Poora Gurmukh Panth Challayaa.
Gurmukh Panth Suhelraa Manmukh Bareh Vaat Phirande.
Gurmukh Paar Langhidaa Manmukh Bhawjal Vich Doobande."
( Bhai gurdas ji )

"Santa Sangat Paayeea Jit Jamke Panth Na Jaeeyai" (132)

"Gur Satgur Daatte Panth Battaiya Har Milyaa Aaye Prabh Meri.
Andin Anand Bhaiya Vadbhagi Sabh Aas Puji Jan Keri" (170)

"Mere Heeare Preet Ramrai Ki Gur Marag Panth Bataiya" (172)

Sant Attar Singh on How to Live According to Gurmat Part 1

2006-11-13T17:55:00.000-05:00

Preachings of Sant Attar Singh Ji on how to live a life according to gurmat principles:

1. Nitnem (Daily religious observance)

One should always do 'Nitnem'. It is the treasure, asset, wealth and property of a sikh. It is the sacred obligation of every baptised Sikh to daily recite at least the following bani’s: Early Morning: Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, Swaiyae, Chaupei, Anand Sahib followed by Ardas (offering prayer), Evening : Rehraas Sahib, Night : Kirtan Sohila

Sant Ji Maharaj Also preached that one should recite Nitnem before coming to the morning Dewan (holy congregation)otherwise he fails to do it afterwards.

2. Meditation on the Divine Name is the Prime righteousness of all human beings.

"Jinee Aaesa Har Naam Na Cheteo Se Kahe Jag Aayae Ram Raje" (450)
"Sodhat Sodhat Sodh Beechara Bin Har Bhajan Nahi Chhutkara" (260)

3. Wondrous power of meditation
All the time continuous meditation on the Divine Name with full devotion and concentration, creates a wondrous power that is keeping billions of Suns, Moons, spheres and the entire creations of the Universe moving.

"Naam Japat Kot Soor Ujjaraa Binsae Bhram Andheraa" (700)

Sant Ji Maharaj uttered these words when an engineer was showing him a power plant where electricity was being generated by fast rotation of the dynemo.

4. Method of Nam - Simran (Meditation) -
Feel the presence of the Almighty within, with full faith and devotion, recite the Divine Name with the tongue in the beginning - the lips and the tongue continue gently moving up and down and slowly go on uttering

'Waheguru', 'Waheguru' at a stretch with love and attention; then by and by continue
uttering 'Waheguru', 'Waheguru', gently with the tip of the tongue touching the palate and the lips remaining almost still; in the third stage with breathing - 'Wahe' should go along with the breath while inhaling and 'Guru' should emerge alongwith the breath while exhaling.

"Bahar Bhitter Eko Janaho Eh Gur giam Batai" (684)

By reciting the Divine Name in this way and after continuous intense meditation, the fourth stage is bestowed upon the searcher in which the Divine word and the devoted mind become one and merge.

"Kabir Too Too Karta To Hoohaa Mujh Meh Raha Na Hoohn.
Jab Aappa Par Ka Mit Gayaa Jat Dekhau tat Too" (1375)

But the essential requirement of all these steps of Nam-Simran is that one should do it realizing the presence of Akal Purakh within and every where.

"Gur Kee Murat Mun Meh Dhiaan.
Gur Kae Shabad Mantar Mun Maan.
Gur Kae Charan Ridae Lae Dharon.
Gur Parbrehm Sada Namaskaro" (864)

5. The occult powers (ridh-sidh) are of no avail. The realization of God consciousness, 'Atam-Pad' is a far higher stage.

"Ridh sidh Sabh Moh hae Naam Naa Vasse Mun Aayee" (593)

"Achar Chare Tan Sidh Hoi Sidhi Te Budh Paee.
Prem Ke Ser Laage Tan Bhiter Taan Bhrum Kateyaa Jaayee" (607)

Sikhs For Social Justice

2006-11-10T23:29:00.000-05:00

Watch the video on this site, Singhs were present to protest for more affordable housing. The Nishan Sahib is representing. RESPECT! We need more people to take up these type of activities for the greater good of mankind.

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_5172.aspx

TRUE LOVE - SEVA (SERVICE) FROM THE HEART

2006-11-09T13:41:00.000-05:00

Puran Singh wrote 'The state that Budda reached through his almighty struggle was reached by Guru Angad Dev jee through His Divine Love for Guru Nanak Dev jee'. Everything Guru Angad Dev jee was for the love of Guru Nanak Dev jee - seva at amritvela (before sunrise), kirtan (singing God's praises), langar (free kitchen), preaching, breathing, talking, thoughts absolutely everything was for the Love of Guru Nanak jee.

I used to think Sikhism was about 'seeing the light' or meeting Waheguru jee and because Guru Gobind Singh jee wrote that anyone who calls Him God will go to hell I wrongly thought that I had to praise Waheguru only. The path of Sikhism is to Love Guru Nanak jee's Lotus feet, to build up this love daily by serving Sikhs as if you were serving Guru Nanak jee himself. The Sikh loves the Guru, praises the Guru, looks to the Guru for everything and without knowing it Guru Nanak jee leads the Sikh to Waheguru jee.

In summary do seva and simran of Guru Nanak jee like Guru Angad Dev jee did, the rest is taken care of by Guru Nanak jee - Dhan Nirankar! Dhan Baba Nanak! (Wonderful God! Wonderful Guru Nanak!)

- Author Unknown

Missionaries or Athiests?

2006-10-19T07:01:00.000-04:00

Some missionary views include the following (Inder Ghaggha is a prof of missionary college in india and these are his views.. and also the views of other missionaries ive spoken to):

That there is no such thing as the power of Naam.
Naam simran that involves reciting of Gurmantar (as instructed in the Panthic Sikh Rahit Maryada) is Pakhand [hypocritical] he refers to is ‘Gorakh Dhandha.’
Guru Nanak Sahib Ji ate Halal meat under pressure, when he visited Mecca.
Siri Guru Arjun Dev Ji fainted when he was tortured because he could not withstand the pain. In other words, he views all of the ten Guru Sahibs as ordinary humans beings. -
He wrote very harshly against Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji Bhindranwalay and other respected Panthic personalities, often ridiculing them in a offensive manner.

What it seem to me is that what their mind cant comprehend or explain by science is rejected by them. Or they twist the story so that it makes sense to their mind (eg. Guru sahib eating meating to get to mecca because otherwise they wouldnt have fit in and reached there). Their doesn't seem to be any faith in this stance, they just believe what they can comprehend, and everything else is 'false' or 'wrong'. What is the difference with this and an athiest view? Where is the Sharda?

I have a question, if doing naam simran is pakhand, than how does one reach sachkhand? It can't be just by obtaining knowledge like is preached by Missionaries, because Guru Sahib themselves says, all the knowledge in the world can't save you, at the end its useless.

The way i see it. If missionaries were around when Guru Nanak Dev Ji was on this earth in their physical form. They would have called Guru Nanak's teachings pakhand to. Why? because when the whole world was preaching that the world is flat, Guru Sahib said the World is round. Since humans couldn't comprehend this concept at that time, they would have rejected it and said its fake or false.

When Guru Sahib said there are millions of planets and universes, science couldn't explain that, people couldn't comprehend it. So Missionaries would have rejected it, because they wouldnt have understood it.
This is the problem, people follow science, but science as a technology is light years behind Sikhi. Just like Sikhs knew the world is round before science did,the same way Sikhs know about the spiritual realm which science is light years away from even discovering.

Where's the faith in Guru Sahibs teachings, in the spiritual realm.

That takes us back to the title of this post... Missionaries? or Athiests?

Bias

2006-10-10T19:39:00.000-04:00

When something good happens they write "Indian", when something bad happens they write "Sikh".

link

Gurprasad not Gurprashad

2006-10-08T08:26:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Gurprasad means Gur-Kirpa
Gurprashad means Gur-degh

I hear a lot of people saying Gurprashad in their nitnem, its Gurprasad. by sayis 'sh' instead of 's' it changes the whole meaning.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

MacSikh loves T.O.

2006-09-30T13:56:00.000-04:00

Sep. 30, 2006. 10:35 AM
PRITHI YELAJA
STAFF REPORTER

After taking to the streets of Toronto, proud Scotsman Hardeep Singh Kholi pronounces the city "a groovy place."

This, after discovering that Canadians are far better informed about Sikhs than their British cousins, whom he interviewed Rick Mercer-style for a hilarious film screening this weekend at Spinning Wheel, a festival of films by or about Sikhs.

Asked to guess where the jovial, imposing 6-footer — sporting a bright red turban and full beard with jeans and sweater — comes from, a dozen Torontonians deliver answers so heartwarming they made him want to immigrate here.

Some, like construction worker Daniel Rioux, start out amusingly with, "Well, it ain't Poland."
Adds fellow builder Steve Dafonte: "Does it make a difference? We're all brothers from different mothers."

Most of the folks he waylays downtown assume Kholi is Canadian because, well, why wouldn't he be?

Only after hearing his accented English do they deduce that he was raised in Britain, and from his appearance, that somewhere along the line, his ancestors came over from India.

"Because you're brown and you're wearing a turban," says Nadia Amir, a student.
The only thing people get wrong is the accent. The missing clue is the kilt hanging back in Kholi's hotel room, which he dons later for a photograph.

"The reactions are so cool. It's a great tribute to your country. If people everywhere naturally assumed you're one of us and not one of them, how lovely would the world be?" says Kholi, 37, in his thick Glasgow brogue — adding, deadpan: "I always run the risk of sounding like a Whitney Houston lyric."

In Kholi's short film Hardeep Does Race, he puts the same question about his origins to strangers in a town just outside London, England. Unlike Toronto, everyone there assumes he's a foreigner. Only one person gets it right.

"Some people thought I was from Cambodia or Afghanistan," Kholi says with a chuckle, adding that the response surprised him. "I was sort of expecting people to say, `You come from India.'"
The difference in perception is perhaps linked to immigration patterns and a lingering colonialist mentality in the UK, he says. "Even though we (immigrants) have been there for such a long time, in what capacity have we been there? We've been there doing those faceless s--- jobs the locals didn't want to do. They weren't giving us the good jobs they wanted.... So consequently we were in the places they didn't see us, in the places we became one homogenized group. As we're more comfortable and confident as British people, things are changing."

Born in Britain to Sikh parents who emigrated from India in 1965, Kholi was raised in Glasgow, a place he says is not unlike the Punjab, where his parents are from. "They love partying, heavy drinking and eating red meat in Punjab, and similarly in Glasgow. It's a working-class city and that's where Sikhs come from, working-class roots," says Kholi, who graduated from law school and worked for the BBC before following his passion as a filmmaker and comic.

"My mum is still really pissed off I'm not a lawyer, but what can you do?"
Growing up as a turban-wearing Sikh in 1980s rough-and-tumble Glasgow was difficult, he admits, quickly turning that to a joke: "I wasn't a very good-looking child either, which didn't help. I was so ugly when I was born the nurse slapped my mother.

"But for every one of those nutters that try to knock your turban off in the street, there are 10 people who will defend your right to be who you are to the death. People in Glasgow are so passionate about multiculturalism and everyone being together that they will actually stand in front of you in a fight, and that's incredibly touching and uplifting."

Kholi has become a celebrity in the UK after writing, directing and acting in a six-part comedy series, Meet the Magoons, about a Punjabi family running a curry house in Glasgow. It aired on Channel 4 last year. He's writing another sitcom for the BBC, A Fine Living, about traffic wardens.

Sikh on the Street, another film screening at Spinning Wheel, shows that Americans are just as ignorant about Sikhs as the Brits, but sometimes with tragic consequences.

Many Sikhs were attacked in the aftermath of 9/11 by people who thought they were Muslim terrorists, including Balbir Singh Sodhi, shot dead in front of his Arizona gas station.

None of those interviewed for Sikh on the Street knew anything about the heroic Bhagat Singh Thind, who, after serving in the U.S. Army in WWI, was denied citizenship because of his ethnicity by a Supreme Court ruling in 1923. Thind went on to earn a PhD in metaphysics and eventually won citizenship.

Like Kholi, filmmaker Sartaj Singh Dhami asked people on the streets of Washington, D.C., to guess his heritage. Most said Middle Eastern, Persian or Muslim. Some believed Sikhism is a faith of "mystics and wanderers."

Dhami's conclusion?
"Americans don't know jack about Sikhs."

It's up to Sikhs to educate people about their way of life, he adds.
Rather than getting it wrong, people should simply ask, Kholi agrees.

"The crime is not to ask. It's more offensive, surely, when people feel unable to approach us and ask us and question us. I do think political correctness has been a sledgehammer to civil liberties and understanding."

Immigrants and the children of immigrants tend to balance on a "fulcrum of past, present and future," says Kholi, adding that he believes being secure with your roots is the key to moving forward. In seeking understanding from others, he adds, you must also commit to the place where you now call home.

"If we don't engage in contemporary issues and the society we're in, then we have nothing to fall back on when we try to protest our own civil liberties being encroached," he says, pointing to the plight of Muslims in the UK in the era of terrorism.

"The way you change hearts and minds isn't always through the law or force — it's actually by being more charming and inveigling yourself in people's lives."

A Tribute

2006-09-27T13:40:00.000-04:00

Tim Ryan Speaks Out Against Bush Administration

2006-09-23T16:03:00.000-04:00

The Moghul Mentality Still Exists

2006-09-18T15:20:00.000-04:00

Sound Familiar?

We will break up the cross, spill the liquor and impose head tax, then the only thing acceptable is a conversion (to Islam) or (killed by) the sword."

Village elders order trial by boiling oil

2006-09-18T15:13:00.000-04:00

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The leaders of a village in the Indian state of Rajasthan ordered 150 men to dip their hands into boiling oil to prove their innocence after food was stolen from a local school, a newspaper reported Sunday.

In late August the school's principal informed police that rice and wheat had disappeared but no action was taken, the Sunday Express said.

The council, or panchayat, of Ranpur village, 340 km (210 miles) south of state capital Jaipur, then decided to take the law into its own hands.

After 10 days spent trying to identify those responsible, it issued what the paper called the "medieval diktat."

The 150 men from Ranpur and two neighboring hamlets were told to pick a copper ring from a cauldron of boiling oil. The council elders then announced that the 50 who refused the order must be behind the crime. Many are now nursing their burns.

"We would have been ostracized had we refused. Out of fear all of us agreed. This is not the first time this has been done," said one 45-year-old man. He has now testified against the elders, who have been arrested.

Biased Media Coverage

2006-09-14T19:51:00.000-04:00

Bravo to the media for once again presenting biased coverage.

Kimveer Gill, a youth of Sikh origin, went on a shooting spree on Wednesday, killing one and injuring 19 before he was shot dead. ...

A young man of Sikh origin, who liked to play internet games about ... 25-year-old clean shaven man, whose name was given as Kimveer Gill, reportedly ...

The Montreal gunman, 25-year old Sikh, who killed one woman and wound 19 other ... after a shootout with police, was a 25-year-old Indian-born Kimveer Gill who ...

Now I would like to ask the media. Why didnt you report the Columbine shooting as the young Christians from Columbine. If the media wanted to be fair, they would report every crime by a christian as "so and so of Christian origin commited this crime.." or they wouldnt bring religion into it at all.

and now come on. Kimveer Gill, wasn't even a practicing Sikh. This is ridiculous.

SGPC Sewadaars Past and Present

2006-09-13T20:55:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Over the summer Daas had the chance to meet a descendant of Akali Phoola Singh. This Singh is aged now and I will refer to him as "Baba". Anyways this Baba use to be on the SGPC committee about 30 years ago.

While talking to this Baba the topic of the SGPC came up and we started discussing how things use to be and how they are now. The difference in peoples mentalities is shockingly different now from what it once was on the SGPC.

In the past when a SGPC meeting was called, the members would leave everythign at home, without a second thought of there crops dying or not recieving water and walk/travel 2-3 days to the meeting. Doing sewa with the SGPC met everythign to them, even more than there livelihood. The people of the pind would have so much respect for the SGPC members because they knew they were good Gursikhs that were doing the best for the Panth, so when the SGPC member would leave his hosue to go for a meeting the people of that pind would take care of his crops for that time.

Now in present times. Members dont even show up for meetings, they make excuses that they are busy, even though they have cars in these times. They only go to pick up there pay cheques.

So where did everything go wrong?

This baba told me that usually a election for SGPC members is held every 3 years. But during one time period there was no election held for about 10-12 years. During those years most of the SGPC members died of. So than when the election happened a whole new slate of SGPC members was elected and thats when the SGPC mentality shifted towards greed and selfishness.

According to the Baba i met, this was the turning point which slowly turned into the Badal stranglehold of the SGPC and members attitudes changing from serving the panth, to serving themselves.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Hun Kadney Chande Khalsa Raj De

2006-09-12T15:51:00.000-04:00

UK Sangat : Call To Arms

2006-08-30T22:39:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Please read the following article from Panthic Weekly. Maan Singh Pehova is coming to UK and is planning to hold divaans in the following gurdwaras.

Guru Nanak Gurdwara, High Street, Smethwick, Birmingham
Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Well Lane, Wednesfield
Gurdwara Baba Sang High Street, Smethwick, Birmingham
Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, Sedgley Street, Wolverhampton
The Sikh Temple, Chapeltown Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Havelock Road, Southall, London
Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Clarence Place, Gravesend, Kent
Gurdwara Singh Sabha, High Road, Seven Kings, Ilford

Now UK Sangat please pay attention to the following Quote:

Khalsa Alliance sevadars acknowledged “During his recent trip to California, the Baba could not hold a single program in a public Gurdwara; it would be a shame if the UK Sangat allowed this rapist who has molested our mothers, sisters, and daughters to hold programs in their Gurdwaras without any objection. It is up to the UK Sangat, whether they will allow this thug to roam freely in their Sangat or not. We have done our duty in California.”

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Singh is King

2006-08-28T16:00:00.001-04:00

Systematic Police Brutality Directed At Sikhs

2006-08-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

Systematic Police Brutality Directed At Sikhs.

Speech By Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale

Some people say I am saying this in anger. No, this is not anger. I say this with hurt in my heart. The Government has never stripped any Hindu's daughter or sister, only those of us Sikhs are stripped; no daughter of a Hindu has been stripped and her father laid on her, only those of us Sikhs were subjected to this humiliation; no Hindu's Beloved (object of worship) has been set on fire, if there has been such a fire in this regime, it has been set to only our Beloved (Siri Guru Granth Sahib); no son of a Hindu has been detained or hung upside down, only Sikh students have been so hung; no shop belonging to any Hindu has been set on fire by the Government, only the homes of the Sikhs have been burnt down. (I speak) keeping all these things in mind. No government official has forced a cow's bones into the mouth of a son of a Hindu, tobacco has been sprinkled and cigarettes forced and tobacco spat into the mouths of only Sikh young men; if police officials have shaved off beards only Sikh boys were shaved and they were sent to Amritsar saying: "Go and tell Bhindranwale to do what he can."

Sikhi and Being Healthy

2006-08-09T14:52:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

So Daas had a fitness test done, and it turned out pretty well. Anyways while talking to the personal trainer and nutrionist, they went over 5 areas of healthy living. Exercise, Nutrition, Vitamins, Sleep, Attitude.

I won't get in to the specifics of each topic, but I will talk about the correlations of some of the advice I recieved with the lessons our Guru Sahibs gave us. Below is the advice given in Fitness books and by trainers:

1) Attitude: Wake up every morning and thank god for everything you have, spend some time meditating each morning when you wake up, and meditate before sleeping at night.

Guru Sahib has given us Amritvela, aswell as RakhiyaDe Shabad and Kirtan Sohila before bedtime, and told us to do swaas swaas simran 24/7. Science is just starting to scratch the surface of the benefits of this.

2) Nutrition: Only eat as much as your body needs, don't over eat or under eat. In the past people have talked about certain diets and how to eat to much of one type of food and less of another, but now scientists are realizing this may not be wise.

Guru Sahib has told us to just eat when you need to, not to eat for taste, but for need.

3) Sleep: A human being runs on a 24hr clock based on the sun. When we mess with our sleeping patters it has an adverse effect on our health. No matter what we should be asleep from 11pm to 1am, as this is the time the body gets the most fruit from sleeping.

Guru Sahib has told us that when one day turns into the next we should be sleeping, and we should wake up amritvela. Science is just scratching the surface of the advice Guru Sahib has given us.

------------

In conclusion, many of us trust science, and books and reports, but we don't trust Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib knows all, and has already given us all the advice we need on how to live our lives, we don't need to look anywhere else. If we study Gurbani, SGGS, Dasam Granth, Sarbloh Granth, all the answers are given to us. Where to take out daswandh, how to interact with
others, when to talk - when not to talk,how to fight a righteous war, how to play politics and with who, how to protect ones self from the 5 vikaars, how to protect from slipping into the trap of kaam, how to protect onesself from false accustations, and so much more.

We have no need to use our own mind, or look to books to figure out how to live, Guru Sahib loves us so much that they gave us everything right there infront of us, all we have to do is make the effort to learn from Guru Sahib.

Some people think that they have Sikhi all figured out, but if we learn a new thing every single day, after a million years we still wouldn't know it all.

What a Treasure that Guru Sahib has left us with, what a treasure we have in what we call Sikhi.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Isreal and Lebanon Conflict... The Perspective They Don't Want You To See

2006-08-07T18:33:00.000-04:00

Please Click This Link For The Video

Pa Lao Chudiyaan

2006-08-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

The saakhi of the 40 muktai, who had left Guru Sahib to return home. When they arrived home, their Singhnian were outraged. The Singhnian told the Singhs 'Pao Lao Chudiyaan', be bibian and we will be Singhs and stand by Guru Sahib and give our life. These 40 Singhs were than lead back into battle and back to the feet of Guru Gobind Singh Ji by Mai Bhago. Guru Sahib liberated these 40 brave souls after they gave their life protecting Guru Sahib and fighting the Moghul forces. The Sakhi is presented in more detail below courtesy of Info-Sikh.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In 1704 the city of Anandpur Sahib, the residence of Guru Gobind Singh Ji was under extended siege by the combined forces of the Mughal army and Hill chiefs. The siege took its toll and the meager provisions were completely exhausted, with the Sikhs having to live on leaves and bark from the trees. Within the Sikh ranks there was a group of Jats of the Majha region, they had had enough and they made up their mind that they wanted to escape and leave Anandpur Sahib. After much deliberation they made their way to the Guru, and their leader Maha Singh told him of their desire to leave. Guru Gobind Singh Ji understood their situation but asked them to stay and fight, but all his persuasive arguments fell on deaf ears, they were resolute, they wanted to leave. With no alternative Guru Gobind Singh Ji with a heavy heart asked them that if they truly wished to leave then they must write a disclaimer and have it signed by all the deserters claiming that they no longer belonged to the Guru, and the Guru no longer belonged to them.

Obviously we can never understand the hardship the Sikhs had to endure and the desperate situation the Sikhs were in but even so, when we think of the great sacrifices made by Sikhs like Bhai Mani Singh, Bhai Taru Singh, Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bundha Singh to name but a few it is hard to understand what possessed the Majha Sikhs to put pen to paper and write a disclaimer that “Guru Gobind Singh Ji, we are no longer your Sikhs and you are no longer our Guru,” it must go down as a most shameful episode in Sikh history.

The deserters were from the Majha region and one of the villages in this area was called Jhabal, and in the village lived a woman named Mai Bhago. She was known for her faith and courage and when she saw the 40 Sikhs approaching in the distance she went out to meet them. She asked news about Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and when she heard their sorry tale her blood boiled. She could not contain herself, she charged them with cowardice and a lack of faith in their Guru. She felt, as did the other women folk of the area that they had brought shame on their region. Mai Bhago was determined to wipe this stain of infamy of the Majha sikhs. She told all the women folk not to be hospitable to the Sikhs, she shamed and censured the Singh's for their cowardice.

Mai Bhago donned on men’s clothing and told them that either they stay behind and look after the children or they try to make amends and return with her to the Guru. Ashamed by their act of desertion they vowed to put things right and mounted their horses and set off towards Frozepur.

Knowing that the enemy Wazir Khan was advancing to attack the Guru, Mai Bhago’s group took up positions near a place called Khidrana. As the enemy forces came close the Sikhs pounced on them, a fierce battle ensued; although heavily out numbered the Sikhs attacked with ferocity and many were killed on both sides. The dust raised by the battle alerted Guru Sahib Ji who by this time had vacated Anandpur Sahib, he joined his Sikhs on a sandy hill (tibbi) and shot arrows on the enemy. As the battle raged Guru Sahib Ji mounted his horse and led his contingent from the west. The enemy could not stand a sudden attack on its left flank and after sustaining heavy loses withdrew leaving the dead and dying on the battlefield.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji dismounted from his horse and surveyed the scene. He saw one of his Sikhs lying wounded and recognised him as Maha Singh, the leader of the 40 deserters. Guru Ji sat beside him and put his head on his lap and wiped away the blood and tears from his eyes, just as a father would a son. Guru Ji was greatly impressed and pleased by his Sikhs. “Ask whatever you will, the house of Guru Nanak is open to you” spoke Guru Ji but Maha Singh only had one thing on his mind, the letter of desertion. “O Lord of all the heavens, if you are in mercy then please forgive me and my companions for our betrayal, and all that I pray for now is that you tear up the letter we handed to you.” The all knowing Guru had kept the letter on his person knowing full well that it would be needed, Guru Ji took it out and tore it in front of Maha Singh.

You have redeemed yourself here and in the hereafter.” The forty deserters who lay dead in the battlefield were blessed by Guru Sahib Ji as the chali mukhtay –the forty liberated ones.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Stages of Meditation

2006-07-30T15:17:00.000-04:00

While doing meditation, one concentrates and goes through different kinds of experiences before reaching his final goal. First one feels a sensation through the nose, then a sweet taste on the tongue, followed by a cool feeling around the heart. With time they are able to visualize light like lightning in the clouds. The one begins to see light as bright as the stars, then like our moon and then our sun. Finally light is seen which is as strong as practicing shabad, shabad is Brahm (universe), he then becomes one with God and gains Anand and is freed from the circle of life and deaths.

- Sant Jagjit Singh

Bhai Gurdaas Ji, Vaar 38, Pauri 10

2006-07-22T18:56:00.001-04:00

bhu suMnI SIA rwPzI mzhb min Bwxy]
mulihd hoie munw&kw sB Brim Bulwxy]
eIsweI mUsweIAW haumY hYrwxy]
hoie iPrMgI ArmnI rUmI grbwxy]
kwlI pos klµdrW drvys dugwxy]
guru isK rom n pujnI gur hit ivkwxy ]10]

There are many Sunnis, Shias, Rafazis and (followers of) religions that please their minds.

Many hypocrites become atheists deluded by illusion and go wandering about.

Followers of Jesus (Christians) and Moses (Jews) are confounded by their pride.

They are English, Armenian and Roman, (stuck in) Ego

Some are blackclad recluses and dervishes, of little value.

They are not equal to even a single hair of a Gursikh, who has sold himself to the Guru (by offering his head in return for naam)

English Audio Hukamnama Translation

2006-07-21T13:03:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

A nice site i came across with daily english audio translation of Hukamnama from Darbar Sahib.

http://hukam.sikhnet.com/

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Clarification From an Earlier Comment 'Suntay Puneet, Kehtay Pavit'

2006-07-18T13:00:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

A while back someone on the blog made a comment that 'Suntay Puneet, Kehtay Pavit' from Anand Sahib means that we can just listen to bani inside of reciting it.

I had posted the opposite. I have done some research on 'Suntay Puneet, Kehtay Pavit', and I disagree with the person that says we can just listen to bani.

Let me first start of with a katha I heard. Limited knowledge is a very dangerous thing. If we just look at bani with our limited scop it is very easy to take the wrong arth (meaning) from it. For example, someone is told to dig a hole at a certain spot in order to get water. The person digs and digs, he digs 4 feet under the earth and gives up. He returns angry to the person who told him to dig, and says why did you tell me to dig there, there is no water. But little does this person know, the water is not 4 feet under the earth, it is 15 feet under the earth, he just didn't go deep enough. In the same way most of us don't go deep enough into gurbani, to get the proper arth, we just take watever first comes into our mind, in order to make bani fit our preconvieved notions.

Now back to 'Suntay Puneet, Kahtey Pavit'. 'Suntay Puneet' does not mean that you become 'puneet' by listening to an mp3 recording of your nitnem. 'Suntay Puneet' means that you become 'puneet' by listening, meaning applying to yourself what you recite each morning in your nitnem.

Another example I was given while trying to look deeper into this tuk was, 'pavitar pavitar pavitar puneet' from Sukhmani Sahib. One arth of this could be, 3 times Pavitar is 1 time Puneet. So from 'Suntay Puneet, Kehtay Pavit' ... When you recite bani with you mouth you are 1 time pavit, but when you recite bani with your mouth, and than you listen to it, you apply it to yourself and act on it, than you are 3 times pavit.

In conclusion, listening to a mp3 recording of bani is good. But there is nothing like reciting bani with your mouth, and than listening to what you have said with your own ears, and than acting upon it in your daily life.

If I have made any mistakes in this translation, I ask for forgiveness, as I am not perfect, nor am I someone worthy of asking arths of bani from.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Sacrifice For The Faith: A Story From Sikh History - Speech by Sant Jarnail Singh

2006-07-11T15:56:00.000-04:00

SACRIFICE FOR THE FAITH: A STORY FROM SIKH HISTORY

When the caps, the knots of people's hair, and the Janeoo (the sacred threads) of the Hindu society were being piled up at the end of Nauranga's (Emperor Aurangzeb's) cot, they (the Hindus) went to Mathura, Kidaarnath, Badrinarayan, Vaishnodevi, Samasyadevi and Shiv Ling (various Hindu holy places) and offered prayers. No one heard their cries. At that time, it is said, a divine letter arrived.

According to history, this letter was from Shiv Ji. Kashmiri pundits came with that letter to our Beloved Guru, Protector of the Faith (Siri Guru Tegh Bahaadar Sahib) at Anandpur Sahib. Upon arrival there, they appealed to him. They bowed their heads. They were sighing, had dry lips, tattered clothes, worn out shoes and were without proper covering for their heads. (Without cover, and shorn of their hair) their heads looked like water-melons. They came to the Guru Sahib and said: "Beloved (Guru), have mercy upon us. In earlier forms (Sikh Gurus preceding Siri Guru Tegh Bahaadar Sahib) you have spoken the words: "He embraces whoever seeks His protection. This is the Master's Way." We are oppressed; in your mercy protect our honor, hold our hand." Some wise man said about Guru Tegh Bahaadar Sahib: "The only support is at the Feet of God; we should attach our minds to God's Feet (the Divine Word). The mind is prone to evil, through Guru's instruction we should turn our minds from evil. If we hold someone by the arm, we must not let go even if we have to give our head (must not betray anyone we have promised to support)." Guru Tegh Bahaadar spoke: "Dhar payeeay dharam na chhodiay (we must not give up our Faith even if it means death)." Thus, our Beloved Guru held their hand. The Kashmiri pundits were overjoyed as a hungry man is when he is given bread; as a thirsty man is when given water; as one rescued from the jaws of death, from the jaws of a tiger, from a fire. Taking them along, He started on His way to Delhi. Our Beloved Guru has got ready and started off for Delhi. Preaching God's message to all on his way, meeting Ajari and fulfilling his prayers, our Beloved Guru reached Delhi. There was questions and answers with Nauranga. Here schemes were concocted for the martyrdom of Satguru Ji, the Supporter of the humble.

Bhai Mati Das (a companion of Siri Guru Tegh Bahaadar Sahib) was asked: "Smoke tobacco, take a sip of liquor, and chew tobacco, say once, "I am not the Guru's Sikh"; I shall give you my daughter in marriage." Bhai Mati Das contemptuously (literally: with the tip of his shoe) spurned the offer of Nauranga's daughter in marriage. The reply he gave at that time.

Bhai Mati Das went to the Satguru. Maharaj (Siri Guru Tegh Bahaadar Sahib) asked him: "My brave man, how are you doing?" He replied: "God is merciful, all is well. I am facing a tough test. I do not want to score 99 percent. I want 100 percent. Have mercy on me. May I pass this test of being a Sikh. Of the Guru's family, the very first martyr was the Fifth King (Siri Guru Arjan Dev Sahib). Of Sikhs, the first martyrdom for the Faith is going to be mine. Have mercy so I may succeed, the coming generations may then receive guidance from it and be prepared for sacrifices."

What is it that Satguru Tegh Bahaadar Sahib, sitting in a cage in Chandni Chowk, is telling Bhai Mati Das regarding His dear Faith? (It is): "Dityaan baajh nahin rehnaa, Dharam sir dityaan baajh nahin rehnaa" (Without sacrifice it will not survive; the Faith will not survive; the Faith will not survive without sacrifice of our lives) Repeat after me: (The Congregation repeats the verse). It (Faith) won't be kept with that much. How many of you are here? Why are you speaking in bird-like chirps. If a slogan has to be shouted for a leader or for a holy man, you make the place resound. It is a matter of Faith. I hope you have not fallen asleep. Is it too warm here? Speak aloud. Here NISA (the notorious law under which the Government carried out arbitrary arrests and killing of any active opposition) won't apply, this is Guru's Darbar. It (NISA) applies there, in Gandhi's Darbar In Guru Hargobind Sahib's Darbar the NISA of fifty two; yes, fifty two; is destroyed (the reference is to the fifty two Hindu princes for whom Siri Guru Hargobind Sahib is said to have secured release from jail simultaneously with His own release): Dityaan baajh nahin rehnaa, Dharam sir dityaan baajh nahin rehnaa (Without sacrifice it will not survive; the Faith will not survive without sacrifice of our lives).

The Case of The Missing Sandals

2006-07-06T12:43:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

So daas was at the gurdwara late one night, about 11pm. I went to the shoe rack, and low and behold I could not find my chappalla (sandals).

While looking around for my sandals, Daas noticed a group of raagi's putting on peoples sandals and going for a walk. The raagi's were asked whether the chappalla were theres, they
replied "No they are not, we are just going for a walk with them and will put them back".

Now in the minds of these Raagi Singhs they are doing nothing wrong, because they will put the chappalla back, but what if the owner of the chappalla come to find them, so that they can go home, they will think they have been stolen.

So, the case of the missing chappalla has been solved.Your Chappalla were not stolen, they were just borrowed ;)

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

*Please keep in mind the saakhi of Sata and Balwand, we must show utmost respect to raagi Singhs

Sant Jarnail Singh on Being Armed

2006-07-04T17:28:00.000-04:00

Also you should acquire weapons. There is going to be no deliverance without weapons. Subramaniam (a member of Indian Parliament) asked me: "Why do you keep weapons, you are a sant (a holy man)?" I replied: "I am not the son of a eunuch. I am a son of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib." I am not saying this myself. It is written: veh pragatiyo marad agamrraa variyaam ikelaa vaah vaah gobind singh aape gur chelaa ["The Distinguished Man, the Unique Warrior manifested. Wonderful is Gobind Singh, Himself the Guru and the Disciple"]. I have a tape-recording of the meeting with him (Subramaniam). He left convinced that it is right for a Sikh to keep any weapons he might like to. He indeed said this, I have a tape-recording. You may listen to it in a gathering of a million. Further, it is a sin for a Sikh to keep weapons to hurt an innocent person, to rob anyone's home, to dishonor anyone or to oppress anyone. But there is no greater sin for a Sikh than keeping weapons and not protecting his faith.

STOP GENOCIDE JUNE 25 2:30 - 5:30 PM

2006-06-23T18:00:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Daas recieved an email today, about a program that will be happening in Toronto, so that the Sangat can show support to the people of Darfur who are dying by Genocide and to reach out and involve the sangat in human rights organizations. It seems that Amnesty International and Canadians Against Slavery and Torture will be in attendance at this program. Daas encourages everyone to attend this program, and show the world that Sikhs dont just talk about Sarbat Da Bhalla everyday, they actually go out and do something for Sarbat Da Bhalla.

The Website is: www.SikhsAgainstGenocide.com

The Program Details are as follows:

Stop Genocide Save Darfur
Sunday June 25, 2006 2:30pm - 5:30pm
Sikh Spiritual Center
9 Carrier Dr., Rexdale, Ontario
416 - 746-6666
Email: SikhsAgainstGenocide@Gmail.com

Daas also requests you to raise awareness about this event, wherever you are in the world, so that others can also take up the cause and rekindle the spirit of activism in our youth. Feel free to add the pop up to your site or blog. All you have to do is copy and paste the code from here into your sites code after the tag...

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

We Win, Than Why Do We Lose?

2006-06-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

Waheguru JiKa Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Why is that whenever we accomplish something against all odds, we end up destroying it ourselves?

The Sikhs led by Banda Singh Bahadur toppled the Moghul Rules. All Sikhs worked together to accomplish a common goal. Khalsa Raj was established. Everything was going great. Than Sikhs started getting greedy and in-fighting started. This was than sorted out under Raja Ranjit Singh, and once again Khalsa Raj was established.

Once again, everything was going well, even though there were a couple of Sikh led rebellion attempts against Ranjit Singh. Once Ranjit Singh passed away, Sikhs resumed fighting amongst each other for control. The British started making plans to take over the kingdom, which they didnt dare attack while Ranjit Singh was around. The Sikhs in-fighting opened the door for the British to attack, the British still would have lost, if some Sikh regiments did not sell out. Challo, we have no one to blame for losing our Raj than ourselves.

Than, the Singh Sabha Agitation to get the British out of India and get our Gurdwaras back. Everything went well all Sikhs working together for a common cause. Goals were accomplished. Now SGPC is messed up, Sikhs are fighting again, the freedom we fought for, we are handing back to the GOI and its agents, we have once again been infiltrated.

1984 era, Sant Ji succesfully uniting Sikhs bringing them back into the proper Sikh lifestyle, causes India to tremble at its roots. Longowal et al, get jealous want power, start making problems, invite the GOI to attack darbar sahib, which they would never had dared if not invited by the SGPC leadership and the 'leaders' of the Sikhs.

Look at the present, leaders selling their souls, ruining everything that was accomplished by major sacrifices in the past.

My point? When Sikhs are united and work together, there is not a force in the world that can stand up to the Sikhs. Sikhs will alwyas be victorious when united.

The problem? Once Sikhs accomplish their goal, the in-fighting and jealousies start. People don't want to let go of control for the betterment of the panth, they want control in their hands. They get greedy. This destroys everything that was accomplished before.

The Solution? Learn from our past mistakes, unfortunately we haven't up to now as we keep repeating the same mistakes. 'Leaders' try to keep control to themselves for their own gain and families gain. To them I say, if you were honest to the panth not only would your family be well of, but so would every Sikh family. These families are all our brothers and sisters, we are all one family under our father Guru Gobind Singh Ji and our mother Mata Sahib Kaur. The sooner we realize this, and realize that when we get greedy and move further from Sikhi principles we destroy all the hard work that went into getting us to this point. The sooner we will rid ourselves of all these problems and all these internal and external threats to Sikhi.

Conclusion? Be strong in your Sikhi, do simran, do sewa, read bani, take out daswandh. When they day comes that we rise up and defeat our enemies we must be strong enough in our mind that we dont get greedy, and we learn from our past mistakes and keep Guru Sahib and the beautiful panth at the forefront, and our own selves in the background.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Bhai Sukha Singh UK Wale

2006-06-12T13:47:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Daas stumbled upon some audio tracks of some katha / keertan by Bhai Sukha Singh on this website. It was really nice to listen to. I was wondering if there is any other place to get some of Bhai Sukha Singhs Keertan on the net, I really enjoyed the keertan. (Katha was good to).

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Disappointing Comments on Message Board

2006-06-06T16:31:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Daas goes on message boards once in a while just to see if there are any interesting discussions from which daas can learn from. Today Daas stumbled upon a thread about a problem that happened at a Gurdwara in UK.

Now I don't know what happened or didnt happen, allegedly a lady who had cigarettes in her hands and was high on drugs entered the gurdwara, and one side wanted her out, while another side embraced her. Daas will not specualte on details because it does not matter. The point daas wants to make is as follows.

Daas saw written on the message board by many users that, everyone is welcome to the gurdwara, and we must embrace everyone who comes. This is where my problem comes. I agree we should embrace everyone who comes to the gurdwara, BUT NEVER WHEN THEY HAVE ALCOHOL OR CIGARETTES ON THEIR PERSON, OR WHEN THEY ARE INTOXICATED. This is clearly against Sikhi principles and rehit maryada.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji's horse knew better than to enter a tobacco field. Most Sant's nad learned gursikhs teach that if you come into contact with tobacco you should wash ur clothes and take a shower. Damdami Taksal maryada says that even if you step on a cigarette you should take a shower and change your clothes.

Tobacco and cigarettes are like poison to a Gursikh, we should not even go near it, let alone embrace someone who brings it inside the gurdwara. Sure eveyrone is welcome in the gurdwara, provided they dont bring cigarettes and are not intoxicated.

When daas saw many people posting saying they should embrace the intoxicated lady who had cigarettes in her hand, this hurt daas, because they put their Sikhi principles to the side. Sure help her out, if she needs help, but NO ONE has the right to allow cigarettes in the gurdwara. NO ONE.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Freedom and Remembrance Rally in UK Tommorow

2006-06-03T18:24:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Benti to all UK Sangat to make it out to the Freedom and Remembrance rally tommorow (Sunday). Parnaam Shaheeda Nu, its our duty to support programs like this and make sure they are successful and maximum sangat comes out. If we dont take the initiative no one well. Keep up the great work sewadaars in UK.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waehguru Ji Ki Fateh

Joke

2006-05-26T12:43:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Daas will share a real life situation that occured with you. So an uncle who we shall call Balwant Singh is visiting from Punjab and is staying with Tufan Singh. Tufan Singh takes Balwant Singh shopping. Balwant Singh needed to buy some perfume for his wife in Punjab. Balwant and Tufan Singh had no clue about perfume, so once at the store they asked an elderly women advice about perfume. This elderly women spent about 15 minutes with Balwant and Tufan Singh explaining to them the ins and outs of quality perfume. This elderly women really helped them out a lot. Balwant and Tufan Singh were very grateful to this women and Tufan Singh wanted to show this elderly women some respect for helping them out so much.

In Punjabi culture when we want to talk to an elderly women with respect we call her 'Mata Ji'.

So Tufan Singh said to the elderly white lady, "Thank you Mom" .....................

I guess in other cultures being called mom is not a sign of respect. But anyways, The elderly lady responded by saying....

...
...
...
...
...
...

"Your Welcome Dad"

Quite funny if you ask me

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Things are Not Always What They Seem

2006-05-21T19:54:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

This article just shows that despite strict laws, and outward shows of pureness and strict rules which seperate genders, people are completely different in public than they are behind closed doors. Just something to think about.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Pakistanis top list of people seeking access to sex web sites

From our correspondents

18 May 2006

ISLAMABAD — Google, the world's most popular Internet search engine, has found in a survey that residents of mostly Muslim states seek access to sex-related web sites and Pakistanis top the list.

Google found that of the top 10 countries — whose residents search for sex-related sites — six were Muslims, with Pakistan on the top. The other Muslim countries are Egypt at number 2, Iran at 4, Morocco at 5, Saudi Arabia at 7 and Turkey at 8. Non-Muslim states are Vietnam at 3, India at 6, Philippines at 9 and Poland at 10.

Being a Minority is No Reason To Worry - Speech by Sant Jarnail Singh

2006-05-20T12:56:00.000-04:00

One thought being rubbed into the minds of our young brothers is that we (Sikhs) are like salt in the dough (that we are so few). But if the (lump of) salt in the dough is a little too much, the dough is hard to eat. Don't let this worry you. Our Father (Siri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib) said: "I shall make each of them fight 125,000. Only then shall I deserve to be called Gobind Singh". He told us to fight 125,000. Now that is a far off thing. At this time we are (sort of) sitting low (the ratio of our enemies to us is far less than 125,000).

Great News: Sri Akal Takht Sahib Issues Sandesh in reaction to UK Gurdwara violations

2006-05-17T16:51:00.000-04:00

BREAKING: Sri Akal Takht Sahib Issues Sandesh in reaction to UK Gurdwara violations
Wednesday 17th May, 2006
EXCLUSIVE: Panthic Weekly News Bureau

Amritsar Sahib, Punjab (KP) – Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the Sikh Supreme Authority of the Sikh Nation, has issued a 'Sandesh' (memorandum) on the prohibition of ‘saraab-kabaab’ (liquor and meat) at religious functions and marriages following a meeting held with representatives of the Respect Guru Ji Campaign (UK).

View the Sandesh in Gurmukhi

Panthic Weekly has brought to light in recent years that many UK Gurdwaras are using money from the Sikh Sangat or Gurdwara funds to open ‘recreational centres’ or ‘community centres’ which are then used to hire out for parties and where the use of sharab (alcohol), smoking of tobacco, other intoxicants and the preparation and consumption of meat are permitted. UK Gurdwara management committees, which allow such perversions of Gurmat, justify their acts as ‘catering to the needs of the community’. Also, a small number of Gurdwara management committees have allowed Pavitar Saroops of Satguru Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to be taken to hotels, banquet halls and other premises where there is alcohol, intoxicants, meat and where lurid singing and dancing take place after the Anand Karaj.

With the help of the Budha Dal and Tarna Dal, members of the UK Sikh Sangat were granted an audience with Giani Joginder Singh Vendanti, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Ji. The meeting was held at Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Amritsar on 1st March 2006. Evidence and proof of abuse towards Satguru Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and of violations of Sikh principles in recent years, collected by the Respect for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Campaign in the UK, were presented to the Singh Sahib and the Panj Piyarey (Five Sikhs) at Sri Akal Takht Sahib.

On reviewing the evidence presented before them, Sri Akal Takht Sahib has recognised the deep problem that exists in the UK. As the Sikhs’ supreme authority, Sri Akal Takht Sahib has voiced its concerns by issuing a new 'Sandesh' strongly reinforcing Sikh Rehit Maryada (Sikh Code of Conduct) and Gurmat (Sikh principles) on the following issues:

• Any form of intoxicants (alcohol, drugs etc) and preparation or consumption of foods such as meat, fish and eggs are not permitted on Gurdwara property.

• Guru-ka-Langar should be prepared and observed in accordance to Gurus' maryada (tradition).

• No person under the influence of intoxicants is allowed inside Gurdwara property.

• Inside the property of the Guru Sahibs, only the recital of Gurbani, katha, kirtan and reccounting of the Gurus' history are permitted.

• Buildings bought or constructed using the Daswand (one tenth of earnings) of the Sikh Sangat or Gurdwara donations are solely to be used to be used for Gurmat purposes and the betterment of society.

• Anand Karajs (Sikh wedding ceremonies) etc must be performed in Gurdwaras in accordance to Gurmat and the Panthic accepted Sikh Rehit Maryada.

• There is no permission granted for dancing and singing or any acts which go against the principles of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Sri Akal Takht Sahib is clear on its position on the above abuses of Sikh principles and has unanimously condemned the abuses towards Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the exploitation of Gurdwara Sahibs in the UK.

Gurdwaras are where Gurmat ( Guru Sahib’s principles) are implemented and maintained rather than manipulated or exploited. It is the duty of all Gurdwara management committees to adhere to the above and implement this Gur-Maryada (code of conduct sactioned by the Gurus) immediately for the betterment of the Sikh religion in UK.

The Respect Guru Ji Campaign (UK) told Panthic Weekly, “With increasing wakefulness of these issues, the UK Sikh Community will contribute in resolves that maintain the honor and prestige of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, our eternal Guru, and take a leading role within the global Sikh community.”

Common Day Gurdwara Situation and Saka Nankana Sahib

2006-05-15T12:58:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

The committee system of our Gurdwara Sahib’s is in a very bad state right now. Pretty much the most popular person wins, not the best Gursikh. Gurdwaras are being used as political tools, and not for spreading gurmat and the message of our guru’s.

This reminded daas of Saka Nankana Sahib. Where the Sikhs had to give such a big kurbani to free the Gurdwara from the common day masands. Will we have to give similar kurbani’s to free our gurdwaras from the masand committee members also? Will we have to give similar kurbani to free Akal Takht from the grasps of SGPC? The way it is going, it looks like something will have to give, hopefully it won’t come down to that, but the way things are going, it sure might.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Quotes on Sikh Warriors

2006-05-13T15:34:00.000-04:00

"…If you cherish a desire of learning the art of war, face them in battlefield. When they hold the Mighty Sword, they gallop from Hind to Sind. Nobody, however strong and wealthy, dare oppose them. If their Swords strike a coat of mail, the coat itself becomes the enemy's shroud. Each one of them looks like a rock. In grandeur each one of them excels fifty men."
Qazi Nur Mohammed, Jang Namah (Battle Chronicles), 1765 CE. A staunch enemy of the Sikhs, he goes into paeans of praise when describing their qualities as soldiers.

"...a party of Akhalees (fanatics) on foot stopped and fought us, in some instances very fiercely. One fine bold ‘Nihung’ beat off four Sowars one after another, and kept them all at bay. I then went at him myself, fearing that he would kill one of them. He instantly rushed to meet me like a tiger, closed with me, yelling ‘Wah Gooroo ji’, and accompanying each shout with a terrific blow of his tulwar. I guarded the three or four first , but he pressed so closely to my horse’s rein that I could not get a fair cut in return. At length I pressed in my turn upon him so sharply that he missed his blow, and I caught it from him, and cut him down with the right, having received no further injury than a severe cut across the fingers; I never beheld such desperation and fury in my life. It was not human scarcely..."
Twelve years of a soldiers life in India, William Hodson (1859)

Akaal Takath Toon Aai Awaaz - Khalistan ! Khalistan ! by Dimple Kaur

2006-05-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh

On Monday night, over 100 Sikhs gathered in front of the Sheraton Hotel in the middle of New York City to protest the visit of Sonia Gandhi, the president of India's Congress Party responsible for the genocide of Sikhs and other non-Hindu minorities. The majority of the protesters were men, who had brought their wives and young children along. Our brothers led the chanting of slogans such as “Akaal Takath toon aai awaaz – Khalistan! Khalistan!”, with the exception of one 16 year old sister from New Jersey, whose Sikh Spirit was an inspiration to everyone there.

As I was watching a few of these brave warriors, I saw that they were reaching down into the depths of their souls with each shout, echoing the courage and belief of their convictions. One in particular, each time I looked onto his face and heard his voice, it pained me tremendously. All I could see was overwhelming love for his brothers and sisters who had been, and continue to be, tortured and murdered. A love so strong that it can make a person go numb.

Our sisters in Punjab are also numb – living a life of not knowing where their husbands, brothers, and sons are. Always wondering, is he still alive or have they killed him? Imagining the worst scenarios of torture…what if they did this to him or that to him? Is he being hurt and in pain?

I wonder how our women are bearing life with the thought of the person they love the most being hurt in this way? It is one thing to lose someone who dies, hopefully a quick and painless death, like my grandfather who was fortunate to pass away lying on his bed, asleep, with his hands folded across his chest…forever in a prayer….forever in a never-ending sleep. It is another thing to lose a loved one quickly, even though painfully, like my father, who was shot three times at close range with a revolver while stopping his car at a red light. Death with a bullet -- but least it was quick. Bang! Bang! Bang! – I can imagine it, see him dying, know how he went, know where he is now, and put closure on it.

But what keeps me up at night, what makes me shudder during the day, what consumes me as I walk around in the city in the center of the world, is the fact that so many of my brothers, fathers, and sons are out there somewhere - alive or dead, but we don’t know where. While so many of my sisters, mothers, and daughters are laying in bed at night, unable to close their eyes because they keep seeing the faces of their men…and in their thoughts, their men are in incredible pain, and continuously being hurt. Their legs pulled apart and their bodies mutilated. And my sisters, my dear, dear sisters, who are being raped continuously by those monsters while all they want to do is die, but they are forced to keep living, and bearing it.

I often ask myself, how can I enjoy what I am doing, enjoy my life knowing that hundreds and thousands of my men are languishing in prisons, missing, “disappeared”, killed in “encounters”, dead with their bodies thrown in rivers, buried, or burned. Where are our brothers and sisters? Why won’t anyone give us answers? How long will our sisters lay in bed every night wondering where their husbands are, not being able to close their eyes and go to sleep for one day without waking up with an emptiness in their stomachs the next?

Now I realize why, when I saw that brave Singh shouting “Akaal Takath Toon Aai Awaaz, Khalistan, Khalistan!”, I felt so much discomfort in my soul. Why the look on his face was so disturbing for me and the look in his eyes was too painful to bear. Why with each shout, I felt he was reaching deep inside me and pulling out my voice. The voices of those who are missing loved ones and want to know where they are, even if they are dead, who just want to know. With each shout, he was connecting us all to him and was speaking for us all. He was saying, “I don’t want to grow old, not knowing what happened to my husband. I don’t want to grow old while in my memory, he stays a young man, at the prime of his life, as shadows hover over his body, freezing him in a never-ending nightmare of torture. Please, tell me what happened to him. Tell me he is dead. Not knowing forces me to keep him alive and see his face, numb with pain, so numb, he doesn’t even know where he is, or what his name is. At least if I know he is dead, I know he is in a better place. At least I can have him close his eyes in my memory, forever. But this way, not knowing, is a waking death for me. Please, let me rest. Tell me what happened to him.”

So on Monday evening, about 100 of us gathered, in the middle of Manhattan, to protest not just Sonia Gandhi, but what she symbolizes. A nightmare that is forced upon our people just so that the status quo can be maintained and the lust for power be quenched with the blood of Singhs and Kaurs. Let’s never forget Bhai Fauja Singh, Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, General Subeg Singh, Amrik Singh, Satwant Singh, Beant Singh, and our other Singh and Kaur martyrs.

Let’s not get so caught up in our love for life, that these men and women just become part of our "history”, rather than people whose sacrifices we should try and repay with our efforts of sewa and love for the Panth, and through the Panth, greater mankind.

Warriorship

2006-05-07T09:01:00.000-04:00

Here is a piece written by a professional mixed martial artist in the states. it's not about Sikhi but he is talking about being a Sant-Sipahi whether he knows it or not.

Jermaine Andre is a professional mixed martial artist, a great warrior and a righteous man. These are his words:

'To be a warrior in today's society is to be one of the unaccepted and misunderstood.

As a true warrior carries more concern and emotion than the average person, he must always suppress his feelings so that he will not die from sadness. This usually leads the judgmental into believing that the warrior is a man of no heart. A true warrior looks deeply into all things without limiting his mind inside of the borders of societies restrictions. He makes his judgments off of what he has learned through experience instead of what he is told to believe.

A code of honor is always established somewhere within a warrior's life. His honor is more important to him than life itself. He would rather be dead with honor than alive without it. Please understand that a warrior's honor is not to be confused with a fool's ego. A warrior of today must always keep himself disconnected from the gratifications that society allows. Material things and money are only that to him. He must always be prepared to die for what he believes in, so he must never fear leaving things behind.

Warriors believe in standing for what's right and falling for what's right. They do not sway with the winning side if it is in the wrong. This would be dishonorable. A warrior knows of things that the domesticated doesn't because of his courage to seek and find at his own will. This always keeps him separate from the sheep who follow the manipulating shepherd.

He does not look for his honor through fame or what other people think of him. Even if the world condemns what he is doing as wrong, he will keep doing it if he himself feels that it is right. He does not seek the approval of misled a nd misguided men. Only the approval of the Spirit that he has chosen as his leader.

To the warrior, his only fear of death, is to die a cowardly one. To die a good, warrior's death ... is only a blessing from his Superior Spirit. Death through life is what the warrior will seek ... and life through death, is what he shall find.'

2006-05-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Please take some time out to review some of daas's previous articles.

Problems in the Panth: There is a Better Way

The Sikh Leadership: What Went Wrong?

Why are Sikhs Being Spit On?

Bibian and Singhs

What is Sewa?

Balancing Sikhi With Family Obligations

Does Anand Mean Leave

Jatha's It's All Good

Respect For Guru Granth Sahib Ji

---

The Supreme Court of Canada Overturns Ban on Kirpan in Schools

George Bush's Trip To India

Prince Charles... Are We Honoring The Wrong Person

Khushwant Singh to Be Honored

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Forever Fateh

2006-05-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

Forever Fateh

- From In Praise of The Guru's

'All my wishes have been fulfilled, I lack nothing.

God's victory resounds through the world and all my woes have passed.'

(Suhi, M. 5 : Guru Granth Sahib jee)

Imagine how depressed you'd feel if you'd lost everything you loved:

if your father had been martyred while you were still a 9 year old child,
if your four beautiful sons all under the age of 20 had been sacrificed,
if your precious mother had left this world soon afterwards,
if your loyal devotees deserted you when you needed them most,
if you had no permanent home but were forced to live on the run from a fanatical enemy?

This was the nightmarish situation Guru Gobind Singh jee was in... but did he weep? Did he give up the fight? Did he give up his beliefs and convert to the enemy's way of life? Was he driven to drink, did he put down his sword and cut his hair so that he could have an easy life?

No, this was Guru Gobind Singh jee - the King of this world and the next. This was the master poet with the pen who wrote verses to inspire coming generations of Sikhs. This was the most powerful, muscular warrior, the master of all weapons. This was the beloved saint of Waheguru, sent into the world to protect the saints and the innocent, and to uproot the false holy men. No matter what the situation, His inner state could be described in the words of Guru Granth Sahib jee:

'All my wishes have been fulfilled, I lack nothing. God's victory resounds through the world and all my woes have passed.' (Suhi, M. 5 : Guru Granth Sahib jee)

So what did the King of Kings do when faced with such a crisis? He wrote ZafarNama - the letter of VICTORY! Guru jee seemed to have lost everything, yet wrote a letter of VICTORY! He sent it to the Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb and told the Emperor of half the globe that although he was handsome, and a great soldier - he definitely wasn't a man of God as he liked to claim. He was a tyrant who murdered innocent children (referring to the cold-blooded martyrdom of the Master's younger sons).

When we went to Agra we visted the red fort - Aurangzeb's headquarters. It was amazing to see the luxury that he lived in. However, the best bit was when we saw his throne. It was in an open outdoor court overlooking the Taj Mahal in the distance. His throne would have sat upon a 15 foot square black stone slab slightly raised from the ground. I could imagine him sitting there cross-legged looking down at his people. However, there was a giant crack all the way through the great stone and I couldn't help thinking that it was Guru Gobind Singh's mighty golden arrow that had caused it! For it was Guru Gobind Singh jee who when told of the murder of his younger sons, dug up a weed from the ground with his gold-tipped arrow and said the Moghul Empire has been uprooted!

Guru Gobind Singh jee always had an attitude of victory. Not his own victory so he could show off how great he was but Waheguru jee's victory. Guru Gobind Singh jee said 'all battles have been won by the Grace of Waheguru'.

The Hindu's say 'Jai Mata Dee' (victory of the Mata (Mother) - Mata is a supreme goddess who manifests herself as many other goddesses). Guru Gobind Singh jee doesn't salute Mata - Guru Gobind Singh jee salutes the One Supreme Waheguru who created Mata and everything else by saying:

WAHEGURU JEE KA KHALSA, WAHEGURU JEE KI FATEH!

We always say Raj Karega Khalsa - The Khalsa will rule. One meaning of this is when you become Khalsa then by doing simran you will conquer your mind and body: This is the true victory! So do simran, claim victory for Waheguru jee in the kingdom of your mind and body. When there are millions of individuals like this then the Khalsa will truly have ruled worldwide.

Forever Fateh! Always Victory!

Shaheedi of Guru Sahib

2006-04-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Daas has been meaning to post this for a long time, but I’ve kept on pushing it back until now. It saddened me deeply when I heard about Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji giving shaheedi at the Gurdwara in BC that was attacked by an arsonist. It also reminded me of last year when Guru Ji’s ang’s were found ripped up in a park in Toronto. Images of Guru Sahibs saroop being burnt in Delhi during the 84’ Massacre also came to mind. These images hurt every Sikh world wide. But what can we take from this?

Guru Sahib has given Shaheedi to inspire us, let us not let Guru Sahibs Shaheedi go in vain. Below is an excerpt from Sant Jarnail Singh Ji’s speech. They are talking about the Shaheedi of Guru Sahib and how it inspired the Morcha. The particular incident Sant Ji is talking about is when the police set fire to one of the Jatha’s busses which contained gutkas and Maharaj Saroop.

Let us draw inspiration from Guru Sahibs Shaheedi and make ourselves better Sikhs, and make sure that we ourselves are willing to take a stand when needed.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

All say Jarnail Singh has done a lot. He has woken up the Nation. Many poets have also written poems about it. I humbly appeal to these poets. Instead of making poems in my name, you should first of all write poems in praise of Siri Guru Granth Sahib. Why should you do it? If the Nation is awake today it is because the day of martyrdom of Siri Guru Granth Sahib. September 14 marks the awakening of this Nation. Guru Sahib has offered himself to the fire. If the books had not been set on fire, if copies (of Siri Guru Granth Sahib) had not been set on fire, I am prepared to say with confidence we could not have achieved such an awakening. Khalsa Ji, to preserve reverence for Satguru, the Singhs reached there and peacefully served the congregation. But the cruel Government fired at them and killed the Singhs. There is a Singh, an old man from Buttaran, Channan Singh by name. His son, was a student of the 12th grade. All day he served food and milk to the congregation. When he was going home, he passed in front of the police station. He was shot and killed while sitting in the trolley (of a tractor). We do talk and rightly so, about our Hindu-Sikh unity. We have to live together. The young son of Kartar Singh of Dharde village, was sitting in his trolley when he was shot. Another was from Bolewal - Bolewal is a village near Mehta - all these villages are near Mehta. He, too, was shot and killed. The time came. The dead bodies reached Amritsar. I was not here but all of you who are sitting here must have been. It is possible that you were not here but at Mehta Gurdwara. You were not anywhere else. This happened in that time frame.

Gursikhs are Never Bad

2006-04-27T22:09:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

I got the following from something that "Confused Khalsa" has written.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Somebody once said to Baba Nihaal Singh Ji,

"Some Nihangs have become thieves."

Baba Ji answered:

"It is not that nihangs have become thieves, its that thieves have become Nihangs."

In the same way, merely dressing or looking like a Gursikh doesnt qualify you as one in the least.

Advice to Bhai Amrik Singh

2006-04-25T21:00:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

This is an excerpt from a speech where Sant Jarnail Singh is giving advice to Bhai Amrik Singh after they won the AISF election. Notice how humble Sant Ji is and how loyal they are to the Panth and how they do not take anything for granted.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Regarding the (All India Sikh Students') Federation elections that have been held today, I shall quote a line. Do not draw the wrong meaning from it. I say this because it happened to me. The one who has gone through it knows better. Farid Ji has said these words: "When she was unmarried, she was excited (about marriage). Upon marriage, (she realized) there were many responsibilities. Farid, she feels sorry that she cannot become unmarried again." (There was a time) when I used to call the Sant (Sant Kartar Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale, Sant Bhindranwale's mentor) my father, was enjoying life, and boasted a lot. But since the day I, through misfortune, came to this position (Jathedar of the Damdami Taksaal) - I do not cry over it but they do not let me rest by day or by night. (Regarding) this responsibility I shall certainly tell Amrik Singh. In Satguru's presence the Panth has appointed you. The young men have honored you. I never had any doubts (about your ability). However, because of my being in the position held by the great man (Sant Kartar Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale), it is my duty to say this. Now that you have taken on this responsibility, you should have the attitude: "My head might be cut off, but may I never lose my faith as a Sikh." We must not stray from this.

Mothers are the Future of Sikhi

2006-04-22T13:07:00.000-04:00

‘Educate a man and you educate an individual –
educate a woman and you educate an entire family.’

Be Firm In Your Faith

2006-04-21T17:40:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Daas was looking through some videos on youtube and came across this video of an interview of a young muslim girl. I do not agree with a word she is saying, but what really stood out to me in this interview is how firm she is in her beliefs at such a young age. Although I do not agree at all with what she is saying, I couldn’t help but be impressed by how she has been taught at such a young age to hold on to her beliefs so firmly.

I wish that Sikh parents would also teach their kids to be so firm in their beliefs and their religion. It would be so amazing to see Singh’s and Singhni’s being so confident in themselves that they can go out in to a crowd of people when asked, and say Guru Nanak’s path is the best path. Or I wear the 5 K’s, and my Kirpan over top, I am not ashamed, I am a Sikh and if anyone has a problem with my beliefs, I don’t really care because I am doing what is right and it doesn’t matter to me what you think.

I believe we can always look at ways to improve ourselves. In the general Islamic community the kids are taught to read from the Quran at a really young age, and they have a huge celebration the first time the child reads the Quran. Sikhs use to have a similar ‘ceremony’ (sanskar) when they completed a sehaaj path for the first time. With time we have lost this tradition, now youth today can’t even read Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and if they can, most of them can’t understand what they are reading. Guru Sahib is the foundation of our lives, and the more we get away from this, the more problems we will have. Hopefully one day most of us can be so firm in our beliefs that even if someone questions us, we have no doubt about we are saying, and have no problem with standing up and saying what we stand for, no matter what others may think of us.

Anyways have a look at the video below.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Men and Facial Hair

2006-04-19T21:14:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Below is an extract from a speech from Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Khalsa Ji: this was the slogan that was shouted. Today, the same situation has arisen. Bhai Mati Das had said: "Even if I have to give my head, may I never lose my love for the Sikh Faith". I am sorry to note that some people who hanker after a chair say instead:

"Even if I lose my Faith, may I never lose my chair". And our younger generation has started saying this: "Even if I lose my Faith, may a beard never grow on my face". On whose face do you want it to grow? I shall say this to my young brothers who have cut their beards:

"Resolve here today that you will keep beards, give up intoxicants, and take Amrit". If you find the beard too heavy, (note that) at this place (Harmandar Sahib) God fulfills prayers very quickly. Pray to God saying: "The True King, you were kind to us and made us men and gave us birth in Sikh homes. But we do not like this Sikhism and manhood. Have mercy on us. Make us into women and make women into men. Make this exchange." Some say I consider women to be inferior. I do not consider them inferior. I say this only to make these young men ashamed of what they do, not to imply that women are inferior.

The Whole World is Born of Sikhs

2006-04-17T14:58:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Below is an extract from a speech by Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindrawale.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

This issue come up every day; regarding the Sikhs being a separate Nation. I like to make another humble statement. They say Sikhs are extremists. I asked those leaders: "If the Sikhs are extremists, you should accept the Sikhs are a separate Nation (inasmuch as extremism is their exclusive characteristic). If Sikhs are a part of Hindus, then you should write Hindus as extremists (the characteristics of Sikhs and Hindus being the same on that hypothesis)." When they want to abuse us or use foul language towards us it is exclusively towards people with turbans, but when we ask for our rights, we are told: "You are part of us." they say: "You are born out of us." I humbly submit that the whole world is born of Sikhs. In a Pundit's home, in a Muslim's home, or in a Sikh's home, no one is born without hair. If all people stayed as they were born of their parents and kept the appearance given them by God, they would not be called Chhalli Ram or Gulli Ram. Everyone would address them as Sardar Ji. Tell me who is born? Who is created by Nature? Don't get into misunderstandings over this.

Interesting Perspective on Terrorism and Religion

2006-04-15T19:48:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Daas encourages you to watch the video at the below link on terrorism and religion. It has a part on Sikhs and I think the speaker has a nice perspective on things. The whole video is pretty interesting, but it is long. So if you just want to see the part on Sikhs you can watch from the 10 min mark to the 20 min mark. The 44 min mark is interesting to. Enjoy.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6333490943579553550&q=islamic&pl=true

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Vasakhi Deean Lakh Lakh Vadhayeean

2006-04-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Daas would like to wish everyone Happy Vasakhi.

Below Have a read of what Guru Gobind Singh Ji wrote about the Khalsa, in Khalsa Mehima;

The Khalsa is my special embodiment; I dwell within the Khalsa.

The Khalsa is my mouth and limbs; always I live within the Khalsa.

The Khalsa is the object of my devotion; the Khalsa proclaims my reputation.

The Khalsa is my wings and my feet; the Khalsa is the offspring in whom I delight.

The Khalsa is my encouraging friend; the Khalsa is my parents who give me joy.

The Khalsa is my virtious delight, ever tied together in friendship with me.

The Khalsa is my virtue and honour; from the Khalsa I took birth.

The Khalsa is my source of supply; through the Khalsa I have performed every deed.

The Khalsa is my friend and family; the Khalsa works my redemption.

The Khalsa is my duty (dharma) and my destiny (karam); the khalsa is my deepest secret.

The Khalsa is my perfect Satguru, the Khalsa is my family of the noble brave.

The Khalsa is my learning and intteligence, on the Khalsa I constantly reflect.

So if you haven't yet, Daas encourages you to join the Khalsa, and make this life fruitful, and accomplish what we have been given this life for.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Quote

2006-04-11T13:56:00.000-04:00

The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.
- William James

What Is Sewa?

2006-04-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Seva is selfless service, thats exactly what it is, selfless service. so the ' self ' isn' t in the service, it just service alone. so, when are you doing it, do it selflessly, for you are not doing it, it is being done by you. by Karta Purkh, the Divine Doer. (from Parmjit's blog).

So is doing a good deed sewa? Nowadays I hear people saying “I want to be a doctor so I can do sewa by serving others”, or “I’m running a website I’m doing sewa”. Is this really sewa? For sure your doing good deeds and sowing good future karms, but is it really sewa?

When someone does promotes themselves through doing ‘sewa’, I do not believe that is sewa. They are using their good deeds to make a name for themselves. Guru Sahib says “koye naam na jaane mera”. (may no one know my name).

In Asa Ki Vaar Guru Sahib says;

you may give donations to charity, and perform good deeds, but without the True one, what is the use of it all?

We must realize that the world existed before we were here and so did Sikhi, and will continue to go on when we leave this world. Do not ever think that it is you that is doing sewa or a good deed. We can’t do anything, we are nothing. Everything we do is achieved by the grace of god. Guru Sahib themselves comes into us and does those actions which our manmukh minds believe we are doing. “Hukama andar sabh ko, bar hukam na koye”. Everything is happening under hukam.

Sant Jarnail Singh Ji use to do jorrian di sewa, but no one would know. When all the Singhs would go to sleep they would do jorrian di sewa, and bleach all the Singh’s kasheras and put them back before everyone woke up, so that no one would know that they did it. This is sewa. Bhagat Puran Singh when they took care of people who were cast away from society did sewa.

When you put yourself into the sewa, it ceases to be sewa. Sewa is selfless. Without Naam on your tongue it is just a good deed. Sewa isn’t just a good deed, This is where I believe many people today are confused. Sewa is much more than a good deed, it is doing a good deed believing it is Guru Sahib who is actually doing it and without Guru Sahib you have no capabilities to do anything, and than having naam on the forefront of your mind while doing that sewa.

I would also like to humbly ask all my brothers and sisters to please refrain from doing ‘mukh sewa’ (leading any sewa) if you have a dodgy past or can not commit to live up to the standards of the Khalsa. For example if you put yourself in the spotlight in the media as a spokesperson for a Sikh organization and someone see’s you on television and gets interested in what you are saying. So they go home and type your name in a search engine on the internet and come up with a list of all the bad deeds or allegations against you, this doesn’t just hurt you. It hurt’s the whole panth. Please do not put yourself in leadership positions if you are not spotless, you can potentially do a lot more harm than good to the panth. Leave the mukh sewa’s to people with a jeevan to back it up. Guru Sahib says;

Good deeds done in the pride of ego are swept away, like the house of sand by water.

So are we really just doing a good deed, or are we doing sewa?

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Shaheed Singhs Video

2006-04-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

I came across this video, and it contains some nice pictures of Shaheed Singhs, aswell as the AK47 soundtrack which is always inspiring. The one thing that I wish the creator hadn't done though is add in his own photograph. It's good that this guy is proud of the sacrifices these Shaheeds made and respects them. But truly respecting these shaheeds would be to follow the principles of Sikhi, and continue the cause which they gave their life for. Having khanda tatoo's and Khanda chains do nothing in this regard.

Well Here is the video,

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Respect For Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

2006-04-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

A Picture From Punjab

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaaj, our living Guru, the spiritual light of our 10 Guru’s, King of Kings, the ones who give us everything and have all the answers. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji deserves the utmost respect. Unfortunately this has not been happening.

We hear stories of people keeping saroops of Guru Ji in closets or on shelves. People taking Guru Sahib to halls and other inappropriate places where Guru Sahib would never want their children to be seen let alone themselves. Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s horse knew better than to step in a tobacco field, but yet we take Guru Sahibs saroop to where alcohol and tobacco is served or is stored. This just breaks my heart. Where has the respect for our Guru gone, they’ve blessed us with everything, and this is how we repay them?

In olden times people use to walk to the gurdwara every morning to have darshan of Guru Sahib. This was such a big deal for them. Now we have been printing of so many saroops of Guru Sahib that people don’t have that respect or excitement of going to see Guru Sahib. We have forgotten how to treat Guru Sahib with respect. When people have weddings they do shagan in front of Guru Sahib, wear kalgi’s, and uncles and aunties put their hands on top of the couples head as if they can give more blessings than guru sahib. How lost we are.

Even people who have Guru Sahibs saroop at home, they don’t have the time to properly attend to Guru Sahib. They spend their day watching tv, entertaining guests, but they don’t have time to sit with Guru Ji. When Guru Ji is at your house it is not a small thing, it requires lots of time and devotion. You have such an important guest at your house, you have to devote your time to. People make food for themselves but they don’t think to do bhog to it and offer it to Guru Sahib before eating it themselves.

In India people take Guru Sahib to marriage palaces and sit on tables and chairs, with their head uncovered and shoes on their feet, drinking alcohol and eating meat. With no care in the world, not caring that Guru Sahib is there with them watching everything. They may enjoy now but this is just sowing bad karms for their future.

What can be done about this. First we can try to educate our families and ourselves about Sikhi and Guru Sahib. Another solution could be instead of people keeping Guru Sahibs saroop at home they can bring home sancheeya and do paath from them, and than go to Gurdwara for darshan. SGPC should stop printing so many saroops and instead print sancheeya.

The Respect For Guru Granth Sahib Ji Campaign in England has done a great amount of work in educating people about not taking Guru Sahib to halls and other inappropriate places. We should support them fully and start up similar campaigns in our own areas. If not than if we see something wrong happening in our family we should at least educate them.

Below is the Hukamnama from Akal Takht prohibiting taking Guru Sahib to Marriage Palaces and Hotels.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Prince Charles... Are We Honoring The Wrong Person?

2006-04-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Lately Prince Charles has been in the news, for his visit to Punjab and to a bunch of Gurdwaras. What I have noticed is that all these parbhandaks chase after Prince Charles and go out of their way to accommodate him and treat him like royalty. This really saddens me. People pay more respect to Prince Charles than they do to Guru Sahib, or Guru Roop Sadh Sangat.

Sangat was blocked off for a while or inconvenienced due to the visit of the prince and his princess Camilla. I have no qualms with Prince Charles and Camilla visiting the gurdwara I think this is great, and I believe they are extremely lucky to have Darshan of Guru Sahib. What troubles me is, we have the King of Kings Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj sitting their, and everyone is running after a worldly prince, when the king of this world and the next is sitting on their thrown right in front of you. Than on top of this, the Sadh Sangat, who when together is a form of Guru Sahib themselves is inconvenienced to come have darshan of Guru Sahib.

The sangat which is so much more important than any single person gets old white sheets to sit on. But for Prince Charles everything is brand new. Is Prince Charles really that much more important than Guru Roop Sadh Sangat, or Guru Sahib and their darbar?

Than Prince Charles is given a Kirpan and a siropa. What has he done to receive that siropa? Siropa isn’t a small thing, it’s a huge honor, but most parbandaks abuse the use of siropas these days.

Sant Kartar Singh Ji Bhindrawale is a great example of how one should act in the presence of Guru Sahib and in Guru Sahibs Darbar. On December 7, 1975 the sangat was 220,000 strong at the Nagar Keertan to remember Guru Tegh Bhadur Ji’s Shaheedi in Delhi. After the Nagar Keertan the Sangat congregated at the Gurdwara. Indira Gandhi showed up at the Gurdwara and everyone stood up to honor her as she came in. Sant Kartar Singh Ji stayed seated and remained focused on Guru Sahib.

Leader after leader went up on stage and did Indira’s ustat (praises). Indira’s first child was married to someone from Punjab, and the leaders all shamelessly begged her to marry her second child to a Punjabi girl. Sant Kartar Singh had seen enough and now when they had their stage time they started of with the line “Sir Jaave Ta Jaave, Mera Sikhi Sidkh Na Jaave”. They than quoted Bhai Sahib Singhs Rehitnama. They than went on to tell the Sangat that how can you ask for Indira to marry her son to a Sikh girl, he is a mona, he is patit. Is this how desperate we are? We should marry our daughters to rehitvaan Gursikhs. Sant Ji also gave reference to how the Hindu’s used to marry of their daughters to suck up to leadership in the past, and pretty much sell their souls, and now we are doing the same.

Sant Kartaar Singh Ji went on to say that Indira Gandhi is Prime Minister of India so it is fair to say she deserves some respect, but without Guru Tegh Bhadur Ji’s Kurbani (sacrifice), there would be no seat of Prime Minister for her. The reason all these Hindu’s aren’t Muslims is because Guru Sahib gave his life to save them. Our Guru Sahiban gave their lives to protect these people and without them there would be no seat in Delhi for Indira. If Indira is so big she should have given her head to protect others, but she isn’t that great. Only Guru Sahib was this great. So the sangat should never honor anyone in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, because Guru Granth Sahib Ji embodies all of our Guru’s including Guru Tegh Bhadur Sahib Ji. Guru Tegh Bhadur Ji gave their head, Indira can never come close to sacrificing this much for humanity. We should give all our respect to Guru Sahib and no one else. Guru Sahib is highest. After Sant Kartar Singh Ji finished the sangat let out non-stop Jaikarai.

The lesson to be learned from this is that we shouldn’t sing someone’s praises, especially infront of Guru Sahib. No one deserves more praise than Guru Sahib who gives us everything, and enables us to do what we do. Parbandaks from our local gurdwaras around the world have it all wrong they needlessly give out siropas and sing peoples praises without a second thought, just for their own gain. People should feel privileged to have Guru Sahib’s darshan. Instead when someone visits the Guru Ghar we think it’s a privelage for us that they have graced us with their presence, this is ridiculous. Siropa’s are being misused, the honor of receiving a siropa is huge. Daas will post about this another day. Until than let us learn from the example Sant Kartar Singh Ji Bhindrawale set.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

*Daas is in no way disrespecting Prince Charles. Daas just feels that in Guru Sahibs Hazoori only Guru Sahibs Ustat should be done.

Enemies of The Panth

2006-03-31T17:21:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Daas just wanted to draw your attention to a radhasoami debate on tapoban.org. It is very informative on how our Panth is being attacked.

Two posts I would like to draw your attention to are as follows. In the first one Gurbaksh Singh a former Radhasoami talks about a talk he had with the so called 'sat guru';

Author: gurbaksh singh
Date: 03-02-05 12:47

what i wrote in my previous post was not ficition but truth
i tried my best to be polite
but offcourse if you want to know the whole truth here it is
after the officers of the government of india left i went into the room of your guru and said guru ji we should fight these people just like the guru of the sikhs did
his reply was salia marvona aa sikhan de guru ta asli see mai ta aam jai banda aa
naley mai ta khud eh gal jananda aa ke sada nishana kewal te kewal sikhan nu galt raste pouna aaa
naley sanu ke sikhan de guru ta inaha de pukar te delhi jake sis dee aei see
jadon ke oh ina de dharam vich ukeen nahi karde see eh aa asli guru wali gal
then i took leave from him and the rest you know

So basically the so-called 'satguru' admits that he is a normal person, and he is afraid of the Indian Government and can't give sacrifices like the true Sikh Guru's gave. He also says that his job is only to put Sikhs on the wrong path. Some more background on this is that he was beat up by Government officials and is afraid of them and basically works for them. This was followed up by a muslim gentleman's post;

Author: Maj. Gen . Waris Ahmed
Date: 03-02-05 17:01

I want to Give you some very Important Information Regarding Radha Soamis.
First of all I want to Inform Mr. Gurbax Singh I was there when Indian Army's Commander in Chief starts Abusing Radha Soami's Satguru.
I was Looking at you while Gen. Gupta was Talking to Him. The Anger on Ur Face & the Humiliation.....but I know at that time you were Helpless...
I have nothing to do with your Interest coz I know "Allah is the most Powerfull".
but the reallity was that Radha Soami's Satguru was also Helpless....Radha Soamis are Lucky they didnt Lose their Satguru at that Time.

I dont know why Indian Public so Dumb. Everybody knows in India Meat, Alcohol And Smoke is counted as Bad things and in India Esp. in Punjab the Farmars Drink Wine & they Eat Meat but they dont smoke ( but some of Hindus smokes in Punjab) so Esp. in Punjabi Womens are so Superstisious they Belive in Baba System & they Like such People who Talk about Bad Results of ALcolism Etc. .......but those people dont even think about the Hats ( Nehroo Style) which they Wear.......why they wear those Hats.....
Its just to Adultrate Sikhism. I am not Sikh but I respect Sikh Faith we have stronge Friendships with Sikhs but Indian Govt. is Direct Supporting Radhas.
In Indian History what Radhas Did.
Gurbax Singh you are Lucky that u changed yourself.
Indian Govt. is Supporting :-
1. R.S.S.
2. Rahda Soamis
3. Nirankaris
4. AshuTosh
5. Paniyara
6. Kukaa Mat
I just feel its Important to informe you about this Incident.
RABB RAKHA

This post by the muslim gentleman is very informative, as he tells us who the Indian Government is funding to harm Sikhi and the Panth. As many of you may know RSS is trying to make Sikhs look like they are a sect of Hindus and they also run military style training camps for common hindus so that they can go and do riots and when it comes down to it, eradicate minorities. Radhasoamai's have a fake Guru and relate their teachings to SGGS Ji to confuse the Sikhs and cause more divide. The Nirankari's are also government funded and you have to look no further than 78' and how they made 13 Singhs shaheed. Paniyaara and AshuTosh are travelling around spitting lies and talking bad about SGGS Ji. And lastlyl Kukaa Mat (Naamdhaari's). They believe Guru Gobind Singh Ji lived an additional 100 years and passed on Guruship to Ram Singh, even though Ram Singh was against this.

Naamdharis were known to shake their head really violently and dance when listening to keertan, they were even known to climb trees and start screaming and jump of them. They play this of as some sort of 'ras'. You can see a video that demonstrates some of what I am talking about on Shinda Singhs blog.

Anywyas in conclusion. We must be aware of the enemies of the panth, knowledge is the first step in combating these people.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Hulkamania

2006-03-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Daas tries to relate all the posts on this blog to Sikhi in one way or another. Today I was on YouTube and came across some old wrestling videos which brought back so many memories from my childhood. While growing up Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior were my favorite wrestlers. Than as Bret Hart came up I was a huge fan of his. Wrestling use to be clean, now it is full of a lot of garbage so I do not watch it.

Anyways, Hulk Hogan always stood for the good guys and for what is right in this world. He was always the 'Peoples Champion'. No matter what the odds he would stand up for whats right and end up victorious. After winning a match he would point skywards in remembrance of god. He preached taking care of your body and living a honest life. This reminded me of the Khalsa. Always standing for the truth, always standing for what is right, always going against odds. 1 Sikh is equivalent to 125,000, so Khalsa is able to overcome even the steepest odds.

I will stop rambling and leave you with a few videos below, the first one is a match between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. Notice how much smaller Hulk Hogan is compared to Andre the Giant. Upto this point Andre the Giant had not lost a match in 15years. Hulk Hogan was up against the wall, he was going against steep odds... Well I'll let you see for yourself what happens.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Last but not least, who can forget Wrestlemania 6 in Toronto. In my mind the best wrestling match of all time...

Jatha's... Its All Good

2006-03-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

I have been hearing a lot of talk of people saying that we should not affiliate with any jathebandi or group, and we should all just consider ourselves sons and daughters of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and follow one common panthic rehit. I don’t believe there is anything wrong with jathebandi’s. Jatha’s have been around since the times of our beloved Guru’s. Aslong as we have prem and respect for each other and can work together for the Chardi Kala of the Panth, I believe that different Jathebandi’s and ‘Ekta’ are non-issues.

Ekta does not mean following the same rehit, it means co-existing while maintaining a healthy respect for each other and coming together in times of needs. We can use an example of a family to further understand this concept. Not each child in a family lives the same way or has the same views, but at the end of the day if someone comes and talks bad about one of the siblings, the other siblings will be there to stand up for each other.

There are many forms of Jatha’s. We see raagi jatha’s doing keertan at the Gurdwara everyday. There are also Dhadi Jatha’s, If a bunch of Singh’s were to travel from BC to England, people may say ‘look there is the BC jatha’. There are also panthic Jathedbandi’s such as Damdami Taksal, Buddha Dal, Tarna Dal, and Akhand Keertani Jatha, etc. I will relate this concept back to a family. In one house lives one family (father, mother, daughter, son). Than in another house lives (taya, tayi, son, daughter). In another house could be (uncle, auntie, son, son). Although these people live in different houses, may live different lifestyles, and have different beliefs, they are still extended family and will come together in times of need. I will venture to say that the same principle applies to Jathebandi’s.

Even in the times of our great Guru’s there were various forms of Jatha’s. When a bunch of Singhs would come to visit Guru Ji from Malwa region they would come in a group, that group we can say is a jatha. Than another Jatha would come from Doaba. Since they lived in different areas of Punjab they would live slightly different lifestyles and speak in a different style. But at the end of the day they were still all Sikhs.

Another example is when Singhs fought wars. Groups of Singhs (misls) would come from all over. These Singhs since they were familiar with each other would stay with each other and fight together in the form of misls or jathas since they related to each other more than others. But they were still able to come together with the other Singhs (misls) to fight for a common cause.

If we look back at the June 1984 Ghalughara where the Indian Government sent in troops to massacre thousands of innocents. Singhs from Damdami Taksal and Akhand Keertani Jatha aswell as other Sikhs came together to protect Darbar Sahib. These singhs don’t agree on everything and their beliefs are somewhat different. But they were still able to work together to protect the honor of the Panth. I believe this is real ekta. Coming together when needed for the Chardi Kala of the panth, and having respect for one another.

This being said. Akal Takht is a common maryada which should unite the panth. If some jatha’s have more strict rehits that is fine, but at a minimum one should follow Akal Takht.

In the future to deal with issues such as raag mala and other panthic issues we must all come to the table with humility. Who are we to say we are right. We should atleast have enough nimrata to think the Singh beside me is right and I am wrong, instead of being so stubborn and narrow minded. Guru Sahib entrusted Guruship onto Guru Granth Sahib Ji aswell as Guru Khalsa Panth. If we really have love for Guru Sahib we will follow their hukams. If the whole panth (Sarbat Khalsa) comes together and makes a decision whether we like it or not, that is a direct hukam from Guru Sahib and if we truly love Guru Sahib we will swallow our ego and follow it.

But like Sant Jarnail Singh Ji said, now is not the time to deal with such internal issues, we have to deal with the external forces attacking our Panth first. Once we have dealt with those, we can come together to deal with internal issues. Until that day comes I have faith that all Jathebandi’s will always be there for each other as history has proven.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Gods Will (Bhaana)

2006-03-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

The following is a good article translated from Jasbir Singh Khanne Wale's talk from Bombay Smaagam by Harjit Singh Lakhan;

GODS WILL

When we were small we played games like hide and seek and others, if someone took our turn we would get angry and fight for our turn. Now we have got the chance to play the game of life in this human body. We have had so many turns at playing animals, now if we waste this turn of human life we will not get another chance easily. We will have to take the care of this turn. But this game of life can’t be played on our own. So we need help, we need such help that ensures we will win the game of life.

When people play in teams they have a coach, great players have great coaches. So to play the game of life we need the Satguru to ensure we win.

This game of birth and death, of coming and going in bodies can only end if we take the shelter of the one who can free us from it. The Satguru is the one who can free us from the game of life. Guru jee says that if one takes the company of the saint’s feet then one finds God’s love sweet. How can God’s love taste sweet? Guru jee says that God’s will is sweet.

How can we find God’s will sweet?

Lets think about it. Whenever we use the word ‘bhaana’ (God’s will), we relate it to accepting painful things as being God’s will. Someone dies and we say it was ‘bhaana’, or God’s will. If something bad happens we say be calm it was ‘bhaana’ God’s will. No matter what suffering or sorrow is experienced, we use the word ‘bhaana’ to explain it as being God’s will.

But we never think that when a son is born in someone’s house that it was also ‘bhaana’ God’s will. We never say it was God’s will, bhaana, when our child gets married. Does this mean that dukh, or pain, happens because of God’s will, but sukh, or pleasure, happens due to someone else’s will?

Does one God give us dukh but some other God gives us sukh? This is our mistake. This is why we haven’t been able to accept God’s will as sweet. Guru jee has said that there is no other gift like ‘bhaana”. If we believe only dukh happens according to bhaana, then we have not understood the meaning of the word.

Whatever is pleasing to my Guru, is my Satguru’s bhaana, whatever is pleasing to God is God’s bhaana. A Sikh doesn’t do what the Guru finds pleasing, and then getting dukh he says it was the Guru’s will. How can that be correct? My Guru finds getting up at amrit vela pleasing, but this Sikh snores through every amrit vela. My Guru finds living a selfless life pleasing, but this Sikh is selfish. My Guru finds the ones with the Guru pleasing, but their Sikh remains Guru less. So when this Sikh gets suffering how can he say this is what pleases Guru jee- this is Guru’s bhaana?

My God finds being merciful pleasing, but this Sikh hates everyone. God finds speaking Truth pleasing, but this Sikh speaks lies. When this Sikh gets dukh he says this is God’s will, this is what pleases God- this is God’s bhaana! Guru jee says this person does what pleases them, but the real Sikh is the one who follows what is pleasing to the Guru.

The one that does what pleases themselves, i.e. follow their own bhaana, they cry and blame God when they get dukh. Yet when they are happy they fill with pride and say look what I did. When things go well they take the credit, when things go bad they blame God saying, “it was God’s will, what can I do?”

Whenever this person did the opposite of what pleases God, then that person suffered dukh. The ones who lived according to God’s will were saved from dukh. The ones who lived outside of what pleases God had suffering.

Beloved of Guru jee, think about this. God made grapes- a great thing. God put juice in the grapes- a great thing. God did a great thing and made grapes for us. We should have thanked God for making juicy grapes for us. It was pleasing for God to make grapes, it was pleasing to God to put juice within the grapes. But when you make wine out of the grapes, you made it, not God. You made it. If God wanted to make wine God would have made alcoholic juice in the grapes. It pleased God to make sweet smelling juicy grapes, if
the grapes were turned into foul smelling alcohol then you did it not God. Now God make sweet things and you make sweet things sour, and then you blame God for the sourness of your life, the suffering- how can that be true? God’s will can be sweet if you get rid of selfishness and accept God’s will (Hukam). What is the meaning of Hukam? It has only one meaning, when the one who has the power to give orders, gives an order. That is a hukam. When the order is enacted it is called bhaana. When someone accepts the bhaana - accepts what happened that is called the Gurmukh, the Guru’s Sikh.

Once a man fell into a well. It was dark, he grabbed a rope and started climbing up. A bird was flying overhead with Indian sweets in it’s mouth, these fell into the man’s open mouth. The man stopped climbing and started eating. He thought I can climb later first I will enjoy the Indian sweets. But he didn’t realise that a black and white mouse was were gnawing at the rope that was tied to the tree. He got absorbed in eating, in the sweetness. The rope snapped and he fell back into the well.

Guru jee says death is the mouse gnawing away at time. The time that has gone will never come back, this morning will never come back. We are stuck in the well of the world and the rope of time is being cut at every moment. While you are alive take care of your life. Guru jee says that the life of those is successful who followed the Satguru.

Whose life is successful? The ones who repeated God’s name in the Sadh Sangat.

Do ardas “God I am stuck in the well. Every time I try to get out the five enemies throw me back in. I can’t get out, O Guru jee bless me with the shabad and get me out.”
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Incident on the Bus

2006-03-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Yesterday morning I was on the bus minding my own business, standing near the rear door awaiting my stop. A man who seemed to be around the age of 40 and decently dressed, boarded the bus and proceeded to come towards me. Once infront of me he declared loudly, "THIS IS MY SPOT, MOVE NOW", I replied, "There is plenty of room on the bus you can stand somewhere else". He responded aggressively with, "I SAID THIS IS MY SPOT, MOVE NOW". By now everyone on the bus was watching this drama unfold. I didn't mind, I had done nothing wrong, and had nothing to fear.I answered him, "I was here first I am not going to move, stand
somewhere else". He once again said, "I SAID MOVE NOW, THIS IS MY SPOT, MOVE". I responded to the man saying "Is this your bus to?". He was quite frustrated at this point and he came right upto me and crowded my space and turned his back to me, pretty much trying to push me away. I did not move. About five seconds later this man 'butt-checked' me quiet aggressively, my natural reaction was that I was going to punch him in the back of his head, but I restrained myself. I was not angry at this man, but he was starting to become an annoyance. By now everyone on the bus was watching the tamasha unfold from the corner of their eye. I did not like how the man had 'butt-checked' me but I decided im not going to start a fight just yet, I will wait for him to cross the line further.

I was still standing at the same spot and he was really close infront of me, in my personal space. Since he had purposely butt-checked me and caused a scene for no reason, I felt I could also say something to him. I quietly said in his ear, "I'm still in your spot" with a smile on my face. I said it a few more times and got no reaction from this man, he started to ignore me. Than my stop came and I left the bus.

This was a really weird situation for me. Upon reflection I can't understand whether this man was targetting me because of my distinct appearance and maybe he thought he could push me around or bully me (Which he wasn't able to do, and he eventually started ignoring me when i started speaking in his ear). Or if the man just had a screw loose in his head. Either way, I just thought I'd share this story with the readers of this blog.

I would be interested to hear how you would have handled this situation, and what you would have done differently.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Does Anand Mean Leave?

2006-03-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Have you ever noticed at the end of a keertan or at the end of a program at the gurdwara, once Anand Sahib starts everyone gets up and leaves. Some people come to listen to katha,, after the katha vaachak finishes they get up and leave, some people come to listen to a keertani, once the keertani is finished, they get up to leave. No matter which gurdwara you go to it’s the same scene. Once Anand Sahib starts people start getting up to leave.

This is wrong. We take out time to come listen to a keertani, or katha vaachak, but when its time for Guru Sahib to give us our orders for the day (hukamnama) we all get up and leave before hukam is given. We can sit and listen to keertani’s and katha vaachaks, is it really to much to ask for people to stick around for an extra 15 minutes for Anand Sahib, Ardas, and most importantly Hukamnama. Hukamnama is the most important thing to listen to, it is when Guru Sahib talks to us and tells us what to do. It is dissapointing to see that when it comes time for us to listen to Guru Sahibs hukam, most of the ‘darbar sahib’ is empty.

That’s where the question comes up, are people confused? When they hear the word Anand, when Anand Sahib starts, do they think Anand means leave? Because judging from peoples actions it seems like it does.

If we make the effort of going to the Gurdwara what is an extra 15 minutes to stay for Hukamnama so we can hear what Guru Sahib’s message to us is for that day. Guru Sahib gives us everything and does everything for us, the least we can do is stick around to listen to Guru Sahibs hukam to us

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Bibian and Singhs

2006-03-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Daas has seen that Kaljug is very powerful and tries to entice us with maya in many forms including through Bibian. Daas has seen many people fall into this trap. Recently daas has cut off talking to bibian when possible because they were not acting as Singhni’s should and daas does not want to fall into the traps of maya set for him by Kaljug. Daas does not want to fall into the traps of kaljug as many people before me have. So daas thinks its better to be safe than sorry. We must be aware of and avoid the traps off kaljug. Kaljug is very powerful and it only takes a second to slip up and to lose all the kamayee we have done. It is better that we protect our jeevans and the kamayee we have done and make sure we preserve the honor of our great Guru’s and Khalsa Panth. Guru Sahib sometimes tests us to see how committed we are to them. When we pass these tests we are able to progress in our jeevans, but if we stumble with these tests we make it harder on ourselves. Daas believes it is better to stay away from Bibian and maya. This stuff is just taking us away from what we are here to do in this life.

By now a bunch of people must be up in arms and calling for my head because I have written that we should keep a cautious separation between Bibian and Singhs, especially in the age where they are most susceptible to fall and do something they will regret later on. If you do not agree with this, that is your own prerogative, but please read on with an open mind.

Tria Chritar was written for a reason, even though people doubt it. I believe tria chritrar is an amazing piece of work because it shows the ways of women, and how they can try to seduce men to get their way. Daas has seen and heard of many situations where a Bibi comes after a Singh, the Singh refuses, but than Bibi tries to seduce Singh so that Singh will fall in their spell and Bibi will get the Singh. Tria Chritar warns us of these situations and prepares us to deal with them more effectively when they come up, because we already know the methods of women. This is a very dangerous situation even if we have read Tria Chritar because kaam is very powerful, and even great Sikhs have fallen victim to Kaam.

Many youth these days play it off as we are all brothers and sisters, but the same people when you see them at raansabayees they wont go out of their way to say Fateh to their brothers, but will be looking for excuses and chances to say Fateh to their ‘sisters’. Some of these people even end up marrying their ‘sisters’. The false use of the words ‘brother’ and ‘sister’ when you don’t really mean it very misleading and people must be aware of the dangers of this. Those gurmukhs are rare who can control their mind in this play of maya and really see their brothers and sisters as just that. Many people just abuse this word and don’t really mean it.
Singhs use to be trusted with the prettiest women, use to save women from the clutches of the Moghuls. Singhs were known as the most honest and trustworthy people. There are still many Singhs like this, but it saddens me to hear of how many Singhs go astray and are not living up to the ideals of their ancestors. We are losing our way, we are reducing the amount of bhagti we do and becoming more susceptible to the plays of maya. The path of Sikhi is very thin, like the sharpest part of a sword. We must leave our own mat and follow Guru’s mat.

Look around us at how many Singhs and Bibian are slipping, how many have lost their way by falling prey to Kaam. We have given our head, our lives to Guru Sahib, we must also act like it. It is very sad to see so many people slipping up. It’s hard to stay on this path, we must take precautions to make sure we don’t fall victim to Kaljug.

At raansaabayees these days, Singh’s and Singhni’s sit in sangat and ‘check’ each other out. Impure thoughts come into their minds. Not all people are like this, but we can not deny that it does exist. Some youth also use youth events as an excuse for genders to mix for impure intentions.

Singhs and Singhni’s add each other to MSN to ‘talk about Sikhi’, or to ‘help each other out’. Many of these cases end up with one or even both of the parties having feelings for each other, and instead of helping each others Sikhi, they just hold each other back on this path of love. Yes this is a path of love ‘prema bhagti’, but we must be clear, our love is LOVE FOR GURU SAHIB, LOVE FOR GOD. But youth end up following in love with each other instead.

I am not anti Bibian or anti Singhs, I am just pro Gur-Mat and anti Man-Mat. People will object to this post, but please put your own personal beliefs and bias’s aside and look at this objectively, look at the actions of past mahapursh’s, look at those who achieved brahmgyaan and how they did it.

Like I said in a previous post, it is up to us if we want to get to sachkhand by crossing that ocean. It is up to us to cross that ocean, float in that ocean, or drown in that ocean. Kaljug is very powerful, has done lots of bhagti, can over power us if we aren’t careful. Don’t get to high on yourself that you can stay protected, many great gursikhs have fallen. Beware.

Most people get married in their 20’s those years before marriage are the most dangerous, just hold on tight to Guru sahib and don’t let go. Don’t let your mind wander. So many have drown at this age and regret it for ever, don’t be one of them.

It is better to follow advice of Gurmukhs, they are very wise and teach us properly. To much mixing of genders is against our Sikh culture. We need to look no further than to Bhrahmgyani’s Sant Baba Nand Singh Ji and Sant Harnaam Singh and their take on Bibian and Singh’s interaction. When Sant Harnaam Singh would see ‘maya’ aka women they would look down at the ground instead of looking at the women. They said the key to controlling your mind is by controlling your eyes.

Par Tria Roop Na Dekhey Nethr. Saadh Ki Tehl Sant Sangh Heth.
(Not cast eyes on another female's beauty and remain in
Guru Ji's service through the Saadh Sangat).

Now we can look at Sant Baba Nand Singh Ji’s take on it;

At the Holy Place of Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj, woman was not permitted inside nor she could stay there. She could only come to attend congregations along with her husband or other elderly male member of her family and immediately leave hereafter. Thus His Holy Place was totally free from the presence of Kamini and Kanchan. Babaji never talked to any woman alone.

Where we will get married is already decided by Waheguru. Who we are seperated from is also decided by Waheguru. We do not need to take this stress on our heads and feel that we must find who we will marry. This is manmat. "Sanjog Vijog, doye Kar Chalaave". Who we meet and seperated from is all in the will of god.

Daas would like to make clear once again that I am not in any way against Bibian. If it has come across that way I apologize. I have just been deeply saddened with the amount of people slipping up which is both the fault of Singhs and Kaurs. But we must be aware of the advice of Mahapursh’s, and the lessons given in Tria Chritar, this is my only intent. Once again I hope no one will take offence to this post, if anyone has a different view, perhaps we can have a healthy discussion in the comment section.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Internet Sikhs

2006-03-16T21:00:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

I read this article and I thought it was very well written. Here it is.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Internet Sikhs

This is a very broad title for a subject that can span in various directions. The main focus of this post however is going to be the sole reason that I decided to write it. Over the past couple of years we have seen many new Singhs/Kaurs initiated into the panth who are of a very young age. By young I mean in their adolescent years. These individuals are truly blessed to have arrived on this great path without prior encouragement from parents and with barely any sangat influence.

However, the reason I am posting this is because there seem to be people out there that feel because they have taken amrit they are now the ultimate authority on Sikhi rehat and like to preach to others any chance they get. I do not mean to hate on you because I know that exhilarating feeling of being a Sikh and wanting to teach everyone you meet about your great religion, but in order to fully assert our opinions we must have the knowledge that is necessary to do so.

Personally, I have been amritdhari from a very young age, and I do not wish to sound as if this is something to be boastful about as the quantity of years is nothing.. the years have been long but there is still nothing in my ‘jhollee’. I am as empty as I was the day I was initiated. The reason I felt compelled to write was because I am amazed by the ability of others to declare themselves the authority on all things sikhi when they are not even familiar with the basics!.. Thorough research is required to answer almost any question that is posed, but beyond the introductory questions, I have seen many individuals debating with others about topics deemed controversial by Akhal Takhat and their reasoning is so absurd that its scary picturing them as the next generation of Sikhs! Debates that scholars have been wracking their brains about for centuries cannot be solved by YOU solely OVERNIGHT.

So, this brings me to my explanation for why this posted is named as such. After coming across various individuals of this type I decided to look into why it was that they were able to advertise their opinions (many times contrary to mine, but sometimes the same), with information that was as absurd as could be, and blatantly challenging tenants of our religion that I would be scared to even question in my head.. Well I reached the conclusion that this was due to the usage of message boards and blogs on the internet. Living in western countries we are not taught aspects of Punjabi culture.. and YES CULTURE IS A BIG PART OF A SIKHI UPBRINGING.. it is by no means to dictate religious practices.. but Sikhi DID flourish in Punjab and there is a reason for this.. within Punjabi culture there is an aspect of respect.. the equivalent of this can be said to be ‘sharda’ within sikhi.. although this isn’t the best word to explain it.. The meaning is to accept something as is, without question.. BLIND FAITH.. however, in western culture we are asked to question everything.. in this time of kaljug where there are countless misleading things it is difficult to fully have blind faith, but there is also a certain degree to which u can question without stepping into unchartered territory and saying something that you may regret.

I grew up in a family where things were better left unsaid in the sense that saying it would cause discomfort.. this was by no means applicable to situations where the truth needed to be told.. it was more about not obliviously questioning what u deep down already know the answer to.. Sikhi needs this respect in order to flourish further.. the west has made us immune to many things and one of them is Love.

We as a society run after facts and scientific methods of doing things, not realizing that our religion makes mention of things scientists are discovering NOW.. reading message boards and such may provide you with facts, but the info is all at the discretion of the author of the post you are reading.. it’s a free world so a certain person may write up something extremely convincing and maybe there is even a counter attack to that individuals argument, however maybe both are not of the same intellect, or do not have the same resources available to them.. is this by any mean a fair assessment then and one upon which to form ur opinion from?.. This is where the fine line that divides up teenage Sikhs becomes not so fine. Those who grew up in sangat would quote older singhs as their first and foremost source of info.. and elders are very rarely known to say things which are questionable .. and if they were so ur second backup source would most likely also be an elder.. in the case of those finding information from the internet.. primary and most times secondary sources are internet pages, blog entries or message board posts.

No information can be proven right or wrong and there is no elder, respected individual sitting there monitoring all info feeds on the internet. Many times even if the individual wished to run information by a credible source it would be difficult due to location, availability or sometimes even the fact that they have not grasped the Punjabi language well. The combination of problems is endless and that is the reason for my post. I would like to ask fellow brothers and sisters to please use discretion when reading and absorbing information.. and most of all when going back into the world and quoting it to people..

There is hindu infiltration of Sikh materials, but the latest arguments I have seen for perfectly normal sikh practices have been that they are derived from the Hindus.. The guru’s really did believe in CharaPaul, they really did initiate gurguddi through coconuts and a Tilak.. In university so much stress is placed upon citing resources, which is usually for the sake of giving credit to the person whos ideas you are using, however in Sikhi citations should be even more stressed so those that are spreading false information knowingly, or maybe even unknowingly in some cases are helped and set right. So please.. do not become a Internet Sikh, instead become a Sikh of Guruji, who is in turn our sole guidance, in this world AND the next.

Ustaad Bhai Uptej Singh

2006-03-15T14:54:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

As most of you must of already heard, Prince Charles and Camilla visited Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Hounslow and were treated to an amazing gatka performance. Here is a link to the newspaper article (notice Camilla's and Charle's reaction.) Below you can watch a video from the demo where Bhai Uptej Singh (Probably the best if not one of the best gatka/shastar vidya artist in the world) slices a melon from anohter Singhs stomach.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

The Use of Derogatory Terms

2006-03-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

I’ve has noticed that we have started calling each other derogatory names such as “ref”, “FOB”, “paki”, amongst many others which I would not like to mention here. People have even started using the word “gyanni” in a derogatory way. When we call each other these words we may think its no big deal and not think twice, but if someone else of a different culture of ethnicity was to call us some of these words we would get offended and a fight would probably break out. Daas thinks that if we don’t want others calling us these words, we shouldn’t call ourselves these words either. We shouldn’t set ourselves up to be put down. The video below reinforces Daas’s point. Please take out some time to view the video. Daas hopes no one is offended by the video below.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Khushwant Singh to be Honored

2006-03-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Daas is very passionate about the following post. Daas asks you to please read this post very carefully. It has come to Daas’s attention that the Centennial Foundation is holding its annual Gala where they honor Sikhs for their work in the community on April 1, 2006. One of the honorees this year is Khushwant Singh.

This has shocked daas, and daas is deeply saddened that anyone in their right mind can honor someone as Khuswant Singh as a Sikh. Daas is aware that Centennial Foundation has been contacted and refuse to budge on their stance and continue to support Khushwant Singh. Daas feels this is a slap in the face to all Sikhs. Daas will give you some samples of what Khushwant Singh has written below, and you can decide for yourselves if honoring Khushwant Singh is deeply offensive to the Sikh Panth or not.

Centennial Foundation is honoring Khushwant Singh as a Sikh, but Khushwant Singh has himself admitted that he is not a Sikh and just keeps his hair and turban because of the social aspect of it. (http://www.sikhtimes.com/bios_021503a.html)

Khushwant Singh: When I was in England as a student, socialism was much talked about among us. We read and discussed Bertrand Russell and attended lectures by Harold J. Laski. I have not retained many socialistic ideas, but I am still an agnostic.

J.S.T.: You are a non-believer, yet you spent a night at Bangla Sahib gurdwara to seek the Guru's support during a difficult time in your personal life when your wife had threatened to leave you.

K.S.: This is one of those things - a contradiction. It was an emotional issue for me. I was born and raised in a Sikh family. I still keep my beard and turban and identify myself with the Sikh community.

To prove this point further and to see how much our precious Gurus meant to Khushwant Singh, lets see what he says,

"What would Gandhi have done under the circumstances? I didn't subscribe to his fads-prohibition, celibacy, no doctors-but generally he was always right. He meant more to me than any of my panth, my gurus."
Guru sahib has taught us that the Khalsa Panth is Nyaara distinct. Guru Sahib has openly denounced many Hindu practices. Even after all this Khushwant Singh still writes; (http://www.sikhtimes.com/bios_021503a.html)

J.S.T.: What about the statements that suggest that Sikhs are kes-dhari [sporting unshorn hair] Hindus? You yourself wrote in The Wall Street Journal (Oct. 12, 2001) that Sikhism is a branch of Hinduism.

K.S.: That is correct. Sikhs are kes-dhari Hindus. Their religious source is Hinduism. Sikhism is a tradition developed within Hinduism. Guru Granth Sahib reflects Vedantic philosophy and Japji Sahib is based on the Upanishads.

When asked about the Akal Takht, Khushwant Singh says;

J.S.T.: Those are loaded statements. You could be accused of blasphemy and summoned to the Akal Takht.

K.S.: They don't have the guts to summon me. They only go after the weak and the timid
Sikhs all across the world were hurt and are still hurt by the Human Rights violations being committed against Sikhs in India, and at how Sikhs are being discriminated in India. Yet Khushwant Singh writes,

J.S.T.: Some Sikhs say we are discriminated against in India. What do you think?

K.S.: No, not at all. They are making progress all over the country. They are in the mainstream of Indian life. They are now found in almost all political parties, even the R.S.S.
Even worse, look at what he writes about KPS Gill, the man who was behind the brutal torture of so many innocent people and the rape of so many innocent women. The man who was responsible for tearing apart so many families and killing thousands and thousands of innocent people. (http://www.sikhtimes.com/books_062003a.html)

"I supported K.P.S. Gill for resorting to extra-judicial methods to stamp out terrorism. The judiciary was in a state of collapse and magistrates too terrified to refuse applications for bail put by terrorists. The administration was paralysed and people gave in to extortion and violence perpetrated by gangs. If the police caught those with criminal records or those who admitted to murdering innocent people, instead of taking them to court, the police eliminated them. It was jungle justice but it had an element of justification behind it. But even in this savage war of attrition, we expected the police to discriminate between criminals and others who were proving a nuisance to them."

I wont even get into the lies he spews from his mouth about shaheeds and Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale.

Just from the few extracts above, is this a person who should be honored as a Sikh or by a Sikh organization? Well he is, hes being honored by the Centennial Foundation. How confused these people are. The man says himself that he’s not Sikh and speaks contrary to Sikh teachings, he justifies brutal torture on Sikhs, and he openly challenges Akal Takht. Centennial Foundation should be ashamed of themselves, they have been told about Khushwant Singh and they refuse to budge on their position and continue to support him.

May Waheguru do kirpa on his Sikhs and give us the common sense to know right from wrong, and to stick together for the betterment of the Panth.

Daas encourages you to get in touch with Centennial Foundation and continue to put pressure on them to reconsider their decision to support Khushwant Singh and honor him at their annual Gala.

http://www.centennialfoundation.org/2006gala.html

Contact Info:

Parminder Batra
phone: 416-671-7276

Nampreet Singh
phone: 647-668-1040

Email: centennialfoundation@gmail.com

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

*here is another extract to tell you a little bit of Khushwants character (http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/2002/02/24/stories/2002022400510200.htm):
WHEN you read a sentence in Khushwant Singh's recent autobiography which begins `the most fulfilling thing I have done in my life was ...', you expect it to conclude with the name of some beautiful woman he long desired and finally seduced. Alternatively, you expect to learn the name of some smooth single malt he savoured after a prolonged delay. But you'd be wrong. The second half of the sentence reads: `... working on Sikh religion and history'. This reminds us that there is much more to Khushwant Singh than Truth, Love, and a Little Malice. Sex and scotch may have provided the central juice to this sardar's roaring rhetoric and disguised the core of scholarship he possesses, but with sentences such as this, his autobiography frequently betrays the persona of a Drink-and-Desire-Bum, which he has cultivated. This is a sardar who knows that, metaphorically speaking, what has meant most to him is not carnal knowledge of a virgin but intellectual knowledge of Virgil. Alongside his ability to call a spade a spade when everyone else is calling it a pitchfork, this bedrock of learning is the basis of his self-respect. It underlies all the fluff he has churned out to please the millions and earn himself roughly the same. Without it he would have ended up as the male Shobha De.

Balancing Sikhi With Family Obligations

2006-03-10T09:02:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

So you’ve taken Amrit and given your head to Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Mata Sahib Kaur. Your now a part of the Khalsa Panth. Feels great doesn’t it! That feeling, its so great you just can’t put into words how you feel. To bad you can’t describe to others how you feel. If only they knew, they would take Amrit to. The rehit it might sometimes be hard to keep, but you wouldn’t want it any other way. Guru Gobind Singh Ji is now your father and you’d do anything for them since they’ve showered you with so many blessings. Their wish is your command. Guru Sahib says Rehit Piaaree Mujh Ko, Sikh Piaaraa Naahee. So you keep your rehit and wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world. Life is good eh, never been better.

Than the phone rings and your cousin is getting married. They are having anand karaj at the gurdwara in the morning, and a party in a hall at night. The party is going to include alcohol, meat, as well as an environment not suitable for a Gursikh. This is not a somewhere Guru Sahibs Sikh should be seen you think to yourself. But what do you tell your cousin, who has been looking forward to his big wedding day his whole life and expects you there, and won’t take no for an answer? Tough situation isn’t it.

What would you do?

Well I can’t tell you what to do, but here are a few things to think about:

Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s horse knew better than to even step foot in a tobacco field. The tobacco wasn’t even in the form of a cigarette yet, but the horse still knew better, and refused to enter the tobacco field. If a horse was smart enough to know this, cant we see that going to a hall full of liquor is also bad for us?

Gurbani continually makes reference to the world being an ocean and Sikhi being the boat that gets us across the ocean. If we have two boats, and we put one foot in each boat we wont get across that ocean will we? We will lose our balance and fall into the water sooner or later. Now lets say the world is an ocean, and Sikhi is a boat, and than we put our foot in another boat (going into bad environments). We are now trying to have a foot in two boats while crossing the ocean, we can’t get very far this way. We will eventually lose our balance and fall into the water. Sikhi is about total submission to Guru Sahib, and total commitment to Sikhi and letting that boat get us across the ocean, and not worrying about anything else.

It’s up to you to decide. Do you want to cross that ocean? Float in that ocean? Or drown in that ocean. What are you going to choose? The decisions yours.

*Everything happens within hukam and with Guru Sahibs Kirpa, to cross that ocean ultimately requires the blessings of Waheguru

**veerji has written a good follow up to what daas wrote above and daas encourages you to have a look: Waheguru Ji Blog

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Wafa Sultan on Al Jazeera TV

2006-03-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

This post is well off topic from what daas usually posts. Daas came across this debate on the internet. Here is the link, Daas encourages you to watch it.

http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=1050#

Its about an Arab lady talking about how one should not force their beliefs on others. The interview may be quite controvesial to some, but it is worth a watch nonetheless.

Below are some excerpts from the video;

Wafa Sultan: The clash we are witnessing around the world is not a clash of religions, or a clash of civilizations. It is a clash between two opposites, between two eras. It is a clash between a mentality that belongs to the Middle Ages and another mentality that belongs to the 21st century. It is a clash between civilization and backwardness, between the civilized and the primitive, between barbarity and rationality. It is a clash between freedom and oppression, between democracy and dictatorship. It is a clash between human rights, on the one hand, and the violation of these rights, on other hand. It is a clash between those who treat women like beasts, and those who treat them like human beings. What we see today is not a clash of civilizations. Civilizations do not clash, but compete.

[...]

Host: I understand from your words that what is happening today is a clash between the culture of the West, and the backwardness and ignorance of the Muslims?

Wafa Sultan: Yes, that is what I mean.

[...]

Host: Who came up with the concept of a clash of civilizations? Was it not Samuel Huntington? It was not Bin Laden. I would like to discuss this issue, if you don't mind...

Wafa Sultan: The Muslims are the ones who began using this expression. The Muslims are the ones who began the clash of civilizations. The Prophet of Islam said: "I was ordered to fight the people until they believe in Allah and His Messenger." When the Muslims divided the people into Muslims and non-Muslims, and called to fight the others until they believe in what they themselves believe, they started this clash, and began this war. In order to start this war, they must reexamine their Islamic books and curricula, which are full of calls for takfir and fighting the infidels.

My colleague has said that he never offends other people's beliefs. What civilization on the face of this earth allows him to call other people by names that they did not choose for themselves? Once, he calls them Ahl Al-Dhimma, another time he calls them the "People of the Book," and yet another time he compares them to apes and pigs, or he calls the Christians "those who incur Allah's wrath." Who told you that they are "People of the Book"? They are not the People of the Book, they are people of many books. All the useful scientific books that you have today are theirs, the fruit of their free and creative thinking. What gives you the right to call them "those who incur Allah's wrath," or "those who have gone astray," and then come here and say that your religion commands you to refrain from offending the beliefs of others?

I am not a Christian, a Muslim, or a Jew. I am a secular human being. I do not believe in the supernatural, but I respect others' right to believe in it.

Dr. Ibrahim Al-Khouli: Are you a heretic?

Wafa Sultan: You can say whatever you like. I am a secular human being who does not believe in the supernatural...

Dr. Ibrahim Al-Khouli: If you are a heretic, there is no point in rebuking you, since you have blasphemed against Islam, the Prophet, and the Koran...

Wafa Sultan: These are personal matters that do not concern you.

[...]

Wafa Sultan: Brother, you can believe in stones, as long as you don't throw them at me. You are free to worship whoever you want, but other people's beliefs are not your concern, whether they believe that the Messiah is God, son of Mary, or that Satan is God, son of Mary. Let people have their beliefs.

[...]

Wafa Sultan: The Jews have come from the tragedy (of the Holocaust), and forced the world to respect them, with their knowledge, not with their terror, with their work, not their crying and yelling. Humanity owes most of the discoveries and science of the 19th and 20th centuries to Jewish scientists. 15 million people, scattered throughout the world, united and won their rights through work and knowledge. We have not seen a single Jew blow himself up in a German restaurant. We have not seen a single Jew destroy a church. We have not seen a single Jew protest by killing people. The Muslims have turned three Buddha statues into rubble. We have not seen a single Buddhist burn down a Mosque, kill a Muslim, or burn down an embassy. Only the Muslims defend their beliefs by burning down churches, killing people, and destroying embassies. This path will not yield any results. The Muslims must ask themselves what they can do for humankind, before they demand that humankind respect them.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

George Bush's Trip To India

2006-03-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

So Daas was watching CNN a few days ago and came across the press conference of President Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. They were discussing how America and India are repairing their relationship and expanding it for future business endeavours.

What came across to me was that George Bush kept saying ‘it is in our interest to have relations with India’. This was said time and time again. Basically the only reason America wants to do business with India is because there is lots of money to be made in a country with the worlds second largest (soon to be largest) population. We all pretty much know money talks in the global environment and a lot of stuff can be overlooked by countries and leaders if the financial gain is large enough. This leads in to my point.

George Bush stated in the press conference that India is the worlds largest democracy and is a great example for the world to follow of having many religions and cultures living together. What a ridiculous statement to make, the whole world knows (governments) of India’s human rights violations. Amensty International amongst many other organizations have reported how brutal India’s state sponsored terrorism is not only against Sikhs but also against Muslims and Christians. The US House of Representatives has even documented India’s treatment of Sikhs in Punjab. After all this, Bush still goes on stage in front of the world and says India is an example that the world should follow. How ridiculous is this.

Bush was sent a letter by the Council of Khalistan about this issue, so he can not claim ignorance. America also has the most sophisticated and advance machinery in place to keep track of situations in foreign countries.

At the end of the day, America wants to strengthen relations with India to exploit its vast economic potential, and to get at this goal they are more than willing to overlook the Human Rights violations and state sponsored terrorism that has and is continuing to occur in India. The world seems to work on self-serving goals where principles are sacrificed and things overlooked in the name of making money.

Below is a presentation which includes footage from the US House of Representatives, please take out a few minutes to view it.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Enter into the Company of the Holy and Contemplate the Guru's Words (Index)

2006-03-06T15:26:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Daas has just finished the 7 Part series on;

Sadh Sangat Gur Shabad Viloway
Enter into the company of the holy and contemplate the Guru’s words

Below Daas will list the links to each part of the series to make it easier to find:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Enter into the Company of the Holy and Contemplate the Guru's Words (Part 7 of 7)

2006-03-06T11:48:00.000-05:00

Sadh Sangat Gur Shabad Viloway
Enter into the company of the holy and contemplate the Guru’s words
Part 7 of 7

Gursikhee da jeevna, jeevdi-aa mar haumai khovay|

Life according to the Guru’s instructions, is that while living die, by destroying ego.

Look at the wonders of the river, a dead body floats down stream. A living person drowns. This means the dead cross easily. If the living ones killed their ego, the 'me', they would cross the river of life too. If they don’t kill the ‘me’ they will struggle with the river of life and drown. While your body is alive kill the 'me'. How did the Gurmukhs kill their ego ?

Sadh Sangat gur shabd vilovay|

Enter into the company of the holy and contemplate the Guru’s words.

Enter into the Company of the Holy and Contemplate the Guru's Words (Part 6 of 7)

2006-03-05T15:26:00.000-05:00

Sadh Sangat Gur Shabad Viloway
Enter into the company of the holy and contemplate the Guru’s words
Part 6 of 7

Gursikhee da mananaa, gur bachanee gal har parovay|

Acceptance according to the Guru’s instructions is to wear the garland of the Guru’s words around the neck.

Bhai Gurdas ji was travelling, at the river bank the Sikh sangat stopped and started singing the Guru’s words

‘Jal nay dhobay…’

can't drown in water.

Bhai Gurdas ji asked, ‘Why have you stopped at the river bank?’ The sangat replied,

‘the water is too high.’ Bhai Gurdas ji answered, ‘Don't you have faith in the Guru's words that you are singing?’

Bhai Gurdas ji had accepted Guru’s word as true and singing the Guru’s words he stepped into the river and walked through to the other side. The Sikhs in that town went onto to firmly accept Guru in their lives. Waheguru Waheguru resounded thoughout the village. Bhai Gurdas ji said, ‘Guru ji by your kindness we crossed.’ Even when children played in that village, one would fall and say, 'I fell, I fell according to the Guru's hukam, or command.’ Another child would say, ‘I won in Guru's hukam.’ They played fully accepting their Guru's hukam. Each house talked of Guru's hukam.

Now when you do Ardas for a son, ask for a Gursikh child, don’t ask just for a son, or a brother, ask for a Gursikh son, a Gursikh brother. We ask for a Doctor son, or a professor son. Why not ask for a Gursikh doctor or a Gursikh professor? Now, if Gursikh came first in your life, couldn’t they become a doctor or professor.? In this town people forgot their hunger and their pain, but didn't forget the Guru's words. How did they get this blessing?

Sadh Sangat gur shabd vilovay|

Enter into the company of the holy and contemplate the Guru’s words.

Bhai Mati Daas Ji

2006-03-04T20:41:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Daas was on the Western SSA blog and came across a post where they were talking about Bhai Mati Daas Ji and how they sacrificed their life but not their Sikhi. They had a link to a dharmic song which talks about the sacrifice Bhai Mati Daas Ji made. While Daas was listening to it he kept thinking about how much love for Guru Sahib, Bhai Mati Daas Ji and the countless others shaheeds had. How these premi's laid everything on the line to uphold their principles and Sikhi. Even when sawn in half Bhai Mati Daas Ji did not allow their feet to face towards Guru Sahib. Waheguru, daas requests everyone listen to the track below and reflect for a few minutes.

Bhai Mati Daas Ji -Tribute To a Hero MP3

Daas, leaves you with the following quote;

Bhai Mati Dass prayed to the Guru, "O True King ! bless me so that I may do my duty by sacrificing myself for the glory of the faith." The qazis (Moghuls) asked Bhai Mati Dass, "Brother, embrace Islam and enjoy the pleasures provided by the government, if you do not you will be sawn in half”. Bhai Mati Dass replied, "I can sacrifice hundreds of such heavens for my faith. I don't need women nor wine. I see all the happiness in the path of my faith." After his refusal, the qazis asked him his last wish, to which he replied, 'When I am being cut with the saw, let my face be towards my mentor so that I may behold my Guru till my last breath and he may keep on seeing me so that he may be convinced how happily I reach my last destination."

Sir Jaave Ta Jaave, Mera Sikhi Sidkh Na Jaave!
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Enter into the Company of the Holy and Contemplate the Guru's Words (Part 5 of 7)

2006-03-04T14:28:00.000-05:00

Sadh Sangat Gur Shabad Viloway
Enter into the company of the holy and contemplate the Guru’s words
Part 5 of 7

Gursikhee da poojna, gursikh pooj piram ras bhovay|

Worship according to the Guru’s instructions, is that as the Gursikh worships they enjoy the essence of divine love.

Guru ji has stated about worship:

‘Vin navay pooj na hoi’

without Naam, one cannot worship

So what is the Gursikh pooja, or worship?

Worship the Immortal One, See the Khalsa, Read/Write the Guru’s Word. Guru Ji says,

‘Takar ka sevak agiaa-karee|

Takar ka sevak sada poojaree|’

-The Master’s servant obeys the Command.

The Master’s servant is always a worshipper.’

The real worshipper is the one with God's light inside, this light is always on. The one who lights (Hindu) lamps is not the real worshipper. The one who obeys God's command is the real worshipper. This light eats our dukh, or suffering away. This is light upon light. Not only is it present in one person, but in one after another after another - in everyone. The one who lives in rememberance of God, the one who takes support of God's name, the one who loves God's created beings with love then that one is the true worshipper. God is in every being. See God in every leaf, in land, water and space. See God in one and all. See everyone with the look of love, love everyone then that one is the true worshipper. How is this obtained?

Sadh Sangat gur shabd vilovay

Enter into the company of the holy and contemplate the Guru’s words.

Enter into the Company of the Holy and Contemplate the Guru's Words (Part 4 of 7)

2006-03-03T00:36:00.000-05:00

Sadh Sangat Gur Shabad Viloway
Enter into the company of the holy and contemplate the Guru’s words
Part 4 of 7

Gursikhee da naavna gurmat laa, durmat maal dhovay
Bathing according to the Guru’s instructions, is to take the Guru’s wisdom Gurmat) and to wash away the dirt of worldy wisdom.

Guru ji has told us that when we bathe we should remember God.

‘Kar ishnaan simar prabh apana man tan bhay-i aroga’

Satguru ji says that mind and body are to become disease free. It’s no good just cleaning body if the mind is still diseased. If you clean your body with water, then clean your mind with simran, or rememberance of God, clean your mind with Naam. If you make your body clean then make your mind clean too. And I say when you make your mind clean your body will become disease free too.

What do you say? What was the bath according to Guru's instructions? Take the Guru's wisdom and clean the Worldly wisdom. Guru ji says,

‘Gian maha ras naa-i-ay bhai’
O Brother, bathe in the great essence of divine knowledge.

I make one request, when the body is dirty with outside dirt, we get outside water to clean it. Now how do I clean the inside dirt filling the mind? No matter how new a house is, even with it’s doors locked and windows sealed, after two weeks their is a layer of dust everywhere. Inside my mind there is so much dirt? How can I clean it?

When boring a well, it is dug and a pumping machine is fitted. Push the handle and nothing comes up until the water from outside is forced down, then the water inside the Earth comes up. ‘Keep pushing the handle! Keep pushing the handle!” says the machine fitter, ‘and water will keep coming up. As soon as you stop your garden will dry up.’ To get the water from inside of the Earth, water was forced down the pipe from the outside, the handle was pushed and then the water came up.

Now the water outside can't clean the dirt inside us. We need Amrit to do this, that can wash away the dirt from life after life. Satguru ji fitted us with the machine of the 5Ks, when it was complete he gave us 5 mouthfuls of Amrit in our mouth, sprinkled it in our eyes and hair and said "O Sikh, take the Gurmantr and rehat maryada,” and said, “O Sikh, keep pushing the handle of the breaths repeating Waheguru, keep pushing the handle of the tongue repeating Waheguru, keep memorising Gurbani, keep practising meditation, keep acting on the Guru's words, or else you will commit a major breech of conduct
and have to appear for Amrit again.”

The method was to first give Amrit from the outside, and inside the power of amrit took effect. Such a power is generated inside that the inner dirt starts to be washed away.
Dirty clothes need water and soap to clean them. The soap needs water to wash. Naam soap washes away the dirt of the mind, but Naam soap needs the water of heartfelt love to be effective. Guru ji says,

‘Bhariay mat papa ka sang, O Dhopay naavay kay rang’
when the mind is full with the company of sins, it was washed with love (colour) of naam.

Another thing, when soap and water washed the clothes, the dirt was washed away but the soap went too. I washed the clothes with soap, soap got the dirt out. I added water, water got the soap out. But Naam is not like this. Naam removes the dirt of the mind, but Naam resides in the mind, it doesn't get washed away.

‘Man kee maal jaai,’
The dirt of the mind goes,

‘Amrit naam ridh mahi samaahi.’
and the nectar name resides in in my heart.

Naam resides inside, it doesn't go if you keep heartfelt love. But, where do we get this blessing?

Sadh Sangat gur shabd vilovay
Enter into the company of the holy and contemplate the Guru’s words.

Supreme Court of Canada Overturns Ban on Kirpan in Schools

2006-03-02T12:05:00.000-05:00

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

With Waheguru's blessings the Supreme Court of Canada ruled today that kirpans will be allowed in schools, and did not impose any outright restrictions on the kirpan, but left it upto the school's and the amrithari Sikh to decide.

A few noteable things that stand out to daas from the decision are as follows;

The court addressed the issue of people calling the Kirpan a weapon and a symbol of violence by saying;

"disrespectful to believers in the Sikh religion and does not take into account Canadian values based on multiculturalism"

The court also went on to put some of the burden of educating people about the kirpan on our educational institutions by saying;

"If some students consider it unfair that Gurbaj Singh may wear his kirpan to school while they are not allowed to have knives in their possession, it is incumbent on the schools to discharge their obligation to instil in their students this value that is ... at the very foundation of our democracy."

Another key point to note is that this case has been distinguished from cases of travelling with a kirpan and bringing a kirpan into a courtroom. It looks like the court limited this decision to just the educational environment by essentially saying that in a school environment you know the people quite well and are there for years, whereas while travelling that is a temporary situation where people don't know each other very well, and in a court where the proceedings are pressure packed and adversarial.

"where there is an ongoing relationship between the student and the school and with that a meaningful opportunity to assess the circumstances of the individual seeking the accommodation, air travel involves a transitory population. Significant numbers of people are processed each day, with minimal opportunity for assessment."

They go on to say,

"Courts and schools are not comparable institutions. One is a tightly circumscribed environment in which contending elements, adversarially aligned, strive to obtain justice as they see it, with judge and/or jury determining the final outcome. Schools on the other hand are living communities which, while subject to some controls, engage in the enterprise of education in which both teachers and students are partners. Also, a court appearance is temporary (a Khalka Sikh could conceivably deal with the prohibition of the kirpan as he/she would on an airplane ride) and is therefore not comparable to the years a student spends in the school system."

Waheguru. So overall it is a good day for Sikhs with Guru Ji's Kirpa. The court unanimously decided 8-0 in allowing kirpans in schools. 8-0 is rare in the Supreme Court of Canada so this is a huge victory.

One thing that stuck out in daas's mind is that on CTV a young Sikh named "Bhullar" was interviewed giving his views about the decision, and without being provoked he went out of his way to say kirpans worn to school are pretty small and are pretty much inaccesible because of the gatra (implied being sown shut almost). Daas does not understand this apologist attitude, and feels that we have had a huge victory with Guru Ji's blessing and do not need to have an apologist attitude for wearing our kirpan, and kirpan also does not have to be small. Daas knows many people who wear larger kirpans to school each day.

The court seemed reluctant to address this case, and daas also feels that the best way to deal with the Kirpan issue is not always through the court, and that Sikhs should put pressure on their governments to institute a nation wide policy on Kirpan rights.

Daas requests everyone to read some extra bani today to thank Waheguru for making this outcome. Daas also reminds everyone that although we have won this case with Guru Sahibs blessings, the overall battle has just begun. This case seems to be restricted to educational situations and in the future we will still have to stand up for our rights to wear kirpan in court, and while travelling amongst other places.

The situation with Balpreet Singh and VIA Rail, about bringing kirpans onto the VIA trains has not been addressed with this case, and as it stands VIA Rail still bans kirpans from being brought onto trains.

For the court decision you can follow the following link

http://www.lexum.umontreal.ca/csc-scc/en/rec/html/2006scc006.wpd.html

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