Monday, May 29, 2006
Stop Genocide and Save Darfur
Sudan has been plagued by violence for years. The most recent spat of violence erupted in 2003 when rebel groups in Darfur began attacking the nation's government, which retaliated by mobilizing militia. These government sponsored militia know as the Janjaweed have ravaged Darfur . Over 2 million people have been displaced from their homes and some estimate 10,000 people are dying each month. Women and young girls are being raped, people abducted, families savagely killed, and villages burnt to the ground and looted. Those who escape these atrocities are forced to congregate in overcrowded disease ridden camps.
The Sudanese government instead of taking responsibility for its actions, has kept its people oppressed and in fear. If they speak out they are abducted and killed. Children are starving to death, and dying of curable diseases in the thousands. Sudan is on the verge of mass starvation. No foreseeable help is on the way, the UN's World Food Program has just cut food rations in half for Darfur .
This is one of the world's worst humanitarian crisis's. The people of Darfur need our help, support, and prayers. It is time for the Sikh community to stand up to these grave injustices and show the people of Darfur that we stand with them, in their time of need. Sikh's have a history of standing up to injustice and helping those in need. What greater example than Guru Tegh Bhadur Sahib Ji, who sacrificed their life for the rights of those of a different faith. What greater example than Langar where anyone and everyone is welcome to the free food kitchen to eat at any time of day. What greater example than Bhai Ghanaya who saw god in all. It is time to rekindle the spirit of our Guru's and show the world that Sikh's will be there in the time of need. Let us stand tall and support the brave people of Darfur .
On Sunday June 25, 2006 at the Sikh Spiritual Center ( 9 Carrier Dr. , Rexdale , Ontario ), let us gather from 2:30 – 5:30pm to educate ourselves and show our support to the people of Darfur . Amnesty International, CASTS (Canadians Against Slavery and Torture in Sudan ), as well as families who have escaped from Darfur will be present at this event. Booths will be set up where we can sign up and become involved in human rights at the grass roots level. There will be heart touching Keertan in Raag, as well as an Ardas for Sarbat da Bhalla (prayer for the well being of all). Let us show the world that Sikhs will be there to stand against injustice and to help those in need. Let us fill the Gurdwara and show the world the spirit of the Sikhs.
Source : (http://www.sikhsagainstgenocide.com/)
Saturday, May 27, 2006
A thousand Deaths
Another great piece written by my past brother in crime and my present brother indepth........
A thousand deaths
God always tests all, and tests us well, but not beyond ability,
Life is one big long and arduous lesson in humility
We value pride and ambition as our strengths that form within,
Yet pride and ambition are actually flawed because they’re actually sin
Every time I see the sun and clouds begin to clear
What once was a sign of hope is now new impending fear.
Yes today the day is perfect, and all of it seems well,
Yet now I fear that evening will bring with it dark hell.
Every time I dust my knees from that last tumultuous fall,
I am fooled again and tell my mind that God will hear my call
And while he hears, I know he does, he sends me nothing blessed
Because again He says, my son you’re here and here’s another test.
Every day I die some more, and yet He makes me live,
My heart and soul is barely whole but all I have to give.
Kamaral B.
God always tests all, and tests us well, but not beyond ability,
Life is one big long and arduous lesson in humility
We value pride and ambition as our strengths that form within,
Yet pride and ambition are actually flawed because they’re actually sin
Every time I see the sun and clouds begin to clear
What once was a sign of hope is now new impending fear.
Yes today the day is perfect, and all of it seems well,
Yet now I fear that evening will bring with it dark hell.
Every time I dust my knees from that last tumultuous fall,
I am fooled again and tell my mind that God will hear my call
And while he hears, I know he does, he sends me nothing blessed
Because again He says, my son you’re here and here’s another test.
Every day I die some more, and yet He makes me live,
My heart and soul is barely whole but all I have to give.
Kamaral B.
Friday, May 26, 2006
THE ILLUSION OF REFLECTION
An email I received from Mehtab Singh.
Once there was a king who had presented his daughter, the princess, with a beautiful diamond necklace. The necklace was stolen and his people in the kingdom searched everywhere but could not find it. Some said a bird might have stolen it. The king then asked them all to search for it and put a reward for $50,000 for anyone who found it.One day a clerk was walking home along a river next to an industrial area. This river was completely polluted, filthy and smelly. As he was walking, the clerk saw a shimmering in the river and when he looked, he saw the diamond necklace. He decided to try and catch it so that he could get the $50,000 reward. He put his hand in the filthy, dirty river and grabbed at the necklace, but some how missed it and didn't catch it. He took his hand out and looked again and the necklace was still there. He tried again, this time he walked in the river and dirtied his pants in the filthy river and put his whole arm in to catch the necklace. But strangely, he still missed the necklace! He came out and started walking away, feeling depressed.Then again he saw the necklace, right there. This time he was determined to get it, no matter what. He decided to plunge into the river, although it was a disgusting thing to do as the river was polluted, and his whole body would become filthy. He plunged in, and searched everywhere for the necklace and yet he failed. This time he was really bewildered and came out feeling very depressed that he could not get the necklace that would get him $50,000.Just then a saint who was walking by, saw him, and asked him what was the matter. The clerk didn't want to share the secret with the saint, thinking the saint might take the necklace for himself, so he refused to tell the saint anything. But the saint could see this man was troubled and being compassionate, again asked the clerk to tell him the problem and promised that he would not tell anyone about it. The clerk mustered some courage and decided to put some faith in the saint. He told the saint about the necklace and how he tried and tried to catch it, but kept failing. The saint then told him that perhaps he should try looking upward, toward the branches of the tree, instead of in the filthy river. The clerk looked up and true enough, the necklace was dangling on the branch of a tree. He had been trying to capture a mere reflection of the real necklace all this time.
Moral of the story:Material happiness is just like the filthy, polluted river; because it is a mere reflection of the TRUE happiness in the spiritual world.We can never achieve the happiness we are looking for no matter how hard we endeavor in material life. Instead we should look upwards, toward God, who is the source of real happiness, and stop chasing after the reflection of this happiness in the material world. This spiritual happiness is the only thing that can satisfy us completely.
Once there was a king who had presented his daughter, the princess, with a beautiful diamond necklace. The necklace was stolen and his people in the kingdom searched everywhere but could not find it. Some said a bird might have stolen it. The king then asked them all to search for it and put a reward for $50,000 for anyone who found it.One day a clerk was walking home along a river next to an industrial area. This river was completely polluted, filthy and smelly. As he was walking, the clerk saw a shimmering in the river and when he looked, he saw the diamond necklace. He decided to try and catch it so that he could get the $50,000 reward. He put his hand in the filthy, dirty river and grabbed at the necklace, but some how missed it and didn't catch it. He took his hand out and looked again and the necklace was still there. He tried again, this time he walked in the river and dirtied his pants in the filthy river and put his whole arm in to catch the necklace. But strangely, he still missed the necklace! He came out and started walking away, feeling depressed.Then again he saw the necklace, right there. This time he was determined to get it, no matter what. He decided to plunge into the river, although it was a disgusting thing to do as the river was polluted, and his whole body would become filthy. He plunged in, and searched everywhere for the necklace and yet he failed. This time he was really bewildered and came out feeling very depressed that he could not get the necklace that would get him $50,000.Just then a saint who was walking by, saw him, and asked him what was the matter. The clerk didn't want to share the secret with the saint, thinking the saint might take the necklace for himself, so he refused to tell the saint anything. But the saint could see this man was troubled and being compassionate, again asked the clerk to tell him the problem and promised that he would not tell anyone about it. The clerk mustered some courage and decided to put some faith in the saint. He told the saint about the necklace and how he tried and tried to catch it, but kept failing. The saint then told him that perhaps he should try looking upward, toward the branches of the tree, instead of in the filthy river. The clerk looked up and true enough, the necklace was dangling on the branch of a tree. He had been trying to capture a mere reflection of the real necklace all this time.
Moral of the story:Material happiness is just like the filthy, polluted river; because it is a mere reflection of the TRUE happiness in the spiritual world.We can never achieve the happiness we are looking for no matter how hard we endeavor in material life. Instead we should look upwards, toward God, who is the source of real happiness, and stop chasing after the reflection of this happiness in the material world. This spiritual happiness is the only thing that can satisfy us completely.
Spiritual Points
Some Spiritual Pointers that I found on Final Evolutions Blog ( http://finalevolution.blogspot.com/ )
• Call Maya ‘mata ji’ or penji/bhaji to avoid it.
• When you do ardass for something, put in $1 or $10 or any other full amount. But a broken amount, like 25 cents will result in your ardass being incomplete.
• Doing Paath slowly gives greater laha.
• If you want guns (good qualities), then when you see other people see their guns and not their avguns (bad qualities). If we look at their avguns than that is what we will gain.
• All accounts must be settled before we will be allowed into Sach Khand.
• Don’t give people shabds to achieve a particular aim in a direct manner. Say indirectly “maybe this shabd will help”… We are not at such a high avastha that our bachan (what we say) will automatically become complete. Doing it this way helps avoid a loss of faith from the person you are trying to help.
• Try not to have any wrong thoughts while doing Paath. Remember the Singh ji who the Guru was going to grant Guruship, but who instead only got a horse b/c that was what he was thinking about at the time. The Guru will make our desire complete, but not more.
• Before doing ardass for someone, take a Hukumnama for permission. Or do ardass with your question, and look up a random shabd on the net (for those of you who don’t have full access).
• Nindya/Chugli (slander/backbiting) decrease the laha of Paath.
• Eating the sangat’s leftovers is a pun (virtous deed). If we hoard the best food for ourself that will increase our lalch (greed).
• If you do ardass “Satnaam, Siree Waheguru Ji, Dhan Guru Ramdass Ji”, than He will eat the first bite.
• Seva (selfless service) with our hands is worth more than seva of donations b/c all maya belongs to the Guru anyways.
• Money that you donate that is used for bad purposes will actually be bad for you, not good.
• Thoughts in the darbar may be planted as new karms that must be completed in the next janam (lifetime). This is the kind of karm that cannot be erased by simran, but must come to fruition (pralabd karm).
• If you meet a Sant and choose to test him or her, do not test him or her more than once otherwise bad things could happen. If the Sant passes your test, it’s important to ask for forgiveness.
• We can estimate our avastha from dreams that we have of Gursikhs and the Guru.
• Rajo and Tamo Gunn prevent shanti.
o By reducing spices and chutneys in our foods we can reduce rajo and tamo gunns.
• In sangat, if we sit next to Sikh with a high avastha, we can gain some of the kirpa that s/he is getting.
• Bad sangat earns a person bad karma.
• While doing simran we should endeavor to see ourselves as soul. This will increase the laha (benefit) that we gain.
• Call Maya ‘mata ji’ or penji/bhaji to avoid it.
• When you do ardass for something, put in $1 or $10 or any other full amount. But a broken amount, like 25 cents will result in your ardass being incomplete.
• Doing Paath slowly gives greater laha.
• If you want guns (good qualities), then when you see other people see their guns and not their avguns (bad qualities). If we look at their avguns than that is what we will gain.
• All accounts must be settled before we will be allowed into Sach Khand.
• Don’t give people shabds to achieve a particular aim in a direct manner. Say indirectly “maybe this shabd will help”… We are not at such a high avastha that our bachan (what we say) will automatically become complete. Doing it this way helps avoid a loss of faith from the person you are trying to help.
• Try not to have any wrong thoughts while doing Paath. Remember the Singh ji who the Guru was going to grant Guruship, but who instead only got a horse b/c that was what he was thinking about at the time. The Guru will make our desire complete, but not more.
• Before doing ardass for someone, take a Hukumnama for permission. Or do ardass with your question, and look up a random shabd on the net (for those of you who don’t have full access).
• Nindya/Chugli (slander/backbiting) decrease the laha of Paath.
• Eating the sangat’s leftovers is a pun (virtous deed). If we hoard the best food for ourself that will increase our lalch (greed).
• If you do ardass “Satnaam, Siree Waheguru Ji, Dhan Guru Ramdass Ji”, than He will eat the first bite.
• Seva (selfless service) with our hands is worth more than seva of donations b/c all maya belongs to the Guru anyways.
• Money that you donate that is used for bad purposes will actually be bad for you, not good.
• Thoughts in the darbar may be planted as new karms that must be completed in the next janam (lifetime). This is the kind of karm that cannot be erased by simran, but must come to fruition (pralabd karm).
• If you meet a Sant and choose to test him or her, do not test him or her more than once otherwise bad things could happen. If the Sant passes your test, it’s important to ask for forgiveness.
• We can estimate our avastha from dreams that we have of Gursikhs and the Guru.
• Rajo and Tamo Gunn prevent shanti.
o By reducing spices and chutneys in our foods we can reduce rajo and tamo gunns.
• In sangat, if we sit next to Sikh with a high avastha, we can gain some of the kirpa that s/he is getting.
• Bad sangat earns a person bad karma.
• While doing simran we should endeavor to see ourselves as soul. This will increase the laha (benefit) that we gain.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
It is Compulsory to introspect The daily Routine
Taken from - Say Kinayhi-aa - Biography of Sant Baba Harnaam Singh
Sant Baba Harnaam Singh Rampur Kherawale used to say " Every Gursikh before going to bed should peep though his actions for a short time. If some bad deed has been done or a lie has been told or somebody's feelings have been hurt or if somebody's right has been swallowed or anything done on the instigation of the mind then prayer should be done in the feet of the Great Guru for begging pardon and remaining cautious in the Future. On the other hand if something good or of benevolent nature has been done by God through you,then he should be thanked for this service and prayer should be offered in his feet,so that this body should be assigned to some nobler or pious purpose. One must not be proud of his good deeds. As a trader keeps an expenditure lowere than income, So they become rich and proposperous by doing daily accounts. Similarly we should also try to keep our good deeds,over bad ones,so that we should be claimant for Guru Sahib's Grace
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Sikhitothemax has been De-SANT'ED?
Okay I don't know gurmukhi but im trying to learn so usually I would take a random shabd and read it and read the translation but I didn't realise anything different but today as I was visiting Tapoban I came across this
( http://www.tapoban.org/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=85016&t=85016) and I'm not sure if its right to change the meaning of bani to but Guru sahib is akaal Purakh themselves and then there is also saints . Take for example in this shabd the previous translations were :
sMq DUir pweIAY vfBwgI ]
sa(n)th dhhoor paaeeai vaddabhaagee ||
By great good fortune, I have obtained the dust of of the saints feet.
Now it is :
sMq DUir pweIAY vfBwgI ]
sa(n)th dhhoor paaeeai vaddabhaagee ||
By great good fortune, I have obtained the dust of the Guru's feet.
So why did sttm change the translations? Was it wrong before ? How can most if not All be wrong?
( http://www.tapoban.org/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=85016&t=85016) and I'm not sure if its right to change the meaning of bani to but Guru sahib is akaal Purakh themselves and then there is also saints . Take for example in this shabd the previous translations were :
sMq DUir pweIAY vfBwgI ]
sa(n)th dhhoor paaeeai vaddabhaagee ||
By great good fortune, I have obtained the dust of of the saints feet.
Now it is :
sMq DUir pweIAY vfBwgI ]
sa(n)th dhhoor paaeeai vaddabhaagee ||
By great good fortune, I have obtained the dust of the Guru's feet.
So why did sttm change the translations? Was it wrong before ? How can most if not All be wrong?
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Something that hit me real hard
I was just browsing through Tapoban forums and I came across this post. Link to this post is below.
You are amritdhari and still no where
http://www.tapoban.org/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=15211&t=15211
Idea Says :
Yeah, you took amrit and everyone gave you their praise and you're the new "hardcore" gursikh in the family. But that was it. Didnt' get up for amrit vela, didn't keep much rehit. Maybe you did your nitnem, or maybe you did it MOST of the time. But yeah, that's it. You might go to a smagam every now and then dressed up in crazy bana, but that's where it stops.
What makes you different than anyone else? Are you still doing the stuff you always did? Same stuff any regular manmukh would do? Maybe the question is why you took amrit in the first place: was it to met Waheguru or was it to get everyone's praise and respect?
Being amritdhari doesn't stop after taking amrit. It's the start. But so many people just stop there. Dont' be so proud of just having taken amrit. Are you doing your part that you promised to guru ji? If you never wake up at amrit vela and dont' do paath and aren't growing every day in your rehit, what is there to be proud of? Being amritdhari is about walking on the the path to Waheguru. If you're not walking that path, I think you're proably wasting your time.
Make sure you're not an amritdhari and still nowhere. This applies to me just as much to anyone else. Sorry to be so harsh.
You are amritdhari and still no where
http://www.tapoban.org/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=15211&t=15211
Idea Says :
Yeah, you took amrit and everyone gave you their praise and you're the new "hardcore" gursikh in the family. But that was it. Didnt' get up for amrit vela, didn't keep much rehit. Maybe you did your nitnem, or maybe you did it MOST of the time. But yeah, that's it. You might go to a smagam every now and then dressed up in crazy bana, but that's where it stops.
What makes you different than anyone else? Are you still doing the stuff you always did? Same stuff any regular manmukh would do? Maybe the question is why you took amrit in the first place: was it to met Waheguru or was it to get everyone's praise and respect?
Being amritdhari doesn't stop after taking amrit. It's the start. But so many people just stop there. Dont' be so proud of just having taken amrit. Are you doing your part that you promised to guru ji? If you never wake up at amrit vela and dont' do paath and aren't growing every day in your rehit, what is there to be proud of? Being amritdhari is about walking on the the path to Waheguru. If you're not walking that path, I think you're proably wasting your time.
Make sure you're not an amritdhari and still nowhere. This applies to me just as much to anyone else. Sorry to be so harsh.
Bhai Parminder Singh, Bibi Rena Kaur and Bhai Charanjit Singh Ji's Barsi Darbar
Here are some pics from the Barsi Darbar in Ottawa. I will add some video clips later. For More pics Visit. www.ontariosikhyouth.ca
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Chardikalaa Jatha
These Singhs are amazing...all 53 minutes was crazy..
Sunday, May 07, 2006
36 Principles of Baba Nand Singh Ji
1) Sri Guru Granth Sahib shall have to be worshipped as a living Satguru Nanak Dev ji.
2) Prayers for getting rid of all worries, diseases, pains and poverty etc. shall have to be sincerely made
before Sri Guru Granth Sahib, fully believing that Satguru Nanak Dev ji is sitting there.
3) Whatever you eat or drink should be offered to Sri Guru Granth Sahib before you take the same.
4) The Satguru wants to test your intentions, devotion and sincerity. He is not in need of any worldly things. Whatever you place before him is a token of your affection for him. He is the True Giver.
5) One must spend at least two and a half hour in reciting Nit Nem, Sukhmani Sahib, uttering Waheguru, repeating the first stanza of Japji Sahib and performing paath of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
6) One should recite Gurbani with utter devotion, purity of mind and body and should correctly read it.
7) The ragis should regularly sing these with devotion and with intention of pleasing the Satguru.
8) Those who are engaged in reciting Paath of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from the beginning to the end, as well as the singers of divine hymns must not cherish greed of any kind. The Sangat or the devotees etc. should serve them according to their capacity.
9) The Pooranmashi should be celebrated with devotion and in a befitting manner.
10) Every Sikh with his family members shall have to take Khande Da Amrit only then he can seek the protection of the Guru.
11) The children must be taught Gurmukhi.
12) Gurdwaras should be established in every village and town.
13) Offerings in cash before Sri Guru Granth Sahib are prohibited.
14) The names of the children should be such in which some words denoting piety and religious tinge appear, such as, Gurmukh Singh, etc.
15) The Sikh should surrender his self to the Guru
16) The Sikh who serves the Guru with full devotion will get his grace.
17) The Guru will wipe off the sins of the True Sikh, when he leaves his I-amness and adopts you and ˜yours. In other words, when he leaves his ego and does not say, I have done this. This is mine. He should say Everything belongs to God. He does everything. He confers all gifts.
18) A true Sikh is a true yogi as well as a king.
19) A true Sikh must never forget God and the guru and should pray to God, “I am at fault, I shall abide by your will, I accept your orders.
20) A true Sikh shall not look with evil eyes at others women or men.
21) The Guru helps the true Sikh and his protective powers accompany him at all places and times.
22) A Sikh should look towards the Guru for all kinds of protections.
23) Do no indulge in slandering or backbiting.
24) Collect virtues and abandon vices.
25) Never forget that you will die sooner or later.
26) One must sincerely serve one's parents. In this connection, Pauri 13 of vaar 37 of Bhai Gurdas may be read, which tells us that if the man does not serve his parents sincerely, he will get no benefit by reading or hearing scriptures. That his meditation will bear no fruity, that his going to pilgrimage is useless and that he shall have to undergo punishments of transmigration.
27) The man should be faithful to his wife and the wife should be faithful to her husband
28) Believe firmly that all the Sikh Gurus are embodiments of God.
29) For the Sikh, his Guru is King of kings.
30) Leave pride. You cannot know when the mind will adopt evil. So never boast of your virtues.
31) Never use intoxicants of any kind.
32) God and the Guru hear sincere prayers of a sincere devotee.
33) One must leave one's worldly wisdom and adopt that of the Guru.
34) Never adopt the profession of a beggar.
35) Remember and sing the excellences, virtues and praises of God and the Guru.
36) The man must put his utmost efforts to gain the true object of human life, which is, the merger of the soul with the Supreme Soul.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Nagar Kirtan Commentary
Nagar Kirtan was alright. For sure this year the turnout was much longer but I didn't feel the vibe as I did in previous years. But overall it was good. For more comments on the Nagar Kirtan you can check out Shinda Singhs Blog and the links on there. One thing I didn't like about the whole Nagar Kirtan thing was the ending where politician come and give a speech. I mean yeah its alright for publicity etc but its the same old lame speeches and what is worse is the organisers and the 'man who introduced the politicians and handed out token of appreciation' ( I am sure there's a word for him but its not on my mind right now). But I couldn't stand the way he was sucking up to them big time and stresssssssssssssssing that the little crystal model of the Harmandir Sahib had gold in it.But anyways I was talking to a Singh the other day and we were imagining the nagar kirtan ending off with simran in the city hall. Simran with the thousands of people that showed up..now that would've been something...oh well vaheguroooooo...one day hopefully.......oh yeah the gatkaaa teams were amazing also...i will try to upload more videos as they are processed .
Nagar Kirtan
Monday, May 01, 2006
Toronto Nagar Kirtan - 2006 more pics later
