Train Journey - Southall to Paddington

On Sunday I went to Southall. On the way back from radio I got lift to Park Avenue Gurdwara. From the Gurdwara I walked to the train station and awaited the train to London Paddington.

I got on the train and sat at the end compartment of the train. Three youngsters, two girls and one boy, aged 16 or 17 years old came in the compartment and sat on the seats on the opposite side of the train. They looked at me and then looking at each other. Then I saw one the girls get some paper and tobacco or something like tobacco and starting rolling it. She looked at me a few times. I think she was trying to suss out whether I would complain that if she starts smoking on the train.

I looked at her rolling the the substance in a white piece of paper, and kindly said, "Hi. Are you planning to smoke? Because I am asthmatic." The girl quickly said, "No, no, no." The others joined and said, "We are courteous, we wouldn't do such a thing. We know that we should be considerate to others." Chalo, teek hai!

I was on the phone to someone and I could hear the three youngsters have a conversation about being successful and discrimination. I finished my phone call and closed my eyes to relax. I could hear the conversation still. The two girls were black, and the boy was white. The conversation turned into Race and Success. The black girl was saying that every race has a particular gift and particular field they are successful in, and that each race has a unique world view. It was nice to hear them speak. The conversation was mature and interesting, a bit different to what I expected from when I first saw them rolling up splifs or whatever you call it.

I had my eyes closed. One thing I heard and which I was pleasantly surprised to hear was that one girl said, "We are all different, different race or different religion. However, the key is that the wisest person is he or she who has full faith and commitment in her beliefs. If you claim to be something or follow something but you don't follow it properly then what is that person? He's not anything. He remains at bottom."

I thought, wow! I smiled inside hearing them. Again I try (with Guru's Kirpa) to equate things to Gurbaani. Baba Fareed jee maharaaj says in GurbaaNee on ang 488:

ਦਿਲਹੁ ਮੁਹਬਤਿ ਜਿੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਸੇਈ ਸਚਿਆ ॥
dilahu muhabat jinH se-ee sachi-aa.
They alone are true, whose love for Waheguru is deep and heart-felt.

ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਮਨਿ ਹੋਰੁ ਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਰੁ ਸਿ ਕਾਂਢੇ ਕਚਿਆ ॥੧॥
jinH man hor, mukh hor, se kaa(n)dhe kachi-aa. 1
Those who have one thing in their heart, and something else in their mouth, are judged to be false. 1
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The girl carried on to say: "The wisest Buddhist is he who fully believes 100% and follows the discipline. A Buddhist who claims to be Buddhist but has no discipline or doesn't follow the path of the Master loses out. The wisest Sikh is he who follows Sikh principles. A Sikh who doesn't follow the Sikh path and principles to the max and doesn't have full faith in the Master is a not wise. The wisest one is he or she is willing to live the principles... that person is true and proper who walks the walk and talks the talk..."

I was bit taken back by how strongly this girl felt when speaking. However, underlying what she was saying is that a wise person is he who strives to follow the path and not someone who gives up on life.

This reminded me of a pauRee (stanza) from Sukhmani Sahib (a prayer called: "Psalm of Peace"):

ਰਹਤ ਅਵਰ ਕਛੁ ਅਵਰ ਕਮਾਵਤ ॥
rehat avar kachh avar kamaavat.
He says one thing, and does something else.

ਮਨਿ ਨਹੀ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਮੁਖਹੁ ਗੰਢ ਲਾਵਤ ॥
man nehee preet mukhahu gandh laavat.
There is no love in his heart, and yet with his mouth he talks tall.

ਜਾਨਨਹਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਪਰਬੀਨ ॥
jaananhaar prabhoo parbeen.
The Omniscient Lord Waheguru is the Knower of all.

ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭੇਖ ਨ ਕਾਹੂ ਭੀਨ ॥
baahar bhekh na kaahoo bheen.
He is not impressed by outward display.

ਅਵਰ ਉਪਦੇਸੈ ਆਪਿ ਨ ਕਰੈ ॥
avar updesai aap na karai.
One who does not practice what he preaches to others,

ਆਵਤ ਜਾਵਤ ਜਨਮੈ ਮਰੈ ॥
aavat jaavat janmai marai.
shall come and go in reincarnation, through birth and death.

ਜਿਸ ਕੈ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਸੈ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ॥
jis kai antar basai nirankaar.
One whose inner being is filled with the Formless Lord Waheguru -

ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਸੀਖ ਤਰੈ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥
tis kee seekh tarai sansaar.
by his teachings, the world is saved.

ਜੋ ਤੁਮ ਭਾਨੇ ਤਿਨ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਜਾਤਾ ॥
jo tum bhaane tin prabh jaataa.
Those who are pleasing to You, Waheguru, know You.

ਨਾਨਕ ਉਨ ਜਨ ਚਰਨ ਪਰਾਤਾ ॥੭॥
naanak un jan charan paraataa. 7
Nanak falls at their feet. 7

Then the train arrived at Paddington, I opened my eyes and got the underground to go back to Halls.