Busy Weekend

This weekend was very busy. I was very fortunate that I was blessed with darshan of Satguru Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Sangat of great Gursikhs and opportunity to listen to beautiful Kirtan. On Friday it was the monthly World Sikh Network Simran programme. This week Bhai Anoop Singh Ji (Una Sahib Wale) performed Kirtan. Bhai Sahib does nice Keertan and always involves the youth in the Keertan.

ਮਿਲੁ ਮਿਲੁ ਸਖੀ ਗੁਣ ਕਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੇ ਲੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਮਤਿ ਧੀਰ ॥੩॥
mil mil sakhee guN kaho mere prabh ke le satgur kee mat Dheer. ||3||
Come, and join together, O my companions; let's sing the Glorious Praises of my Waheguru, and follow the comforting advice of the True Guru. ||3||
(Ang 862)

On Saturday morning, Bhaji Mandeep Singh took me to Amrit-vela Simran programme at Park Avenue Gurdwara. Again, what can I say? Pure ANAND (bliss). After Simran Bhai Taar-Balbir Singh (Hazoori Raagi Amritsar) sung Aasa Di Vaar. Waheguru. ਲੰਗਰ ਪਾਣੀ ਛੱਕ ਕੇ (after having Langar) we went to Bhaji Ravinderpal Singh's house for Sukhmani Sahib da Paath. Every week at 7am Bhaji has Sukhmani Sahib da Paath at his house. Everyone reads one Asttpadee (chapter) each. I was slightly tired but it was great to do Sukhmani Sahib with the sangat.

ਸੁਖਮਨੀ ਸਹਜ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਗੁਨ ਨਾਮ ॥
sukhmanee sehaj gobind gun naam.
Sukhmani is the peaceful ease, the Glory of God and Naam.

ਜਿਸੁ ਮਨਿ ਬਸੈ ਸੁ ਹੋਤ ਨਿਧਾਨ ॥
jis man basai so hot niDhaan.
When it abides in the mind, one becomes wealthy.
(Sukhmani Sahib, Ang 295)

Then I had to go to an Inter-faith programme near Tottenham Court Road. There wasn't much inter-faith happening. There were Muslim representatives from the "Somali Youth Forum", one Chinese Christian girl, and I was represen ting Sikhi. When I stood up to talk about Sikhi they all got scared at my Kirpaan. O well, Guru Kirpaa Karan. By the end of my talk they were all smiling and everyone felt relaxed. The Somalis never knew that Sikhs don't consume intoxicants. The atmosphere was nice. Afterwards Ravjeet Singh and Raghbir Singh turned up.

By lunch time the smell of Chicken was everywhere! I felt sick. The organisers had made special Halaal chicken for the Muslims. The organiser offered to cook me some food and asked whether Sikhs have any dietry requirements however I told him that I only eat what I have cooked myself and that Sikhs have to pray when preparing food. After lunch break they asked us to get into groups and conduct a survey on Tottenham Court road. Not surprisingly people were either too BUSY or got SCARED at looking at me in my Kurta and Kirpaan, the Muslim girl wearing her hijaab and wearing a Palestinian style scarf and a tall Gora who didn't speak. Waheguru.

ਕਲਜੁਗ ਮਹਿ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਪਰਧਾਨਾ ॥
kaljug meh keertan parDhaanaa.
In Kaljug, this Dark Age, the Kirtan of the Waheguru's Praises are most sublime and exalted.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਪੀਐ ਲਾਇ ਧਿਆਨਾ ॥
gurmukh japee-ai laa-ay Dhi-aanaa.
Become Gurmukh, chant and focus your meditation.
(Ang 1075)

In the evening we went to Southall for the Monthly Youth Keertan Darbaar. On Sunday morning Amrit-vela programme again. Then Sunday afternoon listened to Bhai Anoop Singh at Havelock Road then listened to Keertan by Bibi Snaatam Kaur at Park Avenue. The Gurdwara was packed. In the evening there was an Aatam Ras Keertan darbaar. We met some Chardikala little children in the Langar Hall. One 5 years old Afghani Sikh girl took Amrit with her family. She knows all of Japji Sahib off by heart. Not many Afghani Sikh ladies wear Keskis (Dastaars) however, this girl's mother wears one. Very chardikala family. Here's a pic of the young girl another Afghani Sikh boy talking to Bhaji Mandeep Singh:

So the weekend was JAM PACKED with Anand and more Anand of Baani and Sangat. It really reminds you that we have been sent here on Earth to do Naam Japnaa and how this world is a DHARAM-SAAL.

ਹੁਕਮੇ ਧਰਤੀ ਸਾਜੀਅਨੁ ਸਚੀ ਧਰਮ ਸਾਲਾ ॥
hukme Dhartee saajee-an sachee Dharam saalaa.
By the Hukam of His Command, Waheguru created the earth, the true home of Dharma.
(Ang 785)

On Saturday night I was doing Chaur Sahib Di Seva and noticed that a group of ladies sitting at the end of the Darbaar Sahib were talking very loudly. Bhenji Gurbinder Kaur (Accapella Jatha) was doing such nice Keertan and these ladies were laughing and talking amongst themselves. It made me think how when sitting in the Saadh Sangat some realize we are sitting in Heaven and others waste the golden opportunity. We fail to realize how precious this life is and how difficult it was obtain this life. We have been insects, trees, plants, animals, dogs, cats and countless other beings before becoming human. Why waste this? May Guru Sahib do Kirpaa that we realize the value of this life and not waste it in the ethos of "khaa-o pee-o aish karo mitro - ਖਾਓ ਪੀਓ ਐਸ਼ ਕਰੋ ਮਿਤਰੋ" (drink, eat and be merry). Rab Bhalla Kare.

ਰੈਣਿ ਗਵਾਈ ਸੋਇ ਕੈ ਦਿਵਸੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ਖਾਇ ॥
raiN gavaa-ee so-e kai, divas gavaa-i-aa khaa-e.
The nights are wasted sleeping, and the days are wasted eating.

ਹੀਰੇ ਜੈਸਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਹੈ ਕਉਡੀ ਬਦਲੇ ਜਾਇ ॥੧॥
heere jaisaa janam hai, kauddee badle jaa-e. ||1||
Human life is such a precious jewel, but it is being lost in exchange for a mere shell. ||1||
(Ang 156)