Last Sunday's Programme

On Sunday Daas was invited to do Keertan Katha at Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara Sahib in South Gate, North London. Daas spoke about why youngsters are drifting away from Sikhi and how can this be possible when Sikhi and Gurmat is the religion and way of life of the TRUTH. Some examples from Sikh history were given and some anecdotes where shared with the Sangat. One anecdote shared was the story of a JAMAICAN MAN I met in DENMARK. This story exemplifies the Gursikh's mission of NAAM JAPNAA and LIVING GURMAT and INSPIRING OTHERS to Naam Jap and implement Gursikhi Jeevan to better the other person's lifestyle.

It was Monday morning and the Gurmat Camp in Copenhagen hadn't yet started. Giani jee had quickly popped out and the only people at the Gurdwara were three youngsters from India and Daas. The three boys from India knocked on the door (of Giani jee's room where I was staying) and said, "Bhai Sahib a Kaalaa has come to the Gurdwara." I said okay and asked, "Is he a Kaalaa Gursikh or just a normal Kaalaa." They looked baffled and said, "He is a Negro" (not in a bad way). Vaheguru. The poor boys from India couldn't comprehend that anyone other than Panjabis were Sikh!

I got up and went to talk to the man. He was wearing a small Dastaar (Keski) and had a beard. I smiled and we shared Guru's Fateh together. We sat down in Giani jee's room and got chatting. By this time Giani jee came back and both of them looked at each other and smiled and then shared Guru's Fateh.

I asked the man "How did you find out about Sikhi? How did you come to know of the Gurdwara Sahib?" He replied that he is born and brought up in Jamaica and that he came to Denmark to work. One day he was in the town centre and came across Sikhs from the Gurdwara Sahib who had set up a stall and were distributing literature and invited the public to come and visit the Gurdwara Sahib. He said that he was interested and so decided to come to the Gurdwara. That was his FIRST STEP.

He then met Giani Harkeerat Singh, the local Granthi Singh at the Gurdwara Sahib who is from Jalandhar. I asked if he has learnt Keertan and he replied that he started to learn that Tablaa from Giani jee. I asked “How do you learn the Tablaa from Giani jee when he doesn’t know English or Danish?” He smiled and both Giani jee and the Kaalaa started to laugh. He replied, “We communicate through the LANGUAGE OF LOVE. Giani jee knows what I am thinking and I know what he is thinking.” I was taken aback by this PYAAR (love) and SHARDAA (devotion) shared by both the Kaalaa and Giani jee. BEAUTIFUL!

I asked whether he does Simran or Nitnem etc. He replied, “I came to the Gurdwara and the Giani jee said to me one thing, “You WALK, you WORK, you ON BUS, you AT HOME, you anywhere – SAY: “VaahiGuroo, VaahiGuroo…”” He said, “I did what Giani jee said and man its great. The amount of PEACE, BLISS and HAPPINESS I get is indescribable. You start to see God EVERYWHERE and in EVERYONE. You appreciate life and see everything in God’s perspective. All one is to do is walk in His Will and know that God is there and to thank him, pray to him and be with him.” Vaheguru! I was taken aback again. The GLOW on the man’s face and his beaming SMILE made my day.

Guru Nanak Sahib jee says:

ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਧੂੜਿ ਮੰਗੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਗੁਰਸਿਖ ਕੀ ਜੋ ਆਪਿ ਜਪੈ ਅਵਰਹ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਾਵੈ ॥੨॥
jan naanak DhooR mangai tis gursikh kee, jo aap japai avreh naam japaavai. ||2||
Servant Nanak begs for the dust of the feet of that GurSikh, who himself chants Naam, and inspires others to chant it. ||2||
(Ang 306)

Later on Giani jee told me that last time when Bhaji Sukhwinder Singh (Sukhi) from Midlands came to Denmark he met the man and tied a Keski (short turban) on his head. Ever since that day he has kept wearing a turban on his head and stopped cutting his Kesh. Chardikalaa!

On Sunday Daas also covered the ROLE and RESPONSIBLITY of the MOTHER to inspire the child, give her BLESSINGS to her child and for her to have high hopes for her child to become successful life and become a proud and bold Sikh of the Guru. The mother's support and blessings are the FOUNDATION for our children, the FUTURE of Sikhi.

ਪੂਤਾ ਮਾਤਾ ਕੀ ਆਸੀਸ ॥

pootaa maataa kee aasees.
O son, this is your mother's hope and prayer,

ਨਿਮਖ ਨ ਬਿਸਰਉ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਕਉ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਸਦਾ ਭਜਹੁ ਜਗਦੀਸ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

nimakh na bisrau tumH kau har har sadaa bhajahu jagdees. ||1|| rahaa-o.
that you may never forget Vaheguru even for an instant. May you ever vibrate upon the Lord of the Universe. ||1||Pause||
(Ang 496)

After the programme I was sitting in the Langar Hall and I saw an elderly Bibi jee walk past me. She looked at me as if she wished to say something to me, however walked pass. A few minutes later she walked back to where I was sitting in the Langar Hall and shared the Guru’s Fateh. She said that she had listen to the agreed of the important role of mothers but said that she tries her best to pass her duties. She explained that she looks after her grandchildren. Their father passed away when they were young and their mother wasn’t around and so the elderly lady took them into her care. The children told their grandmother that didn’t want to cut their hair because they wished to LOOK LIKE THEIR FATHER who used to be a Mona (clean shaven) but kept his Kesh and took Amrit after the attack on Sri Harmandar Sahib in Amritsar in June 1984.

I was happy that children were adamant on keeping Sikhi Saroop and pursuing Sikhi. She then showed me her HANDS. Vaheguru! I think she was suffering arthritis or something similar. Her hands had CURLED UP and were not straight. She said, "With these hands I COMB my grand children’s hair and maintained their Kesh."

She said that she wanted to show me her hands and share her story so that I know that even in today’s times mothers exist who will do ANYTHING for their children to keep the Guru’s Saroop (identity) and follow in the footsteps of Gurmat. Hearing Mata jee speak and show her hands I felt emotional and moved. Blessed are those mothers who make SACRIFICES and endure pain and suffering to NURTURE their children to become PROUD and WONDERFUL Sikhs.

ਪੁੱਤਰ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਹੈ, ਪੈਸਾ ਗੁਜ਼ਰਾਨ ਹੈ, ਔਰਤ ਈਮਾਨ ਹੈ ॥
putar nishaan hai, paisaa guzraan hai, aurat eemaan hai.
Children are our gift to the world, money is for sustenance, and a woman is our conscience.
(Guru Hargobind Sahib jee)