Gurbani Katha...

Katha by Bhai Paramjeet Singh Khalsa (Anandpur Sahib wale). Please watch:

 

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

JK Rowling and Sikhi...

Taken from: http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_how-sikhism-fits-into-jk-rowling-s-new-book_1746281

How Sikhism fits into
JK Rowling's new book

Published: Friday, Sep 28, 2012, 9:03 IST

JK Rowling

Celebrated author JK Rowling, whose latest book has a Sikh family at the heart of a fictional village in south-west England called Pagford, says she did a "vast amount of research" on Sikhism – and it shows in the book titled The Casual Vacancy.

Answering questions from journalists and others at a book-reading event at the Southbank Centre here last night, Rowling, 47, said that when she was in her mid-twenties she knew a Sikh woman who sparked her interest in Sikhism.

It remained with her all along, so the only non-white family in the book "had to be Sikhs", she said.

Rowling said she was particularly struck by the egalitarian principles of the religion, and wove in a Sikh family as one of the central features of the book published by Little, Brown Book Group (RPT Little, Brown Book Group).

"I wanted the Sikh family at the heart of Pagford, and I wanted them to be second generation Britons. So they are insiders and outsiders simultaneously. In the book, it is Sikhism that provides religious morality, not the Church of England, which is represented by an empty church," Rowling said.

Early Indian-origin readers of the book released yesterday morning said they were impressed by the way the Sikh family and Sikhism had been treated in the book.

The book devotes considerable attention to Guru Nanak, Guru Granth Sahib, khalsa, and the "night-time prayer, kirtan sohila."

London-based media consultant Mimmy Jain, who grew up in Punjab, told PTI: "I was happily surprised to find that JK Rowling had done her research pretty well. There are no Hindu-Muslim or North-South name mismatches of the kind that make me shudder in the work of most Western authors who want to add a bit of curry to their books."

She added: "I liked her treatment of Sukhwinder, the only one in a high achieving family who is stuck because she is dyslexic. Of course, it's the parts about the kids -- all of them -- that really stand out in the book."

The book has received mixed early reviews, while the jury is out whether Rowling has succeeded in switching from the literary genre of children books to a novel explicitly marketed as one for adults.

She said she welcomed legitimate criticism, but it all "depends on who is writing the reviews."

The book contains several expletives that Rowling read out at the second reading at the packed Southbank event.

She described the book as a tragic comedy. 

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Vaheguru

"ਇਹ ਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਇਹ ਤੰਬਾਕੂ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ ..." । "It's okay, it's not tobacco..."

Once I went to the town market and came across a market stall with two Sardaars standing there. I was so happy as seeing a Sardaar is not a usual sight where I live. As I looked closer I realised that they were selling tobacco! Actually most of their stock was tobacco related products and there were big signs on the side of the stall saying "TOBACCO PRODUCTS SOLD HERE." 

Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee states:

ਪਾਨ ਸੁਪਾਰੀ ਖਾਤੀਆ ਮੁਖਿ ਬੀੜੀਆ ਲਾਈਆ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਚੇਤਿਓ ਜਮਿ ਪਕੜਿ ਚਲਾਈਆ ॥੧੩॥
"Those people who eat and chew "Paan" (nicotine betel nuts), and smoke tobacco (meaning that they those who in indulge in intoxicants),  and, do not contemplate or do Simran of Vaheguru - (the cycle of) Death will seize them and take them away (to become entangled in the cycle of reincarnation)."
(Ang 726)

Guru Gobind Singh jee states:

ਸੁਣ ਗੁਰਸਿੱਖ ਕੀ ਰਹਿਤ ਕੋ ਤਜੇ ਤਮਾਕੂ ਸੰਗ ||

ਮਰਣੀ ਮਰੈ ਤੌ ਅਤਿ ਭਲਾ ਜਗਤ ਜੂਠ ਨਹਿ ਅੰਗ ||

(ਭਾਈ ਨੰਦ ਲਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ)

"Listen to the Rehit of a Gursikh who comes in contact with tobacco - it is better to die than to touch the world pollutant drug (tobacco)."

(Rehitnama Bhai Nand Laal Singh jee)

Kavi Santokh Singh (1787-1853), the infamous Sikh poet and historian, writes in Sooraj Parkash Granth:

ਤਨਕ ਤਮਾਕੂ ਸੇਵੀਏ ਦੇਵ ਪਿੱਤ੍ਰ ਤਜਿ ਜਾਇ ॥

ਪਾਨੀ ਤਾਂ ਕੇ ਹਾਥ ਕਾ ਮਦਰਾ ਸਮ ਅਘ ਦਾਇ ॥ 22॥

ਮਦਰਾ ਦਹਿਤਾ ਸਪਤਿ ਕੁਲ ਭੰਗੁ ਦਹੈ ਤਨ ਏਕ ॥

ਸ਼ਤ ਕੁਲ ਦਹਿਤਾ ਜਗਤ ਜੂਠ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਦਹੈ ਅਨੇਕ ॥ 23॥

"Those that consume even a minuscule amount of tobacco are disowned in the afterlife by their ancestors and drinking water from such a person is similar to drinking alcohol. By drinking alcohol seven generations are exterminated and by consuming Bhang/marijuana the body is destroyed. The person who consumes tobacco exterminates one hundred generations and many generations go to hell because of gossiping."

I shared Guru's Fateh and then said, "Sorry, as a Sikh of the Guru I am compelled to ask why you are selling tobacco? As Sikhs it looks very shameful to earn such a living." The elder Sardar replied, "Bhai Sahib, it's not tobacco. We know not to sell such things - we are Amritdharis". Waheguru! Shock horror! It felt like a scene from 'Only Fools and Horses' (an old comedy programme). I replied, "Bhai Sahib, it is clear you are selling tobacco because firstly you have a huge sign up on the side and secondly nearly all the stock is labelled with big lettering "Smoking kills you...." - so why would they label it with smoking signs when it is not tobacco?" 

I was taken aback with the confidence and lack of sharam the 'Amritdhari' market stall owner spoke with. He replied, "Veer jee. We are from an Amritdhari family. All my family are Amritdhari. We know not to sell tobacco. Instead we sell tobacco related products. These products don't contain tobacco. It is up to the individual what they do with it." Sat Naam, Vaheguru! It's like me selling needles on the street in a drug prone neighbourhood and claiming I am not contributing to drug taking. 

Gurbani says:

ਕਬੀਰ ਦੀਨੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ਦੁਨੀ ਸਿਉ ਦੁਨੀ ਨ ਚਾਲੀ ਸਾਥਿ ॥
ਪਾਇ ਕੁਹਾੜਾ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਗਾਫਲਿ ਅਪੁਨੈ ਹਾਥਿ ॥੧੩॥
O Kabeer! a human loses his 'faith' for the sake of the world, but the world shall not go along with him in the end. (In this way) the idiot strikes their own foot with the axe by their own hand (meaning they are doing their own harm). ||13||
(Ang 1365)

I decided to walk away from the stall and not continue the discussion with the Sardaar. It is very sad that the impressionable public who are non-Sikhs that walk by the stall will associate tobacco to Saabat Soorat Dastaar wale Singhs. Guru Gobind Singh jee's horse had more wisdom than us. Once when Guru jee was travelling, the horse stopped. When the Sangat asked why, Guru jee replied that the field ahead was a tobacco field and the horse does not wish to touch tobacco. Vaheguru!

Inspiring story from France Smaagam (Part 2)

After posting the original post about the 7 year old girl who took Amrit with her father in the France Akhand Kirtani Smaagam last month, Veer Jaskarn Singh jee from Holland emailed me with some stories to relating to the same child. Please read below:

Bibi Anmoljeet Kaur Khalsa jee

I just saw your post on you blog about the France Smaagam. With Guru Jee´s Kirpaa I attended the same Smaagam as well and I met the same little girl from Germany, Frankfurt. Her name is Anmoljeet Kaur Khalsa. I had two pictures with her so I thought I´ll share it with you so you can see her for yourself. 

...So we (the Holland sangat) were about to leave from Holland for a 5 hour drive to Paris. There were nine of us. I knew everyone on board except for the man from Germany and his daughter. So waiting outside for the cars I thought I would get to know them. I walked towards Bhai Sahib and said Fateh to him. We started talking and at a certain point he told me that he was going so he can take Amrit at the Amrit Sanchaar. I thought wow your blessed! I said, "Your going to take amrit? That's very good!" Then his 7 year old daughter came to me and I said, "Sat Sri Akaal", and she replied "Waheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Jee Kee Fateh" with some real love. I felt a little embarrassed because I didn´t start with Fateh.

When I was talking to her it didn't feel like we just met for the first time. It felt like we had known each others for years. It was really strange - I don´t often feel this way. So then I started talking to her and she suddenly says "I am going to take Amrit." In my mind I was thinking "she can´t be serious....she´s just seven years!" She kept telling me she is going to take Amrit, so I started getting doubts whether she is serious. So I asked her father just to be sure "Is she really going to take amrit as well?" He replied "Yes, she is!" 

I was amazed. Why would a 7 year old child want to take Amrit right away? So I asked her two simple questions to see how much she actually understands Amrit. I asked "why do you want to take Amrit?" and "why do you want it so fast, as you are so young?" She replied, "I want to take Amrit because Guru Gobind Singh Jee took Amrit himself." Then she answered my second question with, "If I die right now, what face will I show Guru Jee If I haven’t taken Amrit?" A 7 year old remembering death! Waheguru! Her answers were incredible! It felt like talking to a 7 year old Giani Jee. She had great karam - that’s for sure. 

The only Gurmukhi she knew at that time was the word "Waheguru" and "Dhan Guru Nanak". Then she turned the question on me and said, "Tusee vee Amrit shaklo?" ("You also take Amrit") I was like "O gosh! I just came for the Keertan smaagam" But when she asked me it really hit me hard. She communicates so innocently and so directly. I remember when we were leaving Paris we were all saying goodbye and she was holding the hand of a clean-shaven brother of ours who had joined us from Holland to attend the Paris Keertan Smaagam. Then she asks the Veer Jee in a really laughing, smiling and loving, "why do you cut your hair?... From now on your not going to cut your hair, okay. keep a beard - it’s nice." May Guru Jee Bless bhaji with kesh. 

One last small story is this... Straight after she got the siropa, someone from the Sangat touched her feet. She came up to me and seemed upset. She said, "It didn´t feel good when I got a Siropa. Some Singh just touched my feet. Why did he do that for?" Then I explained to her that it's just really special when a 7 year old like you takes Amrit. Then she said "Do you know the man was pretty old. He was a 'Buddha'" We laughed. She was really fun to hang out with. It felt so cool to meet someone like her. She is really blessed by Guru Jee and is like a "Praani rooh" (old soul)....

Veer Jaskarn Singh jee and Bhenji Anmoljeet Kaur Khalsa jee

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Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Inspiring Story from France Smaagam....

Bhai Joginder Singh jee Leicester emailed me a few weeks ago about his visit to France to attend the annual Akhand Keertan Smaagam there. Bhai Sahib has written up an inspirational account that took place during the Smaagam:

Panj Pyaare at end of Amrit Sanchaar in Paris, 25th Aug. 2012

I was in France last weekend. On Saturday 25th August an Amrit Sanchaar took place, in which a father and his 7 year old daughter from Germany appeared seeking Amrit. The following is what the girl told one Gursikh... 

The child's father married a German lady and she was born. The mother said she did not want the child and wanted to kill the child. The Panjabi father stopped her killing the child. Following this the German lady abandoned both her husband and baby.

The father brought up the child on his own. When she was four years old, she said to her father she wanted a present for New Year's day. However, the father replied, "all the shops are closed today. I can’t buy you a present today." She replied, "NO my present is in your pocket!" He said, "but I only have money in my wallet and nothing else." She replied back, "NO you have something else in your pocket!" He didn’t understand what she was talking about. She told her father, "you have a packet of cigarettes in your pocket. Please throw them outside in the bin (trash) - that would be my present." The father was astonished by this and because of his love for his daughter he did what she wanted. 

Later on her father would take her to the Gurdwara Sahib and she started saying to her father, that lot of the Sikhs wear kirpans so why doesn’t he. Slowly the father adopted Sikhi rehat. Before the Amrit Sanchaar the 7 year old was saying please quickly tie a dastaar on my head and give me all the kakaars, I want to meet Baba jee! She was full of ecstatic joy. 

Despite not having a (worldly) mother since birth, the child sweetly said that all the Sikh bibia (ladies) are her mothers and all Sikh children are her brothers and sisters. Vaheguru! She said after taking Amrit Baba jee will remain with her for the rest of life and she will never be alone in the house when her father is not there because Baba jee will be with her. 

When I told her story to the Sangat they were all in bairaag. The sevadaars gave the father and the blessed Singhni siropas (robe of honours) and I asked all the Sangat to do Ardaas for both the father and child that their Sikhi remains in chardi kalaa for ever. May Guru jee bless us all with Pyaar and Sikhi sidk (faith).

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Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Bhai Saadhu Singh Jee...

During my Canada trip I was fortunate enough to have darshan of Bhai Saadhu Singh jee who is fondly known as 'Bapu jee'. Bhai Sahib lives in Fresno in California, USA. I have seen Bhai Sahib's photograph and heard lots about him. The first time I met him was in India in April. I was walking near Sri Harimandir Sahib during the evening and met Bhai Sahib and his Singhni. I shared GurFateh. Even though Bhai Sahib didn't know me, he took time out to share Fateh and ask how I am and where I am from. I felt very blessed that a blessed Gursikh like Bhai Sahib showed so much pyaar.

I met Bhai Sahib again last month at Khalsa Camp BC. Bhai Sahib is so humble. He said, "I am younger than everyone. Everyone is older than me." Vaheguru! Please see video below of the Gurmat Q & A session in which Bhai Sahib's shares Gurmat Vichaar:

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Khalsa Camp BC 2012...

 

Khalsa Camp BC (Canada) took place from 26th to 31st August 2012. Khalsa Camp began in Canada three years ago and has grown and developed every year. The camp was great to have darshan of Chardikala elder Gursikhs such as Master Niranjan Singh jee, Bhai Saadhu Singh jee 'Bapu Jee' from California, and Bhai Surjeet Singh jee who is currently staying in UK. The highlight is always is the Amrit-velaa, Diwaans and Gurmat Vichaar with the elder Gursikhs. With Guru Sahib's kirpaa the atmosphere was really positive.

This year's camp was based on the theme of identity. The talks were 'The 5 Ws of Sikhi' by Bhai Balpreet Singh jee (Toronto), 'The Purpose of Life' by Bhai Surjeet Singh jee, 'Roots' by Daas, and 'Social Activism' by Bhai Ravjeet Singh (UK). Bhai Uptej Singh from UK did a martial arts workshop and Gurmat Vichaar sessions also. In the afternoons there were workshops led by the various speakers and elder Gursikhs.

Some photos from the camp:

 

Evening Diwaan

 

Keertan by Veer Jee from Calgary

 

 Ardaas

Master Niranjan Singh jee taking Hukamnama

 

Degh Seva Singhs

 

Bhai Uptej Singh (UK) martial arts workshop

 

Bhai Uptej Singh (UK) Gurmat Vichaar

Daas' workshop

Bhai Surjeet Singh jee's workshop


Master Niranjan Singh jee and Bhai Saadhu Singh jee ('Bapu jee') workshop
 

Lecture by Bhai Surjeet Singh jee

 

Lecture Hall

Lecture by Bhai Ravjeet Singh (UK)

 

Gurmat Q & A session in the evening 

 

Amrit-vela

Activities 

 

 Bhai Gurdit Singh jee looking emotional and singing! Waheguru

Activities

Activities 

 

Paintballing

 Evening Q& A session

 Langar Seva


Lecture by a Bibi jee from Toronto

 

 

Langar 

 

Langar

 

Video of Bhai Balpreet Singh jee's Khalsa Camp BC 2012 Lecture - The 5 Ws and H of Sikhi:

More videos from Khalsa Camp BC on YouTube

Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Back to Sikhi: Inspiring Transformations... (Series 7)

ਭੂਲੇ ਮਾਰਗੁ ਜਿਨਹਿ ਬਤਾਇਆ || ਐਸਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਪਾਇਆ ||੧||

"Such a Guru is found by great good fortune who places the one who strays back on the Path."

(Ang 803)

Continuing the series of interesting and inspiring pictures of people who have gone back to Sikhi. Gurmukh Pyaare from Bradford in Yorkshire (England):

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Dhan Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

What should God's Servant be like?...

ਕਬੀਰ ਰੋੜਾ ਹੋਇ ਰਹੁ ਬਾਟ ਕਾ ਤਜਿ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੁ ||
ਐਸਾ ਕੋਈ ਦਾਸੁ ਹੋਇ ਤਾਹਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਭਗਵਾਨੁ ||੧੪੬||

O Kabeer! Let yourself be a pebble on the path; abandon your egotistical pride. Such a humble slave shall meet the Lord God. ||146|| 

ਕਬੀਰ ਰੋੜਾ ਹੂਆ ਤ ਕਿਆ ਭਇਆ ਪੰਥੀ ਕਉ ਦੁਖੁ ਦੇਇ ||
ਐਸਾ ਤੇਰਾ ਦਾਸੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਉ ਧਰਨੀ ਮਹਿ ਖੇਹ ||੧੪੭||  

O Kabeer! What good would it be, to be a pebble? It would only hurt the traveller on the path. Your slave, O Lord, is like the dust of the earth. ||147|| 

ਕਬੀਰ ਖੇਹ ਹੂਈ ਤਉ ਕਿਆ ਭਇਆ ਜਉ ਉਡਿ ਲਾਗੈ ਅੰਗ ||
ਹਰਿ ਜਨੁ ਐਸਾ ਚਾਹੀਐ ਜਿਉ ਪਾਨੀ ਸਰਬੰਗ ||੧੪੮|| 

O Kabeer! What then, if one could become dust? It is blown up by the wind, and sticks to the body. The humble servant of the Lord should be like water, which cleans everything. ||148|| 

ਕਬੀਰ ਪਾਨੀ ਹੂਆ ਤ ਕਿਆ ਭਇਆ ਸੀਰਾ ਤਾਤਾ ਹੋਇ ||
ਹਰਿ ਜਨੁ ਐਸਾ ਚਾਹੀਐ ਜੈਸਾ ਹਰਿ ਹੀ ਹੋਇ ||੧੪੯||

O Kabeer! What then, if one could become water? It becomes cold, then hot.  

The humble servant of the Lord should be just like the Lord. ||149|| 

(Ang 1372)