Growing up in a typical Punjabi family, I only used to go to the Gurdwara a couple times a year to attend weddings; however, I never learned about Sikhi or the existence of God in general until grade 11.
One day I was browsing the internet for rap videos – hoping that the music would relieve me of the tension that I was feeling from family and friend issues. I questioned what the purpose of my life was and whether it was worth living in a world where all I could see was darkness and misery. I guess this was like an ardaas to Vaheguru ji, because I was immediately given the biggest spiritual awakening of my life. Somehow I accidently clicked on a kirtan video – something which I had never consciously listened to before.
Listening to it, I wondered how the raagis could be in such bliss. What were they singing? What did they have in life that I didn’t? I asked my mom about the video and she said “look in our Guru Granth Sahib ji, it’s somewhere in the house”. Even though I didn’t know much about Sikhi at the time, I knew that Guru Granth Sahib ji was usually up high in a big Gurdwara. There certainly wasn’t any room in our house that looked like that!
I spent hours searching our storage room, which was filled to the ceiling with furniture and boxes. Almost ready to give up, I came across one suitcase on the floor. When I opened it, I burst into tears. In the suitcase was Guru Granth Sahib ji - covered with dirt/dust and some of the angs slightly torn. I couldn’t believe my eyes and instantly felt a connection. From that day on, I vowed to take care of Guru Sahib – eventually transforming the room, my entire family and myself.
Even though my family and friends initially reacted with hostility to my Sikhi transformation and there was not a lot of sangat in my city, I knew that there was no turning back. After roughly two years of teaching myself Gurmukhi and learning about Rehat Maryada through internet resources, I had an eye-opening jamdhoot experience. Feeling that my time to leave this world was coming soon, I attended the nearest Amrit Sanchaar and was blessed with a new identity and life purpose in August 2012. “One who meets with the Holy True Guru finds the treasure of excellence” (Ang 21).
Note: Thank you to Bhenji Ikjot Kaur for accepting the request to write her personal story and sharing it with the Sangat.
Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!
3 comments:
please would you mind asking bhenji which youtube video it was and post the link?
thanks
bhai saab ji, i have an off topic question. Out of curiosity I wondered why are bibiyaan prohibited from doing kirtan or seva(in the darbar itself) in harmandar saab. they cant do sukhshan or even touch the palki as it comes from akal takhat. The rationale given is tradition. Thats so contradictory towards guru amar das ji. in that case sati should of been justified since it was a tradtion. veerji i know you obviously have no power over this but i just wanted your vichaar as you are a gursikh who reaches out towards the youth.
Thank You and sorry for the trouble
gurdarshan Singh
Email from Bhenji Ikjot Kaur jee:
Vaheguru ji ka khalsa Vaheguru ji ki fateh!
To be honest, I don't remember which video it was. At that time, I didn't know Punjabi or Gurmukhi at all; therefore, it wasn't the exact words that struck me or who the raagis were, but it was the positive vibrations in general that impacted me. I just asked my mom as well and she couldn't remember the video either.
My apologies that I couldn't answer the question.
--------------
Post a Comment