Sehaj Paatth...

Last Saturday, with Guru jee's kirpaa, 13 year old Amritpal Singh celebrated his birthday with bhog (completion) of his first Sehaj Paatth (complete reading of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee). Veer jee has taken part in Sehaj Paatths before with his family, but this one was the first Sehaj Paatth that Guru jee blessed him with the complete seva. It is very inspiring to see a UK born young child having a relationship with Gurbani and taken the time and effort to read and experience Guru Jee's Baanee. It gives great motivation to those who have not started a Sehaj Paatth to begin one.

After the bhog, Gursikhs did keertan and there was a birthday cake prepared by Bhenji Satnam Kaur (Coventry) which looked too good to cut and eat! All the members of the Sangat were shocked how stunning the cake was and it was really sad to cut it! Vaheguru.

Local children doing keertan with tantee saaj.


Veer Preetam Singh jee (Coventry) doing keertan.


Bhai Tarsem Singh jee (Warwick) doing keertan.


Veer Navreet Singh jee (Coventry) doing keertan.


Beautiful cake made by Bhenji Satnam Kaur (Coventry). For more info for cakes, telephone 07584 943 661 or email info@princess-cakes.co.uk

May Guru Sahib bless us all with the love, dedication and devotion to read, sing, understand, and connect with Gurbani so that our lives can become lit up with the Guru's divine knowledge.


Useful links for starting a Sehaj Paatth:

SikhAnswers.com - Procedure for a Sehaj Paath

Read Gurbani online: www.SriGranth.org / www.SikhToTheMax.com

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

"I am not in favour of Sikh Schools..."

Yesterday I went to an education meeting and was talking to a representative of Catholic Schools. We were talking about faith schools and how Sikhs are apply to make some schools now. I shared how I think it is very good that Sikh community will have its own schools. The Christian gentleman replied, "I am not in favour of Sikh Schools... It would be a great shame to make Sikh schools." I was taken aback by his comments.

He carried on and said, "It will be a great shame to Catholic schools. The Sikhs have so much to offer and bring so much to Catholic schools that the Catholics will be saddened lose Sikh students to Sikh schools." I was humbled by his sincere views about Sikhs. He finished by saying, "I used to be an Ofsted inspector and visited state schools in Wolverhampton. I found that the Sikh students have great hospitality, work ethics and attitude." Inside I lowered my head to Guru Nanak Dev jee and thought, "Dhan Hai Guru!" On the journey back from the meeting I kept reflecting on the virtues that Guru jee has blessed us with and how fortunate we are - from serving food and water to any visitors to working honestly. Waheguru.

First UK talk...

Harvinder Kaur Khalsa, formerly known as Alexandra Aitken, will be doing her FIRST UK TALK

Friday 11th March
7pm till 9pm

Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara,
47-49 Cross Road,
Coventry

The daughter of former UK government minister Jonathan Aitken, will seek to inspire by telling us how her transformation from a hedonistic party girl to a recently married devout Gursikh came about. The Inspirational series will continue every Friday thereafter, 7pm - 9pm, with different Gursikhs giving inspiring talks.

For further info, contact: 07818 567727 / www.crossrdgurdwara.com.

INTERNATIONAL AKHAND KIRTAN SMAAGAM Monday 18th - Sunday 24th April 2011

See attached for official poster and link for You tube video of Bhai Parminder Singh Jallandhar Wale - who will be attending the smaagam from India!

Sri Akhand Paat(h) Sahib Jee:
Arambh - Mon 18th at 6pm Bhog - Wed 20th


Asa Dee Vaar Kirtan: Rehras & Kirtan:
Thu 21st 5.30am - 10am Thu 21st 6pm - 9pm
Fri 22nd 5.30am - 10am Fri 22nd 6pm - 10pm
Sat 23rd 5.30am - 11am Sat 23rd 6pm - 12am

Sat 23rd April - SIKH ARTILLERY 1pm - 3pm (talk by Neil Carleton from the Victoria & albert Museum London)

Sunday 24th April - PRESENTATION AND VEECHAAR 10.30am - 12.30pm (Presentation on the life and rehat of Bhai Sahib Randir Singh Jee)

Sunday 24th April - GATKA DISPLAY 1pm - 2pm (Martial Arts display from youth from all over the world)

AMRIT SANCHAAR: Sunday 24th April at 1pm

RAINSBAAEE KIRTAN: SUNDAY 24th APRIL 2011 7pm - 6am

For details and questions regarding the Amrit Sanchaar, please call Bhai Jarnail Singh 01926 771 944 or Bhai Tarnjit Singh 07877 888 874

Nice poem...

Hey Waheguru
Author: unknown

Today, upon a bus, I saw a girl with golden hair. and wished I was as fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle. She had
one leg and wore a crutch. But as she passed, a smile. Hey Waheguru ji,
forgive me when I whine. I have 2 legs, the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy. The lad who sold it had such charm. I talked
with him, he seemed so glad. If I were late, it'd do no harm. And as I left,
he said to me, "I thank you, you've been so kind. It's nice to talk with
folks like you. You see," he said, "I'm blind." Hey Waheguru ji, forgive me
when I whine. I have 2 eyes, the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue. He
stood and watched the others play. He did not know what to do. I stopped a
moment and then I said, "Why don't you join the others, dear?" He looked
ahead without a word. And then I knew, he couldn't hear. Hey Waheguru ji,
forgive me when I whine. I have 2 ears, the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I'd go. With eyes to see the sunset's glow. With
ears to hear what I'd know. Hey Waheguru ji, forgive me when I whine. I've
been blessed indeed, the world is mine

This poem is just a simple reminder that we have so-o-o much to be thankful for!

-----------

ਅਸਟਪਦੀ ||
ਜਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਛਤੀਹ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਖਾਹਿ ||
ਤਿਸੁ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਕਉ ਰਖੁ ਮਨ ਮਾਹਿ ||
ਜਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਸੁਗੰਧਤ ਤਨਿ ਲਾਵਹਿ ||
ਤਿਸ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਪਰਮ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਵਹਿ ||
ਜਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਬਸਹਿ ਸੁਖ ਮੰਦਰਿ ||
ਤਿਸਹਿ ਧਿਆਇ ਸਦਾ ਮਨ ਅੰਦਰਿ ||
ਜਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਸੰਗਿ ਸੁਖ ਬਸਨਾ ||
ਆਠ ਪਹਰ ਸਿਮਰਹੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਰਸਨਾ ||
ਜਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਰੰਗ ਰਸ ਭੋਗ ||
ਨਾਨਕ ਸਦਾ ਧਿਆਈਐ ਧਿਆਵਨ ਜੋਗ ||੧||
Ashtapadee:
By God's Grace, you partake of the thirty-six delicacies;
(so) enshrine that Lord and Master within your mind.
By God's Grace, you apply scented oils to your body;
remembering Him, the supreme status is obtained.
By God's Grace, you dwell in the home of peace;
meditate forever on Him within your mind.
By God's Grace, you abide with your family in peace;
keep His remembrance upon your tongue, twenty-four hours a day.
By God's Grace, you enjoy tastes and pleasures;
O Nanak! Meditate forever on the One, who is worthy of meditation. ||1||
(Ang 269)

Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Discussion on love....

Majnoo: “If I don’t get married to her I will die”

Author: Bhai Kulbir Singh
Taken from www.GurmatBibek.com

Meaning of Majnoo

Majnoo literally means crazy. Other synonyms for this word in Indian languages are Divaana, Baura, Baawra, Pagla, Paagal, Kamla etc.

Even though the word Majnoo means Divaana but in Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu, this word is used for such person who becomes crazy in love. Mostly, Majnoo is associated with such male lover who goes crazy over infatuation with a female.

The most famous worldly Majnoo has been a person called Qaiz who became crazy in love with a girl called Laila. He became so crazy that he left his home and really became a crazy person and soon people forgot his real name and everyone started calling him Majnoon-e-Laila which means Majnoo of Laila.

If an ordinary worldly person hears this story, he is probably inspired and loves it but when a Gurmukh hears about the plight and fate of Qaiz, he feels sorry for Qaiz but also knows that while the love of Qaiz may have been sincere and genuine but his object of love was false. He wasted his human life in love of an idol of flesh and blood.


Two types of Majnoos

There are two types of Majnoos out there – Majnoos of Vaheguru and Majnoos of Laila.


Read the full article here.

----

Ethnically cleansed village discovered...

Mobs killing innocent Sikhs in anti-Sikh programs in November 1984

26 years after the1984 anti-Sikh programs took place in India, mass graves of murdered Sikhs has been discovered. The village named Hondh Chillar, in Rewari District of Haryana, was a Sikh village that was ethnically cleansed by organised mobs and reduced to ashes. The complete wipe out of a Sikh village follows the pattern of violence against Sikhs carried out by organised mobs in November 1984. Unfortunately it is claimed that the massacre was not investigated by the authorities.

Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) have investigated this graveyard village and released a list of 25 people who were inhumanly murdered or burnt alive at the Hondh Chillar village. Evidence shows that the women folk were raped, most of the Sikhs living in the village were murdered and the Gurdwara Sahib was reduced to ashes. The entire village was wiped out and survivors, if any, never dared to visit or lay claim to their properties in the village.

The list of 25 Sikhs released includes 16 male and 9 women. The women include married ladies and unmarried girls. The list shows at least 3-4 families and there is a family which lost at least 8 people.





Pictures of the discovered ethnically cleansed village:

AISSF and S F J Leaders before the remains of a house of Sikhs at Village Hondh-Chillar in Haryana.


A view of one of the abandoned houses of Sikhs at Hondh Chillar village in Haryana.


Burnt out house


Ruins of a destroyed house


Remains of the destroy village Gurdwara Sahib.


Burnt home of a family.


Faded out Gurbani painted on a wall shown from a burnt out house.

Bhagat Ravidaas Sahib Jee...

ਚਿਤ ਸਿਮਰਨੁ ਕਰਉ ਨੈਨ ਅਵਿਲੋਕਨੋ ਸ੍ਰਵਨ ਬਾਨੀ ਸੁਜਸੁ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਾਖਉ ||
chit simran karo nain avilokano sravan baanee sujas poor raakho |
(My prayer is that) in my consciousness I continue remembering You; with my eyes, I continue beholding You; and keep Your Bani (Divine Word) and Your beautiful Praises filled in my ears.

ਮਨੁ ਸੁ ਮਧੁਕਰੁ ਕਰਉ ਚਰਨ ਹਿਰਦੇ ਧਰਉ ਰਸਨ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਭਾਖਉ ||੧||
man su madhukar karo charan hirde dharo rasan amrit raam naam bhaakho |1|
May my mind continue being the bumble bee, enshrining Your lotus-feet within my heart, and with my tongue, may continue chanting life-giving Name of God. ||1||

ਮੇਰੀ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿਉ ਜਿਨਿ ਘਟੈ ||
meree preet gobind sio jin ghattai |
(I am fearful that may) my love for the Lord of the Universe never decrease.

ਮੈ ਤਉ ਮੋਲਿ ਮਹਗੀ ਲਈ ਜੀਅ ਸਟੈ ||੧|| ਰਹਾਉ ||
mai tau mol mehagee lee jeea sattai |1| rahaao |
I paid for it dearly, in exchange for my soul. ||1||Pause and reflect||

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬਿਨਾ ਭਾਉ ਨਹੀ ਊਪਜੈ ਭਾਵ ਬਿਨੁ ਭਗਤਿ ਨਹੀ ਹੋਇ ਤੇਰੀ ||
saadh-sangath binaa bhaao nehee oopjai bhaav bin bhagat nahee hoe teree |
(But this) love does not well up without the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; and without this love, Your devotional worship cannot be performed.

ਕਹੈ ਰਵਿਦਾਸੁ ਇਕ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਪੈਜ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਰਾਜਾ ਰਾਮ ਮੇਰੀ ||੨||੨||
kehai ravidaas ek bentee har sio paij raakhahu raajaa raam meree |2|2|
Ravi Daas offers this one prayer unto the Lord: O Lord, my King! (I have to Your sanctuary) please preserve and protect my honour. ||2||2||
(Ang 694)

Many happy returns to everyone on the janam divas (birth day) of Bhagat Ravidaas Sahib jee.

Illegal detention and murder of Young Sikh...

Shaminder Singh (Shera) a young 24 year old Sikh from a poor family and the only Amritdhari Sikh in Bagguwal village was singled out for being an Amritdhari and picked by police in Nawanshahar district on 31st October 2010. Shaminder Singh was the only son, who supported his elderly mother and two sisters.

He was mercilessly thrashed and subjected to third-degree torture for 18 days as he refused to admit involvement in waging war against the Indian state. No case was registered against him. According to his own words reported on television he would have been eliminated by the Indian Police in a police encounter, as has happened with thousands of young Amritdharis since 1984. He overheard the police officers planning to eliminate him and managed to escape from police custody on 18 November.

He was later arrested from Sri Patna Sahib where he revealed he had become the victim of police torture. Luckily for him the media listened and reported on his experience. A report published in the Hindustan Times on 3rd December 2010 forced the Panjab and Haryana High Court into action. Following an investigation the court ordered a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on the state of Panjab for illegally detaining him and subjecting him to third-degree torture. The court also directed the state government on 3rd January to take care of Shaminder Singh.

Television news interview before murder

Video Part 1


Video Part 2



Two weeks later, after giving his television news interview, on 17th January Shaminder Singh and his brother Harwinder Singh were going to the Gurdwara Sahib in Bagguwal village when they were attacked by about 9-10 unidentified men with sharp edged weapons. It has been widely reported that the finger of blame is pointing squarely at the police. Shaminder Singh was admitted to hospital where he died several days later.

On 30th January the Punjab government (who were ordered by the Court to take care of Shaminder Singh) ordered a probe into the circumstances leading to the death of Shaminder Singh. This followed considerable media and other pressure.

It is unfortunate that an innocent Amritdhari Singh was not just falsely accused of crimes, he was then tortured, and after being proven innocent was murdered by an unidentified gang. According to reports, no Jathedaar, Mahapurkh or politician attended Shaminder Singh's family nor have any of them raised a cry against this injustice and oppression.

May Guru jee bless us all with the strength to speak and stand up for the truth.

TO HELP

Please write to your local MPs about this case to help put pressure for Shaheed Bhai Shaminder Singh's family to get justice. Details of a template letter and how to contact your local MP on link below:

link

Celebrating Valentines' Day?

Valentine's Day, properly known as Saint Valentine's Day, is on 14th February. Although it's a Christian festival or day, nowadays it is celebrated across the world, even India! This day is usually associated with a festival of love and giving gifts to one's partner. You would think you one would appreciate their husband and wife everyday rather than one day. Perhaps we should look a little deeper at this festival....

History of Valentine's Day

There are different reasons for celebrating St. Valentine's Day which are based on different legends. Historically its a pagan festival associated with love and fertility. The first official Saint Valentine's Day was declared on 14th of February by Pope Galasius in 496, in memory of a 3rd century Christian bishop (priest) that was martyred in Rome. There have been two Christian priests with the name Valentine during the same period, who were both martyred by the Romans. It is said that the younger bishop of the two, was arrested in 270 AD. While in jail, he is said to have converted his jailer to Christianity by healing his blind daughter's sight. When the cured girl came to see him with flowers as a gift, both of them fell in love. The bishop is said to have sent the girl a note saying “From your Valentine”. Like his earlier namesake, Bishop Valentine of Rome was martyred on 14th February. Source: The Telegraph

Recently my dad asked someone whether they celebrate St. Valentine's Day. The Panjabi person, who is of Sikh heritage, said "Yes, I do. I buy my wife flowers on this day." My dad explained that Valentine's Day marks the martyrdom day of Saint Valentine who fell in love with a woman who came to visit him in jail. He then asked, "Do you observe the Shaheedi (martyrdom) day of Guru Arjan Dev jee or Guru Tegh Bahadar jee?" The person replied, "No." My dad replied, "So, being born in a Sikh family you observe the martyrdom and day of a Christian saint who fell in love with a woman but not those of your Gurus, who sacrificed their lives for truth and love of God, and with whose blessings we are free and alive today?"

May Guru jee guide us in walking the Guru's Path.

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

“Bhai Manvir Singh”, “Bhai Manvir Singh”, “Bhai Manvir Singh”. “Bhai Manvir Singh UK”, “Bhai Manvir Singh UK”, “Bhai Manvir Singh UK”. “Manvir Singh Khalsa”, “Manvir Singh Khalsa”, “Manvir Singh Khalsa”. “Manvir Singh”, “Manvir Singh”, “Manvir Singh”.

ਨਾਮ ਵਿਚ ਕੀ ਹੈ? । What is in a name?

A relative gave me a book to read called "Meree Duneeyaa, Teree Duneeyaa" published by Sikh Missionary College Ludhiana. The book contains a collection of true life stories and experiences of Gursikhs on different issues. In particular I wish to share a story by Bhai Sant Singh from India which was entitled "Naam vee kee peiaa hai?" (What is in a name?).


Translation:

What is in name?

My son sent me a letter from UK notifying me that I had become a grandfather. I was full of joy and rejoiced. I went to the Gurdwara Sahib and did Ardaas for thanking Waheguru for blessing me with a grandson and prayed that may the Great Guru blesses him with the gift of Sikhi, Naam and seva of the Panth.

In short space of time I arrived to the UK to meet my son and family. When I arrived, I told my son "Let's go to the Gurdwara and do Naam Sanskaar (the Sikh naming ceremony)." My son replied, "Father, I have already kept my son's name, we don't need to go to the Gurdwara." I was shocked and said, "What name have you kept?" My son replied, "Robin". I lowered my head in shame and said, "Being born in a Sikh family you have turned your back on your faith, customs and heritage to choose a Christian name? I feel shame that has happened in my family - may the Guru forgive me! I did Ardaas that may my grandson become a servant of the Panth and instead he is named after Christians! Waheguru!"

I asked my son who gave you such an idea to name him Robin. He told me that his next door neighbours, who are a white English couple, suggested the name. The neighbours apparently are very close to my son and daughter-inlaw and constantly suggested naming the baby Robin. My son said he eventually accepted their suggestion. He told me that he could not change it, even if he wanted to, as he had registered it with the registration office and it was written on his birth certificate.

A few months later the next door couple were blessed with a baby son. They went to the hospital to collect the baby and brought him home. On the arrival of the baby a party was held at their home. Our family were also invited. I attended the party with my son. During the party the couple asked all the family and friends gathered for suggestions baby names. I jumped to the chance and suggested that they name their son 'Pal Singh'. The couple looked baffled. I repeated the name. The couple then replied, "It is a lovely name. However, we are Christians. I am sure it would be a nice name for a Sikh child, but as we are Christians we are looking to name him a Christian name". My son looked at me and went quiet.

When we got home, my son lowered his head and asked for forgiveness. "I have been a fool! I followed the suggestion of those people to name my son. Yet I didn't realise that they would never sacrifice their identity and religion for us." With Great Guru's blessings, the next day the whole family went to the Gurdwara Sahib for doing Naam Sanksaar. My grandson was blessed with the name 'Surinder Pal Singh'.


--------



From the above story we learn the message that we should be proud of who we are not sacrifice our identity. A name is very powerful. Sri Guru Gobind Singh jee named his four sons - Ajeet (unbeatable), Jujhaar (fighter), Zoravar (powerful) and Fateh (victory). What beautiful and powerful names. Truly they lived up to their names. What face can we show the Guru if we sacrifice our children's names to name them after Christian apostles, disciples and saints (e.g. Steven, Simon, Nick, David, Paul, Gavin etc). May Guru jee awaken our spirits and give us the strength to follow the true path.


Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

A poor man's generous heart...

Inspirational Saakhi taken and adapted from Tapoban.org:

Story of Bhai Soma Jee

Guru Ramdas Sahib jee was doing kaar-sewa (construction service) of the sarovar (holy pool) at Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar. A lot of sangat used to help out in the digging of the sarovar and doing other kinds of sewa. There was a Sikh called Bhai Soma Arora, who used to earn his living by selling 'ghungraniyaan' (a snack made from chick peas) in Amritsar.

One evening Guru Sahib saw Bhai Soma jee and asked him how much vattee (profit) he had made. He came over to Guru Sahib and did matha tek and with extreme humility he answered Guru Sahib. Guru jee asked him to hand over his all day’s earnings. Without any hesitation at all, Bhai Soma jee placed all he had at the feet of Great Guru, Guru Ramdas jee.

Bhai Soma jee was a very poor person and was struggling to get by. The next day, Guru jee asked him how much he had earned and asked him to give all his earnings to him. Guru jee kept doing this for 5 days. Bhai Soma jee who was always broke, did not have any doubts on Guru Sahib. He trusted Guru Sahib 100% and believed that Guru Sahib knows better.

On the sixth day, Bhai Soma jee saw Guru Sahib at the Sarovar looking at the sangat doing sewa, with full Kirpa-Drishtee (gaze of grace). This time Bhai Soma jee did not wait for Guru Sahib to ask for the money but he came, did matha tek to Guru Sahib and placed all his earning at the blessed feet of the Great Guru. Guru Sahib, who was only testing Bhai Soma jee, was extremely pleased at him and said, "Today I have not come to take anything, I have come to give. Today you are no longer Soma, you are now 'Soma Shah'." (note: 'Shah' means very rich person).

Guru Sahib’s divine words of calling Soma, Soma Shah, forced the great force of Vaheguru’s power to come in action. Within days Soma became a shah. He became a shah of not only of worldly money but also of the greatest wealth of all, Naam (the Name of the Lord).


This is a great saakhi and we can learn a lot from this. We all know that all that we have has been given to us by Satguru but yet when it is our turn to do some seva or give back something to Guru Sahib or his Panth, we find thousand reasons not to do so. We become selfish. May Guru Sahib give us the wisdom of Bhai Soma Shah jee.

---------

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

A story about a lady's prayer...

A story that I was emailed...

A story about a lady's prayer
In September 1960, I woke up one morning with six hungry babies and just 75 cents in my pocket. Their father had left them. The boys ranged from three months to seven years; their sister was two. Their Dad had never been much more than a presence they feared. Whenever they heard his tyres crunch on the gravel driveway they would scramble to hide under their beds. He did manage to leave $15 a week to buy groceries. Now that he had decided to leave, there would be no more beatings, but no food either. If there was a welfare system in effect in southern Indiana at that time, I certainly knew nothing about it.

I scrubbed the children until they looked brand new and then put on my best home made dress, loaded them into the rusty old 51 Chevy and drove off to find a job. The seven of us went to every factory, store and restaurant in our small town. But no luck. The children stayed crammed into the car and tried to be quiet while I tried to convince who ever would listen that I was willing to learn or do anything. I had to have a job.

Still no luck. The last place we went to, just a few miles out of town, was an old Root Beer Barrel drive-in that had been converted to a truck stop. It was called the Big Wheel. An old lady named Granny owned the place and she peeked out of the window from time to time at all those children. She needed someone on the graveyard shift, 11 at night until seven in the morning. She paid 65 cents an hour, and I could start that night.

I raced home and called the teenager down the street that baby-sat for people. I bargained with her to come and sleep on my sofa for a dollar a night. She could arrive with her pyjamas on and the children would already be asleep.This seemed like a good arrangement to her, so we made a deal. That night when the little ones and I knelt to say our prayers, we all thanked God for finding Mummy a job.. And so I started at the Big Wheel.

When I got home in the mornings I woke the baby-sitter up and sent her home with one dollar of my tip money-- fully half of what I averaged every night. As the weeks went by, heating bills added a strain to my small wage. The tyres on the old Chevy had the consistency of penny balloons and began to leak. I had to fill them with air on the way to work and again every morning before I could go home.

One bleak fall morning, I dragged myself to the car to go home and found four tyres in the back seat. New tyres! There was no note, no nothing, just those beautiful brand new tyres. Had angels taken up residence in Indiana ? I wondered. I made a deal with the local service station. In exchange for his mounting the new tyres, I would clean up his office. I remember it took me a lot longer to scrub his floor than it did for him to do the tyres. I was now working six nights instead of five and it still wasn't enough.

Christmas was coming and I knew there would be no money for toys for the children . I found a can of red paint and started repairing and painting some old toys. Then I hid them in the basement so there would be something for Santa to deliver on Christmas morning. Clothes were a worry too. I was sewing patches on top of patches on the boys pants and soon they would be too far gone to repair.

On Christmas Eve the usual customers were drinking coffee in the Big Wheel. There were the truckers, Les, Frank, and Jim, and a state trooper named Joe. A few musicians were hanging around after a gig at the Legion and were dropping nickels in the pinball machine. The regulars all just sat around and talked through the early hours of the morning and then left to get home before the sun came up.

When it was time for me to go home at seven o'clock on Christmas morning, to my amazement, my old battered Chevy was filled full to the top with boxes of all shapes and sizes. I quickly opened the driver's side door, crawled inside and knelt in the front facing the back seat. Reaching back, I pulled off the lid of the top box. Inside was whole case of little blue jeans, sizes 2-10! I looked inside another box: It was full of shirts to go with the jeans. Then I peeked inside some of the other boxes. There was candy and nuts and bananas and bags of groceries. There was food for baking, and canned vegetables and potatoes. There was pudding and Jell-O and cookies, pie filling and flour. There was whole bag of laundry supplies and cleaning items. And there were five toy trucks and one beautiful little doll.

As I drove back through empty streets as the sun slowly rose on the most amazing Christmas Day of my life, I was sobbing with gratitude. And I will never forget the joy on the faces of my little ones that precious morning. Yes, there were angels in Indiana that long-ago December. And they all hung out at the Big Wheel truck stop.

THE POWER OF PRAYER.. I believe that God only gives three answers to prayer:

1. 'Yes!'

2. 'Not yet.'

3! have something better in mind.'


You may be going through a tough time right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that you cannot imagine. This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards.

Birth Day of Baba Deep Singh Jee...

Today marks the birth day of Amar Shaheed Baba Deep Singh jee. Dhan Guru, Dhan Guru Ke Pyaare.

ਧੰਨ ਉਹ ਧਰਤੀ ਧੰਨ ਉਹ ਬਾਪੂ, ਧੰਨ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਮਾਈ ।
ਢੰਗ ਜਿਉਣ ਦਾ ਜਿਸਦਾ ਪੁੱਤਰ, ਦੱਸ ਗਿਆ ਸਦੀਆ ਸਾਈਂ ।
"Blessed is that land, blessed is that father, blessed is the great mother. Who's son has shown the way to live, for centuries to come."
(Punjabi folk saying)

Related link:
* A Glimpse at the life of Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Jee



Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

"Why the hell do I?"...

An interesting post I found on GurmatBibek.com, written by Bhai Kulbir Singh jee (Toronto)...

Bernard Shaw used to tell a story about his father, whom he was delighted to watch shaving everyday. One day the five year old Shaw looked up and asked the old man "Daddy, why do you shave?"

The father looked at his small son for a full minute and then threw the razor out of the window, saying, "Why the hell do I?" He never did again.

Sunday Tribune, dated 6th December, 1970 (Editorial)


Bernard Shaw too maintained full beard all his life and did not shave. Hopefully, our brothers and sisters who still cut their hair and shave would be as sensible as Shaw's father.

Kulbir Singh

Taken from www.GurmatBibek.com



Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Kaurs Kamai Camp - Coming up soon...

Young girl doing Keertan...

Sweet keertan by young Prabh Simran Kaur in a Nagar Keertan in India.

Part 2 of video.



Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Dhan Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Jee...

Happy Gurpurb to everyone.

Below are PDFs of the book on Guru Gobind Singh jee Maharaaj's life written by Lala Daulat Rai, a strict Arya Samaji Hindu, in 1901. It is still to date one of the best books about Guru Sahib by a non-Sikh author.

The PDFs are in English as well as Panjabi:

Chapter Name	Download link	Pages
Foreword	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter01.pdf	6
Introduction	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter02.pdf	4
Guru Gobind Singh: Birth and Early Life	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter03.pdf	1
Unparalleled Sacrifice of His Father	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter04.pdf	2
Difficulties Which the Guru Faced	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter05.pdf	2
Problems concerned with Hindus	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter06.pdf	4
Religious Reform	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter07.pdf	6
Tav-Prasad(i) Kabit	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter08.pdf	13
Social Reform	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter09.pdf	4
Political Condition of the Hindus	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter10.pdf	3
From Where and for Whom the Guru Started His Mission	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter11.pdf	2
Basic Tenets of the Guru	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter12.pdf	4
Guru's Support to the Hill-Rajas	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter13.pdf	1
The 'Story' of Naina Devi	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter14.pdf	1
Foundation of the Khalsa	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter15.pdf	4
The Guru's Way of Life	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter16.pdf	3
Opposition of the Guru by the High-Caste Hindus	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter17.pdf	3
The Attack of Aurangzeb's Army	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter18.pdf	6
After the Battle of Chamkaur	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter19.pdf	6
The Epistle of Victory	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter20.pdf	6
Meeting Banda Bahadur	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter21.pdf	6
Outstanding Qualities of the Guru	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter22.pdf	5
Philosophy of Guru Gobind Singh	http://www.laladaulatrai.com/chapter23.pdf	10
Full Book – English	753 kb	102
Full Book - Gurmukhi	11,717kb	192

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!