Project Conversion - Experiencing being Sikh for a month...

I came across an interesting blog by Andrew Bowen. He writes about his project:

Project Conversion: Twelve Months of Spiritual Promiscuity has a mission: To enlighten and entertain. Over the course of a year, I will immerse myself in one religion per month. With the help of spiritual mentors and research, every step of the journey will be documented here via photos, video, and blog entry. In addition, each week of each month will focus on one of four areas:

Week One: Religous Practices, Worship, and Ritual

Week Two: Culture and Art

Week Three: Social Issues/Conflicts

Week Four: Personal Reflection on the Month

Should be fun. Will certainly be interesting, and hopefully by the end a few folks who may have been reticent to find out about different faiths will learn something by vicariously practicing for a month through me.

Please check out his reflections of immersing himself in the lifestyle of a Sikh for one month.

http://blog.beliefnet.com/projectconversion/2011/09/my-last-day-as-a-sikh.html

Born to Lead...

Born to Lead - a short movie by Satdeep Singh:

Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Remembering the 1984 Shaheeds

Warning: Post contains graphic images

http://www.sikh24.com/2011/11/remembering-the-1984-shaheeds/

With Guru Sahib’s Grace, Sangat throughout the world has this month commemorated and remembered the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms and the Shaheeds (martyrs) who fought for justice. I recently heard a saying by a non-Sikh who said, “It is more important how you remember, rather than what you remember.”

Hearing this quote, I started reflecting on how we remember our Shaheeds.

Is it enough that we remember our great Gurus and Shaheeds or do we need to reflect on how we are remembering them? Every year there are Akhand Paaths in memory of Shaheeds, there are Kirtan Darbars and there are talks. However, are we truly remembering our Shaheeds? Have we done justice to their memory by just announcing that “today we are remembering the Shaheeds”?

Let us remember what happened to the Sikhs in November 1984. The killers of the Sikhs cut the hair of Sikh men before they burnt them to death. Why did the raging blood thirsty killers cut the hair of the Sikhs when they were going to kill them anyway? It was an act of dishonouring the Sikhs before killing them.

We have to ask ourselves, are we today dishonouring our Sikhi by paying others to cut our Kesh, plucking our eyebrows and shaving our hair? The Sikh women were physically raped and the Sikh men were psychologically raped by dishonouring their God-given Kesh which is the covenant between a Sikh and God. If we wish to remember the Shaheeds, then may we remember the Shaheeds by vowing not to cut, pluck, dye or dishonour our beautiful Kesh which acts like a robe of love which links us to the Great Guru.

In November 1984 the killers of the Sikhs poured kerosene over the Sikhs and burnt them to death. We have to ask ourselves, are we today pouring alcohol inside ourselves and burning our Sikhi? If we wish to remember the Shaheeds, then may we remember the Shaheeds by vowing to not drink alcohol anymore and instead look after the body which was supposed to be a field for the seeds of Sikhi to flourish.

In November 1984 the killers of the Sikhs shamelessly desecrated Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee. We have to ask ourselves, are we today disrespecting Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee by not following the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji? If we wish to remember the Shaheeds, then may Guru Jee bless us with the desire and effort to strive to follow the Guru’s teachings and become light-houses of Sikhi through living Guru Jee’s message and Hukam.

Sikhs have experienced many holocausts and genocidal pogroms, but the Sikh spirit has never died. When 18th century Sikh women were arrested and endured torture in Mir Mannu’s Jail in Lahore, they chanted: “ਮਨੂੰ ਸਾਡੀ ਦਾਤਰੀ ਅਸੀਂ ਮਨੂੰ ਦੇ ਸੋਏ || ਜਿਉਂ ਜਿਉਂ ਮਨੂੰ ਵਢਦਾ ਅਸੀਂ ਦੂਣ ਸਵਾਏ ਹੋਏ || (We are the grass, and Mannu the sickle (grass-cutting blade); The more he cuts us, the more we grow.)”

How did the Sikhs grow? When the blood of the Sikhs spilt, the Sikh nation’s spirit, faith and determination grew. The best way to remember those who were killed by the killers of the Sikhs who wished to kill off the Sikh Panth is to strive to become good Sikhs ourselves. Where the killers attempted to kill the Sikhs, we can show the world that Sikhi has not been killed but will flourish, starting from ourselves. May Guru Jee inspire us all to read Gurbani, do Simran, receive Khande-Di-Pahul and become tyar-bar-tyar Rehitvaan Gursikhs.

http://www.sikh24.com/2011/11/remembering-the-1984-shaheeds/

----
Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

3 types of Mr. Singh...

I met a Gursikh who works for Heathrow Airport who shared a story about his workplace with me. He said that one day a white non-Sikh English colleague asked him, "You are Mr. Singh because you are a Sikh. But today I met a man who has his hair cut and is clean-shave who said he was Mr. Singh as well. I am confused! Can you please explain."

The Gursikh gave the reply, "There are 3 types of Mr. Singh. Firstly, a "real Singh", secondly a "shame singh", and thirdly a "name Singh". The Gursikh explained a 'real Singh' is one who practices Sikhi in word and deed. A 'shame Singh' is someone who although wears a turban, but goes against their religion by trimming their beard or drinking alcohol etc. A 'name Singh' is someone who is from a Sikh heritage and has no Sikh identity.

The next day, the Englishman comes up to the Gursikh, smiled and said, "Today I saw a shame Singh on the bus." Waheguru.

'The Life of Guru Nanak' (Animated Story)...

'The Life of Guru Nanak' animated story, produced by Channel 4 (UK):

Having used this video to educate non-Sikh children about Sikhi, it left a very positive impression about Guru Nanak Dev jee on their minds and they remember they key messages preached by Guru jee.

Letter from the Vatican to mark the Gurpurb

Happy Gurpurb to everyone. Today I received an email from a Catholic colleague who I have worked with in local inter-faith events. He forwarded me a letter from the Catholic church congratulating Sikhs on the Gurpurb of Guru Nanak Dev jee. Here is the letter:

PONT1FICIUM CONSILIUM
PRO
DIALOGO INTER RELIGIONES

N. 1262/11

Dear Sikh Friends,

The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue most cordially greets you all as you commemorate the Birth Anniversary of Siri Guru Nanak Sahib on 10th November this year. May the celebration of this feast be an occasion to enhance harmony, happiness and unity within your families and communities.

Festive events such as this offer the opportunity to believers to expand the horizons of our relatedness with the larger human family by furthering our reach out and seeking to work together ever more earnestly for the welfare of the society, most especially towards building a harmonious society.

A harmonious society, as largely desired across the globe, is a people oriented society wherein persons are truly respected in their transcendent, innate human dignity and whose common aspirations for freedom, serenity, security and equal opportunity for development are governed by a morally sound set of values that animates the life of the individuals and of the entire society. On the contrary, moral relativism, which undermines human being in his/her objective dignity, will only render the aspiration for a harmonious society an evanescent dream. Pope Benedict XVI spoke of it in unequivocal words saying, "the illusion that moral relativism provides the way for peaceful coexistence is ...the origin of divisions and the denial of the dignity of the human beings"(Message for the World Day of Peace, 2011).

We believers, more than others, because of our openness to God, are called upon to reject whatever is contrary to the dignity of the human persons and to make coordinated and sustained efforts to protect the legitimate interests of everyone in society. On us, therefore, falls the responsibility to render the human yearning for a harmonious society a reality. Our shared values such as fraternity, honesty, justice and unity are powerful tools for building a better world.

Wishing you a Happy Prakash Divas of Siri Guru Nanak Sahib!

Jean-Louis Cardinal TAURAN President

Archbishop Pier Luigi CELATA Secretary

Ufficio / Office: 00193 Roma - Via della Conciliazione, 5 - Tel. +39.06.698.84.321 - Fax +39.06.698.84.494 - E-mail: dialogo@interrel.va Indirizzo Postale / Adresse Postale / Postal Address: 00120 Citta del Vaticano

The exposed plan to annihilate the Sikhs...

In Dr. Sangat Singh's book "The Sikhs in History" (page 415) he gives details of Operation Shanti, exposing Indira Gandhi's evil plan to wipe out all the Sikhs in India. After Beant Singh and Satwant Singh came back from visiting Sri Harimandir Sahib in October 1984, they were deeply troubled by the destruction and bloodshed inflicted on the Sikhs. After discovering the planned genocide of the Sikhs, both Satwant Singh and Beant Singh took Amrit and then carried out their own plan to stop Indira.

"Indira drew a diabolical plan, named Operation Shanti, to carry out a general massacre of the Sikhs, of genocidal proportions, around November 8, when the Sikhs would assemble in various Gurdwaras for Guru Nanak's birthday celebrations. According to the plan, large-scale skirmishes virtually amounting to a war were to take place all along the India-Pakistan borders. And, it was to be given out that the Sikhs had risen in revolt in Punjab and joined hands with Pakistani armed forces which had made considerable advances into the Indian Territory. The Sikhs all over Punjab, especially in Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Kapurthala and Jalandhar districts were to be subjected to massive aerial bombardment, apart from being slaughtered by army and para military forces. The Sikhs all over India were to be subjected to mass scale massacre, loot, arson and incendiarism by lumpen elements organized by Youth Congress(I) activists. Elaborate preparations were made by Youth Congress (I) network all over India; they were to await a coded signal to start mayhem.

The plan was discussed with certain army generals who advised Indira against it. They pointed out that Nazis had used gas chambers to finish off the Jews, but had not been able to do so. And, her plan to finish off the Sikhs in one go would only club her name with that of Hitler. But she was unrelenting. Indira was not receptive. In view of her nefarious Sikh genocidal plan, she paid a sudden visit to Kashmir on October 27, when, however, she got the omen of her imminent death.

Back in New Delhi, the following day, records the Prime Minister's Principle Secretary, P.C. Alexander, "she sent for Gen. Vaidya and asked him in my presence about the preparedness of the Indian army in J & K to meet any unexpected outbreak of trouble. General Vaidya assured her that the army was very well prepared for any eventuality and there was no danger of it being taken unaware by the Pakistanis. Indira wanted to involve Vice President from that very stage, as he was to be the acting President once Operation Shanti was operative, and the inconvenient Zail Singh was bumped off. Significantly, Zia ul Haq stated at Indira's funeral that it was with great difficulty that he had been able to avert a war with India. His then No. 2, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, after demitting the office of President of Pakistan in July 1993, stated that Indira had planned to attack Pakistan but was shot dead some ten days before the D-Day.

The omen of her imminent death weighed on Indira for the rest of her four days of life. That was uppermost in her mind when she spoke of her violent death at the public meeting at Bhubaneshwar on October 29. Later, in the evening, she broached the subject with Orissa Governor, B. N. Pandey, at the dinner table. The thought lingered on, as she returned to Delhi on October 30 night. But unlike Aurangzeb who was remorseful at the "burden of sin" he was carrying, Indira, not being religious, was unrelenting.

Beant Singh, Sub-Inspector in Indira's security, got the outlines of Indira's Sikh-genocidal plan from R. K. Dhawan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister, and decided to act to thwart it. He commissioned Satwant Singh to assist him. On October 31, 1984, at 9.00 a.m. Beant Singh with his service revolver shot Indira in the abdomen five times. In less than a minute, at his call, Satwant Singh emptied his automatic carbine in Indira's abdomen region. Actually, one bullet in the head would have been sufficient. But abdomen was chosen because, firstly, they had been assured that she would not be wearing her bulletproof jacket, and secondly, they did not want to hurt anyone else, which a shot at her head might have entailed.

Beant Singh had cautioned Satwant Singh to ensure that his friend Dhawan was not hurt in the melee. After shooting Indira, both threw down their weapons and Beant Singh said, "I have done what I had to do. You do what you want to do"

Inspirational Story of Bibi Siri Kartar Kaur...

Bibi Siri Kartar Kaur from Finland shares her personal experience and journey into Sikhi:

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Bandi Chhor Divas....

As every year, as a community we celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas (Divali) with eating laddoos and letting off fireworks? We celebrate that 52 kings got saved holding on to Guru jee, however, we have to ask ourselves are we holding on to Guru Jee? How will we have a chance of being saved without Gurbani, Naam or Rehat?

ਅਗਨਿ ਸਾਗਰ ਬੂਡਤ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ||
agan saagar booddat sansaaraa ||
The world is drowning in the ocean of fire.

ਨਾਨਕ ਬਾਹ ਪਕਰਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਨਿਸਤਾਰਾ ||੪||੩||੮||
naanak baah pakar satgur nisataaraa.
O Nanak, holding me by the arm, the True Guru has saved me.
(Ang 803)

May Guru Jee bless us all with Gursikh Jeevan and Chardi Kalaa.



Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Insects and Sweets?...

News article taken from The Tribune:

Want to eat sweets? Think again
Insects found in samples

Anupam Bhagria
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 21
This Diwali, think twice before relishing sweets as most of these are not only of substandard, but also infested with insects. Test reports of various sweet samples collected by the health department have revealed this.

Dr Kulwinder Singh, district health officer, Ludhiana, said, “We took samples of ‘rasogulla’, ‘burfi’ and ‘petha’ from Super Lovely Sweet Shop at Lakkar Bazaar. Nine dead insects were found in samples of the ‘rasogulla’ and ‘burfi’. Refined oil used for preparing these sweets, too, was of substandard quality. Its BR reading (which tells whether refined has been used or it is milk fat) was also higher than the permissible limits. Thirteen insects were also found in the ‘petha’ samples. All these samples were found unfit for human consumption.”

Similarly, ‘petha’ samples collected from Bhure Lal’s factory was also found unfit for human consumption. The District Health Officer said, “Two honeybees and two houseflies were found in the samples collected from the factory.”

“Patisa” samples taken from Sheesh Ram Shop at Dasmesh Nagar in Jagraon, too, was unfit for human consumption as foreign starch was used for preparing it. The owners of all these shops have been booked under the Food Safety and Standard Act.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111022/ldh1.htm

Vaheguru!

Fake Encounters - Uncovered...

Aridaman Jit Singh has spent two decades working with the Government of India's Central police Organizations(NSG/BSF), where as a senior officer he was involved in anti-militancy and Intelligence Operations. He also remain associated with the training and policy making at the Country Head Quarters.

Aridaman now works with 'Nishan', a non-profit public policy advocacy and development organization dedicated to "Upholding Rights & Justice" in the society with the crusade against corruption and the abuse of power. They are primarily focused on cases arising from police apathy and rampant corruption in the Indian bureaucracy and government authorities. You can read more about the organization on their website www.NishanJustice.org.

Please watch the interview below in which Aridaman Jit Singh, a tireless campaigner against fake encounters, who speaks openly how the Police arrested innocent young Sikhs and murdered them in the name of militancy. It is harrowing to hear how those who are supposed to be protecting society are instead terrorising society fuelled by corruption, greed, and insincerity.

May Guru jee keep Aridaman Jit Singh and others who are fearlessly speaking the truth and expose the terror being committed by those in power in high spirits and bless them with success.

ਰਾਜੇ ਸੀਹ ਮੁਕਦਮ ਕੁਤੇ ॥ ਜਾਇ ਜਗਾਇਨਿ੍ ਬੈਠੇ ਸੁਤੇ ॥
Raaje sheeh mukaḏam kuṯe. Jaae jagaaen baiṯẖe suṯe.
The kings are tigers, and their officials are dogs; they go out and awaken the sleeping people to harass them.

ਚਾਕਰ ਨਹਦਾ ਪਾਇਨਿ੍ ਘਾਉ ॥ ਰਤੁ ਪਿਤੁ ਕੁਤਿਹੋ ਚਟਿ ਜਾਹੁ ॥
Cẖaakar nahḏaa pāenih gẖaao. Raṯ piṯ kuṯiho cẖatt jaahu.
The public servants inflict wounds with their nails. The dogs lick up the blood that is spilled.

ਜਿਥੈ ਜੀਆਂ ਹੋਸੀ ਸਾਰ ॥ ਨਕੀਂ ਵਢੀਂ ਲਾਇਤਬਾਰ ||੨||
Jithai jeeaa(ʼn) hosee saar. Nakee(ʼn) vadẖee(ʼn) laaiṯbaar. ||2||
But there, in the Court of the Lord, all beings will be judged. Those who have violated the people's trust will be disgraced; their noses will be cut off. ||2||
(Guru Nanak Dev Jee - Ang 1288)

A Letter to You...

An inspiring email which I received many years ago:

My dear friend,

As you got up this morning, I watched you and hoped you would talk to me,
even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanked me for
something good that happened in your life yesterday, but i noticed you were
too busy trying to find the right outfit to put on and wear to work. So I
waited. When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a
few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were too busy. At one
point you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a
chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet, I thought you wanted to talk to
me, but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip.

I watched you as you went to work and I waited patiently all day long. With
all your activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me. I
noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to
talk to me, that is why you didn't bow your head. You glanced three or four
tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly
before they ate, but you didn't. That's okay, there is still more time left,
and I hope that you will talk to me even yet.

You went home and it seems as you had lots of things to do. After a few of
them were done you turned on the TV. I don't know if I like TV or not, just
about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front of
it, not thinking about anything else - just enjoying the show. I waited
patiently a gain as you watched TV and ate your meal, but again you didn't
talk to me. As you did your housework I waited again, as you did what you
had to do. At bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight
to your family you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. That's okay,
because you may not realise that I am always there for you.

I've got patience more than you will ever know. I love you so much that I
wait everyday for a nod, a prayer, a thought or a thankful part of your
heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation.

Well, you are getting up again and once again I will wait with nothing but
love for you hoping that today you will give me some time.

Have a nice day.

Yours,
WAHEGURU

--------------------------

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

The Guru's Call...

ਆਪੁ ਸਵਾਰਹਿ ਮੈ ਮਿਲਹਿ ਮੈ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ||
ਫਰੀਦਾ ਜੇ ਤੂ ਮੇਰਾ ਹੋਇ ਰਹਹਿ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਹੋਇ ||੯੫||
aap savaarehi mai milehi mai miliaa sukh hoe ||
fareedaa je too meraa hoe rehehi sabh jag teraa hoe ||95||
"God says, ""If you reform yourself, you shall meet me, and meeting me, you shall be at peace. O Fareed! If you will be mine, the whole world will be yours.""||95||"
(Ang 1382)

A Mother's Love...

I was emailed this story by Bhai Vijay Singh Jee:

After the Earthquake had subsided, when the rescuers reached the ruins of a young woman’s house, they saw her dead body through the cracks. But her pose was somehow strange that she knelt on her knees like a person was worshipping; her body was leaning forward, and her two hands were supporting by an object. The collapsed house had crashed her back and her head. With so many difficulties, the leader of the rescuer team put his hand through a narrow gap on the wall to reach the woman’s body. He was hoping that this woman could be still alive. However, the cold and stiff body told him that she had passed away for sure. He and the rest of the team left this house and were going to search the next collapsed building. For some reasons, the team leader was driven by a compelling force to go back to the ruin house of the dead woman. Again, he knelt down and used his had through the narrow cracks to search the little space under the dead body. Suddenly, he screamed with excitement, "A child! There is a child!" The whole team worked together; carefully they removed the piles of ruined objects around the dead woman. There was a 3 months old little boy wrapped in a flowery blanket under his mother’s dead body. Obviously, the woman had made an ultimate sacrifice for saving her son. When her house was falling, she used her body to make a cover to protect her son. The little boy was still sleeping peacefully when the team leader picked him up. The medical doctor came quickly to exam the little boy. After he opened the blanket, he saw a cell phone inside the blanket. There was a text message on the screen. It said,” If you can survive, you must remember that I love you.” This cell phone was passing around from one hand to another. Every body that read the message wept. ” If you can survive, you must remember that I love you.” Such is the mother’s love for her child!!

One can learn two things from this story. Firstly, looking at this worldly mother who loves her child so much, imagine how much Waheguru, our True and Eternal Mother (and Father), must be loving us! Secondly, the story emphasises that parents make so many sacrifices for their children, so it is the children's responsibility to respect their parents and care for their parents when they are in need (i.e. when they are old). Blessed is Guru Gobind Singh jee who sacrificed his four sons for his children - the Khalsa. No one can repay the debt of the sacrifice of the Great Guru nor one's parents. Bhai Sahib Bhai Gurdaas jee, the ideal Sikh of the Guru, writes:

ਮਾਂ ਪਿਉ ਪਰਹਰਿ ਕਰੈ ਦਾਨ ਬੇਈਮਾਨ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਪਰਾਣੀ||
maa pio parhar karai daan be-eemaan agiaan praanee||
The person who having deserted their parents but performs charities, is corrupt and ignorant.

ਮਾਂ ਪਿਉ ਪਰਹਰਿ ਵਰਤ ਕਰਿ ਮਰਿ ਮਰਿ ਜੰਮੈ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਣੀ||
maa pio parhar varat kar mar mar janmai bharam bhulaanee||
The person who having deserted their parents undertakes fasts, goes on to wander in the cycle of births and deaths.

ਗੁਰੁ ਪਰਮੇਸਰੁ ਸਾਰੁ ਨ ਜਾਣੀ ||੧੩||
gur parmesar saar na jaanee ||13||
That person (in fact) has not understood the essence of Guru and God.(13)
(Vaar 37, Pauree 13)

Inspirations - Linden Barrett to Gianroop Singh...

Inspirations is a spiritual workshop that took place at Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Coventry (UK), where people learn and ask questions about the Sikh Faith. Season 1 consisted of 12 episodes.

Below is a video of a session with Linden Singh, who has recently taken Amrit and become Gianroop Singh. He talks to us about his journey into Sikhi, and gives us a perspective coming from a Western Background.

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

"There's no good people in the world..."

During Dastaar Day in London on Sunday, I met Bhai Amrik Singh is a Sikh Chaplain working at Heathrow Airport who shared an inspirational story...

During Guru Arjan Dev jee's Shaheedi purb (martyrdom day) the Sikhs working at Heathrow airport decided to give out free ice creams to the public and at the same time give out a small and simple leaflet about the Gurpurb. Sikh volunteers got on the buses and gave out free ice-creams to the passengers and then handed over the small leaflet. At the end the bottom of the leaflet was Bhai Amrik Singh jee's contact details and phone number.

One young lady who was given a free ice-cream on the bus rang Bhai Amrik Singh that evening. She said,
"Hi, I got a free ice-cream today and got your number from the leaflet. I was going through a really bad day. I am going through a divorce and I am feeling depressed and sad about life and the world. I was thinking there's no good people in the world, when a lovely Sikh man offered me a free ice-cream. I got home and remembered I was given a leaflet. I read the leaflet and found out about Guru Arjan Dev. Reading the leaflet has changed me. I thought my pain and suffering was bad, but reading about Guru Arjan Dev everything got put in perspective. What I was going through was nothing like what the Guru went through. I couldn't believe and get over how he said, "I accept God's Will sweetly" whilst going through so much torture. I just wanted to say thanks for making me realise this and changing my life."

Bhai Sahib said that since they have commemorated the Gurpurb in this way every year and do similar things for other Gurpurbs.



Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Without Amrit is the world losing the game?...

Below is another question asked by someone which Bhai Balpreet Singh jee (Toronto) kindly answered with Guru Jee's Kirpaa. Daas felt like sharing this question answer with the Sangat...

Question:
"If Sikhi is the true religion and without Amrit Sach Khand or absorption into God is not possible, then this means most of the world is playing a losing game. But why would God put all humans to a test he knew hardly any of them would pass - does this not prove this concept to be questionable?"

Answer:
This interpretation of 'losing game' is based on the Semitic idea that we only have one shot at life and then either hell or heaven. The game is much longer and complicated than that. We come to Sikhi through great karma and kirpa (grace) from past lives. Others who haven't' found Sikhi aren't condemned. If they do good karma perhaps they will get Sikhi in a future life. So indeed, we are where we are in Sikhi today because we too are players in this 'losing game'. It would only truly be losing if this was our only shot, like the Christians and Muslims believe.

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

My Faith - Brainwashed or the Truth?...

Below is a question asked by someone which Bhai Balpreet Singh jee (Toronto) kindly answered with Guru Jee's Kirpaa. Daas felt like sharing this question answer with the Sangat...

Question:
"I recently watched a documentary about a man who claimed he was God, he in this way had brainwashed many people to believe the same, he of course was lying for his own benefit. However it got me thinking that just as those people were convinced he was God, in the same way am I brainwashed to believe in my faith? Each faith claims to be the ultimate truth however which faith is? How do I know that I am not brainwashed just like those in the video. I never question my religion as it is taboo, but if for example Islam says the same then no woman would stand up and is it not the same if I don't stand up."

Answer:
Brainwashing: the difference between Sikhi and that man who claims he is God is that Sikh attaches us to Shabad whereas that man was attaching people to himself. Guru Sahib never attached us to personality, shabad was always the Guru. Guru Sahib encourages us to experience Shabad ourselves. The result isn't' something we have to wait for after death but something we can have in life. Looking at cults and other faiths, the question is whether I am incurring some pain or loss of status due to following my faith. If I am a low caste Hindu, I follow my faith because although I am low now, in the next life I will do better. If I am a Muslim woman, I accept I am subservient but I will get my reward in the afterlife. Sikhi doesn't' ask you to do anything in this life which would be negative or accept a position which is to your detriment. Sikhi is "halt sukh, palt sukh" or sukh here and sukh hereafter. Everything Sikhi asks you to do is for your own benefit. So just ask yourself whether being a Sikh is a detriment to you and whether it benefits a third party.

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Importance of Maa Boli...

When Your Language Dies...
Posted by: Bhai Atma Singh (UK)

"One language system is lost every two weeks. Of 6,000 known human languages, half are in imminent danger of disappearing and 90% could be erased forever within a century." - United Nations Cultural Agency

"When a language dies,
the divine things,
stars, sun and moon,
the human things.
to think and to feel,
are no longer reflected
in this mirror.

When a language dies,
all that there is in this world,
oceans and rivers,
animals and plants,
do not think of them,
do not pronounce their names;
they do not exist now.

When a language dies,
the window and the door
are closed up
to all the people of the world,
no longer will they be shown
a different way
to name the divine and human things which is what it means
to be and to live
on the earth.

When a language dies,
its words of love,
intonations of pain and caring,
perhaps the old songs,
the old stories,
the speeches, the prayers,
no one no matter whom
will be able to repeat them again.

When a language dies,
then many have died,
and many more will die soon,
mirrors forever broken,
shadows of voices
forever silenced.
Humanity grows poorer
when a language dies."

- 'When a Language Dies', translated from the Aztec by Miguel Leon Portillo & John Ross.

Journey Back from Khalsa Camp 2011...

Inspiring video made by the Bradford Sangat showing the journey home back from camp. The Sangat got caught up in traffic due to various accidents that happened on the motorway and got home really late. With Guru jee's Kirpaa the campers did keertan throughout the journey and then got of the bus and offered food and drink to the people stuck in the cars. Waheguru.

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Khalsa Camp 2011...

Khalsa Camp UK took place from 26th to 31st August. As always the camp was a great inspiration and 6 days of pure bliss! What makes Khalsa Camp special is the elder Gursikhs that are there who share their wealth of knowledge, experience and pyaar. With Guru Sahib's kirpaa this year's camp was well attended with approximately 350 to 400 people at the camp. The majority of campers were new campers. There were campers from South America, Canada, Finland, Holland, India, Germany, Ireland and from across the UK.

This year the talks were based around the Khalsa. The talks included 'Romance of Enlightened Soul' by Dr. Daljeet Singh Virk (Derby); 'Rehit Pyaaree Mujh Ko'; Khalsa being relevant to the modern world by Bhai Satnam Singh (Gravesend); Life of the Khalsa by Bhai Surjit Singh jee (India); Qualities of a Gursikh by Bhenji Mandeep Kaur (Army Chaplain); Leadership and the Khalsa by Bhai Harinder Singh (USA); Sikh history and heritage by Bhai Jasprit Singh (V&A Museum); 'Moving Forward' by Bhai Joginder Singh (Leicester). With Guru Sahib's kirpaa the camp was great.

Below are some photos (taken from Bhenji Harsimrat Kaur's Flickr):


Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee Maharaaj - Amritvela


Talk by Dr. Daljeet Singh Virk


Talk - Romance of Enlightened Soul


Talk by Sikh Organisation of Prisoner Welfare.


Talk - Rehit Pyaaree Mujh Ko


High ropes


Low ropes


The Big Bounce


Bhai Sahib and campers playing Table Tennis.


Gurbani workshop with Giani Kulvinder Singh jee


Workshop with Bhai Surjeet Singh jee


Veer Ravjeet Singh making announcements


Bhai Satnam Singh (Gravesend) doing a talk on how the Khalsa is a social activist of the world


Bhenji Mandeep Kaur doing a talk


Children's crèche.


Evening Simran by Veer Amritpal Singh


Evening keertan by Jasleen Kaur



Evening divaan.


Bhenji Sangeet Kaur doing keertan.


Sangat.


Guru Jee leaving camp site.




Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

The 3 worst words...

Journey back from Canada...

Before I came back to the UK, I was fortunate enough to attend Bhai Prebhdev Singh and Bhenji Gurjeet Kaur's wedding which took place on Saturday. The wedding was really nice. Everyone commented how the wedding was simple and enjoyable. Unfortunately I don't have any pictrues or videos to share of the wedding.

On Sunday it was my flight back home. I had bought loads Sarbloh (iron) baatte, trays and a karaahee (wok) from Khalsa School. As you can imagine the weight was really heavy and I usually over pack when going somewhere so I didn't have much weight allowance. I put all the Sarbloh baatte in my hand luggage. After checking through and getting my ticket, I went to the security check point. I put my small suitcase on the security belt - when I lifted it I realised just how heavy it was! Waheguru.

Once I got through security checking, I had to wait for my small suitcase (hand luggage) to go through the scanning machine. I stood next to lady on the computer. She kept looking at the scan of my suitcase and asked her colleague to come. I pointed at the different things and explained, "I have iron dishes in there. That's a spoon, that's a tray, that's a bowl, that's a glass..." They seemed confused when they saw I had so many spoons. I suppose normally people don't have 10 or so spoons in their hand luggage. After looking at the scan for a minute or so, the security man said in a Mexican accent, "You know - this must weigh about 60 kilos!" I thought, "Waheguru, Waheguru.." I just smiled and said, "It's okay. It's gone through." He then smiled and said, "Please enjoy cooking and eating out of your iron dishes." Sat Naam, Waheguru.

I then got to the gate where the flight was leaving. I stood in the line to show my passport and ticket before going on the bridge to go on the aeroplane. The line I was standing in seemed to have a lady of a senior position. The other staff were wearing uniform but this lady was wearing casual clothes but showing a name badge. The man in front of me was asked by the lady, "Lift your bag. Your bag looks too heavy. It is over 5 kilos. Did you not read your ticket?..." I just heard that and thought, "O dear! If this lady tries and picks up my suitcase she will get a shock." I left the queue and walked to another queue where the lady just smiled and let me on. When I got on the flight, it was so awkward to lift my suitcase and put it in the cabin space. It felt like lifting weights.

My seat was next to a Panjabi aunty. When the food was served, I told Aunty jee that I am not eating anything because I am not wearing my Kirpaan and that instead she can have my food. I asked the air hostess for the vegetarian option. She said first said, "You are not put down as a vegetarian." Waheguru. Imagine if was someone who was going to eat on the flight, and they don't have any vegetarian meals. The lady came back and said "Here you go - a vegetarian meal." I read the ingredients and it said it contains eggs. I gave back the meal to the lady and said, "I don't eat eggs. This contains eggs." She said, "Why don't you try the Chicken option then. Try some." I thought "Hai Rabbaa! I just said I am vegetarian, why on earth would I want to try the chicken option." Despite repeating that Aunty jee and I were vegetarians, she politely with a smile on her face said, "Are you sure you don't want to try the chicken - it's really tasty." It felt like being in a comedy video! Poor Aunty jee didn't have a hot meal and instead ate the cheese and crackers that I was given.

I thought I would close my eyes and get some sleep. My seat was an isle seat. Every time someone would go past their elbow would go in to me. Then when someone holding a young child would walk past, the child's feet would go in to me. As you can imagine I didn't get any sleep because I kept getting poked and prodded by every person going past. I suppose I got the charan-dhoor of children's feet on me. Waheguru. Then things got worse! The rear end toilets stopped working, so there were huge queues for going to the front end toilets. As my seat was near the front end toilets, I constantly had people rubbing past me and knocking their elbow in to me (obviously by accident). I couldn't believe how tight the isle way was and how little room there was. Every time I tried to push me feet forward, the guy in front of me would push he seat backward.

Eventually got home. It was an enjoyable with Guru jee's kirpaa. May Guru Sahib keep all the Canadian Sangat in Chardi Kalaa and bless them with Gursikhi Jeevan and seva of the Panth.