"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.

Khalsa Camp BC 2011...

Khalsa Camp BC (Canada) took place from 14th to 19th August 2011. The camp was a great inspiration and was 5 days of pure bliss! The camp has grown from strength to strength since last year. The presence of elder Gursikhs such as Master Niranjan Singh jee and Bhai Bharpoor Singh jee made the camp an uplifting experience. The highlight is always is the Amrit-velaa and Diwaans. With Guru Sahib's kirpaa all the campers did wonderful Keertan.

This year's camp was based on Gursikhi Jeevan. The talks were 'What is the Khalsa?' by Bhai Santbir Singh jee (Toronto), 'Khalsa Rehat' by Bhai Balpreet Singh jee (Toronto), 'Challenges of being a Sikh' by Bibi Rupinder Kaur jee (Surrey), and 'Best of the Best' talk. In the afternoons there were workshops led by the various speakers and Master Niranjan Singh jee.

Some photos from the camp taken by Veer Raminder Singh and Bhenji Tanvir Kaur:


Satguru Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee


Evening divaan on the first day


Welcome talk by Bhenji Gurminder Kaur and Bhaji Gurdit Singh


Amrit-vela Simran led by Master Niranjan Singh jee.


Amrit-vela Simran led by Bhai Harman Singh.


Amrit-vela Nitnem led by Master Niranjan Singh jee


Monday morning talk by Bhai Santbir Singh jee from Toronto


Afternoon workshop with Bhai Santbir Singh jee


The photo is of Mac, a Catholic Christian, who attended the camp. He really enjoyed himself and attended all the divaans and talks. Standing by him is Veer Jee from Calgary who came to camp with his family.


Bhai Japnaam Singh jee. His shiny Baanaa caught everyone's attention. The Baanaa was given to Bhaji by Bhai Jeevan Singh jee. Waheguru.


Afternoon workshop by Veer Kulpreet Singh on 'Battle of the Mind'.


Afternoon workshop by Bhai Balpreet Singh jee.


Archery


Campers doing Naam Simran


Rehraas Sahib


Ardaas by Veer Ek-Onkar Singh


Langar hall. Langar as every year was tasty!


Langar sevadaars busy! They worked day and night to serve the Sangat. Waheguru.


Talk by Bhai Balpreet Singh jee on Khalsa Rehat.


Talk on why Sikhi is unique and why we are blessed to be Sikhs


Inspirational talk by Bibi Rupinder Kaur jee (Surrey)


Photo with Bhai Balpreet Singh jee (Toronto) and Bhai Ranjeet Singh jee (Surrey)


Tubing (you get dragged by a boat - sounds more like a punishment but apparently it's fun!)


Looks like someone is stranded.


Singhs on boat


Evening time Question and Answers session


Videos from camp on YouTube



Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!