Interview with Bhai Tarsem Singh Jee (UK)...

Ik Onkar TV met up with Bhai Tarsem Singh jee from Coventry UK while he was at this year's Khalsa Camp BC:

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Dedication to remember...

I was talking to a respected Muslim Imam who said he memorised the Quran at a very young age. I asked him, "How did you memorise the Quran?" He replied, "Just by reading it." 

I asked further was his technique of remembering the whole Quran was. He replied, "I learnt by memorising one word at a time. I didn't memorise a page or verse. I started by memorising one word. Then I would memorise two words put together. Then I would memorise three words put together, and so on. I would read the Quran in order to memorise the words, then the sentences, then the verses etc whenever I would have time. I would read it the first thing I would wake up. I would try to memorise the Quran on the bus going to school. I would try to memorise the Quran at lunchtime, then on the way from school, and then in my bedroom before sleeping. With God's grace in a short period of time I memorised the Quran. The key is to try and memorise when you are young and your brain has capacity to pick up faster."  The incentive of memorisng the Quran was pleasing Allah and getting his blessings.

I was so inspired by the respect Imam. I thought wow! What dedication he has for his faith. Do we have that dedication to Nitnem, to memorise Japji Sahib or even memorise a Shabad!  How pleased would Guru Gobind Singh jee be with his children if they memorised Gurbani? How wonderful if we could recite our daily prayers anytime and anywhere because we have them memorised? How happy would our Shaheeds be if we memorised Gurbani? The respected Imam really inspired me to try and memorise Gurbani (even though my memory is not very good!). I loved it how he said he memorised one word at a time. Vaheguru!

Blessed are those parents who inspire and guide their children to memorise Gurbani. See below a competition of memorising Gurbani held in Amritsar by Mata Kaulan Trust. Very inspiring!

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Connect2Sikhi Summer Camp 2013...

From 12th to 17th August 2013, Connect2Sikhi camp was held at Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College in Chigwell, Essex (UK). The camp is aimed at children aged from 7 to 16 years. The camp began last year and since then it has grown and developed with Guru jee's kirpaa and the hard work and dedication of a committed group of sevadaars. Last December, a Connect2Sikhi winter was held in East London. This kind of camp has been needed for a long time in the London area. There are many camps for 16+ age, however, there are very few week long residential camps for those under 16. With residential camps campers are more likely to be exposed to Gurmat way of life and experience Amrit-vela, Nitnem and able to benefit from the Sangat of Gursikhs during their stay. Connect2Sikhi camp is a good camp where the young campers don't get bored and don't have old uncles lecturing them and not being able to connect on the children's level.

This summer's camp had various speakers attend, which included Bhai Navreet Singh from Coventry and Bhai Sukhwinder Singh from Birmingham. It was good that were lady speakers as well. Bhenji Devinder Kaur (East London) done a talk on Mohkam (steadfastness). The theme of the camp was the five virtues represented by the names of the Panj Pyaare. As it was a training camp, the campers were introduced and allowed to do seva that otherwise they would not have the opportunity to do, such as Chaur Sahib seva, taking Hukamnama, doing Keertan, and the leading the recitation of morning and evening Nitnem. As well as the morning and evening diwaan, Gurmat talks, workshops and discussions, campers got to the chance to play volleyball, practice archery, play football and other fun activities.

The camp atmosphere as always was very family-orientated, friendly and welcoming. It was nice to see young and old attend the camp and a large number of parents and elders volunteer to help with the camp. I would definitely recommend that if you are aged 7 to 16 or have children of that age that you send them to this camp. Please visit www.connect2sikhi.com for details of future camps and recordings.

Below are some photos from the camp (taken from Connect2Sikhi facebook):

Campers singing Deh Shiva shabad to begin the camp

 Bhai Tasveer Singh jee, local sevadaar, doing a talk on the topic of "Dharam"

 Sevadaar helping a camper take a Hukamnama

 

 Children doing keertan

Bhai Manmagan Singh, camp sevadaar, making announcements

 

Campers enjoying volleyball

Campers enjoying archery

Looks like Veer jee has confused the target for bhenji!

Bhai Navreet Singh's talk with the elder group

 

Session with the elders looking at the purpose of life using props to help

Evening keertan

Ardaas

 Hukamanma

 Questions and answers session

 Bhai Navreet Singh explaining the significance of Sarbloh and why Gursikhs love to cook and eat in Sarbloh

 Elder group's afternoon session with speaker

 Younger group looking very enthusiastic during their talk

  Rehraas Sahib during sunset on the field. Very beautiful evening.

 
Bhai Navreet Singh, with organisers - Bhai Tasveer Singh and Bhai Mankamal Singh - and a group leader sevadaar.

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Spain (Vic, Barcelona) Smaagam...

 

On Saturday 14th September, the Akhand Kirtani Jatha UK was invited to Gurdwara Sahib Shri Guru Teg Bahadar Jee, Barcelona (Vic) in Spain for holding a Rainsbaaee Keertan and doing Amrit Sanchaar seva. With Guru jee's blessings, a Jatha (group) of 13 Gursikhs went from the UK to Spain for the Smaagam. Gursikhs from France also attended the Smaagam. The Gurdwara Sahib had held its first ever Rainsbaaee Keertan. The Sangat showed great enthusiasm and loudly sang along to the keertan and took enjoyment of Gurbani. The atmosphere was spiritually uplifting. The surprising thing was that even though there was no projector screen to see the Shabads being sung, the Sangat still managed to sing along with the keertan loudly.

 

After the Rainsbai Kirtan had ended, which was around 12am, the Amrit Sanchaar took place in which around 25 new people joined the Khalsa Panth. It was very inspiring to see a number ladies take off their earrings, jewellery and tie up their Kesh on top of their head and adorn themselves with the blessed Dastaar of Guru Gobind Singh jee. The abhilaakhees (candidates for Amrit) look so excited for Amrit and becoming Guru-wale. The Gurdwara management was just as excited and gave all the abhilaakhees a gift of a Kachhera, Kirpan, and Simrana. It was also nice to hear that journalists from a local Spain newspaper waited for the Amrit Sanchaar to end (which around 6 or 7am) so that they could take photos of the Panj Piaare and the new members of the Khalsa Panth so that they can publish in the newspaper and use for a Spanish exhibition gallery that is going to be held about the Sikhs. Vaheguru.

 

On Sunday 15th September coaches from other cities in Spain brought Sangat to attend the programme. Jathedaar Bhai Raghbir Singh jee of Akhand Kirtani Jatha UK were honoured by the Sangat and the Gurdwara Sahib thanked the whole Jatha for their keertan and Amrit Parchaar seva.  People are always taken aback and inspired that the Jatha does not charge any money for Keertan, lectures, camps or any other seva.

 

During the Sunday divaan there was Akhand Keertan by UK Sangat followed by Keertan by local children and local Jathe from different cities in Spain. 

 

Afterwards those who had taken Amrit during the Smaagam were honoured by the Gurdwara with Siropas and framed Gurbani Shabad by the Gurdwara Sahib. This is a really good idea because helps to affirm the commitment to the Guru that the new Khalsa brothers and sisters have made and also inspires other people in the Sangat who have not yet taken Amrit.

 

Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee! 

Khalsa Camp BC (Canada) 2013....

Khalsa Camp BC (Canada) took place from 25th to 30th August 2013. This was the fourth year of Khalsa Camp BC. It was very impressive to see how the camp has grown and developed over the years. The camp was well organised and the atmosphere was inspirational! It was great to have darshan of Bhai Paramjeet Singh Khalsa (Anandpur Sahib wale) who visited the camp for two days and gave inspirational talks.

This years camp had a range of speakers which included Bhai Tarsem Singh jee (UK), Bhai Santbir Singh jee (Toronto), Bibi Amritpal Kaur (Cost Arica), Bibi Sangat Kaur Khalsa (USA), Bhai Martin Singh (Toronto) and Bhai Harmeet Singh (Seattle). Bhai Sadhu Singh and Bhai Paramjeet Singh Khalsa also held workshops.

I found the whole camp amazing! Great atmosphere, great Gursikh speakers, and great Sangat. The most memorable thing about the camp was the mosquitos and being bitten over and over again and being swamped by mosquitos! I tried putting Saro de tel (mustard oil) on the bites but then someone told me that attracts more mosquitos! Vaheguru!

The camp left a very positive impression on my mind and I found it very uplifting and beneficial. May Guru Sahib continue to bless the Sangat and may their flourish in Gursikhi.

Some of the photos from the camp (taken from Khalsa Camp BC Facebook:

Bhai Santbir Singh jee's talk on the Khalsa. Very informative talk which looked at the different reasons given for the Khalsa being formed and assessing the reasons using Gurbani and the history of the Guru Sahibs.

Sangat in lecture hall

Workshop on inspirational Gursikhs of the Panth. Sharing the story of Kaka Darbara Singh and Saka Sri Nankana Sahib.

Bhai Santbir Singh jee's Workshop. He did a very good workshop of Sarbat Khalsa and a practical mock Sarbat Khalsa which was really fun!

Bhai Prabhpreet Singh (a white Canadian Singh) doing Simran on the piano! Vaheguru! Very inspiring Gursikh.

Interactive session led by Martin Singh (Toronto)



Amazing lecture by Bibi Amritpal Kaur Khalsa

 Hike in the hills

Wall climbing

Canoeing

Canoeing

Singhs letting off steam on the trampoline

Bhai Tarsem Singh jee doing Gurmat Vichaar in free time

Campers taking benefit of Babu jee's Gurmat vichaar in free time. I got stung by countless mosquitos during this vichaar!

Tireless dedicated Langar sevadaars. Vaheguru!

Langar. (Seems to a blue theme with the campers)

Langar (rainbow coloured dishes)

Bhai Sadhu Singh jee washing dishes. Vaheguru!

Evening darbaar - Bhai Prabhsimran Singh doing keertan! So much pyaar with Bana, Bani, Simran and Seva. Very humbling.

Evening keertan

Ardaas

Sukhaasan seva

Maharaaj's Sukhaasan seva

I am fan of Bhai Paramjeet Singh Khalsa who does fantastic Kathaa! I was privileged to be able to talk to him.

Talk by Bhai Tarsem Singh jee. Very informative and relevant talk to today's age! Bhai Sahib's talk was about Sikhi in a changing world and how everything is changing but one thing will not change - Amrit Rass! Vaheguru!

Bhai Paramjeet Singh Khalsa's lecture. Short, sweet and heart-moving lecture! Vaheguru!

Bibi Harsangat Kaur Khalsa (USA) talk on Hola Mahalla and her journey to Sikhi! Very interesting and impressive talk.

You don't need Bhang/drugs to be happy! Happy Gursikh pyaare :)

 Games night:  Musical chairs (Gurmat version!) for Singhs

Musical chair finalists! Things getting serious! I think some people took the game too seriously!


Games night:  Musical chairs (Gurmat version!) for sisters

   

 Open Mic night: Martin Singh's daughter playing the flute

Very creative and funny poem in Panjabi about the camp put together by this Jatha

  

Question and Answer night

 Last day: campers sitting around a fire (a haven away from the mosquitos!)

Buses ready to take campers back home

 

Journay back on the bus! It was the best bus drive I have been on! Heavenly keertan by Bhai Tarsem Singh jee (UK). Vaheguru!

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!