Becoming a Devotee...

Bhagat Puran Singh Ji, Pingalware

Salok Fareed Ji, Ang 1384:
 
ਮਤਿ ਹੋਦੀ ਹੋਇ ਇਆਣਾ ॥  If you are wise, (appear to) be simple;    ਮਤਿ = ਅਕਲ। ਹੋਇ = ਬਣੇ।
(ਜੋ ਮਨੁੱਖ) ਅਕਲ ਹੁੰਦਿਆਂ ਭੀ ਅੰਞਾਣਾ ਬਣੇ (ਭਾਵ, ਅਕਲ ਦੇ ਤ੍ਰਾਣ ਦੂਜਿਆਂ ਤੇ ਕੋਈ ਦਬਾਉ ਨ ਪਾਏ),

ਤਾਣ ਹੋਦੇ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਤਾਣਾ ॥  being powerful, (appear to) be weak (i.e. don't quarrel or subjugate others);   ਤਾਣੁ = ਜ਼ੋਰ, ਤਾਕਤ।
ਜ਼ੋਰ ਹੁੰਦਿਆਂ ਕਮਜ਼ੋਰਾਂ ਵਾਂਗ ਜੀਵੇ (ਭਾਵ, ਕਿਸੇ ਉਤੇ ਧੱਕਾ ਨਾ ਕਰੇ),

ਅਣਹੋਦੇ ਆਪੁ ਵੰਡਾਏ ॥  and when there is nothing worthy to share, then share with others (your share).    ਅਣਹੋਦੇ = ਜਦੋਂ ਕੁਝ ਭੀ ਦੇਣ ਜੋਗਾ ਨਾਹ ਹੋਵੇ।
ਜਦੋਂ ਕੁਝ ਭੀ ਦੇਣ-ਜੋਗਾ ਨਾਹ ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਦੋਂ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪ (ਭਾਵ, ਆਪਣਾ ਹਿੱਸਾ) ਵੰਡ ਦੇਵੇ,

ਕੋ ਐਸਾ ਭਗਤੁ ਸਦਾਏ ॥੧੨੮॥  How rare is one who is known as such a devotee. ||128||  
ਸਦਾਏ = ਅਖਵਾਏ ॥੧੨੮॥
ਕਿਸੇ ਅਜੇਹੇ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਨੂੰ (ਹੀ) ਭਗਤ ਆਖਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ ॥੧੨੮॥ 

Kavishree (Poetry) - "Today's Modern Boys & Girls"..

Story of Bhai Devinder Singh (Australia)...

Here is an amazing story of a white Australian, Donald Harry Goldsmith, who took Amrit and became Sikh, and now called Devinder Singh. Bhai Devinder Singh is from Adelaide, Australia, and kindly shared his story of becoming a Sikh with the Sangat on the Internet:

Bhai Devinder Singh (Australia) - Before and After

I believe Amrit is very important. For me it was my commitment to Vaheguru. I feel an unexplained definite connection that has changed my life to be less stressful and significantly more peaceful and happy. Most importantly, it has made me a better and more loving human being. I don't like the word 'religion'. I much prefer 'faith'. My dad used to say, "Respect and love. We are put on earth not to see through people but to see people through love." 

Dad served in World War 2, serving in army medical corps in New Guinea. He had so much respect and love for Sikhs that fought with the Allied forces describing them as "True warriors - compassionate and brave." 

I was in India in 1984 with my late father when all hell broke out in the streets of India. My Sikh friends got me out of Delhi. From that day, I always loved the Sikh people, their caring nature for humanity, and their strong faith in Vaheguru. Dad also said I would one day become a Sikh through the experience of wonderful love. 

In 2007 I had two heart attacks, almost died twice and the first thing I spoke after four days in coma was "Vaheguru wants me to become Sikh". I felt I was brought back to life twice and I am now so thankful to be in happy health. After the heart attacks I went straight into a turban, because I already had a beard from performing Shakespeare's Antonio in The Merchant of Venice (that was another life). I wanted to go straight to Amritsar to give my heart and soul to Vaheguru. 

I have found the Sikh community in Australia to be generally fantastic. Extremely happy, beautiful people. I am so pleased with Vaheguru for showing me this path. 

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In 2012, Bhai Devinder Singh recieved Amrit and he legally changed his name to Devinder Singh.

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

Khalsa Camp BC 2015 - Photos...

Khalsa Camp BC (Canada) took place from 26th to 31st August 2015. This was the fifth successful 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 so many Gurmukhs this year.

This years camp had a range of speakers which included Bhai Santbir Singh jee (Toronto), Bhai Jagjit Singh (UK), Bhai Shaminder Singh (BC), Giani Kulwinder Singh (BC), Bhenji Gurminder Kaur (BC), and Bhai Paramjit Singh Khalsa (Anandpur Sahib wale). Bhai Davinder Singh (California) also attended and 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! 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):

Orientation

Divaan

Keertan

Ice-breaker

Langar Seva

Bhai Santbir Singh workshop

Bhenji Gurminder Kaur did an amazing talk!

Evening Questions and Answers session

 Gatka by Veer Harman Singh

Gatka

Gatka

Talk by Bhai Shaminder Singh

 In the workshop we were lucky enough to have Bhai Prabhsimran Singh, a white-Canadian Gursikh share his experiences of how he becoming an Amritdhari Singh.

 Calligraphy workshop

Calligraphy workshop

 Workshop with Bhai Jagjit Singh

Workshop with Bhai Davinder Singh

Bhai Harveen Singh was previously from UK and is currently living in BC

Bhai Paramjit Singh Khalsa 

 Giani Kulwinder Singh's talk on Gurbani

Keertan

 Campers doing Satguru Ji's seva

Deg Seva

 End of camp closing comments

 A lovely Gursikh that I share the week with at Khalsa Camp BC - Baba Harbans Singh Ji. Baba Ji had so much knowledge and wisdom and deep reflections on Gurbani, yet so much humility and also lots of humour. Vaheguru!

 Bus journey back home from camp

Group photo on arrival back from camp

Khalsa Camp UK 2015 - Photo Highlights

Learning Panjabi: a quicker and easier way...

"Panjabi is the language of the native people of Panjab, a land of five (panj) rivers in north-western India. The script was improved and popularised by the Sikh Gurus. It was adopted by them to write Gurbani hymns, hence it became known as Gurmukhi. As the Gurmukhi script is used to write Panjabi only, the word Panjabi has also come to mean Gurmukhi. When we actually speak of learning Gurmukhi, more often we say Panjabi. Thus, Gurmukhi and Panjabi became synonymous."

This summer I was introduced to a new scientifically-designed method of learning Panjabi for fast learners whose primary language is English. "It is based on the conversion method of learning Panjani. According to this method, one learns to convert the Panjabi alphabet and vowels into corresponding English forms, the use of which the student already knows. It therefore enables a person to read Panjabi in about two weeks time. Learning by this technique becomes interesting because one starts reading and writing words the very first day. This is another reason that the trainees can learn reading Panjabi very quickly by this method."

"To make the learning interesting and easy for the youth, only four to six consonants and one set of vowels are introduced at a time. Further, short words with just two letters were chosen for a quick and better understanding of consonant and vowel sounds. The repetition of the same letter in multiple combinations is planned to help the student to correlate the shape and sound of the letters with ease."

I remember when I went to Panjabi school and still learning the beginning lines of the alphabet after so many months. Children easily get demotivated and disheartened as they don't see themselves progressing, which then leads to boredom. This summer when offered with the opportunity to teach young adults Gurmukhi using this method, it was an eye opener. Firstly, all the people attending the class enjoyed it and secondly, they could all learn to make words and read a sentence in Gurmukhi in the first lesson. This encouraged those learning to want to learn more and progress.

If you wish to learn Gurmukhi to help you read Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and have access to reading the wealth of Sikhi knowledge that is written in Punjabi, or you wish to help your children or someone else to learn Gurmukhi, then please follow the the directions and easy to follow lesson plans of the 'Scientifically-Designed Panjabi Primer' by Dr. Gurbakhsh Singh.

PDF copy of 'Scientifically-Designed Panjabi Primer' manual booklet:
http://www.barusahib.org/Assets/Publications/PunjabiPrimer.pdf

Video lessons using this teaching method aired on Sangat Television:

Lesson 1:


Lesson 2:

Lesson 3:

Lesson 4:

Lesson 5:

Sweden Sikh Family Camp 2015...

The annual Sweden Sikh Family Camp was held at Gurdwara Sangat Sahib in Tullinge, Stockholm, from Monday 24th July to Sunday 30th July. The camp was attended by children and adults. Gursikhs from Belgium, Holland and Denmark also attended the camp. Bhai Surjit Singh Ji, especially came from India to speak at the camp. The camp was a week of amazing sangat, amrit-vela, classes for adults and children, inspiration, and pyaar.

Over the week camp there were classes on Sikh history, teachings from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Keertan, learning Panjabi and fundamental concepts of Sikhi such as Seva, Simran, Sangat, and sacrifice. As always it was a pleasure to work with the children and adults as they showed so much enthusiasm to learn. The atmosphere of the camp was great. Despite the rainy weather, the camp was a success. On Sunday nearly all the children that attended the camp came ready wearing dastaars and gurmukhi dress. Each group and child had to present something to the Sangat that they had learnt from the camp.

Some photos:

 Morning Paatth led by campers

Morning Hukamnama vichaar by Bhai Surjit Singh Ji

Campers

 Morning workshop - group work

 Morning workshop - group work

 Morning workshop - Group work

 Adults and parents Gurmat Vichaar class

 A young camper presenting what he has learnt during the Sunday divaan

Sangat during Sunday divaan

 Elder campers presenting what they have learnt to the Sangat

A young camper reciting Mool Mantar

 This young Singh sang an amazing poem about Sikhi Saroop. He had memorised the whole poem as well.

 Kathaa by Bhai Surjit Singh Ji

 Prize giving

Prize giving

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!