Respect of parents...

ਮਾਂ ਪਿਉ ਪਰਹਰਿ ਸਣੈ ਵੇਦ ਭੇਦ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ਕਥਾ ਕਹਾਣੀ

maan piu parahari sunai vaydu bhaydu n jaanai kadaa kahaanee

Renouncing the parents, the listener of Vedas cannot understand their mystery.

ਮਾਂ ਪਿਉ ਪਰਹਰਿ ਕਰੈ ਤਪ ਵਣਖੰਡਿ ਭਲਾ ਫਿਰੈ ਬਿਬਾਣੀ

maan piu parahari karai tapu vanakhandi bhulaa dhirai bibaanee

Repudiating the parents, meditation in the forest is similar to the wanderings at deserted places.

ਮਾਂ ਪਿਉ ਪਰਹਰਿ ਕਰੈ ਪੂਜ ਦੇਵੀ ਦੇਵ ਨ ਸੇਵ ਕਮਾਣੀ

maan piu parahari karai pooju dayvee dayv n sayv kamaanee

The service and worship to the gods and goddesses are useless if one has renounced his parents.

ਮਾਂ ਪਿਉ ਪਰਹਰਿ ਨ ਹਾਵਣਾ ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਘੰਮਣ ਵਾਣੀ ॥

maan piu parahari nhaavanaa atdasatdi teerad ghunman vaanee

Without service to the parents, bath at the sixty-eight pilgrimage centres is nothing but gyrating in a whirlpool.

ਮਾਂ ਪਿਉ ਪਰਹਰਿ ਕਰੈ ਦਾਨ ਬੇਈਮਾਨ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਪਰਾਣੀ ।

maan piu parahari karai daan bayeemaan agiaan paraanee

The person who having deserted his parents performs charities, is corrupt and ignorant.

ਮਾਂ ਪਿਉ ਪਰਹਰਿ ਵਰਤ ਕਰਿ ਮਰਿ ਮਰਿ ਜੰਮੈ ਭਰਮਿ ਭਲਾਣੀ ।

maan piu parahari varat kari mari mari janmai bharami bhulaanee

He who repudiating the parents undertakes fasts, goes on to wander in the cycle of births and deaths.

ਗੁਰ ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਸਾਰ ਨ ਜਾਣੀ ॥੧੩॥

guru paramaysaru saaru n jaanee ॥13॥

That man (in fact) has not understood the essence of Guru and God. (Bhai Gurdaas Ji, Vaar 37: Pauri 13)

Khalsa Camp New Zealand 2018...

 

With the blessings of Guru Sahib, Khalsa Camp New Zealand 2018 was held for the second year running. The camp was held from 2nd to 6th February at Camp Adair in Hanua.The camp was attended by over 100 campers. The target audience was 16+ years, however families also attended. Some of the Parchaariks attending the camp included by Bhai Navreet Singh (UK) and Bhai Harman Singh (Basics of Sikhi). 

It was so nice to see so many new faces to the camp. Campers had so much positive energy that during the camp you could witness so many positive transformations. Campers who had not worn a Dastaar before, experienced wearing a Dastaaar and loved it so much that they wished to keep it on. Other campers felt so inspired by the Sangat and Pyaar of Sikhi that they wished to take Amrit. There were also campers who felt the power of Sarbloh Bibek Langar lovingly prepared with Simran and Gurbani that Sarbloh Baatte were on their next shopping list! It was a really inspiring and uplifting week with Satguru Ji and the Saadh Sangat. 

Khalsa Foundation New Zealand have promised to continue holding events and programmes throughout the year, so if you are living in New Zealand please keep up to date with all the different Seva happening and get involved.

Some photos of the camp: 

 Sarbloh baatte ready for camp!

 

Camp began with Bhai Parminder Singh (Australia) leading Kirtan and Rehraas Sahib

Satguru Ji's Darbaar

Kirtan by Bhai Navreet Singh

Hukamnama

Bhai Harman Singh's lecture

Archery

 

Archery

Zip wires

 

Langar preparation 

Amrit-Rass Sarbloh Langar in the making

Sangat eating Langar

 

When Langar is so tasty that you take your Sarbloh Batte and eat more outside

 

Mata Balbir Kaur Ji (UK) teaching the youngest group 

Fun activities with the youngest group

 Evening Kirtan

 

Talk about Shastars and Sikh martial arts

Shastars on display

Evening story-telling session with Bhai Harman Singh

Camp fire

 

Amrit-Vela

 Arambh of Sehaj Paath for campers

 Group photo

When someone is not just letting go of you!

 Post camp trip to the beach

Movie: Sacho Sach

I recently watched this movie in Sikhi class. Everyone really appreciated the message of the movie. The movie is about the true rule of the Gurdwara and about corrupt managements who are far from following the Guru's teachings themselves, let alone propagate the Guru's teachings to the Sangat.

Sarbloh and Sikhi...

Sarbloh (All-Iron) is an amazing gift given to Sikhs. Through Sarbloh Sikhi starts. When we take Amrit it is made and served in Sarbloh. When we were given the gifts of the Panj Kakkaar, two are made of Sarbloh (Karha and Kirpaan). Sarbloh is so special, that Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji describes Vahiguru Ji as Sarbloh and that Sarbloh is our Protector in the Bani of Akaal Ustat.

ਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਕੀ ਰਛਾ ਹਮਨੈ ॥ ਸਰਬ ਲੋਹ ਕੀ ਰਛਿਆ ਹਮਨੈ ॥ 

ਸਰਬ ਕਾਲ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਰਛਿਆ ਹਮਨੈ ॥ ਸਰਬ ਲੋਹ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਸਦਾ ਰਛਿਆ ਹਮਨੈ ॥ 

akaal purakh kee rashhaa hamnai. sarab loh kee rashhiaa hamnai.

sarab kaal jee dee rashhiaa hamnai. sarab loh jee dee sadaa rashhiaa hamnai. 

“The Timeless Lord is my Protector. The All-Iron Lord is my Protector. The All-Destroying Lord is my Protector. The All-Iron Lord is ever my Protector.” 

(Akaal Ustat)

Keeping the above in mind, there is no doubt that Sarbloh with conjunction with vibrations of Gurbani, Naam and Pyaar is an aid on the Path to Vahiguru Ji. 

Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj’s happiness lies in Rehat (code of discipline):

ਰਹਿਤ ਪਿਆਰੀ ਮੁਝ ਕਉ, ਸਿਖ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਨਾਹਿ ॥

rehat pyaaree mujh ko, sikh pyaara naahi. 

"I love the Rehat (code of discipline) of a Sikh, not the (mere label of being a) Sikh."
(Rehatnama)

Langar being served in Sarbloh Baatte in the first part of the 20th century before steel plates were introduced for eating Langar

Banbury Gurmat Class - January 2018...

Banbury Gurmat Class group photo (some children and parents missing due to flu going around). So much Kirpa (blessings). Last Monday the children were restless during Rehraas Sahib and Ardaas. We started a competition of whoever could sit the longest without fidgeting will get points and eventually lead to a prize. Then we are running a Japji Sahib competition. Learning half Japji Sahib is £10, and on completion of memorising full Japji Sahib they get £20 (so £30 in total). 

 

Today one the students, Jyot Kaur Ji, (pictured in next photo), memorised 20 Paurian of Japji Sahib. She learnt 20 Paurian in 3 weeks. When she first recited Paath in class she know the 1st Pauri. She was inspired to see other children knowing more Paath than her. Whilst I was America over Christmas holidays there were no classes. The child’s mum said over 2 weeks she kept listening to Japji Sahib on YouTube (Bhai Gurpreet Singh Shimla recital) and learnt 20 Paurian. Her mum makes her sit with her everyday and learn a Pauri a day. Today she came wearing a Dastaar. At the age of 9, she said she wants to start wearing a Dastaar to school. When I got out £10 to give her for learning half of Japji Sahib, she said “Bhaji I dont want money. Can you please get me Sahibzaade movie instead.” Her mum said she wants to memorise all the scenes and information. Vahiguru. Maharaj’s blessings on on such a small town and credit to parents for making the effort with their children. If you have already not learnt Japji Sahib, please do! Forgot to mention she is also learning the meanings of each Pauri she memorises

Jyot Kaur Ji's inspiration to start wearing the Dastaar comes from the Just Sikhi team from Wolverhampton who came to Banbury Gurdwara to do Parchaar two months earlier. Bhenji tied a dastaar on her head and all the Sangat gave her so much encouragement and love. Amazing how Sangat can inspire someone.

Congratulations to Veer Uttam Singh Ji and Bhenji Kuljit Kaur Ji...

Congratulations to Veer Uttam Singh Ji and Bhenji Kuljit Kaur Ji on their Anand Karaj today. The vibrations in the Darbar Sahib were amazing. So much Kirpa during the Kirtan and Lava(n). May they stay blessed

 

A visitor to Banbury Gurmat Class...

Last Monday Bhenji Daljit Kaur visited Banbury Gurdwara and kindly spent some time with the Monday Gurmat class children. Class begins with Rehraas Sahib at 5pm and ends around 7pm followed by Langar. Anyone passing by, please give darshan.

Camp Guru Ke Pyaare, Selma (California)...

From 25th December to 30th December, Camp Guru Ke Pyaare was held at Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib in Selma, California. With Guru Ji's Kirpa about 100 people attended the camp, from young children to adults. The theme of the camp was the Shaheedi (martyrdom) of the 4 Sahibzaade (sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji). 

Below are some photos from the camp:

 

Hukamnama seva by Bapu Sadhu Singh Ji

 

The theme shabad

 Bhenji singing the theme shabad

 Children exploring the way of life of a Gurmukh and a Manmukh

 Veer ji doing kirtan seva

 

 The Gurdwara Baba Ji showing how to tie a Nihung style Dumalla

 Baba Ji showing how to comb one's Kes in accordance to Maryada

 Campers tying Dastaars on other camps

 That's what you call confidence, when you tie a Dastaar with your back turned to the mirror

 Children looking radiant in Dastaars

 

Langar

 

A play by children on the Seva of Baba Moti Ram Ji

Through acting children remembered the great sacrifice of Baba Moti Ram Mehra Ji and his family who all became Shaheed for giving milk to Mata Gujjar Kaur Ji and the younger Sahibzaade.

Morning assembly

 

Announcements 

Evening diwaan

Hukamnama Seva

Evening Sangat

 

Recital of Sohila Sahib

 Sukhaasan Seva

Evening bonfire and children's Gurmat play

It was really cold. The Sangat had blankets to keep them warm

 On the last day of camp the children were treated to a trip to ten-pin bowling alley

 

 

 

 

During the trip I stayed with Bhaji Manvinder Singh Ji and Bhenji Manpreet Kaur Ji. In the evening the children are taking a break with some Simran.

 

Group photo with the Gurdwara sevadaars and sangat

Group photo with the Gurdwara sevadaars and sangat

 

Thank you card from Sujaan Singh Ji. Guess who that is supposed to be a picture of? :)