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| Before camp and during camp |
Below is an article written by sister Danielle who attended Khalsa Camp UK 2018. From day one of the camp Bhenji had a Dastaar (turban) tied on. I thought Bhenji was a Western Sikh, however after being introduced found out that Bhenji was not a Sikh but just a spiritual seeker looking for some positivity and direction. I was taken aback at Bhenji's courage and boldness to wear a Dastaar from the first day of camp, and throughout the camp. It seemed a part and parcel of who she was and it seemed hard to imagine her without it. I hoped that Bhenji didn't feel bored in Divaans and feel disengaged when Gurbani is recited or sung because she is not familiar with it. However, quite the opposite, Bhenji was one of the early comers to the Amrit-Vela divaan and sat attentively with a peaceful pose throughout the whole divaan (unlike the average Punjabi who slouches and shuffles around).
When I spoke to Danielle Bhenji near the end of the camp, she said: "I first came to the camp as an observer but then it felt like I was part of all of this and everyone..." Camps are wonderful opportunity to self-reflect and connect with the Ultimate Reality, Vahiguru, with the help of the Saadh Sangat, the Holy Company. I hope Bhenji's reflections of Khalsa Camp UK 2018 gives inspiration to others to come to the Saadh Sangat and begin experiencing Sikhi through Nitnem, Simran, Sangat, Kirtan, and Seva.
When I spoke to Danielle Bhenji near the end of the camp, she said: "I first came to the camp as an observer but then it felt like I was part of all of this and everyone..." Camps are wonderful opportunity to self-reflect and connect with the Ultimate Reality, Vahiguru, with the help of the Saadh Sangat, the Holy Company. I hope Bhenji's reflections of Khalsa Camp UK 2018 gives inspiration to others to come to the Saadh Sangat and begin experiencing Sikhi through Nitnem, Simran, Sangat, Kirtan, and Seva.
'From Faith to Knowing' Khalsa Camp 2018
September 1 2018
“The moment I remembered”
Sometimes
in life the most extraordinary things happen and it’s difficult to
express them in words as the experience is completely personal, but
today I will try. For the past two years my friend Harmeet Singh has
been asking me to join him on the Khalsa Camp and this year I made the
decision to go. Harmeet and I have been friends for nearly 4 years, we
met during our time served in the Army. At that point in our lives when
we were searching for something but not entirely sure where to look. I
had separated from my husband and was following the yogic path in the
hope that I would find some peace and balance. As much as I dedicated my
time to the practice I would still have fluctuations of the mind. One
moment I could be brimming with energy and the next I could not see any
meaning to my life. But something deep down inside of me never gave up
the search. I looked for it in the clubs, in food, in yoga, in partners,
in friends, in travel but my initial highs soon faded, and I would be
left with a deep feeling of loneliness. The point came when I realised I
was no use to anyone. I decided I needed to make a drastic change and
signed off from the Army, from there I travelled to many places around
the world in search of my answers. I met incredible people who I can
only thank for the point I am at today, now I see each person as a
gentle guide showing me the way. After my travels I moved to France to
work on a project on a property which was purchased 4 years ago. The
space is open to the community and volunteers to practice yoga and
connect back to the earth. So, I am not completely sure why I agreed to
the Khalsa camp this year as I was so busy. But I never questioned my
decision or even considered the experiences I may have.
The
time came to leave France and reunite with Harmeet to attend the camp. I
had no expectation, my reason for attending was to see Harmeet and have
a week to reflect and meditate in the company of spiritual people. So,
to be sat here now and share with you the most life changing experience
to date is a complete surprise. As soon as I arrived I knew something
magical was going to happen, the love and warm smiles made me
immediately feel at home. Everybody I met had a soft glow and welcoming
eyes which I became absorbed in. I think I was the only person who was
not practicing Sikhism, but this didn’t matter. The days were filled
with inspiring lectures to fit with the theme ‘Win your mind, conquer
the world”. There was a perfect balance of spirituality and science to
open the mind of all who attended. Something was happening deep inside
of me each time I heard the words of the lecturers, it was like I was
being re-taught something I already knew. My mind wasn’t aware, but my
heart was. I discovered that Sikhism is all about love, compassion,
strength and self-discipline. It is about seeing yourself as a drop of
water from the vast ocean, it is about having the courage to stand up
for what is right, it is about seeing each person as your family and
taking responsibility for the whole. It is about discovering that by
understanding the mind we can achieve bliss in this life time, this
bliss comes with no selfish gain or desire, this bliss is pure.
I
have struggled with my image over the years and have covered it up in
many ways or have looked for praise and love in ways that disrespected
my gifts. That week I saw the beauty in everything, inside and outside
of me. During one of our evening divans I cried as I mother would for
their child. I saw my life in flashes of images, getting tattoos and
piercings, intoxicating my body, self-harming, meaningless relationships
and words of hate. I cried because I saw the perfect creation I was
destroying to fit into an uncompassionate society. This realisation made
me remove my piercing and vow to care of my body just as you would for a
person you loved. This body is a gift to experience this world and be
used to serve others to raise the awareness about our deeper connection.
Each morning we sat for Simran at 2:30 am where we repeated ‘VaheGuru’ until the morning prayers and Kirtan began at 04:45 . It sounds insane to even consider waking up at this time, but I have never felt so much joy in all my life. My mind was at peace and my whole body vibrated, to be merged within the Darbar Sahib with Guru Granth Sahib and all who attended was where I found my home. I looked around and saw myself in each person, I let the words reach my soul without labelling or challenging the meaning. From that moment I knew this wouldn’t be the last time I would be doing this practice.
Each morning we sat for Simran at 2:30 am where we repeated ‘VaheGuru’ until the morning prayers and Kirtan began at 04:45 . It sounds insane to even consider waking up at this time, but I have never felt so much joy in all my life. My mind was at peace and my whole body vibrated, to be merged within the Darbar Sahib with Guru Granth Sahib and all who attended was where I found my home. I looked around and saw myself in each person, I let the words reach my soul without labelling or challenging the meaning. From that moment I knew this wouldn’t be the last time I would be doing this practice.
The
Guru Granth Sahib is unique among the world's great scriptures. It is
considered the Supreme Spiritual Authority and Head of the Sikh
religion, rather than any living person. It is also the only scripture
of it's kind which not only contains the works of it's own religious
founders but also writings of people from other faiths. This is the
living Guru of the Sikhs, the book is treated with the upmost respect.
Sikhism rejects idol worship, so the Guru Granth Sahib is not worshipped
as an idol, but rather emphasis is placed on respect of the book for
the writings which appear within. Guru Granth Sahib is a collection of
devotional hymns and poetry which proclaims God, lays stress on
meditation on the True Guru (God), and lays down moral and ethical rules
for development of the soul, spiritual salvation and unity with God. (sikhs.org, 2011)
One
afternoon we sat overlooking the ocean and discussed the matter of
love. The answers and reflection led me to this; When we are no longer
attached to the fluctuations of the mind and do not allow thoughts of
anger, desire, jealousy and lust to rules us we are living in a present
moment. We are at our purest state, we live our life with the purpose to
help others. We are no longer enslaved by the ideologies of society,
are needs for worldly goods and moments of excitement are observed as a
distraction to the evaporation of our Ego. We can wake up every day
fully energised and ready to make changes in the world. The idea of ‘I’
turns to ‘We’. The beauty of the world is magnified as we hear the
gentle sounds of each creation. At this point you no longer live with a
faith that you will meet the right partner, you have a knowing that when
the time is right that person who will stand by your side and support
your journey will come into your life. You will not need to rush into
anything as when this person arrives they will stay with you. Here love
is not something you possess or need from a person, it is a gift to
enjoy.
I
will never forget the day when Harmeet pushed me out of my comfort zone
to chant, I had no time to let my fears in because before I knew it I
was seated in front of the microphone facing Guru Granth Sahib. I was
surprised that as soon as I let the sound leave my mouth I had no
negative feelings. I spent many moments of my life on stage singing and
being judged and compared. At that moment I realised that this was no
longer about me. This realisation I will hold with me. When you focus so
much on what others think, you lose yourself to the mind. We need to
act as role models to everyone we meet to support and encourage. When we
judge we are working from the mind and not the heart. In this space you
lose your place in this moment.
I
can now take this moment to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart
for helping me to find peace. You are all my gifts. I apologies in
advance if any of the terms used were not correct or if any of my words
offended anybody.
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki fateh
Danielle
www.khalsacamp.com/uk
https://www.sikhs.org/granth.htm
http://daniellebaker.over-blog.com/2018/09/from-faith-to-knowing-khalsa-camp-2018.html
