National Youth Akhand Paath

ਆਇਓ ਸੁਨਨ ਪੜਨ ਕਉ ਬਾਣੀ ॥
Aaeio sunan paṛan kau baaṇee.
The mortal came (on this earth) to hear and chant the Word of the Guru's Bani.
(Ang 1219)

Last weekend the first National Youth Akhand Paatth Sahib took place in which the paatth (reading) was recited solely by the youth, in particular youth who have not done paatth seva in Sangat before! Considering it was the first time for many people doing Paatth from Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee in the Sangat, Ardaas was done for a Sehaj Paatth (slow intermittent reading), in case there were any problems, however the Paatth was done as if it was an Akhand Paatth (continuous non-intermittent reading). With Guru jee's kirpaa the event was very successful.

The event was an idea of Bhenji Daljeet Kaur and Bhaji Jaspal Singh to get youngsters more confident in reading Gurbani and develop their personal relationship with Guru jee. The seva was carried out by around 50 Amritdhari Singhs and Singhnian from different areas of the UK. Each person was allocated 20 angs (respected word for pages) with an estimated time depending on the individual's ability. Because everyone knew which 20 angs they were going to read before hand, it gave time for people to practice their paatth and get any help in pronunciation of certain words if needed.

Elder GurSikhs sat in the Sangat and listened to the Paatth to ensure that the paatth was being read correctly. It was amazing to hear respected elder Gursikhs repeat lines of Gurbani without looking at the computer or any Pothi and correcting Paatthis where they unintentially made a mistake. It just shows how much abhiyaas (practice) they must have of listening and reading Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee. Waheguru!

After the bhog (completion), a siropa was given to each and every person who took part in the Seva by Bhai Sahib Raghbir Singh jee. Youngsters were urgd to join their local Santhiyaa classes (if available) and take laahaa (benefit) of learning correct pronunciation of Paatth so that each and everyone of us can become fluent readers of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee. May Guru jee do kirpaa on all us and bless us with pyaar for Gurbani, ability of doing correct pronunciation (shudh uchaaran) and ulitmately living the Guru's Word.


Some photos from the event (taken from www.SevaToTheMax.com):


Veer Pardip Singh (Leamington Spa)


Bhenji Darshan Kaur (Southall)


Bhaji Preetam Singh (Coventry)


Sangat listening to Paatth (translations were also projected)


Bhenji Kirat Kaur (Leamington Spa)


Bhaji Bhupinder Singh (Birmingham)


Bhai Jaspal Singh (Leicester)


Bhenji Kamalpreet Kaur (Banbury)


Bhenji Harmohan Kaur (Southall)


Bhai Sahib Raghbir Singh jee doing Ardaas on the Bhog (completion). Waheguru.


For more photos on Veer Tarnjeet Singh's Flickr.


Details of some Gurbani Santhiaa classes in Birmingham and Southall:

Birmingham
Guru Nanak Gurdwara, High Street, Smethwick
Bhai Baldeep Singh (Damdami Taksaal)
Every Wednesday, 6pm (for beginners)

Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Edward Street, West Brom
Every Sunday, 6pm - 8pm


Southall
Sri Guru Amardas Hall, Adelaide Road, Southall
Giani Gurdev Singh (Damdami Taksaal)
Every Sunday, 7pm - 8pm
Every Monday, 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Sikh Missionary Society, 10 Featherston Road, Southall
Giani Charanjeet Singh (Damdami Taksaal)
Every Saturday, 5pm - 8pm


Online Resource:
Giani Thakur Singh (Damdami Taksaal)
Gurbani Santhiaa Video



Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee.

The Mist cleared and the Sun shone everywhere...

Thursday 13th November 2008, marks the 539th Prakaash divas (birth date) of Guru Nanak Dev jee, the founder of the Sikh faith. Happy gurpurb to everyone. May Guru jee bless everyone with Gursikhi Jeevan and eternal love for Waheguru.

ਸੁਣੀ ਪੁਕਾਰਿ ਦਾਤਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਗ ਮਾਹਿ ਪਠਾਇਆ ॥
sunee pukaar daataar prabh guru naanak jag mahi patthaaeiaa.
The benefactor Lord listened to the cries (of humanity) and sent Guru Nanak to this world.

(Bhai Gurdaas jee)

Mist of Darkness
According to Gurmat there are two types of bodies - the physical body (asthool sareer) and invisible internal body (sooksham sareer). As the internal body is a spiritual being and not physical matter, scientists have not acknowledged it. When there is mist, one cannot see where one is going. In thick fog people are more likely to have car accidents because they cannot see ahead of them.


Humanity Crying
Leading up to the birth of Guru Nanak Dev jee, the world was covered in heavy mist. When the five vices - lust, anger, greed, emotional attachment, and ego - go out of control, then the inner body gets covered with mist and darkness of corruption. At first a human being commits individual acts (karams) fuelled by vices, then it becomes habit which leads to it becoming the individual's character (sanskaar). When vice and corruption become part of one's character then one feels no shame and they see no wrongness in their wickedness and sinful actions. The repeated actions leaves an imprint on the soul. Humanity was crying out as its spirituality was lost and people became blind in the mist of Maya (materialism) and the five vices.


Clearing the Mist
Mist can only be cleared with light, however a small light like a lamp or torch would not be able to do this. In order to clear the heavy mist, the Sun must shine. When the Sun shines the morning mist clears. A small diva (oil-lamp) can only light one house and provide light to a few people, but it would not be able to clear the mist. There could be hundreds of divas (oil-lamps) and still the mist would not clear. In the world, there were many changing religious leaders, holy-men and prophets, however their light was not enough to illuminate the world's spiritual darkness.


The Divine Light Shines
The changing religious leaders and world prophets provided some light to the people but were like divas (oil-lamps) and were limited in their light. The Sun itself had to shine to clear the mist of spiritual darkness, Waheguru Himself had to shine His Light in the world and give spiritual enlightenment to everyone. The Sun, unlike a lamp or torch, shines everywhere indiscriminately. “With the emergence of the True Guru, Satguru Guru Nanak, the mist cleared and the light scattered all around. As if at the sun rise the stars disappeared and the darkness dispelled" (Bhai Gurdaas jee). Although the Sun shines everywhere, if someone is sitting inside with the curtains drawn, they prevent themselves from experiencing the Sun. Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in 1469, and Waheguru manifested His Light within him and revealed Himself to the world through the Satguru. "Waheguru placed Himself within the Satguru (True Guru); revealing Himself (to the world), He declares this openly" (Ang 466, SGGS). The fortunate ones, opened their hearts and allowed the Divine Light of the Waheguru to change their lives.

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨੋ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਵੇਖਦਾ ਜੇਤਾ ਜਗਤੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥
Saṯgur no sabẖ ko vekẖḏā jeṯā jagaṯ sansār.
All the living beings of the world see the True Guru.

ਡਿਠੈ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜਿਚਰੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
Diṯẖai mukaṯ na hova▫ī jicẖar sabaḏ na kare vīcẖār.
(However) One is not liberated by merely seeing (the Satguru), unless one contemplates the Shabad (Divine Word).
(Ang 594, SGGS)

Leamington Sikh Activity Weekend Photos!

On Friday 31st October and Saturday 1st November, a Sikh Activity Weekend was held at Leamington & Warwick Gurdwara Sahib. The camp was organised by the Education Group Committee at Leamington & Warwick Gurdwara with Sikh Seva sevadaars helping out. All the local sewadaars did a great job in the getting the camp organised and doing langar seva and other seva throughout the weekend.

Day 1 (Friday 31st Oct)

The day started with morning diwaan. The younger children did Keertan and Dastaar Tying in the morning and the elder group had a Gurbani vichaar class with Bhai Joginder Singh jee (Leicester) and Dr. Virk (Derby). Afterwards Dr. Virk did a fantastic talk on "Sri Guru Granth Ji - the Living Guru". After Langar, Bhai Joginder Singh jee gave an inspiring talk on how he came into Sikhi and general advice for everyone using Gurbani. The younger children had fun games, activities and also a workshop on how to do Guru jee's seva and a tour of the Gurdwara. The day ended with a talk by Bhenji Daljeet Kaur jee on the status of Sikh Women in comparison to other religions and a short Q&A session.

Some photos:


Dastaar Tying session.


Langar.


Group photo.


Fun activities and games with Bhaji Manjot Singh and Bhenji Daljeet Kaur jee.


Younger children doing Keertan and Simran.


Bhenji Daljeet Kaur jee talking about Sikh Women.


Sangat listening to Bhenji Daljeet Kaur jee's talk.


Veer Tohmev Singh doing Keertan.


Maharaaj jee's Saroop being taken to Sach Khand.


Day 2 (Saturday 1st Nov)

The day started with morning diwaan. The younger children had a meditation class with Bibi Kulwant Kaur jee and keertan class in the morning and the elder group had a talk by Bhaji Kuljeet Singh jee (Leicester) on "Origin and structure of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee" followed by a relaxation exercise class led by Veer Baldeep Singh. After Langar, Bhaji Kuljeet Singh did a workshop on Ingredients of a Sikh with the younger children and Bhaji Harjinder Singh jee (Walsall) gave a talk on "Birth, Life, Death and Beyond according to Gurbani". The day ended with Keertan, Simran and a short Q&A session.

Some photos:


Morning Diwaan.



Bhaji Vijay Singh and Veer Bikram Singh doing Keertan with the younger group.


Dastaar tying class.


Veer Baldeep Singh doing relaxation exercises.


Bhaji Kuljeet Singh with younger group discussing "Ingredients of a Sikh


Bhaji Amarjeet Singh and Veer Baldeep Singh with younger children. (Looks like someone has been munching on the chocolates!).


Ice-cream with strawberries!


Amrit Bhenji and Raj Bhenji.


Bhenjis eating Langar.


Veer Ravjeet Singh and Bhaji Bhupinder Singh :)



Bhaji Kuljeet Singh doing vichaar on Ingredients of a Sikh with the elder group.


Bhaji Bhupinder Singh doing Simran with the children. They played really fun games like "Musical Simran statues". Even the elders felt like joining in!


Final Hukamnama was read by 10 year old Amritpal Singh.


Bhenji Hardeep Kaur jee (Coventry) who regularly attends the Monday Leamington Simran programme kindly made a cake for the Sikh Activity Weekend. Bhenji was busy on Saturday, so she just came and dropped off the cake and went back home. Waheguru. The cake looked so nice that no one felt like eating it. Waheguru.


Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee.

Sikh Activity Weekend

It is never too late to find out more about your faith and roots! A special weekend has been organised for children and adults where you can learn about your faith & history in English.

Celebrating 300 years of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji being given the Eternal Guruship

Sikh Activity Weekend
Friday 31st October & Saturday 1st Nov 2008

Starts 8.30am (Hall No. 2) and finishes 4.30pm (For children & adults)

Gurdwara Sahib Leamington & Warwick
Queensway Estate, Queensway,
Leamington Spa,
Warwickshire
CV31 3LZ

Talks, discussions, Q & A, keertan, games, relaxation & meditation classes and more.
Special Prize Giving Ceremony on Sunday 2nd November in Main Diwaan

Speakers include:
Bhai Joginder Singh jee (Leicester), Dr. Virk (Derby), Bhai Kuljeet Singh jee (Leicester) and more...

Car Tyre Story

It's been a while that I have posted anything about my travels! I've been requested by someone to post about this and they sent some photos as well! :)

Last week (13th Oct) at the Monday Leamington Gurdwara Simran programme the Sangat celebrated Bhenji Sonia Kaur's birthday. Sangat came from Coventry and Birmingham and it was chardikala programme.

I had parked my car outside the Gurdwara entrance. After the programme had finished I went to get in my car and someone said, "Bhaji you have a flat tyre." In the dark I couldn't really see much from the distance but looking closer you could see that the rear driver side tyre was totally flat. The whole thing was crazy! Someone was saying something, someone else saying something else and a lot of people including myself were clueless what to do! Waheguru.

One person suggested, "Bhaji drive to the nearest petrol station and fill up they tyre with air." Another person said, "Your tyre is so flat that even if you fill it up it with air, it will most likely deflate again on the way home." Someone else said, "Even if you drive a small distance it will ruin the tyre." I was so confused! Waheguru. Imagine - late, dark, cold and you want to go home!

I must say the most clued up person there was Bhaji Preetam Singh (Coventry)! Waheguru. Bhaji got out the spare tyre from the boot and said he will change it. Daas and a few other Singhs (I won't mention any names to save embarrassment) admitted that we didn't know how to change a tyre! I went to look for the spanner in the boot so that the tyre could be changed but I couldn't find it. Then Preetam Singh Bhaji checked and he couldn't find it. Then someone else checked and they couldn't see it either. So we had a spare tyre but no spanner! Waheguru.

Then one Bhenji (won't name any names to save embarrassment. lol) said, "Bhaji I have a spanner you can use." Bhenji opened her boot and said, "Here, you can use my car spanner." I looked at what Bhenji was pointing to and it wasn't a spanner, it was the car jack! Waheguru! lol. I thought I was clueless about cars! Sat Naam, Waheguru.

Eventually someone said, "Ring the car recovery people." So I rang them. What a nightmare! I was on the phone to the Direct Line Recovery people and because there was so much noise being made by everyone around me I couldn't hear a thing the lady was saying! She said something and I said, "Sorry, can you repeat that." The lady got so frustrated that she said with annoyed voice, "Sir you can please stand somewhere quiet so at least you can hear what I am saying!." Waheguru. Eventually the lady called for a recovery person to come down and change the tyre.

Surprisingly the recovery man turned up very quickly (about 20 minutes). He changed the tyre and put the temporary tyre in. The tyre had become flat because a nail had got stuck in. We had to drive home at 50mph. Eventually got home!


Recovery man checking the tyre.


Recovery man changing tyre - Daas, Preetam Singh Bhaji and Pardip Singh watching.


Signing the form (in the dark!). I could barely see!


The next day I took the car to the garage and got the tyre replaced. I asked the garage worker to double-check if I had a spanner in the boot to change the tyre (because there was supposed to be on in there). The man found the spanner in 1 minute or less! I was so shocked! I suppose it was so dark when everyone checked before that no one could see the black spanner in the car! Waheguru.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (1708 - Eternity)

October 20th marks the Gurgaddi diwas of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee, when the Tenth Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh jee Maharaaj rested Guru-ship in the eternal Guru of the Sikhs, Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee. Saariaa nu Gurpurb di Vaadhaayee Hove!

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF
SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB JEE

Dhur Kee Baani - Divine Revelation

Waheguru created His own Guru-form - the "Shabad Guru". Only Waheguru is capable of having someone meet Him or reach Him. In order to accomplish this huge task He formed His own Guru-form. Waheguru is jyot saroop, which means has the form of light. A light brighter than a million suns. Gurbani is also part of that. Like the sea and waves - both are water, yet both have different functions and forms. Waheguru is the ocean, and the Satguru (the True Guru) is the wave, that washes upon our souls, and gently pulls us back towards the sea (Waheguru). In 1469, the Invisible/Unmanifest (Nirgun) form of Waheguru manifested His attributes to the Guru-form which was Guru Nanak Dev jee. Through Guru Nanak Dev jee's coming each and every person had a chance to communicate with the Creator and acting upon the revealed message could achieve liberation whilst alive (jeevan-muktee), whereas in the past only the rare few Bhagats who practiced extreme efforts on meditating upon the Creator achieved union with Waheguru.


Aad Granth Sahib (also known as 'Pothi Sahib')
The Fifth Nanak, Guru Arjan Dev jee, accumulated the Shabad revelation from first 5 Gurus, 15 Bhagats and 11 Bhatts and 3 Sikhs, and recorded it into the physical Word in the form of 'Aad Granth Sahib jee' (also referred to as 'Pothi Sahib'), which was earlier form of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee. In 1604 the Aad Granth Sahib jee was installed on a high pedestal within Sri Darbaar Sahib, and Guru Arjan Dev jee from then on sat in the Sangat. Guru Arjan Dev jee showed so much respect to the Shabad-Guru that he would sleep on the floor and instead the Aad Granth Sahib jee would be placed to rest on the bed.


Aad Granth Sahib jee & Dheer Mal
Pothi Sahib (known today as the Kartarpur Bir) was kept by the Sixth Nanak, Guru Hagobind Sahib jee in his house. From here it was stolen by his grandson called Dheer Mal, who intended to use it to further his claims on the succession of the Guruship. Some 30 years later the Sikhs of the Ninth Nanak, Guru Tegh Bahadur jee forcibly recovered it, but were instructed by Guru Sahib to return it. But as the Sikhs were far from the town, they placed it in the shallow river bed of the Satluj River. From here Dheer Mal recovered it, miraculously it was undamaged The Bir was taken by Dheer Mal and his family to where they lived in Kartarpur, thus the name Kartapur Bir ('Bir' meaning 'Volume').


Kartarpur Bir

During Guru Gobind Singh Sahib jee's Guru-ship, Baba Deep Singh along with 24 other Singhs went to Dheer Mal (the grandson of the Sixth Guru) to ask him to return the Kartarpur Bir (the original Aad Granth Sahib jee that Guru Arjan Sahib jee compiled) that he had forcibly taken during the time of Guru Hargobind Sahib jee. Dheer Mal refused and replied, "If your Guru is the same 'Roop' (form) as the first and fifth Guru Sahibs, then why doesn't he fashion Gurbaani from memory?"

Damdami Bir

Guru Gobind Singh Sahib jee stayed Talwandi Sabo (known as Sri Damdama Sahib today) for 9 months and 9 days in 1706 and dictated the entire Aad Granth Sahib jee with the addition of Guru Teg Bahadar jee's revealed Bani (sacred hymns), whilst Bhai Mani Singh jee undertook the task of scribing under Guru Sahib's supervision. Baba Deep Singh jee did seva of preparing ink and providing the resources for scribing. Undoubtedly, Guru Sahib got rid of certain unauthorised writings which had crept into some pirated copies and gave the Granth (Scripture) it's final form. As this Bir (Volume) was compiled by Guru Sahib at Sri Damdama Sahib, in Southern Panjab, this final form of the Granth Sahib jee became known as the 'Damdami Bir'.

Resting Guru-ship in the Guru Granth-Guru Panth
This Bir was then taken to Sri Hazoor Sahib, NandeR, in 1708 by Guru Gobind Singh jee. On 20th October, a day before Guru Gobind Singh jee physically passed away, he asked Bhai Daya Singh jee to bring Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee and do Parkaash (ceremonial opening). Guru jee placed a cocunut and 5 coins in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee and bowed his head before the Shabad Guru and announced that from now on the eternal Guru will be Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee. Guru jee told the Sangat: “With the directive of the Almighty, initiated is the Panth. All the Sikhs are decreed to acknowledge Granth as Guru. Believing in Khalsa, epitomises the Guru as corporeal. Sikhs desirous to achieve me, (may) search in them.”

Happy Gurpurb to everyone.

Related links:

- Is the Guru Granth Sahib a compilation of Hindu & Islamic texts into one?
- How can the Guru Granth Sahib have multiple writers?
- Isn’t bowing to a ‘Book’ the same as idol worship?
- Does the Guru Granth Sahib claim to be a revelation direct from God?

Leicester Sikhs Announcement

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh Sangat Ji

Since 2006, Leicester Sangat have been running Sikhi Camps at various Gurdwara Sahibs in Leicester* during every School and College holiday for children, leading up to Guru Granth Sahib ji Mahraaj's 300 years GurGaddi Divas.

In 2006, It was decided there will be 7 Camps (as there were 7 different holidays for children from school/college) running to October 2008.

The Central Theme of Every Camp (6 so far in this 'series' since 2006) has been under the "Footsteps to Guru Ji" banner:
"Take One Step Towards the Guru... The Guru Takes Thousands Towards you!"

And now, here we are today, with the Final Camp of this series, Camp (or "Footstep") Number 7, the Final Footstep.

The Elder Campers (12 to 18years) have been saying for a long time to do a Residential Camp, as the last residential camp was in 2006 time. So, with Guru Ji's kirpa, this Final Camp will be a Residential Camp.

With Guru Ji's kirpa and with Sangat's Pyaar, between 140 and 190 children and teenagers attend these camps.

There are a number of Promo videos that are being worked on, but not yet completed. In the Meanwhile, please view the following 2 videos that have been uploaded onto Youtube for the previous camps:

- Footstep 1 Camp - Gurdwara Sahib, Ashford Road, Off Welford Road
- Footstep 2 Camp - Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, East Park Road

If any sangat would like to help out with Seva for any day, or even for the whole week, please contact the info provided at the bottom of this email.

The Program for the Week is as Follows:

:: Sikhi Camp :: Footstep 7 :: Guru Maneo Granth ::
Monday 20th October to Saturday 25th October 2008
Guru Tegh Bahadar Gurdwara, 106 East Park Road, Leicester

- Bouny Castles - Sumo Suits - Videos - Role Plays - Workshops - Team Building - Q&A for Parents - Sports Activities -

Primary Camp
Ages 5 to 11
Monday: Ages 5 to 7 Years Only
Tuesday: Ages 8 to 9 Years Only
Wednesday: Ages 10 to 11 Years Only
9am to 4pm Daily
Note: This will be not be Residential Camp for these ages



Secondary Camp
Ages 12 to 18
Residential Camp
Wednesday to Saturday
Wednesday: 7:00pm Registration
Camp will go on until Saturday evening (When the Prize Ceremony/Kirtan Darbaar will Commence)


Prize Ceremony and Kirtan Darbaar
Saturday: 6:30pm onwards
All Parents and Campers to Attend

Contact:
www.LeicesterSikhs.BlogSpot.com
SikhiCamp.Leics@gmail.com
07505 127 927

PLEASE forward the details in this email to Friends and Family that would like to send their children to the camp.
The Camp is Free.
If you would like an application form sent to any address, please contact us.
Alternatively, campers can register on the day.

:: Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Mahraaj ::
:: Eternal Guru :: King of Kings ::