Telford Family Gurmat Camp...

From 1st to 2nd September, a Family Gurmat Camp was held at Gurdwara Sangat Parchaar Sabha Telford. During the 2-day camp, adults and children came together to learn about Sikhi. All the Sangat were really eager to learn more about Sikhi. During the camp there was Amrit-Vela, Nitnem, Kirtan, interactive Gurmat Veechaar, fun activities for children, Q&A, self-defense, and Gatka. Although the Gurdwara Sahib and Sangat is small, there was a really positive vibe.

Some photos of the camp:

Kirtan

Break with some exercise for everyone

Gurmat Veechar

 Whilst listening to Vahiguru Simran, the children made a Vahiguru poster. They learnt about the importance of repeating, singing and writing the Name of Vahiguru.

Children having opportunity to see animals

Shastar for Gatka

Children learning Gatka

 Sangat with Gatka team

Khalsa Camp USA 2018...

This year Khalsa Camp USA was launched in California. The camp was held from 5th to 9th August at a camp site in the mountains about 2 hours away from Los Angeles. Khalsa Foundation UK Sevadaars helped to set up the camp with the help of USA sevadaars. The camp was filled with Guru Sahib's Kirpa and left a positive mark on all those that attended. As a first camp, it was not as big as the UK or BC Khalsa Camps, however, the Sangat that came were like one big family with lots of positivity and love for the Guru to share with another. It was really inspiring.

Hopefully with Guru Sahib's Kirpaa, Khalsa Camp USA will grow and campers from this year's camp will be the one's organising next year's camp.

Some photos from the camp:

Sevadaars - Bhai Harsimran Singh (LA) and Bhai Harbakhshish Singh (LA)

Veer Jagdeep Singh (UK) introducing the camp

Bhenji Mandeep Kaur (UK) giving her lecture.

Evening Kirtan

Evening ice-breaker with Bhai Sukhwinder Singh

 

 Even the elder campers got involved in the ice-breaker. Baba Ji playing Charades.

Late evening Kirtan session on the piano

Amrit-Vela

Lecture hall

Workshop by Bhai Manvinder Singh (Clovis)

Workshop with Bhai Ravinder Singh Lal (LA)

Late afternoon Kirtan - Bhenji Manpreet Kaur (with some help)

Veer Fareed Singh, a Mexican-American who discovered Sikhi on YouTube and attended Khalsa Camp for the first time

Bhai Sukhwinder Singh leading Rehraas Sahib in Kirtan form

Satguru Ji

Hukamnama

Bonfire night

Sangat enjoying hot chocolate and some late-night stories

 Hike group

Hike group

Last day - fun session outside

 Ending camp with some last messages

 Post-camp mini reunion

Post camp Kirtan at Mata Kuldip Kaur's home. Local Gursikh Sangat came to do Seva.

Gurbani Vichaar: What can I do to get Guru's Kirpaa (Grace)?

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji tells that mind can only be controlled if one get's Perfect One's Grace:

 

ਸਲੋਕੁ ॥

salok ||

Shalok:

 

ਦਸ ਦਿਸ ਖੋਜਤ ਮੈ ਫਿਰਿਓ ਜਤ ਦੇਖਉ ਤਤ ਸੋਇ ॥

das dis khojat mai firio jat dekhau tat soe ||

I have wandered, searching in the ten directions - wherever I look, there I see Him.

ਮਨੁ ਬਸਿ ਆਵੈ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਜੇ ਪੂਰਨ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਹੋਇ ॥੧੦॥

man bass aavai naanakaa je pooran kirpaa ho ||10||

The mind comes to be controlled, O Nanak, if He grants His Perfect Grace. ||10||

(Raag Gauree - Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji - Ang 298)

The question that follow's on from this is, "Is there anything I can do to get Guru's Kirpaa (Grace)?"

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in the Pauri (verse) that follows from the Salok (couplet) gives 7 things that one can do as part of one's way of life that can help to achieve the Perfect One's Grace:

 

ਪਉੜੀ ॥

pauRee ||

Pauree:

 

ਦਸਮੀ ਦਸ ਦੁਆਰ ਬਸਿ ਕੀਨੇ ॥

dasmee das duaar bas keene ||

(1) Control the ten doors (motory organs - arms, feet and mouth; and sensory organs - touch, smell, sight, taste and hearing).

 

ਮਨਿ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਨਾਮ ਜਪਿ ਲੀਨੇ ॥

man santokh naam jap leene ||

(2) Through chanting the Naam the mind becomes content.

 

ਕਰਨੀ ਸੁਨੀਐ ਜਸੁ ਗੋਪਾਲ ॥

karnee suneeaai jas gopaal ||

(3) With your ears, hear the Praises of the Lord of the World.

 

ਨੈਨੀ ਪੇਖਤ ਸਾਧ ਦਇਆਲ ॥

nainee pekhat saadh dayaal ||

(4) With your eyes, behold the Home of kindness, the Holy Saints.

 

ਰਸਨਾ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਵੈ ਬੇਅੰਤ ॥

rasnaa gun gaavai beant ||

(5) With your tongue, sing the Glorious Praises of the Infinite Lord.

 

ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਚਿਤਵੈ ਪੂਰਨ ਭਗਵੰਤ ॥

man mehi chitvai pooran bhagvant ||

(6) In your mind, remember the All-Pervading Lord God.

 

ਹਸਤ ਚਰਨ ਸੰਤ ਟਹਲ ਕਮਾਈਐ ॥

hasat charan sant Tahal kamaayeeaai ||

(7) With your hands and feet, work for the Saints.

 

ਨਾਨਕ ਇਹੁ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਪਾਈਐ ॥੧੦॥

naanak ehu sanjam prabh kirpaa paayeeaai ||10||

O Nanak! Following this way of life (as mentioned above) one obtains God's Grace. ||10||

(Raag Gauree - Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji - Ang 298)

[Video] ਸਿਖ ਨੂੰ ਦਾੜ੍ਹੀ ਕਿਉਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਬੰਨਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ? | Why Shouldn't a Sikh Tie His Beard?

Be careful when driving...

Last month I was driving to East London. I was on the M25 and turned off at junction 27 to turn on to the M11. There is a sharp bend as the road curves around. On this bend, I saw what seemed to be a broken down vehicle. I couldn't see too clearly, but it seemed a light-skinned Pakistani or perhaps Eastern European man and I assumed his family was with him. 

He was waving towards the traffic and seemed to be flagging for help. I thought perhaps someone is having a heart attack or perhaps he doesn't have a mobile phone and needs urgent help with ringing emergency services or something. So I decide to pull up on the hard shoulder about 30 yards away from the broken down car. Seeing me slow down, the man ran towards the car. 

Having read a few news items about car jackings, I pressed the central locking system so the doors were locked. I then put my window down just enough so I can hear him but not enough for someone to put their arm through the window. The man came right up to the window and said, "Hello Sir! Please help me." I replied, "What help do you need?" He said, "Can you please give me £10. My car has ran out of petrol and I am stuck."

I thought, hold up, how is a £10 note going to get his car going when he has ran out of petrol on the motorway? Thankfully I had my phone on and on display in the car as I was on the phone to another Singh when this was happening. I said, "If you have ran out petrol, you need to get to a petrol station and get petrol - not ask for money on the motorway!... Ring your breakdown people or shall I call the police for you?" He quickly responded, "No, no... no police... just £10. You give me and help me.... I can get home... I have my family... You good man."

Something inside me made me look into my rear mirror, and guess what... he didn't have a family with him. Instead a black guy who was standing to a side (on the hard shoulder of the motorway) got in this car and was about to drive the car towards me (proving the story false that the car had ran out of petrol). I thought this looks like a gang trying to get me to stop and have me pass over money and then have the rest of the gang steal my car. I said "I will call the Police for you now..." He said, "No its okay and ran off." I quickly drove off before they could get close with their car.

It said that criminals are taking advantage of people's good will and more dangerously it is important to say safe and keep your car doors locked when driving.

[Video] The soul of Afghanistan speaks to Punjab...

Toronto Singhs Camp 2018...

This year's Toronto Singhs Camp camp was attended by around 100+ campers. The camp is aimed at people aged 16 years and above, however it had some younger children who also benefited from the Sangat, Seva, and Simran. It is a great opportunity to experience Sikhi in a relaxed, friendly and spiritually charged environment. This year, Toronto Singhs Camp took place at Pearson Williams Christian Center in London, Ontorio. The beautiful natural surroundings helped to connect with and appreciate the Creator and creation.

This year's workshop facilitators and speakers included Bhai Sukhwinder Singh (UK) and Bhai Harman Singh (Calgary). The theme of the camp was based on topics taken from Japji Sahib.  Each year the camp organisers pick thoughtful topics that are relevant to the daily lives of campers.

Some photos from the camp taken by Bhai Ranjit Singh:

Satguru Ji arriving with grandeur and style to the camp site. 

 

The local Sevadaars have a great set up in doing Satguru Ji's Seva. Very inspiring. 

 

Satguru Ji's Darbaar looking amazing. 

 Singhs Camp dedicated Langar team. Langar is an integral part of the camp! #LangarCamp

 

Veer Ji Harman Singh's lecture was on Hukam. What Hukam means and why and how a Sikh should follow Hukam.  

 Sangat listening to the talk.

 

 During Toronto Singhs Camp 2018, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh (UK), aka Sukhi Baba, did the grand launch of his new charity organisation called 'Basics of Sukhi'. His strap line is 'Harm yourself with knowledge'. I think Veer Harman Singh (Basics of Sikhi) has got some healthy competition going on!

 

Bhai Sukhwinder Singh's talk was on on how Gurbani deals with Dukh (suffering). What is suffering, how we suffer, what is true suffering and how to overcome suffering. 

 

Evening divaan. 

Bhai Jagjit Singh (Melbourne) doing Kirtan in the evening darbaar.

 Sukhaasan Seva led by campers

Daas' workshop was on using Mool Mantar to explain Sikhi to non-Sikhs and ideas of how to do Parchaar.

 Sangat doing group work during discussions.

 You cannot escape Big Brother's camera at Toronto Singhs Camp (aka known as Veer Jaspaul Singh. His dedication to Seva is inspiring)!

 Pool party (without the party).

 

When war breaks lose in the camp!

 

 Some campers took things more seriously than others!

 

 Evening Kirtan in the open.

 

Sangat doing Kirtan.

 When someone decides to make a Parshaada that is bigger than their face!

 

Sangat making Langar