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Tuesday, March 27, 2007

God and His Worshiper 2......

Bhagat Naamdev jee were a very true worshiper of the One and only. For all of his life, Naamdev jee had worshipped God and had faith in Him for each and every moment. He did not worship anyone else but the one immortal God. He says, ‘The performance of countless millions of other devotions is not even equal to one devotion to the Name of God’ (Guru Granth Sahib, 1163). The materialistic things would not deter Naamdev’s spiritual path to meet God. He considered iron and gold alike. Once while sewing he wrote, “My needle is of gold and my thread is very expensive but my mind is attached with God” (Guru Granth Sahib, 485). He cared neither for gold nor silver, he was in love with God. Even though as a result of his true worship he had become a highly spiritual person, he was still completely devoid of pride. Naamdev knew that God does care for the person who recites His name and remembers Him all the time.

Once Naamdev went to Avandanagnath Temple situated in Maharashtra, India. The Hindu priests of that temple believed in the caste system. After reaching the temple Naamdev sat and started worshipping God but the Hindu priests grabbed his arm and drove him out of the temple. The priests said that Naamdev couldn’t visit the temple because he is of a low class. Naamdev was deeply hurt so he went to the back of the temple and started worshipping God. In his prayer he said, ‘Joyfully, I came to Your Temple, O Lord. While Naamdev was worshipping, he was driven out. I am of a low social class, O Lord; why was I born into a family of fabric dyers? I picked up my blanket and went back, to sit behind the temple’ (Guru Granth Sahib, 1164). Naamdev also said, ‘O Lord, please do not forget me because if You forget me then where should I go. There is nowhere else to go and no one else to believe in except You’. He further prayed, ‘Please do not forget me, do not forget me, please do not forget me, O Lord. The temple priests have doubts about this, and everyone is furious with me. Calling me low-caste and untouchable, they beat me and drove me out; what should I do now O Beloved Father Lord? If You give me salvation after I am dead, no one will know that I attained salvation. These Priests, these religious scholars, call me low born; when they say this, they tarnish Your honor as well. You are called kind and compassionate; the power of Your Arm is absolutely unrivalled’ (1292). ‘As Naamdev uttered the Glorious Praises of the Lord, The temple turned around to face the Lord's humble devotee’ (1164). ‘The Lord turned the temple around to face Naamdev and its back to the Priests’ (1292). That temple is still rotated. This is the symbol of the true love of God towards His true worshiper.


source:realsikhism.com

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Monday, March 26, 2007

Sacrifice....

Read this somewhere on the web. Forgot the source. It is not my material, hopefully the writer gets full credit for composing this.

Why are our children not attracted to going to the Gurdwara?
Why are our children drifting away from Sikhi?
Why are our children forgetting their great Sikh history?
Why are our children not respecting their parents?


Are the Gurdwaras to blame?
Are the schools to blame?
Is the Panth to blame?
The fundamental blame goes to the mothers and fathers.


Parents say that their children don't listen?
Parents say that their children are not interested?
Parents say that they don't have enough time?


”Kabeer, whether it is for an hour, half an hour, or half of that, whatever it is, it is worthwhile to speak with the Holy. 232”
(Ang 1377, SGGS)


How can we inspire our children to realise how precious and beautiful Sikhi is?
How can we inspire our children to realise how great our Guru is and how rich our history is?
How can we inspire our children to respect their parents and to become successful adults?


SACRIFICE!


Our Spiritual Father is Guru Gobind Singh Jee Maharaj.
Our Spiritual Mother is Mata Sahib Kaur Jee.
Our Brothers are the Four Sahibzadas (Princes).


Guru Gobind Singh Jee sacrificed his four sons for us!
Guru Gobind Singh Jee sacrificed his father for his us!
Guru Gobind Singh Jee sacrificed his home for us!


Who are we?
We are the children of Guru Gobind Singh Ji!
We are the family of Guru Gobind Singh Ji!
We are the sons & daughters of Guru Gobind Singh Ji!


However, how much have we listened to our Father?
How much have we accepted our Father's instructions?
How much respect have we shown our Father?
How are our children going to listen to us, if we don't listen to our Father.


How are our children going to respect us, when we don't respect our Father?
How are our children going to do what we say, when we don't do what Guru Gobind Singh Jee tells us to do?


SACRIFICE!

We leave our children with babysitters.
We leave our children in nurseries
We leave our children with their grandparents.


'I have no time to look after my child's Kes!'
'I have no time to discuss Sikhi with my children!'
'I have no time to send them to Panjabi classes!'


Where is the SACRIFICE?

”Telling the stories of one's ancestors make the children, good children.”
(Ang 951, SGGS)


Could you sacrifice 5 minutes for your children to read them bedtime stories about our great Gurus and Martyrs?

Could you sacrifice 5 minutes for your children to recite with them, the 'Mool Mantar' before they go to sleep?

Could you sacrifice 5 minutes for your children to discuss with them about life, their ambitions and the rewards of following Sikhi?


Do we want our children to grow up to be proud of who they are and where they come from?

Do we want our children to live happily and be successful, with the support and guidance of the Lord and Guru Ji?

Do we want our children to take care of our Father Guru Gobind Singh Jee's dastar [turban] and make it sparkle?

Involvement, love and participation are crucial if you want your children to do something.


Involve your children in the Gurdwara and they will take interest.


Involve your children and explore Sikhi and they will be inspired.

Involve your children and they will never forget

“Says Kabeer, Waheguru is obtained only by devotional worship. Through innocent love, Waheguru is met. 46”
(Ang 324, SGGS)

HOW MUCH SACRIFICE HAVE YOU MADE FOR YOUR CHILDREN?


Be inspired and inspire others! May Waheguru bless you all.

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Friday, March 23, 2007

First Gurdwara in North America

Here are some interesting facts I came across on the i-net on establishing of first Gurdwara on this continent.

The Sikhs came to North America sometime during the early 1890’s. They did not recognize themselves formally until the first decade of this century. As late as 1898 there was a press report that some unique kind of people (the Sikhs) were seen in Vancouver with uncut hair and turbans on their heads. It was in 1902 that Sikhs came to Vancouver in big groups. It is said the first sacred volume of the Adi Guru Granth Sahib was brought to Vancouver in 1904. The Sikh Sangat started holding their regular functions at that time. By 1906 they had organized themselves and purchased a property at West 2nd Avenue. The first formal Gurdwara was built there in 1908. The same organization, Khalsa Diwan Society, shifted the Gurdwara to its present site, 8000 Ross Street, Vancouver in 1969. It was declared to be the best building in 1978. The Sikhs in California, USA, organized themselves into the Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan Society and built their first Gurdwara in 1911 at Stockton. Sikh Sangats had been formed earlier at other places as well but this was the first registered body of the Sikhs.

source:sikhmarg.com

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Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Stress may have killed Pakistan cricket coach....

KINGSTON: Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer may have died as a result of stress brought on by his job, his son Russell said today.

Woolmer, 58, died after being found unconscious in his hotel room the morning after his side's shock World Cup exit following its defeat by Ireland at Sabina Park. "We've been speaking to the doctors and they think it is either stress or a heart attack," Russell Woolmer told South African radio from Cape Town.

Click here to read the complete story


Bob Woolmer. (1948 - 2007)

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Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Online Cricket...

I play cricket online @ the following web-site. So far this is the most close to real world cricket I have found that can be played on computers. Yesterday, I was able to achieve highest score ever, since I started playing @ this site (about 1 year). Since cricket is in the air I thought cricket lovers may want to try their skills online. Let me know how you guys liked it.

Click on the image to view it full size.

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God and His Worshiper......

Once a king in India went to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and asked, “ O Guru! As you told us that God Himself supports His true worshiper, but God has so many apostles, why does He have to take care of His worshiper Himself? Why does not He send His apostles to help the worshiper?” As the king said this, his own son who was playing at the bank of a river nearby slipped in the river.

The king did not waited for a second and jumped in the river as well to save his child. After saving his child he returned to the Guru. The Guru asked, “My dear friend, you were sitting here with me a minute ago and why did u jump in the river?” King explained that his son had slipped in the river and he went to save him. Then the Guru asked, “Dear friend, you have so many servants then why did you jumped in the river by yourself? Why did not you send you servants to save him?” The King said, “By the time I would have asked my servants, he would have drowned. I love my child very much and do not want to lose him at any cost.”

Then Guru said, “My dear friend, God loves His worshipers the same way as you love your son. That is why he Himself to saves His true worshiper.”

source : realsikhism.com

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Thursday, March 15, 2007

Discovery of Self through Naam-Simran : Part II

An article by Gulshan Jeet Singh.

Continued from previous post....

Internalising the Divine Spirit: The word ‘Naam’ is the object of simran (meditation) whereas the word ‘Simran’ is remembering, uttering, or Jap in meditation. Thus ‘Naam-simran’ is remembrance of God’s Name. The question arises, what or whose name? The simple answer is Satnaam Waheguru the name of True Wonderful Lord, who is All-pervading True and Eternal. The Lord is One Alone, Who Ever was, Is Now and Ever shall be, - the Akal Purukh, ‘Waheguru’. His name is True. Guru Nanak and successor Gurus, throughout the holy Gurbani, maintain that one must contemplate upon formless God, Infinite God alone, Who is Creator, and dwells everywhere.

A Slow Process : We must understand that if our meagre and early practice of ‘Naam-simran’ does not produce any earth-shaking result we should not lose patience. We should feel encouraged by the belief that the path has been found out, and it is only a question of time when we will reach our destination.

There are some hymns which must necessarily be taken from the Guru Granth Sahib with the help of a pious friend, or elder or scholar - Granthi. The most popular technique is the repetition and daily reciting of Gurbani. ‘Sat Naam’ or ‘Waheguru’ is very powerful jaap; several practitioners reveal that without ‘Satnm, Waheguru’ the seeker cannot achieve his purpose. For the name and the object named are not different. When the heart is purified by the practice of Pranava, or Dhun/Naad, the practice hears same sound. In the first stage, one feels a thrilling sensation in the skin, gradually passes through several

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Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Discovery of Self through Naam-Simran : Part I

An article by Gulshan Jeet Singh.

Naam Simran is a purely spiritual experience within reach of all humanity irrespective of race creed on social status. Success varies and depends on the practitioner’s earnestness as well as the Master’s grace.

Why we must practice ‘Naam simran’? Because it brings inner tranquillity. This practice is superior to all other forms of worship. It is at the root of Gurbani. It places no restriction of time and space and does not need the help of any other person or material posture.Amongst all religious practices ‘Naam-simran’ is the simplest, a purifier for both mind and heart. It is like the all-pervasive light of the sun.

‘Naam-simran’ reins in the mind and intellect (man aur budhi) from within, order to understand the physical phenomenal word and transcend its wisdom. Naam is the holiest of the holy; practice of simran destroys the cause of our bondage, namely, our Karma (good or bad actions). Even the greatest sinner attains to the supreme position through Naam-simran. The only focus that one discovers by study of Guru Granth Sahib is that we must always and constantly meditate on Him and His Name. Just as the furnace melts gold and other metals so as to purify them, so the Name of the Lord acts as the best solvent of all problems of this world. No evil can befall one who is engrossed in Naam.

There are however some pitfalls. Sadly ‘Naam-simran’ has become a topic of discussion rather than of practice amongst our intellectuals. Argument is the antithesis of meditation. Efforts for conducting seminars on topic are merely intellectual exercises, missing the Naam - Amrit and initiation.

To be Continued.....

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Tuesday, March 13, 2007

KP Gill's white lies.

I was looking for some interesting matter on You Tube and I found this part White Lies video.

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Carrots, here and there.....

Carrots here



And there



Don't know why red carrots cannot be grown in this part of the world.

ps. red carrots picture was taken from someone's blog which I completely forgot who's blog it was. Please leave a comment if you think it was your's so that I can mention the source.

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Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Miami Samagam 2007...


Here is one shot of the Samagam Sangat..... I didnot shoot any but I'll try to get more from people who did.

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Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Shalok Bhagat Kabeer jee kay...

**Please click on the images to view full size for better readability**


Here Bhagat Kabeer jee is again emphasizing on what becomes of our body...


Here Kabeer jee say that if you see a poor person, thank the lord in the state he is keeping you....

PS. Apologize to all visitors for not being able to post for a week and a half as was busy with Samagam Sewa...