Khalsa - Akaal Purakh Di Fauj

LOVED This video !! lol

2006-09-01T16:50:00.000-07:00

Priceless :o)

Smagam - Gurudwara Pahadi Wala, GK1

2006-08-31T17:10:00.000-07:00

Har Jeeo Kirpaa Karoo Mohe Pyare..
...by Bhai Surinder Singh Jee Jodhpuri, Hazoori Raagi

Smagam

2006-08-29T16:06:00.000-07:00

WaheguruG ka Khalsa,WaheguruG kee fateh!!

Pyare Jeo,

Got this information in mail....

-------

Guru fateh G...

Delhi Dasehra Akhand Kirtan Samagam will be held on 26 September to 1 October 2006 at all historical Gurdwara
of delhi.
Rain Sabaaee Kirtan will be held on
30 Sept. 2006 Saturday night
at
Gurdwara baba joravar singh baba fateh singh, Fateh Nagar, Jail Road, New
Delhi-110018. ..
pls attend and take guru's blessing....

Fwd: SANT SAMAGAM

2006-08-28T16:28:00.000-07:00

SANT SAMAGAM

THE KALGIDHAR TRUST, BARU SAHIB

(IN THE MEMORY OF SANT SHAHBEG SINGH JI)

on 29th and 30th August 2006

AT GURDWARA SANT SHAHBEG SINGH, F-3, RAJOURI GARDEN, NEW DELHI -27

Programme

TUESDAY, 29 AUGUST 2006 (EVE.)

7.00 to 7.30 Path Sri Rehras Sahib

7.30 to 8.00 Kirtan-Bhai Vikramjit Singh Ji, South Ex Wale

8.00 to 9.00 Kirtan-Bhai Nanak Singh Ji Preet

9.00 to 10.00 Kirtan-Bhai Manpreet Singh Ji, Kanpuri, Ludhiana Wale

WEDNESDAY, 30 AUGUST 2006 (MOR.)

6.00 to 8.30 Kirtan-Asa Di War : Bhai Ranjeet Singh Ji

8.30 to 9.30 Kirtan-Bhai Sawinderpal Singh Ji, Patel Nagar, Wale

9.30 to 9.45 Bhog Sri Akhand Path Sahib Ji

9.45 to 10.15 Arti-Bhai Jaiwinder Singh Ji and Sathi

Gurduwara Janam Asthan, Cheema Sahib

WEDNESDAY, 30 AUGUST 2006 (EVE.)

7.00 to 7.30 Path Sri Rehras Sahib

7.30 to 8.15 Kirtan-Bhai Manmohan Singh, Gurvinder Pal Singh Ji

8.15 to 9.00 Kirtan-Bhai Hardeep Singh Ji and Sathi

9.00 to 9.15 Lecture-S. Partap Singh Ji : Jiwani Sant Sahbeg Singh Ji

9.15 to 10.15 Kirtan-Manpreet Singh Ji Kanpuri, Ludhiana Wale

10.15 Amrit Bachan-Baba Iqbal Singh JI

Mukh Sewadar, Gurdwara Baru Sahib

Guru Ka Langar

Sadh Sangat is requested to attend the samagam and get Guru's blessings

The Kalgidhar Trust
BARU SAHIB

Contact Delhi Office: 41005459, 25105459, 25192332
Website: www.kalgidharsociety.org ...e-Mail: delhi@kalgidharsociety.org

--
Regards,
Abhi

2006-08-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

Faith

2006-07-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

Regards,
Abhi

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Puneet

Dear All

please read this..is slightly long but very interesting and meaningful..

Subject: The best forward mail anyone ever got!!!!!!!!!!!! guys read it TILL THE END.......

An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem

science has with God, the Almighty. He asks one of his new students

to stand and.....

PROF: So you believe in God?

STUDENT : Absolutely, sir.

PROF: Is God good?

STUDENT : Sure.

PROF: Is God all-powerful?

STUDENT : Yes.

PROF: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed
to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are
ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?

(Student is silent.)

PROF: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?

STUDENT : Yes.

PROF : Is Satan good?

STUDENT : No.

PROF : Where does Satan come from?

STUDENT : From...God...

PROF : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

STUDENT : Yes.

PROF : Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct? STUDENT : Yes.

PROF : So who created evil? (Student does not answer.)

PROF : Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these
terrible things exist in the world, don't they?

STUDENT : Yes, sir.

PROF: So, who created them? (Student has no answer.)

PROF: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe

the world around you. Tell me, son...Have you ever seen God?

STUDENT : No, sir.

PROF: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?

STUDENT : No, sir.

PROF: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God?

Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?

STUDENT : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

PROF: Yet you still believe in Him?

STUDENT : Yes.

PROF: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol,

science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?

STUDENT : Nothing. I only have my faith.

PROF: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.

STUDENT : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

PROF: Yes.

STUDENT : And is there such a thing as cold?

PROF: Yes.

STUDENT : No sir. There isn't. (The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)

STUDENT : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat,

mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no
heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat.

We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of
heat, sir, just the absence of it.(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)

STUDENT : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

PROF : Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?

STUDENT : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?

PROF: So what is the point you are making, young man?

STUDENT : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

PROF: Flawed? Can you explain how?

STUDENT : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue
there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You
are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can
measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses
electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully
understood either one.To view death as the opposite of life is to be
ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.

Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it.

Now tell me, Professor.Do you teach your students that they evolved
from a monkey?

PROF: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes,
of course, I do.

Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize
where the argument is going.)

STUDENT : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at
work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor,
are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a
preacher? (The class is in uproar.)

STUDENT : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?(The class breaks out into laughter.)

STUDENT : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's
brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so.
So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable,
demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain,sir.

With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?
(The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face
unfathomable.)

PROF: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.

STUDENT : That is it sir... The link between man & god is FAITH. That

is all that keeps things moving & alive.

NOTE : I believe you have enjoyed the conversation...and if so...you'll probably want your friends/colleagues to enjoy the same...won't you?.... this is a true story, and the student was none other than...
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the present president of India.

*******

Quiz

2006-07-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

http://www.mikescomputerinfo.com/inteltest.htm

ha...just got this as a scrap in Orkut... I got a 6 out of 11 :-)... try and see how much u get..
--
Guru Fateh,
Abhi

Baba Bulley Shah

2006-06-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

found some nice translations of Baba Bulley Shah works in English @ this url...
http://www.apnaorg.com/poetry/bulleheng/

Samagam @ GK1 Gurudwara Sahib

2006-06-30T11:29:00.000-07:00

sorry for me writing this late ji.. but for those living in New Delhi.. the Gurudwara Singh Sabha (Pahadi walaa), GK-1 has been doing samagams almost every week now to commemerate the 400th aniversary of Guru Arjan Dev ji's shaheedi... This saturday (june 31st) Bhai Surinder Singh Ji Jodhpuri (Hazoori raagi), among other great keerteneay jis would do kirtan... I forgot to write down the whole program ji.. but heres the sketch...
Rehraas Sahib da paath @ 6 PM.. kirtan commences at 7 PM.. Bhai Surinder Singh Ji wud do kirtan from 8:30 pm to 10 pm ji.. followed by Guru ka Langar.
Sat Naam.

orkut

2006-06-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

i was introduced to orkut.com around 2 years ago... almost at the same time as when i got an account on gmail... but i never really explored it (orkut) until recently... the objective being to meet and interact with Gursikhs and learn from the discussions (for those who dont know about orkut.com.. it's a portal wherein one needs to be part of a community to recieve messages sent to it and send messages to it.. just like usenet newsgroups).
My initial experience was disappointing..anyone can write anything..bad language, crude comments, discussions left uncontrolled... no moderation!..and for me.. someone who has had a great time being inspired travelling the blogsphere and frequently visiting beautiful and motivational blogs like those of Lakhvir Singh ji, Gurumustuk Singh ji, Puneet Kaur ji, etc.. the orkut communities at first looked.. like a 'waste of time'.
But then I saw some very nice threads.. for example.. a singh started out a thread sayin.. "lets have a 'forever quiz' on Sikhi".. and then he poses a question which someone answers.. and that someone asks another question.. and the thread goes longer!!.. covering topics on sikhi / sikh history / rehet / the Guru's jeevan... AMESOME!!

back when i joined.. one needed an invitation to be a part of orkut.. not sure if an invite is still required to join :-\.. if yes, and if any of u is interested in joining ji.. please lemme know ji, and will invite u.

Here's an article on "The Importance Of The 5 Kakkars" posted by one Ravneet Singh on the "Sikhism community"...JasKirat's doubts are similar to those that were swarming in my mind at one time..
==================

A son questions his father, and the father responds.

Jaskirat was from a fairly affluent family of Panjab and had been residing in a hostel for eleven years. His friends did not consider him to be ‘hip’ (westernized) enough, and this was certainly a drawback. Being ‘hip’ provided the key to the all-night parties and was a measure of the upward social mobility among the student community. Jaskirat’s flowing beard and his refusal to join his friends in drinking bouts and smoking joints of marijuana earned him the nickname of “Sant Maharaj Ji.” “Don’t you smoke?” was the usual query. “Come on, you must be smoking in your room, all Sikhs do. Go ahead, we are not going to write to your old man.”

When Jaskirat told his friends that he did not smoke, they were not pleased with him and were not ready to take his word. They called him a hypocrite behind his back. But his ostracism on campus did not end there; the pressures were increasing every day. Amrita Kaur, a popular classmate and good friend of Jaskirat, was unwilling to accept his invitation to a party because he insisted on carrying a Kirpan with him. For her it was a sign of cultural shallowness and crudeness of the mind. Such behavior was certainly an obstacle in her endeavor to be one with the ‘in-crowd’. She was in no mood for a compromise this time and was determined to put him on the spot. In her intellectual anger, she tersely told him, “You claim to be progressive in your views, but you still carry a sword like a feudal hero. If it is for self defense and honor, which you are so fond of claiming, then a machine gun would be more efficient to do the job. Live in the present, do not be a priest of the past.” She slipped a note in Jaskirat’s room in the hostel, offering him a job as a “moral science teacher in a convent school.”

Unable to carry on with the ever-increasing pressure of his tightrope walking, Jaskirat decided to write to his father, who was keen to see his son as a Guru ka Sikh. He was fortunate to have as his father a famous poet – who had been a guest lecturer at Cambridge, Harvard, and Michigan, and had spoken before various international associations and institutions.

Letter of the Son

My dear Dad,

Sat Sri Akal.

1. It is with extreme pain, conflict, and misery that I resolved to write to you about my inability to accept the 5 K’s. I have no question about the efficacy of these symbols three centuries ago. They were essential in times of war to maintain the identity of Sikhs and give them a common denominator of unity. It was a good strategy for fighting against an enemy bent on destroying the very seeds of Sikhism. But for the present, these symbols have no justification, no meaning or any convincing explanation. Sardar Partap Singh wrote a five-page article on the utility of the 5 K’s, but when I met him at the club last month, he was definitely not carrying a Kirpan. He is no exception in these double standards.

It is not me alone who has felt this lacuna, but most Sikh boys in my college are also unable to accept these symbols and their validity for everyday life.

They can establish no coherent connection between a Kirpan and the human effort for the communion with God. In no way can I convince them that these symbols make me more of a Sikh than them. They are recognized as much Sikh as I am. In fact more so because they are seen in tune with the modern times, I as an idiot who sees in a set of 5 symbols a stepping stone for my liberation in the future. The belief in God, the harm in smoking, the ill effects of drinking, the daily reading of the Japji – all these I have no objections to accept; but the 5 symbols do not fit into any logical framework. A happy life and the 5 symbols seems to me to be an absurd and illogical equation.

2. As beliefs shape experience, these symbols become an inescapable reality. Once the mind has experienced the pleasure, which identification through these symbols brings, the mind is firmly entrenched in this deceptive pleasure and nothing can shake it. The end result is that we are slaves of this false identification. We do not want to question them because that would not be honorable. And the older generation does not want us to inquire; they do not have the courage to face our questions. The acceptance of these symbols with them has become the means for gaining status in society. But Dad, there must be freedom to grasp our own instincts and act accordingly. Why can’t I free myself from this structure of imitation? It is constantly building up fear in me and this fear is further strengthening this structure. To be my own self, I must break these imposed symbols.

3. My belief in God is not bound to my hair. These symbols are not religion, they are only the result of being forced to conform to war conditions. Is not religion something, much purer, and much deeper than these symbols? We must learn to live without these symbols and face reality. These signs have to be discarded and life has to be seen as it is.
We are told that cultural, military, psychological, social, political, economic, spiritual, physical, and sexual factors were the main considerations, which made Guru Gobind Singh endow the Sikhs with the 5 K’s. If I accept one set of these explanations, the next set contradicts the former. The explanations for the 5 K’s are a paradise of pick and choose. One may choose the one, which fancies an individual the most, very much like a nice trouser in a show window. It is not strange if some think that the choice is still not wide enough to appeal to their senses. So they come out with the choice of discarding these symbols.

If I take the view that the Kirpan is for self-defense, can I discard it if I have twenty bodyguards with all the latest equipment for my protection? Similarly, I can question the necessity of the other K’s.

Daddy, I am utterly incapable of understanding the value, the justification and the imposition of these symbols. I am prepared to take the challenge and I give you my word that in case you can show me the way and the significance of these symbols, I will enjoy living the life of an Amritdhari Sikh.

Your loving son,

Jaskirat

Reply from the Father

Dearest Jaskirat,

Sat Sri Akal. It is a pleasure to hear it all, so plainly stated. I understand your feelings and I hope to be able to calm your mental anguish.

1. When you leave the university and face the world it seems to me that what is crucial in life is not to succumb to various pressures, but to understand and feel them as they are. You may questions what is given to you or what many of your age assert, is being forced upon you – but this also means that you must question yourself. It is only with such an integrated total approach, that you will understand not only the Kakaars, but also appreciate the agonies, the joys, the pain, the pleasure, the vanities and the hope of living.

Over and over again, you want to know the significance of the 5 K’s? In our efforts to be practical individuals, we want to imbibe only what is of utility and significance, the rest we want to discard. The search for significance in everything is a curse of the present century. It is a form of self-killing and therefore it breeds the fear of living. The whole world, all your friends, your relations, everyone is struggling for significant and useful things. But what might be significant for you, might not be so for your friends.

If you go to a man who has ill health, he will undoubtedly say, what is significant is good health. If you go to a mother, she will say the significant thing is to have a son. This is the reason you find an intricate web of explanations, for the significance of the 5 K’s.

2. The first step in your questioning of the 5 K’s should be to get free of this yoke of significance. It is this illusionary search for significance, which has made many youth and their seniors to discard their articles of faith. They see no value in them. A Briton was asked, “Why do you wear a turban? Is it not enough for you to practice the philosophy of Guru Gobind Singh in your social and personal life?” He replied, “The people accept me as the son of Guru Gobind Singh. Is it not enough reason to wear the turban?” This can be understood when we see many people, particularly the youth, having clothes and shoes bearing brand names. The Sikhs are similarly proud to wear the brand name of Guru Gobind Singh. It is a pity that we want to reduce Sahib Guru Gobind Singh Ji, to our own mundane level of thinking and view all his actions in light of practical utility. If he was in search of merely objects of practical utility, he could have made a truce with Aurangzeb, when the latter made the offer. If the Guru wanted the 5 K’s to be reflections of practical use values, he could have very well added not only more weapons, but instead of a sword, he could have given us a gun, as guns did exist at that time. But he was not inspired out of a hunt for weapons of self-defense or practical value, as we would make it out, reflecting our own thinking backwards in history. The sword, anyway, in the battlefield would have been useless without a shield.

The Kanga, the Kesh, the Kara, the Kirpan, the Kachha, were all delicate gifts of love and beauty to the Khalsa from a man who desired nothing for himself, but everything for the Khalsa. These gifts were from a Guru who totally surrendered everything for the cause and unique love of the Khalsa. “If thou art zealous of playing the game of love, then enter upon my path with thy head on thy palm.” It was out of such love that these gifts were presented to the Khalsa and not out of any attempts to carve out soldiers.

When there is total love, there is action, there is sacrifice, is there not? The love of the Guru for the Khalsa was not the result of mental vibrations. In his life, there was no gap between love and action, as there is between our thinking and action. It is only we who want to be one-sided in our love and make claims of loving the Guru in our ideals. Consequently we reason out that we don’t have to express our love for Him in action, in the Kesh. But can there be love without total commitment and action? No. The total love of the Guru for the Khalsa becomes apparent in the book titled the Sarbloh, where, He becomes one with the Khalsa and portrays the Khalsa as his highest love:

Khalsa is the breath of my body,
Khalsa is the very soul of my life.
…
Khalsa gives me intellect and wisdom,
Khalsa is my object of meditation.

The mind that lives the Sikh way of life can know what is the beauty of the gifts the Guru gave to us. The 5 ornaments that we wear are the gifts, from the Guru whose whole family was sacrificed for the total love of the Khalsa. Could such a Guru be looking for practical utilities of an animal existence? He was not the person to endow us with gifts of mere practical value, but gifts of love, which knew no questioning, no bartering, no deals, and no betraying. His was a total sacrifice and a total love, in both thought and action, for the happiness of the Khalsa. These gifts had their pangs of birth in a sea of human blood. It was not out of any practical benefit that the evil genius of the Mughal government announced awards for the hair of the Sikhs. It was because they knew that, the Khalsa, deprived of these gifts (the Guru’s love), would disintegrate.

3. The Kirpan is a gift from Guru Gobind Singh Ji to the Khalsa. It is not to be judged and measured as a weapon of war or peace, it is a gift activated by the love of the Guru. Even a whole army of bodyguards or the best police state in the world cannot make it redundant. It shall always remain attached to me. The sword is the love wherein the Guru resides.

You say it is inconvenient, frustrating, and impractical to grow our hair long. But more frustrating is an existence of no inspiration and no effort. Our superficial hollow life is no way less discouraging. The day to day fragmentary living, the everyday struggle for food, the daily pain, suffering, distress, torments, and headaches are in no way less discomforting. But in spite of all this, do we cease to exist?

4. The Kara has to be received by us as a present with the message, “Guru loves me. He made me His own.” You want to question the utility of the iron bangle of the Guru, but not of the gold bangle which is so much in vogue at Sikh engagement ceremonies today. You are ready to discard the Guru’s bangle for the yellow metal. Kara comes to us as a manifestation of His love and benediction. From the day we put it on our wrists, the Kara was forever ours; no one could separate it from a Sikh. And we still want to find reasons for wearing it.

Jaskirat, do not make our presents into dead symbols, they are the gorgeous ornaments of the living. We are the ‘wedded devotees’ of God. They are the wedding gifts from our Bridegroom. He gave all of them to us and they are God-sent, imperishable, indispensable, and indestructible. You may object and say all this is irrational, unacceptable, superstitious, and fatalistic. But the waves of pure love always have their own logic, irrationality and fatalism. I love the Guru’s irrationality – if you want to call it so. “To serve them pleases me.” I don’t have the courage to reject such devotion.

Does a would-be-wife question the intrinsic value of the engagement ring she is gifted by her husband? No, never, even if it is made of copper or a shell. Today, you want to discard these gifts, because gold has more value. The choice is yours, the consequences are yours. The bliss of love is yours, the solitude of separation is yours. These gifts are not to be stored in the darkness of cellars; drink deep into them, if you want to live in spiritual grandeur.

5. The head of a Sikh, (the Kesh of a Singh) having been once offered to and accepted by the Guru, is in unceasing trust with Him. It is, therefore, imperative for a Sikh to carry his head high and not to bow it before a mortal barber. It shall only bend and bow before the Guru.

Every day we recite in our prayer, “Nanak das sada kurbani.” “Nanak thy servant is ever a sacrifice to Thee.” But instead we sacrifice our 5 K’s. Shocking is our spirit of sacrifice. Are we the worthy inheritors of this heritage? After drawing on his blood, now by discarding our 5 K’s, we want to stab him in the back!

Jaskirat, one kilometer from the Lahore railway station stands a gurdwara, sacred to the Sikhs in the loving memory of Bhai Taru Singh Ji. It bears the name of Shaheed Ganj, the Abode of Martyrs. The governor said to him, “Somehow my heart does not permit me to have you killed, but you must cut and present me your tress-knot.”

Taru Singh replied, “The Sikh and his hair are one. I will be pleased to give you more than you ask me, my head with my tress-knot. These hairs are the eternal gift of love, they cannot be separated from a Singh’s head without separating his head.” Hearing the offer of a high office and an estate for his tress-knot, the Singh continued, “Neither my life, nor my hair are for bargaining in your court which views beauty, life, and religion in weights of gold. The value and beauty of our hair cannot be measured in terms of luxuries and jagirs.”

Thakur Rabindranth Tagore, a great mystic-poet of Bengal and a Nobel laureate, has beautifully sung of this episode: “More than asked for.”

Jaskirat, if Bhai Taru Singh had looked for practical utility, significance and relevance, wouldn’t he have exchanged his hair for a jagir, for beautiful women, and the power he was offered? But all these he regarded as worthless when he weighed them with his way of life. If the hair were mere symbols for him, would he have staked his life for them? We find not only Bhai Taru Singh, but a whole galaxy of martyrs in our history, all playing with their lives, which appears to us so irrational and fatalistic.

6. Knowledge is like a kerosene lamp; on a dark night, it can illuminate only so long as it has fuel. Life is much vaster and deeper, it cannot be lived with the aid of an extinguishable lamp. Knowledge is essential to everyday existence, as money is to buy your food, but it cannot grasp the reality of love, of God, of living. Love is not to be hooked in the net of intelligence; if you use knowledge to grasp love, it will die as a fish does out of water. After the victory of the battle of Bhangani, Guru Gobind Singh Ji blessed Pir Budhu Shah with no treasures and no elephants for his services, as was the custom of that time. However, the Guru gave him the gift of a Kirpan and a comb with some broken hair of his. This very ‘jewelry’, he presented to all of us, in spite of the fact that our lives were not wrought in the furnace of sacrifice; a jewelry which no craftsman, no intellectual, no jeweler is capable of imitating.

Jaskirat, ask not from me, the significance and the value of our tress-knots, for I am incapable of describing it. In our mystical tress-knots, insipid mankind is inspired. People build monuments for the dead, you want to uproot the living monument the Guru gave to you. If you want it to disintegrate you may, but you shall forever be buried under it. The beauty and the love can never be dissected and summed up. What would the cuckoo’s song mean to you, if you want to take down its notations and analyze them? What would your mother’s love be for you if you want to know her by analysis?

In the end, let me conclude that the Kesh, the Kachha, the Kara, the Kanga, the Kirpan, are the gifts, chiseled out for the Khalsa by the Divine Artist. These are the gifts endowed to us forever, by the Divine Bridegroom, on the day of our ‘marriage’ to Him on Baisakhi in 1699. We will carry His gifts of love, in honor, purity, and splendor. Our love will blossom in all climes, in all times and in all continents.

Your loving father,

Harcharan Singh

Later, Jaskirat Singh served with the Indian Diplomatic Corps in Germany. He sponsored several study circles on the Sikh way of life in London, Geneva, Berlin, and Delhi. With his inspiration, twenty-five Sikh boys in Germany, who had under environmental pressures cut their hair, very lovingly took the Amrit.

Gurbar Akaal!!

Humbly,
Abhi

newspaper article: June 18th 2006

2006-06-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

read this article in the sunday news... didnt know what to think of it....

a Hi Res version of the above image can be found here ji...

Thank you,
Abhi

Why do you keep your hair unshorn?

2006-06-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Harmeet Singh

Just sharing an interesting post on a question asked to a singh.
-----------
I remember this singh once telling me, he was at the Hong Kong Int. Airport.
a Caucasian walked up to him and asked, why do you keep your hair unshorn.

presuming the man was a Christian, he asked, are you a Christian?

the man replied, yes.

he asked, why did Jesus Christ keep his hair?

the man replied, oh, because he was the son of god.

singh ji replied, so am I.

Caution: Sevadaar at work.. haha

2006-06-28T03:48:00.000-07:00

Gur Fateh ji.. to everyone in the distribution list..
Sevadaar Ismeet ji :-p at work... check out his very own blog @ http://sangatdeseva.blogspot.com/ !! I think he'd soon be uploadin the pictures of the saturday seva at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.

also ji...Just wanted you all to know ji that since I'm leaving my present organisation, this list would most likely get deleted / archived :-(. However, have copied all the email addresses and would add them to a new list soon ji. I've uploaded the blog with some pictures taken at the Pawan Asthan, Gurudwara Sri Sant Bhawan, Paanipat.. and also.. some other clips / pictures. please see if you get a chance to visit ji.
Guru Rakha ji...

</Abhi>

Fwd: If you missed doing path today.

2006-06-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: kirandeep.singh
Date: Jun 26, 2006 7:39 PM
Subject: If you missed doing path today.
To: **********@ yahoogroups.com, ********@cisco.com

Sat Shri Akal ji,

I thought of forwarding this link to you guys. Incase you forget to do path in the morning you can do it here. My sister says it is very important that we do path every day coz even if we miss a single day, we have to restart from day one, like we do chaliya, if we miss going to gurudwara we can't continue with rest of the days of chaliya, we have to restart it. So we can't afford to take an off from our path.

http://www.sikhmarg.com/

God bless you all.
Kirandeep Singh
Extn : 3204
IPLC : 801-747-4091

Sarovar de kande...

2006-06-25T04:13:00.000-07:00

Shabad Choki and Nitmen at the banks of the Sarovar of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, New Delhi...

Bhai Manpreet Singh ji (Kanpur)

2006-06-25T03:27:00.000-07:00

shot via camera phone @ Gurudwara Singh Sabha (Pahadi Wala), GK-1, New Delhi

Gur Arjan Vitho Kurbaani

Aise Gur ko

Amrit Vela - Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

2006-06-25T03:06:00.000-07:00

Darshan - Gurudwara Sri Sant Bhawan, Israana - Panipat, India

2006-06-24T00:12:00.000-07:00

Vaheguroo G ka Khalsa, Vaheguroo G ki Fateh!

Ismeet and I went to Gurudwara Sri Sant Bhawan, Israana, Panipat, India ( Israana Sahib ) 2 weeks ago (12th June).. fellow blogger Puneet Kaur ji was kind enough to make me aware of the samagam there organised on the barsi of the Wadde Sant Ji. It was a so very amazing... BLISS through and through...
All those in Delhi.. please do try and make it to this Paavan Asthaan. It's 17 kilometers down once you turn left for the 'Rothak - Gohana' road upon reaching Panipat (3 hours drive at most).

It was so very wonderful to see Khalsa flourish there... Saffron and White whereva I looked!!.. and gee... people addressin me as 'Khalsa ji'.. cooool!!.. am not used to people givin me that kind of respect.. hehe
Here are some pictures we took while there...

Karha Prashad Being made...

arth of 'Ik On-kar'...

'The Harmandir Sahib' or the pawan Asthan where Wadde Sant Ji nu Guru Nanak Dev Ji de Darshan hoye si.That is why there is parkash of 'EK ONKAR' there.

Ismeet, takin a pic of the jyot lit under the Bir / paalki Sahib platform.

Wadde Sant Ji's Angitha Asthan Ji...

Seva Seva Everywhere !!

Langar Hall - Vaheguroo ji was kind.. we got to do lots of Langar Seva when there!

Amrit being served...

Bulliten board of the school being run my the Gurudwara Management / Sant ji.. Pictures taken @ the annual day...

While returning.. we saw this beautiful bus / float made for Guru Ji.. Its services were utilized at the time of 300th anniversary of Shaheedi of the chote Sahibzaaday. On asking the Bhai Sahib driving it we got to know that they'll be renovating it for the 400th anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev ji's Saheedi... for a trip from Gurudwara Rakab Gunj, New Delhi to Fateh Garh Sahib.

Blessed be :-),
Abhi

p.s...thanks Puneet Kaur ji for proofreading the post and making this murakh aware of the mistakes..hopefully Ive removed the errors... Guru Rakha ji.

Fw:Shaheedi....

2006-06-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

VahegurooG ka Khalsa, VahegurooG ke Fateh...

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: jatinder.singh
To: akaalstudents
Cc: naamchitaave

Shaheedi….

Under Guru Arjan the Sikh religion became very popular. It was making rapid progress. More and more people of all castes were becoming Sikhs. Even a large number of Muslims had accepted Guru Arjan as their guide and religious teacher, or their Guru. The Muslim priests - Qazis and Mullahs - did not like this. They wanted that all non-Muslims should become Muslims. But just the opposite was happening under the Guru's guidance. He was standing in their way. He must be stopped. They began to make plans against him.

The first three Mughal Emperors had been kind and just to all their people. They did not work against any religion. Babar, Humayun and Akbar had even more friends with the Sikh Gurus. After Akbar, his son, Jahangir had sat on the throne. His policy and views were different. He wanted to spread Islam or the Muslim religion.The Qazis and Mullahs met him. They spoke against the Guru. They urged him to stop the spread of Sikhism. "If that is not done soon said they, "very few Muslims will be left in the country. The only way to do this is to put an end to Guru Arjan's life". The Emperor promised to meet their wishes.

It so happened that Jahangir's son Khusrau rose against him. He wanted to become the emperor in place of his own father. He fought against Jahangir. Khusrau lost the battle, and ran away towards Lahore. Jahangir went after him. He wanted to catch and punish him. He knew that many people had helped the rebel prince. As he went along, he made enquiries to find out such people. He punished as many of them as he could catch.

On his way to Lahore, he passed by Goindwal and Tarn Taran. He made a halt at the former place. All along, he went on making enquiries to find out Khusrau's helpers. He asked people, "Did anybody help Khusrau?" He made the enquiry at Goindwal, too. Nobody said a word against the Guru. The Guru had a number of enemies like Chandu, Prithia, some Brahmins, and Qazis. If the Guru had helped Khusrau they would certainly have said so to Jahangir.Jahangir reached Lahore. After some time he got ready to return to Delhi. The enemies of Guru Arjan decided to act. They made up a false story against him. They met Jahangir. They said to him, "Khusrau met Guru Arjan at Goindwal. He asked for help from the Guru. The Guru prayed for his success against Your Majesty. He also gave him a large sum of money".

On hearing this, Jahangir became red with anger. He had already made up his mind to put an end to Guru Arjan's life. He had made that resolve on account of what the Qazis and Mullahs had told him. Now he had been given another excuse against the Guru. He had helped the Emperor's rebel son. He must be punished for having worked against the Emperor.

Jahangir did not make any enquiry. He did not try to find out the truth. He had no time to do so. He had no mind to do so. He forgot one most important fact. Otherwise, he would not have believed the Guru's enemies. That fact was this. No such report had been made to him at Goindwal or at any other place. He had made enquiries at every place.But Jahangir only wanted some excuse against the Guru. He remembered the promise that he had given to Qazis to put an end to the Guru's life and activities. He was glad that he had an excuse to fulfil that promise.He acted at once. He said to his men, "Go to Amritsar, arrest the Guru, and bring him here to me". Then he said to his officers, "When the Guru is brought here, put him to death with torture.He gave these orders and left for Delhi. His men went to Amritsar, arrested Guru Arjan Dev, took him to Lahore, and handed him over to the Emperor's officers there.

TORTURES

Jahangir's officers at Lahore were to carry out his orders regarding Guru Arjan. They began to make plans for torturing the Guru. Chandu, an enemy of the Guru, was one of those officers. He said to them, "I shall carry out the Emperor's orders. I have made my plans. Give the Guru into my hands. I shall kill him with torture

The officers agreed at once. Chandu took the Guru to his palace in Lahore. There he said to the Guru, "You know what you have done against me. Now I am going to take my revenge. Be ready".The Guru replied, "I bear no enemies or ill-will against any one. All happens as God Almighty wills it to happen. I am prepared to accept His Will. You may do what you like".

Chandu began to torture the Guru.

On the first day, the Guru was not given anything to eat or drink. He was not allowed to sleep at night. He was kept awake. He bore all this most calmly. He kept thinking of God - repeating His Name, and reciting Holy hymns.

On the following day, Chandu made the Guru sit in a big copper vessel. He filled the vessel with water. He ordered his men to light a fire under the copper vessel.The water began to get hot. After a time, the water began to boil. It scalded the Guru's body. But the Guru sat calmly and quietly. He felt no pain. He gave out no cry. He did not even sigh. He felt no anger against those who were torturing him. He went on praying to God. He prayed for strength to bear everything with calmness and courage. He went on repeating His name. He went on repeating, "All is happening, O Lord, according to Thy Will. Thy Will is ever sweet to me." The boiling water made the Guru's flesh soft and painful. Blisters appeared all over his body.

On the third day, Chandu ordered his men, "Make some sand red hot in iron pans. Seat the Guru in boiling water. Then pour the red hot sand on his head and body". This was done. The water boiled his flesh from below. The burning red-hot sand burned his head and body from above. The persons engaged in torturing him were wet with sweat. They felt most uncomfortable because of the heat. It was the hottest summer month. But the Guru kept calm and quiet. He felt no pain. He uttered no cry. He did not sigh. He felt no anger against those who tortured him. He kept thinking of God. He kept repeating His Name, He kept repeating, "Thy Will to me is ever sweet, 0 Lord!"

Hazrat Mian Mir was a great Muslim saint of Lahore. He was the friend of the Guru. He was greatly respected by all Muslims. Even Emperor Jahangir had great respect for him. Hazrat Mian Mir heard of what was happening to Guru Arjan. He was very sad at the news. He went to see the Guru. On seeing the Guru being tortured, Hazrat Mian Mir cried out in grief and pain. He said to the Guru, "May I appeal to the Emperor for your release? May I ask him to punish these people who are torturing you?"

The Guru said, "No brother, All is happening in accordance with God's Will. Men who stand for Truth have often to suffer. Their sufferings give strength to the cause of Truth. Go, brother. Pray for me. Pray for the success of my cause. Pray for victory to Truth."

On the fourth day, the Guru was made to sit on an iron plate. It was heated from below. The iron place became red hot with the heat. The Guru's flesh began to be roasted. Burning red-hot sand was poured on his body. The Guru sat calm and quite. He seemed to feel no pain. He did not sigh. He uttered no cry. He felt no anger against his torturers. He sat with his mind fixed on God. He kept repeating His Name. He kept repeating, "Thy Will is ever sweet to me, O Lord!"

On the fifth day, the Guru was to be sown into the skin of a cow. The Guru asked to be taken to the river Ravi for ablution. He entered the river and was never seen again, thus ended the martyrdom of Guru Arjan.

Vaheguroo Ji...

Look Closer..

2006-06-09T00:02:00.000-07:00

--
Regards,
Abhi

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: L T <shernee>
Date: Jun 9, 2006 5:06 AM
Subject:
To:

Crabby Old Woman

     What do you see, nurses?
     What do you see?
     What are you thinking
     When you're looking at me?

     A crabby old woman,
     Not very wise,
     Uncertain of habit,
     With faraway eyes?

    Who dribbles her food
    And makes no reply
    When you say in a loud voice,
    "I do wish you'd try!"

    Who seems not to notice
    The things that you do,
    And forever is losing
    A stocking or shoe?

    Who, resisting or not,
    Lets you do as you will,
    With bathing and feeding,
    The long day to fill?

    Is that what you're thinking?
    Is that what you see?
    Then open your eyes, nurse,
    You're not looking at me.

    I'll tell you who I am
    As I sit here so still,
    As I do at your bidding,
    As I eat at your will.

    I'm a small child of ten
    With a father and mother,
    Brothers and sisters,
    Who love one another.

     A young girl of sixteen
     With wings on her feet
     Dreaming that soon now
     A lover she'll meet.

     A bride soon at twenty,
     My heart gives a leap,
     Remembering the vows
     That I promised to keep.

     At twenty-five now,
     I have young of my own,
     Who need me to guide
     And a secure happy home

     A woman of thirty,
     My young now grown fast,
     Bound to each other
     With ties that should last.

    At forty, my young sons
    Have grown and are gone,
    But my man's beside me
    To see I don't mourn.

    At fifty once more,
    Babies play round my knee,
    Again we know children,
    My loved one and me.

    Dark days are upon me,
    My husband is dead,
    I look at the future,
    I shudder with dread.

    For my young are all rearing
    Young of their own,
    And I think of the years
    And the love that I've known.

    I'm now an old woman
   And nature is cruel;
   'Tis jest to make old age
    Look like a fool.

    The body, it crumbles,
    Grace and vigor depart,
    There is now a stone
    Where I once had a heart.

    But inside this old carcass
    A young girl still dwells,
    And now and again,
    My battered heart swells.

   I remember the joys,
   I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living
Life over again.

I think of the years
All too few, gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact
That nothing can last.

So open your eyes, people,
Open and see,
Not a crabby old woman;
Look closer . . . see ME!!

Mouse Trap

2006-06-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.

"What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning.

"There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr.
Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.

The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

--
Humbly, Abhijit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Man Jeetay, Jag Jeet !
Conquer your own mind, and you shall conquer the world.
---------------------------------------------- SGGS 6:17(Japjee Sahib),
_____________________________________________________________________
Read All the emails sent to this alias at the below mentioned Web Log
http://akaalpurakhdifauj.blogspot.com/
_____________________________________________________________________

Fwd: [Akaalstudents] Guru Jee's Juggat...

2006-06-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

Daas,

Abhijit Singh

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: jatinder.singh

Date: Jun 4, 2006 11:08 PM
Subject: Guru Jee's Juggat...
To: akaalstudents

nwnk siqguir ByitAY pUrI hovY jugiq ]
hsMidAw KylMidAw pYnMidAw KwvMidAw ivcy hovY mukiq ]

"Guru Jee says, meeting the True Guru, one comes to realise perfect knowledge.
While; laughing, playing, dressing and consuming fine foods, he/she is liberated."

(SGGSJ Ang 522)

Fwd: [Akaalstudents] Guru Jee Answers (Eating meat)

2006-06-02T16:32:00.000-07:00

Regards,
Abhi

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: jatinder.singh
Date: Jun 3, 2006 1:16 AM
Subject: [Akaalstudents] Guru Jee Answers (Eating meat)
To: *********************@yahoogroups.com
Cc *********************@external.cisco.com

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee prohibits eating of animal flesh in clearcut and unambiguous language in a number of places:

Few Examples:----

Jee Badhoh So Dharam Kar ThaapohAdharam Kaho Kat Bhai.
Aapas Ko Munwar Kar Thaapoh, Kaa Ko Kaho Kasaaee. (pg. 1103)
You kill animals and call it religion (Rahit); then what indeed is irreligion (Kurahit)? Even then you consider yourself as a sage of sages; then whom to call a butcher?

Bed Kateb Kaho Mat Jhoothhay, Jhoothhaa Jo Na Bichaarey.
Jo Sabh Meh Ek Khudal Kahat Ho,To Kio Murghi Maarey. (pg. 1350)
Do not call various religious texts false. False is one who gives no thought to their contents. If you consider God is in all, then why you slaughter the chicken (i.e., life?)

Kabir Khoob Khaana Khichri, Ja Meh Amrit Lon.
Heraa Rotee Kaamey Galaa Kataavey Kon. (pg. 1374)

Blessed is the simple food of rice mixed with salt; Who would risk his head to be slain hereafter, for the meat one eats here?

Still learning.....

Fw: ONE PARAGRAPH THAT EXPLAINS LIFE...

2006-06-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

WK,WF!

Good Read...

--
|Abhijit Singh
|Manager, Training Delivery - Cisco TAC
|CIS - Orchid Square

----- Forwarded by Abhijit Anand/CCMG/CVG on 06/01/2006 11:10 PM -----

ONE PARAGRAPH THAT EXPLAINS LIFE…

Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of AIDS which he got due to infected blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983. From world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed: "Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease"?

To this Arthur Ashe replied: The world over -- 50,000,000 children start playing tennis, 5,000,000 learn to play tennis, 500,000 learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi final, 2 to the finals, When I was holding a cup I never asked GOD "Why me?". And today in pain I should not be asking GOD "Why me?"

AKJ New Delhi Program for the month of June'06

2006-05-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

AKJ

AKJ Rehn Sabhai...

2006-05-27T17:09:00.000-07:00

Waheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Jee Ke Fateh!

Below are some videos and pictures that I took at the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.. I reached there at around 2230.. the SukhAasan happens as 2300. The AKJ Rehn Sabhai took place at the sarovar of the Gurudwara Sahib.. It was ANAND all the way... singing kirtan with the sangat in AKJ style!!!...eyes were moist... and now my throat is all hoarse :)

Sukh Aasan clip...

SEWA SEWA EVERYWHERE!!

This clip isnt very clear unfortunately.. it was 11 PM so very dark. Every Saturday night, there is sewa of cleaning the Gurudwara Sahib premises.. so buckets and mops everywhere you see :)

I forgot all about taking pictures while doing kirtan. Here are some pictures taken near the Sarovar after kirtan and ardaas...the time was 0230 hrs... and Hukum was about to be read:

Sat Naam.

--
Humbly,
Abhi

2006-05-27T17:05:00.001-07:00

Entering the Gurudwara Sahib

2006-05-27T17:05:00.000-07:00

GuruJee... after the prakash.

2006-05-27T17:04:00.001-07:00

GuruJee

2006-05-27T17:04:00.000-07:00

Guru Jee 2

2006-05-27T17:03:00.001-07:00

GuruJee1

2006-05-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

Hallway on the upper floor... SGGS bir swaroops on both sides.

2006-05-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

A shot from the upper floor.. usin night shot

2006-05-27T17:01:00.000-07:00

Sachkhand

2006-05-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

Usin the Night Shot option

2006-05-27T16:59:00.000-07:00

Gurudwara Sahib

2006-05-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

Gurudwara Sahib Entrance

2006-05-27T16:57:00.000-07:00

Sarovar 5

2006-05-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

Sarovar 4

2006-05-27T16:55:00.000-07:00

Sarovar 3

2006-05-27T16:53:00.000-07:00

Sarovar2

2006-05-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

Sarovar1

Prakash Purab - "The Epitome Of Sewa" Guru Amar Das Jee

2006-05-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

Waheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Jee Ke Fateh!

Sewa dey Punj, Satguru Guru Amar Dass jee dee prakash purab deeya lakh lakh vaadiyaa houn jee!

23 May 2006 - Birthday of Guru Naanak, the 3rd - Dhan Dhan SatGuru AmarDas Jee

Sri Guru Amar Das Ji was born at Basarke, a small village in Amritsar district of Punjab, in 1479.

He happened to hear the recitation of Holy Japji Sahib from Bibi Amro, a daughter of Sri Guru Angad Sahib, and married to his own nephew. He was so much overwhelmed and enchanted by the Nectar of Immortality oozing out of the Holy Japji that He instantly rushed to the Holy Feet of Guru Nanak the Second, Sri Guru Angad Sahib. This happened in 1540.

For twelve years, the aged but truly love-intoxicated Guru Amar Das Ji served His Beloved Satguru with unparalleled selfless devotion, adoration, and worship. His unique and selfless Guru-Sewa, Guru-Bhavna, Guru-Prem, and Guru-Puja shines like a Divine Sun on the Spiritual Horizon.

He was nominated Guru Nanak the Third in 1552 by Sri Guru Angad Sahib. 907 Hymns of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji stand enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Read more about Mukti De Daate, Jagat Pitaa, Sahib Sri Guru Amar Das Ji at the following websites...

http://allaboutsikhs.com/gurus/guruamar.htm
http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Guru_Amar_Das
http://www.sikhs.org/guru3.htm

Waheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Jee Ke Fateh...
--
Humbly, Abhijit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Man Jeetay, Jag Jeet !
Conquer your own mind, and you shall conquer the world.
---------------------------------------------- SGGS 6:17(Japjee Sahib),
_____________________________________________________________________
Read All the emails sent to this alias at the below mentioned Web Log
http://akaalpurakhdifauj.blogspot.com/
_____________________________________________________________________

Fwd: Thought for the week-end

2006-05-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

Fateh Jee!!

Interesting read this.

Humbly, Abhi

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Abhijit Singh Anand
Date: Oct 11, 2005 4:54 AM
Subject: [Fwd: Thought for the Week-end]
To:

-------- Original Message --------

=======================================================

Imagine you are in Heathrow Airport.

While you're waiting for your flight, you notice a kiosk selling cookies.

You buy a box, put them in your traveling bag.

You patiently search for an available seat so you can sit down and enjoy your cookies.

Finally you find a seat next to a gentleman.

You reach down into your traveling bag and pull out your box of cookies.

As you do so, you notice that the gentleman starts watching you intensely.

He stares as you open the box and his eyes follow your hand as you pick up the cookie

and bring it to your mouth.

Just then he reaches over and takes one of your cookies from the box, and eats it!

You're more than a little surprised at this.

Actually, you are at a loss for words.

Not only does he take one cookie, but he alternates with you.

For every cookie you take, he takes one.

Now, what's your immediate impression of this guy?

Crazy?

Greedy?

He's got some nerve?!

Meanwhile you both continue eating the cookies until there is just one left.

To your surprise, the man reaches over and takes it.

But then he does something unexpected.

He breaks it in half, and gives half to you.

After he's finished with his half he gets up, and without a word, he leaves.

You think to yourself, "Did this really happen?"

You're left sitting there dumbfounded and still hungry.

So you go back to the kiosk and buy another box of cookies.

You then return to your seat and begin opening your new box of cookies

at that time you glance down into your traveling bag.

Sitting there in your bag is your original box of cookies - still unopened.

Only then do you realize that when you reached down earlier,

you had reached into the other man's bag,

and grabbed his box of cookies by mistake.

Now what do you think of the man?

Generous?

Tolerant?

You've just experienced a profound paradigm shift.

You're seeing things from a new point of view.

Now, think of this story as it relates to your life.

Seeing things from a new point of view can be very enlightening.

Is it time to change your point of view?

Think outside the box.

Don't settle for the status quo.

Be open to suggestions.

Things may not always be what they appear to be.

======================================
What do you think ?

Have a nice week-end.

To me this also suggests that possibly we without realizing eating cookies from someone else s box all the time. So&.. we must share our cookies with others.

--

______________________________________________________________________________

                         |Abhijit Anand

      |           |       |Support Engineer-Switching and Wireless Technologies

     :|:        :|:      |Cisco Systems Inc.

    :||||:      :|||:     |E-mail:

..:|||||||:..:|||||||:.. |Phone: (801) 703-2288 Ext.-57323

   Cisco Systems Inc.     |Mon - Fri:9.00 AM to 3.00 PM (MST)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------                           

ACCELERATING YOUR SUCCESS. now.

New Turban Style :o)

2006-05-22T19:22:00.000-07:00

Fateh Jee,

I needed to get my US Visa renewed for an upcoming official trip to San Jose, CA and had an interview lined up at the American Embassy for 12:30 noon yesterday (Monday).
Since morning I was trying to practice this new style of turban that I really want to change to..Had downloaded the turban tying videos from the sikhnet.com website earlier. So,.. after say, about 7-8 attempts, I almost got the shape right... It wasn't tidy though.. But still, I liked it!.. so decided to wear the new style for the whole day,.. for the visa interview too.
On reachin the embassy, I had a hard time trying to convince the interviewer that the picture on the application form (in which i have my beard tied up) "is less than 6 months old".. as per instructions mentioned on their website!..lol
But all ended well.. they believed me :)..after 3 hours of standing in the queue and completing formalities, and being interviewed, I was told that the visa has been approved and would be couriered to be!! (10 years multiple entry - Yippiee :o) !!!)

Before my going for the interview, mom took a photograph of me in the gol style turban... and here's what the camera caught :)...

--
While returnin from the embassy & walking back to the parking lot... saw this nice little quote on the "thought for the day board" of a convent..so thought will share it:

"IF YOU PAUSE TO THINK, YOU'LL HAVE CAUSE TO THANK"

Waheguru Tera Shukar Hai!
--
Abhi

That I may live for Thee...

2006-05-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

For Others
Lord, help me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way,
That even when I kneel to pray,
My prayers shall be for others.

Help me in all the work I do
To ever be sincere and true,
And know that all I do for You
Must need be done for others.

And when my work on earth is done
And my new work in Heaven's begun,
May I forget the crown I've won
While thinking still of others.

Others, Lord, yes, others!
--Let this my motto be.
Help me to live for others,
That I may live for Thee.
--Elizabeth A. Fenley

Video - The life of Guru Arjan

2006-05-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

Waheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Jee Kee Fateh.

A Gursikh friend asked to see if I could help prepare a small multimedia presentation on Guru Arjan Dev G which he and others could show at a Gurmat camp they planning to organise in a town called Sohana, Punjab.
Unfortunately, I really am not very good at reading/writing the Gurmukhi akhar; and my multimedia skills aren't anything to write home about either...but I've still made an attempt and tried to help him prepare this "rough draft" of the video which he is modifying (and translating into punjabi) for the final prez.

I realise it isn't all that well made... we spent the after-hours in office making it, with our only tools being the Windows Movie Maker and MS Paint... add to that my limited, insignificant knowledge of Gurbaani..I'm sure it must be full of errors. But I am sure the finalised one will have everything fixed... will try and upload that too, once I get it.

A better quality/size/resolution version of the above file can be viewed here:

Guru Arjan Dev Jee's Kurbaani - High Resolution
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3655838987285039803&pr=goog-sl

A detailed account of Guru Arjan's life history may be found on the allaboutsikhs.com website:

http://allaboutsikhs.com/gurus/guruarjun.htm

--
Humbly Yours,
Abhi

Guru Ajran Dev Jee's Kurbaani - 05/30/1606

2006-05-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

...and Sayeen Mia Mir , the muslim saint, on seeing this ghastly scene, cried out:

"Hukum Karo Ta Ik Chinn Andar, Dilli ate Lahore de mein Itt naal Itt kharhkaa devaan!!"

Translation: "If thou commandth me, I shall demolish this tyrant rule in the blink of an eye!!"

(It is said that Sain Mia Mir possessed supernatural powers at that time)

The Guru smiled and asked Mian Mir to look towards the skies. It is said that Mian Mir saw Angels begging the Guru's permission to destroy the wicked and the proud.

The Guru addressed Mian Mir,"Mian Mir, you are perturbed too soon. This is the Will of my Master (God), and I cheerfully submit and surrender to His Sweet Will." The Guru repeated and exemplified in action the meaning of this verse:

"Tera kia meetha lagei

Har Nam padarath Nanak mangei."

(Asa Mohalla 5, p-394)

'Sweet be Thy Will, my Lord

Nanak beseecheth the gift of Nam.'

(Translation of the above)

The Guru bore all this torture with equanimity and never uttered a sigh or a groan.

The Guru was unruffled!

The Guru remained calm and unperturbed like a sea!

The Guru was in Absolute Bliss!

This was the wonder of the Lord- an unparallel example

in the history of mankind.

...
...
...
On the 30th day of May, 1606 CE, on the banks of the River Ravi, crowds watched the Master standing in water and having a dip. Lo! The light blended with Light and the body was found nowhere. Hail to the Master! Thou art Wonderful- Martyr, the greatest. Thou art the Greatest!

Thanking RabJee...

2006-05-19T10:50:00.000-07:00

Fateh G !!
While sippin coffee at the cafe on the ground floor, was reading one of the books they've kept on their shelves... found this nice little couplet:

For all that God in His mercy sends,
For health and children, home and friends;
For comfort in the time of need,
For every kindly word and deed;
For happy thoughts and holy talk,
For guidance in our daily walk-

For Everything, Give THANKS!!

-Anonymous

--
Best Regards,
Abhi

Rate My Turban

2006-05-18T15:26:00.000-07:00

Waheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Jee Ke Fateh!

I found some beautiful turban tying styles on the www.ratemyturban.com website. I'm a little shy uploading my picture on this site :-(.. But have promised myself that I will, once I master the Gol style.. similar to the one you see the AKJ bhai sahibG wearing in the 3rd picture from the top.

There are some really nice turban tying videos on the www.sikhnet.com website. Check them out at this URL: http://www.sikhnet.com/s/tyingturbans .

Here are some pictures of sikhs from the RMT site which truly WOWed me!!

and..my personal favorite ;-)

Guru Fateh!
--
Best Regards,
Abhijit Singh Anand

Mother's Love

2006-05-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

Guru Fateh G,

http://www.employees.org/~iabhijit/Mothers.pps

Please try and find time to download and view the small "power point show" file from the link above. I got this in a memo on Mothers Day.. had a chance to read it today evening. It is a tear jerker.
P.S. I think you'd need the MS Office suite installed to view this file. If you don't have it, the MS Powerpoint Viewer can also be used... Here's the link to download it from the Microsoft website:

--
Daas,
Abhijit Singh

Thought For The Day (5/16/2006) ..Jahaan Khima, teh Aap.

2006-05-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

Kabeera, janaa gyan tah Dharam hai jahaa jhooth tah paap
Jahaa lobh tah kaal, jahaa khima tah aap

Kabeer, where there is spiritual wisdom, there is righteousness and Dharma. Where there is falsehood, there is sin.

Where there is greed, there is death. Where there is forgiveness, there is God Himself.

--Bhagat Kabeer, SGGS

--
Humbly,
Abhi

Blessings...

2006-05-16T06:01:00.000-07:00

Count Your Blessings

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Love your neighbor as much as yourself.
Author Unknown

--
Best Regards,
Abhi

Modern Sikh?

2006-05-15T11:06:00.000-07:00

Fateh jee,

Okay, it's official!.. the technology dept has finally blocked the blogger.com site. So, if you try to visit any blog, expect the WebSense bot to give you the "Access Denied" message. Well, the stealth sites still work... you make use sites like www.the-cloak.com to open blogs.
Here's a little article I liked reading..brilliant thought!!!
found it on Angad Singh G's blog: singhangad.blogspot.com :-

Respectfully,
Abhi

-------------------------------

Are you A modern Sikh??

On numerous occasions I have been asked by Sikhs and Non Sikhs if I am a Modern Sikh. When they are asked what do they Mean by modern. Yes! you guessed right. Do you have a turban or not?

Sada Sat Simran Singh is what I call a modern Sikh. A person who is modern in the true sense of the word. He is dressed in the full roop given to us by Shree Guru Gobind Singh Jee and he is enjoying a chilled coke.

Yes I wear a truban and I maintain my roop but I am modern because my thoughts are modern. These thoughts are such due to the teaching of my religion- Sikhism. Thus I believe the roop and the teachings of Sikhism make one a Modern Person.

posted by Angad Singh
Permalink ¤

-------------------------------

Blessed Be !!
--
Best Regards,
Abhijit Singh

Fwd: What would you do?

2006-05-15T07:31:00.000-07:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bhupender Pal singh
Date: May 15, 2006 2:02 PM
Subject: FW: Echo_66@What would you do?
To:

What would you do?

This could certainly be a long read, however its worth every minute.

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended.

There he told them the following story about his son Shay who was physically and mentally handicapped.
Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?"

Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son was allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around for guidance and a few boys nodded approval, why not? So he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."

Shay struggled over to the team's bench, put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but he made it to first base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to second base.

By the time Shay started towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions, and he too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward second base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay."

As Shay reached second base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned him in the direction of third base, shouting, "Run to third! Shay, run to third."

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching were on their feet, screaming, "Shay, run home!"

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.

"That day," said the father softly, with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world."

Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero making his father so happy, and coming home and seeing his mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.

Contributed by: Amrita Singh Chauhan

Thought For The Day (5/15/2006) ..Forbearance - A Virtue

2006-05-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

Children: Make forbearance thy life's ideal,
Learn hard this lesson;
Thus thou wilt become a mighty river; not a petty channel.

Sheikh Farid, Adi Granth, p 117

Help me to remember Thee...

2006-05-15T07:11:00.000-07:00

Father, lead me day by day,
Ever in Thine own sweet way;
Teach me to be pure and true;
Show me what I ought to do.

When in danger, make me brave,
Make me know that Thou canst save;
Keep me safe by Thy dear side;
Let me in Thy love abide.

When I'm tempted to do wrong,
Make me steadfast, wise and strong;
And when all alone I stand,
Shield me with Thy mighty hand.

When my heart is full of glee,
Help me to remember Thee,
Happy most of all to know
That my Father loves me so.

May I do the good I know,
Be Thy loving child below,
Then at last go home to Thee.
Ever more Thy child to be.

James Gilchrist Lawson(Ed)
Best Loved Religious Poems

--
Best Regards,
Abhijit

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, New Delhi

2006-05-14T18:10:00.000-07:00

Fateh Jee!
The Gurudwara Bangla Sahib had a lot of Sangat yesterday.. It was a sunday and was the day of Sangrand.
Below are some of the pictures I took of the Gurudwara Sahib premises and the sangat. There is also a picture of Ismeet and Harsh posing very reluntantly after doing sewa in the scorching afternoon heat of the Delhi sun (the temperatures touched 44 degree celcius).

Sincerely,
Abhi
p.s. This is the first time that i'm posting to the blog using the 'create post' button.

2006-05-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

Gurudwara Sahib

2006-05-14T18:08:00.001-07:00

Sarovar3

2006-05-14T18:08:00.000-07:00

Sarovar2

2006-05-14T18:07:00.001-07:00

Sarovar1

2006-05-14T18:07:00.000-07:00

Gurudwara Sahib

2006-05-14T18:06:00.001-07:00

Gurudwara Sahib

2006-05-14T18:06:00.000-07:00

Sangat1

2006-05-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

IsmeetG and Harshdeep

And A Meadow Lark Sang

2006-05-14T06:53:00.000-07:00

And A Meadow Lark Sang

"The child whispered, 'God, speak to me'
And a meadow lark sang.
The child did not hear.

So the child yelled, 'God, speak to me!'
And the thunder rolled across the sky
But the child did not listen.

The child looked around and said,
'God let me see you' and a star shone brightly
But the child did not notice.

And the child shouted,
'God show me a miracle!'
And a life was born but the child did not know.

So the child cried out in despair,
'Touch me God, and let me know you are here!'
Whereupon God reached down
And touched the child.

But the child brushed the butterfly away
And walked away unknowingly."

Ravindra Kumar Karnani
(Old Hindu poem)

Mothers Blesings

2006-05-12T12:03:00.000-07:00

Fateh Jee,
A beautiful, heart-warming message that I just read on the sikhnet.com website:... Happy Mothers Day !!! (14th May 2006)

http://www.sikhnet.com/sikhnet/news.nsf/NewsArchive/9E7ABD39522F876F8725716B006F9E6F

Blessed Be !

--
Sincerely,
Abhi
=======================================================

Beauty Tips :o)

2006-05-12T11:51:00.000-07:00

Beauty Tips
by Audrey Hepburn

For attractive lips,
Speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes,
Seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure,
Share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair,
Let a child run his fingers through it once a day.

For poise,
Walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed. Never throw out anybody.

Remember: if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find One at the end of your arm. As you grow older you will discover why you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

--
Sincerely,
Abhi

Dont quit !

2006-05-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

Don't quit when the tide is lowest
For it's just about to turn.
Don't quit your doubts and questions,
For there's something you may learn.

Don't quit when the night is darkest.
For it's just a while until dawn.
Don't quit when you've run the farthest,
For the race is almost won.

Don't quit when the hill is steepest.
For your goal is almost nigh.
Don't quit, for you're not a failure
Until you fail to try.

--
Best Regards,
Abhijit Singh

Thought For The Day (5/12/2006) ..Ih Japnee Kya Hoye?

2006-05-12T11:47:00.000-07:00

kabeer japnee kaath kee kiaa dikhlaavahi loay.

hirdai raam na chaythee ih japnee kiaa hoay.

Kabeer, why do you show other people your rosary beads?
You do not remember the Lord in your heart, so what use is this rosary to you?

1368-9, slok, Bhagat Kabeer Jee

Time To Pray

2006-05-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

God's Message

I got up early one morning
And rushed right into the day
I had so much to accomplish
That I didn't take time to pray.

Problems just tumbling about me -
And heavier each task :
"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered.
He answered : "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty -
But the day toiled on, gray and bleak:
I wondered why God didn't show me,
He said : "But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence
I used all my keys at the lock;
God gently and lovingly chided:
"My child, you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning
And paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time and pray.

--
Sincerely,
Abhijit

Fwd: A Short Interview with Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

2006-05-11T15:33:00.000-07:00

Waheguru G Ka Khalsa, Waheguru G Kee Fateh.

--
Best Regards,
Abhijit Singh

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Raminder Singh < >
Date: May 11, 2006 3:08 AM
Subject: A Short Interview with Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
To: abhijit.anand

This answers quite a few of our questions..

A Short Interview with Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Are Sikhs idol worshippers?

ਮਹਲਾ 5 ॥
ਜੋ ਪਾਥਰ ਕਉ ਕਹਤੇ ਦੇਵ ॥ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਹੋਵੈ ਸੇਵ ॥ ਜੋ ਪਾਥਰ ਕੀ ਪਾਂਈ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਘਾਲ ਅਜਾਂਈ ਜਾਇ ॥1॥ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਹਮਰਾ ਸਦ ਬੋਲੰਤਾ ॥ ਸਰਬ ਜੀਆ ਕਉ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਦਾਨੁ ਦੇਤਾ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਦੇਉ ਨ ਜਾਨੈ ਅੰਧੁ ॥ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕਾ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਪਾਵੈ ਫੰਧੁ ॥ ਨ ਪਾਥਰੁ ਬੋਲੈ ਨਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਦੇਇ ॥ ਫੋਕਟ ਕਰਮ ਨਿਹਫਲ ਹੈ ਸੇਵ ॥2॥ ਜੇ ਮਿਰਤਕ ਕਉ ਚੰਦਨੁ ਚੜਾਵੈ ॥ ਉਸ ਤੇ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਵਨ ਫਲ ਪਾਵੈ ॥ ਜੇ ਮਿਰਤਕ ਕਉ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਮਾਹਿ ਰੁਲਾਈ ॥ ਤਾਂ ਮਿਰਤਕ ਕਾ ਕਿਆ ਘਟਿ ਜਾਈ ॥3॥ ਕਹਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਹਉ ਕਹਉ ਪੁਕਾਰਿ ॥ ਸਮਝਿ ਦੇਖੁ ਸਾਕਤ ਗਾਵਾਰ ॥ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਘਰ ਗਾਲੇ ॥ ਰਾਮ ਭਗਤ ਹੈ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਖਾਲੇ ॥4॥4॥12॥

Fifth Mehl:
Those who call a stone (idol) their god their seva , service, is useless. Those who fall at the feet of a stone (idol) – their work is wasted in vain. (1)
My Lord and Master speaks forever. God gives His gifts to all living beings. (1) (Pause)
The spiritually blind one does not recognize that the Divine Lord is within us. Deluded by doubt, he is more and more caught up in the noose. The stone does not speak; it does not give anything to anyone. (Bathing the stone and asking it to eat food etc) – Such religious rituals are useless; such service is fruitless, (no reward is found in this service). (2)
If a corpse is anointed with sandalwood oil, what good does it do for the dead corpse? If a corpse is rolled in manure, what does the dead corpse lose from this? (3)
Says Kabeer, I proclaim this out loud behold, and understand, 'O ignorant and stupid people who are separated from the Lord! Understand and see, leaving the Lord and placing love in other things ( i.e. the love of duality) has ruined countless homes. Only those are forever in bliss who are the Lord's devotees. (4.4.12)

(P. 1160, SGGS)

Does Sikhism believe in praying to the Guru Nanak's images and pictures?

ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੁ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨ ॥

ਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਚਰਨ ਰਿਦੈ ਲੈ ਧਾਰਉ ॥ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਸਦਾ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਉ ॥1॥
ਮਤ ਕੋ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲੈ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਪਾਰਿ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Meditate on the image (i.e. enshrine the feet) of the Guru within your mind. Let your mind accept the Word of the Guru's Shabad, and His Mantra (as the highest and pure Mantras). (The Guru's Shabad is the Guru's image), enshrine (this) image of the Guru Guru's feet within your heart. (Recognizing the Guru as Vaheguru's roop, image) bow in humility forever before the Guru, the Supreme Lord God. (1) Let no one wander in doubt in the world. Without the Guru, no one can cross over. (1) (Pause) (P. 864, SGGS)

Note:
You can either place a bowl of plastic fruit in your living room and stare at it, or you can eat fruit and taste the real sweetness. Which one would you choose?

Similarly we can either stare at pictures of Guru Nanak Ji (which are merely the artists impression of what Guru Nanak Ji would like) or we can feel Guru, and become the living images of Guru Nanak Ji through Gurbani.

Hindus say that Guru Nanak was a Hindu and Muslims say Guru Nanak was a Muslim. Which is true?

ਭੈਰਉ ਮਹਲਾ 5 ॥
ਵਰਤ ਨ ਰਹਉ ਨ ਮਹ ਰਮਦਾਨਾ ॥ ਤਿਸੁ ਸੇਵੀ ਜੋ ਰਖੈ ਨਿਦਾਨਾ ॥1॥
ਏਕੁ ਗੁਸਾਈ ਅਲਹੁ ਮੇਰਾ ॥ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਤੁਰਕ ਦੁਹਾਂ ਨੇਬੇਰਾ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਉ ਨ ਤੀਰਥ ਪੂਜਾ ॥ ਏਕੋ ਸੇਵੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥2॥
ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਉ ਨ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰਉ ॥ ਏਕ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਲੇ ਰਿਦੈ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਉ ॥3॥
ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥ ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨ ॥4॥
ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹੁ ਕੀਆ ਵਖਾਨਾ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਖੁਦਿ ਖਸਮੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥5॥3॥

Bhairao, Fifth Mehl:
I do not keep (the Hindu's) fasts, nor do I observe the (fast's kept in the Muslim's) month of Ramadaan. I serve only the One Lord, who will protect me (and everyone) in the end. (1)
The One Lord, (who the Hindus call) Gusaaee, the Lord of the World, (and who Muslims call) Allah, is my God. He adminsters justice to both Hindus and Muslims. (1.Pause.)
I do not make pilgrimages to Kaaba (in Mecca, like the Muslims do), nor do I worship (like at Hindus) at sacred shrines. I serve and meditate on the One Lord, and not any other. (2)
I do not perform Hindu worship services, nor do I offer the Muslim prayers. I have taken the One Formless Lord into my heart; I humbly worship Him there. (3)
I am not a Hindu, nor am I a Muslim. My body and breath of life belong to (that God who Muslims call) Allah, (and who Hindus call) Raam. (4)
Says Kabeer, this is what I say: meeting with the Guru, my Spiritual Teacher, I realize God, my Lord and Master. ( 5.3)
(P. 1136, SGGS)

What is Sikhism's standing on drinking alcohol? Is there anything written in Guru Granth Sahib Ji?

ਸਲੋਕ ਮ: 3 ॥
ਮਾਣਸੁ ਭਰਿਆ ਆਣਿਆ ਮਾਣਸੁ ਭਰਿਆ ਆਇ ॥
ਜਿਤੁ ਪੀਤੈ ਮਤਿ ਦੂਰਿ ਹੋਇ ਬਰਲੁ ਪਵੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਇ ॥
ਆਪਣਾ ਪਰਾਇਆ ਨ ਪਛਾਣਈ ਖਸਮਹੁ ਧਕੇ ਖਾਇ ॥
ਜਿਤੁ ਪੀਤੈ ਖਸਮੁ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਦਰਗਹ ਮਿਲੈ ਸਜਾਇ ॥
ਝੂਠਾ ਮਦੁ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਪੀਚਈ ਜੇ ਕਾ ਪਾਰਿ ਵਸਾਇ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਦਰੀ ਸਚੁ ਮਦੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਆਇ ॥
ਸਦਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕੈ ਰੰਗਿ ਰਹੈ ਮਹਲੀ ਪਾਵੈ ਥਾਉ ॥1॥

Salokh, Mehlaa 3:
One person brings a full bottle, and another fills his cup.

Drinking the sharaab, alcohol, his intelligence departs, and madness enters his mind; he cannot distinguish between his own and others, and he is struck down by his Lord and Master.

Drinking it, he forgets his Lord and Master, and he is punished in the Court of the Lord. Do not drink the false wine at all, if it is in your power.

O Nanak, the True Guru comes and meets the mortal; by His Grace, one obtains the True Wine (of Naam). He shall dwell forever in the Love of the Lord Master, and obtain a seat ( i.e. respect) in the Mansion of His Presence. (1)(P. 554, SGGS

Note:
Sikhism and Panjabi culture are two different things. Unfortunately, ignorance and lack of knowledge on Gurbani has resulted in some people mistakenly interpreting that drinking alcohol is acceptable in the Sikh religion. This is totally false.

I was told that Islam is the only true religion and all others beliefs are false.

ਆਸਾ ॥
ਹਿੰਦੂ ਤੁਰਕ ਕਹਾ ਤੇ ਆਏ ਕਿਨਿ ਏਹ ਰਾਹ ਚਲਾਈ ॥ ਦਿਲ ਮਹਿ ਸੋਚਿ ਬਿਚਾਰਿ ਕਵਾਦੇ ਭਿਸਤ ਦੋਜਕ ਕਿਨਿ ਪਾਈ ॥1॥
ਕਾਜੀ ਤੈ ਕਵਨ ਕਤੇਬ ਬਖਾਨੀ ॥ ਪੜ੍ਹਤ ਗੁਨਤ ਐਸੇ ਸਭ ਮਾਰੇ ਕਿਨਹੂੰ ਖਬਰਿ ਨ ਜਾਨੀ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਸਕਤਿ ਸਨੇਹੁ ਕਰਿ ਸੁੰਨਤਿ ਕਰੀਐ ਮੈ ਨ ਬਦਉਗਾ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਜਉ ਰੇ ਖੁਦਾਇ ਮੋਹਿ ਤੁਰਕੁ ਕਰੈਗਾ ਆਪਨ ਹੀ ਕਟਿ ਜਾਈ ॥2॥
ਸੁੰਨਤਿ ਕੀਏ ਤੁਰਕੁ ਜੇ ਹੋਇਗਾ ਅਉਰਤ ਕਾ ਕਿਆ ਕਰੀਐ ॥ ਅਰਧ ਸਰੀਰੀ ਨਾਰਿ ਨ ਛੋਡੈ ਤਾ ਤੇ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਹੀ ਰਹੀਐ ॥3॥
ਛਾਡਿ ਕਤੇਬ ਰਾਮੁ ਭਜੁ ਬਉਰੇ ਜੁਲਮ ਕਰਤ ਹੈ ਭਾਰੀ ॥ ਕਬੀਰੈ ਪਕਰੀ ਟੇਕ ਰਾਮ ਕੀ ਤੁਰਕ ਰਹੇ ਪਚਿਹਾਰੀ ॥4॥8॥

Aasa.
Where have the Hindus and Muslims come from? Who put them on their different paths? Think of this, and contemplate it within your mind, O men of evil intentions. Who will go to heaven and hell? (1)

O Qazi, which book have you read? Such scholars and students have all died, and none of them have discovered the inner meaning. ( 1.Pause.)

Because of the love of woman, circumcision is done; I don't believe in it, O Siblings of Destiny. If God wished me to be a Muslim, it would be cut off by itself. (2)

If circumcision makes one a Muslim, then what about a woman? She is the other half of a man's body, and she does not leave him, so he remains a Hindu. (3)

Give up your holy books, and remember the Lord you fool, and stop oppressing others so badly. Kabeer has grasped hold of the Lord's Support, and the Muslims have utterly failed. ( 4.8)

(P. 477, SGGS)

Note:
If a group of people are going somewhere but they decide to travel differently and take different routes. Now if one of them turns around and argues that all of the others are taking the wrong route to get to the destination, then what will happen? Despite the person may be traveling the right path, but because he is so involved in looking behind and telling the others that they are wrong, the person loses track of his path in front, and so he gets lost. Similarly, fundamentalists belonging to any religion or belief, which stress on others being wrong and misled and their way being the only way, are lost and confused because instead of looking and walking forward they keep looking back.

It is alleged that God revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad so it is the truth. Is the Guru Granth Sahib Ji just random writings of human beings put together?

ਜੈਸੀ ਮੈ ਆਵੈ ਖਸਮ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਤੈਸੜਾ ਕਰੀ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਵੇ ਲਾਲੋ ॥

As the Word of the Forgiving Lord comes to me, so do I express it, O Lalo.

(P. 722, SGGS)

ਵਾਹੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਬਾਣੀ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਹੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥

Wonderful! Wonderful! is the Bani, the Divine Word, the embodiment of the Formless Lord. There is no other as great as He is.

(P. 515, SGGS)

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਬਣੀਐ ॥

The Word of the True Guru's Bani is the embodiment of Truth; through Gurbani, one becomes perfect.

(P. 304, SGGS)

Note:
When a person becomes one with the Supreme Truth, God, then he becomes the embodiment of the Truth. God speaks through the mouths of those devotees. Such devotees whose hymns were inline with the Sikhism were included in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib contains the hymns of the first five Gurus, and the ninth Guru. It also contains 937 hymns of fifteen other saints and eleven poets of the Guru's court whose compositions tallied with the gospel of the Sikh faith. Here, Godly souls who were socially labelled as Hindu, Muslim, Brahmin, or untouchable all met in the same congregation of holy souls to contribute the Truth which was revealed through those spiritual people who rose above caste, religion and materialism and had become One with the Supreme One. They had become the living images of God. They were the embodiment of the Divine Light and the Divine Truth. All the saints and poets whose writings are in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji were all Gurmukhs, who shared the same religion of doing good deeds and remembering and praising the Almighty Lord.

Do Sikhs believe in Heaven and Hell?

ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ॥
ਜੋ ਜਨ ਪਰਮਿਤਿ ਪਰਮਨੁ ਜਾਨਾ ॥ ਬਾਤਨ ਹੀ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਸਮਾਨਾ ॥1॥
ਨਾ ਜਾਨਾ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕਹਾ ਹੀ ॥ ਜਾਨੁ ਜਾਨੁ ਸਭਿ ਕਹਹਿ ਤਹਾ ਹੀ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਕਹਨ ਕਹਾਵਨ ਨਹ ਪਤੀਅਈ ਹੈ ॥ ਤਉ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨੈ ਜਾ ਤੇ ਹਉਮੈ ਜਈ ਹੈ ॥2॥
ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਮਨਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕੀ ਆਸ ॥ ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਹੋਇ ਨਹੀ ਚਰਨ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥3॥
ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਾਹਿ ॥ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੈ ਆਹਿ ॥4॥10॥

Gauree, Kabeer Jee:

That person (simply) claims that they know the Lord, who is beyond measure and beyond thought; that person with mere words enters heaven ( i.e. it is only mere talk, they are not in reality residing in heaven). (1)

I do not know where heaven is. Everyone claims that he plans to go there. (1. Pause)

By mere talk and listening (to that 'we are going to heaven), the mind is not appeased. The mind is only appeased, when egotism is conquered. (2)

(Another thing to keep in mind is that) as long as the mind is filled with the desire for heaven, he does not dwell at the Lord's Feet. (3)

Says Kabeer, unto whom should I tell this ( i.e. this is visible and clear)? The Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, is (the real) heaven. (4.10)

(P. 325, SGGS)

Note:

Hell and Heaven are two states of mind. A spiritual and godly person, who remembers God and lives a righteous and spiritual life, dwells in Heaven. A person who forgets God and wanders away from the Truth is dwelling in Hell. Hell and Heaven are not physical places as described in Islam and Christianity. A Sikh strives to be a jeevan-mukt, liberated while alive.

How can we attain God?

ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ ਮਹਲਾ 5 ਘਰੁ 4 ਦੁਪਦੇ
ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
ਕਵਨ ਸੰਜੋਗ ਮਿਲਉ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਅਪਨੇ ॥ ਪਲੁ ਪਲੁ ਨਿਮਖ ਸਦਾ ਹਰਿ ਜਪਨੇ ॥1॥
ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੇ ਨਿਤ ਧਿਆਵਉ ॥ ਕਵਨ ਸੁ ਮਤਿ ਜਿਤੁ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮੁ ਪਾਵਉ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਐਸੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਰਹੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮੇਰੇ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਸਰੁ ਨ ਕਾਹੂ ਬੇਰੇ ॥2॥1॥19॥

Raag Bilaaval Mehlaa 5 Ghar 4 Dupadas
There is One Universal Creator, who is realised through the Guru's grace.

What blessed destiny will lead me to meet my God? Each and every moment, and even every instant, by continually meditating on God, you can meet Him. (1)

Meditate continually on the Lotus Feet (the Name) of God. What wisdom will lead me to attain my Beloved Lord? (1. Pause)

(I pray) that You bless me with such mercy, O my God; That I, Nanak, never forget your Name. ( 2.1.19)

(P. 806, SGGS)

Note:

The question proposed by Guru Ji is how do we meet God? How do we attain God?

The answer is by continually remembering and meditating on God, by doing Naam Simran. God's presence is everywhere, supporting all things at all times – in today's language we could say the energy structure of the whole Universe. The Indian mystics and Sikh Gurus call that presence of God, the Supreme Light Energy Being, the 'Naam.'

If we become one with Naam, if we meditate on Naam then we essentially become one with God. We cannot see God, because we are already within God. We can only seek to experience God. Just as a fish in water cannot see water but can only experience water. Remembering that God resides everywhere, in everything and within us, we realise we are part of the Supreme Lord, which results in the removal of the veil of illusion which has prevented us from being one with God.

Guru Ang Sang !

Raminder

Little Drops Of Ocean

2006-05-11T13:00:00.000-07:00

Little drops of water,
little grains of sand,
make the mighty ocean
and the beauteous land.

And the little moments,
humble though they may be,
make the mighty ages
of eternity.

Little deeds of kindness,
little words of love,
make our earth an Eden,
like the heaven above.

So our little errors
lead the soul away,
from the paths of virtue
into sin to stray.

Little seeds of mercy
sown by youthful hands,
grow to bless the nations
far in heathen lands.

Glory then for ever
be to God on high,
beautiful and loving,
to eternity.
Julia Carney, 1845

--
Best Regards,
Abhi

Thought For The Day (5/11/2006)

2006-05-11T12:54:00.000-07:00

Good in words, in deeds a crook.
Dirty in mind and comely in looks.

Emulating those who wait in attendance,
Devoted to the Lord; in His good books.
Powerful and yet remaining meek and humble.

Says Nanak, life would be worth the living
If one came to associate with Him who resemble.

Slok 1, SGGS - AngSahib 85

--
Daas,
Abhijit Singh

A lil humour to kickstart your day ;-)

2006-05-10T06:54:00.000-07:00

The Perfect Present

A husband was in big trouble when he forgot his wedding anniversary.
His wife told him "Tomorrow there better be something in the driveway for
me that goes zero to 200 in 2 seconds flat."
The next morning the wife found a small package in the driveway. She opened
it and found a brand new bathroom scale.
Funeral arrangements for the husband have been set for Saturday.

--
BLESSED BE !!! :o)

Regards,
Abhi

The proud heart

2006-05-10T06:49:00.000-07:00

If thou desire the love of God and man, be humble, for the proud heart, as it loves none but itself, is beloved of none but itself. Humility enforces where neither virtue, nor strength, nor reason can prevail.

- Francis Quarles

--
Sincerely,
Abhi

Thought For The Day (5/10/2006).. Basay Jo Chandan Paas...

2006-05-10T06:10:00.000-07:00

kabeer chandan kaa birvaa bhalaa bayrheha-o dhaak palaas.
o-ay bhee chandan ho-ay rahay basay jo chandan paas.

Kabeer, the sandalwood tree manages to stay good,
May it be surounded by weeds.
Those who dwell near the sandalwood tree,
become just like the sandalwood tree.

----
Humbly, Abhijit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Man Jeetay, Jag Jeet !
Conquer your own mind, and you shall conquer the world.
---------------------------------------------- SGGS 6:17(Japjee Sahib),
_____________________________________________________________________
Read All the emails sent to this alias at the below mentioned Web Log
http://akaalpurakhdifauj.blogspot.com/
_____________________________________________________________________

One liners

2006-05-09T09:45:00.000-07:00

One liners .. Most of which are really true

1. Having one child makes you a parent; having two you are a referee.

2. Regular naps prevent old age... especially if you take them while driving.

3. Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right and the other is the husband!

4. I believe we should all pay our tax with a smile. I tried - but they wanted cash.

5. A child's greatest period of growth is the month after you've purchased new school uniforms.

6. Don't feel bad. A lot of people have no talent.

7. Don't marry the person you want to live with, marry the one you cannot live without... but whatever you do, you'll regret it later.

8. You can't buy love . . . but you pay heavily for it.

9. Forgiveness is giving up my right to hate you for hurting me.

10. Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.

11. Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.

12. Marriage is give and take. You'd better give it to her or she'll take it anyway.

13. My wife and I always compromise. I admit I'm wrong and she agrees with me.

14. Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

15. Ladies first. Pretty ladies sooner.

16. A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.

17. You're getting old when you enjoy remembering things more than doing them.

18. It doesn't matter how often a married man changes his job, he still ends up with the same boss.

19. Real friends are the ones who survive transitions between address books.

20. Saving is the best thing. Especially when your parents have done it for you.

21. They call our language the mother tongue because the father seldom gets to speak!

--
Best Regards,
Abhijit Singh

Thought For The Day (05/09/2006) ..Trickery

2006-05-08T14:38:00.000-07:00

Anik jatan nahi hot chutkara

It is not through trickery that one gets release
However many the tricks one tries.
Much learning only increase the load of sorrows.
It is only service and the love of God
That takes one with honour to His court.
O soul of mine! If you make the name of the Lord your shelter
No ill-will shall harm you.

As the sight of a boat of stormy seas
As the light of a lamp in the dark
As the warmth of fire in winter's cold
Does the prayer bring solace to the soul.

-Guru Arjan Dev jee

--
Daas,
Abhijit Singh

Migration of alias

2006-05-08T10:19:00.000-07:00

Fateh jee,
The alias' email address seems to have become public... which is why the members of the group recieved mail with inappropriate content. Since the blogger address is also a part of the alias.. the APDF blog was also defaced.

> I've fixed the blog and removed the content of the memo.

> Have deleted the blog address from the alias list. (changes to take effect within 24-48 hours)

> Am in the process of deleting the khalsa alias and creating a new one. Will migrate all users to the new group.

> All the members would be getting an FYI memo welcoming them to the new alias.

> I would not be adding the blogger address in the new alias. All mails posted on the blog would be moderated.

Sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused to you all.

Bhulaan dee maufi _/\_

Servant,
Abhi

Thought for The Day (08/05/2006) ..Kabira Garv Na Keejiye

2006-05-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

Kabira Garv Na Keejiye, Uncha Dekh Aavaas
Kaal Paron Bhuin Letna, Ooper Jamsi Ghaas

Says Kabir
Don't be so proud and vain,
Looking at your high mansion...
Death makes one lie on bare land
And grass will grow thereon.

Kabira Garv Na Keejiye, Kaal Gahe Kar Kes
Na Jaane Kit Mare Hai, Kya Des Kya Pardesh

Says Kabir
Don't be so proud and vain,
The clutches of Time are dark...
Who knows where shall it kill
Whether at home or abroad.

A channel of Your peace

2006-05-04T11:44:00.000-07:00

1. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring you love;
Where there is injury, your healing pow'r,
And where there's doubt, true faith in you.

2. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there's despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, - only light,
And where there's sadness, ever joy.

3. O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consolded as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul - .

4. Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all that we receive,
And in dying that we're born to eternal life.

~ St. Francis of Assisi

--
Humbly yours,
Abhi

Thought For The Day (5/04/2006)

2006-05-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

Says Nanak, as long as you live in this world,
Speak out your heart, you may;
And also listen to what others have to say.
Guru Nanak, Raag Dhansree

--
Humbly,
Abhijit Singh

Fw: FROGS:a motivating story

2006-05-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

Fateh jee,

Got this nice little story in the mail today. I liked it.. so thought I'd share it with you fine people :o))

Respectfully,
Abhi
--
Abhijit Singh Anand
Manager, Training Delivery - Cisco TAC
CIS - Orchid Square
Nortel#91-124-257-2157 Ext 3107
Desk#801-703-2288 Ext 57323
Cell#91-989-911-1591
aol# iabhijit
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conquer your own mind, and you shall conquer the world.
----------------------------------------------------------------- 6:17, SGGS
----- Forwarded by Abhijit Anand/CCMG/CVG on 05/04/2006 09:19 PM -----

"sonica"

05/04/2006 01:30 PM

To
cc
Subject	Fwd: FROGS:a motivating story

FROGS

Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs.... who arranged a running competition.

The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.

A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants....

The race began....

Honestly:

No one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.

You heard statements such as:

"Oh, WAY too difficult!!"

"They will NEVER make it to the top."

"Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"

The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one....

Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher....

The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"

More tiny frogs got tired and gave up....

But ONE continued higher and higher and higher....

This one wouldn't give up!

At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!

THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally want ed to know how this one frog managed to do it?

A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?

It turned out....

That the winner was DEAF!!!!

The wisdom of this story is:

Never listen to other people's tendencies to be

negative or pessimistic.... because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!

Always think of the power words have.

Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!

Therefore:

ALWAYS be....

POSITIVE!

And above all:

Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!

Always think:

God and I can do this!

Pass this message on to 5 "tiny frogs" you care about.

Give them some motivation!!!

Most people walk in and out of your life......but FRIENDS leave footprints in your heart
In two days tomorrow will be yesterday. Today is no special day and I have no particular reason for writing to you... I have no news to tell you.... nor any problems to discuss with you.... or gossip to tell you... It's only one of those happy moments... when I thought of you... and I would like to share these thoughts with you...
MANY SMILES BEGIN BECAUSE OF ANOTHER SMILE...

To The World You Might Be One Person; But To One Person You Might Be the World.

You have been Tagged by the Froggy,
which means you are a great friend!!

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Thought For The Day (5/04/2006).. Guru - the Washerman

2006-05-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

Gur Dhobi Sikh Kapda, Saboo Sirjan Har
Surti Sila Pur Dhoiye, Nikse Jyoti Apaar

-Bhagat Kabeer

Guru the washer man, disciple is the cloth
The name of God liken to the soap
Wash the mind on foundation firm
To realize the glow of Truth

Sewa

2006-05-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

Waheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Jee Kee Fateh.

Please find below a sakhi from the Sikh Sakhiya forum on www.sikhsangat.com on an incident in the life of Guru Arjan Dev Jee Maharaaj.

Here are some other links that give some insight into Guru Jees life and the way he led it:
http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/gurus/guruarjun.htm
http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Guru_Arjan
http://www.sikh.net/SIKHISM/GURUS/05Gfact.htm

--
Daas,
Abhijit Singh

-----------------------------------------
post written by Mehtab Singh

It was during the time of Guru Arjan Dev Jee. Sangat was coming from Kabul (Afghanistan) to Amritsar for darshan of Gurujee. They met a Sikh and his wife on their way. This Sikh did a lot of sewa of the sangat. He massaged their legs, waved fan over them as they rested, brought water for them, everything. The next day they proceeded with this Sikh to Amritsar. As they reached Darbar Sahib, the jathedar of that Kabul sangat asked a few boys to take care of the shoes of everyone. None of the boys was ready to do it, as they all were very much eager to be the first ones to have darshan of Gurujee. At last this Sikh came forward and said I shall do it.

The sangat went inside and waited for 30-45 minutes, but Gurujee didn't show up. Then the jathedar went ahead and asked Baba Buddha Jee where Gurujee was.

Babajee : Gurujee has gone to see the sangat coming from Kabul.

Jathedar : But we are the sangat from Kabul!

Babajee : Didn't you meet Gurujee?

Jathedar : No Babajee, we didn't. But we met a Sikh and his wife and they did a lot of sewa.

Babajee : Where is that Sikh now?

Jathedar : We left him to look after the shoes of the sangat.

Babajee, followed by the jathedar, followed by the entire sangat went outside to look for that Sikh. They saw him cleaning all the shoes with his own chola.

It was none other than Guru Arjan Dev Jee Himself

Baba Buddha Jee went forward and took away the pair of shoes Gurujee was cleaning. Babajee said "Why are you doing this?". The entire sangat was now in tears. Gurujee smiled and said "Babajee, I haven't seen Guru Nanak Dev Jee, but you have. Take a look again at this pair of shoes". Babajee took a good look at the pair of shoes, and since he had been with Guru Nanak Dev Jee, he immediately recognized that it was Guru Nanak Dev Jee's pair of shoes.

Moral of the sakhi : When doing sewa at the Gurdwara, do it with this thought in mind that who knows who is visiting the Gurdwara today! Who knows which Gurmukh soul has come today! If you are cleaning a small kid's shoes, have in mind that it could belong to one of the Sahibzaade. If you are cleaning a bibi's shoes, have in mind that it could belong to Bibi Bhani. If you are cleaning a bhai ji's shoes, have in mind that it could belong to Bhai Bailo.

Quotes.. reflections on todays TFTD

2006-05-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

As fragrance abides in the flower,
As the reflection is within the mirror,
So doth thy Lord abide within thee,
Why search Him without?

- Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji

The subject on which I meditate is truth.
The practice to which I devote myself is the truth.
The topic of my conversation is truth.
My thoughts are always in truth.
For lo! my self has become the truth

- Lord Buddha

Being asked by the Pharisees when the
kingdom of God was coming, he answered them,
"The kingdom of God is not coming with signs
to be observed; nor will they say, 'Lo, here it is!' or
'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

- Jesus Christ

There is one Supreme Ruler, the inmost Self of all beings,
who makes His one form manifold.
Eternal happiness belongs to the wise,
who perceive Him within themselves - not to others.

- the Vedas

He who knows his own self, knows God.

- Prophet Mohammed

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.

- Albert Einstein

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.

- Lao Tzu

Thought For The Day (5/01/2006) ..Jaag sakey Tow Jaag.

2006-05-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

Jaise Til Mein Tel Hai, Jyon Chakmak Mein Aag
Tera Sayeen Tujh Mein Hai, Tu Jaag Sake To Jaag
--Bhagat Kabeer

Like seed contains the oil, fire in flint stone
Your temple seats the Divine, realize if you can

--
Humbly,
Abhi

Amritwela Bird

2006-05-01T12:53:00.000-07:00

1.1 AmritVela Songbird

Taan Sain was the best musician in Emperor Akbar's court. Each evening he would sing for the Emperor who was a lover of the arts and would greatly appreciate the musician. He would shower many gifts and praises onto the musician.

One evening, after a particularly beautiful performance by the musician, the Emperor called Taan Sain to his palace and said, "Today you overwhelmed me. While I was listening to you sing, a thought occurred to me and that thought was that you are the best musician on this Earth. But as soon as that thought had trespassed my mind, I thought about the great teacher who must have taught you must also be great. That's the reason I asked for you. Pray tell me, who is your teacher and how can he or she come to this court to perform for the Kingdom."

Taan Sain smiled and said, "Sire, my teacher is full of wonders. But I know him enough to tell you that he will not come to this court."
The Emperor said, "Of course we will do his seva quite handsomely..."
Taan Sain, "With due respect, Sire, no amount of seva will bring my teacher to your court."
This greatly intrigued the Emperor, "Surely there is a way that I could listen to your teacher sing. If he will not come here, perhaps we can go to him."
Taan Sain again smiled, "Sire, my teacher is carefree and he might not like us going to him."
Emperor, "But surely, my good man, there must be a way."
Taan Sain thought a while and said, "Well, there is one way. My teacher usually sings in the early mornings by the Ganga River. If the Raja insists, then we must be discreet and hide nearby and listen to him at that time."
The Emperor was a spiritual man and he did wake up at early hours of the morning anyway, so he arranged for them to be taken to a place where Taan Sain's teacher bathed and sang.
Both the Emperor and Taan Sain reached the river bank at 1 am and hid in nearby bushes. As was the daily routine of Taan Sain's teacher, he came to the river at 1.30 am, bathed and sat on the river bank and sang.
His song was so great that it completely mesmerized the Emperor. The Emperor could not speak or move, and just sat like a stone idol for entire time the teacher sang. Even after the teacher had left, the Emperor had to be nudged from his vismad smadhi by Taan Sain.
The Emperor half dreamily walked back to the carriage which had brought them to the river bank. The Emperor remained in vismad for the whole ride back and indeed, the whole day.

After that evening's performance, the Emperor summoned Taan Sain to his palace again and said, "Taan Sain, your teacher is wonder itself. I am very, very curious at one thing. I love your singing but if you wouldn't mind, I would request you answer one question."
Taan Sain, "Sire, please ask this servant any question."
The Emperor, "With much due respect, I thought that you were the best on this Earth, but your teacher far surpresses you. I do not wish to offend you in any way, but please tell me how is this possible that your teacher's talent is eons deeper than yours?"
Taan Sain laughed and said, "Rajan, I perform for you, he performs for God."
------------------------------------------

Meri pyare guru jee dee pyari pyari sakhiooos,
Taan Sain performed for worldly people. His teacher performed for Waheguru.
Taan Sain's song was like a rose. His teacher's song was like a bed of freshly-blossomed and fragrance-laden roses dancing in the wind.
Taan Sain performed for worldly people. His teacher performed for Waheguru.
At the hour that our overwhelmingly-loving guru calls "Amrit Vela" we perform for Waheguru. No one else.
There is no doubt that when we do seva and sing keertan at the gurudwara, we do it sincerely and with faith. But I will tell, my lovers, there is always a hint of humai (ego) hidden in our actions. When we do good keertan, we wait for someone to say, "Wah, Wah."

But at the time that our overwhelming-ras-filled guru calls "Amrit Vela", there is no one there except guru. Only guru, pyareo, guru. Then we please the guru and the guru only. The guru loves us then. The guru then has the chance to splash us with the guru's overflowing maddening prem, love, ras and jot.
The time that our very own father, mother and overwhelmingly unconditionally-loving guru calls "Amrit Vela" is the beginning of sikhi. It is the beginning of our path to the guru's warm and sukh-sagar bosom.

Pyareoo, make that leap. Start Amrit Vela naam simran on June 9th and feel the essence of sikhi and the guru blossoming inside your heart.
Pyareooo, do ardas for everyone that all Naam Net sakhis may start Amrit Vela simran . Do not delay. It is "now" or never.
waheguru waheguru waheguru waheguru waheguru waheguru waheguru waheguru waheguru waheguru waheguru..........

Daas
Jatinder Singh

Water stirred with steel

2006-05-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

A remarkable people the Sikhs, with their Ten Prophets, five distinguishing marks and their traditional rite of water stirred with steel: a people who have made history and will make it again.

F Yeats-Brown 1945

--
Best Regards,
Abhi

All the good you can.

2006-05-01T09:57:00.000-07:00

Do all the good you can,
in all the ways you can,
to all the souls you can,
in every place you can,
at all the times you can,
With all the zeal you can,
as long as ever you can."

John Wesley, 1703-1791
English Preacher

--
Best Regards,
Abhi

Smile

2006-04-30T20:58:00.000-07:00

If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning "Good morning" at total strangers.

- Maya Angelou

--
Best Regards,
Abhi

Thought For The Day (01/05/2006) ..Mithath Neeve Naanaka

2006-04-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

The simal tree is huge and straight
But if one comes to it with hope of gain
What will one get and whither turn?
Its fruit is without taste
Its flowers have no fragrance
Its leaves are of no use.
0 Nanak, it is the lowly that have goodness and true worth.
He that bows before all,
Before him all will bow.
Weigh anything in a pair of scales and see
That of greater substance does the lower go.
The wicked man bends over double
As a deer-slayer shooting his dart.
What use is bending or bowing of head
When you bow not your heart?

Asa Di Vaar

Humbly,

Abhi

The Power Of Gurbani

2006-04-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

A young child went to a Gursikh and stated that no matter how hard he tried to keep Gurbani in his heart, he just could not understand or keep it. He stated that his mind was not a bucket, but a strainer, which let everything pass through and did not contain the meaning of gurbani.

The Gursikh said "Let us try an experiment. Here is a strainer, and here is some water. Now pour a bucket of water through the strainer."

The child did this and said "See, the water was not contained, it just passed through, my mind is just like this". The Gursikh said. "Do it once more", so he did, and still the water passed through the strainer. The Gursikh said. "Do it ten times at least". The child did, and at the end of this experiment, he said " See, water still passes through, no matter how many times , and how many buckets we pass through it" . The Gursikh said "Look carefully at the strainer and see if there is any thing different." The child did, and his eyes were filled with tears, and he said. "Yes, i see the difference now. The grimy dirty strainer is now shiny and bright, like never before."

The Gursikh said "My son, this is what Gurbani does for you. It cleans your mind, and even if you do not realize it, it slowly cleanses your mind, and protects you from the five vices. The more you recite Gurbani, your mind will not only become shinier, but become like the bucket itself, which will not only become clean , but hold the meaning of Gurbani in your heart".

The child smiled, and felt he had received the best example of the power of Gurbani, ever.

Fw: Definition of Khalsa.

2006-04-30T11:22:00.000-07:00

Gur Fateh !

Below is a memo I recieved from the Akaalstudents yahoo group recently started and being maintained by Jatinder veerji. Check it out at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Akaalstudents/ .

Humbly yours,

Abhi
P.S. Jatinder veerji...Am loving these memos. Many many thanks for letting me be a part of the group.

"Gursikhan Ki Har Dhoor De, Hum Paapi Bhi Gat Paaye"

Hum paapi bhi gat payen

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: jatinder.singh

Date: Apr 30, 2006 10:36 PM
Subject: [Akaalstudents] Definition of Khalsa.....
To: akaalstudents@yahoogroups.com

In one of his poems, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib defines the Khalsa :

"He who repeats night and day the name of Him,
Who has full love and confidence in God,
Who bestows not a thought on anv but one God,
Whose enduring light is inextinguishable,
Who puts no faith in fasting and worshipping cemeteries and monasteries,
Who only recognises the one God and makes no fetish, Of pilgrimages,
alms, charities and austerities:
He is recognised as a true member of the Khalsa, In whose heart the light of the Perfect One shines."

Daas
Jatinder Singh

Balvinder Singh.. Creating Magic!!

2006-04-30T07:29:00.000-07:00

VahegurooJeeKaKhalsaa VahegurooJeeKeeFateh,

I stumbled upon these audio clips of compositions made by "Balvinder Singh from Australia" from his album "Reaching for home". Loved all three,.. especially the one titled "Naam".

http://www.mrsikhnet.com/2006_02_26_gmustuk_archive.html

Click on the link above to listen to the audio. I'd recommend using headsets... so that you can feel the effects and (for my buddies reading this in the Cisco TAC office) not to disturb the engineers sitting at the neighbouring cubicles :o).

Blessed Be !!

Respectfully,

Abhi

Remedy for all diseases! - From Baru Sahib

2006-04-29T04:43:00.000-07:00

Guru Fateh G,

This is worthy reading G....

Trust reverses our disease :- an article by Dr. Amrit Vallabh

The scriptures keep saying, "Life comes from the mind." But until a foreigner comes along with empirical data, we can't believe it.
Louis L.Hay, after in-depth study has documented mental causes and remedies for each and every disease.
The fact is, while we avoid toxins through food or water we're oblivious to when we let dangerous poisons into our minds.
Criticism, anger, resentment and guilt are some of the most dangerous negative patterns.
For instance, criticism indulged in long enough will often lead to diseases such as arthritis. Long-held resentment festers and eats
away at the self and can lead to tumors and cancer. Guilt always seeks punishment and leads to pain.

The good news is that we can choose to take part in our own healing process. It does not matter how long we have had negative patterns,
illness, a rotten relationship or money worries, we can begin to make a change today.

The mental causes for some diseases are interesting:

Disease Mental Causes

Lower back pain Fear of money shortage
High blood pressure Longstanding emotional problem unsolved
Headaches Self-criticism, fear
Heart problems long-standing emotional problems, lack of joy, stress and strain
Knee problems Stubborn ego and pride, inability to adjust
Neck problems refusing to see other sides of a question
Thyroid humiliation, "I never get to do what I want to do"
Tumors nursing old hurts and shocks
Ulcer fear that you are not good enough
Diabetes longing for what might have been, deep sorrow
Fibroids, cysts nursing a hurt from a partner, a blow to feminine ego

The best cure that can be prescribed for most of these diseases?
Forgiveness.

It releases our toxins and heals us.
Courtesy:
The Kalgidhar Society
Baru Sahib

Daas
Jatinder Singh
"Be inspired......"

Humility - The Point Of Equilibrium

2006-04-28T16:44:00.000-07:00

Many people believe that humility is the opposite of pride, when, in fact, it is a point of equilibrium. The opposite of pride is actually a lack of self esteem.
A humble person is totally different from a person who cannot recognize and appreciate himself as part of this worlds marvels.

- Rabino Nilton Bonder

--
Warm Regards,
Abhi

A pauper to a prince

2006-04-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

You do not have to be rich to be generous. If he has the spirit of true generosity, a pauper can give like a prince.

-Corrine U. Wells

--
Best Regards,
Abhi