Central Gurdwara Resource Centre Newsletter
Vaisakhi Greetings to all. Welcome to our April issue. I am sure you will be celebrating Vaisakhi in many varied ways this month, naturally the best place to be is in a Sadh Sangat, whether it is shouting Fateh on the streets during a Nagar Kirtan (parade) or singing beautiful Shabads among your family. We would like to celebrate with you, our sangat, we hope you enjoy this special double issue and with Guru's Kirpa and your support we will be able to produce several more issues like this.
Vaisakhi is a time when many take Amrit and join the ranks of the Khalsa, it is also a time when many think about taking Amrit, but are afraid of taking this step. Taking Amrit is a commitment. A commitment to our Guru and to living a honest, truthful life as Guru Nanak stressed so highly. The Panj Payare offered their heads when Guru Gobind Singh asked, we must do the same, offer our EGO. The rules (Reht Maryada) laid down by the Khalsa Panth are there to make it easier to follow this truthful life free of Ego and the 5 vices (Anger, Greed, Lust, Attachment and Pride).
Well there have been some interesting events this last month, including the Family Day held at Central Gurdwara and the Youth Forum in Coventry (reports on page 5). I have just seen the movie "The English Patient", apart from it winning several Oscars this movie portrays Sikhs in a positive role. One of the main characters is Lieutenant Kirpal Singh (Kip) a bomb disposal expert during World War II in Italy. Well worth seeing.
So what do we have in store for you this month. We start with our regular piece of Gurbani with English Translation, this month we feature the Sohila that we should all be reading every night. The Poets Corner features the poetry of Prof. Puran Singh, I do encourage you to discover some of his books, you will be surprised.
Finally I do hope you enjoy our young readers page, do let us know what you think and we welcome all your contributions to the newsletter. Happy Vaisakhi
Bhupinder Singh
Were the Gurus open to other Paths?
Poets Corner - Prof. Puran Singh
Young readers Page - Wordsearch
Important Dates in Sikh History - April
This months Gurpurabs
Apr. 5 Gur Gadhi, Guru Har Rai Ji
Apr. 8 Gur Gadhi, Guru Amar Das Ji
Apr. 11 Jotti Jot, Guru Angad Dev Ji
Apr. 12 Jotti Jot, Guru Hargobind Ji
Apr. 13 Vaisakhi
Apr. 20 Gur Gadhi, Guru Tegh BahadhurJi
Apr. 20 Jotti Jot, Guru Har Krishan Ji
This month we continue our introduction of
various pieces of Gurbani.
Sohila, "Hymn of praise", often called
Kirtan Sohila is the finale to the evening prayers. It is recited
just before going to bed and as the Guru Granth Sahib is closed
(Sukhasan) and ceremoniously carried to rest. It is also recited
at cremation ceremonies. It is found on pages 12 and 13 of Guru
Granth Sahib.
Sohila consists of five hymns. The first three
were uttered by Guru Nanak and the third and forth by Guru Ram
Das and Guru Arjan Dev respectively.
The religious and artistic value of these hymns
is superb. The first hymn visualises the union of the individual
self with the Ultimate Reality. The second presents the singularity
of the Ultimate despite endless diversity of scriptures, teachers
and philosophies. The third rejects all modes of external piety
and ritual, and vividly portrays the entire cosmos making harmonious
worship. Instead of trays with lamps placed upon them with incense
and other offerings, the skies become an integrated platter, the
sun and moon the lamps, stars the beads, and all vegetation an
offering of flowers. Loud chanting is replaced by the inner unstruck
melody playing motionlessly.
The fourth hymn in the Sohila is by the Fourth
Guru and it explains the import of the divine Name through which
all suffering and transmigration is annulled. The fifth hymn,
by Guru Arjan Dev, celebrates life here in this world: we must
avail ourselves of this wonderful opportunity to serve others
and to win divine merit. The unknown Mystery becomes known to
the enlightened person who thereafter enjoys the bliss and freedom
of immortality.
Here we present the first two pauris of Sohila
with their translation.
Manjit Kaur came home crying. At school she had been told that Christ
had said that those who did not believe in him would suffer in hell.
Some Muslim children had said that Muhammad had said that those who did
not believe in him would go to hell. Her mumpupwee, Simran Kaur, sat her down and asked her to recite a little bit from her Bedtime Prayer which only takes a few minutes. She read:
"Chhe-a ghar chhe-a gur chhe-a updays
Gur Gur ayko vays anek."
Six schools of Indian religions, six gurus, six messages But the Guru of gurus is the Supreme One manifested differently
There are different religions but all start from God. However, over the thousands of years they have become corrupted. They have left the praises of God, and become personality cults.
"Baaba, jai ghar kartay keerat ho-e So ghar raakh vadaa-ee to-e. Rahao"
Friend, that discipline which focuses on the praise of the Creator is the best. In that system lies your well-being and glory.
Consider this carefully:
Gurmat is the only discipline believing in One God, one humanity. It is the only one which focuses not on a personality cult but only of worship of the Supreme Being. Its scripture does not contain wrong science, nor thousands of year old strange and cruel social rules. It is Book of Hymns bringing the Light of the Creator to this dark world. It focuses on the praise of the Creator. It is the best system, though not the only one.
All Gurbani from Sohila, Raag Asa Mahalla 1
p12 Guru Granth Sahib.
A Gurmukh pyari-o said 'by thinking wrong thoughts
people make themselves ill, they make themselves depressed with
their negativity'.
In one respect, there is little difference
between a Gurmukh and a ManMukh. Both are attacked by the 5 enemies,
both have suffered traumatic situations, both recall happy times
and sad times in their minds.
The difference is the way they deal with the
attack. The ManMukh, the untrained warrior, has no idea that the
thought that has come into their mind is an enemy. They
grab hold of it, think about it and jumping into the carriage
they ride the Train of Thought to its bitter end.
My friend at Uni loved listening to depressing
songs, he said it made it feel sad and he liked that!!!
Mention money and relatives and un-returned
loans, and this other person I know will jump on the train of
thought and ride all the way to the point where they are as mad
as hell at the injustice of it all!.
Another person says some people live their
life, but i am enduring it. I guess cause of my sins I was born
to suffer...all I think about is running away, running away, running
away is the only words in my mind day and night. One bad thought
comes along and these people jump onto it and ride it to the bitter
end, depressing the hell out of themselves.
So how does the Gurmukh deal with it? Firstly,
the Gurmukh has ridden this train many times in the past. BUT
HE KNOWS WHERE IT ENDS UP SO HE DOESN'T RIDE IT AGAIN. As soon
as the negative thought comes he doesn't cling on to it, he watches
it ... calls out its name ... YOU'RE ANGER ... yes I've seen you
before... you can go because i haven't got time for you ... only
time for Waheguru Waheguru.
The Gurmukh has had bad experiences and when
something triggers off the memory, she doesn't wallow in it like
a pig rolling in the mud, she puts her foot down and says 'I REFUSE
TO FOLLOW THIS TRAIN OF THOUGHT' and she does Waheguru Waheguru.
Ultimately, each little battle that is won
leads to winning the war, these thoughts don't come back very
often..they know they've got no chance..plus there's no room for
them because Waheguru Waheguru occupies the mind.
No-one else can fight your internal battles,
no matter how hard the time you are going through is... ONLY YOU
AND GURU CAN FIGHT IT... but you have to FIGHT. Your hard time
is not worse than Guru Arjun Dev ji sitting on the hot plate,
and he said 'Your Will is Sweet, I beg for your Name'... so don't
lose faith in God for giving you Dukh. You are drowning in the
ocean of fire: Desire, and only by holding onto SatGuru ji will
you escape... Naam is your Support, without it you will drown.
We introduced this topic in February and the
following is a response from a parents point of view.....
Marriage is an issue which has been increasingly
discussed of late yet this foundation block of our community rarely
receives the attention it deserves. The consequence of this, inevitably,
generates growing concern and confusion amongst both parents and
the younger generation.
In my personal experience, the marriage ceremony
is mainly a religious ceremony and the duty of the bride's parents
is to ensure that it is performed as per the guidance provided
by Guru Granth Sahib. Without this the marriage is meaningless
and becomes no more than an excuse for a party or to impress relatives.
However, the situation faced by an ever increasing
number of our community is that those who profess to be Sikhs
prefer to give the Gurdwara wedding limited importance and instead
focus on the customs which have grown like parasites around the
marriage.
The custom to which I refer, relate to the
financial side of the ceremony, where demands are being made directly
or indirectly for gifts or money and there is the expectation
from the boy's family of a huge, lavish wedding. These customs
vary from family to family, area to area, Gurdwara to Gurdwara,
but have one element in common; the bride's family gives and the
grooms family receives. Pre-wedding ceremonies are increasingly
adding unnecessary financial pressure on the girls family for
what is hoped to be a source of joy and not stress. These traditions
are valueless and outdated rituals borrowed from another time
and another country which surely are accorded too much attention.
We would hope that our community leaders in the Gurdwaras to stand
up to these customs since they contradict the teachings of our
Gurus.
The Guru Granth Sahib rejects that the boy's
family should make demands on the girls family as they mirror
the greed of one party and demeans the status of the bride. Why
should the girl's parents have to pay a "ransom" for
their daughters furture happiness?
Alternatively, we are reminded that our Gurus
preached Equality, Fairness and Simplicity in day to day life,
but when it comes to putting ideas into practice, no one steps
forward to promote or protect these tenets of our belief.
As we approach the twenty first century, and
many of us feel concerned about the future role of religion for
the younger generation, now is the time to identify whether true
religious values are to continue or are they to be belittled and
diluted by mindless customs or meaningless traditions.
Anand Karaj - relevant points from the Sikh
Reht Maryada:
Extracted from the English Translation of
Sikh Reht Maryada published by the Dharam Parchar Committee (SGPC)
Amritsar. Copies available from your Gurdwara or from us.
On 1 March World Sikh Council, Europe Zone, held
its first event in Central Gurdwara, London. This involved launch
of Family Paath Mala Initiative, and World Sikh Council Youth
Programme and a demonstration of the Akaal Purkh Ki Fauj sessions
for the three Brigades. The event was supported by sangat from
all over U.K., France and also the USA.
Family Paath Mala Initiative aims to combat the breakdown of Sikh
families by encouraging families to come together preferably at
a certain time each day as a sangat to offer prayers to Waheguru.
This might involve Simran, Mul Manter, or Sodar Rehras (evening
prayer), discussion of a pauri (verse) of Gurbani (Sacred Scripture),
any commitment which the family can make. The family can then
make a small donation in a private collection box dedicated to
the Akaal Takht. The money would be used at the family's discretion
for any Panthic purpose. In the same way as the family can unite,
so the Panth can unite under the Akaal Takht. All Sikhs are invited
to participate in this Initiative.
The World Sikh Council Youth Officer in Europe Zone
is a well-known young keertanee, Bibi Navleen Kaur Ji. She managed
to bring representatives of many of the youth organisations in
the U.K. united together under the Akaal Takht.
These included Dr Dapinder Singh of Sikh Naujawan Sabha UK, Bhai
Jagjit Singh of Sikh Information Society, Bhai Jagdish Singh of
The Sikh Centre, Coventry, Bhai Bhupinder Singh of Central Gurdwara
Resource Centre, Bibi Paramjit Kaur, Bhai Harjit Singh Lahkan,
and Bibi Maninder Kaur. Administrative work was superbly handled
by Bibi Abinaash Kaur.
Apart from fostering Panthic unity, the event also demonstrated
the skills of many of the young sewadars who took original, pro-active
approaches to convey the three themes of the event - sewa, simran,
sacrifice. Bibi Maninder Kaur who co-led sewa workshops came in
on crutches as devotion to duty!
An excellent gatka display was provided by Baba Fateh
Singh Akhara, the best display team in Europe, who will soon be
taking part in the world gatka event in Australia.
Children took away sponsorship forms to raise money
for Comic Relief, a national fund-raising event in the U.K. The
kids are doing sponsored Mul Manter.
The Akaal Purkh Ki Fauj UK Command Officers took
this opportunity to demonstrate the training concepts of the FAUJ
to local parents and participants. Fauj Officers Autar Singh and
Avtar Singh led the Sant Sepahi Brigade in a stimulating discussion
on sikhi contribution to leadership principles.
Officer Ranvir Singh, Narinder Singh and Daljit Singh led the
Miri Piri Brigade through various activities, while Officers Rajinder
Kaur, Tanjit Kaur, Harinder Kaur and others led the Mighty Khalsa
Brigade in their training session.
After dinner, the Naam session started. Everyone
participated in two hours of Simran.
All participants enjoyed this family day. It was a great first
event for the World Sikh Council, Europe Zone.
One who eliminates mental
wickedness from within the mind, and casts out emotional attachment
and egotistical pride, comes to recognize the All-pervading Soul,
and is intuitively absorbed into the Naam. Without the True Guru,
the self-willed manmukhs do not find liberation; they wander around
like lunatics. They do not contemplate the Shabad; engrossed in
corruption, they utter only empty words.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib p39
This event was held on 15 March 1997 in Guru Nanak Parkash Gurdwara,
Coventry.
A quality discussion developed among the attending delegates.
Topics that were discussed included the issue of discrimination
and also on Sikh family values. Two documentaries were shown,
which lead to the discussion of Sikhs in the Media and Public
life. In conclusion the forum recommended the following points:
The next forum will be held in the Summer.
Forever and ever, You are
the Giver of Peace. I bow down and fall at Your Feet. I act as
it pleases You, as You cause me to act, Kind and Compassionate
Dear Lord..
...
Meditating, meditating in
remembrance, Nanak has found peace. Twenty-four hours a day, I
sing Your Glorious Praises. All my hopes and desires are fulfilled;
I shall never again suffer sorrow.
Majh M:5 Sri Guru Granth Sahib
p.106
This month we shall feature the poetry of Prof. Puran Singh, who
was one of the the 20th Centuries most respected Sikh Theologians
and Poets. Many of his works were written in English and his writings
are noted for their depth and understanding.
"Wisdom comes to us through His grace, spontaneously as speech
comes to the infant" "Sometimes I feel happy in the
dust of a poor man's cottage; at others I feel cursed by rich
raiment. Dainty dishes have tasted to me bitter; but a dry crust
and water tasted like amrita when offered in love." "I
condemn nothing, I renounce nothing. All comes so naturally and
in its own time to me. Without eyes, have I more than those that
have eyes." "We cannot express what we feel. All those
who wish to know us must see our Beloved."
"As birds roost for the night on any wayside tree, so does
the Sikh on this earth in his pilgrimage to immortality of Love
make any branch his home. The earth is small, but the sky of his
vision is wide, and the great Guru has given him wings. The very
sparrows fly with the power of the hawk that is seen perching
on the right thumb of the Guru."
"We till now, have a proverb in our language that the very
dogs of the Guru could work miracles. Our daily life became a
series of miracles. Miracles are nothing extraordinary. Extraordinary
is the Inspiration of Peace. Be inspired yourself, and all life
is a series of miracles."
"We of the Punjab, were called to don the robe of the Guru's
Discipleship. We wear turbans as He did; we keep long hair as
He kept. We prefer the colours he liked. We are still alive with
the spark he lit in our souls. The torch when lighting another
creates its own images.
We carry the Guru's face. His features, His whole image, in our
face and form. As I ponder who I am, I knew I am of the Guru."
Find the following words all related to Vaisakhi in the grid:
Daya Dharam Himat Sahib Mohkam
Amrit Khanda Simran Seva Gurdwara Khalsa
Important Dates in
Sikh History - April
Apr 1 1621:
PRAKASH UTSAV (Birthday) Guru Tegh Bahadhur
Apr 2 1757:
Destruction of Harmandir Sahib by Timur Shah and Jahan Khan.
1809: Treaty
of Amritsar between M. Ranjit Singh and the British.
Apr 3 1775:
Foundation stone of Harmindir Sahib, Amritsar laid for 2nd time.
Apr 4 1914:
Nanak Jahaz sailed from Hongkong to Canada.
Apr 5 1846:
Treaty signed between British Govt. and Maharaja Dalip Singh.
1849: Punjab
was annexed by the British.
Apr 6 1849:
Maharani Jinda was moved to Chunar Fort (prison).
Apr 10 1754:
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia given Jathaedari of Sikh Nation.
Apr 11 1762:
Ahmed Shah Abdali desecrated Harmindir Sahib.
Apr 12 1801:
Coronation of Ranjit Singh as Sarkar-i-Wala.
Apr 13 1559:
Guru Amar Das Patshah started Vaisakhi Maela traditions.
1919: Jallianwala
massacre, 379 unarmed killed and 2,000 wounded.
1970: The
first two American Sikhs partake Amrit
Apr 14 1634:
Battle of Amritsar between Mughals and Sikhs, led by Guru Hargobind
Ji.
1772: Sikh
forces crossed Indus and plundered Peshawar city.
On this day Ahmad Shah died.
1892: Khalsa
College Council established at Amritsar.
Apr 15 1469:
PRAKASH UTSAV (Brithday) Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
1501: Guru
Nanak started preaching the new religion, Sikhism.
1563: PRAKASH
UTSAV (Birthday) Guru Arjun Dev Ji.
1579: Arjan
dev married Mata Ganga.
1790: Ranjit
Singh became head of Sukharchakiya Misl.
Apr 16 1764:
Sikhs captured Lahore and issued their own coins.
1781: Sikhs
attack Shahdara Patpat, Delhi.
1789: Invassion
of Delhi by the Khalsa Forces.
1961: The
passing away of Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh Ji.
Apr 17 1766:
Conquest of PaharGanj, Delhi by Khalsa Forces.
Apr 19 1661:
Guru Tegh bahadhur Ji visits Prayag.
1854: Maharaja
Dalip Singh leaves for England.
Apr 20 1816:
Khalsa Forces march towards Kashmir.
Apr 23 1624:
Foundation of Kiratpur laid by Guru Hargobind Ji.
Apr 25 1635:
Battle of Kartarpur between Mughals and Sikhs led by
Guru Hargobind Ji.
1809: Amritsar
agreement between Ranjit Singh and British
Apr 27 1834:
Khalsa Forces cross Attock river.
Apr 28 1635:
Painda Khan killed by Guru Hargobind in a personal dual.
1835: Maharaja
Ranjit Singh reaches Peshawar.
Apr 29 1635:
Battle of Phagwara between Mughals and Sikhs
led by Guru Hargobind Ji.
Apr 30 1689:
Bhangani battle between Guru Gobind Singh and the Hill Rajas.
1837: Jamroadh
battle where Hari Singh Nalwas accepted Shahedee
1921: SGPC
registered with British government as a Sikh body.
Dates courtesy of Baldev Singh detailed listings
posted on Khalsa net daily. Comments to email: baldev_singh@email.mot.com
This is YOUR newsletter please do send us
your comments, articles & poems.
If you are organising an event please let us know
- to publicise it in the newsletter.
Editor: Bhupinder Singh
Central Gurdwara Resource Centre
Assistant editors:
Ranvir Singh
The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect
those of the Editors or Management of the Gurdwara
WSC - PAATH MALA INITIATIVE
WSC - SIKH YOUTH PROGRAMME
GATKA DISPLAY
FUND RAISING FOR COMIC RELIEF
AKAAL PURKH KI FAUJ
NAAM Samagam
I cannot forget the knot He tied on my head;
It is sacred, it is his mark of remembrance.
The Master has bathed me in the light of suns not yet seen;
There is eternity bound in this tender fragile knot.
I touch the sky when I touch my hair,
and a thousand stars twinkle through the night.
a trust, a pledge, a love, a vow, an inspiration.
My form is but a statue of dumb gratitude for the knot
of Friendship tied by those Kings of Eternity,
the Gurus who came to the Punjab;
The Saviours who were gracious to love me and made me
a home in the Realm of Eternal Beauty."
My heart beats low and fast as He moves the thread.
He is in the innermost chambers of my soul, and yet I find Him
not.
Oh! to be close to Him!
I rend my clothes when life moves not, I grow insane and sane
by turns, but it avails not;
When the King of Life comes I forget all complaints.
the Golden Lotus of myriad petals, the Brama Lotus,
as the sun rises out of the sea on the dark worlds.
The blue ocean, lit with the magic smile of the new dawn
dances with the morning hymns of praise; joy
floats on the surface of the waters.
Is it the birth of God's Word? Or has the first hour
of Creation come?
I die in depths of passion, on the marble floor of the
Golden Temple, as the honey of His grace falls soft
as dew on me.
The bee forgets the flower in the perfume of my death,
and doves hover around, cooing the Song of Love.
It is the Ecstasy of finished labour, the realised life; it
is the appeasement of the ever-unclosed eyes of
those that are pining in separation, and the joys of
the slumber-sealed eyes of those that have met.
It is the garland of loving hands round the waist of the Beloved,
it is the palm of thankfulness
Extracts from SPIRIT OF THE SIKH
Tel: 0171 460-2020
Email: Khalsa@bigfoot.com
62 Queensdale Road
London W11 4SG
Gurpreet Singh