Old? I think NOT

Large numbers of Sikhs started flocking to Goindwal to see the new Guru. Datu one of Guru Angad's sons proclaimed himself as Guru at Khadur following his fathers death. He was so jealous of Guru Amar Das that he proceeded to Goindwal to confront the Guru. Upon seeing Guru Amar Das seated on a throne surrounded by his followers he said; "You were a mere menial servant of the house until yesterday and how dare you style yourself as the Master?", he then proceeded to kick the revered old Guru, throwing him off his throne. Guru Amar Das in his utter humility started caressing Datu's foot saying; "I'm old. My bones are hard. You may have been hurt." As demanded by Datu, Guru Amar Das left Goindwal the same evening are returned to his native village of Basarke.

Guru Amar Das Ji was born in the village of Basarke on May 5, 1479. He was the eldest son of Tej Bhan a farmer and trader. It was not until his old age that Guru Amar Das Ji met Guru Angad Ji and converted to the path of Sikhism. He eventually became Guru at the age of 73 succeeding Guru Angad Ji.

Some people are beyond special so far that they are no longer simply 'people'...

BMjnu Aiq pwp inKMjnu myrw pRBu AMiq sKweI ]20]

bhai bha(n)jan ath paap nikha(n)jan maeraa prabh a(n)th sakhaaee 20

My God is the Destroyer of fear, the Destroyer of sin; in the end, He is our only help and support. 20

sBu ikCu Awpy Awip vrqY nwnk nwim vifAweI ]21]3]12]

sabh kishh aapae aap varathai naanak naam vaddiaaee 21312

He Himself pervades and permeates everything; O Nanak, glorious greatness is obtained through the Naam. 21312

Protectors of Dharam

I thought this was lovely and wish to share with all:

Saurabh said...

I am a Hindu and had always known our Sikhs as the defenders of Indian Dharma. However this post was a total eye-opener because it gave the details of the struggle of our Sikh brothers.I had always but TODAY I promise again with full conviction to always see a Sikh man with a turban with full respect and never ever forget the great sacrifices they have done to protect our Dharma - without which I would have today been a Muslim or a Christian due to ridiculous torture conversion evils of the Moghuls and the Britishers - or worst, I wouldn't have been alive.

MY REQUEST TO ALL MY SIKH BROTHERS AND SISTERS: My humble namaskars and I touch your feet - the true Sikhis - the real Kshtriyas - the real warriors of Hindu Dharma. You are the great soldiers. I pray that you all are always blessed by your great Gurus and the future generations always continue to follow their teachings in the right spirit.

-Please forgive those who do not understand why you wear a turban or do not respect your sacrifices as the Gurus always asked us to forgive. Some ignorant people do not respect the turban and look up on Sikhs because they are totally unaware of their sacrifices in the past. I blame the corrupt politicians and Bastardized western media effects on India.

But try as much as the world wants, the Sikhs were and will remain the great warriors to protect the Indian Dharma.

Amulu Drmu Amulu dIbwxu ]

amul dhharam amul dheebaan

Priceless is the Divine Law of Dharma, Priceless is the Divine Court of Justice.

I did it My Way

Lots of times you have to pretend to join a parade in which you're not really interested in order to get where you're going.
Christopher Darlington Morley (1890-1957)

Now, I wouldn't really describe compromise like this. It seems as if Mr. Morley is saying that when we compromise we pretend that we care about what the other person(s) has to say about a matter. But isn't that just being pretentious?

The way I look at it...compromise is more like doing something, which you normally wouldn't do, in order to please the other person because you genuinely care about what they feel. It's another road to get to the same destination...it just might be a bit bumpier and mayber longer. But we know it's worth it in the end because we've gained more than we've lost from it.

Today I had a choice. I could have put my foot down and said, 'I won't help face-paint those kids at the party tomorrow AT ALL' (because I really don't feel like spending a day with some hyper-active kids...as much as I love them.) Instead I decided to wake up extra early tomorrow; do my revision, plant my flowers in the garden and spend some time with my Father...BEFORE going to Slough for a few hours to the party to help out. This way, my Mum was happy, my sister was happy, the birthday girl was happy and I was happiest because I know I get the best of both worlds.

mwnu qwnu qij isAwnp srix nwnku AwieAw ]4]1]152]

maan thaan thaj siaanap saran naanak aaeiaa 41152

Renouncing his pride in strength and cleverness, Nanak has come to the Lord's Sanctuary. 41152

Identity

A lot of people nowadays are having trouble with keeping Kes (hair) and feeling proud of their appearance. This is not surprising what with globalisation and 'western influences' on the world. More and more people are cutting their kes in Punjab (the Sikh 'Motherland', birthplace of the Khalsa brotherhood etc.) and more and more kids want to be Bollywood action heroes (which I have nothing against - just the things which come with it).

Kes, after Truth is one of the most important Tenants of Sikhism. It symbolises our oneness with nature and, submission and obedience to Guru Ji's will. It is also an irreplaceable part of our Identities as Sikhs and followers of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

It hurts to hear of more and more stories of Kes cuttings etc. But I can understand the pressures on the youth to cut. here is a post of a youth having problems many of us go through at some point in our lives but I think the majority response was to meditate on Naam, draw strength from Him and keep going or 'Just keep swimming!' as Dori from 'Finding Nemo' would put it :)

Taken from http://www.sikhsangat.com/

QUOTE (Kaeza @ May 13 2008, 11:46 AM)
Hi people, im new to this site. I have been amritdhari for a long time now but I have never really been comfortable with it. The main reason is because of my appearance...i dont feel confident having a long dhari and I am just not the same confident person i used to be. everytime i leave the house and walk down the street i am soo consious about how i look and i find that even when im talkin to people im thinkin about how i look to them. I know it might seem very vain but im struggling with it and i always have been.if i was to cut my dhari then i would still do my paath and do all the things that i love about sikhi but the only thing that would be different would be that i trim. i know lots of people who have broken their amrit and started on the alcohol and drugs etc etc but i would never do that and have never thought about doing things like that. again i know it sounds vain but i just want to feel more comfortable with my appearance. What shall i do?

My reply:

I totally know how you feel. Especially since the weather's gotten better :D. Being an amrtidhari girl is even harder, I must say. Plus, I go to a school of mostly white people who are unaccustomed to turban wearing, hairy females. But then the sun shines, you wear nice, simple yet femenine and graceful clothing. You hold your head up high and smile to all. Then you realise that you don't do it for others but for yourself and Waheguru. Today a lil kid at a McDonalds restaurant turned and asked me straight out...''what's that on your head?'' I love how kids say what everyone else is thinking (and I could tell they were). So i said in a loud and clear voice...'Ahem, It's called a dastaar or turban and as a Sikh it is my crown which a price/princess might wear...''OOOh I wish I had one!' was the reply.

So moral of the story = chill, take the days as they come and, remember Him.

nwnk nwmu smwil qU ijqu syivAY suKu hoie ]4]30]63]

naanak naam samaal thoo jith saeviai sukh hoe 43063

O Nanak, remember the Naam; serving Him, peace is obtained. 43063

FORTUNE

Summer is here. It's absolutely beautiful. All my moaning throughout winter I guess...finally paid off. Me and my Father have been doing a lot of gardening now that the weather is so much better. It's so amasing to see life spring from a tiny little speck of a seed. We now have a vegetable patch and have some gorgeous plants in the back garden.

I love how we have a connection to nature. Only recently I was singing along to my mp3 player whilst weeding the patch and a little robin red-breast came up behind me and sat and sang along. It was another experience with nature I will never forget. The other morning, I looked out my window for there was a loud squawking sound coming for the tree under my windo. Two magpies were trying to attack a blackbird. The poor thing was to small to defend itself. I opened the window and clapped my hands. Astonishingly the blackbird did not move a muscle and the two magpies flew away apprehensively. Now the blackbird rarely leaves the garden!

I like to sit outside and sing and bask in the sunshine and meditate on Naam. I feel so refreshed and alive and connected to the world. We have a river behind our house and I can't wait to clear the back of the garden and just sit.

This life we lead is so busy, with studies, work, family, there is rarely time for ourselves and, well...God. My Father often speaks of how when he was younger he expected things to get less stressful and easier for the next generation to live. He feels that things have only become harder despite new technologies which would imply the contrary.

Are we moving so fast towrds something out of our reach? In India and similar countries the masses work long and tiring, (and, in my opinion, unethical) hours and more than often in disgusting working conditions solely for SURVIVAL. In England it's for FORTUNE and WEALTH. Recently a young Barrister (my condolences to the family) used a shot gun to relieve his stress on those around him. Will we all be pushed to this in the future? I despair to contemplate upon it.

God is my salvation, if I didnt have Waheguru I dread to think how my life would be rattling on.

TOP TIP: Relax and find yourself some 'Me' time (but remember you are never alone!)

hir quDu ivxu KwkU rUlxw khIAY ikQY vYx ]

har thudhh vin khaakoo roolanaa keheeai kithhai vain

Without You, Lord, we roll around in the dust. Unto whom should we utter our cries of distress?

The Wheel

I try to write about things which are universal on this site. It just so happens that Sikhi is universal however, not everything that I write is DIRECTLY linked to Sikhi (despite the blog name!!) Sikhi DOES mean to learn and seek truth therefore almost everything we do/think in this life is linked to Sikhi.

There has been a lot of commotion in the West over the past 7 years since Sept. 11. I, at only 11 years old, was appalled by the events of that day like most of world.

All the same, I in no way endorse the retalliation and racist behaviours of a minority of people. I am a Sikh and I have lived in a predominately white area since 9/11. I wear a turban (which btw is totally different to a Talibans'!) and I have suffered abuse for it. Some of my closest friends are Sikhs, Christians, Atheists, Hindus AND MUSLIMS. I do not know a great deal about Islam, however I respect all for who they are - no matter what caste or creed.

As a great man once said, 'we are all chained to the wheel, there is no black and white; we are all One of The ONE.'

There is a lot of 'bad' in the world, on top of atrocity, poverty and climate problems, which make these problems worse. Therefore, it is all the more vital that we stick together - irrespective of who or 'what' we are. Because there is still a LOT of Good to counter it. Times are bad and I have a feeling that the economies in the USA and UK will only make things worse for us. (However, India and China are looking at brighter futures haha!)

All I can say is to stop the useless racism, castism, whatever-ism - its only dividing us and weakening us, we must unite.

suik®qu kIqw rhsI myry jIAVy bhuiV n AwvY vwrI ]1] rhwau ]

sukirath keethaa rehasee maerae jeearrae bahurr n aavai vaaree 1 rehaao

Only the good deeds which you have done shall remain with you, O my soul. This opportunity shall not come again! 1Pause