Here is another thought provoking interview with Sukhmani Kaur (UK wale). Have a read, it's interesting :)
Here is another thought provoking interview with Sukhmani Kaur (UK wale). Have a read, it's interesting :)The US Congress is pushing a law that would abandon the Internet's First Amendment -- a principle called Network Neutrality that prevents companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast from deciding which Web sites work best for you -- based on what site pays them the most. If the public doesn't speak up now, our elected officials will cave to a multi-million dollar lobbying campaign. How this effects youWatch the below short video to get any idea of the stakes and then take a minute to Act by clicking here and choosing one of the options. More details at: www.savetheinternet.com
(The challenge is at the end of story)
I was just watching the video of Chardikala Jatha and I saw one of my friends Ramdas Singh who is seen in the video playing the Tampura towards the right side. This made me remember of a story that Bibiji told us recently.
While Chardikala Jatha was playing in Harmandir Sahib Bibiji received some phone calls of congratulation about getting a woman to play kirtan inside Harmandir sahib. She then received some other calls from from management being irritated that they had dressed a girl up as a man to "sneak" in and do kirtan. Obviously Bibji didn't know what they were talking about. She then realized they thought that Ramdas Singh (playing the tampura) was a girl, because he didn't have much of a beard. She cleard it up and told them that he was a boy, FOR SURE. So, the management supposedly instructed the camera people to zoom in on Ramdas Singh's face to show the world his mini amounts of beard from his chin (and that it was not a woman).
This is just too funny. Sorry Ramdas.
Having a woman play kirtan in Harmandir Sahib shouldn't be an issue, and it's sad to see Gender inequality in our very own Harmandir Sahib. Don't get me started on this issue. It's a hot topic for me. (trying to stay on topic)
The challenge....
So, as I was watching the video I wondered if they really did zoom in on Ramdas Singh's face to show his beard. The challenge is to see if one of you can find out if they actually did do this. You'll probably have to download the video and skip through it, or fast forward. Let's see if one of you take the challenge and be the first!
Good Luck! Let the games begin!
If you do find it...post the number of minutes/seconds into the video as a comment.
AMRITSAR, INDIA -- Here, in the spiritual center of the Sikh faith, one man stands out. He appears to be a walking contradiction: he is both taller and fairer, but also much more visibly "Sikh" than almost everyone around him, even the Punjabis who have practiced the faith for generations. He is Sada Sat Simran Singh Khalsa and he is over six feet tall, with pale skin, a towering turban, ruddy beard, and floor-sweeping blue robes. As he walks the perimeter of the Golden Temple, he attracts stares from Punjabis and Westerners alike—all trying to classify him, all coming up short. India is rife with Westerners who adopt an Eastern philosophy and begin dressing and practicing like their Indian counterparts, but few are like Khalsa.
He was born and raised outside of Washington D.C, in a decidedly American community, but also in the Sikh tradition, albeit the particularly American variety of the Indian faith. At age eight, he was sent to Miri Piri Academy to study and now, on a warm spring evening some 18 years later, Khalsa can be found in the school’s music room, giving lessons to a group of young devotees.
At the Miri Piri Academy in Chhertha Sahib, outside Amritsar, India, the students faces look American, they speak in American English, and many of them have all the trappings of American youth: iPods, cell phones and reggaeton ringtones, but nobody could mistake these kids for the average American student. Neither could they be mistaken for the Indians among whom they live, pray and serve. Their white turbans are tied more elaborately, their robes are longer and their symbolic swords, kirpans, are bigger and less, well, symbolic.
Continue Reading
Ps. Miri Piri Academy does have some openings for this next school year (Fall 2006), so you could contact them if you are interesting in having your child enroll in the school.
Me and My Mataji at Summer Solstice Camp 1976
Me and my Papaji in a tent at Summer Solstice 1976
What a day. I keep trying to work on various SikhNet projects and things just keeping coming up and keeping me away from them. Lots going on in my life right now, preparing for the arrival of a new child.
I like to keep up with what is going on within the "Sikh Blogosphere" and some Sikh Discussion forums. I have to admit though I am deeply saddened when I constantly see people "throwing mud" at each other and spreading hate and ill will. It's as if we as a Sikh community have a virus that causes a person to constantly criticize, judge and say negative things about people.
What about the principles of Love, Acceptance, Tolerance, Unity, Understanding, PEACE. It's as if people have so much hate and anger inside that the only way to deal with it is to put someone down. Who wants to be a Sikh in this environment? No wonder the Sikh youth are taking off and leaving Sikhi. It's not a positive experience for them. It's all judgments for many.
Sikhi really needs to come from the heart and not the head. No one is perfect. We all go through the tests and trials of life and are going through different things. One cannot judge another. We should be there to support and help every step of the way. NO MATTER WHAT.
I have grown up with huge amounts of slander, misunderstanding and negativity towards western Sikhs in our communities and Yogi Bhajan. It's so saddening to read the things people write. It is like a gossip circle that people feed on. People just twists things and make things up. It's as if spreading this makes them feel better about themself. Are Sikhs the bullies or the protectors?
One has to accept that we as humans are all unique and different. We need to embrace this diversity and know that there is no ONE way. Just because something is right for you doesn't mean something is wrong that is different than your understanding. This is the beauty I think of Sikhi is that it is open and from the heart.
I was just reading some discussions about Khalsa Camp and Sikh Student Camp and people where just "throwing mud" and criticizing this and that about the Sikh Student Camp. Everything I read was so off and untrue. Last year I had the chance to visit England for the first time and was able to participate in both these camps. They were the same week so I split my time between the two. I had an awesome time at both the camps and both had great people involved. Each had their differences which made them unique. Ok...lets just accept that there are different ways of doing things. One may not agree with the other methods, but why the need to start fights and judge each other's methods? This only creates more anger and division within our communities.
The Internet makes it too easy for people to hide behind some anonymous name and criticize people. The next time you are considering writing something online in a discussion forum or email ask yourself if this is something you would say to the person or groups, face to face.
If we as a Sikh Community are going to survive then we HAVE to stop this. There is a way to communicate and question things in neutral way. We are all Sikh Brothers and Sisters and should really start thinking of each other that way. Let's find what we have in common and not pick at differences. Is your glass "half empty" or "half full"? Let's build bridges of understanding and acceptance so that we as Sikhs have a tomorrow. Is that too much to ask?
....Let there be peace In your heart, in your home and in the world.
Ps. If you can't apply any of these suggestions, then at least go buy some Peace Cereal which helps promote peace! :) Celebrate Peace!
(click on the image to view larger version)
Acclaimed short film about a Sikh American family after 9/11 premieres on PBS' Independent Lens starting May 9, 2006.
American Made ( http://americanmadethemovie.com ) is a story about a Sikh American family in the aftermath of 9/11. When the Singh family's car breaks down in the desert, Ranjit tells his father that no one will stop to help because "he looks like a terrorist." What follows is the heart-rending struggle between a father and son and a larger exploration of faith, tradition, acceptance, and what it means to be 'American' today. Told with humanity and humor, American Made has won seventeen awards from film festivals around the world. It will likely be the first fictional film about Sikh Americans post-9/11 on national television. Director Sharat Raju's next project is a full-length documentary film Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath to be released in Fall 2006.
TUNE IN… Find Your Local Station!
American Made has 529 air dates on 200+ station affiliates. Major cities listed below.
Check here for the schedule in your local area or here ITVS
In an effort to help us all learn and understand the meaning of words used in Gurbani we are going to be featuring a random Gurbani word and the meaning on the SikhNet home page. So, every time you load the page you will learn about a new word. I myself am looking forward to this because my understanding of Gurbani words is very limited and I hope to learn more.
We have a list of about 330 frequently used words and their meaning, however we need help from someone in the sangat to type the Gurmukhi version into the list. What we are planning to display is something like this:
Gurmukhi word
Transliteration
Translation
If you are able to help please let us know and Download the list here which is in Microsoft Excel format. The Gurmukhi column shows text but it uses a font which is not common so we would like to replace it with Gurmukhi typed in the GurbaniLipi Font. Even better would be if someone could type it using Unicode. Information about setting this up is here.
If you have a list of Gurbani words and their meanings please do add to the list and send to us.
Ever since we did some improvements to our Gurdwara a few years ago I have not been broadcasting our local Gurdwara on the internet. I used to do a live audio/video broadcast for many years every Sunday. However as I started to become the family man and more busy with work it was more difficult to cover.
I've been meaning to start this back up again, but haven't gotten around to it yet because I have to figure out a way to economically setup a few permanent cameras that I can show video (or still frames that update periodically).
This morning my wife was asking me when I was going to set this up again because it is getting really hard for her to sit in Gurdwara for a long time being very pregnant. So, this was a little motivation to at least get the audio part going again. This way she can listen to ghe Gurdwara from home when she isn't feeling well, or needs to go home early to rest.
So, this message is just to let you know that Gurdwara here in Espanola will be broadcast live every Sunday (starting right now). So, if you are up and awake at the time then you can tune in and virtually be a part of our Gurdwara here.
We don't have "professional ragis" who are full time, so the Kirtan is just played by members of the Sangat who wish to do kirtan. Musicians are both young and old, western and eastern, so you'll hear a mix of styles.
Click Here to Listen
Ps. I added a permanent link on the left hand navigator here on my blog which says "Espanola Gurdwara"
During our Khalsa Council Sessions
For the first times in 6+ months we got huge amount of rain!
Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico
Bibiji Inderjit Kaur, the Governor and Siri Sikhdhar Sahiba
Sat Jivan Singh saying a prayer to open the ceremonies.
People in prayer.
Gov. Bill Richardson and Bibiji
Daya Singh addressing everyone.
Gov. Bill Richardson Addressing the Khalsa Council, other political figures and friends of Yogi Bhajan.
Unveiling one of the Signs for the Highway
Bibiji expressing tears of emotion
Some of the signs on the highway
Himmat Singh and Guru Darshan Kaur
Narayan, Sarabjot and Utham being silly.