How do you meditate and get an experience? How do you concentrate? In the following video, Guruka Singh talks about meditating on Gurbani, focusing and "training" your mind to concentrate.
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In this poem the Siri Singh Sahib explores the source of all true knowledge, the inner channel of wisdom: the Guru. All knowledge and understanding comes through the channels of the Infinite, not directly from universities or teachers. There is only one teacher and there is only one student: God. This tongue-in-cheek poem makes fun of those who belittle knowledge imparted directly to the devotee by Guru’s grace.
Lehna was Guru Angad’s name before he became the second Guru. Jetha was Guru Ram Das’ name before he became the fourth Guru. The King of Miri and Piri is, of course, Guru Hargobind. Guru Harkrishan, the eighth Guru, at the age of five showed a skeptical Hindu priest that even a simpleton could recite the Bhagavad Gita by the Guru’s grace.
ALL KNOWLEDGE COMES BY GURU’S GRACE
(Gurprasaadee Sagal mat Avai)
They say you don’t know how to speak Punjabi …
Well, who taught the duck how to swim?
How low can mean and slanderous people stoop!
How can anyone limit the Divine Soul?
At which University did Guru Nanak study,
When by Divine Grace he was filled with God’s Presence?
Which Vedas did Lehna study, when he learned the secrets of Infinity and became Guru Angad?
Who was it that awarded a degree to Guru Amar Das,
When he selflessly served his Great Guru?
What School of Yoga did Jetha practice,
When he attained the Throne of Raj-Yoga?
Who taught the Gita to Guru Arjan?
He who gave the Siri Guru Granth to the world?
Who taught the King of the Earthly and Heavenly Realms His knowledge of both worlds?
Who gave Guru Har Rai his knowledge?
He by whose grace, our past accounts are wiped away.
Who taught Hari Krishan how to meditate?
He who gave the Knowledge of the Gita to a fool.
Who taught Teg how to Sacrifice? He who freed the whole human race.
Who taught Gobind to sing God’s Praises? He who is the King of all kings.
How can a fool know their Glory?
Or know the meaning of the Siri Guru Granth?
The Siri Guru Granth is the final examination of the Infinite God,
It is far beyond all praise or criticism.
How can you ever explain that to a worldly man? Chant “Har”, and Hari shall live within you.
All Knowledge and Understanding come
To the one who meditates on the Siri Guru.
What do you need to Write?
What do you need to Read?
What is a True Education?
What is the real way to Study?
What is Victory and what is Defeat?
Only by God’s Grace can we meditate on His Name.
How can anyone find the limits of the Infinite?
All Knowledge comes by Guru’s Grace!
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From Furmaan Khalsa (Poems to Live By)
by Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji
Here’s the poem in the original Gurmukhi
In this video Guruka Singh talks about how we do many things without understanding the reason. Most of them actually have a science and purpose to them. He explains why we fold our hands together when we pray.
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In 1982,Yogi Bhajan asked me to gather together all the poems he had written in Gurmukhi and translate them into English. The result was a book titled "Furmaan Khalsa" (the command of the Khalsa.) Within these pages lies one of the most extraordinary works of the twentieth century; a manual of conscious living written in the form of 108 luminous and inspiring Gurmukhi poems. Based on the science of human consciousness called Raj Yoga, and written as a guide for all the future generations, these poems answer the questions of how to live successfully with an open heart and an open mind in the midst of the turmoil of the modern world. . . how to experience your cosmic identity as a man or woman… how to raise children who are strong, secure and fearless. What does it mean to love and be loved? What are the physical, mental, and spiritual effects of what we eat and drink, and how can we unlock the unused potential energies within so that we can really become effective to create positive changes within ourselves and in the world? The book is available from Ancient Healing Ways. Over several posts, I’d like to share some of the poems with you. Here, to start, is Nitnem Namaa.
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DAILY BANIS (Nitnem Namaa)
The Yogi speaks effortlessly. ..
From the Love and Light of his Heart,
And from the depth of his meditative Wisdom.
Oh, Sikhs of the Guru! Oh, Khalsa! Listen to my Prayer!
The Nitnem is the Command given by the True Guru.
If you recite your Banis consciously,
You will gain Divine Knowledge.
It is by Guru’s Grace that I tell you this,
And it is by God’s Grace that you will be merged with Him.
When your Soul feels sad,
recite JAPJI in the depth of your Inner Self.
When your body feels useless, recite SHABAD HAZAARE.
When your Dignity is threatened, meditate on JAAP SAHIB.
When nothing seems to satisfy you,
sing TEV PRASAAD SWAYIA each day.
When you feel hopeless, unsuccessful, and worthless,
That is the time to sing REHIRAS.
When your lower self confronts you,
and you seem to have no money,
When your affairs all seem to fail,
and your mind can find no Peace,
That is the time to sing ANAND SAHIB.
When your life seems boring, and you feel uninspired,
That’s when you should sing KIRTAN SOHILA.
When the Light of your Soul is dim,
and the dark ethers surround you,
Then recite the BHAUGATI ARDAS.
If you sing SUKHMANI from your heart,
You shall be wealthy and exhalted,
beyond your wildest dreams.
All the Bliss your mind desires, is yours,
when you meditate on Gobind, the destroyer of cruelty.
The Kingdom of the one who chants the Gurmantra,
Wahe Guru, Shall endure for ever and ever.
If you chant Sat Nam, all your affairs are arranged,
And all your desires are fulfilled.
When you sing Sopurkh, the Vision of the
Infinite Creator shall come to you.
The entire Universe fills the meditation,
Of the one who sings the watch of the So Dar.
When you sing the praises of Guru Ram Das,
God manifests in your Innermost Soul.
The Siri Sargam is such a powerful Naad,
That hearing it, even the homeless shall find a good home.
Hearing and singing the Guru Gayatri,
Rishi Dusht Daman will be the Protector of your home.
The Paintees Akharee gives the understanding of Yoga.
Benti Chaupee liberates the Soul.
Whoever listens to, or recites the Bara Maha to others,
His home becomes an ocean of Peace and Bliss.
By eating lightly of healthy food,
One experiences the Bliss of Brahm,
and complete Liberation.
The Guru’s Lungar is the very best food!
The entire Universe meditates at the Harimandir.
Whosoever recites his Nitnem daily,
Is blessed by Akal with Peace and Bliss!
—————————————–
by Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji
(From Furmaan Khalsa: Poems to Live By)
Here’s the poem in the original Gurmukhi
Guruka Singh is SikhNet’s Executive director and original founder of SikhNet back in 1983 as a BBS System. Late last year he changed his whole job focus…and decided to work again with SikhNet (as a full time job). For me personally it is so cool to work with him and share our passions for SikhNet together. It’s amazing how God works these things out!
Guruka is a great mentor for me and I learn a lot from him on all different levels. He has so much to share, and does so enthusiastically with everyone around him. Guruka Singh sets such a great example for me and others to learn from. I think he has a lot to offer in a very unique way, and hope he has the opportunity in the future to travel to other Sikh communities to share/teach the youth (and the old folk if they are willing).
Yesterday afternoon I had a lot of fun sitting with Guruka Singh and talking to him about a variety of topics (which I recorded). I will edit and post the different videos over the next few weeks. Lots of very good stuff! One thing that will be very apparent in the videos is his enthusiasm, smiles and joy. This is who he is…and what I feel living as a Sikh can bring to each of us.
The video that I am posting tonight is about himself personally becoming a Sikh and being a parent.
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I don’t normally get to involved in politics, but I am always irritated when I see how our current Government in America is spending our tax money and making really short-sighted choices. More and more money going towards wars, the army, nuclear programs etc, while they continue to cut funding on basic education needs for our schools and other programs.
This past weekend I watched a DVD documentary called The Corporation which really made me think about the world at it’s current state, and how all the big corporations are taking over and influencing the world towards a devastating future. Here is a short Synopsis of the movie:
“THE CORPORATION explores the nature and spectacular rise of the dominant institution of our time. Footage from pop culture, advertising, TV news, and corporate propaganda, illuminates the corporation’s grip on our lives. Taking its legal status as a “person” to its logical conclusion, the film puts the corporation on the psychiatrist’s couch to ask “What kind of person is it?” Provoking, witty, sweepingly informative, The Corporation includes forty interviews with corporate insiders and critics - including Milton Friedman, Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, and Michael Moore - plus true confessions, case studies and strategies for change. ” - Read More
I think it is important for us to be aware of certain things like this and help make a change in the current state, or else our children’s future might look very bleak. The whole political system is driven by money and power. Many of the choices that are made by Government are greatly influenced by these big corporations.
I recommend that everyone watch this movie.
I’ll leave you with this quote from a poster I saw:
“It will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need, and the Air Force will have to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber.”
Also check out this funny cartoon made by the “Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Founder” about the US budget and Oreo Cookies. It really put’s things in perspective.
By Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh!
Last week, a dear friend of mine and I had lunch together at one of the local New Mexico Mexican restaurants. We love to spend time together, hang out, talk about this and that. The week before, late one night, I was meditating on what’s happening in Pakistan - tens of thousands dead from the earthquake, millions without shelter and winter looming. The UN is pushing for financial support and the Associated Press is predicting a “second wave of death” in the disaster - from “people who could freeze to death, starve to death, or just be sick because of infected water.” There is such devastation, such disaster that, in many ways, we have no power to stop.
In Sukhmani, Guru Arjun writes “Aath pahaar” - 24 hours a day, just keep the prayer going. In these moments, when the plight of humanity looks so bleak - there is tremendous solace in prayer. The Shabad has a power - a power that we cannot understand, command or control - but a power, nonetheless, to bring what is out of balance back into harmony.
That night, the prayer that wanted to be prayed was Chandi di Vaar written by Guru Gobind Singh about the goddess Durga and her war against the demons who had taken over Heaven. When destruction is so prevalent, so undeniable, so unavoidable - what can we pray for?
Here is a talk that Shanti Kaur gave to the Sangat in 2001 (?) during Gurdwara on the anniversary (June 6th) of the attacks on the Golden Temple/Akal Takhat.
Every 6th of the month we have a special Gurdwara to remember and honor the Akal Takhat “Martyrdom” and the events of 1984.
Today is the 6th of the month.
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As you can see there is a different design/look for the blog. I still have some tweaks and changes to make….but let me know what you think. (Ps. I’m going to be changing the header image and probably making the font sizes larger)
I like this one because it is much more “soft” and relaxing.
