I think most of you have heard at least something about the major problems of drug addiction in Punjab. This problem is growing from bad to worse with little remedy in sight. One might wonder why the Punjab government doesn’t get involved and help setup programs to deal with the problems. From what little I do know about the situation I think it is possible that people involved in the government either don’t care, are not seeing the urgency of the problem, or benefit in some way by all the drugs/alcohol, etc. Just in the area of alcohol I heard that Amritsar city consumes more than Rs 1 crore (approx. US $225,000) worth of liquor EVERY DAY! So you can imagine how the money revolving around alcohol and other drugs might control people in government. There is too much money going around to write off the possibility of corruption and politics influencing these things. It’s no wonder there are very few if any programs organized and funded by the government to deal with the issues of de-addiction.
So the question comes, how do we help the thousands people who are already addicted to drugs, and prevent the many youth who might soon get into drugs? There is no easy answer, that is for sure!
The long awaited snow is finally here! This morning it started snowing and it has been snowing and and off all day today. This evening it started to really pick up. There must be at least 8 inches of snow on the ground. Yippee! We went out after dinner to romp around in the snow for a bit of fun. It’s still snowing now (9PM) so I’m looking forward to a big pile of snow in the morning. There nothing like waking up to snow all over. We’ll probably get our snow gear on and roll around and have fun! I’ll have to get out the sleds. Maybe this weekend we’ll drive up to the mountains and go for some good sledding. Fun fun!
Any other snow lovers out there? I feel ripped off if we get a winter without much snow. Without the snow winter is just cold and boring. Snow brings everyone out to play and makes everything bright and beautiful!
A Picture earlier in the day from my office window.
Arjan and Charanjeet. Night fun in the snow!
The front of the Gurdwara as I left the office to head home and the snow coming down pretty good
Snow piling up at home
Me playing with Charanjeet before bed time.
Charanjeet Kaur in her cute little snow suit.
Earlier this afternoon Charanjeet in her bear clothes. It’s so cute with the litte bear ears. She is just playing with her toys as we eat lunch.
Today in Gurdwara as I was listening to the Gurbani and hearing the Guru’s words it made me think about the state of Sikh women in the world of today. One of my favorite Shabads (Bhand Jamiyai Bhand Nimiyai) relating to women was played by Snatam Kaur. I thoroughly enjoyed singing as the voices of the sangat filled the Gurdwara. Little Charanjeet Kaur was in my lap listening and entranced in the Gurbani. Being a father of a girl and a husband I know the value of supporting the women in my family.
In this Shabad Guru Nanak so beautifully sums up the value of the woman:
"From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married. Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come. When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound. So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all. O Nanak, only the True Lord is without a woman. That mouth which praises the Lord continually is blessed and beautiful. O Nanak, those faces shall be radiant in the Court of the True Lord." - Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Aasaa on Pannaa 473
MAN - The Dominant I always feel a little awkward when I hear Sikhs boasting things like, "In Sikhism there is Gender Equality. Women can do everything than men can". Of course this is the ideal and the teachings of our Guru’s, however in reality and practice we have much to overcome to truly establish this so called "Gender Equality". In India especially it is quite common for women to be treated badly and not given the value and leadership roles that are deserved. It makes me think of Bollywood movies where the husband is this overbearing man who is the "God" of the house. Whatever he says is law and MUST be obeyed, or else she is beaten or scolded in some way. In these situations it seems the sole purpose of the woman is to take care of the man and the kids and do as the husband says. In general I think of a women being loving and coming from the heart, and men being egotistical and coming from the head. I can understand the relationship of a woman serving her husband and contributing to the household, but much of the time it doesn’t come across to me as an equal partnership.
I just got news that Bhai Avtar Singh Ragi, has passed away peacefully at about 10.50 PM (IST), November 24th, 2006. At 81 years, he was at his residence, with his whole family.
A few months back I had heard that he had Leukemia and possibly didn’t have much time to live, but sometimes with these things you just imagine that their life will go on in spite of it. It somehow seems unreal.
I remember as a young child in Los Angeles listening to Kirtan by Bhai Avtar Singh. He used to come to our Gurdwara from time to time and we listened to the recordings from these Gurdwaras often at home too. In more recent years he would come to Espanola, New Mexico with his family/jatha every year to teach Gurbani/Raag to the Sangat. It was always so nice to have him and his family.
As I think about his passing It reminds me of how many Sikh leaders and elders have moved on in the recent years. It makes me think about how time and life passes away fast, and how we need to not let the precious life go wasted. One should not leave this earth without leaving a lasting mark. Continue reading ‘The Passing of Bhai Avtar Singh Ji’
Here is a cool video that myself and Gurujot Singh put together for the SikhNet year end fundraiser. I hope that you will feel inspired and support the work of SikhNet by giving generously. Even if you don’t have a lot of money, please give whatever you can. Every dollar makes a difference.
Please also consider signing up to give a monthly donation. In order for SikhNet to operate we need to be able to count on regular support from the sangat. Our goal this year is to get $5,000 in monthly supporters. If you look on the SikhNet home page you can see our progress. We are just a bit over half way to our goal and hope you can help us get to the "Finnish Line".
My personal thanks and gratitude goes out to all those people who have made a donation to SikhNet so far!
I just found out that Chardikala Jatha is in New Delhi (India) and is participating in a few Gurdwara programs. Many people have expressed an interest in meeting them or hearing their kirtan so I am sharing this info with you.
Friday, Nov 24 8:45 am - 10 am / Rakhab Ganj Gurdwara/Kirtan Program
Friday, Nov 24 7:30 pm - 8:15 pm Siskanj Gurdwara Kirtan Program
Saturday, Nov 25 10:00 am - 10:20 am Rakhab Ganj Gurdwara is having a big stage set up and all the Kirtan will be broadcast live, all day long.
Saturday, Nov 25 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm Rakhab Ganj Gurdwara/Kirtan will be broadcast live
Sunday, Nov 26 12:00 - 1:00 pm Kirtan Program and Discussion w/the kids at the ‘Mata Gujri Gurmat Educational Society’ - an orphanage run by the Delhi Sangat.
Sunday, Nov 26 8:30 pm - 9:45 pm/Bangala Sahib Gurdwara
A nice four day holiday weekend is just around the corner and I am looking forward to just hanging out and relaxing. Arjan’s sister is driving down from Colorado with her boyfriend to visit us for the thanksgiving weekend so we will have a full house.
What I am really looking forward to is a proper vacation which is long overdue. In December we are first off to Orlando, Florida where we will meet some of Arjan’s family for some fun at Disney World. I know this will be a blast for Narayan who has never been to an amusement park like this. That reminds me, I need to do a little research and plan which parts of Disney World to go to. The place is so huge that you have to plan your strategy for what you want to do! If any of you are Disney World Regulars let me know your favorites.
At the end of the week I’ll meet up with my parents who are flying down from New York. We’ll spend a day or so with my Grand Parents who want to meet Charanjeet Kaur. Then we are off to a week of the Winter Solstice Camp in Lake Wales.
The Winter Solstice Camp has special significance for me and Arjan, because this is where we first met…and "fell in love". It’s been SOOO many years since we have been to Winter Solstice so this year we decided to make it happen. Our meeting in the winter of 1996 was a pivotal point in my life because I was struggling with my identity as a Sikh and Arjan provided the missing piece in my life. It’s like the line that Tom Cruise said in the movie Jerry Maguire….. "You complete me". Me and Arjan love to joke about corny lines like this.
It is this inner-turning, this place inside that wonders why speak at all. As if it’s been an act all these years. Writing. Having a voice. Trying to find something to say. To feel that creative power - but maybe - to feel it for all the wrong reasons.
It isn’t that I’m old. But death seems to be hanging around a lot these days. Nothing sinister or frightening. Just visiting - like an old friend. An autumn shadow in the midst of brilliant blue skies, sun-golden leaves - with a slight chill on the breeze. Reminding me to not forget how temporary it all is. Continue reading ‘Autumn Montage’
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