On the train from Connecticut to Massachusetts, I remember. A childhood growing up in the Northeast. Rows of houses remodeled again and again since Colonial Times. Trees lining the streets, marking the seasons with their distinct shades of dress. Sometimes green, sometimes orange, sometimes nothing at all.
That priceless time– where it seemed, somehow, one could be 8 years old, or 10 years old, or 12 years old forever.
Looking out the window, breathing in the nostalgia, I watch my thoughts slip into another direction. Yes – this is all familiar to me. Even after so many years living in the Southwest – the Northeast still feels like home. But not everything is the same as I remember. And as the train keeps rolling, there are other scenes my eyes register, making it difficult for me to inhale deeply, to catch my breath.
I’m sure most of you have been to a Gurdwara while Kirtan is being sung, and seen the Gurbani with a translation projected onto a screen. Isn’t this cool?? This is has changed the way that Gurdwaras in this modern age bring a deeper understanding of Gurbani to the sangat. In our Gurdwaras since the old days in the 70’s we didn’t have this and relied on hundreds and hundreds of shabad sheets which were put together, copied and then organized in file cabinets. They would then be handed out in the Gurdwara so that we could sing along with the Shabad and understand the meaning.
We have come a long way since then in the world! With the digitalization of Gurbani and various translations becoming available, the options for viewing and searching through Gurbani are limitless. What we can do and how we can view Gurbani is really only limited by our creativity and imagination…and taking the time to create something new.
Last year I made a family slide show to celebrate my mother’s 60th Birthday. It shows pictures of her when she was just a little girl along with her brothers and parents. It then progresses to when she became a Sikh……then has a child (me)….and then becomes a grandmother (Narayan and charanjeet).
Be sure to also check out the first video that I made a few years ago for my papaji’s (Siri Vishnu Singh) 50th Birthday! You can watch that video here.
Shakti Parwha Kaur and Sikh Dharma International have been working hard on a much needed book about Sikh Dharma. This book is to serve the need of the growing number of people (not from Indian origin) who want to get a better understanding about Sikhi. Last week alone I got four emails from people asking about how they can become a Sikh and various questions related to living this lifestyle! Many people start by practicing Kundalini Yoga and see the many Sikh teachers with turbans on without knowing very much about this lifestyle. They chant various mantras from Gurbani and want to know more. This book is will help serve the growing need of those people that are new to Sikh Dharma and interested in incorporating this lifestyle into their life. Of course this book will also be a huge gem to many people within the Sikh community as well because it is presented in a very unique way and is not your typical preachy/scholarly/history book on Sikhi. The book is very modern in the way the content is presented using stories and people’s experiences of living this lifestyle as well as teaching the basics.
Here are a few excerpts from the draft book from the chapter "Science of Sound" that I thought would be interesting for you all. When the book is released you’ll be sure to hear about it on SikhNet :)
Spring is here and summer is just around the corner! Summer time in Espanola has so much energy and there many different events that happen in the summer and lots of people coming from all over the world. I’ve blogged over the years about one of the events which is called "Summer Solstice Sadhana" and many people have expressed interest in coming. This is a full week Spiritual camp (June 19 – June 28) where over 1,500 people from all over the world and all different religious backgrounds come together to meditate, pray and uplift each other. It’s a truly unique event that I never miss. At SikhNet we close the offices for the week and we all participate. I find that it is a recharge for the soul and helps carry me through the year.
If any of you have been thinking about coming to the Summer Solstice event and are not able to pay the normal registration fees you can sign up for one of the financial aid scholarships which is a discounted price based on financial need and also a service scholarship which is even less. Applications for financial aid scholarships are due by April 15th and only a limited number of scholarship applications are given.
Please come…If you feel called to join us this summer for a totally different experience!
Also check out Khalsa Youth Camp which happens after Summer Solstice and is a great camp for the younger kids. My son goes to it every year and I used to go when I was younger too!
Another day gone by…another year gone by. 33 years on this earth for me. So much to do and experience and so little time. Every day is an up and down roller coaster; Always trying my best to make the good choices, stay connected to the source and the purpose for being on this earth. May God bless us all to connect with our soul and create peace with ourselves, our neighbors and everything around us.
Years ago marble was installed on the floors and base of the walls in the Gurdwara here in Espanola, New Mexico. Ever since then it has become a beautiful weekly get together to clean the Guru’s House. I used to hear about it from Prabhu Singh and a few others (Sat Bachan Kaur) who were always trying to encourage people to participate. Back then It took place late at night (rather than 6:30am nowadays) so I never did take part in it. At first I thought it silly to install marble in the Gurdwara when it seemed to be perfectly nice as it was. I thought, why make more work and the need to clean the marble?? Was this our sangat’s way of having a similar experience of cleaning the marble floors of Harimandir Sahib (which most are not allowed to take part in)? Anyways, that was my critical mind at work and was a factor in my not taking the opportunity to do this seva till this year.
Sat Nam and many blessings to you. For those of you have are curious and interested, the Crestone Healing Arts Center in Crestone, CO will be hosting a Japji Sahib intensive weekend May 9-11.
There are facts of life which we don’t normally talk about publicly, and one of them has to do with something that we all do every day (at least if you are healthy and regular). Ok, I know this is going to be a far throw from my normal blog posts. Don’t expect any cute pictures of Charanjeet, Inspirational stories, or videos.
I can be serious and spiritual, but I also like to have fun and laugh. A few weeks ago I went over to a friends house for dinner and while I was there I made a funny discovery while stopping in on the washroom. Normally when I go to the bathroom (#2) I like to read a magazine. I’m normally pretty busy all the time so this is my one time to "relax" for a bit and catch up on my tech magazine reading. I have a rack for magazines next to the toilet and take my pick when I sit on the "throne". Charanjeet has been copying me lately. She says "poopoo"….and then goes and sits on the toilet…and then says "magazeen" and acts like she is going to the bathroom and reading. It’s quite funny how kids copy their parents. Anyways….as I was saying earlier I was at a friends house and noticed this small hardcover book title "What’s Your Poo Telling You?". Interested, I picked it up and started reading it. It was soo funny and educational at the same time that I couldn’t put it down. So much for socializing! I took it in the living room and kept flipping through it reading. It then was time to leave and I had to part with my dear "poo book" (and I’m not talking about a Winnie the Poo book). I hoped that one day I would be re-united with the book for more good fun and laughs.
In early 1900 till around 1950’s there used to be a much different culture in America. People used to be more family oriented, close together, respectable, mannerly, good natured etc. Over the past 50 years these good parts of American culture have slowly seeped away. This very same thing is happening all over the world as this "western / modern" melting pot has slowly eroded away on all cultures.
There are facts of life which we don’t normally talk about publicly, and one of them has to do with something that we all do every day (at least if you are healthy and regular). Ok, I know this is going to be a far throw from my normal blog posts. Don’t expect any cute pictures of Charanjeet, Inspirational stories, or videos. 
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