Chardikala Jatha start off reading from the autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh, and then talk about the 10th Guru’s stance on protecting all religions.
Monthly Archive for April, 2008
I just happened across this nice video on Snatam Kaur and Guruganesha Singh sharing their gratitude about being able to do what they do; traveling around the world, singing gods prays, and uplifting people. I feel the same way about the work that we do at SikhNet and also feel fortunate and grateful to be able to do this.
Article by Gurmeet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia)
While ‘global warming’ has become the most debatable and trendy topic amongst thought leaders, politicians, activists and elites around the world, obvious changes in the climate, drowning of the polar bears, unprecedented pollution and epidemic increase in the number of diseases have forced a common person to think about the reasons and consider changes in lifestyle formerly taken for granted. There is a growing sense of personal responsibility for what we as average human beings can do not only individually but as a global community to make this Earth a better place. As conscious citizens of this world, Sikhs have by far the most enlightened view available to them from the teachings of the Guru(s) and the environmentally consciousness lives they lived.
In the Slok, Pavan Guru Paani Pitaa, Mataa Dharat Mahat, the gurbani gives the whole environment that sustains us the status of Guru: Water the Father and, Earth the Mother. Furthermore, the Guru Sahib directs us to take care of them as they take care of us. There are numerous examples that guide our lifestyles towards green living exemplified by the institution of Langar that feeds and nurtures the hungry with simple and nutritious food in the most earth friendly way possible and by the sensitivity that the Guru (Har Rai Ji) showed towards conservation and sustenance of flora and fauna and by the un-tired efforts of Bhagat Puran Singh who lobbied for saving trees and reversing pollutions of our rivers.
Continue reading ‘Taking Care of Mother Earth - A Conscious Kitchen’
Jugat Guru Singh and Sadasat Simran Singh (Chardikala Jatha) share their thoughts on the relationship of Sikhi and Yoga. Many of us who are Sikhs don’t realize the many close ties and things in Sikhi that are in fact Yoga. Many Sikhs think of Yoga in a negative way because they associate it as a Hindu practice, or that the writings in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib say that "yoga is bad" when in fact this is a total mis-understanding and most of the time taken out of context.
This is a video excerpt from the 2007 Jaap Sahib Course in Espanola, New Mexico.
A friend recently recommended that I watch this video, and because it was a bit long I didn’t have time to watch it until now. I’m in Toronto right now in a hotel taking a break from meetings and networking and had the time to watch this video on my laptop. This video is related to the world economy and effects everyone whether or not you are an American. It is quite informative and just peels another layer of understanding of the current economical situation (particularly affecting the American population right now). It’s amazing how those few in power are driven to get more and more at the expense of the average person in the world.
Here is the second video part to the previously posted video topic of "Sin, Guilt, Heaven and Hell".
This video deals with the issue and question of whether guilt is a good thing to motivate and have self discipline. You might think that without guilt you might not do certain things or be disciplined. Guruka Singh shares a nice perspective in terms of relating to discipline and a daily practice. I used to be one of the "yo-yos" (going up and down in my practice) but now take the slow and steady, building over time approach. Anyways, hope you enjoy.
It’s been a while since I traveled anywhere for SikhNet. We have been busy with lots of new things so it has been hard to travel anywhere. Generally when I travel I like to ensure that I have a chance to network with other youth leaders and people in the Sikh community. SikhNet being primarily in the virtual world it really helps to have face to face relationships with people and knowing people in person.
This Friday through Sunday (Apr 18-20) I’ll be visiting Toronto, Canada to network and participate in The Centennial Foundation Vaisakhi Gala as a honoree for SikhNet work. I’m hoping that I get a chance to meet and talk to lots of Sikhs, especially any "youth leaders" who are active in the community.
Whenever I go to Canada I always seem to get pulled aside by customs and questioned/searched. I hope this time around I have all my answers "right". They must think it strange to see a white dude with a turban and feel that they must question me to see what I am. What I have learnt is to know the name and address of the person you are meeting or seeing. If you don’t have this info that’s a red flag. Don’t say you are going to a "camp" which to them might be a "terrorist camp". So if any of you come to the Summer Solstice Camp….. just say you are going to a "Yoga/Meditation Retreat". Such is a life in North America as a Sikh…to stand out. :)
The Baisakhi celebrations were yesterday were wonderful! It started with a delicious breakfast for the whole sangat hosted by Bibiji Inderjit Kaur at the Ranch and then from there we had a larg Nagar Kirtan procession all the way to the Gurdwara. Here are some pictures from yesterday’s vaisakhi celebrations.
The entry way to the Gurdwara
Continue reading ‘Vaisakhi Celebrations in Espanola New Mexico’
Here is one topic which I think is a great one for us all to think about. I have found that even within the Sikh lifestyle many people have adopted the mentality of "guilt and sin". Western influence has definitely played a big part in this, and it doesn’t help to have translations of Gurbani that translate "paap" into "sin".
In the following video interview Guruka Singh shares his thoughts on the topic of Sin, Guilt, Heaven and Hell. Hopefully the next time you catch yourself feeling one of these things you may think more deeply about it.
Gurumustuk Singh Ji asked me to write a bit about the five tattvas and the three gunas. This is what was "assumed knowledge" in the time Gurbani was written. Basically, it’s the KAR part of IK ONG KAR (ONG being the creative power itself.)
The five tattvas are: earth, water, fire, air and ether. They are not those things literally, but rather states of density of matter. For example, water can be solid (earth,) liquid (its normal state between 0 degrees C and 100 degrees C) and air (when it vaporizes.) Ether is the most subtle element. Though there is no air in "outer space," there is ether. Ether is the carrier of light and the least dense of the five tattvas.
So matter is made up of both the five tattvas (or states) along with the energy that flows through them. E=MC2 right? It’s a continuum of energy and matter, and the two flow into each other, but neither is destroyed (according to the law of conservation of matter and energy.) So the tattvas are the states of matter and the three gunas are the frequencies of energy: low-frequency=tamas (inertia,) mid-frequency=rajas (motion) and high-frequency=sattvas (calm.)
The three gunas are manifested in human qualities as well, and I’m sure you know these qualities in yourself and in other people. Most people have one of the three gunas dominant in their personality and projection. Tamas=crude, lethargic, heavy. Rajas=passionate and action oriented. Sattvas=light, pure, calm and relaxed. When we say someone has a "high" vibration, we mean they are dominantly sattvic in nature.
- Guruka Singh
P.S. - We did an earlier video on the subject of free will and God’s will. I think it was the "fate and destiny" one, but I’m happy to revisit that topic.
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