WJKK WJKIF

I ‘met’ Khalil Gibran through his writings around 1996, while I was teaching at a secondary school. The presence of a spiritual master in my life had awakened in me a certain type of hunger that urged me to seek out other enlightened souls. It was during this time that i went to my school library and discovered ‘The Prophet’. A book written by Khalil Gibran, a Lebanese American artist, poet, writer, philosopher and theologian. I was deeply touched by it’s wisdom and spiritual depth – it seemed to offer that timeless advice just at the right moment. I rejoiced when I read the different essays and the truths they represented. They seemed  to echo what gurbani tells us – only this was in a language that I could understand a little better. It felt like I had found a friend, a guide who showed the path to a kind of freedom that I was looking for – a freedom of thought, a freedom from the shackles society tends to bind us with without saying a word. Freedom from fear, obligation and guilt. Overjoyed, I remembered that there were other books by Gibran in the library (Spirits Rebellious, Mirrors of the Soul, Voice of the Master, A Self-Portrait and many more). At the time I had no idea that I had stumbled upon the third best read poet in the world (after Shakespeare and Lao Tsu). I couldn’t believe my good fortune.

Reflecting back, I know now that this was no fluke. It was the Universe’s way of providing a way to quench my thirst that I had developed.Later I ordered all of the books and they gracefully adorn my private book collection till now. I go back many a time to emerge myself in their ocean of wisdom. Each time the words inspire me to want to be the higher self that Gibran talks about. Words, that embody his spirit, thus i end up doing his ‘sangat’.  Just like Bauji’s lekhs – he reiterated this many a time -‘if you want to meet me, read my lekhs’. Professor Puran Singh also writes that he went for a ‘walk’ with Walt Whitman – actually he was referring to the fact that he was reading his poetry.The book has been a faithful companion, and has remained one of, if not the favorite, of all the books I’ve read.

‘The Prophet’ includes a series of very short philosophical essays on topics like Love, Marriage, Children, Religion, Freedom, Pain, Joy and Sorrow, Friendship, Beauty, Death, Time, Self Knowledge and many more.

Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield, upon which your reason and your judgment wage war against your passion and your appetite.Below I include the one on ‘Self Knowledge’ which highlights this battle:

On Self-Knowledge
Kahlil Gibran

Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights.
But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart’s knowledge.
You would know in words that which you have always known in thought.
You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams.

And it is well you should.
The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea;
And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes.
But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure;
And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line.
For self is a sea boundless and measureless.

Say not, “I have found the truth,” but rather, “I have found a truth.”
Say not, “I have found the path of the soul.” Say rather, “I have met the soul walking upon my path.”
For the soul walks upon all paths.
The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.
The soul unfolds itself like a lotus of countless petals.

I hope you enjoy the timeless wisdom and truth within these pages  The Prophet as much as I have over the years.

With Warm Nanak Love

A very loving guru fateh Guru pyari sadh sangat jee,

I really missed being at the Sacramento samagam. Although I was engrossed in some family affairs my mind kept flitting to the sangat and what might be happening at that moment. I would then revert back to the present, and where I was and remind myself of the importance of being ‘fully present’ in whatever and where ever my thoughts have brought me to. So I fully immersed myself in the work at hand and tried to find peace with that thought.

Bauji’s ever green presence in my life – either through cherished memories, or through his Lekhs has been and continues to be monumental. Mataji, in turn reinforced his loving presence and still does. One of the many ways I have been blessed with, as a direct result of keeping the sangat of enlightened souls, is the awareness of the power of thoughts. Some of you might recall that we read a part of this lekh. Here is the link to it:

http://www.slideshare.net/jussrani/power-of-thoughts

(Even if you read one page a day (there are only 6), try to understand what it says. It is very powerful when applied in life – if you look in the post “Thinking about Thinking” there are audio links to the lekh too.

“As you sow, so shall you reap”

Sow a thought, reap an idea;

sow an idea, reap an action;

sow an action, reap a habit;

show a habit, reap a character;

sow a character, reap a fate;

sow a fate, reap a destiny” 

The reason i bring up the topic of the power of thoughts is because it is very beautifully represented in the movie Avatar which is the rage nowadays. I rarely watch movies, but when i do it is carefully selected. I was pleasantly surprised and relieved to find affirmations of Bauji’s lekh on Power of Thoughts. Don’t worry, if you haven’t seen it, I am not going to give the plot away, but I will try to make some connections.

At its core, Avatar’s philosophy is not new; it is ancient, profound, and liberating. The word avatar represents a higher self – one which is more god-like.

Like mystics here on Earth, the Na’Vi (the indigineous people of Pandora) have an experience of unity of consciousness with other beings, all of which (themselves included) are really just manifestations of one Being or God, which they call Ai’wa.

The Na’Vi have a convenient plug, attached to their bodies at the end of their long pigtails (which to me showed the significance of long hair and its power) which physically unites them to other beings (such as horses, winged or otherwise) and to Ai’wa Herself/Itself.. Once this bond has been established, their mere thoughts can direct what ever they are riding. At this point I remembered – ah! the power of thoughts. You can do anything, but yes, you have to be connected with the source first.

In the Na’Vi cosmology, what’s really happening is that the Ai’wa in me is connecting with the Ai’wa in you. This is echoed in their greeting, “I see you”- which doesn’t mean ordinary seeing – it, really means “the God in me sees the God in you.” I see Myself, in your eyes.

How beautiful is that! So many lines in gurbani echo this. Can anyone think of them? Can you share?

Here is one:

ਸਭੁ  ਗੋਬਿੰਦੁ  ਹੈ ਸਭੁ ਗੋਬਿੰਦੁ ਹੈ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਈ ॥

God is everything, God is everything. Without God, there is nothing at all.

If we are all one – then there is no individual self – it’s an illusion, a mirage.

“I” exists, sure, but only just like a wave on the ocean: here one minute, gone the next, and never apart from the ocean itself.

These ideas have important practical implication in my own life as i recognize that all my desires revolve around making my own wave bigger or more comfortable than others. I forget that I’m water. Only when the connection is made with the whole, and the ‘I’ disappears – even if it is momentary- one feels the impact of the energy that we are all made up of.

This concept is elegantly portrayed in the movie.

At one point, when the entire community prays in complete unison, connecting, becoming a whole I was reminded of how this very phenomenon happens when we are in a samagam or regular sangat, when we are all one, all concentrated – how the energy flows from one to the other. Bauji explains in one of his talks that we all bring our positive and negative vibrations to the ether, hence to sangat. At times when the positive vibrations overpower the negative ones we feel a powerful lift in our spirits – we fly on the wings of the giants.

Yes, I really missed the Divine congregation – would anyone like to send  their loving thoughts about it?

Dhan Dhan Dhan Sangat

Dhan Dhan Dhan Sadh Jan

With warm Nanak Love

Guru Pyaree Sadh Sangat geo

A loving Guru Fateh jeee

WJKK WJKF

The importance of selfless seva is highlighted by Guru Arjan Dev Jee in this verse:

“ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਤ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਹਕਾਮੀ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਕਉ ਹੋਤ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਸੁਆਮੀ ॥

One who performs selfless service, without thought of reward, shall attain his Lord and Master.”

Although many of us might be aware that seva entails much more than just  washing dishes, serving or making langar at the gurduwara, it is still something that needs some further thought. In his lekhs on ‘Seva’,  Bauji guides us about  three different types of seva. He clarifies who can do this type of seva and how might it be done.

At one of the samagams last year, the following power point presentation on SEVA was shown. It highlights what is written in the SEVA lekhs. It also explains where the word ‘seva’ originates from. Here is the link for this: http://www.slideshare.net/jussrani/seva-3494233

The Haiti Earthquake and other similar world disasters bring the importance of seva to life. With over 200 000 people dead, 250,000 houses destroyed and 1.5 million people living in tent camps made with bed sheets and plastic scraps in nearly every open space in the collapsed capital of Port-au-Prince, I am humbled by the people who work for organizations like – Doctors without borders or Teachers without borders. People who have gone to volunteer their services to help rebuild everything in various parts of the world. The following link shows some our sikh brothers and sisters who have extended their hand to the Haitians.http://unitedsikhs.org/haitiearthquake/videos/haiti_relief.html

All I can say is VAVAVVAVAV!! Dhan Guru Nanak! Dhan Sikhi!

Its so easy to live in the bubble that wealth and success brings, and thus allow our privileged circumstances render us insensitive to the sufferings of the helpless around us. It is not enough to be grateful for our blessings. We must also use those blessings – whatever they may be –  by helping the helpless.

I believe that success, wealth, and prosperity are gifts from God. But I also believe that they constitute a divine call; the call to voluntarily and cheerfully use our blessings (tun,mun,dhun) to alleviate the sufferings of the helpless who may never be able to pay us back.

Please do take the time to see the power point presentation. Because, he was exemplary model in his own life, Bauji’s words are very powerful. (If you don’t read punjabi, may be you can make an effort to get someone to read them to you). Don’t give up if you don’t understand them the first time – come on, you are a trooper, you can do it!!!

Words are slippery.

There is a big difference in what we say and what is understood by the others. Words have to be carefully chosen to convey the meaning you want to convey.

A lover of words once brought to my attention the importance and the power of words – both spoken and written. My eternal gratitude for this gift, dear friend.This gift was instrumental in the beginning of my realization of what ‘shabad guru’ might mean.

Why is then that mere words can have such an impact on a person?

Let’s first examine this famous but old idiom: Sticks and stones may break my bones (but words will never hurt me).

Hogwash!!

In a physical sense it makes sense, but what about at the emotional – feelings level?

Words can hurt – ask any person who has been bullied with name calling.

Words can definitely have the power to hurt someone, or to get them worked up about something. Of course there are enlightened souls (mahapuraks) who have achieved such a status that nothing can bother them. While words can be harmful they also hold the potential to fill a person with love and affection. Revolutions have been started with the ‘power of the pen’ and peace has been brought about with the same power.

However, not all words – but words that have been written by those who have a ‘jeevan’, who have cultivated them in their own life. Lived them, felt them. When they write or speak their words mean something, they have an affect on us.

The Wordless Word.

The written word – Gurbani

The spoken word -Kirtan and katha (lekhs)

For me both these forms of the ‘Word’ manifest the hidden power behind them. These words -shabads- written by our Gurus and Bhagats hold behind them a dynamism that bring to life their omnipotent presence – guru mere sang sadha heh nale.

I recall Bauji saying many times – ‘jeh tusin meri sangat karnee hai, the mere lekh paro’.(If you want to do my sangat, then read my lekhs).

He meets you there, again and again.

Similarly we do sangat of our Gurus when we recite gurbani – Guru Granth Sahib jee enshrines them all and we are able to meet them when we reach the same wavelength as they were written on. Not simple reading and listening with a distracted mind, but one that is fully present.

I have known only three people in my life whose words have had a lasting life changing affect on me. These people are very rare.

I have however had the god fortune of meeting other such people in their writings: Professor Puran Singh Jee, Bhai Veer Singh Jee, Joel Goldsmith, Julian Barnes, Parmahansa Yogananda, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman, Lao Tsu and many many others.I am so grateful for words -for books!! In them live evergreen words.

Thank you patshah jee for leaving us your words.

Dhan Dhan Sat Sangat Jit Har ras Payea

(Blessed is the aura of sangat wher one can taste his ambrosial nectar (his Love)

What a lovely place San Diego is!

The samagam was particularly amazing. It was held in a quaint little gurduwara, with the sangat doing seva with a lot of love. As Bauji used to say – ‘Love is caught – not taught’ – one could practically ‘catch’ the sweetness.

In one of the classes we talked about  being an Ambassador of our Guruji.

An ambassador is a representative of a country – one who represents its people and  policies.  In a similar manner, each and every one of us, as a ‘sikh’ represents our Guru and His teachings. The question then is -“How can we make sure that our behavior, whether we are at home or out in a public place, reflects our Guru”?

The children were very enthusiastic about the idea and came up with the following answers to the question:

To be kind, respectful, gentle, helpful & happy.

(Bauji used to say – Sikh da kum hai khir keh rehna teh khara keh rakhna – which means, the job of a sikh is to be happy and smiling and to keep everyone around happy and smiling. This can only be achieved by being in ‘chardian kala’ or ‘high spirits’ which is an after effect of being in His Presence.

Love towards all, malice towards none

(To truly love everyone, regardless of caste, color or religion)

To do nam simran, to work honestly and hard, and to share our blessings with the less fortunate.

(Nam japo, kirt karo, vand chako)

To be generous with our time.

(Time for seva, time for the sick, time for parents & grandparents.)

These were only some of the suggestions. If anyone remembers others please do remind me.

Our actions speak the loudest.  They define us. We have to be vigilant at all times, especially if we wear the uniform that our dear Guru adorned us with.

With the knowledge that we belong to our Guru, an inner, knowing smile brings about a certain glow, a radiance, a spring in our gait that makes others wonder – who is this person? Who is His Master?

ਤਿਸੁ ਗੁਰਸਿਖ ਕੰਉ ਹੰਉ ਸਦਾ ਨਮਸਕਾਰੀ ਜੋ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਭਾਣੈ ਗੁਰਸਿਖੁ ਚਲਿਆ

I bow forever in deepest respect to that Sikh of the Guru,

who walks in the Way of the Guru

I was also fortunate enough to do another type of sangat – kudrat dee sangat – company of nature.

The sheer immenseness of the Pacific Ocean, its beauty, its depth and hidden treasures is truly humbling.

As I stood in the water,the waves came, one after the other. I felt as if it was rushing to meet me with open arms. The powerful giant then became meek –  even though it knew its power it had the humility to lower itself to touch the feet of anyone who came near it – just like a true Gursikh.

Next Tuesday I will post the slides on ‘Universal Religion’ – lekh (essay) written by Bauji.

Guru Ang Sang Sada Sada

(May you remain in His Presence always)

DHAN GURU NANAK

One of my favourite authors is – Prof. Puran Singh ji.

Bauji recommended the writings of Prof. Puran Singh ji (PPSJ) very highly. PPSJ was an enlightened soul. His writings have the power to have a profound effect on those who are searching for spiritual guidance.

He has written many books both in Punjabi and English – for example –Spirit of the Sikh, The Bride of the Sky, Prakasina, The Temple of Tulips, Oriental Poetry.

Here is an example of one of his poems:

I KNEW NOT THE VALUE OF HIS GIFT

He strung a pearl on a thread,

and put the sacred thread round my neck.

The pearl on my breast, like a star, glittered, then slept with me.

But I knew not the value of His Gift.

One day it fell off my neck; I saw Earth and Heaven run to pick it up.

But I knew not the value of His gift

 Prof Puran Singh; The Temple Tulips;10

While all books had an impact in my life, some of my favourite are:

Prakasina

Bride of the Sky

Spirit Born People

 More books from Dear Gurmukh pyare Professor Puran Singh Ji.

Actually come to think of it, all PPSJ’s books are life changing. I hope you will find time to read some; all listed here are all in English!!!

Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru