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