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An Interview With SPN'er Balwinder Singh (ballym)

ballym

SPNer
May 19, 2006
260
335
(Fortnight Feb 1, 2010 to Feb 15, 2010)
(Interview conducted by Narayanjot Kaur Ji)

Balwinder Singh
Username : Balwinder Singh

1. Please tell us about your first experiences of Sikhi (either in your family or as a convert).

My father was a Granthi in Army and later in a civilian area Gurudwara. I lived in a Gurudwara for about eight years.

2. What events and experiences inspired you to continue on your journey learning about Sikhism, and deepening your understanding?

My parents never insisted on following the rituals for the sake of doing it. They followed the first principle of not forcing anyone, even their own kids. In fact they always advised people from our neighbourhood to follow a practical path to any problem, either physical/ medical or spiritual. My father never promoted doing an Ardaas for someone only for getting a job or when someone is ill. He always advised them to take practical steps to achieve the desired results. Maybe he never believed in magical powers but only faith healing. He spread this message without actually saying so, thereby keeping the faith of the person intact.

It was after 1984 that I really started looking at our religion as a totally separate entity. It may be due to my age. I was about 22 years and had completed the bachelors degree. In a way, I was ready for the next phase of life and looking out for other matters of life.

But the evens of 1984 did make a significant and decisive difference. Even afterwards, our main source of information was India Today, Newspapers and radio, as I had no link with Punjab. I had almost nil idea about life in Punjab. My link started from June 1984 when I first started to work. As a matter of fact my first visit to Chandigarh was on June 3, 1984. It was a great feeling to taste a Chhabeel in the sector 22 residential area. Two kids had put a stall and did not let me pass without having one. I had never come across such things in Uttar Pradesh where I grew up. It was really a new experience.

3. If you could name one thing about Sikhism that is most important to you (something that you would never give up) what would it be?

Its simplicity and uncomplicated approach. Its emphasis on three pillars: Naam Jaap , Kirat Kamaai and Vand Chhakna. One has to just follow these rules and all other rules are secondary .Its incusiveness. It welcomes people of all faith, in real terms.

4. Were there individuals who were role models, who taught you how to be and live as a Sikh?

None in particular, but my parents’ influence is obvious. My mother shaped my future by promoting disciplined life. Not a strict one; but she never let us stray, as a shepherd takes care of his herd.

5. Who may have motivated you to learn more about Sikhism?

The Khalistan Movement. Otherwise, I may have never had any questions in my mind. Once, in Canada, someone equated Sikhs with dacoits and “shoodra;” and it remains inscribed in my mind. There is a good principle I have noticed: you can not achieve much in life without a need/shock. It is like a rich person's kids being spoilt because they never “need” to work to get what they have in life. A lottery winner almost always looses the money most of the time.

6. Did you ever experience barriers as you continued on your journey?

People are always voicing concerns. In our community people are pointing out small matters of doing things, in the “so-called” Right way, and people from another community are always speaking about Sikhs being a part of Hindus or Guru Nanak Dev Ji being a Muslim!

7. Thinking of yourself today as a Sikh, how do you live Sikhism in your own way?

Being truthful. I noticed that people find me helpful and dependable. If I am not able to give a monetary dasvandh, I have given more by providing my time. Time has value, especially in the western world.

8.How do you understand Seva to the Guru and to the panth, in your own words and in your own experience?

Some people have taken undue advantage of my nature, but I continue to be a provider of help. I am sure we can change the community even if a minority of people follow the basic points of being truthful and help others. It is not difficult. A positive competitiveness is good, but a gain by stealing from others is more prevalent. We need to be competing in a positive fashion in the community and at the workplace. For example, buying a bigger house is not serving the community in anyway. It just increases stress and reduces community wealth, which is needed for community development. Help the community in spite of it members’ beliefs. That is true “seva” without a desire of returns.

9. What is the most difficult part of being a Sikh?

To maintain the 5 K’s in today's life and work culture. I know it is a taboo, but I think this is the most difficult part and its effects are visible everywhere. In my view, this is also a reason for our youth trying to avoid following the religion altogether. Many people take this easy way out. They think that if they went to Gurudwara, someone would ask them uneasy questions. Then they end up avoiding Gurudwara. We have to remain inclusive at all times and for all people.

10. Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers?

Already said too much. When you are going to bed, just think if you have made anyone sad for your personal gain. That is negative competition and should be avoided the next day.

11. What are the top 5 critical things that you would like to see for SPN Members?

  1. Be truthful.
  2. Always be helpful.
  3. Do not point out others' mistakes unless you have a real solution.
  4. Using a last name has become a necessity. I never used a family name till I had to apply for Canadian immigration. My family members still do not use our family name as they are still in India. We should focus on real equality than name equality.
  5. Understand and follow the reason for providing a single last name by our Gurus. In the present context we can not implement it. It is similar to insisting on keeping a long kirpan which can not be allowed, or like veil for Muslim women. To implement the irrelevance of a last name, we should not insist our kids to use our own family name. Give them freedom to choose. Make it redundant.
  6. Organise our community in order to have religious schools to churn out our Granthis, Sewadaars, raagis. Make this job a respectful one and make it more rigorous so that people aspire to attain a feeling of achievement when they complete the course. It also requires higher and regular compensation.
  7. Do not close your doors to people of other faiths and people who have strayed from your own faith.
  8. Even though it may be too idealistic but... Naa ko bairee Naahee begaanaa.
Sikh Philosophy Network truly acknowledges our SPN'er ballym’s for his contribution with this Shabad.

On Ang 432 by Guru Nanak Dev ji, in Raag Aasaa

ਸਤਿਗੁਰਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ
ik oankaar sathigur prasaadh ||
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

ਸਸੈ
ਸੋਇਸ੍ਰਿਸਟਿਜਿਨਿਸਾਜੀਸਭਨਾਸਾਹਿਬੁਏਕੁਭਇਆ
sasai soe srisatt jin saajee sabhanaa saahib eaek bhaeiaa ||
Sassa: He who created the world, is the One Lord and Master of all.

ਸੇਵਤਰਹੇਚਿਤੁਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਕਾਲਾਗਾਆਇਆਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਕਾਸਫਲੁਭਇਆ॥੧॥
saevath rehae chith jinh kaa laagaa aaeiaa thinh kaa safal bhaeiaa ||1||
Those whose consciousness remains committed to His Service - blessed is their birth and their coming into the world. ||1||

ਮਨਕਾਹੇਭੂਲੇਮੂੜਮਨਾ
man kaahae bhoolae moorr manaa ||
O mind, why forget Him? You foolish mind!

ਜਬਲੇਖਾਦੇਵਹਿਬੀਰਾਤਉਪੜਿਆ॥੧॥ਰਹਾਉ
jab laekhaa dhaevehi beeraa tho parriaa ||1|| rehaao ||
When your account is adjusted, O brother, only then shall you be judged wise. ||1||Pause||

ਈਵੜੀਆਦਿਪੁਰਖੁਹੈਦਾਤਾਆਪੇਸਚਾਸੋਈ
eevarree aadh purakh hai dhaathaa aapae sachaa soee ||
Eevree: The Primal Lord is the Giver; He alone is True.

ਏਨਾਅਖਰਾਮਹਿਜੋਗੁਰਮੁਖਿਬੂਝੈਤਿਸੁਸਿਰਿਲੇਖੁਹੋਈ॥੨॥
eaenaa akharaa mehi jo guramukh boojhai this sir laekh n hoee ||2||
No accounting is due from the Gurmukh who understands the Lord through these letters. ||2||

ਊੜੈਉਪਮਾਤਾਕੀਕੀਜੈਜਾਕਾਅੰਤੁਪਾਇਆ
oorrai oupamaa thaa kee keejai jaa kaa anth n paaeiaa ||
Ooraa: Sing the Praises of the One whose limit cannot be found.

ਸੇਵਾਕਰਹਿਸੇਈਫਲੁਪਾਵਹਿਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀਸਚੁਕਮਾਇਆ॥੩॥
saevaa karehi saeee fal paavehi jinhee sach kamaaeiaa ||3||
Those who perform service and practice truth, obtain the fruits of their rewards. ||3||

ਙੰਙੈਙਿਆਨੁਬੂਝੈਜੇਕੋਈਪੜਿਆਪੰਡਿਤੁਸੋਈ
n(g)ann(g)ai n(g)iaan boojhai jae koee parriaa panddith soee ||
Nganga: One who understands spiritual wisdom becomes a Pandit, a religious scholar.

ਸਰਬਜੀਆਮਹਿਏਕੋਜਾਣੈਤਾਹਉਮੈਕਹੈਕੋਈ॥੪॥
sarab jeeaa mehi eaeko jaanai thaa houmai kehai n koee ||4||
One who recognizes the One Lord among all beings does not talk of ego. ||4||

ਕਕੈਕੇਸਪੁੰਡਰਜਬਹੂਏਵਿਣੁਸਾਬੂਣੈਉਜਲਿਆ
kakai kaes punddar jab hooeae vin saaboonai oujaliaa ||
Kakka: When the hair grows grey, then it shines without shampoo.

ਜਮਰਾਜੇਕੇਹੇਰੂਆਏਮਾਇਆਕੈਸੰਗਲਿਬੰਧਿਲਇਆ॥੫॥
jam raajae kae haeroo aaeae maaeiaa kai sangal bandhh laeiaa ||5||
The hunters of the King of Death come, and bind him in the chains of Maya. ||5||

ਖਖੈਖੁੰਦਕਾਰੁਸਾਹਆਲਮੁਕਰਿਖਰੀਦਿਜਿਨਿਖਰਚੁਦੀਆ
khakhai khundhakaar saah aalam kar khareedh jin kharach dheeaa ||
Khakha: The Creator is the King of the world; He enslaves by giving nourishment.

ਬੰਧਨਿਜਾਕੈਸਭੁਜਗੁਬਾਧਿਆਅਵਰੀਕਾਨਹੀਹੁਕਮੁਪਇਆ॥੬॥
bandhhan jaa kai sabh jag baadhhiaa avaree kaa nehee hukam paeiaa ||6||
By His Binding, all the world is bound; no other Command prevails. ||6||

ਗਗੈਗੋਇਗਾਇਜਿਨਿਛੋਡੀਗਲੀਗੋਬਿਦੁਗਰਬਿਭਇਆ
gagai goe gaae jin shhoddee galee gobidh garab bhaeiaa ||
Gagga: One who renounces the singing of the songs of the Lord of the Universe, becomes arrogant in his speech.

ਘੜਿ
ਭਾਂਡੇਜਿਨਿਆਵੀਸਾਜੀਚਾੜਣਵਾਹੈਤਈਕੀਆ॥੭॥
gharr bhaanddae jin aavee saajee chaarran vaahai thee keeaa ||7||
One who has shaped the pots, and made the world the kiln, decides when to put them in it. ||7||

ਘਘੈਘਾਲਸੇਵਕੁਜੇਘਾਲੈਸਬਦਿਗੁਰੂਕੈਲਾਗਿਰਹੈ
ghaghai ghaal saevak jae ghaalai sabadh guroo kai laag rehai ||
Ghagha: The servant who performs service, remains attached to the Word of the Guru's Shabad.

ਬੁਰਾਭਲਾਜੇਸਮਕਰਿਜਾਣੈਇਨਬਿਧਿਸਾਹਿਬੁਰਮਤੁਰਹੈ॥੮॥
buraa bhalaa jae sam kar jaanai ein bidhh saahib ramath rehai ||8||
One who recognizes bad and good as one and the same - in this way he is absorbed into the Lord and Master. ||8||

ਚਚੈਚਾਰਿਵੇਦਜਿਨਿਸਾਜੇਚਾਰੇਖਾਣੀਚਾਰਿਜੁਗਾ
chachai chaar vaedh jin saajae chaarae khaanee chaar jugaa ||
Chacha: He created the four Vedas, the four sources of creation, and the four ages

ਜੁਗੁਜੁਗੁਜੋਗੀਖਾਣੀਭੋਗੀਪੜਿਆਪੰਡਿਤੁਆਪਿਥੀਆ॥੯॥
jug jug jogee khaanee bhogee parriaa panddith aap thheeaa ||9||
- through each and every age, He Himself has been the Yogi, the enjoyer, the Pandit and the scholar. ||9||
 

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Lee

SPNer
May 17, 2005
495
377
55
London, UK
Balwinder Ji,

Very nice I did enjoy reading that. What you say about truthfull living and helping those who need it rings very true for me also. Yes some people certianly do take advantage of those with good and kind natures.

Hah my wife offten asks me why I 'let people trample all over me'. I don't see it in the same light though, I am hard to upset or annoy and tell her it doesn't bother me if people choose to be nasty or mean, that is their choice.


Ahh but as Guru ji tells us 'The giver keeps on giving'. Then how can we not at leats try to do the same?
 

spnadmin

1947-2014 (Archived)
SPNer
Jun 17, 2004
14,500
19,219
Ballym ji!

Balwinder Singh ji -- I know that you have yet more and more interesting things going on in your life and hope that you will share them with us someday. Thanks for this very inspiring interview.
 

Gyani Jarnail Singh

Sawa lakh se EK larraoan
Mentor
Writer
SPNer
Jul 4, 2004
7,706
14,381
75
KUALA LUMPUR MALAYSIA
Balwinder Ji,

Very nice I did enjoy reading that. What you say about truthfull living and helping those who need it rings very true for me also. Yes some people certianly do take advantage of those with good and kind natures.

Hah my wife offten asks me why I 'let people trample all over me'. I don't see it in the same light though, I am hard to upset or annoy and tell her it doesn't bother me if people choose to be nasty or mean, that is their choice.


Ahh but as Guru ji tells us 'The giver keeps on giving'. Then how can we not at leats try to do the same?

Lee Ji..
Thats life. People call such as us "fools"..Jhudoos...and these same called Guru nanak Ji betala..bhootnna..etc.
You have said some very true things..as the GURU gives....we should..or we are not true to His nature...I have been "cheated" many times...like my tenants often have sob stories to tell me why they cnat pay the rent...etc or some child cant pay his fees...etc..and when i pay/cancel the rent..people call me softy...very stupid...easily fooled..easily taken in...etc..BUT I DONT CARE....Becasue MY GURU is also ..."easily taken in...by the likes of me who do ardasses all the time...BUT HE always LISTENS !! all the time....so why cant I do the same ???
Once Bhai Lehnna Ji on his way to meet up with Guru Nank ji was riding his horse when he saw a wounded man on the path...Bhai Ji got down, and placed the wounded man on his horse...and began to walk by the side..suddenly the man got up and began to run away with the horse...Bhai Ji called out to him...Take the horse...BUT DONT TELL anyone how you got it..OR people will stop giving aid to wounded men they find lying on the roads...
Regards
 

ballym

SPNer
May 19, 2006
260
335
Hah my wife offten asks me why I 'let people trample all over me'. I don't see it in the same light though, I am hard to upset or annoy and tell her it doesn't bother me if people choose to be nasty or mean, that is their choice.

Ahh but as Guru ji tells us 'The giver keeps on giving'. Then how can we not at leats try to do the same?
Thanks to all,
I am now realising power of positive discussion among like( not necessarily same or similiarviews) minded people. I wish more people from all religions and regions join.
My wife and now some of my friends have said same words...but may be I am posing as a more poistive person than actual...!?!
Now a days, I am trying to build capacity to be helpful.
SPN has formed my ideas and has given me a direction. May be it is what a Guru does...... Shows the right path. We learn from everyone but religion is the supreme Guru.... may be science is yet to have empirical evidence of this being true.
Once again, thanks for showing me the path and boosting and motivating me.
 

Mai Harinder Kaur

Mentor
Writer
SPNer
Oct 5, 2006
1,755
2,735
71
British Columbia, Canada
My husband is often on my back "You think everybody's nice!" I see the picture of our family shaheeds lying dead around me in Delhi; I know not everybody is nice.

However, it is my choice to assume people are nice unless they show me otherwise. This is not because I'm a particularly good person, it is simply a more pleasant, less complicated way to live. :yes:
 

ballym

SPNer
May 19, 2006
260
335
You expect others to be like you. If you are nice, you expect others to be like that.
It is some shock or change which wakes you up and you see how different people and their reaction can be.
Should one react, or just forgive or remain passive? Decision depends on situation and time frame of expectation of result. Action may bring quick result. It applies to daily life routines too. It applies to children upbringing...
So it is all dependent on how you are....and each person is different.
Mind is powerful and all these religions, vedas, Sri Guru Granth Saahib Ji is for this mind control. In west, they try to keep it in control by going to club, play golf, go on vacation.
We simply go to Gurudwara!
If someone is able to influence sufficient number of people's mind he is regarded as Guru.... and many go on to make their own dera.
As I said, each person has different mind set-up, his / her process of mind control and satisfaction will be different. Many realise that they were on wrong path for a long time, if at all they do.
So all different sects, Guru, Dera will keep on going. If you side with present day government, your work becomes easier!
What ever is right for you, may be wrong in the eyes of others. Your good deed may also be... wrong.
Let us start our own group, get your satisfaction.... and that is all. You have SOOOO many variations with so much differences. We say we should not eat meat... especially women!... NO No. But muslim women have no problem. they have no problem with many other things but we have. Extremes.
So find your .... self and be happy ... enjoy life. Many times it is not possible due to social bindings.
Remember what Krishna says... forget worldly relations. Do your Karma. ( no offence or promotion).
Guru Nanak Dev Ji also said same thing in more common words... simran, kirat and vand chhakna.
Try to visualise this.
I am saying all this but I am not able to do it myself.
So, if I am able to get paid about 2500, I can become free from my worldly duties and devote more time for other projects in life.Others might need 100000 before he/she start thinking about public projects for the benefit of society.Some others may never think about such things.
How wonderful it will be if all nice people spare time and start their own project... in a like minded team.
 

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