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Guru Granth Sahib
Composition, Arrangement & Layout
ਜਪੁ | Jup
ਸੋ ਦਰੁ | So Dar
ਸੋਹਿਲਾ | Sohilaa
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ | Raag Siree-Raag
Gurbani (14-53)
Ashtpadiyan (53-71)
Gurbani (71-74)
Pahre (74-78)
Chhant (78-81)
Vanjara (81-82)
Vaar Siri Raag (83-91)
Bhagat Bani (91-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਝ | Raag Maajh
Gurbani (94-109)
Ashtpadi (109)
Ashtpadiyan (110-129)
Ashtpadi (129-130)
Ashtpadiyan (130-133)
Bara Maha (133-136)
Din Raen (136-137)
Vaar Maajh Ki (137-150)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ | Raag Gauree
Gurbani (151-185)
Quartets/Couplets (185-220)
Ashtpadiyan (220-234)
Karhalei (234-235)
Ashtpadiyan (235-242)
Chhant (242-249)
Baavan Akhari (250-262)
Sukhmani (262-296)
Thittee (296-300)
Gauree kii Vaar (300-323)
Gurbani (323-330)
Ashtpadiyan (330-340)
Baavan Akhari (340-343)
Thintteen (343-344)
Vaar Kabir (344-345)
Bhagat Bani (345-346)
ਰਾਗੁ ਆਸਾ | Raag Aasaa
Gurbani (347-348)
Chaupaday (348-364)
Panchpadde (364-365)
Kaafee (365-409)
Aasaavaree (409-411)
Ashtpadiyan (411-432)
Patee (432-435)
Chhant (435-462)
Vaar Aasaa (462-475)
Bhagat Bani (475-488)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੂਜਰੀ | Raag Goojaree
Gurbani (489-503)
Ashtpadiyan (503-508)
Vaar Gujari (508-517)
Vaar Gujari (517-526)
ਰਾਗੁ ਦੇਵਗੰਧਾਰੀ | Raag Dayv-Gandhaaree
Gurbani (527-536)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਹਾਗੜਾ | Raag Bihaagraa
Gurbani (537-556)
Chhant (538-548)
Vaar Bihaagraa (548-556)
ਰਾਗੁ ਵਡਹੰਸ | Raag Wadhans
Gurbani (557-564)
Ashtpadiyan (564-565)
Chhant (565-575)
Ghoriaan (575-578)
Alaahaniiaa (578-582)
Vaar Wadhans (582-594)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੋਰਠਿ | Raag Sorath
Gurbani (595-634)
Asatpadhiya (634-642)
Vaar Sorath (642-659)
ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ | Raag Dhanasaree
Gurbani (660-685)
Astpadhiya (685-687)
Chhant (687-691)
Bhagat Bani (691-695)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਤਸਰੀ | Raag Jaitsree
Gurbani (696-703)
Chhant (703-705)
Vaar Jaitsaree (705-710)
Bhagat Bani (710)
ਰਾਗੁ ਟੋਡੀ | Raag Todee
ਰਾਗੁ ਬੈਰਾੜੀ | Raag Bairaaree
ਰਾਗੁ ਤਿਲੰਗ | Raag Tilang
Gurbani (721-727)
Bhagat Bani (727)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੂਹੀ | Raag Suhi
Gurbani (728-750)
Ashtpadiyan (750-761)
Kaafee (761-762)
Suchajee (762)
Gunvantee (763)
Chhant (763-785)
Vaar Soohee (785-792)
Bhagat Bani (792-794)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ | Raag Bilaaval
Gurbani (795-831)
Ashtpadiyan (831-838)
Thitteen (838-840)
Vaar Sat (841-843)
Chhant (843-848)
Vaar Bilaaval (849-855)
Bhagat Bani (855-858)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੋਂਡ | Raag Gond
Gurbani (859-869)
Ashtpadiyan (869)
Bhagat Bani (870-875)
ਰਾਗੁ ਰਾਮਕਲੀ | Raag Ramkalee
Ashtpadiyan (902-916)
Gurbani (876-902)
Anand (917-922)
Sadd (923-924)
Chhant (924-929)
Dakhnee (929-938)
Sidh Gosat (938-946)
Vaar Ramkalee (947-968)
ਰਾਗੁ ਨਟ ਨਾਰਾਇਨ | Raag Nat Narayan
Gurbani (975-980)
Ashtpadiyan (980-983)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਲੀ ਗਉੜਾ | Raag Maalee Gauraa
Gurbani (984-988)
Bhagat Bani (988)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਰੂ | Raag Maaroo
Gurbani (889-1008)
Ashtpadiyan (1008-1014)
Kaafee (1014-1016)
Ashtpadiyan (1016-1019)
Anjulian (1019-1020)
Solhe (1020-1033)
Dakhni (1033-1043)
ਰਾਗੁ ਤੁਖਾਰੀ | Raag Tukhaari
Bara Maha (1107-1110)
Chhant (1110-1117)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕੇਦਾਰਾ | Raag Kedara
Gurbani (1118-1123)
Bhagat Bani (1123-1124)
ਰਾਗੁ ਭੈਰਉ | Raag Bhairo
Gurbani (1125-1152)
Partaal (1153)
Ashtpadiyan (1153-1167)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਸੰਤੁ | Raag Basant
Gurbani (1168-1187)
Ashtpadiyan (1187-1193)
Vaar Basant (1193-1196)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਾਰਗ | Raag Saarag
Gurbani (1197-1200)
Partaal (1200-1231)
Ashtpadiyan (1232-1236)
Chhant (1236-1237)
Vaar Saarang (1237-1253)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਲਾਰ | Raag Malaar
Gurbani (1254-1293)
Partaal (1265-1273)
Ashtpadiyan (1273-1278)
Chhant (1278)
Vaar Malaar (1278-91)
Bhagat Bani (1292-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਾਨੜਾ | Raag Kaanraa
Gurbani (1294-96)
Partaal (1296-1318)
Ashtpadiyan (1308-1312)
Chhant (1312)
Vaar Kaanraa
Bhagat Bani (1318)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਲਿਆਨ | Raag Kalyaan
Gurbani (1319-23)
Ashtpadiyan (1323-26)
ਰਾਗੁ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ | Raag Prabhaatee
Gurbani (1327-1341)
Ashtpadiyan (1342-51)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਜਾਵੰਤੀ | Raag Jaijaiwanti
Gurbani (1352-53)
Salok | Gatha | Phunahe | Chaubole | Swayiye
Sehskritee Mahala 1
Sehskritee Mahala 5
Gaathaa Mahala 5
Phunhay Mahala 5
Chaubolae Mahala 5
Shaloks Bhagat Kabir
Shaloks Sheikh Farid
Swaiyyae Mahala 5
Swaiyyae in Praise of Gurus
Shaloks in Addition To Vaars
Shalok Ninth Mehl
Mundavanee Mehl 5
ਰਾਗ ਮਾਲਾ, Raag Maalaa
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Help The Needy. But Who Are The Needy?
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<blockquote data-quote="findingmyway" data-source="post: 152686" data-attributes="member: 12855"><p>Harry ji,</p><p>I think this is an issue that plagues all of us sometimes! I would like to take the liberty to share my thoughts and experiences as seva is the only thing that keeps me grounded and gives me a feeling of self worth.</p><p></p><p>I don't like the word needy. It implies inferiority and helplessness and I think that's quite derogatory. It is worth remembering if the accident of our birth had been different we could also have been in that situation. Need also can apply to anyone. Like your Merc man, my friend and I had help changing a tyre on a hire car from a kind passerby. We were not 'needy' nor typical of the kind of person you associate with wanting to help but we were incredibly grateful for the help as it saved us so much time. The number of times I've been lost (and evidently looked it!) and a kind stranger has stopped to help without being asked is wonderful. Those random acts of kindness always remain with me.</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>Let's not judge people by their condition but as individuals! Just like the general population, people with sight problems or hearing problems or any other issues cover the whole range of personalities. One aspect of my job is working with people with sight impairments. Some become despondent but others are incredibly resilient. Some are grateful for help but others are resentful so read body language to work out how much help should be offered. Do it in good faith and don't expect for the other person to fall over in a fit of thanks otherwise its not really seva is it?!</p><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>This is very important. I participated in some eye camps in Malawi, Africa a few years ago. The older members of the group were from more upper class backgrounds and were inclined to giving money everywhere. Two of us had more experience of varied social settings and we became very frustrated at their attitude. Malawi is one of the poorest nations in the world. Everywhere we went there were signs indicating the European Union had sponsored this road and that settlement etc. This led to a culture of take and expect to return nothing. Adults and children would come to us demanding money and goods as if it was their right because we were from abroad and therefore 'wealthy' by default. The hospitals in which we worked did not use us as a learning experience but purely as money making scheme (we were expected to pay a 'room charge' even though we had been invited and were providing free services to thousands of people daily each day-each of us had taken time off work and paid to be there). We treated our local driver really well-he ate with us, stayed in the same places, was paid 1 years worth of local wages for 2 weeks work and yet still stole from us. Of course not everyone was like this but it was a huge contrast to my experiences in the Peruvain Amazon villages where we worked alongside locals and became part of the community and were able to share knowledge. That was very much give and take with a longterm aim to become less reliant on foreign aid. The most amazing person I met in Malawi was a Zimbabwean woman who had owned a little hotel on the shores of Lake Malawi for 20 years. All the profits were spent on the local community but in a very constructive way. Many of the local village attitudes are detrimental to moving forwards (eg jealousy so no entrepreneurship was tolerated) and she had been working hard to slowly re-educate people. From simple things like teaching people to dry mango when they have too many in summer rather than eating them all and making themself ill, and this way providing extra income, to more ambitious projects relating to housing. People in desperate need such as orphans were provided for by her but the recipients contributed to the building so that there was less jealousy in the village and the benefactors appreciated it more. This is the kind of work thats needed-not just money but working at ground level WITH the people and not just providing for them.</p><p></p><p>Another anecdote is from work I did locally in the UK. For about 2 years I went to a social club for adults with learning difficulties once a week. We were there to do whatever they wanted and I always came home happier than when I went. The seva was not just about giving and feeling good about myself but the people I worked with gave me <strong>so so</strong> much. I often felt that I was the one receiving the seva!! The lady in Souljyot ji's Macdonalds story received a sense of connection which is rare in the modern world and is incredibly important for mental health. Who benefitted the most? Who was the most needy spiritually and physically (prob not the same person for the 2 things). I'm not sure that is easy to answer!!!</p><p></p><p>When deciding which seva is good, a bit of common sense and a lot of observation/listening are required. I will happily share food with the homeless and buy the BIG issue but I won't give money for fear of drug use. I like charities that use volunteers and aim for integration rather than encouraging labels. These are my personal views only from my experiences.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="findingmyway, post: 152686, member: 12855"] Harry ji, I think this is an issue that plagues all of us sometimes! I would like to take the liberty to share my thoughts and experiences as seva is the only thing that keeps me grounded and gives me a feeling of self worth. I don't like the word needy. It implies inferiority and helplessness and I think that's quite derogatory. It is worth remembering if the accident of our birth had been different we could also have been in that situation. Need also can apply to anyone. Like your Merc man, my friend and I had help changing a tyre on a hire car from a kind passerby. We were not 'needy' nor typical of the kind of person you associate with wanting to help but we were incredibly grateful for the help as it saved us so much time. The number of times I've been lost (and evidently looked it!) and a kind stranger has stopped to help without being asked is wonderful. Those random acts of kindness always remain with me. Let's not judge people by their condition but as individuals! Just like the general population, people with sight problems or hearing problems or any other issues cover the whole range of personalities. One aspect of my job is working with people with sight impairments. Some become despondent but others are incredibly resilient. Some are grateful for help but others are resentful so read body language to work out how much help should be offered. Do it in good faith and don't expect for the other person to fall over in a fit of thanks otherwise its not really seva is it?! This is very important. I participated in some eye camps in Malawi, Africa a few years ago. The older members of the group were from more upper class backgrounds and were inclined to giving money everywhere. Two of us had more experience of varied social settings and we became very frustrated at their attitude. Malawi is one of the poorest nations in the world. Everywhere we went there were signs indicating the European Union had sponsored this road and that settlement etc. This led to a culture of take and expect to return nothing. Adults and children would come to us demanding money and goods as if it was their right because we were from abroad and therefore 'wealthy' by default. The hospitals in which we worked did not use us as a learning experience but purely as money making scheme (we were expected to pay a 'room charge' even though we had been invited and were providing free services to thousands of people daily each day-each of us had taken time off work and paid to be there). We treated our local driver really well-he ate with us, stayed in the same places, was paid 1 years worth of local wages for 2 weeks work and yet still stole from us. Of course not everyone was like this but it was a huge contrast to my experiences in the Peruvain Amazon villages where we worked alongside locals and became part of the community and were able to share knowledge. That was very much give and take with a longterm aim to become less reliant on foreign aid. The most amazing person I met in Malawi was a Zimbabwean woman who had owned a little hotel on the shores of Lake Malawi for 20 years. All the profits were spent on the local community but in a very constructive way. Many of the local village attitudes are detrimental to moving forwards (eg jealousy so no entrepreneurship was tolerated) and she had been working hard to slowly re-educate people. From simple things like teaching people to dry mango when they have too many in summer rather than eating them all and making themself ill, and this way providing extra income, to more ambitious projects relating to housing. People in desperate need such as orphans were provided for by her but the recipients contributed to the building so that there was less jealousy in the village and the benefactors appreciated it more. This is the kind of work thats needed-not just money but working at ground level WITH the people and not just providing for them. Another anecdote is from work I did locally in the UK. For about 2 years I went to a social club for adults with learning difficulties once a week. We were there to do whatever they wanted and I always came home happier than when I went. The seva was not just about giving and feeling good about myself but the people I worked with gave me [B]so so[/B] much. I often felt that I was the one receiving the seva!! The lady in Souljyot ji's Macdonalds story received a sense of connection which is rare in the modern world and is incredibly important for mental health. Who benefitted the most? Who was the most needy spiritually and physically (prob not the same person for the 2 things). I'm not sure that is easy to answer!!! When deciding which seva is good, a bit of common sense and a lot of observation/listening are required. I will happily share food with the homeless and buy the BIG issue but I won't give money for fear of drug use. I like charities that use volunteers and aim for integration rather than encouraging labels. These are my personal views only from my experiences. [/QUOTE]
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