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Guru Granth Sahib
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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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Hard Talk
Let There Be Light By I J Singh
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<blockquote data-quote="21khalsa13" data-source="post: 117785" data-attributes="member: 928"><p><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">Let there be light!!<?"urn:<img src="http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/ /></P><P class=MsoNormal style=" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Thus says Nanak: O my mind, you are the embodiment or the True Image of the Divine Light - recognize your Origin</span></span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">The problem is not one of hypocrisy but of levels of understanding. There are so many contradictions in our understanding of Sikhi that a new person such as myself looking into taking the ultimate step (amrit) so bombarded with so many half truths and social control mechanisms that getting to the truth is a long way away. The people who are perpetrated these half truths are either so brain washed by these dogma or have some other agenda. </span></span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>You are only asking these asking because you doubt</span></span></em><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">– </span>to go to the guru you have to have faith – no questions asked.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>You ask the typical things that everyone asks before they can commit</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>Understanding comes with guru’s kirpa – we don’t know anything</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>Believe first then your understand will come.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">But believe in what? What is it exactly that we are giving our heads for? Surely, not for a gurudwara committee, traditional vested interests or propagation of the ‘kaum’. I thought we gave ourselves for righteousness. But I don’t see many ‘sikhs’ fighting for freedom, peace or people around the world who are suffering. At this moment in time there are over 4 billion around the world who live below the poverty line. Where is akaal ke fauj? Women and children are being murdered, raped and slaughtered and so many people being tortured - where is akaal ke fauj? Where is our khalsa? If we see a dodgy portrayl of a sikh on TV or bollywood there is uproar. That passion should not be for defending ourselves but defending those that can’t defend themselves. Our guru, god doesn’t need defending.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">Unfortunately the level of understanding of lay Sikhs is relatively low. When I talk to my committed ‘sikh’ friends they assure me that in the guru granth sahib is science and wisdom that answers questions that modern science still can’t explain. Seeing that, modern science explains so much, what is it exactly that puts ‘sikhi’ on a higher level ( if at all) than the achievements of western civilisation? I mean most ‘sikhs’ prefer the freedom of speech and democracy than the current ‘sikh’ versions of politics. If we question authority or understanding then automatically the general concensus is that you are going against the guru. When I asked learned Sikhs about this they say – you have to ignore them. So I commit to Sikhi, go to gurdwara and ask for guidance then get persecuted for asking then I ignore them. Surely that is not the correct way of things.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">My question is simple what makes Sikhi higher (if it is) than the rest. So I can choose my path from a point of enlightment and choice, rather than – if you don’t take amrit the guru will be angry and you will go to hell. That is not the Sikhi I see. So I will keep on searching until I find it.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">So many questions arise to a novice and so little in response.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>Did guru gobind singh jee advocate eating meat or not – not so I can eat meat or not – but huge implications in spiritrual understanding if we can or can’t. Ie kabir talks about the soul being immortal and when you stab an animal the soul is freed and returns to the cycle of birth and death – so who have you killed. This understanding is massively different to people who won’t eat meat because they don’t want to kill an animal or let meat touch there plate in fear it may pollute them. </span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>If guru granth sahib is our guru then how come our rehat maryada isn’t consistent with it – ie rehat maryada talks about only marrying amrit tari Sikhs – hence straight away shows hierarchy and not equality of all people </span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>If the purpose of anand karag is ‘ek jot’ between two souls then how come gurus had anand karag not for this purpose.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>If god is everywhere. Always why do why only show reverence to the guru in the gurdwara hall and not treat all people as god essence and divine.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>Why when the whole guru granth sahib (expect japji sahib) is written in raag, why isn’t ALL kirtaan in raag – there must be some very important reason for this, else why would the gurus put the raag infront of the message he wants us to hear.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>Why when men and women are equal - are we separated in sangat</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>why in the days of the gurus was it pangat then sangat, and now sangat then pangat</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>why after 9 generations of gurus did guru gobind singh jee still feel he needed to cut people heads off after he was appalled at the level of cowardice amongst Sikhs. So why were the previous 9 gurus ignored by the Sikhs</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>why, when the ‘dasam granth’ so blatantly arranged <u>after</u> the times of guru gobind singh jee are we still arguing if it is genuine or not? I think it is simple if it was a dasam granth as some people are saying – surely guru gobind singh je would have arranged it thus.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>Why when god will give you everything you ask for – do people not believe and look so unhappy in the sangat. You would expect people to be estatic joyfull if they where sitting in the presence of a guru who was going to forfill all their minds desires. Not like death warmed up.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>Why are the janam sakhis are different to each other. So many different versions of the same stories with differing messages? And why are they so similar to sufi teaching stories and old vedic myths.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>Why in the ardas do we say – har tahi hoi sammai guru gobind singh and in reality not accept that guru gobind singh jee is everywhere?</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>Why are there so many different sects with so many different maryada’s and so many different amirt sanchar ceremonies – which do I follow – more importantly which one is correct?</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>And most importantly to me, why when the first line of guru grath sahib is ek ongkar satnam ie. The sat naam is the ek – ong – the one vibration of ong is the true name and the doer of everything (kar), and the whole of the guru granth sahib’s emphasis is on naam jaap, then why do we jaap ‘waheguru’ (which isn’t in the guru grath sahib) and not ‘ong’?</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">- </span>Why when vichaar is such an important factor in Sikhi yet we can’t go to the gurudwara and do free vichaar? Ask our questions freely without being told off, ridiculed or patronised.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">Everything seems upside down – but we are not allowed to question it – just blindly accept. No!!</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">These questions weren’t meant to offend but a genuine search for the truth. The unfortunate thing is the answers and understandings are not offered within the sikh committee I am exposed to ( I can already hear the people saying – that is your kismet and when the guru shows you his kirpa then all answers will be revealed) that maybe the case but then why are these answer being discussed in forums and groups of people outside of Sikhi - or by people who haven’t heard of Sikhi, what exactly is it that makes Sikhi so special. If we can’t answer simple questions then how are we better than our paths, and if we can’t answer the questions of the youth – how are we going to stop them going to other people who are offering advice and taking their questions seriously?</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">The essence of today’s situation is this - What is the guru trying to show us that others aren’t seeing? What makes Sikhi so special?</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">The Divine Light is within everyone; You are that Light. Yours is that Light which shines within everyone. By the Gurmat, this Divine Light is revealed.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">It defiantly has something to do with light and recognises our true essence which is divine. Not sometime in the future, or after living a lifetime of religious life. You, we are that essence, now. we can’t change that ie stop being that divine light. What is important is what we do it. How does our light brighten the world?</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">One who sees that Light within each & every heart understands the Essence of the Guru’s Teachings</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">Many spiritual paths, involve understanding the true nature of light, hence the true nature of ourselves. Jesus says ‘ light your light shine before man’ and the Muslims call it noor, Chi or Ki in the oriental traditions and the hindus rather to it as the dharmic bull carrying the world on his shoulders. The idea is to to nurture it and become at one with it. Jot se jot, let your light merge with the supreme light. ‘ this is the true purpose of your life, all other work is pointless’, and it is in this lifetime that we achieve this gift of understanding our true spiritual identity as of divine essence. The guru granth sahib says it is in this lifetime that this blessing is available to us. We don’t need to waiting till the afterlife or beyond to earn our right it is available to us in the here and now. Life, god, spontaneous fulfilment of all our wishes, all present in the present moment – varatman. Not in the future or an experience in the past. Varatman. The past is a ghost of memories recorded badly based on the filters of our personal minds and the future is our wishes, desires and projections that have yet to come into frutitaion. The magic, the power , god is present in the here and now hazaara hazoor. God is present here and now, inside us, around us, and ready with blessings beyond our wildest dreams. A true parent ready to fill the child’s life with love, joy, and all the comforts of the world. Does our code of conduct and understanding reflect this reality? As we understanding our true essence and in what context the guru granth sahib was written, the decisions of the panth will naturally reflect the higher levels of understandings. </span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">Modern science would agree that light is the source of life on this planet (at the very least). When the sun dies out life on earth will be no more. Light has a very important part in our existence. </span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><strong>What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.</strong></span> -Ralph Waldo Emerson</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><strong><em>Thomas Edison the inventor of many great things that created the world we live in now, one of them being the lightbulb, said </em></strong></span>"If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves." His prediction proved to be correct. Look at the great inventions of the 20<SUP>th</SUP> century. Cars, planes, internet, organ transplants, space travel, too many to mention. I can’t even imagine living in a time when these basics weren’t around. The richest man a couple hundred years ago couldn’t have enjoyed any of these things we take for granted now. We have a creative power inside us that can draw out from ourselves the ideas and imagination that can create these amazing things. It is important to recognise the impact man has had in the past couple of hundred thousand years in the context of the hundreds of millions of years in the life of earth.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">"More gold has been mined from the thoughts of men than has been taken from the earth." Napoleon Hill</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">Why? Because "The mind moves in the direction of our currently dominant thoughts." Earl Nightingale. Thoughts are creative karmic tools that direct the energy and give life to your ideas. It is the energy, the light the jot, that fuels and creates all the things we think about. "You and your world are composed of your thoughts. The wise man controls his thoughts." Buddha. Guru nanak dev jee says in the japji sahib – aapi vij appe kaah! The same as jesus – you reap, what you sow. Once we recognising our creative power and the source of all existence that gives life to them all we naturally causes thoughts and direct our minds to make better decisions in thought, deed and intention. We recognising we are creating the world we are experiencing now and when we understand that we will create a better more holistic experience. </span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">What if it was life was like a TV projector – the lamp at the back (jot) the film in the middle ( our thoughts, actions and karam) and the screen at the front which shows the picture (the maya). The jot is which is our true indentity, yet we see the maya – the picture as reality. We can change the picture we see, experience by changing the things we think about and the actions we take – aapi vij appe kaa, the purpose of our existence is to become jot and let our jot merge with the supreme jot so we let out thought drop, our actions stop, maya drops, our picture of life drops and only the reality is left – jot which is vibratating at satnaam – ong. The primal vibration which is acknowledged in all the great religions and sciences – christainity – amen, judiasm – amen, islam – amin, Hinduism – aum, Buddhism – hum, the big bang, the special thing about Sikhi is the how? How do you get beyond the maya, the karam and merge with jot in this lifetime.... with full mindfulness, pure heart, focus all your attention on god, vibrate at the primal frequency, simple!!!</span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">How does all the rules, regulations help with this goal – when our gurus clearly state that this is our sole purpose in life. our focus on growing the ‘kaum’ or protecting out traditions should not go ahead of our true purpose which is recognising our divinity and merging with god. All our rehat marayada’s should be aligned to help all people _ universally get to the goal of merging with god rather than upholding false traditions. And the akaal ke fauj – the khalsa should be the highest goal not the first step. The first step is merging with god, that anyone at any time in the world can do and once we have merged then we can do seva and serve the world – how can a hungry man feed the world – how can a blind man show you the way. Lets get it the right way around – put the horse infront of the cart. Let there be light!! </span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px">The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own. --Benjamin Disraeli </span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'"></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="21khalsa13, post: 117785, member: 928"] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Let there be light!!<?"urn:[IMG]http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/ /></P><P class=MsoNormal style=[/IMG]Thus says Nanak: O my mind, you are the embodiment or the True Image of the Divine Light - recognize your Origin[/FONT][/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]The problem is not one of hypocrisy but of levels of understanding. There are so many contradictions in our understanding of Sikhi that a new person such as myself looking into taking the ultimate step (amrit) so bombarded with so many half truths and social control mechanisms that getting to the truth is a long way away. The people who are perpetrated these half truths are either so brain washed by these dogma or have some other agenda. [/FONT][/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]You are only asking these asking because you doubt[/FONT][/SIZE][/I][FONT=Calibri] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]– [/FONT]to go to the guru you have to have faith – no questions asked.[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]You ask the typical things that everyone asks before they can commit[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]Understanding comes with guru’s kirpa – we don’t know anything[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]Believe first then your understand will come.[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]But believe in what? What is it exactly that we are giving our heads for? Surely, not for a gurudwara committee, traditional vested interests or propagation of the ‘kaum’. I thought we gave ourselves for righteousness. But I don’t see many ‘sikhs’ fighting for freedom, peace or people around the world who are suffering. At this moment in time there are over 4 billion around the world who live below the poverty line. Where is akaal ke fauj? Women and children are being murdered, raped and slaughtered and so many people being tortured - where is akaal ke fauj? Where is our khalsa? If we see a dodgy portrayl of a sikh on TV or bollywood there is uproar. That passion should not be for defending ourselves but defending those that can’t defend themselves. Our guru, god doesn’t need defending.[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]Unfortunately the level of understanding of lay Sikhs is relatively low. When I talk to my committed ‘sikh’ friends they assure me that in the guru granth sahib is science and wisdom that answers questions that modern science still can’t explain. Seeing that, modern science explains so much, what is it exactly that puts ‘sikhi’ on a higher level ( if at all) than the achievements of western civilisation? I mean most ‘sikhs’ prefer the freedom of speech and democracy than the current ‘sikh’ versions of politics. If we question authority or understanding then automatically the general concensus is that you are going against the guru. When I asked learned Sikhs about this they say – you have to ignore them. So I commit to Sikhi, go to gurdwara and ask for guidance then get persecuted for asking then I ignore them. Surely that is not the correct way of things.[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]My question is simple what makes Sikhi higher (if it is) than the rest. So I can choose my path from a point of enlightment and choice, rather than – if you don’t take amrit the guru will be angry and you will go to hell. That is not the Sikhi I see. So I will keep on searching until I find it.[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]So many questions arise to a novice and so little in response.[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]Did guru gobind singh jee advocate eating meat or not – not so I can eat meat or not – but huge implications in spiritrual understanding if we can or can’t. Ie kabir talks about the soul being immortal and when you stab an animal the soul is freed and returns to the cycle of birth and death – so who have you killed. This understanding is massively different to people who won’t eat meat because they don’t want to kill an animal or let meat touch there plate in fear it may pollute them. [/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]If guru granth sahib is our guru then how come our rehat maryada isn’t consistent with it – ie rehat maryada talks about only marrying amrit tari Sikhs – hence straight away shows hierarchy and not equality of all people [/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]If the purpose of anand karag is ‘ek jot’ between two souls then how come gurus had anand karag not for this purpose.[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]If god is everywhere. Always why do why only show reverence to the guru in the gurdwara hall and not treat all people as god essence and divine.[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]Why when the whole guru granth sahib (expect japji sahib) is written in raag, why isn’t ALL kirtaan in raag – there must be some very important reason for this, else why would the gurus put the raag infront of the message he wants us to hear.[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]Why when men and women are equal - are we separated in sangat[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]why in the days of the gurus was it pangat then sangat, and now sangat then pangat[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]why after 9 generations of gurus did guru gobind singh jee still feel he needed to cut people heads off after he was appalled at the level of cowardice amongst Sikhs. So why were the previous 9 gurus ignored by the Sikhs[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]why, when the ‘dasam granth’ so blatantly arranged [U]after[/U] the times of guru gobind singh jee are we still arguing if it is genuine or not? I think it is simple if it was a dasam granth as some people are saying – surely guru gobind singh je would have arranged it thus.[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]Why when god will give you everything you ask for – do people not believe and look so unhappy in the sangat. You would expect people to be estatic joyfull if they where sitting in the presence of a guru who was going to forfill all their minds desires. Not like death warmed up.[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]Why are the janam sakhis are different to each other. So many different versions of the same stories with differing messages? And why are they so similar to sufi teaching stories and old vedic myths.[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]Why in the ardas do we say – har tahi hoi sammai guru gobind singh and in reality not accept that guru gobind singh jee is everywhere?[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]Why are there so many different sects with so many different maryada’s and so many different amirt sanchar ceremonies – which do I follow – more importantly which one is correct?[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]And most importantly to me, why when the first line of guru grath sahib is ek ongkar satnam ie. The sat naam is the ek – ong – the one vibration of ong is the true name and the doer of everything (kar), and the whole of the guru granth sahib’s emphasis is on naam jaap, then why do we jaap ‘waheguru’ (which isn’t in the guru grath sahib) and not ‘ong’?[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]- [/FONT]Why when vichaar is such an important factor in Sikhi yet we can’t go to the gurudwara and do free vichaar? Ask our questions freely without being told off, ridiculed or patronised.[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]Everything seems upside down – but we are not allowed to question it – just blindly accept. No!![/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]These questions weren’t meant to offend but a genuine search for the truth. The unfortunate thing is the answers and understandings are not offered within the sikh committee I am exposed to ( I can already hear the people saying – that is your kismet and when the guru shows you his kirpa then all answers will be revealed) that maybe the case but then why are these answer being discussed in forums and groups of people outside of Sikhi - or by people who haven’t heard of Sikhi, what exactly is it that makes Sikhi so special. If we can’t answer simple questions then how are we better than our paths, and if we can’t answer the questions of the youth – how are we going to stop them going to other people who are offering advice and taking their questions seriously?[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]The essence of today’s situation is this - What is the guru trying to show us that others aren’t seeing? What makes Sikhi so special?[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]The Divine Light is within everyone; You are that Light. Yours is that Light which shines within everyone. By the Gurmat, this Divine Light is revealed.[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]It defiantly has something to do with light and recognises our true essence which is divine. Not sometime in the future, or after living a lifetime of religious life. You, we are that essence, now. we can’t change that ie stop being that divine light. What is important is what we do it. How does our light brighten the world?[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]One who sees that Light within each & every heart understands the Essence of the Guru’s Teachings[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]Many spiritual paths, involve understanding the true nature of light, hence the true nature of ourselves. Jesus says ‘ light your light shine before man’ and the Muslims call it noor, Chi or Ki in the oriental traditions and the hindus rather to it as the dharmic bull carrying the world on his shoulders. The idea is to to nurture it and become at one with it. Jot se jot, let your light merge with the supreme light. ‘ this is the true purpose of your life, all other work is pointless’, and it is in this lifetime that we achieve this gift of understanding our true spiritual identity as of divine essence. The guru granth sahib says it is in this lifetime that this blessing is available to us. We don’t need to waiting till the afterlife or beyond to earn our right it is available to us in the here and now. Life, god, spontaneous fulfilment of all our wishes, all present in the present moment – varatman. Not in the future or an experience in the past. Varatman. The past is a ghost of memories recorded badly based on the filters of our personal minds and the future is our wishes, desires and projections that have yet to come into frutitaion. The magic, the power , god is present in the here and now hazaara hazoor. God is present here and now, inside us, around us, and ready with blessings beyond our wildest dreams. A true parent ready to fill the child’s life with love, joy, and all the comforts of the world. Does our code of conduct and understanding reflect this reality? As we understanding our true essence and in what context the guru granth sahib was written, the decisions of the panth will naturally reflect the higher levels of understandings. [/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]Modern science would agree that light is the source of life on this planet (at the very least). When the sun dies out life on earth will be no more. Light has a very important part in our existence. [/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri][B]What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.[/B][/FONT] -Ralph Waldo Emerson[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri][B][I]Thomas Edison the inventor of many great things that created the world we live in now, one of them being the lightbulb, said [/I][/B][/FONT]"If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves." His prediction proved to be correct. Look at the great inventions of the 20<SUP>th</SUP> century. Cars, planes, internet, organ transplants, space travel, too many to mention. I can’t even imagine living in a time when these basics weren’t around. The richest man a couple hundred years ago couldn’t have enjoyed any of these things we take for granted now. We have a creative power inside us that can draw out from ourselves the ideas and imagination that can create these amazing things. It is important to recognise the impact man has had in the past couple of hundred thousand years in the context of the hundreds of millions of years in the life of earth.[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]"More gold has been mined from the thoughts of men than has been taken from the earth." Napoleon Hill[/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]Why? Because "The mind moves in the direction of our currently dominant thoughts." Earl Nightingale. Thoughts are creative karmic tools that direct the energy and give life to your ideas. It is the energy, the light the jot, that fuels and creates all the things we think about. "You and your world are composed of your thoughts. The wise man controls his thoughts." Buddha. Guru nanak dev jee says in the japji sahib – aapi vij appe kaah! The same as jesus – you reap, what you sow. Once we recognising our creative power and the source of all existence that gives life to them all we naturally causes thoughts and direct our minds to make better decisions in thought, deed and intention. We recognising we are creating the world we are experiencing now and when we understand that we will create a better more holistic experience. [/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]What if it was life was like a TV projector – the lamp at the back (jot) the film in the middle ( our thoughts, actions and karam) and the screen at the front which shows the picture (the maya). The jot is which is our true indentity, yet we see the maya – the picture as reality. We can change the picture we see, experience by changing the things we think about and the actions we take – aapi vij appe kaa, the purpose of our existence is to become jot and let our jot merge with the supreme jot so we let out thought drop, our actions stop, maya drops, our picture of life drops and only the reality is left – jot which is vibratating at satnaam – ong. The primal vibration which is acknowledged in all the great religions and sciences – christainity – amen, judiasm – amen, islam – amin, Hinduism – aum, Buddhism – hum, the big bang, the special thing about Sikhi is the how? How do you get beyond the maya, the karam and merge with jot in this lifetime.... with full mindfulness, pure heart, focus all your attention on god, vibrate at the primal frequency, simple!!![/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]How does all the rules, regulations help with this goal – when our gurus clearly state that this is our sole purpose in life. our focus on growing the ‘kaum’ or protecting out traditions should not go ahead of our true purpose which is recognising our divinity and merging with god. All our rehat marayada’s should be aligned to help all people _ universally get to the goal of merging with god rather than upholding false traditions. And the akaal ke fauj – the khalsa should be the highest goal not the first step. The first step is merging with god, that anyone at any time in the world can do and once we have merged then we can do seva and serve the world – how can a hungry man feed the world – how can a blind man show you the way. Lets get it the right way around – put the horse infront of the cart. Let there be light!! [/SIZE][/I] [I][SIZE=3]The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own. --Benjamin Disraeli [/SIZE][/I] [/FONT] [/QUOTE]
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Let There Be Light By I J Singh
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