Monday, April 30, 2007

Sakhi Series :- 47 (Sikhs do not Lie)

Sikhs do not Lie
 

 

"When practicality is not there in reality, our knowledge is of no worth if we do not practice. Harbhajan Singh yogi ji

 

Once a Sikh was put on trial in the court of a Moughal king. King asked the Sikh to tell him his story and then asked the prosecutor to tell his side of the story. He then  asked the prosecutor to prove his story so prosecutor brought all the witnesses to prove it. And after that the Moughal king told the Sikh to go away. He asked why? king said you are a Sikh and I trust you. My prosecutor has failed to prove his story and has tried hard to convince me of his story but am no idiot to believe him so easily. You go away and I shall find the truth. Everybody was shocked.

 

Prosecutor came to the king and asked that he had come for justice and have proved his story on the basis of facts. The king replied there is only ONE fact and that is he is a Sikh and Sikhs do not lie . why do they not lie?. The king said because they are not afraid of death and any person who is not afraid of death cannot lie.

 

The prosecutor said, well there are other things … King replied "they are not opportunist either". The King continued - First of all in my area the law is that if you are a Sikh you shall be killed and no other punishment or reason is required. The first question we asked was 'who are you? And the Sikh replied "I am a Sikh" second "whose sikh are you" and sikh said "am Guru Gobind Singh jis Sikh'.  Don't you understand he invited death right there and further nothing matters. And you have been bringing all this witnesses!!!   But for the truth I give you a chance to prove that this man has spoken the truth. I give you 30 days to reaffirm your story and come back. 28 days passed and governor called the king and said that the you were right and the Sikh was telling the truth. The King inquired 'How come you were wrong?'  He said we were listening to those who just wanted to please us. 'What about the sikh?.'  He was telling the truth, his consciousness and intelligence was telling him to please the Guru. You can call it character, u can call it commitment, reality whatever but its nothing more that what Guru gave to Sikhs – aad sach, jugaad sach, hai bi sach, nanak hosi bi sach.

 

"We live in ego and save our face, we don't live in Love to save our grace." Harbhajan Singh yogi ji

 

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Sakhi Series : 46 ( 1978 : Martyrs of Amritsar )

1978 : Martyrs of Amritsar
  
 

On 13th April 1978 the Sikhs gathered together from all over India at Amritsar to hold their yearly Vaisakhi Smagam. Kirtan had started from Amrit Vela and at about 10 o'clock a message was received. The message said that the followers of Nakali Nirankari Gurbachan Singh were holding a procession in Amritsar and were shouting slogans against the Satguru and shouting insults against the Sikh religion.

All the Sikh Sangat knew very well that the Nakali Nirankaris had been doing these things for the past few years. The Nirankaris had given degrading names to some GurSikhs including Mata Tripta Ji, Bhai Gurdas Ji, Baba Budha Ji and others. They called the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji a bundle of papers, and they called Kar Sewa, Bikar Sewa. The Nakali Nirankari leader said that Guru Gobind Singh Ji had made 5 Panj Pyarai, I shall make 7. etc etc

 

When Bhai Fauja Singh heard the news from the loudspeaker he rushed to the congregation. He delivered a short speech, explaining the dire situation and drew a line, asking for those who are willing to receive martyrdom to cross it. After performing Ardas, the Gursikhs bowed before the Satguru and went off to Ramdas Niwas.

 

Upon reaching Ramdas Niwas they found that the procession had finished. The Gursikhs then decided that they should go to the place where the Nirankaris had gathered and do a peaceful protest against the insults shouted at the Satguru. It is known that some of the Sikhs of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha and the Bhindra Jatha reached the Reego Bridge near Gobind Gar, where they were stopped by the police authorities. The Singhs told the police about the insults shouted at the Sikh Gurus and the Sikh Religion in the procession, and which were being shouted at their gathering, which was taking place at that time. These insults could be heard clearly from where they were standing. They told the police that they wanted to do a protest against the organisers of the gathering about the shouting of these insults. A police officer told the Singhs that he would go and stop the Nirankaris and for them to remain there. The police officer went to where the Nirankaris had gathered and the Sikhs waited for 30 minutes for him to return. On his return there were more policemen with him. Joshi D.S.P told the Jatha of Singhs to go back and that the meeting had finished a long time ago. But at that time violence provoking speeches could be heard on the loudspeakers. Then about 5-6000 uniformed Nakali Nirankaris rushed towards the 200-300 Singhs carrying rifles, guns, spears, swords and within seconds attacked with stones, acid bottles, hand-made bombs. The Singhs that were hit with bullets fell on the ground and were butchered with swords, spears and axes. When the ground became covered with bodies of the dead and wounded, the police fired tear gas, but even that was towards the Jatha of Singhs, so the Nirankaris received even more help and the Singhs received even more injuries.

 

Bhai Fauja Singh was fired upon by the Superintendent of Police, who emptied his 32-calibre pistol into Bhai Fauja Singh`s chest but even then he kept standing, uttering only Waheguru. Two Sikhs attempted to carry the still breathing and chanting Bhai Fauja Singh to the hospital for treatment, but those two were arrested by the Police. Bhai Fauja Singh`s body was taken by the Police and put into the Dead Wagon. Again, another Sikh came upon Bhai Fauja Singh and found him breathing and still uttering Waheguru. He attempted to help, but half an hour later, when Bibi Amarjit Kaur arrived, Bhai Sahib had attained martyrdom.

 

The press also printed the news details of the incident incorrectly. The Singhs of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha and the Bhindra Jatha were called fanatics. Harbhajan Singh Yogi responded stating, Today I read the newspaper report in which it was said, a body of fanatic Sikhs. If doing kirtan and defending the good name of our father Guru Gobind Singh Ji makes us fanatics, then we welcome this allegation. Remember, those who do not defend the grace of their father are never worthy of respect on the earth. These martyrs of Amritsar have shown us that we shall live in grace; if it is not possible, we choose to die in grace.

 

In this bloody massacre 13 Singhs were martyred and there were more than 70 wounded.

 

PS: It should be noted that although Gurbachan Singh's movement call themselves Nirankaris, they do not have anything in common with the original Nirankari movement that made enormous sacrifices and significant contributions for GurPanth's reform .

 

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Sakhi Series : 45 ( Power Of Gurbani )

Power Of Gurbani (Source: http://www.sikhlionz.com/)

 

AMimRqu qyrI bwxIAw ]

a(n)mr i th thae ree b aaneeaa ||

The Bani of Your Word is Ambrosial Nectar.

 

qyirAw Bgqw irdY smwxIAw ]

th ae riaa bhagath aa r idhai sam aan eeaa ||

It permeates the hearts of Your devotees . - ( Guru Granth Sahib ji, pg 72)

 

 

A young child went to a Gursikh and stated that no matter how hard he tried to keep Gurbani in his heart, he just could not understand or keep it. He stated that his mind was not a bucket, but a strainer, which let everything pass through and did not contain the meaning of gurbani.

 

The Gursikh said "Let us try an experiment. Here is a strainer, and here is some water. Now pour a bucket of water through the strainer."

 

The child did this and said "See, the water was not contained, it just passed through, my mind is just like this". The Gursikh said. "Do it once more", so he did, and still the water passed through the strainer. The Gursikh said. "Do it ten times at least". The child did, and at the end of this experiment, he said " See, water still passes through, no matter how many times , and how many buckets we pass through it" . The Gursikh said "Look carefully at the strainer and see if there is any thing different." The child did, and his eyes were filled with tears, and he said. "Yes, i see the difference now. The grimy dirty strainer is now shiny and bright, like never before."

 

The Gursikh said "My son, this is what Gurbani does for you. It cleans your mind, and even if you do not realize it, it slowly cleanses your mind, and protects you from the five vices. The more you recite Gurbani, your mind will not only become shinier, but become like the bucket itself, which will not only become clean, but hold the meaning of Gurbani in your heart".

 

The child smiled, and felt he had received the best example of the power of Gurbani, ever.  Gurbani is that detergent that cleanes the mind of its dirt. The more we rub our 'surti' with Gurbani the more clean it will get. Dhur kee Baani is full of amrit. Whoever utters baani of Satguru literally drinks amrit.

AMimRq bwxI hir hir qyrI ]

a(n)mr i th baan ee har har th aeree ||

The Word of Your Bani, Lord, is Ambrosial Nectar.

 

suix suix hovY prm giq myrI ]

s u n sun h o v ai param gath mae ree ||

Hearing it again and again, I am elevated to the supreme heights.

 

jlin buJI sIqlu hoie mnUAw siqgur kw drsnu pwey jIau ]1]

jalan b u jhee s ee thal h oe manooaa sathig u r kaa dharasan p aa e ae jee o ||1||

The burning within me has been extinguished, and my mind has been cooled and soothed, by the Blessed Vision of the True Guru. ||1||

- ( Guru Granth Sahib ji, pg 103)

 

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Excerpt from harbhajan Singh Yogi Khalsa ji's lecture

he took a sword at this time and asked for a head.

Now these fools say he took those people in the tent and some say he chopped off the goat's head. Now, this is their standard. I am just trying to tell you. This is how they look at the Guru. This is their standard. Because just remember in your life there will be three things; you can never get rid of them. The day you get rid of those three things you will have no trouble whatsoever. Param, karam, dharam. There are three things. Param means doubt. Karam means action and reaction. Dharam means when you have absolutely no action or reaction; at that time universe will serve you and you'll become a watcher . Because you need in your life 2 million things. You cannot go after 2 million things. You have to wait and let two million things come to you. Because Guru Nanak says, "Don't go and leave your home in a search. Because when God comes to your address, you will not be there. You are out searching." Don't be a fool. He said, "If by running into the forest God can be found, then the deer should have found Him. If by taking bath in all places, God could be found, then the frog should have found Him." He said, "If by going away into the space and sky if God can be found, eagle would be the most spiritual." He said, "Don't do that. Be at home. Be with your people. Face the negativity. Be in the ashes but rise like a phoenix."

Sakhi Series : 44 ( I need a head !)

Sakhi :  I need a head !

 

Khalsa mero roop hai khaas. Khalsay may hau karo nivaas

à Khalsa is my form and shape In the Khalsa I reside in spirit

( Guru Gobind Singh ji in Sarb Loh Granth)

 

The day dawned clear and bright for the Baisakhi celebration of 1699. The Sikhs were in a festive mood because Guru Gobind Rai had proclaimed that all should come together at Anandpur Sahib. A small tent was pitched on a small hill now called Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur and an open air dewan(assembly) was held.

The sangat gathered in anticipation in front of the Guru's tent. They expected to hear a stirring speech. No one was prepared for the sight of the Guru when he did appear from a tent after Asa Ki Waar. Guru ji was dressed in his royal blue uniform with his arms girded about him; his eyes were so intense that no one dared to look at him. He drew his sword and shouted, " I need a head!"
"Today I need the head of a Sikh. Is there a Gursikh who loves the Guru and who follows the Guru's command, who will give me their head?  There was much commotion, normally the Guru gives blessings and happiness and now people could not believe their ears. The Guru wanted to kill one of his beloved Sikhs? Again the cry rang out, and again. Many people ran away in fear and horror. But then one Gursikh, Daya Ram, rose and said, "O beloved Guru, my head has always been yours."
The Guru took him into the tent and came out with a sword dripping with blood.

[Guru Sahib took Daya Ram into the tent and only Bhai Daya Ram and Guru Sahib know what happened inside the tent .Guru Ji nor Daya Ram ever told anyone what happened inside the tent. All that we know is that, when Guru Sahib came out of the tent his Kirpan was dripping with blood. Guru Ji did not want to tell anyone what he did, so what right do we have to make guesses as to what might have happened. In doing so the teaching of the Guru is left behind and arguments continue. ]

 

Again he asked for a head. Dharm Das came up and said, "Take my head, O dear one." Once again, the Guru took him into his tent and emerged with a dripping sword. For the third time, he asked the question. Mokum Chand bowed before his Master. The Sikhs began to think that the Guru had lost all reason and went to his mother to complain. Two more times the call went out, and two more devoted Sikhs, Himmat and Sahib Chand, stepped forward to fill the void. The Guru then went into the tent himself.

Suddenly, the Guru and the five appeared. He had dressed them and himself in beautiful golden clothes so that they shone like the sun. To them he said, "You and I are one and the same."   The gathering cheered the five for their courage. The Guru then said, "From this day on the Khalsa, the Pure Ones, will be baptized by Khande dee Pahul (Amrit). They shall become Singhs and Kaurs."

The Guru began stirring water in a bowl with his Khanda while reciting Gurbani.
Sugar crystals called 'Patasas' were mixed in the water by Mata Sahib Kaur  so that those who drank it would be both strong and kind. The Guru honored her by making her the Mother of the Khalsa.

The Guru gave the Amrit to the five in much the same manner as it is given today. He laid down the rehit: to wear the five K's, help the poor, be faithful to one's spouse, work by honest labor, keep a healthy body, keep long hair, and rise early and praise God's Name. When he had given them the Amrit, he asked them to give it to him. They were amazed at this request. The Guru said,
"The Khalsa is the Guru, and the Guru is the Khalsa. There is no difference between you and me. " They then baptized Guru ji. He gave them the appellation of SINGHS or lions and they were named from Daya Ram to Daya Singh, Dharam Das to Dharam Singh, Mohkam Chand to Mohkam Singh, Himmat Chand to Himmat Singh, and Sahib Chand to Sahib Singh. He called the five Sikhs his "Panj Piare", or five beloved ones, and thus Guru Gobind Rai became Guru Gobind Singh.

 

Baisakhi we were thousands, but only five had the courage for dying.
Then one brave man, one flashing sword, turned us all to lions.
And now we live His Legacy, to die before we fall.
And like the five who answered the call, we can't turn back at all.

Stand as the Khalsa, strong as steel, steady as stone.
Give our lives to God and Guru, mind and soul, breath and bone.
( from :  Song of the Khalsa)

 

Related Audio version of the Sakhi : The Miracle of Baisakhi http://www.mrsikhnet.com/videos/mp3/Guru%20Gobind%20Singh%20Stories%20-%20The%20Miracle%20of%20Baisakhi.mp3