Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Jaswant Singh Khara's Last speech


There is a fable that when the Sun was setting for the first time, as it was completing its journey, light was decreasing and the signs of Darkness were appearing.  It is said, lamentation was rife amongst the people that the Sun will set, Darkness will spread, no one will be able to see anything, and what will happen to us? Everybody was worried, but the Sun set. In order to show its strength, Darkness set its foot on the earth, but it is said – far away, in some hut, one little Lamp lifted his head. It proclaimed, "I challenge the Darkness. If nothing else, then at least around myself, I will not let it settle. Around myself I will establish Light." And it is said, watching that one Lamp, in other huts other Lamps arose. And the world was amazed that these Lamps stopped Darkness from expanding, so that people could see. I believe, today when Darkness is trying to overwhelm Truth with full strength, then if nothing else, self-respecting Panjab, like a Lamp, is challenging this Darkness. And I pray to the Guru, who identifies with Truth to keep this light lit.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Sakhi Series :- 204 ( Kataru And Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Mahraaj )

Kataru And Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Mahraaj

One Kataru, the King's weighman, came from Kabul to pay his respects to Guruji. When he solicied instruction from Guru Arjan Dev Ji, he was told to use just weights and discharge his duties honestly (kirat karni). When he returned to his office in Kabul, a bania, or petty shopkeeper, with evil and malicious intent, placed in his shop a false weight, which he unknowingly started using.

The bania, went to the king to lay information against Kataru. The King proposed to inspect the weighing apparatus, and Kataru, hearing this, prayed(did ardaas) to Guru Arjan Dev Ji Mahraaj to protect him. Guru Ji, who was in Amritsar at the time, knew of Kataru's distress.

At that moment a poor sikh came to Guru Ji, with a small offering of five paise. Guru Ji took the coins and passed them from one hand to the other simultaneously with the king's inspection, so when the king tried both scales, the weights appeared correct.

The King of Kabul was satisfied with his inspection.

Guru Ji then explained the meaning of his act to an inquiring sikh

The moral of the story: Wherever you are, and whatever situation you are in, if you bow down before the king of kings and ask for his help. He will take your problems on himself and do everything in his power to help you, because that is his innate nature.

DHAN DHAN SATGURU SRI GURU ARJAN DEV JI MAHRAAJ, THE KING OF KINGS, AND THE SAINT OF SAINTS.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Sakhi Series :- 203 ( Bhai Jetha Jee )

Bhai Jetha Jee

Guroo Amar Das ji's elder daughter, Bibi Dani ji, was married to a pious Sikh named Bhai Rama. His younger daughter, Bibi Bhani ji, was married to Bhai Jetha ji who was also most devoted to serving the Guroo and his Sikhs( the sangat). A gathering of followers came to the Guroo and said, " Both Rama and Jetha both perform sewa with great devotion. Although Bhai Rama is older, you seem to favor Bhai Jetha. Would you please tell us why?" The Guroo said, "I am looking for the one who serves with greater faith, devotion, humility, and obedience. I am going to make a trial of Jetha and Rama; whoever fulfils my wishes the best will be the worthier of the two."

The Guroo sat next to the sacred tank and called the two men. He ordered each of them to make a platform for him to sit on, one for the morning and the other for the evening. He said that whoever did the better work would receive the greater honour. They began working and after a time finished the platforms. Rama bowed to the Guroo and showed him his platform; he thought he had done a very good job. The Guroo looked at the platform and said," It's crooked. Tear it down and build another." Rama said that he had tried very hard to make a beautiful platform to please the Guroo. The Guroo said he was sure this was so; still, he was not satisfied. Bhai Rama built a second platform, yet this one also failed to please the Guroo. Bhai Rama tore it down, but refused to build a third one. He mumbled, "The Guroo has grown old, he must be senile." The Guroo replied, "Bhai Rama does not know how to obey, how can he lead others as the Guroo?"

The Guroo then went over to Bhai Jetha's platform and, treating him in the same manner, said, "Your platform does not please me; tear it down and build another." At once, Jetha tore the platform down and built it again. When he had finished, the Guroo said he was still dissatisfied and asked him to do it again. Over and over he ordered Bhai Jetha ji to rebuild the platform, so that he had to work all day and all night. Bhai Jetha jee fell at Guru jee's feet and begged, "I am a fool and lack understanding, while you possess all knowledge. Kindly bless me with the wisdom so that I may be able to erect the platform to your liking." Bhai Jetha jee showed how a Sikh must always obey the Guru no matter what their own mind thinks, and also to do seva with correct attitude - to continue doing seva even if criticised, even if there is nothing to gain, or no one to praise you. Finally, after Bhai Jetha had rebuilt the platform for the seventh time, the Guroo looked at him and said, "As this platform pleases me, so do you"

Turning to his Sikhs, the Guroo said, "I have tested both of my son-in-laws. You have seen why Bhai Jetha is my most beloved. He is a perfect being who has come to save mankind." Soon after, the Guroo bestowed the spiritual crown on Bhai Jetha ji. Thereafter, he was called by his given name, Ram Das, and became the fourth Sikh Guroo, Guroo Ram Das ji.

Thursday, October 04, 2012

Sakhi Series :- 202 (Lootna hai tau Loot le...)

Lootna hai tau Loot le...
(Source: http://www.gurmatbibek.com By Kulbir Singh )

A guy called A. Singh was in dire need for money. He wandered here and there, tried many different things but could not succeed in improving his financial situation.

One day A. Singh was sitting in a park trying to relax after a very hard day. His face showed all his pain. A very mysterious person approached him and started the conversation:

"You look very distressed. Is everything okay?"

A. Singh looked up and saw this person who had very piercing eyes and said, "Never mind about my problems. No one can help me. God has given me very bad luck".

"What is wrong with your luck?"

"Why do you want to know? I don't think you can help me. I have met many who promised me the world but no one has been able to produce any results".

"I have helped many people like you. This is what I do for life. I help people in need and you seem like a good candidate for help. Have faith and tell me your problem."

"I am going through financial crisis. I am under massive debt and if I don't do anything very soon, I will lose my home, all my belongings and they may even take away my children and wife to work for them, till they get their money back. My son is waiting for an operation but I don't have money. He will die if I don't produce money. I have very little time and if I don't do anything, I will have no choice but to commit suicide". 

"Is that all? So all you need is money? I can arrange for as much money as you want. It is very simple".
 
"YOU CAN REALLY HELP ME? Please quickly tell me what you can do. I will do anything for you, if you can get me out of the financial crisis".

"I can take you to an enchanted garden where there is a very big building, full of money. You can collect as much as you want but you must share your money with me. My only condition is that you share your wealth with me. The minimum I need is a bag full of dollars. You can bring bags full of money from there".

A. Singh could not believe what he was hearing. For a moment he thought that this person was just lying to him but the seriousness of his face had A. Singh believe this man. A. Singh thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you go there yourself?"

"Only you can go there. I don't have access to that place."

"OKAY! FINE! I will not ask you the reason. What do I care? I only want money and that is it. Please take me there immediately."

"I must warn you of one thing. The place where we are going is highly enchanting. It is not as simple as just filling your bags. There is a lot of distraction there. If you don't stay focussed on the purpose of your visit, you will end up not getting anything from there."

"I also want to warn you to stay away from certain type of flowers and foods there. If you smell those flowers, you will forget your purpose of this visit. That garden is ruled by a very beautiful but vile lady. If you get seduced by that lady, then too you will forget your purpose of the visit." 

"Don't worry about that sir. I am in a very grave situation and there is no way I will forget the purpose of my visit. If I forget my purpose, I will endanger my family, lose all money and my son who is awaiting an operation will die".

They headed towards the enchanted garden and before entering the garden, the mysterious man again warned A. Singh. A. Singh entered the garden and saw the most beautiful flowers and trees he had ever seen. The dark green grass was very neatly cut. He saw a huge building surrounded by gigantic trees. He did not see anyone there. The view was so beautiful that A. Singh was losing his sense of urgency to accomplish his mission here. The more he looked at the scenery, more he was getting lost in the spectacular scenes.

He entered the building and saw loads of money all over the place. He decided to fill his bags with money and gold. Just as he was about to fill his bag, the wall in front of him got lightened up with some scenes. It was like a movie screen. The scene was like a movie and was a very intense scene. He kept watching it, and forgot to fill his bag with money. He would not have moved, if his beeper had not started beeping. He had asked the mysterious man to remind him of his purpose. As he heard the beeper, he again started filling his bag with money.

At every corner of the building there was a distraction for A. Singh. He could not move two steps before bumping into a distraction. Beautiful girls too arrived to entertain him and he found himself getting entangled in the wonders of the building. He had limited time. He had to be out of there in 8 hours. So far he had not collected anything. 

Eight hours passed by and A. Singh did not collect any money at all. All he had was a few coins in his pockets and a bag half filled. After 8 hours he was automatically ejected out of the enchanted garden. He came out empty handed. When he came out, he realized his mistake. He had lost a golden chance to better his financial situation. He was able to fill a small
bag of money but that was taken away by the Mysterious man who had sent him in. It was his commission. A. Singh was left with nothing. 

Please think! Are we all not acting like A. Singh? Gurbani clearly says that "LOOTNA HAI TAU LOOT LAE, RAAM NAAM HAI LOOT".

Couple of days as I was travelling back from work and I was talking to my Gursikh friend. We were talking about Naam. A pankiti came in my mind – LOOTNA HAI TAU LOOT LAE, RAAM NAAM HAI LOOT. I uttered it and we both discussed how Raam Naam is loot. Loot means to get something free of cost. We then realized how this pankiti pertains to our situation.

We have ample time and opportunity to japp naam but we don't. Then we came up with this story that I shared with you all. Our situation is just like A. Singh. We are in this enchanted land where we are supposed to take back to our homeland, bags full of Naam Dhan. But we don't! We indulge in the pleasures of this world. I am pretty sure that we will regret when we die. Gurbani says so. We will regret why we wasted so much time and did not japp naam. To do all pleasures at cost of Naam are futile. 

REMEMBER THAT EVERY BREATH THAT WE LOSE IS NOT COMING BACK. WE ARE NOT LOSING OUR BREATH BUT A CHANCE TO DO NAAM. Let us not let a single swaas go without naam. Pyaariyo aayo naam japeeye. 

Let us indulge in Naam. Whether our mind focuses or not, we should not stop doing naam. PLEASE START RIGHT NOW. JAPP NAAM, JAPP BANI.

Let us Create a sense of urgency to do naam. Without this sense of urgency, naam cannot be japped all the time.

DIL AGAR DAANA BAVAD, ANDAR KINARASH YAAR HAST||
CHASHAM AGAR BEENA BAVAD, DAR HAR TARAF DEEDAAR HAST||
(Bhai Nandlal Goiya)

(If the mann gets divine intelligence, mann can find yaar Vaheguru right inside. If the eye gets to the power to see, Vaheguru can be seen all over the place)

Let us make our mind - Daana. A Daana mind is developed by reading and understanding baani. A daana mann will indulge in naam. An Ahmak mann will indulge in pleasures. Choice is ours. Do we want a Daana Dil or Ahmak Dil.