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Raag Malhar

Endless Love I think the opposite of rejection isn’t acceptance, but rather unconditional love. In many ways we spend our lives putting up defences to avoid being rejected. The more layers of “protection” we add, the less ability we have to have meaningful relationships. Say I had ten blankets around me and someone wants to hug me, they don’t really get to be anywhere near me. Our fear that people will see us for who we are leads us to hide from the world. Real relationships are ones in which we are vulnerable and trust people to not completely destroy us. With it comes the freedom of being accepted despite our flaws, mistakes and faults. Even if we share “this happened and I’m scared,” we have this tendency to want to pretend everything is magically okay after that. This is part of that same fear of vulnerability. Maybe we don’t want to admit how much something has affected us. Maybe we are afraid people will see us as weak, damaged, or pessimistic. Maybe we are doing it for the convenience of other people who are not able to process what we were saying. (I’ve learned when people say “handle your emotions” they are saying please hide them because I didn’t learn to deal with emotions and its making me uncomfortable.) In the end, real support comes from the people who stick around however long it takes us to improve and don't make us pretend to be better. They love us unconditionally. I think ultimately people are scared of the moment we let go of the layers of protection and someone sees us for who we really are, hurts us and walks away (or runs in the other direction screaming). If someone doesn’t know us we can easily say, “well they know a part of me, but they don’t really know who I am" and therefore we avoid feeling rejected. If we show all of our selves and people walk away, its like they are saying we are not good enough as we are, and we are not worthy of acceptance. This leads some people to never trust again. Others trust again and again, but maybe hurt each time and eventually grow tired of the effort. I think the thing to understand is that we are created as we are, and we are who we are, if someone doesn’t see that it really isn’t about us. It’s about their ability to see God in everyone. So if we can understand how much it affects us to be rejected, we should be able to turn this around and make it a lesson on how to treat other people. We should learn not to judge or criticize others, not to gossip or spread rumours. We need to accept each person as God, and hate no one. I remember one day my dad was talking about one of his best friends and how great he is. He goes “you know we used to hate each other.” I said “WHAT?!” He said “so I said to him one day, let’s talk. We talked and talked and talked and we didn’t hate each other anymore... I think people hate each other because they feel threatened.” I think it’s a matter of understanding where people are coming from, making an effort, getting to know them, and seeing their good qualities. In the lectures on mysimran.info, Simar Singh says “no ego, no animosity, no speaking against others, and don’t care about what others think” and “anytime you see someone see them and try to treat them as you would speak or act towards God.” So be your true self. I know it takes courage, and I know it’s actually pretty hard to let go of what other people think (I haven’t been able to do it yet!). Similarly accept other people as they are. Love them for who they are, and don’t be angry if they aren’t in the place to be able to return that love or be appreciative of it. I know I've experienced frustration when people don't reciprocate the effort you put into overlooking someone's annoying qualities. You spend all that time loving them as they are, and yet they can't do the same for you. But really their lack of reciprocation is where they are in theirjourney. You know where you are in your journey. Everything is God’s creation and to not accept or love it, is to not love God and to speak against Waheguru. You shouldn’t feel sorry for compassion, love, and empathy you give people. This is your love for God. Sidenote: I've been trying to write for a while but i've got insomnia and i'm having trouble concentrating! I'm hoping to write more religious history posts soon because I know people enjoy a mixture of different types of posts. Our youtube kirtan channel is public https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaJVqGlOz5r_yLZk2KkcenQ so you can just subscribe for updates there if you'd like. I'm slowly trying to make it so that all the shabads are in both playlists so you can learn all the shabads i know basically. Uploading has been slow because i'm new to youtube plus it takes me a really long time to be able to record how to play the shabads and I have been busy with other things. I kind of just wanted to record the shabads for myself so I wouldn't forget because at this point I think I know close to 100 shabads, and I figured I would share them in case someone else wants to learn. I never really expected anyone to subscribe so it's pretty cool to see people are actually learning from it! (It kind of turned into "Oh I guess people are actually watching it so I better slow down the keys and make them good!") http://pgsikhyouth.blogspot.in/2016/08/endless-love.html

There are also some quarters of our people who says that killing him inside darbar sahib was a very bad step. Some people also said that it was done by individual base- meaning someone acted hurriedly upon seeing him.

Nope, but they're amusing to read.

I have a book at home written immediately after the Sant's shaheedi. It was written by a supreme court Judge in Singapore. He states that Atwal was the officer who had cleared the Sant of any wrong doing in the Mehta Chowk firing case.

Nimanaa Jee, very very sorry for your painful experiences. Do not commit any nonsense by jumping anywhere to suicide, or by any other means.... Just tell me one thing, do you really think Wahiguru Akal Purukh has anything to do, in this your hard times. Just think, before this birth, where, or in which joonees were you, let´s say in your past 200 years ? Can you answer this? If not, then behave yourself and be barambaar thankful to Wahiguru, for giving the chance to be born in human form, so that you can do His bhajan bandagee as per Gurmat, and get out for once and ever from this mayavee creation. So, if you suicide, how can you ever achieve that high goal, of meting and merging in Him. You see, He knew your destiny karma of this birth of yours, which by the way, are your own sown seeds, and in spite of knowing all that, He blessed you with this human form, out of His utmost love for you,so that you cut off all your karmas, all your bandhans in this creation, by doing the right devotion and merge your surtee in Him. And here, you are blaming Him somehow, partly ....By your painful experiences you are just paying off your heavy load of karmas, which once again, are not a product of pure chance, but by the laws which govern this creation, as you sow, so shall you reap. Aapay bhejay, aapay khaae. Be brave, be a true sikh, face life as it is, by love and faith at His Lotus feet at all times, without wavering, and you shall be ferried across, by His apaar kirpa. Sat Sree akal.

Has an apocalyptic prophecy ever come true? Or do they continually get delayed for some inexplicable reason.

3 months give or take a few days. It's going to get tasty!

It is quite true what Preeet Jee and mahanpaapi have said above. But the fact is, it is also true, that each moment away from beloved Wahiguru Akal Purukh, is no less than any kalyug. The Bani says: Ik gharee na miltay ta Kalyug hotaa. Sat Sree Akal.

Role Models I’m still working on part 2 of my other post but I thought I’d write about something that happened to me recently. I have been thinking a lot lately about balancing the “worlds” in which I live. I think we all have developed our own balance, and some people choose to change that up from what their parents have passed down a lot, some change it a little, and some choose to keep it mostly the same. For my parent’s generation I think it was quite a bit of a difference because they were the first ones in the family to immigrate to Canada. When my dad immigrated to rural Canada in the 70s, he had to be his own role model for figuring out how to balance his value systems. He had to figure out if and how to maintain his roots at a time that there was a lot of racism. Some people did abandon their roots, in order to survive. It must have been really hard work for our parent’s generation to make so many changes and adjustments- new language, lifestyle, jobs, etc. and at the same time figure out how to raise their children in a new environment. From many generations of doing things the same, now things were much different. The work isn’t over for us, the Canadian-born Sikhs though. For me, I value some of our cultural values and traditions from India like valuing family, but I don’t believe in others like son-preference. In those ways I value western culture. I love Sikhism- I pray, do kirtan, go to the gurdwara, don’t drink/smoke/do drugs, etc., but I’m not amritdhari. So now if I’m looking for role models with similar value systems, I find it especially difficult. For example many of the Canadian- born working women I know don’t practice Sikhism in their daily life, the religious women I know have chosen to keep all of their South Asian cultural values from India that place women in a submissive role. Some of the women I know who embrace western culture have chosen it over our traditions, and our religious practices (such as drinking alcohol, etc.). At the end of the day I know people are going to balance their worlds differently, and that's okay because people make their own choices. People can still be role models for us in various areas of our life. It just makes it hard when you don’t have someone to talk to that shares your goals/view of life...It can be kind of isolating. I ended up going on a walk and talking to my dad about role models. I was feeling like maybe the way I am living is greatly flawed in some way and that’s why I don’t have the role model I want in my life. I think God decided that someone needed to resolve this for me because something really quite amazing happened. On our walk we met a Sikh man who was new to our neighbourhood and we had seen him around a few times. My dad had talked to him just briefly the week before. The man introduced himself to me, and shortly into the conversation said in Punjabi “I may not know you personally, but I’ve worked with lots of kids (turns out he used to be the principal of a school of 4,000 kids), and I can just see from faraway that you have excellent values. I just know from observing you. You should thank your father for what he has done for you, and your father should thank you for what you have done too. You are lucky to have a father like him, he is lucky to have a daughter like you. Maybe your parents did work hard to get here, but you have worked really hard to get to where you are too. I am so proud to see someone like you.” I was so shocked. I was shocked because the very thing that was on my mind was answered. I was shocked because it was as if he knew everything that had been bothering me, knew our conversation, knew our lives. I was touched deeply by his words and I thanked God for this experience that reaffirmed that it’s okay if I don’t have the exact role model I’m looking for. I’ll just be the person I am and want to be and things will work out. It can certainly feel lonely to walk a path alone. It feels like you are walking into a a dark tunnel and you're not sure if there is another end or not. The one thing we can count on is the God will be with us no matter what and therefore, we truly are never all alone! http://pgsikhyouth.blogspot.in/2016/08/role-models.html

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH There is no Hukamnama that requires the wearing of a Dupatta. Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave a Hukamnama in Nander Sahib (52 Hukams) for all Sikhs to tie Dastaar. Sikh Rehat Maryada says that a woman may or may not tie a Dastaar, but that her head must be covered at all times.

I propose every gursikh bibi gives her bro a kirpan and rest of kakkars and advise him to take on his duty to the world and in reply the loving brother thanks her and also give his sister panj kakkar and tell her to resolve to learn how to do her duty when he is not around to help. BUS

I think there's a amicable solution to Rakhri. Sister's can by a watch and wrap it around the wrist of brother's. Watch companies are loosing money as sales have gone down, this will give them a boost, save jobs ! Plan ahead for next year http://www.made-in-china.com/cs/hot-china-products/Wrist_Watches.html?gclid=CNqegNG_1s4CFdcTaAod66AJUw

ਨੀਲ ਵਸਤ੍ਰ ਪਹਿਰਿ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ॥ नील वसत्र पहिरि होवहि परवाणु ॥ Nīl vasṯar pahir hovėh parvāṇ. Wearing blue robes, they seek the approval of the Muslim rulers. ਮਲੇਛ ਧਾਨੁ ਲੇ ਪੂਜਹਿ ਪੁਰਾਣੁ ॥ मलेछ धानु ले पूजहि पुराणु ॥ Malecẖẖ ḏẖān le pūjėh purāṇ. Accepting bread from the Muslim rulers, they still worship the Puraanas. ਅਭਾਖਿਆ ਕਾ ਕੁਠਾ ਬਕਰਾ ਖਾਣਾ ॥ अभाखिआ का कुठा बकरा खाणा ॥ Abẖākẖi▫ā kā kuṯẖā bakrā kẖāṇā. They eat the meat of the goats, killed after the Muslim prayers are read over them, ਚਉਕੇ ਉਪਰਿ ਕਿਸੈ ਨ ਜਾਣਾ ॥ चउके उपरि किसै न जाणा ॥ Cẖa▫uke upar kisai na jāṇā. but they do not allow anyone else to enter their kitchen areas. ਦੇ ਕੈ ਚਉਕਾ ਕਢੀ ਕਾਰ ॥ दे कै चउका कढी कार ॥ Ḏe kai cẖa▫ukā kadẖī kār. They draw lines around them, plastering the ground with cow-dung. ਉਪਰਿ ਆਇ ਬੈਠੇ ਕੂੜਿਆਰ ॥ उपरि आइ बैठे कूड़िआर ॥ Upar ā▫e baiṯẖe kūṛi▫ār. The false come and sit within them. ਮਤੁ ਭਿਟੈ ਵੇ ਮਤੁ ਭਿਟੈ ॥ मतु भिटै वे मतु भिटै ॥ Maṯ bẖitai ve maṯ bẖitai. They cry out, "Do not touch our food, ਇਹੁ ਅੰਨੁ ਅਸਾਡਾ ਫਿਟੈ ॥ इहु अंनु असाडा फिटै ॥ Ih ann asādā fitai. this food of ours will be polluted! ਤਨਿ ਫਿਟੈ ਫੇੜ ਕਰੇਨਿ ॥ तनि फिटै फेड़ करेनि ॥ Ŧan fitai feṛ karen. But with their polluted bodies, they commit evil deeds. ਮਨਿ ਜੂਠੈ ਚੁਲੀ ਭਰੇਨਿ ॥ मनि जूठै चुली भरेनि ॥ Man jūṯẖai cẖulī bẖaren. With filthy minds, they try to cleanse their mouths. ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ॥ कहु नानक सचु धिआईऐ ॥ Kaho Nānak sacẖ ḏẖi▫ā▫ī▫ai. Says Nanak, meditate on the True Lord. ਸੁਚਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਾ ਸਚੁ ਪਾਈਐ ॥੨॥ सुचि होवै ता सचु पाईऐ ॥२॥ Sucẖ hovai ṯā sacẖ pā▫ī▫ai. ||2|| People like Tohra , Longowal etc were amritdharis too , who threw their hands up in air when guru needed them and encouraged young sikhs to make shahadat while they sat on the sidelines, If you are pure, you will obtain the True Lord. ||2||

beloved sister were the growers of grains all amritdhari too ? How about the porters, the hired cooks in most guruhars ..... where do we draw the line ? Understand that these overly strict maryadas were created by mere mortals who were no more free from their egos than you and I are. Other than making us feel Holier than thou what purpose does this venomous talk serve ?

Typical responses proving our true blood punjabi lineage Never see any good in anything , only negatives "Sanjh kareejai guna keri , avgun chad chaliye" - we can all learn from people even who we hate the most and hold as very epitome of ignorance Imagine how nice would be the day you guys broke free of your ego and lived with "Bisar gayi sab taat parayi | Jab te sadh sangant mohe payi"

It is off topic but I want to say that we Sikhs went on a different path. There should be balance of everything. Today our brothers and sisters think that doing one this such as "sewa" satisfy their "ALL" religious needs. Whole Sikh generation is on one track which is sewa sewa Sewa but less on bhagti side. Sewa is very important and so is meditation. Without meditation (naam, simran, bani) sewa is of no use (religious point of view). Sewa also needs to diversified. Many people do langar di sewa. Near darbar sahib, you will get pakoras and tea free often but if you want a simple 20 page religious book then you must pay.

and this is a big deal because ? My Guru sees souls not skins ...all who do sewa are blessed ...I just wish colourist sikhs would grow up ...white does not mean right and brown lesser... how about the african american khalsa who was not served pani in langar four times despite requesting ? shouldn't we be ashamed of that instead of highlighting a gora and gori doing sewa?

great resource for my christian saurey ...and I mean nominal christian...

Waheguru never kills anyone. He just shifts souls from one body to another. The Israelites were slaved and mistreated by the Eghyptians because they did not follow the rules given to them by God. They had engaged in idol worship. Moses was born after they repented of their sins. God was now to guide them out of Egypt into freedom. In fact there were 10 plagues as well which the Egyptians had to suffer This is the same as what happened to Harnakhash. God came down as Narsingh to finish him off..

I think a better example to explain what you are saying is what I remember happened.some 20 years back. A person from another faith told me what some Sikh told him about the Guradwara. The advice given was - Young man - you know you will never save any money to get married if you keep spending on food. You should always eat at the temple down the road where there is free food (langar) I was taken aback by this. I wondered what sort of thinking was this? Therefore we need to try to hold everything in the correct perspective. Seva and langar have been created for a purpose. they are to help us eliminate our differences as the king and the poor man sit together in a pangat (line) at equal levels and have their food. The Guradwara has been created to satisfy our spiritual needs. When we go to the Guradwara we can sit down peacefully and listen to the word of God. After that we are not rushed and looking to cook our food and do some shopping. We can peacefully have the blessed food from the Langer. Contributing to the langer is the true way to make our savings grow. There is a sakhi about a very poor couple who lived in a hut. Some birds nearby were actually some enlightened souls. They took pity on the couple and used to take some part of their grain everyday and throw in the Guru ka langer. Slowly their earnings began to increase. This sakhi tells us the importance of the daswandh too. We actually think saving our money in the banks is going to bring us the true interest and help our savings grow. However GuruJi has made a foolproof system for us which works perfectly. There is another sakhi of where some King donated a bed made out of gold to a certain bhagat Ji. Bhagat Ji took it and stored it away in one of the rivers where he said everything else of his was too. When the king heard about this, he was very upset. He went to Bhagat Ji and demanded for his bed to be given back to him. Bhagat however took out ten beds. The king asked why he is being returned 10 beds. Bhagat Ji answered that your dhaan was being multiplied, but since you asked back for it - here are your ten gold beds back. Therefore let us learn to invest but also expect to get nothing back. Everything we have has been given to us by Go. Even so our body which we think is ours. However if something happens to it, we can never of our own efforts acquire this same body. Why are we so full of pride and greed. We should be thankful for all our blessings. We should be ever so humble and say mera muj me kich nahi. Jo kich hai so tera. Tera tuj ko saunmpdhe kya lage mera.

Try this, think of the person you hate the most or the person who hates you the most. Now close your eyes and in your mind say "<Name of person>, Guru Nanak Dev Ji tay-ra bhulla karay" do this every day for a week. This kills your hate, that bitterness, that negativity you have for this person starts to dissipate. Guru Ji also blesses you. It is easy to say good things about the people we love but very hard to say positive things about those we hate. We then start to mold our mind away from negativity towards people and not only do we feel better but our Mann gets proper chittar, because he is the one who takes us down the wrong road. Little changes make a difference, little changes we can manage in this hectic world. So make those little changes do not stay stationary make those changes. Make changes about naam and simran. One day do meditation on "nothing" clear your mind, the next day try 5 mallas of Waheguru, the next try 5 chaupai sahibs, the next just repeat Dhan Guru Nanak, Dhan Guru Nanak. Make that change.