Pheena

First of all she is not 'Hindu'. Just because she speak Hindi in Majority of her talks, does not mean she is Hindu. Just because she refrences Vedantas does not mean she is Hindu. If you turly had listened to her, then you would've noticed that she never associated herself with any Religion. She speaks Hindi because it is understood by the majority. If you had Listned to her then would've noticed that she has also spoken in Punjabi, English and Gujrati. If you had listened to her then you would've noticed that she has also spoken on Guru Nanak, Guru Granth Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh, Guru Teg bahadur, Guru Arjan Dev ji and other Gurus, Buddha, Krishna, Mahavir, Ram, Shankracharia, Rumi, Mansoor, Baba Bullay Shah and the list goes on and on. But you already knew that as you have listened to her many times right. Guru Nanak traveled to Iraq and spoke Urdu, went to Mecca, India Spoke on the Quaran, Vedas, Mohammed,...does not mean Guru Nanak was Muslim, Hindu or Iraqi or Indian. Guru Gobind Singh ji was the Master of Languages who compiled Jaaps sahib and the Guru Granth Sahib from memory that we all bow to every day, Would you lable Guru Gobind Singh ji with those Languages? You bow to the Shabad which is compiled in not ONE, but 22 languages such as Hindi, Persian, Arabic, Brij, Urdu and Sanskrit, would you consider those portions of the Shabad Guru to be different than the rest as they are not in Gurmukhi? There are those who belong to the One and know that if everything belongs to that One, then everything belongs to them as well. 'Tudh Subh Kij Mianu Soa(n)pia, mai tayra bunda' So now you have a choice...you can either become defensive and start to call me her Chela and so forth or you can take a look at your stance on the Jumping to Conclusion Mat and see how without truely knowing, contemplating, understanding others we jump to brand them with labels.

all you people who think she is Hindu or associated with any religion are just plain Ignorant of who she is...Nor have you listened to her lectures, nor have you taken any interest in understanding her response. It is very easy to disect someone, call them names because frankly its easy to do, no effort is needed. Someone says something that you don't agree with, why waste time trying to see it from their point of view or spend some time contemplating the situation that it happened in. Try to see what was said before or afterwards in the discussion....no well that takes time, effort and sincerity in trying to see if perhaps it is 'I' that misunderstood, perhaps 'I' failed to comprehend the message...but no..lets all of just blatantly start blabbling. Nindo, nindo..hor nindo...why stop here....please continue it truly does help your own spiritual progress.

What is the purpose of Ardaas? Is it fulfill our wishes, our desires, express our discontent with what is happening to us, address our complaints to God and expect God to sort it out? If you are thinking that Ardaas will help you get out of situations then i suggest you take a look at the Shaheeds during the era of Guru Gobind Singh ji. Did they not do ardaas? Did they not do paath? Yet they still had to go through terrible sufferings. Didn't the women who's children were cut up into pieces do Ardaas or Paath? I'm more than certain that they DID. But what they asked for was Courage, Love, Strength to get through the suffering that they were going through. Not to be saved from Dukh, Suffering in the literal sense that they should not occur in ones life. You say you do your nitname, what does the Guru say in the first few lines of Rehraas Sahib? Dukh daroo...... What did the 5th Guru say while being tortured? Did he not do Ardaas....Heck he himself was the Listener of Aradases. Couldn't he change with a simple thought what was happening to him? The Yogi of Yogis possessed Ridhias and Sidhias Yet why did he utter the word that he did? If you want to do Ardaas then do so with the thought to teach you how to live in his Bhana and the Ardaas shouldn't be for you alone rather include those too who are in conflict with you. If you believe that the Karta Purkh is the Doer of all that is, and then you do an ardaas to change what was happening. You are then implying that whatever this Karta Purkh is doing isn't right, that you know better on what should happen to you. Ardaas was never meant to address our complaints to God, rather it was meant to express our Gratitude. Sukhar hai that you are still here with me during this time of suffering..Shukar hai that your Simran is still in my Mind when i am in Pain...Shukar hai that you are listening to me still even when I have no one around me...Shukar hai...Shukar Hai. It is not that God isn't doing anything with your situation or She is ignoring your prayers which you believe to be pushing you away....rather it is your expectation of what should happen that is pushing you away. You yourself are pushing yourself away from your Guru with your Expectation of what the Guru should be doing. We all do and will go through many Dukhs and Sukhs in our lives...they are goign to come regardless of whatever Spiritual Status you reach. Just as the Gurus themselves had to deal with them, but they dealt with them not in the manner that you or me deal with. It is the status of your Mind that is of concern and should be addressed in your prayer, not the external Dukhs that occur. Pray for not to solve your issues, She already knows what issue you are dealing with for She is closer to you than you think and listens to your every Thought and Prayer......Instead Pray for Strenght, for Her Love and to be bestowed the greatest gift of living in the Will of the Great Guru. The intent of Prayer need to modified. Shukar Hai......

I take it its going to rather hard to convince your parents out of it...so if nothing else i suggest you save up the 20 dollars extra that you are getting and you can either give it to some charity organization when you accumlate enough of it or to the poor/needy like a Homeless Shelter. Doing wrong becomes a subjective matter and a moral issue of taking something that you know that you don't deserve. Common excuse is that everyone does it, if not through 'EMA' then on Taxes etc. It is a matter of your honesty and the financial situation you are in. So take what you think you deserve and give away the rest to those who need it.

Don't Expect...your own expectation of what should happen are hindering your progress. When it is done with love, that in itself is the reward you are looking for...and it happens without asking. As soon as you lay a demand or expectation that it should affect you, It becomes a trade...you do Simran/Japp, so you expect to be changed or be affected. Its not to say it won't affect you, but you waiting for it to affect you is the reason that it is not happening. Stop getting in the way of your ownself. "Real progress happens without notice" It has nothing to do with your Sins, but all with your Mind, Thoughts and Expectations. Stop Expecting and learn how to do it with love as the example of Food you have given. Recite her name as if you are hungry for it....savour the word as you taste the food you eat. Focus on chewing the naam properly...the digestion, the extraction of nutrients and their distribution to your body will happen on its own. Enjoy the Action of reciting with Love...let all other happen on its own. Then it is not a matter of you wanting change....change will happen on its own. You cannot force Anand to enter your life...it happens when you stop expecting and allow for it to work its way through. just some thoughts of this mind...nothing more, hope they are helpful

Im trying to get those thoughts out of you, now don't make me get my jutti. jk.. My brother actually went to one of their meditation groups once and he had few interesting experiences there. Lets just say he enjoyed it very much.

what do you think? hey!!!! no fair!!! i asked that question u were suppose to answer the question not the other around but thn agin its u :nihungsmile: :cool: my thinkin is a mess! so thast why im asking all ju proper sikhs over here(sangat) that piece just caught my attention thats all why don't you give it a shot, you might surprise yourself . Was there something specific that caught your eye? You must find your own source to wisely use the power of discrimination, meaning learn to chew the watermelon and spit out the seed.

what do you think?

-edited

BIBEK DHAN Pay attention to Ardas for once!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need all Gurdwaras to have steel eating utensils and Amritdari Langar sevadars. Bibek/Bibayk in Ardaas isn't speaking of (Sarbloh) bibek, Unless the ardaas specificially states Sarbloh it which i have never heard of. The word Bibayk speaks of being Aware, Intuitiveness, Contemplativeness, having Bibayk Budhi (intellect). Being aware of God conciousness. Having the intuitivness of God Awareness, understanding.

So then does teh philosopy of Guru Nanak become null and void? Are you suggesting Love is no or should no longer be a factor in who we should eat from?

Im not too sure on what to advice to you as i have never known anyone with your type illness, but i can assure you this much that God is always listening to you. This isn't something that is negotiable or something that only pertains to certain individuals. Instead you are as much important to God as is any living Brahmgiani. He listens to your prayers just as attentively as any one else. Just pray, or meditate because that is what you want to do, because taht is what your heart wants you to do. Remain persistant in your listening to Kirtan, remain vigilant in you wanting to pray. The mind is our assitant not our master, its something we use, not something we are. Have you considered doing Yoga, Simran, Meditation?? I suggest you consider them, perhaps they can be helpful in you dealing with your mind.

he was now how can you be soo sure i mean he surely had a LOT of knowledge in regards to gurbani but brahm gyani is not an easy state to obtain. i'm not dissing maskeen ji or anything i have utmost respect for him. love his katha. I believe the term you were looking for is KathaVachik. We can certain become inspired by those who speak of Brahma. Sometimes when their talks become intoxicating to our mind and begin to create flashes of awakening within us, our hopes and our beliefs begin to see the speaker as the one who must have experienced all that which he/she states. It is on Faith that we begin to regard other in such a high status of Brahmgiani. My definition of a Katha Vachik is take from a Jain Mantra which i'll post below. There is a difference between a Teacher(Katha Vachik) and Brahmgiani. A Teacher simply conveys the message that he has heard, it is not yet his experience. He/she may convey this message with such fluency that it directly mimics the state of Anubhav. Such is a Katha Vachik, who convey the wisdom or experience, but yet still hasn't fully experienced what he is conveying. A Brahmgiani is someone who Conveys what he is Living, What he has directly experienced. This difference is very difficult to differentiate, hence we see listeners of the Katha Vachicks labeling them as Brahmgianis, because they convey the message with such fluency that it hypnotises the listner. Now before one starts to assume that I am belitteling Katha Vachiks, that is certainly not the case as the interpetation of the mantra will express my feelings. But a difference exists. It is very easy to be a Katha Vachik...all you need is the ability to speak with passion and be charismatic. But When a True Brahmgiani, or a True Saint speaks the atmosphere shifts like no other. The Brahmgiani does not speak from the example of other, his/her words are enriched with his Anubhav and only those who are sensitive enough can pick up on it. i think i might have taken it offtoppic, but hope it helps..

What is the Law of Gurmat?

The question you need to ask is not Why, but Who died? Did you consider your Brother to be this flesh and bones alone? Was he not something more than this cage body that held him? http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?Sour...98&Format=2 This JivAtam known to you as your brother did not die. He cannot Die. The shell he arrived in surely did as will yours one day, as will mine and all those who you see and don't see yet. We do not always know why, nor can there always be answers for this question of Why. Your attachment to this Jiva not only holds you back but perhaps he as well for it is unfair for you to not let him move on in his journey. It is our attachments that keep the jiva bound to us even after the death of the body and make it difficult for it to progress forward to his next birth. So it is not only for your benefit that you let him go, but for him as well. You loved him you say, yet you keep him so bound to yourself? Love sprouts Freedom not attachment or confinement? Love him enough to let him progress in his journey, wish him well withyour love. Send your grief in an envelope of Love and gratitude to the one who allowed you two to share this bond of Love together. You say you need him, have you looked within? Has he not left you with his confidence instilled within you? Through all of those times when he shared his support for you, did he not give you the courage to stand? stop...breath.....close your eyes.... and look at the courage he has given you already. Waheguru...Waheguru...Waheguru....

howdy veer, im from Austin and I doubt you are going to find any Sangat in College Station. I used to live 40 mins away from Bryan/college Station. Its a pretty much a College city and nothing more if you ever decided to come to Austin, let me know. :wub: We got Gurdwaras here, There is one down south of Austin and one up north. The one up North is held every First saturday of the Month. The one south is held every sunday.

What you are seeking cannot be fully conveyed through cyber words, You must seek the physical proximity of those select individuals. ie: Sangat. What is absorbed through cyberspace cannot compare to what is gained through close proximity of those who have seen and are seeing, those who are drowing and have drowned.

There is no need to control, whatever is happening is happening between you and God. For you nothing else should exist in that room or darbaar. Let other look, let other stare if they wish, perhaps they are praying to God that they become like you. You never know, you could be creating a tidlewave of Vairaag in the Sangat. Be yourself, allow whatever is happening to happen to its fullest. Don't obstruct this Grace with you being conscious of what others might be thinking. Free yourself from the mind and its self-conscoiusness. The more you let go of this feeling the more you will be able to go deeper into vairaag. You can always move to the back of the Sangat or sit in the back to begin with. Perhaps a corner where no one is sitting. God bless you my friend Waheguru.

Khalsa ji, you make valid points! I disagree with this ' This is one of the reason why there are so many more Haunted and Ghostly stories, place in the west as oppose to the east'' You'll find 85% of ghosts/spirits & possessions occur in the east. More than anywhere in the World. (especially in india) The traditional view of ghosts is that they are the spirits of dead people that for some reason are "stuck" between this plane of existence and the next, often as a result of some tragedy or trauma. Although you get good spirits too! The only way of freeing yourself rom becoming a ghost/spirit is to attach yourself to the Naam. Isn't that what Guru ji said? One thing we cannot ignore is that the strongest attachment a Jiva has is with his or her body. Ghost/Spirits are synonymous speaking of an Jiv Aatma. The word Jiv is implying that the self identity to the Aatma is still attached, meaning the luggage of Mind and its desire are still being carried by the false ego along with the Aatma. The word Jiv indivdualizes that Soul. As I said, first the attachment to your Body must be realized, then it must be sevred through wisdom of your true identity. I am not trying to persuade you in either direction of burying or cremation. It is to simply raise a point of our attachment to our body that can still linger on after we leave this body. Due to the body being preserved under the ground or in a Casket the attachment can unnecessarily linger on for longer period of time. As the Jiva can still associate itself with the body and remains in the realm of Ghosts. Now does this happen to everyone, obviously not but there is a greater chance of it happening in burial type funerals as oppose to cremation. This chance is dependent upon individual to individual and their attachment to their physical self. I am not trying to complicate things, just adding a bit to the discussion. The reason i said the likely chance is higher in the West is due to the deeper Knowledge of the JivSoul and the law the reincarnation that isn't being recoganized in the west. This awareness predominently exists east which is also assisted through the Karma kaands (ritualistic) actions in the east that provide hints to the Jiva that now Go, move forward. Such as in Hinduism, I've heard of a ritual where a Ghra is broken near the head of the body, symbolizing that as the vase is broken then as is your body. And yes you are right Grace of Naam can free you from all reincarnations. If that is the case with you that you have realized your True Self and the divine that resides within you, then this discussion is irrelivent.

Cremation is done to prevent the jiva from getting stuck in the astral-realm of ghosts (Pretaloka), by continued attachment to their former body and life. Cremation forces the Jiva to remove its attachment to the body while burying the body allows the attachment of the jiva to remain. Which can make it difficult for the Jiva to move forward on its journey. Sadly the west has yet to fully understand this. This is one of the reason why there are so many more Haunted and Ghostly stories, place in the west as oppose to the east. So Pakhandi baba ji, it is not so much what you choose to do with the flesh and bones, its your attachment to it that can cause unnecessary problems once the body has run its course. If you are detached from the body, then it is irrelivent what you do with it, but if you do not see yourself seperated from the body yet, then I strongly urge you to question your state of attachment in what and who you truely are.

impressive thoughts...good find veer.

Yes, the key is in the perception, the view point you take in what is happening to you. Be content with what is happening, but you must allow the thought that it is his will to pierce your heart. That is the key. Even thought it might have been something from your past actions, it doesn't matter. If today you have surrendered yourself, the moment this surrender happens, then everything becomes his. The Good and the Bad, The Joy and the Pain, The Bliss is from him, as is your suffering. It is his will that you must remain content with. Then Happiness and Suffering become alike, from duality to Oneness. suKu duKu dono sm kir jwnY Aauru mwnu Apmwnw ] sukh dhukh dhono sam kar jaanai aour maan apamaanaa || One who knows that pain and pleasure are both the same, and honor and dishonor as well, hrK sog qy rhY AqIqw iqin jig qqu pCwnw ]1] harakh sog thae rehai atheethaa thin jag thath pashhaanaa ||1|| who remains detached from joy and sorrow, realizes the true essence in the world. ||1||

I'll post this too, but be watchfull of the dangers mentioned above when surrendering.

Compassion helps eradicates past life animosities; an eye for an eye, hate for hate continues the cycle of karma. It must stop somewhere, someone must rise above it and express Patience, Compassion, Love. You cannot always engage in a dialogue to resolve the situation that you clearly have no idea how it began. If dislike is there for someone for an unknown reason, then personally i'd do a small prayer alone asking for forgiveness and forgiving others even if you don't know what you did wrong or what they did wrong. I do not know what mistake I may have comitted or what the other has done to me, but I ask for forgiveness anyways, allow us my beloved mother (God) to remove this darkness of hatred from our hearts. Thank God for the opportunity to make ammends, thank him for the oppotunity to delve into prayer. So next time you see that person who you dislike, in your heart forgive him/her.