jasjitsingh

Gurfateh all, Giving this a post summer boost ... My name is Dr Jasjit Singh, Associate Professor at the University of Leeds.I have recently put together an online survey to examine how Sikhs engagewith Sikhi online. This survey is based on a similar survey which I ran aspart of my PhD (you can find a post about that on here!). I am now re-running the survey to see what has changed over the past 10years, focusing on digital innovations and on the online space. Anyone whoself identifies as 'Sikh' is welcome to respond. The survey link is here: https://leeds.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/sikhsurvey I am looking for responses from Sikh living anywhere of any age. Pleasefeel free to disseminate to any relevant contacts. Many thanks, Jasjit.

bilaaval mehalaa 5 | Bilaaval, Fifth Mehl: man mehi sinchahu har har naam | Irrigate your mind with the Name of the Lord, Har, Har. anadhin keerathan har gun gaam |1| Night and day, sing the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises. ||1|| aisee preeth karahu man maerae | Enshrine such love, O my mind, aath pehar prabh jaanahu naerae |1| rehaao | that twenty-four hours a day, God will seem near to you. ||1||Pause|| kahu naanak jaa kae niramal bhaag | Says Nanak, one who has such immaculate destiny har charanee thaa kaa man laag |2|7|25| - his mind is attached to the Lord's Feet. ||2||7||25||

ADMIN: PLEASE MAKE THIS A STICKY Dear Sangat Jio Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh As part of my PhD research (www.leeds.ac.uk/sikhs) I'm looking at the role played by Gurdwaras in teaching young Sikhs about Sikhi. I'd really like to start a WHERE, WHEN, WHAT list of things that go on in Gurdwaras around the UK for young Sikhs. This will help my research, and will hopefully also become a place where people can find out what's happening (as these things aren't always advertised very well). PLEASE ADD EVENTS IN THE FOLLOWING FORMAT WHAT: Sikh Inspiration Classes WHERE: Sikh Temple, Chapeltown Rd, Leeds WHEN: Fridays 6-8pm WHAT: Tabla Classes WHERE: Gurdwara Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Bradford WHEN: Fridays 6pm ETC ETC Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh Jasjit.

This one's from this morning: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rz2hp - forward to 1:29:25 A Free Lunch (Monday) This week, Sikhs across the country will be celebrating Vasakhi, the occasion when Sikhs were given their identity in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh. Some of you may have already inadvertently come into contact with these celebrations having encountered a parade of orange and blue winding its way through your city or town. This weekend it was Leeds and Southall’s turn, next weekend Bradford, Leicester and Walsall among others have a go. These parades are known as Nagar Keertans, loosely translated to ‘Local Praising’, when all the Sikhs in a particular locality get together and walk from one Sikh Gurdwara to the next, coming together as a community to remember our most important festival of the year. To be honest, I think Nagar Keertans must be the only walks where people gain rather than lose weight. Each Gurdwara is well stocked with tea, samasos and pakoras which are given out free of charge to ensure that the participants have enough energy to walk from Gurdwara to Gurdwara. People will often also give out free drinks and snacks on route. This practice is based on the Sikh tradition of Langar started by the first Guru, Guru Nanak in the fifteenth century. Guru Nanak set up a free kitchen for all, believing that by eating together barriers based on caste, class and gender could be broken down. The Guru also knew that it would be impossible to expect people to focus on self improvement and spirituality if they were too busy focusing on their empty stomachs. Growing up I remember hearing people say “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”, and thinking “yes there is, I just had one – it’s called Langar”. Although many of us in the UK can’t really be described as being needy, the concept of Langar has recently led Sikhs to Haiti to give out free food to the needy there, and has also inspired Sikh students at Universities across the UK to organise ‘Langars on Campus’ for the homeless. So if you see a large parade of Sikhs winding their way through your town or city over the next few weeks please join in. And if someone offers you food, feel free to partake – as well as feeding yourself you’ll be giving someone the experience of Langar – of giving without expecting anything in return. It’ll be one of the few times when there is such a thing as a free lunch.

Dear Sangat Ji Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh Just wanted to let you all know that I was asked to record some short Sikhi based 'Pause for Thoughts' for Vasakhi which are being broadcast on BBC Radio 2 this week. Radio 2 has an average listership of 6-8 million people, so hopefully this will raise the profile of Sikhi in some people's minds. I'll be posting the texts and links to the radio programmes as they're broadcast. They can be found on BBC iplayer, or on my website: http://www.leeds.ac....khs/events.html Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh Jasjit Singh (Leeds) This one is from last Thursday: http://www.bbc.co.uk...rammes/b00rxcjc - Forward to 42:30 Relationships A couple of weekends ago I attended a Sikh wedding, one of many which I'll probably be attending this year. For me attending weddings used to be a primarily social affair, meeting friends and relatives, comparing lives and generally getting caught up in a sea of food, family and friends. That was until I was asked to escort some non- Sikhs through a wedding day around 5 years ago, and to explain what was happening at each stage. As I described the various goings on I soon realised that although I was well versed in the cultural aspects of the day, I had little idea about the meaning of the Laavan, the main wedding composition which is read out and then sung as an instruction to the bride and groom, after which time according to Sikh tradition, they are married. As I looked in to the Laavan I found the Sikh Gurus not teaching about marriage specifically, but rather focusing on the virtues required for success in any relationship. The Gurus were family men, which for me gives their teachings gravity and authority, as they speak from their own experiences when advising their Sikhs on how to maintain balance whilst living a family life. The Gurus stress the importance of living according to a moral framework, of controlling the ego, and of treating others including your partner, as you wish to be treated yourself. Above all else, the Gurus stress the importance of honesty and contentment for the success of any relationship. Most importantly perhaps is the idea that in improving our own characters, we are in fact improving the World we live in. This is presented a bit like a circle. Being a good person has a knock on effect on the communities we live in, which in turn helps us develop once more. The wedding is of course about the couple, but it's also about two individuals, who each have the power to change things for the better. Having studied the Laavan, weddings are now an opportunity for me to re-examine my own relationships with others. In celebrating the cementing of a new relationship I think about how to make my own relationships stronger. Perhaps it makes sense then that the Sikh wedding ceremony is known as the Anand Kaaraj, the undertaking of bliss.

Pyare Sangat Ji - Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh Just wanted to share a 'Pause for Thought' which I recorded which was broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Thursday 11th March @ 5:45am. It's available on iplayer until Thurs 18th here: http://www.bbc.co.uk...edy_11_03_2010/ - please forward to 48:15 Also available here: http://www.leeds.ac....khs/events.html Text here: Wonderment We're finally coming up for air. Our baby boy is almost 6 months old and after what seems like a whirlwind since we brought him home, we are now finally able to reflect on what just happened. Many people have told us that children grow up far too quickly, and having recently graduated to his third nappy size we are beginning to understand what they mean. From spending most of his time sleeping, to smiling at us whenever he sees us, to now having literally found his feet, every change means that our little boy is growing up, building on and leaving a previous stage of development behind. Little Balraj, meaning pillar of strength, is a joy in so many ways, one of which is the fact that he is amazed by everything. Yesterday he had a long conversation with a carrot, amazed at its shape, texture and colour. This ability to be amazed by the world around us is also emphasised by the Sikh Gurus. In fact one of the Sikh names for the Divine, Waheguru, contains the word for "Wow". The Gurus often use the example of a child to teach their Sikhs to be in a constant state of wonderment about their surroundings, seeing everything anew and taking nothing for granted. Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru also uses the example of a child to illustrate the importance of learning, indeed the word Sikh means learner as the Gurus taught their followers to spend their whole lives learning and developing. Children make the best learners, always asking questions and not being too proud to admit when they don't know something. Little children are also non-judgemental having not yet been taught about prejudice and about who they are supposed to like or dislike. As children we all spent years learning and developing, but at some stage in our lives, many of us become set in our ways, possibly content at the fact that we know enough, or because we believe we are "right" in our thinking, or maybe because we lose our sense of wonderment at the possibilities available to us. The moment we stop exploring and growing we become stagnant. Where there is stagnant water there is an increased risk of disease. Flowing water on the other hand is the very source of life, always flowing downstream symbolising the importance of humility when seeking to grow. Next installment on April 8th. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh Jasjit Singh

WJKK WJKF Thanks a lot for the Sticky Admin Jis If any of you are from the UK could you please PM me - I'd like to interview you about what it's like to be an Admin on Sikhsangat. Thanks a lot. WJKK WJKF Jasjit.

WJKK WJKF Many Thanks Paaji - all assistance is much appreciated. WJKK WJKF, Jasjit.

GurFateh Paaj - thanks mate - you're absolutely right - that's why I quit my well paid job to do this project. E.g. Last year I attended a conference on Religion and Youth - out of over 50 papers on Religion and Youth, only ONE was about Sikhs (i.e. mine). Please fill the survey in if you qualify. SURVEY URL is: http://www.survey.leeds.ac.uk/sikhs Further details about the project are on my website: http://www.personal....ac.uk/~trs5j2s/ Thanks a lot, Jasjit. P.S. DEAR ADMIN - COULD YOU PLEASE MAKE THIS A STICKY. THANKS A LOT.

Dear Cyber-Sangat Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh My name is Jasjit Singh, a PhD Researcher from the University of Leeds studying the Transmission of Sikhism among young British Sikhs. My research is investigating: What understanding British Sikhs in the age range 18-30 have of Sikhism. What drives young British Sikhs to organise and attend Sikhism related events. What sources of authority young British Sikhs draw on. How young British Sikh acquire their knowledge of Sikh tradition, belief and practice. The research will seek to understand how young British Sikhs (18-30) are learning about Sikhism and will focus on the role of Gurdwaras, Camps/Youth Events and the Internet. As part of this research I have put together an online survey. I would really appreciate it if those of you who qualify could fill this survey in: http://www.survey.leeds.ac.uk/sikhs Many Thanks. Any questions please get in touch. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh Jasjit. PS ADMIN - COULD THIS POST PLEASE BE MADE INTO A STICKY. MANY THANKS. PPS Further details are on my website (http://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~trs5j2s/)

Fateh all - has anyone got a confirmed list of the upcoming programs including those below ? Just that 19th Oct says Peterborough - I thought that was supposed to be Leeds. Thanks. yes 100% they will be all arriving in the uk on 15th october and also their are additional programmes 18th oct guru arjan dev gurdwara sahib derby 8.30am to 10.30 and then 11.15am to 1.15pm singh sabha gurdwara nottingham and 19th oct gurdwara baba buda ji gurdwara sahib peterborough 11am to 1pm it will be just amount of joy as the one in 2004 atam ras!!!! :D yes 100% they will be all arriving in the uk on 15th october and also their are additional programmes 18th oct guru arjan dev gurdwara sahib derby 8.30am to 10.30 and then 11.15am to 1.15pm singh sabha gurdwara nottingham and 19th oct gurdwara baba buda ji gurdwara sahib peterborough 11am to 1pm it will be just amount of joy as the one in 2004 atam ras!!!! :D

The jatha will NOT be attending the Sikh Student Camp anymore so if you wish to hear their parchaar, please try to attend the Leamington workshop on Saturday from 12pm - 2pm Dear Sikhroots Sewadaars - GurFateh Is there any chance that someone could record the Leamington workshop PLEASE. They did some excellent parchaar in Leeds on Wed - it'd be great to hear a full 2 hours of parchaar in Leamington aswell. Thanks a lot GurFateh, Jasjit.