harsimran kaur

Stop bashing hindi language.. even Guru Sahibaan used hindi dialects (Braj) to write Gurbani. Though i agree that it shouldn't be a national language, since it gives a privilege to people from northern india and those who have it as their mother tongue.. But Hindi is still the most spoken language in northern india, and i think it's stupid to insist to speak english to hindi speakers if you can speak hindi too.

yes, if the punjabi girl and the gora boy are sikhs.

just thinking.. how easily do punjabi sikh families approve of their child marrying someone who's a sikh but not of punjabi origin?

a country that has more malnourished children than Africa can't be a very 'developed' one.. even though it might have a few billionaires..

The Sikh names (-inder, -jeet, -simran etc.) seem to have come about quite late? at least i don't know any people from the times of Guru Sahibaan who had these names.. In any case, it would be good to have more variation with the names. Alexander Singh sounds great

it's not the same word as chick.. chic is pronounced shik, not chik. and so far i've only heard french rappers use the word chic. :lol:

I live in Finland.. not exactly next to UK either (but i do visit there sometimes). I sort of agree with the people here, that maybe Guru Nanak Dev ji's words would help you to live as a better muslim. The core of Sikhi (Gurbani), is something that transcends all religions, it's about inner reflection and finding out who you really are.. it shows a way beyond the rituals and how to develop true love and awareness of God.. and it doesn't really matter which religion you belong to. The outer aspect of Sikhi (freely growing hair, turban, 5 K's etc.) isn't necessarily more valuable in itself than the way things are done in other religions.. but sometimes it happens that people find a certain way "natural" to them.. they feel like a fish in the water.

chic (not "chick") is french and means fashionable and cool.

Rakheah da shabad and Sohila: There's Akaal Ustat in Sikhitothemax II software. I haven't found it romanized elsewhere.

Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, vaheguru ji ki fateh! You are not the only one who has converted to islam from being an atheist, and then found sikhi! What you said there is exactly how i felt about islam back then.. It was better than christianity or other monotheistic religions i knew at that time. But it was continuous struggle against my own consciousness to accept things like kafirs going to hell. I used to read a lot about other religions too at that time, which gave some comfort, but at the same time made it even more frustrating.. i had started to believe in bits here and bits there. Then i came across Sikhi! It was the happiest time of my life. Everything in Sikhi made sense. It was love and freedom and pure bliss to read Gurbani for the first time. I was even childish enough to believe that everyone would automatically become sikhs if they just heard about it because it's so perfect and wonderful :lol: :BL: (well i still partly believe that, they just need to hear a bit more..) I don't know what else to say.. but i'm happy for you, partly because your story reminds me of my own journey. I just hope you won't have too much trouble with the muslims you know and that they would still accept you as friend (which may be difficult). And it's good you are seeking Gursikh company right from the beginning.. i didn't for the first couple of years, and it's something that i regret. But you seem to be wiser. Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, vaheguru ji ki fateh!

read an english translation of Quran.

Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, vaheguru ji ki fateh! Adi Granth was an earlier version of Sri Guru Granth Sahib compiled by Guru Arjan Dev jee, later it was completed by Guru Gobind Singh jee, but usually the both names refer to Sri Guru Granth Sahib. There are also Bhai Gurdaas jee's vaars that give explanations to Sri Guru Granth Sahib (it's like the "key" to Sri Guru Granth Sahib) and it also describes lifestyle of Gursikhs. Here are some links that i've found useful: download Sikhitothemax II software from http://www.sikhitothemax.com the style of translitteration (=the second line) they use is not especially clear, but otherwise it's great (it has all the scriptures). The website is nice too (i like the "random shabad" button at the top corner). And another good one is: http://www.srigranth.org You may have to download some fonts too to see the Gurmukhi script. Ask if you need more help!

I like to do Chaupai Sahib paath too before sleeping (just one though)... it's mainly because i got it as a punishment from Panj piaare for 40 days.. and often i hadn't bothered doing it until going to bed.. but it felt nice to do it that time, so i still recite it quite often.. One can dedicate it to the protection of the panth or all humankind, for example, it gives even more motivation to do it. I've noticed that it's usually much easier to concentrate on paath and simran in the evening, when the mind doesn't feel so restless anymore.. Anyway, 100% agree with Amarjit Kaur.. nothing can be better than doing Gurmantra before falling asleep.

(I was wondering about it too. But since people were answering, i thought maybe there indeed is a photo of a Singh wearing dumalla) Anyway, I think it's about praising Guru Sahib through the form he gave us. Just like we aren't supposed to whisper jaikaaras, we shouldn't hide our identity. When so many Guru Sahib's sons and daughters are discarding the saroop or making it as unnoticeable as possible, these nihang Singhs are here to show us how to be proud of it, and also wanting to make their Father happy by showing how much they love the beauty of the shastars and dumalla he has blessed us with. When Guru Tegh Bahaadur jee was beheaded the Sikhs were hiding in the public. That made Guru Gobind Singh jee want Sikhs never to hide again. And the more one stands out, the more s/he fulfills this Guru Sahib's wish. just my opinion.. vaheguru ji ka khalsa, vaheguru ji ki fateh!

Are there any sikh novels available in English? I know Sundri and Satwant Kaur are.. but any others? I did a google search and tried to find some of the authors mentioned here, but it was impossible to find any books in english. If hindi translations exist, those would be ok too. Also, where could i get Bhai Vir Singh's Satwant Kaur?

Thanks for your answers! I was worried that this is actually something that people believe in. It was from a DDT publication, and it might have been good for them to explain it somehow, since quite many people view them as an authority when it comes to matters concerning Paath seva. It's understandable though in a way, since it may have been more difficult to take care of the menstrual blood without adequate pads etc. in the old days.

Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, vaheguru ji ki fateh A bibi told me that she can't do paath seva because she was having periods. I thought that it's something cultural, because of the "filthiness" related to it. But i later came across this in the booklet "Gurbani da adab": "Those women who are menstruating should not sit in Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji's tabiya nor should they do Chaur Sahib seva." What's the explanation for this? Is it really something that is commonly observed? And is it mentioned in some rehat? Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, vaheguru ji ki fateh!

to stand out more?

What's the point for Mata Sahib Kaur ji offering her head? She was Guru Gobind Singh ji's wife, it would have been too obvious.. i don't think Mata Sahib Kaur ji, Mother of Khalsa, would have hesitated half a second to give her head if it had been expected from her. But Guru Sahib wanted Sikhs from the public to stand up. What distinguishes a woman from a man so much that she isn't able to prepare amrit? Some of you argue that it's because panj piaare should resemble the original panj piaare.. but surely it's not the looks that matter, but love for Guru Sahib. It's Panj PIAARE. Kaurs are Guru Sahib's loved ones just as much as Singhs are. What do any physiological differences matter compared to that?? There are Gursikhs who have got amrit from Panj Piaare including Kaurs.. are they less amritdharis because of that?

Same thing happened to me too when i visited the local Gurdwara sahib for the first few times.. slowly people started talking to me though and asking questions. I was also too shy to talk to anyone, partly because everyone was speaking punjabi. For some time i didn't even feel like going to the Gurdwara because of feeling left out and getting stares (though i know it was just curiousity but i wished they had said hello or something instead of just staring). But really, this is something we should address... if someone is coming to the Gurdwara for the first time or seems new/confused/lost/alone, then we should approach them and make them feel more at home.. just a smile and a fateh would make a difference. Otherwise we might be unconsciously driving people away from Guru Sahib's door. Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, vaheguru ji ki fateh

If you want to be known as a Sikh, don't just tie dastaar, let your beautiful kesh grow too. It has a meaning, you know.. Why else did the human ancestors suddenly get long hair if it didn't serve any purpose? But without kesh, there's really no use tieing turban. It would just be a decoration. Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki fateh!

She got what she deserved, but celebrating someone's death.. no matter how evil she was.. just feels not right! Especially if you think what her soul must be going through now..

The actual Mool mantar ends in "gurprasaad" (that's the way it's written elsewhere in Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji too). Many people just read it until "nanak hosee bhee sach." Anyway Bhaji, i wish i could give you some wonderful advice too, but i can't concentrate on school either, or most other things.. it's really stressful, when i would really like to do the assignments and i start writing but it's so unstimulating that i just start thinking and doing something else instead, and then it never gets done even though i might try very hard. And the pile of unfinished homework, missed deadlines and failed courses just grows. I tried some medication too, but i didn't like the side effects. I don't know your situation but i hope you're doing a bit better at least! this issue reminds me of something Bhai Joginder Singh ji said at Khalsa camp this year, about concentrating while doing paath.. that it's NATURAL for the mind to wander.. but when it wanders, let it wander in the Garden of Guru Sahib! (ie. think about some other tuk from SGGS ji or something about sikh history etc.)

It's easy to have physical courage and beat someone when feeling angry. Think if every Sikh started beating up the people who make remarks about dastaar, kesh etc. Often what the bullies expect is to disturb the individual's mental state, so that he gets angry. And it's they who have won when that happens. We have to rise above it. aaee panthee sagal jamaatee, man jeetai jag jeet. Sikhs are supposed to take up arms when severe injustice is done to people, not take part in petty brawls. Guru Sahib himself showed so much love for Datu even when he kicked him. How many of us could have such a strength and courage? Some Gursikhs have sometimes posted here that Sikhs don't believe in sin.. there are just things that take us further away from our destiny and deeds that bring us closer. And to counter and avoid the doings and thoughts that take us away from Vaheguru, we just have to keep doing simran, paath, seva, ardaas to get closer to Him, and maybe most of all have patience and accept His Will. Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, vaheguru ji ki fateh!

HOME by Yann Arthus-Bertrand.. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=jqxENMKaeCU I loved watching it. Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, vaheguru ji ki fateh!