harsimran kaur

Agreed To me the issue seems to be that we need to fill our mind with something external all the time and when those external sounds stop, the inner noise takes place, which can be very difficult to handle.. but we need it sometimes. It might be best to try to do quiet simran or just enjoy the silence and Guru Sahib's presence. The mind keeps wandering, for sure, but one should just remember to bring it back home every now and then. It's not very good for ears either to listen to ipod all the time.

What is the difference between listening to live kirtan and listening to kirtan on ipod? I don't mean the obvious difference, but why does it take one's attention from Guru Sahib whereas live kirtan doesn't?

a soap etc made of cow urine and dung :gg: that seems slightly contradictory. They would be good for one use though.. one could tell who's an RSS supporter meters away. :lol:

I go to space every thursday with my little blue friends..

Imagine if there weren't any mirrors.. life must have been so much more embarrassing and amusing in the ancient mirrorless days :lol: and people have probably looked a bit less tidy too.. i think i will try to live a day without watching in the mirror tomorrow and see what happens. (feel free to try out my idea)

this is a bit off topic.. but related to the original question anyway.. Are there some guidelines in Sikhi in general what to do with the ashes of dead person? Could they be scattered anywhere or does it have to be a river or something similar?

I too have some difficulties imagining Gursikhs wearing bana and doing bhangra.. It's not exactly the most dignified looking dance. :lol:

bhajahu gobind bhool mat jaahu... by Bhai Amrik Singh ji.. begins at 11:37 mins. http://www.akj.org/multimedia/Toronto/2007...1toro063sat.mp3

:goodpost: Everything that Pheena said is so TRUE and important. To the original poster and people generally, please give it a deep reflectance if you haven't done so far, even if it may seem like something very simple or obvious. Be aware, and when you notice yourself slipping to the dark side, do Chaupai Sahib and concentrate, or just think what you will get/lose by doing it. Again and again and again. Even if you decide to do something bad, stay awake! Be aware of the way you're doing whatever you're doing and how you're feeling when you do it, and keep asking yourself things like what's the point, is this bringing me happiness or am i just fooling myself?

Here you go.. ਨਾ ਭੁਲਾ, ਨਾ ਭੁਲਾਈ || ਨਾ ਵਿਸਰਾ, ਨਾ ਵਿਸਾਰੀ || naa bhulaa, naa bhulaaee naa visaraa, naa visaaree ਚਾਰ ਪਿਹਰ ਰਾਤ ਦੇ ਸੁਖ ਨਾਲ ਬਤੀਤ ਹੋਇ ਹਨ, ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਚਾਰ ਪਿਹਰ ਦਿਨ ਆਪ ਜੀ ਦਾ ਹੁਕਮ ਮੰਨਦਿਆ ਸੁਖ ਨਾਦੇ ਲ ਬਤੀਤ ਹੋਵੈ | chaar pahar raat de sukh naal bateet hoe han, kirpaa kar ke chaar pahar din de aap jee daa hukam manndiaa sukh naal bateet hovai. ਚਾਰ ਪਿਹਰ ਦਿਨ ਦੇ ਸੁਖ ਨਾਲ ਬਤੀਤ ਹੋਇ ਹਨ, ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਚਾਰ ਪਿਹਰ ਰਾਤ ਆਪ ਜੀ ਦਾ ਹੁਕਮ ਮੰਨਦਿਆ ਸੁਖ ਨਾਦੇ ਲ ਬਤੀਤ ਹੋਵੈ | chaar pahar din de sukh naal bateet hoe han, kirpaa kar ke chaar pahar raat de aap jee daa hukam manndiaa sukh naal bateet hovai. (some of the letters seemed to have accidently moved their place in the end, so i tried to correct it in the translitteration, not totally sure though) But seriously, it's not that difficult to read Gurmukhi! (think about what Chinese and Japanese people have to go through) Next time check the letters from somewhere, even if you had to check them again and again. You'll be fluent soon. That's how i learned it too. :TH:

Thank you veerji! I will try to learn these. :D

I was thinking earlier that someone should make a picture of this shabad :lol: seems like i wasn't the only one.. Amazing!

Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the shining tear of love from Vaheguru ji's eyes, when He felt sad watching us being so lost and miserable down here.

Sometimes it feels like Guru Sahib's words are like a painting.. except that one word from Him tells more than thousand images.

Same thing if a Sikh boy marries a non-Sikh girl!

Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki fateh I don't know much Punjabi yet, and i would like to learn to recite Ardaas in a proper way, so i need some guidance from the sangat here. What are the usual things to say and pray for when the part "aap de hazoor" comes in Ardaas. I mean in Punjabi. And i would appreciate English translations too. Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki fateh

I personally think that marrying from the same religion is the ONLY important thing. But in a way, that matters only to the people who really live according to their faith. Though of course there's always the chance that they get interested in religion later in life. I guess the race thing also depends on the person and how narrow-minded or accepting they are. I don't believe that one loses one's culture or anything like that by marrying someone from different backround. It just gives a chance to learn more

Do you think that mixed race marriages between two Sikhs should also be banned?

Try to sing aloud with the sangat always when you go to Gurdwara sahib and they're doing kirtan, simran or banis. There are many singing lessons in the internet with sound files and explanations.. eg. here.. (at the bottom of the page) http://www.soundofindia.com/lessons.asp and maybe some useful tips here too.. http://www.wikihow.com/Sing you could also try searching on Youtube.

I'm an antifan of MMA. (i prefer martial arts with philosophy :sleep: )

awww.. i really feel that Vaheguru ji has hugged me tonight.. i just wish i could hold on to this Love.. :pray:

Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, vaheguru ji ki fateh That's just like me.. I always thought it would get better along time and when i would meet new people, but it hasn't. I'm not usually afraid of social situations or being surrounded by people, but i get very self-conscious and my mind goes totally blank when i'm supposed to say something. And if i get the courage to say something, i often get confused with my words and go totally red and embarrassed. Only times when it doesn't happen is when the situation takes me off guard or when i'm otherwise excited about something. I don't have much social skills either.. it's also embarrassing because girls are thought to be more socially capable than boys, but i'm totally at loss in social situations.. like how to look at other people in the correct way, how to respond to what they say, what is a suitable thing to talk about etc.. it seems so unnatural for me to try to behave like them and act smiling and happy etc. if there's nothing particular making me smile or laugh at that moment.. If possible, you could try finding some sort of group for people having social anxiety.. there you can meet other people who are suffering exactly the same problems. I've just started in one, it was somehow relieving to realize how so many other people are nervous and quiet too, people who at the same time seem really smart and nice.. Often people who have social phobias are more critical and pessimistic than others, and also very sensitive about how other people feel.. and maybe even more intelligent.. i mean it's difficult to think of a dumb person who would be worrying about what others think about him/her and how they react to this and that.. etc. I've also noticed when one tries to see the jyot of Vaheguru in all people that one comes across (it helps to imagine some light emanating from them or the symbol of ik ongkaar at their hearts), and at the same time thinks how easy it's to speak to Vaheguru ji when praying, and how He forgives all the mistakes we do and accepts us the way we are.. and how, after all, all people are just acting under the hukam of Vaheguru, and whatever happens is His Will only.. These sort of thoughts help sometimes when i really concentrate on it. Eg. just when walking on the street and not knowing how to react when people look at you etc.. it makes everything feel so much more natural and easier when you're focused on Vaheguru, not just inside yourself but also inside other people. It somehow gives you a feeling of connection. It also helps to forgive other people and not feel angry with them if they do something that hurts you. Anyway, i wish you luck, and wish there was some magic potion for this i read once someone writing about this and saying that have you ever seen a shy old person, and thought that it was sort of comforting.. oh well.. Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, vaheguru ji ki fateh kaanarraa mehalaa 5 || Kaanraa, Fifth Mehla: bisar gee sabh thaath paraaee || I have totally forgotten my jealousy of others, jab thae saadhhasa(n)gath mohi paaee ||1|| rehaao || since I found the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. ||1||Pause|| naa ko bairee nehee bigaanaa sagal sa(n)g ham ko ban aaee ||1|| No one is my enemy, and no one is a stranger. I get along with everyone. ||1|| jo prabh keeno so bhal maaniou eaeh sumath saadhhoo thae paaee ||2|| Whatever God does, I accept that as good. This is the sublime wisdom I have obtained from the Holy. ||2|| sabh mehi rav rehiaa prabh eaekai paekh paekh naanak bigasaaee ||3||8|| The One God is pervading in all. Gazing upon Him, beholding Him, Nanak blossoms forth in happiness. ||3||8|| here's this shabad sung by Bibi Sat Kirin Kaur Khalsa ji.. http://fateh.sikhnet.com/gurbani ..search for bisara ga-ee

Thank you! so beautiful.. :happy: Bhai Parminder Singh ji is my favourite kirtania, but i hadn't come across those tracks yet. Here's one of the sweetest kirtan i've heard.. it's by Bhai Telvinder Singh ji.. http://www.keertan.com/multimedia/Windsor/...9winr014sat.mp3 gauVI mhlw 5 ] Gauree, Fifth Mehla: ijs kw dIAw pYnY Kwie ] They wear and eat the gifts from the Lord; iqsu isau Awlsu ikau bnY mwie ]1] how can laziness help them, O mother? ||1|| Ksmu ibswir Awn kMim lwgih ] Forgetting her Husband Lord, and attaching herself to other affairs, kaufI bdly rqnu iqAwgih ]1] rhwau ] the soul-bride throws away the precious jewel in exchange for a mere shell. ||1||Pause|| pRBU iqAwig lwgq An loBw ] Forsaking God, she is attached to other desires. dwis slwmu krq kq soBw ]2] But who has gained honor by saluting the slave? ||2|| AMimRq rsu Kwvih Kwn pwn ] They consume food and drink, delicious and sublime as ambrosial nectar. ijin dIey iqsih n jwnih suAwn ]3] But the dog does not know the One who has bestowed these. ||3|| khu nwnk hm lUx hrwmI ] Says Nanak, I have been unfaithful to my own nature. bKis lyhu pRB AMqrjwmI ]4]76]145] Please forgive me, O God, O Searcher of hearts. ||4||76||145||

How about menstrual cups? I got one this week but haven't tried it in action yet. But they seem really cool. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstrual_cup

it's wonderful.. thank you for sharing this!