Sukhdeep Singhh

According to Sant Baba Waryam Singh Ji if ones is to benefit when going to the Gurdwara/Sadh Sangat they should do the following. Deriving Maximum Benefit from Satsang "If pride enters a devotees heart when he comes to attend a religious congregation, then he stands to gain nothing. Whoever wishes to derive the maximum benefit from a holy congregation, and to reap the fruit of crores of ‘yagyas’ (sacrificial rituals), should do the following four things. Look, you labour, but if you work in a wrong manner and sow seed in dry land, it does not sprout into plant. It is either burnt by heat or eaten by termite. Only seed that is sown in wet land, in the right manner, at a proper depth and in the right season sprouts and bears fruit. Similarly, when you attend a holy congregation of the true, you should keep four things in mind. First, start from home with faith and devotion. In this manner, all the distance travelled and time spent to reach the place of congregation is accounted for in heaven where abide GuruNanak Sahib and the Tenth Master Sri Guru Gobind Singh. There, like a computer, our presence is accounted for in heaven. Instead of taking us to be present in the mundane world, we are considered present in the court of God Almighty. Whether one comes on foot or on a vehicle, one’s mind and heart should be focused on the holy congregation. Even more than this, the moment a man starts thinking that he is to attend the holy congregation and so must finish his worldly tasks, the entire period of time from that moment is accounted for in heaven. If he starts finishing his tasks from the previous day, the time spent in doing so is also reckoned in heaven provided he has faith and devotion. Secondly, when you come here, you must pay obeisance with love and reverence. What is your gain? When you bow your head to the Guru, you will be rid of your evil deeds and good deeds will naturally take their place. Thirdly, you should come here in utter humility after shedding all sense of pride. If you come with pride in your heart, you have nothing to gain here. Don’t come here with a sense of importance of your power and position. At the Guru’s threshold everyone is a cipher, a non-entity. We are mere beggars seeking favours, “Lord God! Give us this; give us that.” And our prayers are granted by the bountiful and gracious God. Finally, you should listen to the discourse with total concentration of mind; first listen here attentively, and then remember it at home ; it is only then you reap full advantage of attending a holy congregation. This is the fourth thing that you should keep in mind." Does sangat have any more suggestions to get full benefit from Sat Sangi?

Hukhumee Hovan Aakhar Hukhum Na Keheaa Jaiee Hukhumee Hovan Jeea Hukhum Mileh Vaddiaaee Hukhumee Utham Neech , Hukhum Lekh Dukh Sukh Paaeahei Ekna Hukhmee Baksheesh, Ek Hukhmee Sada Bhavaaieah Hukhumeh Andhar Sabh ko Baahar Hukhum Na Koee Nanak, Hukhumeh Bujheh ta Haumi Kehi No Koee

Throughout Gurbani the Word Brahm and Brahmanand are written like this bRhm But many of us pronounce it as Brahm instead of Brehm Which is the proper way to pronounce

There will be a Sikh Student Conference in Berekely, California on June 18-21 to discuss important Sikh related items. http://www.sikhstudents.org/

Veer Ji what is the purpose of understanding or contemplating deeply about Karma . We know it is through good karma we meet Guru Ji , and we know our actions have consequences this is all we need to know about Karma. We should not be fouced on our indivduals karams, Guru Ji has already taken this burden from us. Since we have met Guru our main goal should be not to realize the nature of past or future actions we should try to realize who we truly are through a deep and rigirous study/contemplation and following of GurShabd/God. Guru Sahib does not lay great emphasis on Karam, nor should we. Guru Ji streeses emphasis on Kirpa through Naam I thinks it would be wise that we should be focusing our attention on these aspects. Awpy gurmuiK kir bIcwru ]4] aapae guramukh kar beechaar ||4|| As Gurmukh, He contemplates Himself. ||4||

Those are both great books. In addition, I would highly recommend Anhad Shabad Dasam Duar written by Bhai Saihb Bhai Randhir Singh Ji. In this book Bhai Sahib explains the mystical secrets of Gurmantar Jap. If you have not taken Amrit yet it might be a little hard to understand. But if you have taken Amrit it can serve as a real motivation to recieve Gurmant from Guru Sahib. I think you can order this book from Sacha Sauda bookstore based in Tornoto

BYrau mhlw 1 ] bhairo mehalaa 1 || Bhairao, First Mehla: gur kY sMig rhY idnu rwqI rwmu rsin rMig rwqw ] gur kai sa(n)g rehai dhin raathee raam rasan ra(n)g raathaa || He remains with the Guru, day and night, and his tongue savors the savory taste of the Lord's Love. Avru n jwxis sbdu pCwxis AMqir jwix pCwqw ]1] avar n jaanas sabadh pashhaanas a(n)thar jaan pashhaathaa ||1|| He does not know any other; he realizes the Word of the Shabad. He knows and realizes the Lord deep within his own being. ||1|| so jnu AYsw mY min BwvY ] so jan aisaa mai man bhaavai || Such a humble person is pleasing to my mind. Awpu mwir AprMpir rwqw gur kI kwr kmwvY ]1] rhwau ] aap maar apara(n)par raathaa gur kee kaar kamaavai ||1|| rehaao || He conquers his self-conceit, and is imbued with the Infinite Lord. He serves the Guru. ||1||Pause|| AMqir bwhir purKu inrMjnu Awid purKu Awdyso ] a(n)thar baahar purakh nira(n)jan aadh purakh aadhaeso || Deep within my being, and outside as well, is the Immaculate Lord God. I bow humbly before that Primal Lord God. Gt Gt AMqir srb inrMqir riv rihAw scu vyso ]2] ghatt ghatt a(n)thar sarab nira(n)thar rav rehiaa sach vaeso ||2|| Deep within each and every heart, and amidst all, the Embodiment of Truth is permeating and pervading. ||2|| swic rqy scu AMimRqu ijhvw imiQAw mYlu n rweI ] saach rathae sach a(n)mrith jihavaa mithhiaa mail n raaee || Those who are imbued with Truth - their tongues are tinged with Truth; they do not have even an iota of the filth of falsehood. inrml nwmu AMimRq rsu cwiKAw sbid rqy piq pweI ]3] niramal naam a(n)mrith ras chaakhiaa sabadh rathae path paaee ||3|| They taste the sweet Ambrosial Nectar of the Immaculate Naam, the Name of the Lord; imbued with the Shabad, they are blessed with honor. ||3|| guxI guxI imil lwhw pwvis gurmuiK nwim vfweI ] gunee gunee mil laahaa paavas guramukh naam vaddaaee || The virtuous meet with the virtuous, and earn the profit; as Gurmukh, they obtain the glorious greatness of the Naam. sgly dUK imtih gur syvw nwnk nwmu sKweI ]4]5]6] sagalae dhookh mittehi gur saevaa naanak naam sakhaaee ||4||5||6|| All sorrows are erased, by serving the Guru; O Nanak, the Naam is our only Friend and Companion. ||4||5||6|

Thanks for the heads up Avnit Kaur Bhenji and Saint Soldier Veer Ji. I will be sure to follow your advice.

Explain to him how a majority of Maharaj Jis rehats indicate how Sikhi is a distinct and rare religion. All these rehats have no base in Islamic thought. Not only do the rehats indicate we are a distinct religion, Guru Jis pavitar bani indicates that our Spirtual Philosophy is compleltely different. then Islamic thought. Ask your friend what Islams view is on Lakh Charasi and Gift of Human Birth, Jivan Mukhti,Sadh Sangat, and Naam. Im sure this will them quiet. As all the concepts are strictly Sikhi in which no other religon fully understands.

Waaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waaheguru Ji Ki Fateh Hello everyone my name is Sukhdeep Singh from California. I have to honest with Sangat on a different forum I use to post negative comments about Sikh Sangat. I was really naive and intolerant to different views. I am new to Sikhi and still learning I hope sangat can forgive me. Also, I hope Sikh Sangats policy towards freedom of expression and open mindedness can help me be more tolerant towards people who have different stances and opinions.

Lately times seem hard. We are experiencing a bad world economy, high unemployment,etc. It seems as during these hard times people are falling apart, unfortunately because they do not have the coping skills some have even gone to the extent of taking their own life. Its often the case in which hard times lead people to regress spiritually. Blessed is the Gurmukh who Guru Sahib has made his own. Dhan Dhan Satguru Sahib Ji has built his Sikhs to such an extent that they view hard times as good times since suffering allows us to seek internally for Guru Ji. duKu dwrU suKu rogu BieAw jw suKu qwim n hoeI ] dhukh dhaaroo sukh rog bhaeiaa jaa sukh thaam n hoee || Suffering is the medicine, and pleasure the disease, because where there is pleasure, there is no desire for God. A Sikh in distress and turns inwardly with genunine emotions will always be consoled by Guru Ji. Seeking internally lead the eyes to acquire internal version in which they become blind to the mundane problems of the world. Guru presence puts one in Sach Khand even in the midst of harsh times. According to the below GuruVak ; Gurus Sikhs never see bad times. AauKI GVI n dyKx dyeI Apnw ibrdu smwly ] aoukhee gharree n dhaekhan dhaeee apanaa biradh samaalae || He does not let His devotees see the difficult times; this is His innate nature. hwQ dyie rwKY Apny kau swis swis pRiqpwly ]1] haathh dhaee raakhai apanae ko saas saas prathipaalae ||1|| Giving His hand, He protects His devotee; with each and every breath, He cherishes him. ||1|| When knowing one is in the presence of Guru Ji then ones worries, anxieties, fears get destroyed. When the mind is in the presence of Satguru Ji ones mind transcends to such a state it as though they are travelling on the pathway of Sach Khand even in the midst of hard times. Take the Puratan Singhs for example , they were living in the jungles through the worsest conditions yet they experienced the greatest bliss because they were in Guru Jis presence. Similarily , take the Shaheeds of 84 they were outnumbered and surrounded in a dangerous situation. Yet they still were in high spirits and ultimate bliss because they knew Guru jis was always with them. When one is in the presence of such purity and holiness ones understanding ( perception, vision) becomes refined and more stronger. The scariest things seem like the most harmless. The biggest obstacles, seem like smallest hurdels. Pennis seem like millions of dollars. jo jo kIno Awpno iqsu ABY dwnu dIqw ]2] jo jo keeno aapano this abhai dhaan dheethaa ||2|| Whoever the Lord makes His own, is blessed with the gift of fearlessness. ||2|| isMGu iblweI hoie gieE iqRxu myru idKIqw ] si(n)gh bilaaee hoe gaeiou thrin maer dhikheethaa || The lion becomes a cat, and the mountain looks like a blade of grass. sRmu krqy dm AwF kau qy gnI DnIqw ]3] sram karathae dham aadt ko thae ganee dhhaneethaa ||3|| Those who worked for half a shell, will be judged very wealthy. ||3|| Guru Sahib has refined his Sikhs mind and vision to such an extent that they regard bad experiences as an opporunty to strentghen ones Bhagti and to improve ones external circumstances. For example, if one becomes fired from their job or recieves a poor test result in their studies. The fear of what the future may bring does not take place in the mind. In fact these irrational fears which constanly haunt the mind become like tame cats when in the presence of Guru Ji. One constantly does Naam Simran strenghtening which strengthens ones esteem and confidence. Greater confidence in ones abilities leads to succesful job interviews also greater esteem givies them more competence in their learned skills. Plus postive optimism leads one to work harder in their studies without a let down heart. Guru Sahibs presence gives us such confidence that a gigantic mountain which seems impossible to get through seem like a blade of glass in which we can walk right through. Meaning when one experiences a great obstacle which seems like it will take millions of steps and seems impossible to cross seems like a peice of cake through Guru Jis presence. Guru Jis presnece in the mind opens such new avenues that through Gurus guidance one becomes more creative and stronger in handling situations .That which at first seemed difficult because of ones Manmat seems easy through Gurus guidance. Gurus presence make pennies seem like millions of dollars. Even when working for modest wages the capital is actually priceless. Working honestly, Meditating on his Naam within Gurus presence, giving a share of your earnings this allows to seeker to recognize the path of Boundless wealth ( Sach Khand). Gwil Kwie ikCu hQhu dyie ] ghaal khaae kishh hathhahu dhaee || One who works for what he eats, and gives some of what he has nwnk rwhu pCwxih syie ]1] naanak raahu pashhaanehi saee ||1|| - O Nanak, he knows the Path. ||1|| The wealth on this path is unlimited and overflowing. The wealth acquired on this path creates a storage of True Wealth within the mind that no troubles, anxites , depressions can ever harm it. This is the true wealth that SatGuru Nanak Dev Ji bought for the upliftment of humanity. This wealth of naam instructs the mind to always remember Guru Ji and lovingly accept his will even during harsh times. gurmuiK kwr kmwie Bwxw BwieAw] guramukh kaar kamaae bhaanaa bhaaeiaa|| They adopt the daily routine of the Gurmukhs, and Gods Will becomes dear to them. gurmuiK Awpu gvwie sic smwieAw] guramukh aap gavaae sach samaaeiaa|| As Gurmukhs, losing their ego, they merge in the Truth. sPlu jnmu jig Awie jgqu qrwieAw ]21]20] safal janam jag aae jagath tharaaeiaa ||21||20|| Their birth in the world is meaningful and they across the whole world also.(21)(20)