Eternal Bliss

Gur~Fateh ji. Thanks for the appreciation. I'm a writer, therefore words come automatically. And I am writing from personal experience.

"Jot~Saroop" versus "Chanchal~Mun" : Conscience versus Intellect. Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh. In my humble opinion, "conscience" represents our innate~nature or soul~consciousness, and "intellect" leads us to our words and deeds. Intellect is the result of the "fickle~mind" (chanchal mun). WE must control the intellect. "We" refers to the innate~nature (replete with Divine attributes). "We" indicates how God desired us to be : pure and honest, uncorrupted / unaffected by vices. "We" means the child~like innocence which was given to us by The Creator, but which was later corrupted by external influences and internal vices. "We" = the image of God, part of God (Waheguru da ansh). Usage of the acquired worldly knowledge and education, makes us think that we are intellectuals or intelligent people. "Conscience" (or spiritual wisdom) always guides us telling us about the distinction between moral and immoral, between right and wrong, between virtue and sin, between justice and injustice. But the "intelligent mind" often decides to act against the advice tendered by "conscience". That is the internal tussle, the fight, the rift, the conflict.

Guru~Fateh, Akaal~Sahaaye. ***************************************************************************** This is an Announcement pertaining to two Events : 1) New York : Sunday, March 13, 2005. Seminar : 'The Vision, Mission, Message and Lineage of Guru Nanak'. Preachers, thinkers, writers and orators are invited to send advance intimation about their interest in participation. Kindly email me at houseofgurunanak@yahoo.com and please mention Seminar: 'The Vision, Mission, Message and Lineage of Guru Nanak', in the 'subject~line'. 2) New York : Sunday, April 17, 2005. Symposium : 'Order~of~the~Khalsa'. Preachers, thinkers, writers and orators are invited to send advance intimation about their interest in participation. Kindly email me at houseofgurunanak@yahoo.com and please mention Symposium:'Order~of~the~Khalsa' in the 'subject~line'. ***************************************************************************** Thanks, Amar Jit Singh Anand.

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa, Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh. ....................................................EDITED

"Soul~Soothing". :wub:

I am forty~four. Over the past thirty years (living in New Delhi and New York) I've tried to analyze human behavioral patterns, by observing several people (including many whom I come across (at various meetings / during the Guru's Congregation / in society generally / families of my relatives, friends, neighbours, colleagues and acquaintances). *** I've seen that advancing age often results in increased vices. Jealousy, Ego, Domination, Greed, Lust, Hatred, Anger, Attachment, Addiction : all of these are on the ascendant, as one grows older. I am talking of some people whom I have known since my childhood, and I've seen many of them advance from their fifties to late eighties.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh. DHAN DHAN SHAH BABA SAHIB SHRI GURU NANAK DEV JI MAHARAJ Bhai Manvir Singh Ji, that's a deeply inspiring, touching and soul~soothing narrative of a true incident. The Gurbaani quotations you have used are extremely appropriate and relevent. Thanks for sharing the incident. Amar Jit Singh Anand houseofgurunanak@yahoo.com website under construction: www.HouseOfGuruNanak.com

A "sin" is something which believers are afraid of (in the Court of God). A "crime" is such an act which humans are afraid to commit (for fear of law). *** In "The Divine Court" the punishment for all sins is horrendous/terrible. For a crime, a court of law may order a guilty person to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment or may impose a monetary~fine, or both. Or may award the ultimate death~penalty. *** Sin, often, goes hand~in~hand with crime (in other words a sin may also be termed a crime). *** Sin and sorrow may be of various categories : sin & sorrow maybe financial / emotional / psychological / mental / physical / spiritual or all simultaneously. *** Hereunder, I cite a few examples : ~ When person 'A' defrauds / cheats 'B' or evades government~taxes, 'A' may subsequently be hauled up by the law, ultimately ending up in prison and also paying penalties. ~ When 'A' defames 'B' and is proven guilty, 'A' may end up paying millions, as a result of a defamation~suit. ~ When 'A' inflicts violence on 'B' (attempt to murder) 'A' may end up in jail. When 'A' murders 'B' the former may be hanged to death (in some countries) or undergo life~imprisonment. ~ When 'A' rapes / molests 'B' and is then sentenced to rigorous imprisonment or death in some countries. ~ When 'A' indulges in an extra~marital affair, and is exposed, he would then face public humiliation (loss of reputation), loss of family happiness/peace, and may even be sentenced by the courts, on relevent charges. In some countries the punishment is death.

:wub: Haanji, I am pretty serious. Its been a dream since a long time, and now I am bent upon organizing such an Event, especially taking into consideration all the negativity and slander concerning this identity, whether amongst the Westerners or even the Indians, and unfortunately amongst the Sikhs, themselves.

Guru~Fateh, Akaal~Sahaaye. Let us all respect, honour, maintain and cherish the royal~saintly identity / unique appearance that was bestowed upon Sikhs by Dashmesh~Pita, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj. Through this posting I invite all Sikhs (replete with a "turban~beard" appearance) to email me for participation in an exclusive fashion~show, being planned in North~East America. Kindly send me your photographs with full name, mailing address, email, and phone. In the subject line, please write Sikh fashion~show. Mention hieght & weight. *** Its been a dream since a long time, and now I am bent upon organizing such an Event, especially taking into consideration all the negativity and slander concerning this identity, whether amongst the Westerners or even the Indians, and unfortunately amongst the Sikhs, themselves. Amar Jit Singh Anand houseofgurunanak@yahoo.com

Tsunami and the Passing of our Brothers and Sisters By Dr. Frank Kaufmann Dr. Kaufmann is the Director of the Office for Interreligious Relations of the Interreligious and Internatioal Federation for World Peace Contact: www.iifwp.org, world_prayer@myway.com Our family has suffered a terrible blow, this time in Southeast Asia and stretching right the way across to Somalia on Africa’s eastern coast. Confirmed deaths exceed 124,000 with 1,000s still unaccounted for, and millions remain homeless. Reports are of a frantic race to save millions of survivors from dehydration and disease and stop the terrifying death count from climbing further. On the humanitarian side we have responded well. Aid for Tsunami relief has already topped 2 billion dollars making this the biggest relief effort in history. Japan so far is the biggest donor having pledged 500 million dollars; the United States has offered 350 million dollars so far. Even so circumstances and disorganization are creating obstacles for the safe delivery of relief. Governments, the United Nations, and relief agencies from civil society have exhibited remarkable rapidity of response, sadly however, the religious world has not manifest a similar degree of coordination to provide our human family with guidelines for the religious and spiritual response to so great a change in the human landscape. Massive numbers are transitioning from temporal life to eternal life in the spiritual world. Furthermore the passing of so huge a number occurred all at once. This is a shock. It has significan t impact on the human family. Religions together should guide us through times of such intense impact on our consciousness as Gods human family. Already millions are becoming experts on sub-oceanic geology, but how many have learned more clearly about life and death? Two communities are affected most by the passing and transition from temporal life to eternal life; those who find themselves forced to deal with eternal life suddenly and without time to prepare, and those who lost loved ones; parents, children, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters. We of the global family have as much responsibility to care for our brothers and sisters in spiritual need as we do to care for them physically. Surely in a disaster of this magnitude brothers and sisters from every faith have been lost to us. Is there guidance which speaks universally, across all traditions? How are we as a family to care for our brothers and sisters who are starting their new life in the spiritual world? How are we to care for those who similarly must make a radically new start in life, rebuilding life suddenly without precious, loved ones? There is guidance from the world’s religions for times such as these. At this moment we call for a world-wide time of prayer, repentance, and reflection. Every person should look to the wisdom of their respective traditions, but as we pray, as we beseech the loving God to help us all in the face of this shocking event, let us pray as one. The Muslim upon hearing that anyone has lost his or her life is required to recite the short statement, “from Almighty God we come and to Him is our return.” The Holy Quran 41.30-31 reminds us that “Those who have said, "Our Lord is God," then have gone straight, upon them the angels descend, saying, "Fear not, neither sorrow; rejoice in Paradise that you were promised. We are your friends in the present life and in the world to come; therein you shall have all that your souls desire..." and with perfect clarity insists “Do not say, "They are dead!" about anyone who is killed for God's sake. Rather they are living, even though you do not notice it.” (Qur'an 2.154) Catholic Christians are guided to pray, “Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.” Jews and Christians know from Ecclesiastes 12.7 “The dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it”. In the New Testament, Christians are reminded to be, “always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 4.16-5.10) Unification followers of Reverend Moon from the youngest to the oldest recite a solemn promise to God each day “Our family, centered on true love, pledges to strive daily for greater unity between the spiritual world and the physical world.” The I Ching, in the Great Commentary 1.4.2 reminds us “Birth and death form one recurring cycle, like the alternation of the seasons. Spirit comes from the invisible realms to the visible, then returns to the invisible realms again. “ Hinduism says, “As a man passes from dream to wakefulness, so does he pass at death from this life to the next.” (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.3.11-14, 35). Buddhists have peace in the knowledge that “Man's real nature is primarily spiritual life, which weaves its threads of mind to build a cocoon of flesh, encloses its own soul in the cocoon, And, for the first time, the spirit becomes flesh. Understand this clearly: The cocoon is not the silkworm; In the same way, the physical body is not man but merely man's cocoon. Just as the silkworm will break out of its cocoon and fly free, So, too, will man break out of his body-cocoon and ascend to the spiritual world when his time is come. Never think that the death of the physical body is the death of man. Since man is li fe, he will never know death. (Seicho-no-ie. Nectarean Shower of Holy Doctrines.) The list, and the teaching of the living God is abundantly to be found in every tradition. Please let us pray, as one human family, for the living, and for those who have moved on to the spiritual world. We must be serious, faithful, and caring at times like this.

Most of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's Baani is "vairaagmaee". This Shabad by Guru Ram Daas Ji is one of the few "vairaagmaee" Shabads composed by other Guru Sahibaan and Bhagats.

oh yes, brother, I have seen INNUMERABLE "combinations & permutations" in India and USA : ~ totally clean~shaven (hair & beard) wearing a turban on "select" occasions (accompanying the family to visit Gurdwara Sahib, to pay obeisance to the Guru ; or on his Anand~Kaaraj ceremony). And OTHERWISE : ~ having no hair and/or beard and/or moustache but wearing a turban. ~ having hair and turban but no beard; only moustache. ~ little trimmed beard & full moustache ; no turban. ~ little trimmed beard & totally clean moustache or trimmed moustache, with or without turban. and so on and so forth ..................... the list is endless.

ok Ji , to make it clear, I am again listing the objectives & motivations. House Of Guru Nanak Inaugural Awards are being instituted with a view to spreading the Universal Message & Humanitarian Mission by fostering harmony & peace amongst adherents of various races & religions, while creating more awareness of the Sikh identity, especially post~WTC scenario, when Sikhs were retaliated against. I address congregations at Houses of Worship of all religions / faiths, and go to address students in various educational institutions. Plus I volunteer at several non~profit~orgs. I am a turbaned & bearded Sikh (not even trimmed moustache). Sometimes, I even go with a full flowing beard, and with a "kirpaan in gaatra" appearance at meetings of a few hundreds of Westerners, and I am dressed in western formal attire. I strongly opine the objectives are clear in my mind.

You may also recite : 1) "taatee vaao na lagaee paarbrahm sarnaaee, chaugird hamaarai raamkaar dukh lagai na bhai" 2) "teene taap nivaaran~haara dukh~hanta sukhraas, taanko bighan na kou laagai jaanki prabh aagai ardaas" May Guru Nanak bless all with peace and health and bliss.