harsharan000

Different sages, scientists, gods, goddesses, etc have divided the time in eras or Yugas, with its different ingredients. But the Saints, the Bhagats,our Guru Sahibans, and especially Dhan Dhan Satguru Arjun Dev Maharaj, tell us, that even a moment away from our Beloved Wahiguru, is as good as Kaliyuga. Means, full of durmat, ignorance, darkness. When He is in our mind and heart, we can not do anything wrong. The moment we forget Him even for a single moment, that moment becomes dangerous for us, as we are propense to do sinful acts, mind and vices surround us tightly, and we are toy in their hands, and for this very reason we are bound to die again and again, time after time... That is why Sachaay Patshah Guru Arjun Dev Maharaj says: Ik gareeh na milte, ta Kal yug hota. Hun kad miliyeh, priya tudh Bhagwanta. Most os us are not that pure enough to see Him or have His Darshan; but for sure, we can start getting purified right from just now, through Gurmat, which is as good as Nam Simran. Sat Sree Akal.

A LOVE LETTER (Prem Katha) FROM A PREMEE GURSIKH (Sachay Patshah Guru Arjun Dev Maharaj), TO HIS PREETAM LORD GURU DEV ( Dhan Dhan Sree Guru Ram Das Maharaj) Meraa Mun Lochai Gur Dhurusun Thaa-ee ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਲੋਚੈ ਗੁਰ ਦਰਸਨ ਤਾਈ This shabad is by Guru Arjan Dev in Raag Maajh, Ang 496 in Section 'Mere Man Bairaag Bhea Jeo' ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਲੋਚੈ ਗੁਰ ਦਰਸਨ ਤਾਈ Maera Man Lochai Gur Dharasan Thaee मेरा मनु लोचै गुर दरसन ताई My mind longs for the Blessed Vision of the Guru's Darshan. ਬਿਲਪ ਕਰੇ ਚਾਤ੍ਰਿਕ ਕੀ ਨਿਆਈ Bilap Karae Chathrik Kee Niaee बिलप करे चात्रिक की निआई It cries out like the thirsty song-bird ਤ੍ਰਿਖਾ ਨ ਉਤਰੈ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਦਰਸਨ ਸੰਤ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਜੀਉ Thrikha N Outharai Santh N Avai Bin Dharasan Santh Piarae Jeeo त्रिखा न उतरै सांति न आवै बिनु दरसन संत पिआरे जीउ My thirst is not quenched, and I can find no peace, without the Blessed Vision of the Beloved Saint. ਹਉ ਘੋਲੀ ਜੀਉ ਘੋਲਿ ਘੁਮਾਈ ਗੁਰ ਦਰਸਨ ਸੰਤ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਜੀਉ Ho Gholee Jeeo Ghol Ghumaee Gur Dharasan Santh Piarae Jeeo हउ घोली जीउ घोलि घुमाई गुर दरसन संत पिआरे जीउ I am a sacrifice, my soul is a sacrifice, to the Blessed Vision of the Beloved Saint Guru. ਤੇਰਾ ਮੁਖੁ ਸੁਹਾਵਾ ਜੀਉ ਸਹਜ ਧੁਨਿ ਬਾਣੀ Thaera Mukh Suhava Jeeo Sehaj Dhhun Banee तेरा मुखु सुहावा जीउ सहज धुनि बाणी Your Face is so Beautiful, and the Sound of Your Words imparts intuitive wisdom ਚਿਰੁ ਹੋਆ ਦੇਖੇ ਸਾਰਿੰਗਪਾਣੀ Chir Hoa Dhaekhae Saringapanee चिरु होआ देखे सारिंगपाणी It is so long since this rainbird has had even a glimpse of water ਧੰਨੁ ਸੁ ਦੇਸੁ ਜਹਾ ਤੂੰ ਵਸਿਆ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਜਣ ਮੀਤ ਮੁਰਾਰੇ ਜੀਉ Dhhann S Dhaes Jeha Thoon Vasia Maerae Sajan Meeth Murarae Jeeo धंनु सु देसु जहा तूं वसिआ मेरे सजण मीत मुरारे जीउ Blessed is that land where You dwell, O my Friend and Intimate Divine Guru. ਹਉ ਘੋਲੀ ਹਉ ਘੋਲਿ ਘੁਮਾਈ ਗੁਰ ਸਜਣ ਮੀਤ ਮੁਰਾਰੇ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ Ho Gholee Ho Ghol Ghumaee Gur Sajan Meeth Murarae Jeeo हउ घोली हउ घोलि घुमाई गुर सजण मीत मुरारे जीउ I am a sacrifice, I am forever a sacrifice, to my Friend and Intimate Divine Guru ਇਕ ਘੜੀ ਨ ਮਿਲਤੇ ਤਾ ਕਲਿਜੁਗੁ ਹੋਤਾ Eik Gharree N Milathae Tha Kalijug Hotha इक घड़ी न मिलते ता कलिजुगु होता When I could not be with You for just one moment, the Dark Age of Kali Yuga dawned for me ਹੁਣਿ ਕਦਿ ਮਿਲੀਐ ਪ੍ਰਿਅ ਤੁਧੁ ਭਗਵੰਤਾ Hun Kadh Mileeai Pria Thudhh Bhagavantha हुणि कदि मिलीऐ प्रिअ तुधु भगवंता When will I meet You, O my Beloved Lord ਮੋਹਿ ਰੈਣਿ ਨ ਵਿਹਾਵੈ ਨੀਦ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਦੇਖੇ ਗੁਰ ਦਰਬਾਰੇ ਜੀਉ Mohi Rain N Vihavai Needh N Avai Bin Dhaekhae Gur Dharabarae Jeeo मोहि रैणि न विहावै नीद न आवै बिनु देखे गुर दरबारे जीउ I cannot endure the night, and sleep does not come, without the Sight of the Beloved Guru's Court ਹਉ ਘੋਲੀ ਜੀਉ ਘੋਲਿ ਘੁਮਾਈ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਚੇ ਗੁਰ ਦਰਬਾਰੇ ਜੀਉ Ho Gholee Jeeo Ghol Ghumaee This Sachae Gur Dharabarae Jeeo हउ घोली जीउ घोलि घुमाई तिसु सचे गुर दरबारे जीउ I am a sacrifice, my soul is a sacrifice, to that True Court of the Beloved Guru. ਭਾਗੁ ਹੋਆ ਗੁਰਿ ਸੰਤੁ ਮਿਲਾਇਆ Bhag Hoa Gur Santh Milaeia भागु होआ गुरि संतु मिलाइआ By good fortune, I have met the Saint Guru. ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਅਬਿਨਾਸੀ ਘਰ ਮਹਿ ਪਾਇਆ Prabh Abinasee Ghar Mehi Paeia प्रभु अबिनासी घर महि पाइआ I have found the Immortal Lord within the home of my own self ਸੇਵ ਕਰੀ ਪਲੁ ਚਸਾ ਨ ਵਿਛੁੜਾ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਸ ਤੁਮਾਰੇ ਜੀਉ Saev Karee Pal Chasa N Vishhurra Jan Naanak Dhas Thumarae Jeeo सेव करी पलु चसा न विछुड़ा जन नानक दास तुमारे जीउ I will now serve You forever, and I shall never be separated from You, even for an instant. Servant Nanak is Your slave, O Beloved Master. ਹਉ ਘੋਲੀ ਜੀਉ ਘੋਲਿ ਘੁਮਾਈ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਸ ਤੁਮਾਰੇ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ Ho Gholee Jeeo Ghol Ghumaee Jan Naanak Dhas Thumarae Jeeo हउ घोली जीउ घोलि घुमाई जन नानक दास तुमारे जीउ I am a sacrifice, my soul is a sacrifice; servant Nanak is Your slave, Lord In this lovely and beautiful shabad, Sachaay Patshah Guru Arjun Dev Maharaj, is telling us, that in order to meet Wahiguru, we should love Him, with such intensity and depth, that all else, becomes "pheeka", our heart bleeds, our body becomes painful, and our mind becomes restless, out of the "bireh" for His Darshan. This is how one can enter His Darbar. We have to give up our "haume" (cut our head / ego) and place it in His hands(His Mauj). Along with this, we have to do His Nam Simran, becuase it is only then we can meet Him and have His Darshan within. To start with, outer love is essential; and then when we do His Simran, we get hold of Him, and there He blesses us, through His Shabad Swaroop, with unwavering Love for His Lotus Feet. That is why the Bani says: Anter Jot, Niranter Bani, Sachay Sahib, siu live lae. The abhyaas of Nam Simran, discloses Him within us, then we come to see His effulgencev(Jot), and listen the Divine melody of Shabad(Bani), once this state is achieved by His Grace, it produces true unwavering love in us, for Him. That is His Gurprsad also. Sat Sree Akal.

Though all the posts above are very inspirational, and all carry logic in them and at the same time beauty in them, as, it is regarding the Supreme Being, Akal Purukh. If allowed to put humbly my 2 cents in this thread, I would say that the Nirgun Swaroop, is something like the all permeating, or call it omnipresent, like the radio waves which are present for example in our house, but we do not perceive them, but if we switch on a radio and tune it, we can listen the news and music of our favourite radio stations, in a similar way, that Supreme Power, is all pervading, and when we tune our minds with Nam Simran, we can hear those Celestial Melodies, Anhad Shabad, Amrit Bani. This is what is reffered to in Anand Sahib: Nam jiske man vaseeya, vajeh Shabad ganere. Then the Sargun Swaroop of our Akal Purukh, is like our first Guru, Dhan Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Maharaj and the Bhagats or the rest of our Guru Sahibans. In them, Nam was active, or manifested in its full measure, that is also, when the Bani says: Har Jee baseh Sadh ke hirdey. Waheguru jee ka khalsa, Waheguru jee kee fateh.

Please, let us not bring in Maharaj, in our own shorcomings. If darkness is there, just lit the Light. But do not blame the Light. Light is always there, we just have to allow it come, and then see how darkness flees from far.... He is meharvan, He is Dayalu, why is He going to deliberately trouble us, play with our feelings, or test us? We must keep one thing in mind, if He ever starts testing us, then for sure, we shall have no place to get relief. All of our lives, is based on our very own karmas. Does not the Bani say, "aapeh beejay, aapey khaae"? Then why to blame always our beloved Wahiguru Jee, for our misfortunes or miseries? Why? We are so weak, such moorakhs, that we doubt Him, and easily blame Him, when all the fault is ours only, shame on us. But, if we are ever messed up with the web of our own karmas, there is a solution for it always, just meditate on Him, do His bhajan bandaghee. This is the panacea for all miseries according to Gurmat: Sarab Rog ka aukhad Nam. Sat Sree Akal.

Raag Maaroo Guru Amar Das ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੇ ਪਾਰੁ ਨ ਪਾਏ ਕੋਈ Bin Sabadhae Paar N Paaeae Koee बिनु सबदे पारु न पाए कोई Without the Shabad, no one can cross over to the other side. In this one line, Sachay Patshah Sree Guru Amar Das, is telling us, that union with Wahiguru, or merging oneself in Him, is possible only by attaching ourselves to the Shabad or Nam within ourselves, which ferries us from this perishable world, to our true home in Sach Khand. We may perform any charitable or pious actions, or let us say good karmas even, or sacrifice our lives also, but if that one abhyaas of Nam Simran is not done by us, then we shall remain in the perishable creation, such s the way fashioned by Him, of Nam Simran, to merge in Him. Sat Sree Akal.

All these 4 yugas, in a way are like 4 seasons in one year. The main difference between them is the span of time, and the presence of truth(something like oxygen necessary to live and survive) becomes lesser and lesser, as it goes in the downward direction from Sat Yuga to Kal Yuga. They are as follows: The first one is Sat Yuga The second one is Treta Yuga The third one is Dwapur Yuga And the fourth one, current now is Kal Yuga. In the 1st one prevails more purity, people are more religious minded, and there is almost no wickedness; but as one goes downwards as said before, truthfullness is on the decrease, and the sin is on increase. The Kal Yuga, is the most polluted with evilness and ignorance. And here the span of life of humans is at most around 100 years. But in any case, in any of these yugas salvation is only possible if we take anchor of Nam or Shabad. And this is confirmed by Sree Guru Amar Das Maharaj, in His Bani of Raag Maroo, ang 1055 ਏਕ ਨਾਮਿ ਜੁਗ ਚਾਰਿ ਉਧਾਰੇ ਸਬਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਵਿਸਾਹਾ ਹੇ Eaek Naam Jug Chaar Oudhhaarae, Sabadhae Naam Visaahaa Hae एक नामि जुग चारि उधारे सबदे नाम विसाहा हे The Naam, the Name of the One Lord, saves and redeems throughout the four ages. Through the Shabad, one trades in the Naam. So we are not to be worried in which yuga we are or not, but our only worry should be about ourselves, if we are still in"manmat", or we are attached to Nam through Gurmat. Sat Sree Akal.

Dear Curious, it is but normal up to an extent that you do not enjoy the Banis, because you are from a different social geographical bakground. To enjoy the Banis, one has to understand what message they(Guru Sahibans) want to convey us. And as it is well known, take any Bani, from any ANG/page, it is nothing but a tiny fraction of the infinite Glory of the Supreme Lord. And that also, sung not by any ordinary humans, but by the ones who are the very embodiment of Wahiguru Akal Purukh, our beloved Guru Sahibans. The beauty and the value and the sweetness of the Bani, is because, in a way, are the words of the Lord Himself. As the Bani says: Har jee baseh Sadh ke hirdey or Har jee baseh sadh ke rasna, this means, the Lord resides in the heart and in the speech of His beloved Sons, Lovers, our Guru Sahibans... One thing is for sure, we may be from different countries, from diffrent cultures, but the essence of His Light in us, is the same. The purpose of our Guru Sahibans, is to make us know Him, and understand Him, through their spoken and written Bani; and then make us go even a step further, through the base of Sikhee, which is the road, the way, to reach our goal, none other than Wahiguru/Lord, and that is the holy practice of Nam Simran. This Nam Simran, unfolds and discloses our beloved Akal Purukh within us. The Bani at many places, refers this Supreme Being as a Conscious power or energy, which can be heard and seen, within us. The Bani in Anand Sahib says: Nam jinke man vaseeya, vajeh Shabad ganere; or at other place it says, Anter Jot Niranter Bani, Sachay Sahib siu liv laage. This means, once you are steady in Nam Simran, you will be able to hear within you the Divine melody, the Unstruck Melody of the Shabad or Nam. This is the real Bani, which our Guru Sahibans, stress upon. It is this Bani, which washes our impurities, makes us pure and reunites us back with our Father Akal Purukh. This Divine Melody, in the Bible is reffered as The Word, Logos or the Holy Ghost. This Nam or Shabad is not some exclusive property of any particular country or race, but it is kept within us for us, by our heavenly Akal Purukh. This Bani within us, is also known as Amrit Bani or Sachee Bani also. This inner Bani, is such wonderous, that once we contact it within ourselves, we shall be able to see the Radiant form of Light of Satpurukh, and be able to listen Him, through the holy sounds emanating from that Shabad. In the Bible reference to this Bani is mentioned also, when it says: having eyes yee see not , having ears yee hear not. Which means, within us there is the Light and the Shabad Sound of Wahiguru, but alas we do not open our spiritual eyes neither our spiritual ears, of our souls. And thus we waste our precious human lives after shadows, and we miss our golden opportunity of reuniting us with Him, by freeing ourselves from the cycle of births and deaths, through the very sacred practice, devotion, of Nam Simran. There is only one reality and truth, and that is Satnam. We also become true by leaving the perishable wordly ways// objects/ relations, and by attaching ourselves with Him. And attaching/devoting ourselves with Him, is not done with chains or rope, as He is not something physical, but by the very rope of Nam, which He has kept us within us. So by doing His Simran, we are telling Him, hey Wahiguru, I am ready, please pull me up towards You. This is when the Bani says, Nanak, Nam, jahaaz hae. Means, O Nanak, Nam is the only vehicle to take us back to our Father´s House, Sach Khand. So you see, we do nothing, everything is done by our gracious mercifull Wahiguru, but for that, we have to give up our ego, and as a child, place ourselves in the hands of this our true Father Wahiguru Akal Purukh. When we give up everything else, and cling on to Him alone(Nam), He just pulls us back and place us at His Lotus feet. Sat Sree Akal

Dear Jas Singh Jee, first of all congrats for such a nice topic you have chosen. Well sikh awareness(Gurmat), is first of all a relation of love, between a soul(Gursikh) and Guru Jee(Guru Sahibans). In this relation, the gursikh gives up himself, that is his mind, his body and wealth....he keeps nothing for himself. In order, that, his mind may not be an obstacle in his pursuit of the Truth Not that Guru Jee,needs them, but because attachment to them, are the root cause of our "chaurasee ka chakar". Because, if haume is submitted, then the path is smoother. So first of all the Gursikh, adorns himself with the jewel of humility, and this virtue attracts Grace from the Lord, who then bestows, love and devotion(Gurparsad) for His Lotus feet, in return. Then when the Gursikh, walks faithfully according to Gurmat, the result in the end is, freedom from the cycle of births and deaths, and this means, our union with our heavenly father Wahiguru Akal Purukh. And this union, is not something to be achieved after death, but very much possible, in this very life. It all depends, how sincerely we devote ourselves in His remeberance. The basic common factor in almost all religions is the same, but due to mamaat, it has been driven out of sight. And this factor, is none other than Naam or Shabad, but very much present in Sikhee. The christians call it the "Word", "Holy Ghost" or "Logos"; the chinese call it "Tao", the muslims call it "Kun". The hindus call it "Akashee Bani". As said before, the manipulative humans have rubbed off, this essence, and are thus wandering aimlessly. All our Granth Sahib Maharaj, as per the Banis of our Guru Sahibans, and the Bhagats, lay importance on this Conscious Power(Shabad), which is within each and everyone of us. They say we(our souls) are like a ray, of that Supreme Soul or Parmatma. But due to some reasons, like mind, and kaal, we have been kept as prisoners trapped here in the creation, far from our true home Sach Khand. So, if we want to get reunited with Him, our True Father, there is a way.... Not man ways, like pilgrimages, fastings, idol worship, etc....in one word, outer ways. Bhagats, Sant Janas, Guru Sahibans, tell us again and again, He whom you all search, is not outside, but within you. So naturally the way taking us to Him, is also to be travelled within us. That way or path is called Nam Simran, by our Guru Sahibans. Nam is the only vehicle, which can free us from this mayavee creation, and take us back Home. That is why the Bani reffering to this path, says : Nanak Nam Jahaz hae. Guru sahibans does not say, do many diffrent things, but clearly says, that Nam is the only vehicle to take our souls back to Him, and not only that, but become one with Him, without any distiction. Through the constant practice of Gurmat, making it our lifestyle, we become pure, paviter, balanced at all times, and in a simple way, affordable for all ages and genders, without any discomfort or danger for our lives, realize Him, within this very human body, which is also reffered as the temple of the Living God, or Gurudwara, where the Aad Guru(Satnam) resides and is to be found. This is the very purpose of Sikhee, or Sikh Awareness, our union with Wahiguru Akal Purukh, through love and devotion to His Naam alone. Sat Sree Akal.

Dear Gurpreet, the thing is we people, we are very square and narrow minded. We have created so many limitations on us, that many a times we ourselves are trapped in the web created by us. Sometimes I wonder, how these superstitions from other dharams have entered our sikhee? I have heard that in hindus, the brahmins had these types of reactions and stressed much upon them in the society, but let us leave them, and see the unlogic, in this type of behaviour. First of all, let us see what is jhoot? Jhoot,is a leftover of some eatable when it comes in contact with the saliva of someone. Jhoot is also, when the food is bought and served by dishonest earnings. Apart from this, it is all superstition. The eatables do not turn into jhoot, just by someone´s touch. Just as if one is a sinner, and get´s a chance for doing some sort of sewa of preparing or serving food in a Gurdwara for example, that food does not get infected by one´s sins, rather the sinner, get´s a chance of doing some good karma. The sins of each one are very much of oneself, they do not get transferred by contact.. Neither as some think, that by drinking the holy water of a particular river, or bathing at a pilgrimage place, will wash one´s bad karmas. This is sheer nonsense. It is degrading oneself. It is an irrational thinking. That is not the case, but worst come worst, supposing that way of irrational thinking was right, then if by one´s touching, the food can become "jhoot" or polluted, then too, our Guru Sahibans have given us the antidote also, by doing His Simran, by remebering Him before eating,(or any other action), that would make that supposed jhoot, into amrit, into parsad. As His Name is the most purifier power.... If it can wash our sins, which are subtle. Then why not the jhoot impurity also? The jhoot is in our minds and hearts with such unhuman behaviour, not in the touching the eatables Or is it, we doubt Him, before our own limitations? Shame on us. Many of us are very mean, very low. We have complicated and polluted Gurmat with our very own "manmaat", and because at the same time, we have forgotten His Naam, which is the panacea for all ailments, all maladies. Sat Sree Akal

Religion is a word which comes from the latin word"religare". And this means, that which unites us with our origin....call it God, Lord, Supreme Being....Wahiguru , Akal Purukh or Satnam. All these terms above refer to a conscious power, which is very well described by Dhan Dhan Guru Sachay Patshah Nanak Dev Maharaj in the Mool Mantar. So then, what is it that, that unites us with our origin? Religion as stated above, is not a set of rituals, nor ceremonies, nor dogmas or rules of conduct. Religion, thus is a path to be traveled, or worked upon, by whosoever wants to achieve that goal. Mere words, mere intentions will not do. Each and everyone for that purpose, has to work for himself / herself. The Bani beautifully sumarizes, which religion is true, which one unites us with our Wahiguru Akal Purukh: Sarab Dhharam Mehi Sraesatt Dhharam,Har Ko Naam Jap Niramal Karam. Of all religions, the best religion,Is to chant the Name of the Lord and maintain pure conduct. Nanak, Nam jahaz hae. Jin Har jaapiya, se Har Hoeeya Our Guru Sahibans, have clearly stated, it is the Simran of Nam, which disentagles our subtle(astral, causal, and pure surtee) bodies from the physical one, through dimensions of different levels of consciousness, and that very Simran, makes possible our union with our objective Wahiguru Akal Purukh. So religion, is as simple as explained by our Guru Sahibans. But it is we people, who have distorted, twisted and manipulated their teachings, and made a mess, to the extent that we have lost out of our sight, their real meaning, and we are like arrogant zombies, just wanting to create controversies, fight and kill in name of "our religion", "my religion"...when the truth is, our Guru Sahibans just mention Nam Simran as the remedy for all our maladies: Sarab rog ka aukhad Nam. There is one more thing, mentioned by our Guru Sahibans, not everybody is ready to accept and believe, that is why the term "wadbhagee" is mentioned by them. bin bhaagaa satsang na paa-ee-ai, karam milai har naam haree. Without good destiny, the Sadh Sangat, the True Congregation, is not obtained. By the grace of one's good karma, the Lord's Name is received. There may be some more factors which can be brought forward like(karmas, mind, maya, kal), but in the end, everything is in His hands, His will is supreme. And because of that, nobody can be forced to believe something, neither those who believe can not be stopped in doing so. But in any case, as the Bani says: Bin Navai, nahee kou thau. Without Nam, there is no shore to lean and rest on. Sat Sree Akal

What is essential for our salvation? Sachay Patshah Sree Guru Arjun Dev Maharaj, in a few simple words, beautifully tells us the truth for the salvation of our souls. He says: ਅਵਰ ਕਰਤੂਤਿ ਸਗਲੀ ਜਮੁ ਡਾਨੈ Avar Karathooth Sagalee Jam Ddaanai अवर करतूति सगली जमु डानै All other efforts are punished by the Messenger of Death, ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਭਜਨ ਬਿਨੁ ਤਿਲੁ ਨਹੀ ਮਾਨੈ Govindh Bhajan Bin Thil Nehee Maanai गोविंद भजन बिनु तिलु नही मानै Which accepts nothing at all, except meditation on the Lord of the Universe. He is saying that, do whatever you may want, but if you have no devoted yourself in His Simran(Govindh Bhajan) as His Bhakti, when your time of departing from this world come, and you will have to face not only the messengers of death, but Kaal himself, if you have not gathered the wealth of Naam, you shall continue being a prisoner in the wheel of eighty four ....unless the time comes and you learn and understand, that apart from His Naam Simran, nothing, nothing is worthy at all in the eyes of Kaal. Sat Sree Akal.

Forgiveness from Akal Purukh, is not like a magician stick, that He wavers and we get it just like that. Everything has a procedure, means in the right way . There is a procedure to ask something, and through that very procedure, we get it. With words we get nothing, with actions we get fruits. The same applies in our relation with Wahiguru Akal Purukh Sachay Badshah Sree Guru Arjun Dev Maharaj, beautifully tells us about this procedure in His Ambrosial Bani of Sukhmani Sahib. He says: ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਕੋਟਿ ਪਾਪ ਖੋਵੈ Har Kaa Naam Kott Paap Khovai हरि का नामु कोटि पाप खोवै The Name of the Lord erases millions of sins. ਐਸਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਹੁ ਮਨ ਰੰਗਿ Aisaa Naam Japahu Man Rang ऐसा नामु जपहु मन रंगि Chant such a Name with love, O my mind. He is saying, if you want forgiveness, attach yourself to His Nam, by doing its Simran with love within your mind. To get something, do something. Even a baby, to get the feed of milk from the mother, cries in hunger. Though the Bakshish, the merciful glance from Wahiguru is much much more than our feeble efforts, but even for that, we have to give Him an excuse, so that He may shower us with His Grace, which cleanses our impurities and strenghtens our faith, love and devotion in Him. Sat Sree Akal.

The main reason for doing the wrong things is ignorance of what is right. Once someone asked a Mahapurukh, how to know what is sin, and what is virtue, and the answer given to the questioner in simple words was : Anything which takes you towards Wahiguru is virtue and perfectly right, and anything which takes you away from Him, is a sin...as simple as that. We(our souls) are all under the influence of mind, and the mind is under the control of the senses(kam, krodh, lobh, moh & ahankar), which constnatly run after pleasures. Mind is thus jumping like a monkey from one thing to another...one wish has hardly been fulfilled...he is already making many more of them ....so naturally when we die, we shall get the right envoirements from the nature to get those unsatisfied desires fulfilled. So in a way, these actions, these desires, are the cause of our entanglement in the mayavee creation, which is "mithiyaa", which is perishable....so we are trapped in the cycle of eigthy four. To get the key for permanent freedom, we have to reverse the process mentioned above, is first of all, to settle the mind at one place and get our souls free from the clutches of mind and maya. If we look around ourselves, and even if our sight reached the farther regions or dimensions, there is nothing as such which is superior and stronger enough to defeat the mind ....not even the gods, devis, devtaas, angles...etc. So naturally the question may arise, then what is there left which can help us to defeat the mind and release our souls? Well, according to the Bani, Sree Guru Amar Das Maharaj in Raag Gauree Guaarayree gives us the following remedies: Naam Rathae Man Niramal Hoe Attuned to the Naam, the Name of the Lord, the mind becomes immaculate. He says, merge yourself in Nam Simran, dye yourself with Nam, then your mind will stop doing any nonsense, to the extent that it will get purified and become totally inmaculate. Once the mind also tastes the Amrit of Nam, its belly become heavy, like when a rat given poison, it sits down quitely at one place, and looses its grip over the soul. So we must bear in mind, Nam is the only medicine, the only weapon to defeat the mind, there is no other weapon in the Triloki creation, which can defeat the mind totally forever. No jap, no tap, no poojas, no paaths, no fastings ....all of these things are under the spheres of maya, mind and kaal... Wahiguru and His Nam, is the only supreme power to subdue and vanquish mind and kaal. Sathigur Saeviai Soothak Jaae Serving the True Guru, pollution is eradicated Then He says, serving the Guru, the pollution is erradicated. Which Guru is He reffering to? As the Bani says: Shabad Guru, Surat dhun chela. Guru hae Bani, Bani hae Guru, vich Bani Amrit saaray. So what is this serving the Guru? Who serves this Guru? As we have just seen, the surtee , the soul is the disciple, the "chela", and the Shabad is the Guru. And thus, serving this Guru, is doing Nam Simran, and joining our surtee with this Shabad Guru, and merge in Him. This Guru does not want anything from us, neither expects anything from us, He just wants our love and devotion, so that He may get and excuse to shower us with His Daya Meher, to wash our dirt and make us one with Him Marai N Janamai Kaal N Khaae And then, one does not suffer death and rebirth, or get devoured by death. Then what happens, when one joins one´s surtee with the Shabad Guru? As that Shabad Guru is Akal, so we merging in Him, this makes us also Akal like Him without any distinction. And Akal means, we shall not be born again in mother´s womb, thus we become deathless. Because death only ocurrs, when we are born. Even the gods in swarg or baikunth are not spared when Parlay or Mahaparlay take place. On the other side, if we take the best choice in human life, in following Gurmat with practice, not just mere theory, then as the Bani says: Nanak, Nam, jahaaz hae. Means, by attaching ourselves to Nam, this very Nam, ferries us towards the other side of the Maha Bhavsagar, in Sach Khand, there where is Satnam, there where Parlay ...Maha Parlay, never ever reach. This is the greatness of Gurmat, of His Gurmukhs, and Wahiguru Akal Purukh Himself, who is the "Kartar" of everything. Because not a single leaf on a tree can move, without His Hukum. Wah wah Saachay Patshah.

Dear brother, irrespective of any circumstances in life, our Gurus have taught us to remember him in all situations: Saas saas simroh Gobind. When this is done faithfully, He will come and abide in us, then there are no worries, only the bliss of His Nam. When He is with us in these conditions of His constant Simran, there are no failures, which as good as, everything turns out into A May God bless you

SOME PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM SREE GURU ARJUN DEV MAHARAJ ਦਇਆਲ ਏਕ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਪੁਰਖਹ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਰਬ ਜੀਅ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਪਾਲਕਹ Dhaeiaal Eaek Bhagavaan Purakheh Naanak Sarab Jeea Prathipaalakeh दइआल एक भगवान पुरखह नानक सरब जीअ प्रतिपालकह The One Lord God is Kind and Compassionate, O Nanak. He is the Cherisher and Nurturer of all living beings. Here in this line above Guru Jee is saying that, that Unfathomable Lorsd, is merciful, is kind, is Compassionate(Dayal) is the Cherisher and Nurturer of all living beings, He is describing us some of His infinite virtues, His infinite Glory ਅੰਧਕਾਰ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸੰ ਗੁਣ ਰਮੰਤ ਅਘ ਖੰਡਨਹ Andhhakaar Simarath Prakaasan Gun Ramanth Agh Khanddaneh अंधकार सिमरत प्रकासं गुण रमंत अघ खंडनह Meditating in remembrance on the Lord, the darkness is illuminated. Dwelling on His Glorious Praises, the ugly sins are destroyed. Then He is also telling us that by meditating on Him, our ignorance is removed, and our sins are wiped away. This also means He is the, remover of darkness, of agyanta ਭਗਤ੍ਯ੍ਯੰ ਭਗਤਿ ਦਾਨੰ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਗੁਣ ਕੀਰਤਨਹ Bhagathyan Bhagath Dhaanan Raam Naam Gun Keerathaneh भगत्यं भगति दानं राम नाम गुण कीरतनह He blesses His devotees with devotion. They sing the Kirtan of the Praises of the Lord's Name To His devotees, on whom He wants them to worship Him alone, He makes them meditate on Him, through the kirtan of His Praises, of His Nam, this may be called as Nam Simran or Raam Naam. Salok Sehshritee Guru Arjan Dev Ang 1355

Who is God? What does God look like? Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Sikh Holy Scripture describes the characteristics of God. Throughout 1430 pages, Guru Granth Sahib Ji describes and praises God. The opening of the scripture tells us about the description of God: "God is One. He is the Supreme Truth. He the Creator, is without fear and without hate. He is immortal. He is neither born and nor does He die. By Guru's grace shall He be met. Chant And Meditate on His Name. In the beginning, He was the Truth. Throughout the ages, He has been the Truth. He is the Truth now and He shall be the Truth forever" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1). The most important aspect of being a Sikh, is to understand that, there is one endless God. He is indescribable, inestimable, indubitable, infallible, intangible, imperishable, immutable, immortal, immaculate, immanent, unconquerable, unique, formless, fearless, deathless, timeless, ageless, compassionate, omnipresent and creator of all. "There is only the One Supreme Lord; there is no other at all. Spirit, soul and body, all belong to Him; whatever pleases His Will, comes to pass" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 45). God loves everyone. Sikhs believe there is no one superior to God. Furthermore, Sikhs believe that God created all beings, animals, birds, creatures, including humans. When the first great Guru, the founder of Sikh faith, Guru Nanak Dev Ji gave this definition to the people who believed differently in God, they were surprised and they asked him, who told you this and how did God come in existence? The great Guru explained that God Himself gave him this information. God has always been present. The concept of time is very worldly. There is no time, beginning or end when it comes to God. This is very hard to understand for us humans because we are used to the concept of begin and end with time. People further asked Guru Nanak Dev Ji about what does God look like? The great Guru preached that God is formless. God is beyond gender and shape. "He has no form, no shape, no color; God is beyond these three qualities. One understands Him, O Nanak, with whom God is pleased" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 283). God has no body, He is the greatest Spirit of all and our soul is a part of Him.

ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਲੀ ਗਉੜਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ Raag Maalee Gourraa Mehalaa 4 रागु माली गउड़ा महला ४ Raag Maalee Gauraa, Fourth Mehl, Sree Guru Ram Das Maharaj: ਹਰਿ ਅਗਮ ਅਗਮ ਅਗਾਧਿ ਬੋਧਿ ਆਦੇਸੁ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਰਾਇਆ Har Agam Agam Agaadhh Bodhh Aadhaes Har Prabh Raaeiaa हरि अगम अगम अगाधि बोधि आदेसु हरि प्रभ राइआ The Lord is inaccessible, unapproachable and unfathomable; I humbly bow to the Lord God, my King. ਹਰਿ ਹਾਰੁ ਹਰਿ ਉਰਿ ਧਾਰਿਓ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮਿ ਸਮਾਇਆ Har Haar Har Our Dhhaariou Jan Naanak Naam Samaaeiaa हरि हारु हरि उरि धारिओ जन नानक नामि समाइआ One who wears the necklace of the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, in his heart, O servant Nanak, merges in the Naam In the above first line, Sree Guru Ram Das Maharaj, is telling us that, the the Lord by Himself is (Agam) inaccessible, and is unapproachable and unfathomable... But in spite of this fact, He is so gracious and meciful, that He also gives us the solution in the second line for those our limitations... He says, wear the neclace of the Name of the Lord, means engage youself in His Simran at all times, that you will merge in His Nam. Wah wah Saachay Patshah Wahiguru.

Wahiguru Akal Purukh is our true Father, and one as a child of such a wonderous Father, one can not help but sing His Glory and Majesty. Some may try to hide or suppress His Glory, and take Him as something human like...they are poor in heart and mind...they pour out only what they have:limitations But the fact is, Wahiguru Akal Purukh is such a lovely and merciful Father, that by singing and sharing His Glory, it does not only, not diminishes as some may feel wrongly.....but it expands in all the four directions, filling the hearts and minds of the listeners with love and devotion for His Lotus Feet. Worldy things by sharing them they diminish and extinguish, but His Glory has no limits., the more one gives, the more it grows ... Wahiguru has blessed us all with His love for Him, though some may not be aware of it, but by reading the Bani throughly and singing His Glory, sharing it with the rest of the beings, it works as a miracle, by generating and awakening His love in them. Such is His mahanta, His wadeeayee....Oouch Apaar Beant Soami....

DIVINE LOVE AND BHAKTI The soul can not help, but love its own origin.So we have to lift the weight of the senses, of the mind, of karmas or sins, before we experience that love. And we feel real love when we go beyond the real of mind and maya, when there are no coverings on the soul, when the soul shines, when it knows itself. Then it experiences the real love fot its own Father, for its own origin. Love has the quality of merging into another being, becoming another being. Ultimately, we loose our own identity and individuality, and become one with the Father. And that is why it is said: love is God, and God is love. The more love one gives, the more it grows... And the only way to experience that love, is to withdraw it from the senses, by bhakti of Nam Simran and attach it with the Shabad within oneself. Then the more the mind is attached to the Shabad within, the more the soul starts shining within. Bhakti in the form Nam Simran creates love, it strengthens love, and by love it grows. It grows to such an extent, that we become one with our Father Wahiguru Akal Purukh- This is divine love....

REFLECTIONS Just as the river water is supplied freely by Nature, it is for the living beings to drink it, and survive by satsisfying their thirst. The river does not make any differences, may it be lion, a pig, or a donkey, or even a bird..... By drinking that water, nobody can be accused of stealing it, by drinking it, it is from the Nature for all the creatures, irrespective of class, creed or nationality. Moreover it is vital, for survival. In the same way the Bani of our Guru Sahibans, is left by them for our spiritual uplift and benefit. It is our very birth right. We go through the Bani, to get enlightened. And this Bani is such a precious unvaluable jewel, that by sharing it with the rest of humanity, not only does it not get diminished, but rather it expands and produces waves of bliss and joy, in their hearts. This Bani, is for all the humanity, it is a manifestation of His love and a message of hope for us in this alien land, His souls; through our Guru Sahibans, who are His very embodiment. The Bani is such a wonderful gift from the Lord, that no thief can steal it, no fire can burn it, nor water can drown it. Neither can anybody copy and paste it, as some few do believe so, but thankfully that the majority on this Sikh Sangat website are quite mature, and do not believe in the nonsense thrown out... Because the Bani, is not something made from the 5 elements, but rather is within each one of us, it is resounding and reverbarating within us, all the 24 hours non stop. It is kept by Wahiguru, within each one of us in equal measure. Nobody has less nor more. We only need His grace, to go within and drink it as much as we want, and thus become immortal. Wah wah Saachay Patshah.

Man toon Jot Swaroop Hain Apna Mool Pachhaan (Something on mind) True identity of the mind does not rest with the body. ‘I am the body’ is a wrong notion of the mind. Its true identity lies with the Atam - with the JOT. It is a reflection of the Jot and that is its true identity. Mind derives its Light from the source which is JOT. Spark of the JOT is aflame, aglow in the mind and that is why and how the mind becomes alive, active. It derives its life from the Divine and Holy Flame (JOT). A pure mind finds its resting place in the Jot - the Atam where no cluttering, no chirping of a normal mind can cause any disturbance. It loses its own identity in the Divine silence and Bliss of Atam - JOT. Unless thick black coating of mind with numerous sins of this birth and of previous births is washed away wholesale, how can it behold and reflect the true glory of the Atam - the JOT. Once the thick black layers are washed away, mind becomes transparent and starts reflecting the JOT. It becomes tranquil and like a spotless and tranquil mirror reflects the splendour of the “JOT”. It becomes “JOT SWAROOP”.

ਕੇਦਾਰਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ Kaedhaaraa Mehalaa 5 केदारा महला ५ Kaydaaraa, Fifth Mehl: ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਵਹੁ Har Har Har Gun Gaavahu हरि हरि हरि गुन गावहु Sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, Har, Har, Har. ਕਰਹੁ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਗੋਪਾਲ ਗੋਬਿਦੇ ਅਪਨਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਾਵਹੁ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ Karahu Kirapaa Gopaal Gobidhae Apanaa Naam Japaavahu करहु क्रिपा गोपाल गोबिदे अपना नामु जपावहु ॥ रहाउ Have Mercy on me, O Life of the World, O Lord of the Universe, that I may chant Your Name. ਕਾਢਿ ਲੀਏ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਆਨ ਬਿਖੈ ਤੇ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਮਨੁ ਲਾਵਹੁ Kaadt Leeeae Prabh Aan Bikhai Thae Saadhhasang Man Laavahu काढि लीए प्रभ आन बिखै ते साधसंगि मनु लावहु Please lift me up, God, out of vice and corruption, and attach my mind to the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਭਉ ਮੋਹੁ ਕਟਿਓ ਗੁਰ ਬਚਨੀ ਅਪਨਾ ਦਰਸੁ ਦਿਖਾਵਹੁ Bhram Bho Mohu Kattiou Gur Bachanee Apanaa Dharas Dhikhaavahu भ्रमु भउ मोहु कटिओ गुर बचनी अपना दरसु दिखावहु Doubt, fear and attachment are eradicated from that person who follows the Guru's Teachings, and gazes on the Blessed Vision of His Darshan. ਸਭ ਕੀ ਰੇਨ ਹੋਇ ਮਨੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਅਹੰਬੁਧਿ ਤਜਾਵਹੁ Sabh Kee Raen Hoe Man Maeraa Ahanbudhh Thajaavahu सभ की रेन होइ मनु मेरा अह्मबुधि तजावहु Let my mind become the dust of all; may I abandon my egotistical intellect. ਅਪਨੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਦੇਹਿ ਦਇਆਲਾ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਵਹੁ Apanee Bhagath Dhaehi Dhaeiaalaa Vaddabhaagee Naanak Har Paavahu अपनी भगति देहि दइआला वडभागी नानक हरि पावहु Please bless me with Your devotional worship, O Merciful Lord; by great good fortune, O Nanak, I have found the Lord. In this above beautiful Shabad of Sree Guru Arjun Dev Maharaj, He is telling us something about how to become a true devotee of the Lord Wahiguru: First of all, He says by singing His praises, His Glory. Means when we have His love, He is so beloved to us, that we just want to sing His praises. Then He says, He blesses us with His Grace, so that we may be able to meditate on Him, through His Nam. This His grace, is important for the jeevas, because then this Grace, pulls our attention out from vices and corruption, and takes us it towards the Sadh Sangat, or the company of the holy. There we are freed from agyanta, and by walking on the path of Gurmat, we get purified and are prepared for His Darshan. All along gradually, our ego is defeated, and is substituted with humility. In the end, the devotee continues asking for His grace, because it is by His Grace alone, that one can meet Him. Wah wah Saachay Patshah.

GYAN FROM THE BANI Free of dogmas, the Gurbani has a simple message: there is One, All-pervading Reality. Our mind is That (Joti-Svaroopa...) The purpose of human life is to understand this Truth through Shabad-Vichaar (Reflections on the Gurbani), and thus become liberated from doubts (Bharam), Bikaar (Haumai's or ego's faults), Maya, duality, etc., and Realize the Mool (Source, Joti...), within, here and now. It is repeatedly indicated in the Gurbani that there are only two different groups of people living together on earth: (1) "rare" Gurmukhs (Mool-realized, followers of Truth-Sach-Hukam-Wisdom of SGGS...); and (2) Manmukhs (oppugnant of Mool-Truth-Sach-Hukam-Wisdom of SGGS...). The Gurbani asks us to become the Gurmukh and thus live a Divine Life. The Gurbani's Teaching (Upadesh) is Universal and Timeless. Since no particular group or people have monopoly or ownership of the Gurbani and its Divine Wisdom, everybody in the world can benefit from it. For the Gurbani and its students ( Sikhs ), there is no enemy or alien in this world - ALL beings are considered as part and parcel of the same ONE Light! A practical Guide for the Divine Life (Gurmukh Lifestyle) and Universal Brotherhood, the Gurbani is the Treasure of Wisdom (Giaan-Guroo). Which provides all that's needed to raise consciousness to the Higher dimension, and become Enlightened (Liberated-Jeevan Mukta) while alive, not after death... Otherwise, what's the use of reasoning and intellectuality, and reading scriptures or listening to their recitations if it does not usher one in Viveka-Budhi, Wisdom, Aatm-Giaan, godly Virtues? What's the use of talking about religion, Dharma, spirituality, or Truth if not lived? Wahiguru is the eternal Truth, which is realized within us by love and devotion through His Simran. Prabh ka Simran, sabh teh oochaa Jin Har japeeya, se Har hoeeyaa.

There is only one Wahiguru for all. Or is there anybody else apart from Him to be loved and worshipped? If your objective is Wahiguru(I hope so), as well as He is mine for sure, and of all the sangat, then, just be sincere for once, why so much fuss and hatred, of this or that? You see, it is the ego which is between us and Him, break down that huge thick wall, and He is already there. Be positive, and do something to inspire the sangat to develope love and devotion for Wahiguru´s Lotus Feet. Do not discuss with anybody, for the sake of discussing. Do not ask others opinions on some topic and then you attack, rather open yourself, and speak out your own views and bring them forward, on how one should grow in spirituality and walk on the path of Gurmat. Be positive man, it is not that difficult at all. He, is important, all our efforts should be towards Him alone. As simple as that. Rest all is bak, bak. Sat Sree Akal.