Surrey Singh

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! me and THE SINGHS.

Bhai Sahib doing what he loved best...

I got back from Calgary yesterday...the calgary Sangat is amazing...they are so Chardi Kala, they made us feel so at home, and gave us so much support...continous Sukhmani Sahib Paats, Simran, Kirtans...thank you. These three Gursikhs were some of the closest people to me in the world. I saw them all, almost every other day. They were more than friends/role models...they were like family. I Love them so much. It is really hard to keep in Chardi Kala after something like this, but what can i say?...Hukam...thats what Parminder Singh Ji would always tell us..."WE MUST ACCEPT HUKAM". I would like to take a little bit of time to tell you about what these Gursikhs meant to me...and to share some of our experiences together. BHAI PARMINDER SINGH JI I was very attracted to Parminder Singh's Sikhi when i first met him. We would sit one on one for hours on end at the Guru Nanak Academy and talk about Sikhi...he taught me so much. He had so much Bani memorized...one time we were sitting in a meeting, and i asked him "where does it say that a Kirpan must be Sarbloh?"...he waited for a few seconds, and began writng something, and then he slid it over to me. He wrote the actual quotes from Dasam Bani (or Sarbloh Granth) that tells about the importance of a Sarbloh Sri Sahib. I was so amazed!... He shared some personal things with me about his Sikhi. The kind of stuff someone tells you, but doesn't want you to go around telling people about because he didn't want people to praise him...he was full of Nimarta. But i believe that it is now ok to tell people about certain experiences he went through, because they are very inspiring. 1st of all..the amoun t of Seva this Singh did was more than people can do in lifetimes. In high school, he would go to the Gurudwara right after school and stay there till like 11 pm, doing Seva. He would walk home, sleep for a few hours, and ALWAYS kept Amritvela. One day he was walking to the Gurudwara at 2 am, and some white guys in a car started calling him names...he just kept on doing Simran, and then these guys got out of the car to beat him up. They came towards him, and he just kept on reciting Naam, and all of a sudden those Gorays all just got freaked out, started yelling in terror and jumped in their cars, and took off. I believe that there was Shaheed Singhs, or Guru Ji...or who knows...that were standing with him, and these gorays saw them and ran for their lives. This Singh was beyond words...its hard to explain him.....Parminder Singh Ji always kept Amritvela...when we went to Toronto to do a camp, sometimes we would come home really late from the Gurudwara/someone's house, and i would sleep in the next morning, but he was always up at Amritvela...i felt ashamed to wake up at 7 o'clock, but he would make me feel so comfortable, and just smiled when i was coming up with lame excuses for why i slept in. (not that he asked me or anything...it was just to take out some guilt) Bhai Sahib was an extraordiany soul...and i am glad that i have had the privelage of having his Sangat. BHAI CHARNJIT SINGH JI Charnjit Singh...he's crazy!!! I loved fighting him one on one, even though he would whip me...he is crazy at Gatka...we would talk till all hours of the night when he would spend the night at my house, he would tell me about his plans, we would watch Gatka videos, and study them, pushing pause and slow motion. He had such a crazy sense of Gatka, that he would be able to tell exactly what the guys did wrong, and what they did right...One night we rented 'Braveheart' and watched it while i translated what was going on...He loved that movie (well just the parts with fighting)...he was a true warrior...not only did he have knowledge of how to use weapons, he had knowledge of weapons...their history, history of wars, he knew sooooo much...he read like hundreds of books about Sikh warriors etc...he would talk to us at the Akhara for hours sometimes, about history of wars, and....jst too much, he knew more than anyone i know of. Whenever members of our Akhara would take him out somewhere (parks, downtown, science center museums etc)...he would always try to talk to little white kids and give them piar. We always had to keep an eye on him, and tried to explain that in Canada you can't just go around playing with other people's kids, because parents get mad...but he didn't care! he would always wave at them, and smile etc...Khalsa School kids just adored him, he was like super-hero to them. (he was a Super-hero)...Bhai Sahib was loved everywhere very much, he loved the Toronto Sangat, and would always be talking on the phone with them...most of the time when he got into my car, he would say..."do you have a little time?"...I knew what that meant: drive to Billa Fabrics cuz i gotta buy some more calling cards! RENA KAUR Rena Kaur...haha...FRIEND!!!! thats what we called each other...we just called each "friend"...we had a messed up sense of humour and people probably thought we were weird...but we didn't care. we would only call each other friend (example..."hey friend...come here"...or..."hows it going friend?"---"good friend, how are you?...ya i guess we were weirdos!)...we had a secret handshake that made her so excited when we would do it...one time we were doing it and she started to make funny little noises, and i looked up, and she was smiling so hard, and so excited that she started to breathe really heavy and was making weird noises!!! I remember i would fight her at Gatka practice, when she used to wear a ramal...and i would hit her on the top of the head, and tell her "if you had on a keski, it wouldn't hurt"... she was something else...so pure...just full of love..it just made your day when you saw her...we considered her like our baby sister. She was the most happy person in the world...i never saw her sad. In Gatka, when she would hurt (a cut etc.), she would get really happy, and be proud of her 'battle wounds"...she would always be skipping around, making people laugh, she put us all in a good mood. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Everything is God's Will...we must accept his Hukam with smiles...we all learned so much from these Gursikhs, they will always be cherished in our hearts...they lived a Gursikhi Jivan and accomplished so much...There is is just too much to say about these special people, but it can't be put into words...they spent their lives in Chardi Kala, were true Gursikhs, and i am happy for them because i know they are at a better place.

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! Why is Canada not on this list? Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! You can't touch this stuff!!! You just can't...i am seriously starting get a little annoyed at some of the responses here...just read the following link to a Rehatnama, and then respond, and if you still think it's ok to touch the stuff...then i don't know what to say to you. <<<"Listen to the discipline of the Gursikh whom relinquishes the accompaniment of tobacco, avoiding bodily contact with tobacco as he/she knows that he/she is better off dead than having to touch tobacco.">>> http://www.damdamitaksal.com/lit_rehat_14.htm Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw! vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!! Sikh4life....no i don't see where you are going. Are you saying Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji and Sant Harnam Singh Ji are wrong in their views? I don't think that Sikhs should touch this stuff no matter what. I asked a Singh from Damdami Taksal about this and he said that is a rule at Damdami Taksal (Metha), that if someone touches a cigarette, or bottle of liquor, they must do a Kesi-Ishnan and a Japji Sahib Paat. That's 3 people w ith 3 different backgrounds, who all say the same thing. I agree with them. vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw! vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw! vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!! OK... listen to Bhai Sahib Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji's track : "Rehatnama"...Bhai Sahib does vichar about Rehat for 1 hour...in there he says (translation), "If someone touches these things, even by accident, he/she must do a kesi-ishnan." Also, a long time ago, Sant Baba Harnam Singh (Rampur Khera), came to vancouver. He was going to do Katha at the Gurudwara, and before doing it, he went for a little walk outside. A white guy was smoking and walked by Sant Ji, and when he exhaled he blew a puff of smoke at Sant Ji (not on purpose)...Immediately Baba Harnam Singh Ji went to someones house and did a full kesi-ishnan, and did Katha later on that day...he didn't even go back in the Gurudwara!...thats Chardi Kala, and both Bhai Sahib, and Baba Harnam Singh Ji are very Chardi Kala...i will listen to what they have to say. I will not touch a beer bottle, or cigarette...if its on the Gurudwara property, i wood use a broom and dust pan...we can't touch this stuff!!! vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw! vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw! vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!! sorry guys, but i must disagree. We cannot touch cigarettes etc...like i said, Guru Ji's horse wouldn't go through a tobacco field, what makes it ok for us to touch this stuff? vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw! vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! Sikhnet has always been giving false information/advice to Sikh Youth. They don't even take time to ask some older, wiser, Sikhs. Instead they just post their own views and pass them off as being 'Sikhi views'...i think they should stop answering questions, because they are giving people bad advice, although they are not doing it on purpose, but lots of stuff they say is against Rehat/Gurmat. For example, someone asked if it was ok to touch tabacco, liquor, meat etc....and they said that there is nothin wrong with it... A Sikh is NOT allowed to touch tobacco/liquor products. Once,Guru Gobind Singh Ji's horse stopped dead in his tracks and wouldn't budge when it approached a certain feild. Guru Ji asked the Sikhs to check the field, and they discovered it was a tobacco field. If Guru Ji's horse refused to go through a tobacco field, what gives us the right to touch cigarettes? Sikhnet needs to get themselves together, the people who ask questions should be directed to a message board, where they can get views of many Gursikhs like you, instead of the limited views of one person. heres the link: http://www.sikhnet.com/sikhnet/youth.nsf/b...7f0058d18d?Open Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! I have talked to some Singhs who regulalry do the Seva of the Panj Piaray...what one of them told me was that when one takes Amrit, their sins from this life are washed away, but that doesn't mean that they have become Saints and reached God, because there is still the dirt of many previous lives still with us, and that dirt can only be removed with Naam. Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! Daasn Daas: here are some examples from Gurbani and Rehatnamas which speak against this kind of stuff. 1) Dirty Songs-- i) thriyaa raag sunehi chith laae || sunahu laal so jamapur jaae ||17|| Those who listen to dirty lyrics and lustful tunes with attention, listen Nand Lal Jee, they will be punished by the angel of death.;----Rehatnama Bhai Nand Laal Jee ii) maerae mohan sravanee eih n sunaaeae || saakath geeth naadh dhhun gaavath bolath bol ajaaeae ||1|| rehaao || O my fascinating Lord, may I never listen to the faithless cynic, singing his songs and tunes, and chanting his useless words. ----Page 820 Guru Arjan Dev Jee Raag Bilaaval 2) Drinking, smoking, eating meat etc.. i) jooaa khaelai madh peevai so narak mae(n) jaavai || Those who gamble or drink alcohol will suffer in hell.----Rehatnama Bhai Daya Singh Jee ii) maanas bhariaa aaniaa maanas bhariaa aae || jith peethai math dhoor hoe baral pavai vich aae || aapanaa paraaeiaa n pashhaanee khasamahu dhhakae khaae || jith peethai khasam visarai dharageh milai sajaae || jhoot(h)aa madh mool n peechee jae kaa paar vasaae || One person brings a full bottle, and another fills his cup. Drinking the wine, his intelligence departs, and madness enters his mind; he cannot distinguish between his own and others, and he is struck down by his Lord and Master. Drinking it, he forgets his Lord and Master, and he is punished in the Court of the Lord- --Page 554 Guru Amar Daas Jee Salok c) kut(h)aa hukaa charas thamaakoo || gaa(n)jaa ttopee thaarree khaakoo || ein kee our n kabehoo dhaekai || rehithava(n)th so si(n)gh visaekhai || Meat, opium, drugs and tobacco. Ganja, wearing hats, another's woman and alcohol. He who never even gazes at these evils. Recognise them as my disciplined Singh. ----Rehatnama Bhai Desa Singh There are many more examples from Gurbani and Rehatnamas out there, these are just a few i found at www.sikhitithemax.com Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! akjforever: I really feel for you. Its surprising that someone has the guts to walk up to someone and tell them they can't do Simran, when a Sikh's life is to be based around Simran. There is alot of manmat that needs to changed all over the world...especially in india, where hindu practices are so common in Gurudwaras. I have seen many Gurudwara where most people walk up to a lit diva, wave there hands over the flame, and put it over their eyes. Most famous Gurudwaras are like tourist attractions, people just chatting it up sitting in groups in the Sangat. In BC, the so called 'moderate' Gurudwaras are doing such disrepect of Gurudwaras that it makes your blood boil. I'm talking about people eating on tables and chairs (which is strictly against Akal Takht Hukam), wearing shoes in Langar, uncovered hair, people talking so loud in the Darbar etc...and who is going to enforce the rules? the comittee?...theres the ones who are doing all this! Many of the commitee members are drinkers, have haircuts, eat meat...etc...I have seen with my own eyes, a commitee meeting at someone's house, where they are all getting drunk while discussing Gurudawara issues! They have no respect for Sikhi, but just want the control. I think they are intimidated by Singhs/Singhnis because they think that if we all went to the same Gurudwara, that the non-Amritdharis would get left in the shadows. At the Nagar Keertan in vancouver (moderate), they had bhangra and gidha teams, and thats where most of the 'Sangat' stayed, instead of following Maharaj Sahib Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. It is very upsetting to see Gurudwaras run by alcoholics like balwant gill (who gut busted for drunk driving twice)...i can go on and on, but i think most of you are probably getting upset reading this, so i will just stop here... Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! Why would a Gursikh want to surround him/herself in sin?...at parties/clubs what you find is basically a Kurat-fest. People drinking, smoking, eating flesh, dirty songs playing, people dancing trying to impress the opposite sex...basically everything Guru Ji tells us not to do, is going on. Just avoid this place all together, and keep the honour of Guru Ji's Bana intact. We don't need to surround ourselves in this kind of negative atmosphere. Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! Thank you all so much for your responses...some great advice. I think everyone of us should make it an ABSOLUTE PRIORITY to speak up and do something. If anyone is talking in the Darbar, just go upto them and tell them to be quiet (nicely). Who cares if people get mad?...whos more important: some old guy telling his buddy about his bus ride to the Gurudwara, or Sahib Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji?...a couple of us have talked recently about doing something, and are going to approach the commitee for a meeting. Immortality: i am very happy to hear that you do Seva, and i am not being bias to all little kids. There are many who keep the rules strictly. But for example, last night at the Gurudwara i saw a kid who kept pouring daal, keer etc...only for his parents, and then he sat down infront of his have-finished langar! He just got up and started to get some Langar for his parents, while he was eating, without washing his hands! Who's fault is this? I blame the parents for not caring about Langar Maryada. And about the person who almost got into a fight...that happened to me too when i asked the father of a girl serving Langar to put a ramal on her head. He goes, "No, i'm not gonna do it, you guys are too katar, if you want to go outside then lets go"...but later he began to understand when i explained to him that if we don't teach our kids the rules, who will? They are the future, and we must teach them proper Maryada, or else who knows what will happen in the future. Basically...even if someone yells, keep doing your part, don't stop enforcing Maryada. Lets all take charge in these affairs, because when people get relaxed in following rules, they slowly become more and more relaxed, who knows what will be termed 'acceptable' in the future. Again thank you all for the advice! Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! There has been something on my mind for quite some time now. And i think we need to take action. It is in regards to Gurudwara etiquette. From what i have seen in some Gurudwaras, there seems to be a very relaxed mood when it comes to enforcing basic Maryada and rules. Here is a list of some things that i feel we need to enforce immediately... 1) No talking in the Darbar. --- The Darbar is a place for Sangat to listen to Gurbani, not to listen to people talking about there lives. I have seen so often (sorry to say, especially on the female side) people siting in groups just chatting it up, not listening to Kirtan themselves, and distracting others from enjoying the Kirtan. This is disrespectful to Guru Ji, if you want to talk, just leave. what should be done? --- we should make it OUR personal duty to inform anyone talking in the Darbar Hall to please be quiet, and also talk to the Gurudwra committee to regularly announce the importance of silence in the Darbar. Don't be afraid that someone may get mad at you, it is our DUTY to enforce respect of Guru Ji. 2) Controlling Children --- for many people a Gurudwara is like a playground for children. I know it is natural for a kid to enjoy playing with other kids, but there is a time and place for everything, and playing in the Darbar is not appropriate. what should be done?--- Any kid running, yelling, and making a disturbance in the Darbar should be dealt with right away. Go straight to the parent(s), and explain that the child's behaviour is disturbing Sangat who wants to focus, and if the kid can 39;t be controlled, then the parent should take the kid out of Darbar hall. I especially feel for my sisters, you are trying to listen to kirtan, but having to 'tune out' the kids who are yelling and rolling around. It is our duty to enforce Maryada instead of just hoping the problwm will eventually go away. Another idea: have Paraydars on duty strictly for enforcing silence during diwans. 3) Langar Maryada --- In some Gurudwaras i have been to, i see many little kids doing seva in the Langar. I love to see children get involved in Seva, but they must follow the rules. Most of them are just too young to know about rules, keeping Langar sucha etc...for example, not washing their hands, touching the karchi to the plate, touching water container to the glass, serving wth uncovered hair. These kid's parents must not have explained to them how to serve langar, and may think it is not a big deal, but it is a HUGE deal. There are many Amritdharis who want to be jooth free, but may be getting served by a karchi which touched the jootha food of a smoker. Just two days ago i asked a kid who was serving langar if he washed his hands, and he said "yes, i did at home". I can guarantee that at the local gurudwra i go to, there are many kids who go to the washroom, play on the ground, eat etc...and then just start serving langar without washing hands because they "already washed them once when they came to the Gurudwara. I have even sen a kid a walking around serving jalaybees and eating them while serving. These little kids don't know the rules, it is upto us to teach them. what should be done?--- talk to the committee and have people on duty to enforce Langar soocham. Educate the kids, ask them if they washed their hands with soap, make announcements on stage to tell people about the rules, and tell parents to tell their kids, make flyers with rules etc. If we don't do anything about this, then it is partly OUR fault that the langar being served is not sucha. There are m any other things that occur in the Gurudawara that must be controlled. I'm not coming out here to complain, i am coming out here to share my views and to ask the Sangat to make a difference in our Gurudwaras. I know there are many Gurudwaras that are keeping the rules enforced, and that is really good, but some Gurudwaras are slacking. If anyone has any information/advice etc...please post! Lets try to make Gurudwara a place where we can sit in the Darbar, and listen to Gurbani without any distractions, have sucha Langar etc...because it will benefit EVERYONE and as Sikhs we don't turn our head the other way when there is a problem, or expect someone else to do it, we take action and do it ourselves, especially where respect of Guru Ji and Sangat is involved. Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhinderawale poster at Malton Gurudwara (Toronto)

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! Bhai Parminder Singh doing Katha in English at Dixie Gurudwara, Toronto 2004.

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! Bhai Sarwan Singh sometimes makes little joora at the end of his beard to keep it about stomach length. Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! P_singh...here's a pic of a regular chola (pullover type)...it is closed in the front, has the slits on the sides...one pocket on the left side...if you go to India..go to 'NEW GULATTI TAILORS' in Amritsar Sahib, right by Darbar Sahib (just ask for this shop, its popular)...tell the Singh you want a 'Regular chola'...they also make Nihang ones and Taksali..but if you want Nihang, go to an actual Nihang Singh...if you want Taksali, go to Metha...this chola should cost you no more than 350-400 rupees, including the fabric and labour. Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! P_Singh...i have a pic on cd, but i can't post it. How do you post pics?...i tried different methods but it keeps saying 'you cannot upload this type of file' Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! Whover posted that message needs to learn more about Sikhism before going around posting on message boards. How could you even mention a Sikh cutting even one strand of hair? When i read that, i was shocked! Come on... We keep our Kes because it is Guru Ji's Hukam to. We are not allowed to cut, trim, wax, thread, laser remove etc...EVEN ONE STRAND OF HAIR. This is Guru Ji's Hukam, it doesn't matter how long your beard is...I know Bhai Sarwan Singh personally, he has lots of Kirpa to have a beard so long, and he is very proud of his (i mean Guru Ji's) beard. Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! ya...sorry guys...i've been really busy this weekend. The regular 'pullover' type chola does have slits down the sides...they aren't open in the front like Nihang Singh ones. I'll post a pic of one tomorrow (don't have the cd with pic right now)...and i will find out about the guy who makes them for $20...sorry for not responding, i've been really busy with school lately... Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! ya there are a couple of people in surrey. And the one 'Gurmukh' is referring to, he is really expensive!...i went to his house once, and he had some Cholays that were already made...the people who dropped off the cloth never picked up the finished product. He asked me if i wanted to but one, he would charge me for just the cost of making it (the fabric is free)...and he said $70!!! $70 is way too much for just the cost of labour...but i heard about some other Singh who makes them for like $20...i will get his number and post it in a couple of days. btw- Punjab is the way to go...i got all my Cholays from there, and they cost like $10-$12 for fabric and labour! If you know someone going there, just give them your measurements (ie--neck, shoulders, arm length, lenth of chola, chest, and stomach)...try "New Gulatti Tailors" right by Darbar Sahib in Amritsar if you want the 'pullover types'...but if you want 'Nihang Singh style' them le t me know, and i will tell you where the shop is in Amritsar, since the Singh has no shop name...but i know exactly where it is. Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! Playing Gatka in the two Nagar Kirtans, (april 4th- abbotsford, april 10th- Surrey)...the Surrey Nagar Kirtan is HUGE!!! I'm guessing over 100,000 in Sangat. Gurudwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, Surrey is going to have its annual Fair in the parking lot. Every year, about 1 week before Vaisaki, the parking lot is full of amuesment rides and games etc. There is also going to be outdoor Darbars at Dasmesh Darbar, where they have a big, high stage in the parking lot, and the Sangat sits and fills the parking lot. Its gonna be crazy!!! Can't wait!!! Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!! The Hola Mahala Camp was Awesome! On behalf of Gurmat Studies, we would like to thank all Camp participants and volunteers for making this camp so memorable. Can't wait till next time...here are some pics...there are many more on Gursikhijeevan.com. http://sikhvision.com/gallery/viewphotogal...o%20Camp%202004 Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa! Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!