Comprehensive Plan for Sikhi Parchar - Plan BE13

[BasicsofSikhi]

Vaheguru ji ka Khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki Fateh

Sangat ji, you may not have heard of "Everythings 13" a sikh educational charity, however some of you may know about our YouTube channel "Basics of Sikhi".

Most of you may not be aware that (with Guruji's kirpa and aagiaa) we're embarking on a new and comprehensive project to spread Guruji wisdom across the UK and Globally. Its called Plan BE13.

Here is what our channel has on it currently..

Here is a video about Plan BE13 for 2013

Essentially we are hoping to do a 5 stage process of Parchar

(1) Getting people into Sikhi (already happening)

- Talks at Gurdwaras and Sikh Societies at colleges and Universities to interest youth/others into Sikhi and bring onto youtube channel

- Spreading word about the Youtube Channel using facebook, twitter and and getting people into watching videos about Sikhi when they have spare time (there are around 80 videos on our youtube channel already)

(2) Building a solid foundation (already happening)

- holding a One Day Course +Kirtan Katha called "Re-Assessing the Fundamentals - Vaheguru, Guru and You" at various Gurdwaras (first one is due at Park Avenue Gurdwara Main Hall on the 29th December 2012)

- 12 topic introductory course to Sikhi - called the WhyGuru Course. This course goes through the history of Sikhi from Guru Nanak to the present day and also has 4 separate topics which cover Guru Granth Sahib ji, The Khalsa, Raag Kirtan and Sikh Spiritual concepts of merging with the Divine. We already delivered this once in May this year and it was a success. (there is a video about this on our channel with video testimonials - we had 5 non-punjabi people attend. One lady, ex-muslim convert has now taken Amrit).

(3) Learning Basics of Gurmukhi (planning done, needs filming)

- A series of videos that goes into Why its important we learn Gurmukhi and How does Gurmukhi work? (Penti Akhar, Moharni)

- Series of common vocabulary in Gurmukhi and how the words are put together

- Basics of Santhiya - Slow paat, in video format with downloadable MP3s

(4) Japji Sahib Vichaar classes (already happening)

- We're doing weekly English katha of Japji Sahib and with Guru's kirpa are at the 34th Pauri.

- Katha will be transcripted and put into an ebook format

- Set up Japji Sahib Vichaar classes at variour gurdwaras where attendees would learn in their own time (watch the video, read ebook, watch/listen to other recommended katha (English by Bhai Sukhraj Singh, Punjabi- Maskeen ji, Giani Pinderpal Singh etc) and then come together for the vichaar class at their local gurdwara (ie build a sadhsangat) to discuss Japji sahib, pauri by Pauri.

(5) Further Study (to be developed as part of Plan BE13)

- More Gurbani Katha - planning on Rehras sahib and Asa Di Vaar

- Basics of Kirtan and Tabla

- Attend an intermediate level - "WhyKhalsa WhyFateh Course"

In terms of funding, our parent we've raised about £18k of our £52k target for 2013 already. 99% of this has come from the sangat, (mostly youth and non-amritdhari). We're not charging anything for katha or the courses, as we see this as Spiritual Langar (Bhugat Giaan) which should be given freely and be dependent purely on Sangat kirpa (daeaa bhandarani). Read more about the specifics of Plan BE13 here: http://www.virginmoneygiving/charities/everythings13

Please do ardaas for us to Satguru that we stay on this path and stay true to Sikhi. Thanks for reading ji, bhul chuk maaf

Vaheguru ji ka Khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki Fateh

[Singh559]

This is beautiful. What a great concept and nothing but respect for taking up the sewa!

100% support!

[BasicsofSikhi]

Sorry, shameless bump! Would be nice to know peoples thoughts though. Also if you wish to arrange for English Katha at your local Gurdwara (in the UK) please email basicsofsikhi@gmail.com. thanks ji. VJKKVJKF

[S1ngh]

My opinion would be to focus to expand more online and spend less time doing in-person prachar. This way it will save your energy and time. Sangat reach via online is more on broader level and prachar videos stays evergreen while gurdwaras prachar is limited to one time effect only.

[BasicsofSikhi]

My opinion would be to focus to expand more online and spend less time doing in-person prachar. This way it will save your energy and time. Sangat reach via online is more on broader level and prachar videos stays evergreen while gurdwaras prachar is limited to one time effect only.

Thanks S1ngh, I appreciate your advice. Its a hard choice because so many people will never even go online to watch videos unless they feel its worthwhile so part of 2013 is to spread the word about the videos by physical in-your-local-gurdwara talks.. but kirpa we normally record these and put them online, so that each talk is more like an opportunity to do different talk and put it online. Examples are the two kathas from Crawley Gurdwara about "Have we been mis-sold Sikhi?" and "What would Guru Nanak say to us today?"

Definitely need to get through the 20 or so video blogs that are in the queue though!

VJKKVJKF

[Into the Light]

Adding to S1ngh's point...i agree that most focus should be on online parchaar as it can go to the 4 corners of the world but face to face parchaar is essential too as in my experience it's here that we'll really see lives change….so in my opinion both are needed. From my experience people can have the most randomest questions that create doubts but in face to face parchaar these can be answered in Q&A sessions.

I think it's awesome that the youtube channel will move onto kids parchaar too as as a community we're so very behind so I think this is also really good too. It's soo important Sikhs have an online presence particularly on youtube. We generally have nothing but now we can will maan say, but we do have one now...hopefully this will give encouragement to others to step up too.

2 suggestions:

1) Maybe also look into an advance course which focuses on deeper study of Gurbani based on vykaran & sampadaic arths, ithihaas of the shabad ie where it was ucharred & why (etc) –as at the moment we seem to solely rely on STTM. Hopefully this will then encourage our youths to become scholars in Gurbani to uncover the antreev arths/deeper meanings of Gurbani.

2) Maybe try to setup a Sikholars equivalent initiative in UK whereby we can start encouraging our youth to become scholars and do veechar of all issues that are dear to our hearts. It's so important we start producing scholars in the UK who will then work on solutions and I think this could be something that could work well if done within Basics of Sikhi.

Overall, this is an amazing uprala and I really like that there is a strategy behind this uprala and it's not just random video's with different topics. It appears that you want the viewer to go on a lifecycle journey which then takes someone from a beginner to advanced level…which is really good.

I’m supporting you within my own means and I hope others do give donations too. We really need to start realising the importance of having full time parcharaks and not just parcharaks who do parchaar in their spare time…this can only happen if we fund projects such as basics of sikhi. My only advice to Basics of Sikhi is to keep doing what you’re doing and don’t wait for Sikh institutions to financially support this uprala…just continue to have faith in Guru Sahib & Guru Jee’s Sadhsangat.

[BasicsofSikhi]

"We really need to start realising the importance of having full time parcharaks and not just parcharaks who do parchaar in their spare time…this can only happen if we fund projects such as basics of sikhi. My only advice to Basics of Sikhi is to keep doing what you’re doing and don’t wait for Sikh institutions to financially support this uprala…just continue to have faith in Guru Sahib & Guru Jee’s Sadhsangat."

@ Into the Light - Thanks for the advice - we have asked Southall Singh Sabha for Funding, given that they are the Gurudwara who benefits the most from Basics of Sikhi. They have even put our programme into their annual newsletter and so far they have not had any problems either (Gurus kirpa). I dont know if they will fund us though!

Guru sahib will always send what we deserve though!

Re your point on advanced courses.

(1) The Why Khalsa Why Fateh Course is supposed to provide the medium level of progression, more gurbani, more skills etc

(2) The long term dream is to have a Vidiayala here in the UK, like a Gurbani focused on that teaches exactly that, the Santhiaya, the viaakaran, the history of shabads, the languages in Gurbani. Half the problems in our Panth are because we are not focuses upon learning Gurbani but arguing about it. How many scholars are there in Braj or Persian??

When you even approach the ocean of Gurbani and realise how deep and how wide it is....they only thing left to do is do ardaas and start swimming.

Thanks for your support ji.

[jashb]

When you even approach the ocean of Gurbani and realise how deep and how wide it is....they only thing left to do is do ardaas and start swimming.

Vahey Guroo!

Sat Bachan.

Dhan Teri Sikhee.

[Shaheed Singh Khalsa]

I think that the only way to make a difference is to say an Ardaas in front of Maharaj and then put your hands in to those deep pockets of yours and go to the everythings13 virgin donation site and give generously on a monthly basis... So many people chat blah blah blah, but very few let their actions speak silently for them!

May Waheguru's kirpa keep you in Chardhi kala Jugraj Singh ji

[BasicsofSikhi]

This panth will only rise up when its worthy...Guru Sahibs blessings only come when that happens. If Basics of SIkhi doesnt succeed, then the weakness is either in myself or that the Panth is not yet ready... Guru Sahib awaits with open arms for his Khalsa Panth to rise up as Akaal Purakh ki Fauj

Dharam Chalavan Dhust Ubaaran!

Guru Kirpa Kare!