Saturday January 28, 2012
It is not uncommon for a Sikh to arouse curiosity. Many times people stop to ask us questions about our kakars, turbans, kirpan, or manner of dressing.
On one memorable occasion, a man wearing a cap with graying long hair and full beard came up and greeted us saying, "Sat Siri Akaal."From the inflection of the accent he used it I could tell he had learned the expression from native Panjabi speakers. He went on to say that he had once lived in a place called Milpitas where he used to meet and talk with Sikhs in the park while walking with his young son. He told us, "I instructed my son that if he ever had any trouble he should run to a Sikh gentlemen and ask for help because they have sworn to protect your life with their own."
I couldn't help but feel thankful to those Singhs who inspired so much trust and honored to be counted as one of them. It made me think about what it means to be ready to give your life on behalf of another, and all of what that might entail.
One thing which became clear is that such conviction becomes possible only with trust in the ultimate protector, and faith in divine order. Tasting the elixir of immortality is an occurrence achieved only by grace, after much meditation and the continual contemplation of truth. In the words of Guru Nanak:
"Jap tap sanjam ho-eh jab raakh-ae kamal big-sai madh aas-ra-maa-ee||2||
When chanting, austere meditation and self-discipline become your protectors, then the lotus blossoms forth, and the honey trickles out. "||2|| SGGS||23
What Do Sikhs Believe?
Top Ten Sikh Beliefs
Sikhism Religion
Friday January 27, 2012
Names live on long after life expires.
"Kabeer parbhaatae taarae khiseh tio ehu khisai sareer ||
Kabir, just as the stars disappear at dawn, so shall this body disappear.
Ae due akhar na khiseh so geh rehiou kabeer||171||
Only the letters of God's Name do not disappear; Kabeer holds these tight." SGGS||1373
Everybody needs a name, and it better be a good one. A judge in New Zealand actually took a child from her parents who gave her a ridiculous and embarrassing name. China also has regulations concerning names and its judges say that names not only have to be socially acceptable, but have to be able to be read by a computers data base.
Sikhs name their children by reading a random verse (hukam) from Guru Granth Sahib the Sikh scripture. Using the first letter of the Gurmukhi script in which the verse is written, a name is chosen. Nearly every name can be used by anyone regardless of gender which is designated by the suffix Singh for boys, meaning lion, or by Kaur for girls, meaning princess. Sikh Names usually come right from words in Guru Granth Sahib expressing valor or devotion of the soulbride for the creator husband Waheguru.
"Kad kasidaa pehreh cholee tan tumh jannhu naaree||
She alone is known as the Lord's bride, who embroiders her gown with God's Name." SGGS||1171
All About Sikh Baby Names
Glossary of Sikh Baby Names and Spiritual Names
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Thursday January 26, 2012
This beautiful February 2012 Sikhism events calendar marks important gurpurab and historic dates.
The February 2012 Golden Temple Gurpurab Calendar with Gurbani quote
features stunning photographs of Darbar Harmandir Sahib taken by Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa.
Calendar is printable (instructions included),
or save it to your desktop and is free for personal use.
I hope you enjoy it!
Tuesday January 24, 2012
Featured: Baba Deep Singh Banner
This truck pulling a float in the Yuba City Annual Sikh Parade is adorned with a banner depicting the scribe Baba Deep Singh, an illustrious warrior and martyr.
Baba Deep Singh is best remembered as the head of the Shaheed (martyr) Missal who fought his way for over three miles to reclaim the Golden Temple after receiving a mortal wound which severed his head.
A monument at Darbar Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) marks the place where he fell.
Sikh Martyr Shaheed Baba Deep Singh (1682 - 1757)
"Baba Deep Singh The Great Sikh Martyr and Scholar" by Sikh Comics
Trivia Quiz: Shaheed Martyr Baba Deep Singh
Shaheed Martyrs of Sikh History
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