Sikh Americans Salute Independance Day on the Fourth of July
On behalf of nearly one million Sikh Americans residing in the United States, happy birthday and joyful independence day, America. May your fireworks be bright and light up your Fourth of July!
Who or What is a Sikh?
History of Sikhism in the United States
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Aquatic Gurdwara Wave of the Future?
Could an aquatic gurdwara be the wave of of the future? Gurdwaras like the Golden Temple have traditionally been surrounded by a sarovar, or moat like tank. Take it one step further and you may someday see a gurdwara built in the middle of the sea surrounded by ocean waves.
The Seasteading Institute committed to establishing "autonomous ocean communities," ran a contest from February to May and has announced the winning designs. Check out some of the winning entries and tell us what you think and which one appeals to you most.
Would you live in a seastead housing complex?
Do you think think living in one would be more or less costly than traditional housing?
Could you see worshiping in an ocean aquatic gurdwara?
What would be the mode of transportation for seastead worshipers?
"What do you want to take to the gurdwara today honey, the speed boat, or the jet ski?
Oh let's take the glass bottom mini sub, it's chilly out today."
Perhaps there would be ferries and seashuttles running back and forth between various seasteads and land.
Winners Of The Seastead Design ContestTalk About it in the Sikhism Forum
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Goindwal Baoli, Well of 84 Steps Interior Staircase
Wordless Wednesday : Goindwal Baoli, Well of 84 Steps Interior Stair Case
Goindwal Baoli, The Well of 84 Steps
Amar Das the Third Guru of the Sikhs
Wordless Wednesday on About.com
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The Virtue of Humility
Siri Chand, the eldest son of Guru Nanak Dev, lived his life as a celibate recluse. Siri Chand once met with Guru Raam Das and they entered a dialogue debating the virtues of an aesthetic way of life verses the spiritual opportunities of the householder.
Siri Chand insisted that one had to stay away from society in order to advance spiritually. Guru Raam Das maintained that for the common person, the path to spirituality lay in personal commitment, service, and humility, remaining all the while focused on the name of God.
Siri Chand taking note of the great length of the Guru's flowing beard, remarked on its attributes, comparing its length to the Guru’s wisdom, and his exalted position in life. Guru Raam Das replied that the length of his beard mattered not so much as its purpose, and that he had let his beard grow to such a length so as to be able to wipe the dust from the feet of holy men like Siri Chand.
Guru Raam Das wrote:
"Je ho(n)dai guroo beh tikiaa tis jan kee vaddiaaee vaddee hoee"||
"Whomever the Guru Himself has anointed with humility, exalted is the magnificence of that one". (SGGS||309)
Similarly it is the humility, in which an Amritdhari lives, rather than the rank of Khalsa, which exalts that one spiritually.
Join the discussion:
Amritsanchar baptism or initiation.
Prayer and Pictures
I question myself almost every time I “pray.”
Is anyone listening? Should I be giving thanks rather than begging sustenance?
Who answers prayer? Can Guru, or God, or anyone really solve my problems, or is prayer a process which helps me to shore up and draw on my own inner reserves of strength.
People speak out against keeping pictures of our ten Gurus because of the danger of treating them as idols. I keep spiritual pictures in my home of Gurus and martyrs, but not for purposes of prayer. I don’t decorate them, or burn candles in front of them, or use them for focal points in any way. However I do sometimes find them to be a source of inspiration in between times of prayer. Looking at a portrayal of our Gurus, who underwent so many trials, or at a picture of a shaeed (martyr), is a reminder that it is not always possible to overcome all problems. Things happen in life to everyone. It’s inside where we need to feel at peace whatever life’s circumstances. I don’t always make or even know how to make right choices. My fears are not so much of others doings but of my own shortcomings an inabilities. Guru is a spiritual guide to ridding the psyche of misgivings. The path to peace is an important one. Prayer whether an expression of thanks, a way of turning to the divine, or a plea of supplication has a way of giving comfort essential to the person praying.
I think we are in just as much if not more danger of turning our Guru (Granth Sahib) into an idol as any picture. We know better than to pray to pictures, images and icons, or idols, but when we stand and address our Ardas to Guru ji, do we make the connection to Waheguru, the enlightener, Akal Purakh, the immortal divine, the infinite one Ik Onkar, which every aspect of existence is part and participle, or do we pray simply to ink, pages, a binding, and cloth coverlets?
I think this is why the practice of Simran -turning inwardly to commune with the divine rather than focusing on anything external - is so important. Simran done during amritvela, the dark hours before dawn, creates an internal opportunity to connect the divine within, without external trappings and distractions. Simran is an opportunity to give back by expressing adoration in loving the divine beloved.The peace found in such contemplation helps to ease burdens. Guru Ajran wrote
"Jo maageh so-ee so-ee paaveh sev har ke charan rasaa-in||Whatever I ask for, I receive serving at the Lord's feet, the source of nectar." SGGS||713
Our Guru (Granth Sahib) does have answers for our questions and promises:
"Jo maageh thaakur apunae tae so-ee so-ee daevai||Whatever I ask for from my Lord and Master, he gives that to me." SGGS||681
The Guru's Free Kitchen
Guru Amar Das decreed that whoever came to his court, whether an emperor or an untouchable, should sit at the same level side by side, and partake of the same fare before being admitted to his presence. Humbling of the ego, and preparing the soul for spiritual nourishment, when nurturing the body, is the legacy of Gur ka langar, the Guru’s free kitchen.
Guru Amar Das wrote: "The humble being filled with keen understanding and meditative contemplation - though intermingling with others, remains distinct." (SGGS ||28||)
Entrance to Goindwal Baoli, the Well of 84 Steps
Wordless Wednesday : Entrance to Goindwal Baoli, the Well of 84 Steps
Goindwal Baoli, The Well of 84 Steps
Amar Das the Third Guru of the Sikhs
Wordless Wednesday on about.com
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Monday According to Guru Amardas
In Punjab, the Sikh homeland, the word for Monday is Somvaar. Monday is the beginning of the work week for many around the world.
Does Monday have any particular significance for a Sikh?
Guru Amardas, the third Sikh guru wrote:
"Somvaar sach rahiaa samaae||
On Monday, the true permeating and pervading One's||
Tis kee keemat kahee na jaae||
Value can be described not.||
Aakh aakh rahe sabh liv laae||
Narrating and telling of that One, all are lovingly focused||
Jis devai tis palai paae||
Devotion falls in the laps of those so blessed||
Agam agochar lakiaa na jaae||
Inaccessible and incomprehensible, the One can be perceived not||
Gur kai shabad har rahiaa samaee||
By Gurus instruction is God, the permeating and pervading One, perceived. SGGS||841
Guru Arjan - Martyr, Architect and Poet
Guru Arjan fifth guru of the Sikhs, had to have loved both reading and writing poetry. He compiled the Guru Granth a collection of spiritual poems including not only his own, but poetry written by the previous Sikh gurus, as well as that of Hindu and Muslim saints, pirs, bhagats, bards, and minstrels.
Arjan Dev designed and had built Darbar Harmandir Sahib, the golden temple in Amritsar completing a project begun by his father, Raam Das fourth guru.
When his popularity attracted attention of the Moghul rulers, Arjan Dev ultimately achieved martyrdom. The horrific manner of the torture inflicted on him, as he sat on a red hot iron plate for five days, with hot burning sand being poured over his blistering body, is in direct contrast with the exquisite beauty of Guru Arjan Dev’s poetry: "bhinee rainarreeai chaamkan taarae||The dew wetted night's sky is studded by twinkling starlight.
Jaageh sant janaa mere raam piaarae||
Yet awake, the saints are my Lord's beloved own
raam piaarae sadaa jaageh naam simreh andino||
The Lord's beloveds ever awake, call his name in raptured remberance day and night, night and day.
Charan kamal dhiaan hirde prabh biar naahee ik khino||
His feet, lotus-like, envelop the attention of hearts who forget God not for one sway.
Taj maan moh bikaar man kaa kalmalaa dukh jaarae||
Renouncing their minds attachment to corruption, burns away the pain of the wicked.
Binvant naanak sadaa jaageh har daas sant piarae
Prays Nanak, ever wakeful are God’s servants, the saint’s beloved." SGGS||459
Father's Day Tribute to Singhs
The ten gurus of the Sikhs stressed the importance of family life and spiritual living by example. Gurbani, the scripture of Siri Guru Granth Sahib, in many instances compares the relationship of the creator and creation to that of father and child. Initiated Sikhs are considered to belong to one family of Khalsa whose father is Guru Gobind Singh and mother, Mata Sahib Kaur. Khalsa fathers are encouraged to bring their children up educated in the ways of Sikhism.
Guru Amardas, third guru of the Sikhs wrote:
“Pae-ee-a-rai jag jivan data gurmat man vasaa-i-aaIn this world of my father's house, through the Guru's Teachings, I have cultivated within my mind the Great Giver, the Life of the World”. SGGS||65
Photo © [Kulpreet Singh]