DHAN GURU TEGH BAHADHUR SAAHIB JEE

GURU TEGH BAHADHUR SAAHIB JEE


DO NOT FEAR ANY DON'T EVER BE AFRIAD
THIS IS THE LESSON GURJI PORTRAYED
LIVE AND LET LIVE BE ONE WITH THE LORD
FALLOW THIS PATH AS THIN AS A HAIR AS SHARP AS A SWORD
STAND UP FOR WHATS RIGHT EVEN IF YOU STAND ALONE
THESE ARE THE TEACHINGS SATGURU TEGH BAHADHUR JI'S JEEVEN HAS SHOWN


GURU JI TELL ME WHO IS GREATER THAN YOU ASKED YOUNG GURU GOBIND SINGH
FATHER ONLY YOU ALONE CAN ANSWER THE CALL WHICH THE BHRAMINS BRING
YOU MUST FIGHT FOR THEM FATHER EVEN IF IT MEANS GIVING YOUR LIFE
GOD SENT YOU TO THIS EARTH TO END MISERY AND STRIFE
YOU ARE RIGHT SAID GURU TEGH BAHADHUR WE MUST DEFEND BELIEF
WE MUST GO NOW TO DEHLI TO PUT THE OPRESSED OUT OF THEIR GRIEF
WE WILL SHOW THEM ONCE AGIN AS GURU ARJUN DEV JI DID BEFORE
THAT NOONE CAN MOVE THOSE WHO LAY AT THE SHELTER OF GOD'S DOOR


AND SO GURU JI WENT TO DEHLI IN A CALM PEACEFUL STATE
HE WALKED WITHOUT A SINGLE CARE TOWARDS HIS GLORIOUS FATE
DEATH WAS DRAWING NEAR BUT GURU JI WAS TO WRAPPED UP IN GOD TO NOTICE
LIFE AND DEATH WERE ONE TO HIM HE ROSE ABOVE THE WORLD LIKE A GLORIOUS LOTUS
ALL OF CHANDNI CHAUK SHOOK TO SEE SUCH IMMORTAL MITE
EVEN THE MOST LEARNED OF SCHOLARS WERE PERPLEXED AT THE SITE
NOWHERE ELSE IN HISTORY HAS IT EVER BEEN KNOWN
TO SACRIFICE YOUR SELF FOR A RELIGION THAT WASN'T YOU OWN
WHEN TYPE OF SOUL DOES IT TAKE TO SACRIFICE THEMSELVES FOR UNIVERSAL WELFARE
WELL WE SENT THE HOLIEST ONE THE GURU ; WHEN INJUSTICE STRIKES HE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE
YOU WERE PUT IN A CAGE AND BEHEADED NEVER DID YOU WAVER
YOU TAUGHT THE TRUE LESSON OF A GREAT SAINTS BEHAVIOR
DHAN GURU TEGH BAHADHUR SAAHIB JEE !

By: Teji Kaur (NY)
Source: http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?showtopic=41224

17th Adutti Gurmat Sangeet Sammelan-2008 - Live Broadcast

Adutti Gurmat Sangeet Sammelan

started yesterday, Thursday 11/20/08 at 7PM,

for those of you at home watching the live broadcast.

Here are the timings for the live broadcast for EST; those who need timings for another time zone use timezoneconverter.com.

Eastern Standard Time (Toronto):
Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 7:30PM to 11/21-12:30PM (EST)
Friday, November 21 2008 - 7:30PM to 11/22-12:30PM (EST)
Saturday, November 22, 2008 - 7:30PM to 11/23-12:30PM (EST)

Indian Standard Time:
Friday, November 21, 2008 - 5AM to 11PM (IST)
Saturday, November 22, 2008 - 5AM to 11PM (IST)
Sunday, November 23, 2008 - 5AM to 11PM (IST)

Please join in Live Broadcast at the following link:

http://www.akalmultimedia.com/

Dhan Guru Dhan Guru Pyaarai !

These two octogenarians remember Guru Granth Sahib by heart
Source: Times of India
Publication: Times Of India Chandigarh
Date:Oct 27, 2008
Section:North India
Page Number:4

IP Singh TNN

Jalandhar: When others are busy in the hustle-bustle of the celebrations of Guruta Gaddi Diwas, there are two octogenarians, with rare glow on their faces, who are quietly engaged in the recitation of Gurbani. The astonishing part is that they remember by heart almost the entire holy book spread over 1,430 pages. Just consider the vastness of the scripture. According to SGPC website, Guru Granth Sahib contains 5,894 hymns and the number of stanzas are 15,575.

The first one is Bhai Jiwan Singh, who lives near the Golden Temple and gets the oppotunity to listen to the continuous kirtan and the second one is Bhai Surat Singh, known as “Pooran ji”, who starts his daily routine of “path” just around midnight.

“It is not yet known about any other surviving member of the community who has been able to memorize the vast holy book. There were some more such persons but they were not alive,” says Balwinder Pal Singh, editor of a journal.

Remaining reticent and epitomizing humility the two prefer not to make any such claim or even discuss it but those who know them reveal their accomplishment. “Just read out one line from any hymn and both will complete it,” says Ranjodh Singh, co-editor of another journal, who knows the two quite well.

A revered spiritualist in the Sikh community, Bhai Jiwan Singh has travelled extensively around the world. However, for the last couple of years, as age took over him, he remains confined to his house.

“In which ever house he went kirtan started emanating,” says Jaswinder Singh Khalsa, an NRI living in UK, who is also chairman of the Sukrit Trust and owes change in his life to the spiritualist.

“He not just transformed lives but also played a role in starting several welfare projects,” reveals Harkirat Singh, former GM of Coal India and now trustee of Satnam Sarb Kalyan Trust, which was got started by Bhai Jiwan Singh.

About Pooran ji, who retired as district manager of the FCI, his son-in-law Kuljit Singh revealed that after retiring to his bed at around 7.30 pm he gets up at 10.45 pm. Then after a bath he goes to Darbar Sahib around 11.45 pm and just after midnight he along with some other devotees starts recitation of Gurbani at the “parikarma”. “Then he goes to the sanctum sanctorum when its doors open after 2 am and after listening to kirtan he returns. He remains engrossed in reciting “path” in the day also,” he disclosed, adding that “he can listen to kirtan for continuous 12 hours.”



FAITH ON MEMORY: Bhai Jiwan Singh Jee (left); Bhai Surat Singh Jee (right)

Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Saahib Jee !!

The Mist cleared and the Sun shone everywhere...

Thursday 13th November 2008, marks the 539th Prakaash divas (birth date) of Guru Nanak Dev jee, the founder of the Sikh faith. Happy gurpurb to everyone. May Guru jee bless everyone with Gursikhi Jeevan and eternal love for Waheguru.






ਸੁਣੀ ਪੁਕਾਰਿ ਦਾਤਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਗ ਮਾਹਿ ਪਠਾਇਆ ॥
sunee pukaar daataar prabh guru naanak jag mahi patthaaeiaa.
The benefactor Lord listened to the cries (of humanity) and sent Guru Nanak to this world.

(Bhai Gurdaas jee)


Mist of Darkness
According to Gurmat there are two types of bodies - the physical body (asthool sareer) and invisible internal body (sooksham sareer). As the internal body is a spiritual being and not physical matter, scientists have not acknowledged it. When there is mist, one cannot see where one is going. In thick fog people are more likely to have car accidents because they cannot see ahead of them.

Humanity Crying
Leading up to the birth of Guru Nanak Dev jee, the world was covered in heavy mist. When the five vices - lust, anger, greed, emotional attachment, and ego - go out of control, then the inner body gets covered with mist and darkness of corruption. At first a human being commits individual acts (karams) fuelled by vices, then it becomes habit which leads to it becoming the individual's character (sanskaar). When vice and corruption become part of one's character then one feels no shame and they see no wrongness in their wickedness and sinful actions. The repeated actions leaves an imprint on the soul. Humanity was crying out as its spirituality was lost and people became blind in the mist of Maya (materialism) and the five vices.



Clearing the Mist
Mist can only be cleared with light, however a small light like a lamp or torch would not be able to do this. In order to clear the heavy mist, the Sun must shine. When the Sun shines the morning mist clears. A small diva (oil-lamp) can only light one house and provide light to a few people, but it would not be able to clear the mist. There could be hundreds of divas (oil-lamps) and still the mist would not clear. In the world, there were many changing religious leaders, holy-men and prophets, however their light was not enough to illuminate the world's spiritual darkness.





The Divine Light Shines
The changing religious leaders and world prophets provided some light to the people but were like divas (oil-lamps) and were limited in their light. The Sun itself had to shine to clear the mist of spiritual darkness, Waheguru Himself had to shine His Light in the world and give spiritual enlightenment to everyone. The Sun, unlike a lamp or torch, shines everywhere indiscriminately. "With the emergence of the True Guru, Satguru Guru Nanak, the mist cleared and the light scattered all around. As if at the sun rise the stars disappeared and the darkness dispelled" (Bhai Gurdaas jee). Although the Sun shines everywhere, if someone is sitting inside with the curtains drawn, they prevent themselves from experiencing the Sun. Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in 1469, and Waheguru manifested His Light within him and revealed Himself to the world through the Satguru. "Waheguru placed Himself within the Satguru (True Guru); revealing Himself (to the world), He declares this openly" (Ang 466, SGGS). The fortunate ones, opened their hearts and allowed the Divine Light of the Waheguru to change their lives.



ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨੋ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਵੇਖਦਾ ਜੇਤਾ ਜਗਤੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥
Saṯgur no sabẖ ko vekẖḏā jeṯā jagaṯ sansār.
All the living beings of the world see the True Guru.

ਡਿਠੈ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜਿਚਰੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
Diṯẖai mukaṯ na hova▫ī jicẖar sabaḏ na kare vīcẖār.
(However) One is not liberated by merely seeing (the Satguru), unless one contemplates the Shabad (Divine Word).
(Ang 594, SGGS)

-----

Vaheguruu ji ka khalsa, Vaheguruu ji ki fateh !!

The Dawn of Guru Nanak

The Dawn of Guru Nanak
Edited & Translated by
Harjinder Singh
www.akaalpublishers.com

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee came to this earth in mortal form 539 years ago and Sikhs all over the globe will be celebrating the arrival of Guru Nanak on the 13th November. But why did Guru Nanak need to come to the earth?

The benefactor Lord listened to the cries (of humanity) and sent Guru Nanak to this world ... Guru Nanak came to redeem humanity in Kalyug. (Bhai Gurdas Jee)

The path of righteousness had become clouded by ritualistic and hypocritical practices and the true path to self-realisation was very hard to decipher. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee came and roared like a lion in the wilderness of the world and reinstated true practice of faith. He put Hindus & Muslims back on to their respective paths of self-realisation, no faith was denounced. He founded the Sikh faith which was a pure and simple path to follow.

With the emergence of the True Guru Nanak, the mist cleared and the light scattered all around. Similar to the rising sun, the stars and darkness were dispelled. With the roar of the lion in the forest, the flocks of escaping deer cannot now survive (the escaping deer are evil-doers). Wherever Baba Nanak put his feet, a religious place was erected and established. All the siddh-places now have been renamed on the name of Nanak. Every home has become a place of righteousness where the praises of the Lord are sung. Baba Nanak liberated all four directions and nine divisions of earth. Gurmukh (Guru Nanak) has emerged in this Kalyug, the dark age.

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee met Kaljug (Kaljug is the name given to this present era that we live in, an era that is dominated by sin and evil actions), when on his revolutionary tours. This historical account of this meeting was written by the great Sikh Poet Bhai Santokh Singh Jee in “Guru Nanak Parkash” the following is the translation of the summary that Giani Gian Singh has written of the story:

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee was on his missionary tour, when He and Bhai Mardana Jee took a rest. Upon being seated, a frightful storm began, this storm was carrying much debris and the whole sky and surrounding area was shroud in darkness. Nothing at hands length could be seen, such was the force of the storm. Bhai Mardana Jee put a cloth over his mouth and lay down on the ground. He said to Guru Jee, “If I die at this dreadful spot I won’t even get my funeral rites carried out and won’t even be buried, travelling with you I have encountered much suffering.” Guru Jee laughed and said, “Why are you scared, nothing will harm you.”

Then a frightful demon appeared, whose head was in the sky and his feet were implanted deep into the earth, his nostrils were deep like a well and he had long teeth, he was gigantic, he made his way towards Guru Jee. Bhai Mardana Jee getting scared said, “Maharaj! We have survived the storm but now our deaths are almost certain, we won’t survive an encounter with this giant.” Guru Jee calmly replied, “Mardana! He will not come near you, do not be afraid, meditate on Vaheguru.” Then Kaljug changed his form again, now he took the form of fire and smoke emanated from all pores of his physical being. He finally changed his form again into a frightful one, yet Guru Jee remained calm and unconcerned. After all this Kaljug decided that Guru Jee must be a prophet as none of his frightful forms had scared Guru Sahib, and he thus accordingly changed into a man, in the form of a man Kaljug carried a tongue in one hand and a in the other, and he made his way to Guru Jee. Guru Jee said to Bhai Maradana Jee, come along and watch this drama, which is taking place. Kaljug bowed his head to Guru Jee in obeisance and supplicated, “Maharaj! Please forgive me for my mistakes, I did not know of your fame and greatness. In this age I rule, I am in this physical form of a man as I am displaying to you what passions humans are being led by. Humans will disregard all virtue and will be led by passions of the tongue and , and in turn their lives will be dictated by these passions.”

Guru Jee pryingly asked, “Who are you – what is your name? Why have you come to meet us?” Kaljug replied, “My name is Kaljug and I have come to meet you to pay my respects to you, I initially changed into the various forms to test you.” Guru jee further questioned, “What are your characteristics? You said it is your rule in this age, then with what army do you enforce your Rule?”

Kaljug replied, my greatest warrior is falsehood – falsehood carries the flag at the forefront of my army. Worldly attachment is the King of all. My army general is violence and murder. Lust, anger, greed and ego are my warriors on elephant back. Jealousy, gossip, slander, robbery and unfulfilled craving for worldly things – are all warriors on chariots. Laziness, gambling, alcohol/intoxicants and other bad actions are warriors on horse back. Attachment to others, sin of want and steeling are my foot-soldiers. Wherever I make advances with my army, I am always victorious. My warriors of falsehood and anger, have made me victorious everywhere. These are the characteristics of my reign. Upon listening to Kaljugs narration of the current state of the world Guru jee uttered,

Whoever is in charge, is humiliated. Why should the servant be afraid.
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee, Limb 902)

The servant is not afraid as he has nothing to lose as he is not the ruler, the servant can freely move about without fear of consequence but the ruler is bound by his rule and duties.

When the master is put in chains? He dies at the hands of his servant.
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee, Limb 902)

So Guru Jee said that even if you do rule, it is you (Kaljug) who is also humiliated for these actions in your rule. Guru Jee further said that if it is your rule now and I am the servant of God, when your rule comes to an end it will be due to this servant – Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee. Kaljug replied that this is the reason I have come to you Maharaj, because there is no difference between you and God, I will give you a house to live in which will be made of Gold and Pearls. In this house I will use sandalwood and will spray musk – where you will enjoy your abode with much happiness. Kaljug begged Maharaj to accept his offering and Guru Jee replied,

If I had a palace made of pearls, inlaid with jewels, scented with musk, saffron and sandalwood, a sheer delight to behold -seeing this, I might go astray and forget You (Vaheguru), and Your Name would not enter into my mind. Without the Lord, my soul is scorched and burnt. I consulted my Guru, and now I see that there is no other place at all. Pause. If the floor of this palace was a mosaic of diamonds and rubies, and if my bed was encased with rubies, and if heavenly beauties, their faces adorned with emeralds, tried to entice me with sensual gestures of love-seeing these, I might go astray and forget You, and Your Name would not enter into my mind. If I were to become a Siddha, and work miracles, summon wealth and become invisible and visible at will, so that people would hold me in awe-seeing these, I might go astray and forget You, and Your Name would not enter into my mind. If I were to become an emperor and raise a huge army, and sit on a throne, issuing commands and collecting taxes-O Nanak, all of this could pass away like a puff of wind. Seeing these, I might go astray and forget You, and Your Name would not enter into my mind. (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee, Limb 14)

After trying to convince Guru jee to accept the above offerings and not succeeding, Kaljug said, “Maharaj, you have taken birth to liberate people from the cycle of births and deaths. I have come humbly to your feet – why do you make my meeting with you of no reward? You have not accepted any of my offerings – please accept an offering so that I know that you have blessed me. Upon hearing such a humble request Guru jee replied, “If you have a sincere desire to make an offering to me then give me this – that those who are my dedicated Sikhs can not be influenced by the powers of your army. Meditation, charity and Bathing (Physical and Spiritual cleansing) should never be forgotten – you should not stop Sikhs doing these 3 actions in any form. Your powers should not work on those who have faith in me.

Kaljug humbly clasped his hands and said, “Maharaj! I can not refuse your command, but I have God’s permission to change everyone’s thought process – with the changing of which they steel, gossip, lie, slander etc. In line with God’s permission I make the following occur:

• Disrespect the virtuous and make fools famous and powerful.
• Not allow faithful relations between the married.
• Bring the good and bad on a par to one another.
• In my rule those who say they have become Sanyasi’s/Tyagis (ones that have give up all material possession in the search of God) will amass much wealth and gristis/householders will starve to death.

But now, whatever you command me to do, I will do.” Upon hearing this Guru jee was happy and said,

“In your rule God’s praise will increase many fold – a par to 100,000’s of years in Satjug, in Tretajug what would have taken 10,000 years and what would have taken 1000 years in Dvapur (these are references to the other 3 eras of time), in you rule of Kaljug singing the praises of God will be very rewarding and what would have taken many years in the other ages will be realised in very little time and will be the provider of happiness. Those that sing God’s praises with love and devotion will be ferried across the world ocean. If you are persistent about making offerings of jewels then I will accept these in my forth form as the 4th Guru. (Kaljugs’ offerings of money/gold etc are thus accepted at the house of the fourth Guru, Sri Guru Ram Das Jee at Sri Darbar Sahib, also known as The Golden Temple).

Upon hearing this Kaljug was overjoyed, he bowed down to Guru Jee and said that those Sikhs that obey your wishes I will not go near them. Kaljug after granting this concession to Sikhs disappeared and Guru Jee continued on his missionary travels of liberating the world.

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee has provided us protection from the influence of Kaljug, now it is up to us as Sikhs to decide whether we want to enter his sanctuary and lead a life devoid of want and enjoy lasting happiness/peace of mind.