Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Completing the 40 day Sadhana

The Sadhana pledge that I undertook has been one of the most important step in my life as far as laying the foundation of a better daily routine is considered. Getting up early in the morning, doing the meditation and my daily baanis not only helped me to see through a very busy and testing period of my life but has also bought changes in me as a person. I would be continuing this practice and hope it turns into a habit soon. Meditation and Daily Baanis go a long way in providing one with the balance and energy to tackle the hardship and stress involved in daily life. I hope the others who joined Gurumustuk Singh Ji for the 40 day Sadhana have also gained from this experience. I hoping to start with the Kundalini yoga classes in Amritsar soon. I hope to take short weekend breaks in order to take the classes as I reside in Delhi. I wish Waheguru Grants all souls an opportunity like I had in my life to make a difference in their lives. Waheguruji Ka Khalsa, Waheguruji Ki Fateh!!

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Picture of Harimandir Sahib

I took this picture on my recent visit to Harmandir Sahib. I took it around 4:30 am.

Holla Mohalla



I recently Visited Siri Kesgarh Sahib on the occasion of Holla Mohalla. I was a great experience I have posted some of the picture that we clicked on the trip. I hope you all will enjoy them. We also visited Siri Harimandir Sahib. I woke up early and did my nitnem on the roof top of Siri Harimandir Sahib. I also had a dip in the Amrit Sarovar. It was cold that day but the experience was great.I can't wait for a chance to visit Siri Harimandir Sahib again.

Friday, March 02, 2007

In Doubt !!

I was surfing the web today browsing through various other blogs etc when I stumbled upon a link on further browsing I came upon these particular pages (http://www.tapoban.org/The%20True%20Guru%20is%20Lost.pdf & http://www.tapoban.org/laridaar.htm) . The author has emphasized the importance of Lariwar saroops of Siri Guru Granth Sahib ji. The author further states about the use of Pad-chhed bir sahibs as manmat and various earlier resolution passed by SGPC etc terming pad chhed bir as inappropriate. I am a bit confused about this issue cos the saroop of Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji that we have at our home is in Pad Chhed form. Most of the saroop that I have seen be in some of the Gurudwaras or at homes of some of our relatives are of Pad Chhed form. I am confused about the whole issue cos I haven't heard of this controversy till today hope I am able to learn more about it……………..

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Punjab Trip

I had to travel to Punjab & Haryana recently as I had to attend the wedding of my friend in Fatehabad. I left early on 22nd Feb for the wedding venue. I got up at 4 am, usually I get up at 5 am for the Sadhana. I had my cold shower and did my meditation and daily baanis. Then I got ready and left for the wedding. The whole day went by attending the function and traveling. We got to his place in Punjab after the Anand Karaj at around 9:30 Pm and were really tired by then. After having dinner we left for Ludhiana to my Aunt’s Place. After meeting and talking with my aunt’s family we went to sleep at around 12 pm. By the grace of Siri Guru Ram Das Ji I was able get up on time and did the Jaap of Mool Mantra for 40 Minutes as I forgot my Gudka in the car (I hope I can count this as Sadhana routine for the day). Then went back to sleep and got up later did my baanis on my way to Nanaksar. I have coming to Nanaksar for sometime now. I first went there with my parents I was around 12-13 yr old. This was my 5 trip there. For sometime now I feel a yearning in me to visit the place after every few weeks or months. I do feel the same yearning to visit bhora Sahib. It’s the place which Baba Nand Singh Ji got built for him lower then the ground level to be used as his living quarter and meditation space. He always resided or sat on a place lower then the level where Siri Guru Granth Sahib would be at. It used to be a temporary structure made of thatch, dried wood and clay walls. It only after him, his successor Baba Ishar Singh Ji got the place constructed as a permanent structure in his memory.

One of the things that I like about Nanaksar is that you need to pay a certain fee to visit the Bhora Sahib. This fee is called Darshan Bhetta. Baba Nand Singh Ji said a Sikh not only needs to take a Dasvandh (One Tenth Part) out of his earning for the Guru but he is bound to take a Dasvandh from his time for the Guru also. So he prophesed of that 2 and Half hours of time from a day should go into Meditation or Jaap of Baanis. So his successors placed this fee or Darshan Bhetta that whoever wants to visit the Bhora Sahib Has to Pledge that during the 30 days passing the visit one has to complete one of the following tasks:

One complete Sahij Path of Siri Guru Granth Sahib
50 Paath of Siri Sukhmani Sahib
300 Paath of Japji Sahib
180 Maala of Mool Mantra up to Nanak Hosi Bhi Sach
2400 Maala of Waheguru Mantra
For non-sikh Sangat Equivalent Jaap of “Ram” or “Allah” is proposed

I think this does help in inculcating a habit of Naam Jap during the day while doing the daily chores. I completed my month long commitment the way I visited the Nanaksar and have restarted with another month long Jaap. I usually do the 180 Maala of Mool Mantra. As it can be done while driving, Walking, Sitting or working. So it’s easier for me that way.

Then we returned back to Ludhiana and got ready for the Evening Reception at Malerkotla. The Nawaab of Malerkotla had raised his voice in the court of Governor of Sirhind against the execution of Younger Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji. We attended the dinner and left for Delhi late in the night.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Day 19 of 40 Day Sadhana (Lethargy Creeps in)

Lack of sleep is taking its toll and lethargy is creeping in. Its getting difficult to get up but what’s more disturbing is not being able to concentrate. I had a lot of trouble today in doing my meditation and baanis. I tried the breathing exercise as shown in one of Guruka Singh’s videos. I felt so sleepy yet my mind kept wandering in all directions. I think I am going to take off early from work today and try catching up on sleep a little. As I am traveling out of the city for the wedding of my best friend in Punjab I need to rest before hand as its going to be tiring attending all the functions etc. I hope with Siri Guru Ram Das Ji’s grace I would be able to face this challenge too. I hope to visit Nanaksar Kaleran, Jagraon. It is the Karam Bhoomi of Baba Nand Singh Ji. He is one of the revered Saints of Sikh Dharma. Visiting Nanaksar is also a very soothing and inspiring experience. Babaji used to ask everyone who visited him, what was his Nitnem? He used to inspire people to take Amrit and make a habit of doing Baanis and Naam Jap. He himself used to meditate a lot. I would post about my trip and about Baba Nand Singh Ji when I return.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Selection of Punj Piyaare for Amrit Ceremony


I have been having this thought for sometime now I don’t know if I would be able to express my feelings exactly in English but I will try. My question or doubt is. Is it ok to select any five Amritdhari Sikhs for the role of Panj Piyaares in an Amrit Ceremony or One needs to take care while doing so? I feel that the Panj Piyaare who are selected to Baptize a person or a group of people have a bearing on the energy force of the Amrit, Rehats and the overall progress made by the soul as a Khalsa. Because if the Conduct of the Beloved Five (Panj Piyaare) as a Human and A Khalsa is not up to the standards set by Siri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. What value or power would they instill in the person being baptized? I would like to invite a discussion on this matter in order to clear my doubt if it’s true or not for my own benefit and the benefit of others like me.

Day 15-16 of 40 day Sadhana

It’s been a fortnight since I began my 40 days Sadhana with 30 other souls. With the grace of Almighty Waheguru and Sri Guru Ram Das Ji I have been to the task until now. I caught cold on Friday and it got worse on Saturday with me doing nothing for the most part of the day. I had a running nose all day, with continued sneezing and head ache. So I had to take the medication in the afternoon which I wanted to avoid since it makes me drowsy and sleepy. I had to repeat the medication in the night before I slept. I was praying to Waheguru to take care of me so that I would wake up on time as I did not wanted to miss out on Sadhana because of the effect of the medicines. I got up at the sound of the alarm and felt that even though the signs of cold were still there but I was feeling fresher than I usually did. There were no signs of the effect of the medicine that I usually feel. I thanked almighty for being there to help me in my task. This made me feel that that almighty father is closer than we think or feel and works in so many mysterious ways we can’t even think about. “ Mera Baid Guru Govinda || Har Har Naam Aukhad Mukhh Deivey Kaate Jam ki Fandhaa ||” (Sorath Mehal Fifth)

Thursday, February 15, 2007

1st Ten days of 40 day Sadhana pledge with Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa

The journey of my soul that started around 8 months back got another push when Gurumustuk Singh started the 40 day Sadhana Pledge. I consider it as God send opportunity to join the Sadhana to attain the next step on the journey of my soul to the life of a Sikh and a Khalsa. I knew the Sadhana is going to be a challenge for me cos I have been trying for sometime now to get into a habit of waking up early (Amrit wele) meditating and doing the daily baanis. But was not able to continue for more than a few days as sometime or other I would be up late going out with family, watching movies till late at night, parties or stuff. The reasons were endless. I would start with great energy in the beginning but soon the late nights would start to take a toll on the energy levels and after a week a so I would end up breaking the routine.

This time around I know that I have to make it through and I hope Sri Guru Ram Das Ji would be kind enough to bless me this time in this effort. It has been challenge continuing the Sadhana because for the last ten days or so have been really busy. I had my Uncle and Aunt visiting us from US this month so I have been operating on an average of 5 Hrs of sleep in a day. The first five days of the Sadhana have been comparatively easy as I with comparatively high energy level at the beginning. For the last five days I have been struggling a lot because I had to take my guests for their sightseeing & Shopping during the day. Then we had to attend a couple of dinner hosted for them by various relatives so I ended up sleeping late at nights but thanks to the grace of Sri Guru Ram Das Ji I am still able to continue on my quest.

I have been trying to set up this blog during the same period but my initial posts have got delayed because I have been busy all the time with work, taking care of my guests and some other personal work. I hope will be able to update on the Sadhana progress on a more regular basis from now on.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Impact of the Baani and Guru’s Sikh on one’s mind & Soul.


It’s been more than a week since I joined the 40 Sadhana pledge started by Gurumustak Singh Khalsa along with around 30 other people from around the world. I felt my self changing a few months back when my father asked me to make a habit of doing Japji Sahib in the Morning. I am not an Amritdhari Khalsa. I used to trim my beard and was not regular with my baanis. I started with a daily routine of doing Japji Sahib first and felt a certain hunger to increase the number baanis in my Nitnem. I gradually built up on my Nitnem and started doing the five baanis Vis Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, Tav Prasad Savaiey, Chaupai Sahib and Anand Sahib. I stopped trimming my beard also. Then I came to know about Chardikala Jatha when I saw them performing a Sri Harimandir Sahib. This proved to be the much needed push as out of curiosity I searched for info on them on the net and came across Mr Sikhnet and CK Jatha’s blog. I listened to the QA recording posted on the blog which made me think about the way I have been conducting myself as a Sikh till now. From there on I came to know about SSS Harbhajan Singh Yogi. I learnt about his work in West as Kundalini Yoga Master and his impact on the life of people around them. Then I Stumbled upon some of the lectures posted on website, which was something that shook me out of my dormancy. I realized I have been spending a life that was not appropriate to the way our Guru told us to. There has been so wide spread and deep degeneration of Guru’s values and teaching that we have turned to not more than mere Karma Kandis as far as religion was considered.

We have discarded or bended the tenets of Sikhism to suit ourselves and our ever growing egos. We the Sikhs who were supposed to be embodiment of the qualities of the Guru and the Almighty Waheguru have reduced ourselves to nothing more than animals. We have been so busy with feeding our hunger for power and all things material that oneness of Mann, Bach, Karma (Oneness in Mind that is what we think, Bach or what we Speak and Karma or Our actions) disappeared from our conduct. Duality is reigning supreme and it shows everywhere. I have also been living in this duality all my life, Calling myself Sikh but not being one. Listening to the various lectures by SSS my resolute to discard this duality and awaken myself to the one. I have started this blog to share my experiences and challenges that I will face along the way but also to share the awakening or the changes that I have been experiencing in myself, my beliefs and my conduct as a Sikh.