I'm sharing great
set of videos by Professor Maninderpal Singh Ji teaching a study course of Sri
Guru Granth Sahib Ji. He teaches about common mistakes we make in reading Bani,
including daily Nitnem. This one is more advanced so if you don't know how to read Gurmukhi you won't be able to follow along, but below I also shared the link from Gyani Thakur Singh Ji's santhiya and that one starts right from the beginning when you are learning how to draw the letters.
I learned a lot about the depth of Gurbani from these videos. Each onkarh and each syaree has a
purpose, even when they are silent. For example, there is a reason there is an onkarh
at the end of “Satnam.” I learned about the way that Gurbani is written as poetry, and the way that these
individual symbols on the letters are vital to distinguishing the meanings in the translations and avoiding errors in understanding. When we understand how to speak and read the Gurbani in the proper form, we also realize how to translate the meanings.
I think one of
the best things I learned from these videos is that he teaches that there are
three types of conversations we have when we read Gurbani. We have conversations with Guru Ji, we have conversations with God, and we have
conversations with our own mind. Many shabads for example start "O my mind." In order to have these conversations, our mind
needs to be present! Sometimes we are reading with our mouth but our minds are
elsewhere. Sometimes we read quickly, without pausing at the appropriate places
(the app “Sundar Gutka” is really great because it has green/orange highlights
over the pauses). When we do not read with attention, we don’t get the full
benefit of cleansing the mind and having a conversation with God, Guru Ji, and our own mind. Professor sahib really highlighted the importance of
reading Gurbani with love.
To be a Sikh is
to be a life-long, reflective learner. It is important to challenge ourselves to grow. We will always have more to learn, and even when we are teaching others we are continuing to learn. Whether you are reading English translations, learning the letters of Gurmukhi, or figuring out the deeper complexities of Gurbani, it's important to just have a passion to keep growing and learning. In order to read the Gurbani with love, as a conversation, and with understanding; it takes time, practice, patience, and guidance. We will get there. Waheguru Ji blesses us with that knowledge when we are passionate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-yR7lUV7eo&list=PL4B25C0C09033E236&index=1 (This is the part 1 link, you can forward the first couple of minutes of intro. The first set is four parts. There is another set of videos below that repeats the
information, and re-starts with new information on part 8).
Starting from the Basics Video by Giani Thakur Singh Ji:
Above pictures from:
http://www.ancientscripts.com/gurmukhi.html
http://www.manninghaminterfaithnetwork.org.au/event/sri-guru-granth-sahib-ji-proclamation-as-eternal-guru-s-2/
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