Hamster Wheel

I’ve been running on the hamster wheel for four weeks without a break. Around and around, I seem to get no breaks. Most times this happens, it is my body that reminds me that it isn’t acceptable, “either you slow down or I will slow you down” it tells me. Forcibly, it has pushed the breaks on me many times. I would get angry “why can’t this body just work the way I want it to?” Yet the answer was always obvious that I was ignoring that the state of my body and mind are completely interconnected and when the mind runs on the wheel, it ignores the signs of the body. I seem to ignore and bulldoze my way through life, imagining that ignoring the pain would solve it. Ignoring the fears and anxious mind, would solve it. As the days go by I would wonder why the activities of wellness no longer work. Increasingly tired, I give up on wellness and start to give, give, give just so I can get away from the overwhelmingness of what my body and mind is experiencing in the avalanche of personal circumstances. There’s one thing I found in my life- when it rains, it pours and pours. Yet it is not the circumstances that are to blame, it is the workaholic. Despite the fact that it is supported by work culture and society, it is a marked difference in the state of me humming and skipping around work, to looking like I am only half alive. 

One of my most kind-hearted colleagues and a great mentor to me had a conversation with me recently. He said our bodies are constantly renewing themselves, each cell- we know this through medical science. Why does it always have to renew itself in a bad way? It can renew itself in a good way and we can rejuvenate ourselves to a healthy state. Despite the fact that he wasn’t religious, we talked about common themes of contentment, faith, peace in life leading to that healing and renewal. The point not being to remove challenges, but to find contentment in them on a daily basis. 

When I get in this state of running and running I can recognize it earlier now. I remind myself it is time to start saying no, to allow time for connection to God through connection to myself and others. When I struggle the most with concentration on Gurbani, I need it the most. It is what is needed to “zoom out” and be able to see the big picture of what doesn’t even matter. It is time for reflection, listening to kathas, upbeat shabads, warm blankets and even colored nail polishes. Gurbani reminds us that we cannot live for tomorrow, for next week, for one more moment to feel normal. I can’t wait for a breath I don’t know if I will have because I am not guaranteed 100 years in this world. If things don’t happen the way we expected, we have to zoom out and realize it is all God. There is just You. Our minds have to stop being disillusioned because Maya wants you to run that hamster wheel forever. It wastes our breaths away, each breath we so preciously saved over 8.4 million lifeforms that we travelled through. Life is not lived in tomorrow and yesterday, it is now. Waheguru. 

Dressing for Winter

We covered winter driving recently. It is also really important to know how to dress in the winter. This is relevant not only to our International students coming from India, but also for locals as well. Those from Vancouver and Surrey visiting in the winter are usually also unprepared for the cold in Prince George. I have noticed our elders at the Gurdwara are often wearing thin layers of kurta pajama or Punjabi suit, with sandals or runners. Many people come with thin jackets and no gloves. 

Our temperatures in the next few days will drop down to -40 or below. This is not only uncomfortable but also dangerous. Just like your body can get hot and you can get heat stroke in the summer, your body can also get very cold and you can get hypothermia if you are out for long periods without adequate clothes. Just like your body can get burns from heat, the cold can give you burns as well. This is called frostbite, and it can get so bad that people’s fingers, toes, and ears can fall off. This is why it is important to protect yourself during the winter temperatures. It is not heroic to walk around in a t-shirt and shorts, it just isn’t smart and you are risking losing the very hands you work with and live your life with. 

To start with the basics, you should have a winter coat and winter boots. Winter coats are much thicker than the ones most people buy which are more summer coats really. They should have a temperature rating on them, and be good to at least -30 for places like Prince George. Often times coats can get expensive so look for sales, and remember they should last for several years at minimum. They don’t wear down as quickly as boots. Parkas are excellent for the winter- they are long and have a big hood on them (like the picture on the right). Try to choose a bright color as it gets dark early in the evening and it is hard to see people if they are wearing a white coat (matches the snow) or a black coat (matches the darkness). Have tags on your clothes (we dropped some off at the Gurdwara from ICBC or you could get reflective tape or a reflective vest yourself). These allow you to be seen when walking. If you want you can get a whole snowsuit instead of just a jacket. Its useful if you are going to be sledding, skating, skiing, or snowboarding. 

There are a lot of pretty boots but it is important to buy good boots and not just ones that look good. In fact many boots might be just regular boots and not designed for the cold weather and ice we get here in Prince George or other areas of Canada. You need to look at the bottom to check to see they have good traction. Check and see what temperature they are good for because they often tell you that the shoes are good to “-10” or “-20” etc. With the amount of snow we have the boots should come up to the middle of your shin at least like the ones in this picture. If they are too short all the snow will go inside them and you will get very cold feet. A good pair of boots can last you a few years. The key to having boots is they keep your feet warm, one of the main areas we lose heat and the second is to save us from slipping. If you are wearing running shoes most likely you will slip and fall on the ice. Many people with boots even slip and fall. One winter I fell on the ice three times so I know! Slips on the ice can obviously cause broken bones and head injuries or worse. If it is icy, there are a few things you can tie around your boots to make them stick into the ice so they don’t slip as easily. For example “YakTrax” or similar products, but you have to take them off when you get inside otherwise you will slip on regular floors (I had that happen to me!). Always wear your boots with socks. Please no sandals or jutiyaan!  

NOT helpful for the cold

Next comes hats, scarves, and gloves. Those with a paag obviously don’t have to worry about hats. For the rest of us we should be wearing something to protect our ears and our heads from losing heat. Hats with a warm fleece lining, or with a fuzzy layer inside (ex. heat holders) are best to keep you warm, not the fashionable ones with just a thin knit because those aren’t designed for cold. Scarves protect our face, and when people are really going into the snow for a long time they even wear a whole mask over their face with just holes for the eyes and mouth. Gloves once again are important in selection. Those thin ones with the individual fingers knitted for women are terrible because they are good for fall and not Canadian winter (see the pink ones). Winter gloves are once again rated for the type of cold, and will have a thick layer. You can get ones like that with the fingers free, or you can get ones that are mittens with all the fingers bunched together (like the ones on the right below). If you need to use your phone outside frequently you may want to get ones you can use your phone with, because normal gloves wont work. 
 

Lastly comes the importance of what you are actually wearing under all this outside stuff. Personally I wear long sweater dresses to the Gurdwara to keep myself warm. I have pajamis that are lined in a thick “furry” material inside that keeps me warm enough. Then I carry a shawl too in case its still cold inside. If you want to wear a kurta pajama or a Punjabi suit, you should wear long johns underneath (long thermal underwear). These are thin warm layers that go underneath your salwar or pajama, and kameez so that you don’t freeze. Nowadays you can buy warmer salwar kameez that are made of sweater knits. Invest in some good sweaters for the winter and choose warm fabrics for your winter clothes like fleece, wool, and knits. Wear long sleeves and long pants, not things you would wear in the summer. If the knits or sweaters are thick, you don’t have to wear anything under. I use a trick and just hold it up to light, if it has enough holes that its see through it’s a thin sweater and needs another shirt under it to keep me warm. Tip for those working in hospital: Mark’s Work Wearhouse has scrubs that are lined with fleece (I found them just perfect for inside the hospital). 

Hope you all survive the cold weather next week!

Picture references (I don't endorse any of these. I just chose random pictures).
https://www.rakuten.com/shop/bhfo/product/P1788383/
https://www.businessinsider.com/best-mens-parka
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiQ4Nn0vfrmAhVEqp4KHTRZDrcQjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpeople.com%2Fshop%2Fvbiger-vbiger-ski-mittens-warm-winter-mittens-waterproof-ski-snow-snowboard-gloves-black-cold-weather-mittens-for-women-men-p179979b6b02fba75824a5ca20dd04536.html&psig=AOvVaw0q07oSSYdf5rTTYa3CBqgX&ust=1578795546553990
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Men-Women-Full-Gloves-Solid-Color-Knitted-Winter-Warm-Gloves-Gold/178973671
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjn4LSkv_rmAhUIj54KHXNIAVkQjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mysafetysign.com%2Fno-open-toed-footwear-iso-prohibition-sign%2Fsku-is-1185&psig=AOvVaw17MO5oGIa4LtX4iBCjrcGv&ust=1578795906679040

Happy Prakash Divas Guru Gobind Singh Ji!

This weekend we will celebrate the anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Birth! We should go back into our history and recognize what our Guru Ji taught us and celebrate Guru Ji’s coming into the world. As each year goes by I add more to these posts. 

Sri Patna Sahib

Our 10^th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the son of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Mata Gujar Kaur Ji (Mata Gujri Ji). He was born December 22, 1666 at Patna Sahib. This is one of our 5 Takhts and is in a state called Bihar. Due to the sacrifices of the Sahibzaade we celebrate Guru Ji’s birth in January instead of December. 

Guru Ji’s early education in Punjabi, Braj, Sanskrit and Persian was in Anandpur Sahib. Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Shaheedi occurred when Gobind Rai was only 9 years old. He had not hesitated in telling his father to make this important sacrifice stating, “None could be worthier than you, father to make a supreme sacrifice.” At such a young age, Guru Ji’s connection to God allowed him to give up his worldly relationships without question for a greater justice and purpose. Guru Ji went on to write great works such as Jaap Sahib and Chaupai Sahib which we read in our morning paath. 

Guru Ji was married to Mata Jito. There different theories- one is argued that Mata Jito was renamed Sundari, as women’s names would change after they got married and the name change to Sundari reflected her beauty. The other is that Mata Jito was a different person. Mata Jito was married to Guru Ji 1677. Meanwhile according to this theory Mata Sundri (Sunder Kaur) married Guru Ji in 1684 and her son was Baba Ajit Singh born in 1687. Mata Jito then had three sons- Baba Jujhar Singh (1691), Zorawar Singh (1696) and Fateh Singh (1699- the same year as the formation of the Khalsa). It is said that Mata Jito saw the future of what was to happen to the family, including the martyrdom of her sons, and she asked permission from Guru Ji to leave her body, thus leaving in December 1700. Her last rites were performed at Anandpur Sahib. Mata Sundari Ji was separated at Sarsa Nadi later, with Mata Sahib Kaur and travelled with Bhai Mani Singh to Delhi, rejoining Guru Ji at Talwandi Sabo in 1706 where she heard of the merging of Mata Gujri and the Sahibzaade with the eternal light. She went back to Delhi and adopted a boy she named Ajit Singh. She provided guidance after the Jyoti Jyot of Guru Ji, and issued her own seal and Hukamnamas, these still exist and date from 1717 to 1730. Eventually her adopted son was convicted for murder and put to death. Mata Sundri left this world in Delhi in 1747 where her last rites were performed. Mata Sahib Kaur was the spiritual wife of Guru Ji, not a physical marriage. Mata Sahib Kaur's family had proposed and in those times, a refused proposal meant that you would never be married. Guru Ji then agreed to a spiritual, not physical marriage. She became the mother of Khalsa, and we as the Khalsa are her children. She left this world in 1708 at Delhi. These two theories have been researched by different individuals- see Sikhiwiki for more information. 

Guru Ji was known as Kalgiyan Wale, as they wore a Kalgi on their Turban. It is made of feathers. Here are some pictures of Guru ji's Kalgis. Guru Ji is also known as Shaheshahnshah- the King of all Kings. 

Guru Ji also famously had a Neela Ghora (Blue Horse). Guru Ji was talented in horsemanship. This lineage of horses is now kept today at Hazur Sahib. Guru Ji had a Baaj, a white falcon. This is depicted in many paintings of Guru Ji. For this Guru Ji is also referred to as Cittay Bajanvala (keeper of the white falcon). There is a great website that shows original belongings of Guru Ji. Some of them are depicted below but you should also check out the link for the histories behind them: https://www.sikhiness.com/sri-guru-gobind-singh-ji-s-personal-belongings/  Below are pictures of Guru Ji's dastaar, sword, shoes, and arrows. 

Sri Kesgarh Sahib

Guru Gobind Singh Ji created the Khalsa in 1699, and this is celebrated on Vaisakhi every year. This is present-day Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. Thus came the image of the Sikh you see today, with the 5 symbols of faith (Kesh, Kangha, Kara, Kirpan, Kacchera) and ready to give their life to defend the innocent at any time. Guru Ji writes in the Zafarnama “When all other means have failed, it is but lawful to take to the sword.” The Rajput chiefs of Silvalik hills were disturbed by the formation of the Khalsa as the Sikhs did not believe in their system of discrimination based on caste. They felt threatened and tried to force Guru Ji out of Anandpur Sahib but were unsuccessful for five years. They got help from Emperor Aurangzeb and in 1705, and laid siege on Anandpur Fort in May (see picture of Qilla Sri Anandgarh Sahib). During this siege, 40 Sikhs left Guru Ji and said they were no longer his Sikhs. By December, Sikhs ran out of food and ammunition. Aurganzeb promised the Sikhs, on an oath of the Quran, that they would be allowed a safe exit if they left Anandpur Sahib. The Mughals betrayed their promise. The family was separated at the Sirsa Nadi (river). Many Sikhs, including Guru Ji’s four sons, Ajit Singh Ji, Jujhar Singh Ji, Zorawar Singh Ji and Fateh Singh Ji were martyred. He lost his mother Mata Gujri Ji at the same time as well. Many manuscripts were lost while trying to cross the Sarsa river. 

Qilla Sri Anandgarh Sahib

Guru Ji spent time in Dina where he received a letter from Aurangzeb asking him to come to Deccan to meet him, however Guru Ji rejected his offer and wrote him the Zafarnama in response, delivered to Aurangzeb by Daya Singh and Dharam Singh. In the battle of Muktsar on December 29, 1705, Guru Ji, Mai Bhago, and 40 Sikhs who had previously deserted the Guru Ji (as mentioned above), faced the Mughal army led by Wazir Khan. These 40 became known as the 40 Mukhte (saved ones).

Guru Ji spent 9 months at Damdama Sahib (Talvandi Sabo) finishing the Sri Guru Sahib Ji. This is another of our Takhts. It is said that the Zafarnama touched Aurangzeb and he invited Guru Ji for a meeting, however Guru Ji had already left for the south, and Aurganzeb died. Guru Ji then helped Bahadur Shah gain the throne after the death of Aurangzeb. Nawab Wazir Khan (the same person who ordered the killing of the young Sahibzaade) ordered the murder of the Guru Ji to be carried out by Jamshed Kahn and Wasil Beg. One of them stabbed Guru Ji, however Guru Ji killed the attacker. With the help of the Emperor’s surgeon, he was on the path to recovery. Several days later the wound burst open and started bleeding, but was again treated. Knowing that these were his last days, Guru Ji declared the Guru Granth Sahib Ji as his successor and became Jyoti Jyot. This was at Hazur Sahib (another of our Takhts) in 1708. This Takht is in Maharashtra state. 

Sri Hazur Sahib

Guru Ji describes his coming into the world in this shabad in the Sri Dasam Granth Page 132.

Now I relate my own story as to how I was brought here, while I was absorbed in deep meditation.

The site was the mountain named Hemkunt, with seven peaks and looks there very impressive.

That mountain is called Sapt Shring (seven-peaked mountain), where the Pandavas Practised Yoga

There I was absorbed in deep meditation on the Primal Power, the Supreme KAL.

In this way, my meditation reached its zenith and I became One with the Omnipotent Lord.

My parents also meditated for the union with the Incomprehensible Lord and performed many types of disciplines for union.

The service that they rendered the Incomprehensible Lord, caused the pleasure of the Supreme Guru (i.e. Lord).

When the Lord ordered me, I was born in this Iron age.

I had no desire to come, because I was totally absorbed in devotion for the Holy feet of the Lord.

But the Lord made me understand His Will and sent me in this world with the following words.

The Words of the Non-temporal Lord to this insect. 

Guru Ji was a warrior, a poet, a musician, leader, and took on so many other roles. He showed us what it truly means to be united and merged into the realization of God, by sacrificing his parents and children, and still remaining in chardi kala for all the Khalsa that is his family. He served as a brave and courageous warrior as well as a saint. May we remember Guru Ji’s contributions to our history as we celebrate the Prakash Divas of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who brought us our identities as Khalsa. 

References

http://sikhism.about.com/od/gurugobindsing1/tp/When-Is-Guru-Gobind-Singhs-Birthday.htm

http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/gurus/nanak10.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Gobind_Singh

https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Guru_Gobind_Singh

http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/gurus/nanak10.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zafarnama_(letter) 

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/301952349992275590/?lp=true 

http://www.theworldofgurunanak.com/guru-gobind-singh-ji.html

https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Mata_Sunder_Kaur

https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Mata_Jito

Igurbani

https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Kalgi 

https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/White_Falcon

http://news.ukpha.org/2009/07/sgpc-for-chemical-test-of-kalgi/

https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/The_Blue_Horse_and_the_‘Neelay_ghoray_they_swaar’

https://www.punjabidharti.com/punjabi/sikhism/kalgi-shri-guru-gobind-singh-ji/ 

https://www.punjabidharti.com/punjabi/sikhism/dastar-kalgi-guru-gobind-singh-ji/ 

https://www.punjabidharti.com/punjabi/sikhism/kalgi-of-guru-gobind-singh-ji/