Gurdwara Pictures Part 3

These are pictures from end of my tour visiting many Gurdwaras in Surrey, BC.
There were some amazing handmade paintings by Bhai Jarnail Singh Ji at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Surrey which explained Sikh history.


This is at the Nanaksar Gurdwara Sahib.


Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran

Local Expectations

Each setting, whether it is a school, workplace, or city, has its own local culture. Working in different locations has taught me a lot about how to balance fitting into a new setting while still being true to who I am, and has given me a lot of perspective and appreciation for home. Over the last couple of weeks, I have been really surprised at how different the value systems are in the lower mainland. I hear a lot of Canadian-born Sikhs talking about material things, and the expectation that naturally their wishes will be fulfilled by their parents. For example, I heard a guy complaining about how the vehicle his parents bought him back in high school wasn’t the one he wanted, and how they should have gotten him something better. He failed to see the fact that he was privileged that his parents had bought him a vehicle, especially when he was so young. There seemed to be no appreciation for what his parents had done for him, or their hard work and sacrifice that went into making his life easier. I was even more shocked to realize that many of the parents, even outside of the Sikh community, felt that this was their duty. If their child was doing a professional degree abroad, they paid for all tuition fees, living expenses, for a vehicle, etc. When someone asked me to tell my parents to buy me an office building to set up my practice, I realized that this was seen as normal here! Although I was happy that there seemed to be a lot of support for family, I have been really surprised that people think a monetary investment is more important than time. That money is often earned at the expense of family time because that time is spent working instead. For some people it sounded like family has become a relationship simply of money itself. One girl was telling me how she wanted to get away from her family yet expected that they fully fund her studies and living expenses while she transferred to a different university. I think it is different when families come together to share resources with an appreciation and understanding for each other. I think that understanding usually comes with a time investment in building the relationship. In that setting, if a parent can afford to pay tuition and fund studies, there is a sense of responsibility that you would want to do your best in school to succeed in achieving your degree. 

When most people are going in one direction, it is hard to live and think differently because it soaks into your life too. It is hard to describe the strong push and pull that occurs and it is almost like when you are in the water and the waves pull and push you. It is an external pressure that comes from other people about what you should and shouldn’t be doing, but it is constant, intense, and more intrusive than anything I have ever experienced. Even just sitting in my car in the parking lot there was a man knocking on my window trying to sell me stolen perfume out of a stolen bag. “No I can’t give you are ride” ends up with someone trying to push their way into your car anyways. Every no is met with strong resistance and a reinterpretation as a yes. I’ve noticed the intrusiveness extends to deception and manipulation so people can get what they want, and I’m not used to constantly thinking about other people trying to use me to get what they want. Saying “Waheguru, Waheguru” before a comment that disrespects me as a woman just makes me sad that people never realized what God is or Sikhi is. 

Now I understand why people struggle to be able to connect with Sikhi and escape maya. When you grow up in this type of environment you will end up prioritizing the same things everyone else does. People survive by using others before they get used. From the conversations I’ve heard guns are actually considered cool accessories in Surrey, and by girls too, not just guys. It’s a lot harder to break out of a pattern when you don’t have the right sangat, and when you don’t even know what good sangat means because that’s all you have known. It has been heartbreaking to look around and see people of my generation not knowing anything about Sikhi. People aren’t who they say they are or who they pretend to be so it makes finding sangat even harder. Someone described it as a major culture shock to move to Surrey and I get it. Just like living in a small town has its challenges, so does this. As a young woman safety is also an issue, but I never thought I would say that I wasn't cautious enough and that I needed to be even more vigilant to protect myself. That seemed to be true here. 

When our boundaries are challenged with so much pressure, it is easy to think “maybe I will make this one exception today.” (I’m not talking about comfort zones because moving out of what is comfortable actually helps us grow significantly and can be good). When we cross a real personal boundary of ours it usually doesn’t work out well. Many years ago a man told me that when he was young the line between right and wrong moved a little bit at a time until he could no longer remember where the line was, and he ended up living a life of crime which he eventually turned around. I never forgot that. It reminds me that I have to focus on whether I am walking towards God or away from that path.

This experience has taught me that even when you are grounded and you know your path well, it can be easy to become disillusioned in a new environment. We are all vulnerable from time to time, but the compass of Guru Ji helps to guide us, and sangat reminds us of our path. These are the people who understand that the pull of the world is strong in different directions and we make big and small mistakes that maybe aren’t consistent with who we want to be or who we are. Waheguru blesses us with that sangat. They are the people who support us in learning through life. I’ve also learned to appreciate the value of kirat karni and how much time my family has invested to support me. 

First Mehl: We are good at talking, but our actions are bad. Mentally, we are impure and black, but outwardly, we appear white. We imitate those who stand and serve at the Lord’s Door. They are attuned to the Love of their Husband Lord and they experience the pleasure of His Love. They remain powerless, even while they have power; they remain humble and meek. O Nanak, our lives become profitable if we associate with them. (Ang 85)

Holla Mohalla

This weekend the Akhand Paath at the Gurdwara Sahib is for Holla Mohalla. Holla means military charge, and Mohalla means procession. Holla Mohalla is a 3 day festival held at Holgarh fort in Anandpur Sahib (and Gurdwaras across the world). This is a festival started by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1700 for Sikhs to gather and reaffirm their commitment to the Khalsa. This was around one year after Guru Ji initially created the Khalsa, and a time during which Aurangzeb was ruling. Holla Mohalla is celebrated the day after Holi. Now every year Sikhs gather to have mock battles, do gatka, horse riding, and practice military exercise, in addition to doing kirtan and having music/poetry competitions. Holla Mohalla is a reminder to us of our responsibility to always fight against injustice, and of our strength as a community. 

More Gurdwara Pictures

After work I went to go do Ardas and matha tek today at Gurdwara Sahib Dashmesh Darbar (Surrey). I was pleasantly surprised that there was kirtan going on in the middle of the afternoon. The interior of the Gurdwara Sahib is absolutely stunning, here are some pictures: 

Gurdwara Amrit Prakash Sahib


Gurdwara Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib

The hukamnama I got this morning was: http://beta.igurbani.com/shabad/2182?verseId=25292

Wadahans, Fourth Mehl, Ghorees ~ The Wedding Procession Songs:

One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

This body-horse was created by the Lord. Blessed is human life, which is obtained by virtuous actions. Human life is obtained only by the most virtuous actions; this body is radiant and golden. The Gurmukh is imbued with the deep red color of the poppy; he is imbued with the new color of the Lord's Name, Har, Har, Har. This body is so very beautiful; it chants the Name of the Lord, and it is adorned with the Name of the Lord, Har, Har. By great good fortune, the body is obtained; the Naam, the Name of the Lord, is its companion; O servant Nanak, the Lord has created it. ||1||

I place the saddle on the body-horse, the saddle of realization of the Good Lord. Riding this horse, I cross over the terrifying world-ocean. The terrifying world-ocean is rocked by countless waves, but the Gurmukh is carried across. Embarking upon the boat of the Lord, the very fortunate ones cross over; the Guru, the Boatman, carries them across through the Word of the Shabad. Night and day, imbued with the Lord's Love, singing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, the Lord's lover loves the Lord. Servant Nanak has obtained the state of Nirvaanaa, the state of ultimate goodness, the state of the ultimate goodness, the state of the Lord. ||2||

For a bridle in my mouth, the Guru has implanted spiritual wisdom within me. He has applied the whip of the Lord's Love to my body. Applying the whip of the Lord's Love to his body, the Gurmukh conquers his mind, and wins the battle of life. He trains his untrained mind with the Word of the Shabad, and drinks in the rejuvenating essence of the Lord's Nectar. Listen with your ears to the Word, uttered by the Guru, and attune your body-horse to the Lord's Love. Servant Nanak has crossed over the long and treacherous path. ||3||

The transitory body-horse was created by the Lord. Blessed, blessed is that body-horse which meditates on the Lord God. Blessed and acclaimed is that body-horse which meditates on the Lord God; it is obtained by the merits of past actions. Riding the body-horse, one crosses over the terrifying world ocean; the Gurmukh meets the Lord, the embodiment of supreme bliss. The Lord, Har, Har, has perfectly arranged this wedding; the Saints have come together as a marriage party. Servant Nanak has obtained the Lord as his Spouse; joining together, the Saints sing the songs of joy and congratulations. ||4||1||5||

Guru Ram Das Ji reminds us here that after many janams (births) of virtous actions Waheguru blessed us with this human birth so that we can merge with God. In this lifetime if we train our mind through simran, and cleanse our mind with Gurbani, we will cross the world-ocean (maya) and achieve our purpose. 

Gurdwara Sahib Pictures

It is a special week coming up as Wednesday is the beginning of a New Year, and also the celebration of the Gurgaddi Divas of Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji.

I found myself thinking about our Gurdwara Sahib all day since I normally listen to the Akhand paath on weekends and do kirtan in the evenings. I really missed it. So today I went to Darbar Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji on the outskirts of Surrey. Normally here there are a lot of gray rainy days but today as the sun was setting and I arrived at the Gurdwara, I appreciated for the first time why people like to live here. There is always sangat the Gurdwara, and the mountains are right outside. I wouldn’t trade home for anything, but I got a lot of peace from that. My experience so far has been much better than trying to live in the lower mainland a few years ago, but the nights are a different story. Walking in the night, a wave of unease and grief lingers in the air, reminding me of all the young Sikh men shot on these streets. We all have so much potential, for good and for bad, and we make that choice everyday. With the Guru’s guidance we can walk the path that achieves our purpose. 

 

True Freedom

I mentioned a little bit about the idea of “freedom” in one of my recent posts. I got to thinking about this because it’s one of the things I hear and read about often from our Sikh youth, especially in the late teens/early 20s. It is a critical time of transition as people change friend groups, transition into jobs or university, and shape their futures. For some people it is a realization that people live their lives in very different ways and we all make a choice on how to live our lives. For this reason it is also a very vulnerable time. Unfortunately it seems to be the time when people ask themselves why they are the only ones living the disciplined life- “everyone else is enjoying life freely, why can’t I?” We’ve all either heard this or said this ourselves at some point. It seems like everyone else is enjoying every pleasure of the world while suddenly your own way of living seems like a burden of rules. I think parents struggle at this point too because some parents don’t know exactly how to navigate increasing independence, or allowing children to find their own way, in their desperate attempt to protect their children from what they see as a wrong path. I have seen some families in which it can come across forcefully, leaving youth feeling trapped.

I think one of the problems is seeing Sikhi as external rules instead of a flowing way of life. It is seen as static instead of something to be explored and learned. Without an understanding of the purpose of life, of maya, of God, or a strong relationship with our family (our main sangat), everything crumbles when we are tested. Bhai Sewa Singh Ji Tarmala wrote in his books about how we are blinded by maya, how we don’t hear anhad bani (the voice of God); and how we wander naked with our hands and feet in shackles, suffering as slaves of the 5 thieves because we don’t have Naam. In the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji it says, “Some are self-willed manmukhs; they do not love the Word of the Shabad. Bound in chains, they wander lost in reincarnation” and “O mind: without the Lord, whatever you are involved in shall bind you in chains.” So while we may appear free to the physical eye, we live as prisoners. We were royalty, God’s children, but we are not awake to see that reality. So when we understand this and if young people were to see the world from this lens, we no longer see “everyone else is free and gets to do whatever they want.” Most people aren’t awake to the chains that they are bound in that traps them into the cycle of reincarnations. I learned a couple of years ago from mysimran.info’s kathas, that we can really only make a choice on how to live, if we have experienced God and Naam. Otherwise, by default, we are living the path of dhaat (path to maya). True freedom, liberation, comes from God. Gurbani describes how the Gurmukh is free of disease, ego, pleasure and pain, suffering, desire, fear, doubt, conflict, hatred, and the list goes on. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji says, “The Guru has shattered the shackles on my feet, and has set me free” (Ang 1002) and “One who realizes his Lord and Master is set free, and not bound by chains” (Ang 937). This is jeevan mukhti. 

When I look back, discipline has shaped my life, and yet this type of self-discipline is undervalued in Kaljug. I learned discipline really young. I started Tae-Kwondo when I was 4 and I quickly learned that not listening and not doing things properly means a lot of push ups! My favorite scene in movies is usually when the person works hard to achieve their dream. These days it seems like there is a focus on doing things easily and effortlessly, as if it comes naturally. I have seen people underplay how much effort they put in, or brag that other people had to put in so much work to get there but they didn’t. It’s supposed to look easy, even if it isn’t. No one wants to hear about rules and discipline. Yet it is these things that have saved me from a path that I’m glad I’m not on. I remember entering high school in grade 8, I thought I knew everything (like we all do at that age) and it was really my family’s way of living that way that saved me from sangat that was really a horrible influence for me in my friend group. We don’t even know enough at that age to make a real informed choice about most of our decisions, and I think that’s why parents play such an important role in setting up a disciplined life (they can't make those decisions for forever!), because it is about the way they live their own life as a role model too. It is easy for us to say that this is an issue just in childhood but its not. Like I mentioned earlier, many people never do realize there are two paths- liv and dhaat, and that’s God’s Will too: “With the mind caught up in playful pleasures, involved in all sorts of amusements and sights that stagger the eyes, people are led astray.” It is by God’s grace that we realize it. 

I remember the day I made a choice to start doing simran and walk a new path back in the summer of 2016. It was a life-defining moment. I was sitting at the kitchen table at my uncle’s house at it was late at night. I was listening to a katha from mysimran.info on my phone and taking notes in my journal. In the katha, I don’t remember the exact wording but he said something about just try this and see what happens in your life. I thought to myself, yes I can try this. If it doesn’t go well, I just go back to my old life anyways. Believe it or not, I was terrified to walk into the unknown because I knew that it was more than just about simran… it was about understanding the journey of life in a way that I had never seen it and I didn’t know if I had it in me to do it. It was those words to “just try it”, that changed everything for me and redefined what is pain, what is pleasure, what is suffering, why am I here. As Sikhs, we have been taught to spend our time doing nitnem, sewa, working, and to balance our lives. It is not possible without discipline, but it’s also not a set of rules if it is a core value of our life. Sikhi flows naturally when we know why we are here, because God does our work for us. I don’t think that you can do this for anyone else very long- for your parents, or for other people, and I think that’s where a lot of people go wrong. It’s not for someone else, its for us, and you can't force someone else, it happens out of love alone. Simran feeds you, kirtan feeds you, in a way that our mind has forgotten that it is hungry for. God created this world for us to enjoy it! The way to enjoy it is if we are not slaves to it. 

In moments of confusion from the illusion around us, it is easy to doubt ourselves and wonder if everyone else indeed has it right. While writing this post I read an article called “Self-Discipline or Just Uptight" (1). This Veer Ji describes his moment of confusion, “Perhaps I am too uptight, conservative, insecure, narrow-minded, or misguided. Maybe I am not having as much fun as the other guys and girls because I place too much importance into my faith which may or may not even exist. Maybe my moral compass is pointing to radically in one direction. The question is not whether I am right or wrong, the question is whether I am inhibiting many of life’s experiences by being too black and white. Am I missing out on a fun life by being too traditional or ‘faithful’?” (1) He goes on to describe an example of a young woman who asked him to go clubbing, “I told her that clubbing was not my thing and that I would not be going. Little did I know that this was going to open up an even bigger barrage of intrusive questioning. She began asking me quizzically, so what do you do for fun?... She had the guts to continue jabbing into my personal life in a sneaky manner, so how will you please your wife when you get married. You have to have fun in life, blah, blah, blah… otherwise, she will ‘boot your ass'" (1). He concludes how he realized it is important to just be true to yourself and not swayed by other people’s version of how you should live. It reminded me of the time an aunty told me I was closed-minded for only wanting to marry someone of my own religion. I solidly know that I want to spend my mind-journey with someone who has the same core values of Sikhi and therefore understands the same purpose in life (!) and yet it still threw me off because she said “closed minded.” Like Veer ji, I was disoriented. Because we will be challenged, we need to be that much more certain of what freedom is, what fun is, what our direction in life is. Life is supposed to be fun and joyful, and in fact maya is painful. In true freedom we have broken the chains maya and the cycle of reincarnations, so let us not be fooled by the illusion of freedom.

Lastly, to share this shabad, “Har Jan Naacho Har Har Thayi. O humble servant of the Lord, let your dancing be meditation on the Lord, Har, Har” and continued into the shabad “It Rang Nacho rakh rakh bhao. So dance in this love and keep the beat with your feet”

Words to the shabads (go to display at the top to see transliterations): http://beta.igurbani.com/shabad/1432?verseId=16906 http://beta.igurbani.com/shabad/1375?verseId=16034

http://beta.igurbani.com/shabad/1873?verseId=22665

you can also download it from (Delhi 2017 Rainsbhai)

https://www.akj.org/keertan.php?cnt=10&loc=&yr=&mn=&keert=Bhai+Parminder+Singh+Jee+%28Jalandhar%29&search_keertan=Search+Keertan

References

https://www.sikhnet.com/news/self-discipline-or-just-uptight

Shaheedi Saka Nankana Sahib

Today we remember the massacre the occurred at Nankana Sahib Feb 21, 1921. Here is the history.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh reconstructed Gurdwaras destroyed by Mughals, and gave the “Mahants” (caretakers of these Gurdwaras) property rights and land attached to the Gurdwaras. Original mahants were individuals who spread the message of Sikhi, but soon they were just corrupt individuals hungry for money generated at the Gurdwaras. At the same time, the British were afraid that if the Sikhs took control of the Gurdwaras this would further unify the Khalsa against them and cause a revolution. 

Mahant Narayan Das was supposed to be the caretaker of Gurdwara Nankana Sahib. He was corrupt, and allowed many bad things to happen at the Gurdwara Sahib including sexual assaults. The Sikh congregation decided to take action and approached the mahant to change his ways in October 1920. He refused to change and instead turned against the Sikhs. His anti-sikh group was going to have a conference on Feb 20, 1921 in Lahore. On three different opportunities the Shiromani committee offered to meet the mahant to discuss the issues peacefully, however he never showed up. The Sikhs had a congregation on Feb 16 at Gurdwara Khara Sauda and made a decision to go in jathas to take over the Gurdwara peacefully on Feb 20 while the mahant was away. Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabbar and Bhai Lachaman Singh Dharowali were to take their jathas.  

Meanwhile, the mahant cancelled his plans for the conference and hired 400 mercentaries and made plans to kill the Sikh leaders. He contacted the British Commissioner of Lahore and acquired firearms with the help of the government (this letter exists to this day). He furthered his plan by making holes in the walls for shooting at the Sikhs, strengthening the Gurdwara gate and he got paraffin. 

On Feb 19, the parbandhak committee met and decided that the jathas should not go. Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabbar was present, and dispatched a sikh to send a message to Bhai Lachman Singh Dharowali. Bhai Lachman Singh, still following the original plan, was waiting for Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabber’s jatha. At that time Jaethedar Tehal Singh’s Jatha arrived and encouraged them to move forward. They did ardas and took a hukamnama. They left at 10 pm to reach the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib at amrit vela. More Sikhs joined for a total of 200. Although women and children were asked to go back, one child, Darbara Singh refused to leave because he was inspired by stories of shaheeds and he joined the Shaheedi Jatha. 

Upon arrival at the railway crossing near Nankana Sahib, Chaudry Paul Singh Hyallpuri (another source lists that it was actually Bhai Waryam Singh) arrived to convey the decision of the Shiromani committee, however Jathedar Tehal Singh said that the ardas had already been done and the time had come for them to act. The jatha arrived at the Gurdwara and did Asa Di War. Then the mahant ordered his mercenaries to kill the Sikhs. The bullets fired hit the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and many Sikhs. The rest were slaughtered with saws and swords, and some were burned alive including the 9 year old Darbara Singh. Bhai Lachman Singh was tied to a tree upside down and burnt alive. 

News spread and Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabber arrived with 2200 men. Mr. Curry, Deputy Commissioner of Lahore, had his army surrounding the Gurdwara and warned Bhai Kartar Singh that they would shoot the Sikhs if they approached. Bhai Kartar Singh stated that they were not afraid of death, and in seeing this, Mr. Curry became worried and handed over the keys. The mahant and a select few of the mercentaries were sentenced to death (one source says that this didn’t happen and that in fact the mahant was given security). 

This is the history of how the Shaheedi jatha of Sikhs, who went to peacefully take back Gurdwara Nanakana Sahib from the hands of the corrupt mahant, were martyred. We remember these Sikhs every day in our ardas. May we forever remember their sacrifice and bravery in standing up for what was right. 

References 

http://manvirsingh.blogspot.ca/2014/02/sri-nankana-sahib-massacre.html

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

http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/events/nankana.html

Spontaneity

Over the last week I have been thinking about a conversation I had with a friend about new experiences. She said that in our society today we put a lot of value on individuals who crave adventure and new experiences, even when they are at the expense of relationships and spirituality. This is a big topic amongst my classmates as we figure out where to spend the next years of our lives after graduation. Many of them have mentioned that their criteria for choosing where to go is mainly based on seeking out new adventures. It was interesting to see how people were making their choices and to see how my own factors have changed over time. 

When I think back to a couple of years ago, I craved the feeling of an exciting experience as well. It sounds thrilling to be the surgeon saving lives, or the ER doc running trauma codes. I knew those specifically didn’t fit for me, but I was planning on doing a different 5-year specialty on the other side of the country. It seemed like a cool idea… until I didn’t end up liking the specialty I thought I wanted, or even the location! They simply didn’t fit me, and I fell in love with a different area of medicine. Interestingly, one of friends said the same thing about her experience as a police officer. The popular thing to be is an undercover or “drug cop” but it isn’t a good fit for everyone so most people end up pursuing something different. I think its important to choose what you like and what fits you even if doesn’t sound as bold and adventurous.

I think this idea transcends careers into our other areas of life as well. A lot of times young people get caught up in what is exciting instead of going by what they value. It’s easy when society emphasizes spontaneity over planning and stability. So they leave their home after high school, move to bigger cities, might end up in programs they don’t like, or make major life decisions based on external pressures to make an “interesting” or bolder choice. It’s sold as the idea of “freedom.” Apparently to choose otherwise is not to be free, open-minded, or flexible! I remember one of my friends wanted me to move in and be her roommate. I think at a different time in my life I might have been caught up in the fact that independence is heavily valued over family life in western culture, but I was at a point where I knew that didn’t fit who I am. I knew that family has meaning beyond just people who support and love me, but also spiritually as part of my journey as a Sikh. 

One of the biggest things I have learned is that the adventure I was craving was never on the outside, and could in fact only be found inside myself. The journey of my mind has been the biggest adventure I have undertaken, but I don’t think I would have been able to do it without some external stability in my environment. To allow my mind to grow and change so much, it has been important to have some comforts and supports. As I travelled for my electives this year, I appreciated the growth from them but I also missed my community, our Gurdwara, and my family. It reminded me how special those are for me. It reminded me that I’m allowed to be content with where I am in my journey and I don't have to go outside to look for what I already know exists within me. 

In the past, I’ve been guilty of judging other people for making the more “comfortable choice” but I understand now. It’s about being content with who you are, where you are, and knowing your values. It’s okay if others don’t see what you see because different people value different things. It has been great to make this big decision about what to do and where to live based off of what is important to me rather than thinking about what is right or popular according to someone else’s standards. Maybe to someone else it seems like I’m making all the boring choices, but that doesn’t matter because there’s nothing wrong with knowing that I love and value my spirituality, my interpersonal relationships, my community and the very roots in the place that shaped me. There's a time and a place for spontaneity and new adventures, but there's also an important place for contentment and stability. I’m excited to find out what comes next for me. I trust wherever God brings me because I know the right path will find its way to me, just as my calling as a healer found me.