Priceless Jewels

ਕੋਟਿਤੀਰਥਮਜਨਇਸਨਾਨਾਇਸੁਕਲਿਮਹਿਮੈਲੁਭਰੀਜੈ॥
kott theerathh majan eisanaanaa eis kal mehi mail bhareejai
Millions of cleansing baths at sacred shrines of pilgrimage only fill the mortal with filth in this Dark Age of Kali Yuga.

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿਜੋਹਰਿਗੁਣਗਾਵੈਸੋਨਿਰਮਲੁਕਰਿਲੀਜੈ॥੨॥
saadhhasa(n)g jo har gun gaavai so niramal kar leejai 2
One who sings the Glorious Praises of the Lord in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, becomes spotlessly pure. 2

Ang/Limb 747 (full shabad)


Reading today's Hukamnama (The Satguroo's Daily Command), the above Dupanktee (couplet) stood-out. Most of the time, for most of us, religion and spirituality take the form of an intellectual voyage. Knowledge leads to the idea, the intimation, that our final destination is a state of mind produced by our mind...the idea that our mind is the physician that will cure it's own disease.

We're locked into this idea that spirituality is a balance-sheet where we are rewarded for every 'religious action'. Our Chaturaee (cleverness) only drags us deeper into the pit of slef-centeredness.

Here's a simple test: Ask yourself - are you truly altruistic? If a person swears at you after you show them an act of kindness, and it makes you feel as though you shouldn't have done them a good turn, is this truly altruism?

Worse-still many so-called religious people use their 'God-given knowledge' to brutalise others. To tell them how they are non-believers, infidels, sinners and devils. They think they are now 'God's-chosen' and blessed with divine knowledge. In fact they have become the opposite. Haumai (Ego), the great subduer, fuels their thoughts, words and actions. Their beliefs have become weapons which they use to inflict pain upon others.

ਇਕੁਫਿਕਾਨਗਾਲਾਇਸਭਨਾਮੈਸਚਾਧਣੀ ॥
eik fikaa n gaalaae sabhanaa mai sachaa dhhanee
Do not utter even a single harsh word; your True Lord and Master abides in all.

ਹਿਆਉਨਕੈਹੀਠਾਹਿਮਾਣਕਸਭਅਮੋਲਵੇ ॥129॥
hiaao n kaihee t(h)aahi maanak sabh amolavae 129
Do not break anyone's heart; these are all priceless jewels. 129

Ang/Limb 1384 (full shabad)


So when you next meet a 'spiritual person', apply the above test. Are their words fashioned to hurt the hearts of others or are their words soothing; the words of someone for whom warming others' souls is an act of worship. Meeting and spending time with such people, we slowly become like them. These Gurmukhs (Satguroo-centred spiritualists) are the only hope for us in such a world, where to become religious is merely an act of distinguishing oneself from others...when really, we should be trying to become the dust off the feet of all. Continue reading ...

That thing you left behind

Finding time to blog is proving very difficult with my current lifestyle. From now-on I'll micro-blog - short and sweet. It's a challenge trying to convey in less words what may perhaps need more. I'll give it a whirl. Besides, it's the only way I'll be able to continue blogging. Excuses done!

I'm currently away from home, at my in-laws home in the Midlands. There's a funeral about to take place tomorrow morning because my wife's Tayaa (her father's elder brother) passed away recently. Long story - non-relevant.

I was shown his possessions earlier by someone and when I remarked, off the cuff, that they're just possessions and have no connection to the man that was, I was told I can be really un-feeling sometimes. I guess it just slipped-out and I should have been more sensitive. Sometimes though, when you say words that you haven't analysed, those words that leave your tongue un-refined, there's a truth about how you describe things...a sure perspective.

It got me thinking on a related tangent. I have possessions. My Canon Digital SLR camera is probably my favourite because it's the only tool I have apart from the written word that allows me to express myself to others. This thing doesn't reveal anything of me though; it's just a tool. But when I pass away I guess my loved ones might attach some special significance to it because my being was projected through the things I did, the things I loved. And I loved taking pictures. I better stop talking in the past tense otherwise it will seem like I've died already!

Possessions, as we all know, are just temporary and we should never be attached to them. You don't need me to tell you that, but here's an interesting experiment. I want you to comment below by answering the following questions:

1. When you die, as you so obviously will (!), which one possession do you think people will most associate you with and why?

2. What do you think this possession says about you, from the perspective of your loved-ones?

3. What doesn't it say about you, from your perspective? Continue reading ...

Boring, Boring!

It's boring being racist. Just imagine not wanting to interact with whole sections of society because you don't like the amount of melanin in their skin; because they don't look, dress, speak, think or eat like you. Borrrrrrrring! In my short and limited life, meeting people of different backgrounds has led to so many valuable things. Insights, thoughts and ideas seep from one human to another. To be racist is to close yourself off, to ignore a world of wonder, in exchange for a blinkered tunnel. Sadly, whilst the rest of us smile and soak ourselves in all the wonderful diversity out there, there's a section of society which does the opposite.

In Britian we have the BNP - The British National Party. They're a bit embarrasing really; like a relative you never want anyone to find out about; you know, because they smell or pick their bogies in front of everyone. One of their policies is to offer voluntary repatriation to all non-Whites. It's excellent fun trying to work out who they would want to kick-out or keep in. David Beckham is an all British poster-boy, admired around the world for his footballing prowess. But would the BNP let him remain in Britian, given he has a Jewish grandparent? You see, that's the problem. What's their definition of white? Are they going to trace-back people's ancestors and verify all those birth certificates?! Their policies aren‘t just prejudiced; they‘re flawed logically. They’re currently trying to get one of their MEP’s into the European Parliament.

It's almost guaranteed that support for the BNP will increase during the credit-crunch. Labour supporters are discussing this issue here. It's worth remembering that there's one major reason as to why Hitler managed to galvanise so much power and influence so quickly. Germany was going through one hell of a recession. You see, for some people it's nice being told that 'those lot are nicking all your jobs and homes while you get nothing'. Ahhhh...the old 'it's someone else's fault' syndrome. Works a treat if you're the kind that likes to look at what others have, instead of pulling up your sleeves and getting on with it.

A little while back I had to buy some Samosae and Sholae (triangle, fatty and fried fings with spicy, curried chick-peas) from a local sweet-shop. We had guests so thought we'd buy-in the catering. While waiting to be served, I chin-wagged with the owner about a pair of white guys who had bought £50 of all things asian and tasty. He told me: "They love the stuff more than we do". And why not? This is just one small benefit of a multi-cultural society - our taste-buds get to go on interesting adventures. I'm a very simple eater but even I end-up cooking things or combining ingredients which hail from all corners of the planet. If only people got on as well as ingredients do in the cooking-pot!

The sweet-shop owner's words got me thinking though: if the BNP did get rid of all us 'Pakis', who would cook their curries - you know, the ones that some of them like to savour whilst swigging their lager...which would have probably been brewed in India or Africa.

For the last few years, I've realised that we should feel sorry for racist people. It’s actually a bit like a mental-illness of sorts, being racist - it's de-habilitating, affects every aspect of a sufferer's life and places limits upon their potential. I mean, do racist people even think about how incoherent their beliefs actually are...

"Do you think it's right that the black puppy should kiss the blonde ferret? Answers on a postcard to: Aren't racists funny, Small-minds-ville, PO Box...." Photo-credit: Foxtongue

On a related note, it's sad what Prince Harry (another one of those British relatives I mentioned earlier) said recently. He’s obviously no BNP member; more a case of someone who put his foot in his mouth I think, but the thing is that his words have been broadcasted all over the world and therefore Britain is yet again portrayed as a place where racist attitudes are present even amongst the most popular and well-known inhabitants. I suppose having Prince Phillip as your grandpa probably doesn’t help much!

Needless to say, The Satguroo has summed-up the totality of race, of colour, of melanin so adequately as to render it completely irrelevant. For a Sikh to even contemplate being racist, prejudiced or to even stereo-type others, is so absolutely contradictory to The Satguroo's Teachings as to be hilarious - in an un-funny way of course! So let's finish with the very straight-forward words of The 10th Mehl (Satguroo's Form), Guroo Gobind Singh Jee:

ਦੇਹਰਾਮਸੀਤਸੋਈਪੂਜਾਔਨਿਵਾਜਓਈਮਾਨਸਸਬੈਏਕਪੈਅਨੇਕਕੋਭਰਮਾਉਹੈ॥
dhaeharaa maseeth soee poojaa a nivaaj ouee maanas sabai eaek pai anaek ko bharamaao hai
The Temple and the Mosque are the same; there is no difference between them. Neither is there any dissimilarity between pooja [Hindu worship] and the namaaz [Muslim daily prayers]. The whole human race is the self-same but due to illusion, they appear different.
Siree Dasam Granth Sahib, Panna (Page) 47 - read the whole shabad

Continue reading ...

Poem - Mool Mantar

Granthee © Atma Singh 2008

Mool Mantar

You are the Essence
You are the Form
You are the Source
Forever
Unborn

You are the weft
You are the warp
Oh’ Ever-New…
Siree Ik Onkaar

…

You are the Truth,
You are the Proof
You are the Known
Forever
Aloof

You are the tears
You are the calm
Oh’ My Beloved…
Siree Sat Naam

…

You are the Doer
You are the Done
You are the Many
Forever
One

You are the reader
You are the book
Oh’ Beautiful Beholder…
Siree Kartaa Purakh

…

You are Friend
You are Enemy
You are the Hand
Forever
Mercy

You are the Lover
You are the Loved
Oh’ Perfect Poise…
Siree Nirbhau , Nirvair

…

You are the Death
You are the Life
You are the Form
Forever
Alike

You are the Constant
You are the Stable
Oh’ Wondrous Wonder…
Siree Akaal Moorat

…

You are Alpha
You are Omega
You are the Treasured
Forever
Un-measured

You are the Trader
You are the Traded
Oh’ Perfect Perfection…
Siree Ajoonee Saibhang

…

You are the Light
You are the Sound
You are the Now
To Whom
I
Forever
Bow

You are the Aad…
You are Jugaad…
Oh’ Perfect Grace…
Siree Gurparsaad

You are the Essence
You are the Form
You are the Source
Forever
Unborn

Continue reading ...

To Be or Not To Be

Even praising Vaheguroo,
I-am-ness can challenge us
© Atma Singh 2008



So much of the religious and spiritual solutions we come across today are based upon the concept that good actions equal spiritual achievement. The thing is that doing good deeds and speaking sweet words, we often tell ourselves how good we are. We tell others of our Gunn (virtues) or try to display them indirectly. It doesn't even have to be consciously either because our subtle ego, that most insidious aspect of Hou(n)mai (I-am-ness), constantly makes us pat ourselves upon our own backs.

ਸਭਿਗੁਣਤੇਰੇਮੈਨਾਹੀਕੋਇ ॥
sabh gun thaerae mai naahee koe
All virtues are Yours, I have none at all.

ਵਿਣੁਗੁਣਕੀਤੇਭਗਤਿਨਹੋਇ ॥
vin gunn keethae bhagath n hoe
Without virtue, there is no loving meditation.
Ang (Page) 4

In particular, when we do Bhagtee (loving-meditation upon Vaheguroo), Hou(n)mai attacks us viciously whether or not we realise it. The Satguroo tells us that we have no Gunn…and yet we are then told that without Gunn, Bhagtee is impossible. How can this riddle be solved?

ਮੋਹਿਨਿਰਗੁਨਤੁਮਪੂਰਨਦਾਤੇਦੀਨਾਨਾਥਦਇਆਲ ॥੧॥
mohi nir-gunn thum pooran dhaathae dheenaa naath dhaeiaal 1
I am unworthy; You are the Perfect Giver. You are the Merciful Master of the meek. 1
Ang 980

We are Nir-gunn (completely without virtues), so we need to be given these virtues; they are not our possessions. By constantly reminding ourselves that we are Nir-gunn, we begin to disarm our mind which loves nothing better than to dwell upon it's 'own virtues'. When this begins to happen, the door to Vaheguroo's Grace is opened and we begin to receive blessings; the gifts of Gunn from the Perfect Giver.

Those who are truly humble are like the empty cup. They are ready to be filled by The Master of the meek. Manmukhs (those who follow their mind) are filled with self-regard. They are overflowing with the wine of self-intoxication. What can be poured into such a toxic and overflowing cup? They cannot absorb nor contain Gur-parsaad (The Satguroo's Grace). From Rehraas Sahib (evening recitation):

ਹਰਿਧਿਆਵਹੁਸੰਤਹੁਜੀਸਭਿਦੂਖਵਿਸਾਰਣਹਾਰਾ ॥
har dhiaavahu santhahu jee sabh dhookh visaaranehaaraa
Meditate upon The Ever-Blossoming O Spiritual Ones; The Dispeller of all pains.

ਹਰਿਆਪੇਠਾਕੁਰੁਹਰਿਆਪੇਸੇਵਕੁਜੀਕਿਆਨਾਨਕਜੰਤਵਿਚਾਰਾ ॥੧॥
har aapae thaakur har aapae saevak jee kiaa naanak janth vichaaraa 1
The Ever-blossoming is The Master, The Ever-blossoming is The Servant. O Nanak, the poor beings are miserable! 1
Ang 10

The Sants (spiritually-enlightened ones) become free of Dhookh (pains) and Chintaa (anxieties) because they become free from Hou(n)mai. After all, how can you attack that which has no form? To lose your Hou(n)mai is to become unassailable. When the self disappears and all that remains is The Master (Par-aatmaa, The Universal Soul) and The Servant (Aatmaa, The Soul), the drop merges with the ocean and vice-versa. We come to know that there is no other. It was Vaheguroo alone all along.

Whilst other paths such as Buddhist schools of thought stress the importance of Udham (personal/right effort) as the only way to collect the Gunns needed for The Path, The Satguroo stresses Gur-parsaad upon the Path of Brahm-Giyaan (Vaheguroo-consciousness). Only through Gur-parsaad will we be blessed with Gunns such as Udham, Nimrata (selflessness) etc. Any 'virtues' that the mind self-generates through ‘personal/right effort’ cannot be classed as Gur-parsaad. To possess or place faith in any such Gunn would be to embrace Hou(n)mai according to The Satguroo.

When having been given Gunn by Vaheguroo we begin to believe that we had something to do with it, the Gunn are taken away. Like a loving parent, The Satguroo reveals to us our mistake so that we may recover. If we do not heed this lesson, then we are unable to advance spiritually. We are left worshipping our sense of self, devoid of Bhagtee. At the mercy of our sense of separateness we will ultimately be miserable even if we aren't at the moment.

Why is it that the highest-achievers are often secretly unhappy? Why do some of the most intelligent minds become depressed? Why do some of the most popular people feel the most insecure? Something inside them remains unhappy, despite them having developed certain virtues. Essentially they come to know they are un-fulfilled, with or without these virtues, even if they don’t know why.

It’s a scary situation for those who haven't begun The Inner Journey. In a second, the sham will be exposed, when our Aatmaa drops the cloak of this body at the time of mortal death. Our sense of self, constantly cultivated and consolidated through lifetimes of words and actions, will be the 'virtuous best friend' that suddenly reveals itself as our worst enemy. The Truth that was hidden from us instantaneously becomes blinding. We will not have mastered our destiny, through Gur-parsaad.

These three Pankteeaa(n) kept coming to me this morning, when my mind was wandering whilst trying to Jap Naam (loving meditation upon Vaheguroo). I share that which is not mine, in the hope that you will find some meaning of your own.

( ( ( :-)>>> Atma Singh

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