Sikh Youth Camp

Here's the trailer to the Youth Camp, we've been organizing and have worked really hard with!

Hope you enjoy it; and attend the camp if you can!







p.s I didn't make the video

Politics

I usually don’t tend to post political stuff.

But today this post is going to be very offensive to any of you capitalists who are reading this.

So we had elections last year in Sweden (typically known as a socialist; welfare society). The “moderate-capitalist” party won (first time in twelve years woohoo!). They’ve managed to screw up entire Sweden in one year! And they’ve got three years left!

See in Sweden we’ve got a very different system to the rest of the world; we pay a HUGE amount of taxes (approximately a third of the income; all goods we purchase come with a VAT (tax) of 25% etc etc), but in return we get loads of facilities; such as (pretty much) FREE health care; FREE SCHOOLING/education (primary school up till university; all free!), kids up to a-levels get FREE LUNCH at schools; free dental care for those under 18; no matter how big the surgeries etc are; subvention on stuff like union fees; etc etc the list goes on.

The state owns a lot of the companies which also contribute to keeping this welfare state stable.

Those who earn the least money; the weakest/poor/sick people are those who benefit from this most. Middle class are pretty much unaffected, and the high-class suffer from this, since they have to pay a lot more taxes.

What the current government is doing is; they’re decreasing the taxes slightly, making the income becoming slightly higher (mostly benefiting rich businessmen); and stripping people off of these facilities. What group of people suffers from this the most? The sick and the poor. For middle class its still okay since they get more money, and would thus afford paying school fees etc. For the poor/sick this is catastrophic. Totally bananas.

What’s ironic is that the types of taxes that have been removed or decreased are those that benefit 10% of the population the most (the rich); and working-union fees have been stopped being subvention; which means higher costs for working people/labourers.¨ I think the news reported that 90% of the tax decrease goes to the rich businessmen, since before we used to have a fortune/capital tax, where you pay 1.5 % tax on the money above 1.5 million kr in your account. That means that a HUGE amount of revenue to the state has been lost...which means they'll put in less money into stuff like, schooling, healthcare etc!

P.s they've already increased the costs of traveling on public transports!!! Who does this effect the most? not rich people who constantly drive back and fourth!!!... (crap! I got carried away writing this postand have to drive to work now instead of taking the buss..since I'm late to work now...)

Vote left-wing in the next election!!!

(I’m actually surprised I managed to write such along post on this issue…)

The Jakara Movement

I watched a few videos on Youtube about the Jakara movement. I think they raise a lot of vital issues that need to be tackled within the Sikh community. Among other things, it raises; domestic violence, female foeticide and dodgy disagreements in the community.

I definitely hope that those who could’ve attended it, have attended it, because it seems like a really good event.

Also I do admire their video-making skills ; because it’s definitely not an easy job to make a video like that.

Enjoy:

Results!

I’ve been quite busy lately; although I thought I’d have more spare time during the summer due to no time going to studies any more, and although I’d be working more; that’d be okay, since there wouldn’t be any reading or revision to be done after work; but I was wrong.

Most of my time goes to actually working since some days, I begin 10 a.m and end 8 pm! The entire day is ruined!!!

Enough rambling about that!

I got results for my latest exams! I passed wooo!!!

Although this year hasn’t been the most efficient (or as Indians say; I’ve wasted one year), I think I’ve learnt a lot about myself; and about my own passions! I LOVE music, Indian classical instruments and anything related to the topic!

I’ve learnt that I don’t like technology as much as I like biology, and physiology, so I’m going to start studying biomed after the summer (this first semester I was reading physiology as a part of the, engineering in medical technology; which included some physiology courses; but is mostly about machines and stuff like that).

Anyway, my conclusion is this; although life is short and we should learn to use it as efficiently as possible; there's no hurry (realistically)... There is still time to get into the boring adult-life; and I don't need to try to hurry up the process; because I've realised that I LOVE studying [as much as I'd be surprised saying this], and am not looking forward to the working life; unless I get a dream job, straight after university!

Enough for now!

My next post will, most likely, be able some things I saw on youtube =)

Recognize the Lord's Light within all

An interesting quote I stumbled upon while reading Gurbani (hymns);

ਜਾਣਹੁ ਜੋਤਿ ਨ ਪੂਛਹੁ ਜਾਤੀ ਆਗੈ ਜਾਤਿ ਨ ਹੇ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ
jaanahu joth n pooshhahu jaathee aagai jaath n hae ||1|| rehaao ||
Recognize the Lord's Light within all, and do not consider social class or status; there are no classes or castes in the world hereafter. ||1||Pause||

(p 349)

Wouldn't the world be such a great place if we considered and acknowledged that the Light of God resides in everyone. If we managed to realise just that; wouldn’t we treat other people totally differently?

Although it’s quite easy to post this quote and hope everyone would treat each other much better from now on; but complex as we are; it doesn’t work that way. I myself think it can be really hard to consider that God exists within some people who really piss me off… or just generally are... stupid…

I must say I’ve got a problem swallowing the quote myself; or, to rephrase myself, follow it fully, and don’t think that I’ll ever manage to do it fully; but think that as long as I manage to keep it in mind, I might be able to control myself next time I’m getting pissed of at somebody for some reason… acknowledging that maybe it’ll just be better to stay calm?

Disclaimer;
I'm not the kind of person who easily gets pissed of (or am I ?; comment, and let me know what you think....); but there are times, when people really manage to tick me off..but usually I'm okay

The Begger Boy

by Sat Mandir Singh Khalsa (Virginia), Grade 12 Miri Piri Academy, Amritsar, India, December 10, 2006

"A few weeks ago, during a so-far uneventful G.T. (Golden Temple) trip, I was walking along, minding my own business, when I suddenly felt a tug on the side of my chola. I looked down and saw a scrappy-looking beggar boy about seven or eight years old staring up at me, hand outstretched. He looked pitiful. He had long, greasy hair that was draped sloppily over his face and almost concealed his big, round eyes, which portrayed an emotion of deep sorrow. A tattered hemp shirt that was much too small for him was pulled as far as it would go over a cavity of a stomach, which indented his skeletal frame. Covering his twig-like legs was a pair of old, hand-me-down trousers that were torn and faded from generations of use. His feet were shoeless and calloused from many years of walking barefoot through the rough streets of Amritsar. From head to toe, he was covered in a thick coat of dirt and grime that darkened and splotched his skin.

He was repulsive, and he’d touched me! I felt contaminated. I quickly turned and hurried back up the street. Pausing at a nearby shop, I bought an ice cream, thinking it might help purge my mind of the dirty little boy. It didn’t. I kept thinking about those big, sad eyes staring up at me. Why did he make me feel so guilty? I wasn’t responsible for putting him on the street, for forcing him to beg. I hadn’t hurt him… but I hadn’t helped him either. He was in need, but instead of feeling sympathy for him, I felt disgust, as if he didn’t have feelings, as if he weren’t human. I was angry with myself. How could I have brushed him off so easily, without a second thought, as if he were some insect crawling up my leg?

I finished the ice cream bar, bought a second for later, and continued on up the street. About a hundred feet away, I came to a second shop. The storefront was packed with MPA students, all matching in their blue cholas with miniature adi shaktis patched onto the sides. Each one had a five or a ten or a twenty rupee note in his or her hand and was jabbing it at the men behind the counter, hoping to catch their attention so that THEY would be first to be served. I realized how awfully rude this was and made a mental note to myself to be a little more respectful in the future.

I turned away from the shop and continued on my journey up the street. I heard someone call out my name. Still walking, I looked back over my shoulder to see what he wanted. I never found out. Just after I had turned around, my legs hit into something and I had to stumble forward to prevent myself from falling. Startled, I looked down and standing there before me was the little beggar boy, in exactly the same position with his arm outstretched, palm cupped, staring.

My first thoughts were similar to the ones I had had during our previous encounter, but I soon silenced my mind and took control. Remembering the ice cream bar in my pocket, I took it out and handed it to him. His eyes instantly illuminated, and he smiled so widely that I could see tops of his gums. In the blink of an eye he had the ice cream out of its wrapper and into his mouth.

A few seconds later, I was surrounded by an entire posse of children, all looking at me hopefully. I turned back to the shop, ordered ten more ice creams, and began handing them out. The rest of the children’s reactions were similar to that of the first. One by one they took their treat gratefully, being extremely careful not to drop it. Then they slowly licked away, savoring every moment. When they finished they skipped away, rejuvenated and content. As I watched them go, I realized how such a small sacrifice on my part could make such a large impact on others less fortunate."

Copied from MrSikhnets blog.

Prayers

23 years ago, heaven turned into a battlefield….

Deep condolences, and prayers to all those who have been affected by the events.


Operation Bluestar.

Picture courtesy: mrsikhnet.com

Weirdo!

Pretty funny, but true. It's actually quite common that I stand there and think that some geezer iss wooo weird; but totally forget that some other geezer might see me as totallllly weird as well. Something I definitely can relate to.

Made me smile; so thought I'd post it

Mummmmmmmyyy

In Sweden; it's mothersday today!

All I'm going to say is; just acknowledge everything you're mother has done for you so far. Even if you're pissed at her for some reason; think about how many things she’s done for you; how many sacrifices she made for you.

Here's a small vid I made a few months ago. I thought I had posted it on my blog before, but apparently I hadn't, so here you go!





Everytime I watch it, it kind of gives me the goosebumps (especially the end)

Gurmeet Ram

Although I had intentionally avoided writing about the controversy in Punjab, I finally decided to make a post about it. For those of you who haven't heard about what's been going on:

Basically there's been a conflict in Punjab due to the fact that the leader of a dera/sect called Sacha Sauda "appeared in advertisement dressed up as Guru Gobind Singh, the revered 17th century Sikh guru. "

Akal Thakhat has issued edict against the leader, and is currently, (practically) forcing him to apologize. They organized a Punjab Bandh-day, which basically means that all shops, offices, schools and everything are closed, in protest to what happened.

An ultimatum has been issued saying that if he doesn't apologize for this "blasphemous act" by ay 27, they demand the closure of his deras in Punjab.

More background info about the issue

Basically, I think that what he's done isn't very nice, and one can almost guess that his intentions weren't to be very nice either. Although I can understand that a lot of Sikhs are upset about it, I think that this might be taking it too long.

I agree with the fact that peaceful protests have been made to get people's attention that Sikhs are very upset about the issue, and that what he's done was very offensive. To quote from tribuneindia.com from May 24; "Makkar was reported to have told mediapersons that he did not believe in what the law and Constitution says. He had stated that deras of Sacha Sauda would have to be vacated.” Something gives me the feeling that, the approach that will be used to impose this ultimatum isn't going to be very peaceful, especially considering the fact they are openly saying they don't give two hoots about the law. The fact that some "hard-liners" have announced that they will reward the person who manages to 'bring the dera leader's head' will be weighed in gold, does not help.

I think the approach Sikhs used to use before was really good. In 1920's against the British for having taken over the Gurdwaras and imposing their rules and regulations, Sikhs peacefully protested, and were at times SHOT for doing so [Hence: Gurdwara di seva ley kurbaniya kitiya; Those who sacrificed their lives in order to be able to serve and take care of the religious shrines- in the daily ardaas. (read more about that here).] Another event that comes to mind is the massacre of 1978 in Amritsar, where the Sikhs peacefully, (without weapons) protested against the Nirankari baba for the "blasphemous" words he used to address Guru Granth Sahib Ji. They were shot the whole bunch for protesting (read more here). Today Sikhs are getter more into using violence. It become the easy-way-out to show that we are upset. Whereas before Sikhs would take a lot of sh*t before using violence; Sikhs now quickly jump to the resort of using violence. Sikhs are loosing this tolerance, and ‘taking-the-sh*t-first-resort’, which kind of worries me,

I think the article by I.J Singh and Ravinder Singh raise a lot of very important issues regarding this event. I strongly recommend that you read it, especially if you have been following the recent events in Punjab. Click here to read it.

I want summerrrrr!

I'm sooo looking foward to summer!
Right now, I've got exams, part-time job, exercise, vocals, internet time wasting etc etc!

I've hardly got any time anymore.


That's why I'm looking forward to the sumeer! No studies, and then I can do everything else, sleep good 8 hours, and have some fun!

Best of all (something I'm really looking forward to) is; Sikh Student Camp!




Can't miss that out!

Powerfull

bilaaval mehalaa 5 ||
moo laalan sio preeth banee || rehaao ||
thoree n thoottai shhoree n shhoottai aisee maadhho khi(n)ch thanee ||1||
dhinas rain man maahi basath hai thoo kar kirapaa prabh apanee ||2||
bal bal jaao siaam su(n)dhar ko akathh kathhaa jaa kee baath sunee ||3||
jan naanak dhaasan dhaas keheeath hai mohi karahu kirapaa t(h)aakur apunee ||4||28||114||


Bilaaval, Fifth Mehla:
I have fallen in love with my Beloved Lord. ||Pause||
Cutting it, it does not break, and releasing it, it does not let go. Such is the string the Lord has tied me with. ||1||
Day and night, He dwells within my mind; please bless me with Your Mercy, O my God. ||2||
I am a sacrifice, a sacrifice to my beauteous Lord; I have heard his Unspoken Speech and Story. ||3||
Servant Nanak is said to be the slave of His slaves; O my Lord and Master, please bless me with Your Mercy. ||4||28||114||

Read Shabad
Listen to Shabad

Wierdness

The other day, I was surprised that the buss I usually take, didn't follow its normal route; it took an entirely different direction.

I yelp out of shock, and find out that the other way has been blocked by police. I wonder what's wrong, but don't get too fussed about it.

The buss leaves me quite a bit from home, so I have to walk home; but the tiredness overweighed curiosity.

Later on I found out that they found a body, a few hundred meters from home, in a forest, nearby the bus stop I pass daily. This was the place I usually passed when going on my walks.

Off course, there's an entirely different feeling passing that place now. I still pass the place a few times a week, but now you make sure you look at the forest extra carefully, just in case.

The other day I noticed how I was holding my kirpan quite tightly when passing the place, during a night-time walk. I had goose bumps.

Sounds very spooky, and it is quite a spooky place. But like everything else, life will go on (what a bad ending to a post you're probably thinking..), the fear will disappear, and soon, everything will back to normal.

The police still hasn’t revealed (or actually identified) the identity of the murdered.

The Tabla Guy

Big up to this geezer. He's my new role model haha.
No; but seriously; he did a really good job, combining several genres; including western music, to indian classical teen taal and what not!
Great stuff!
Check out his website; he's got some interesting stuff there as well;
The Table Guy

License!

The other day (exactly one week ago) I did my driving test; and I passed it!

Was a great feeling; now being able to drive without anyone sitting beside all the time! Not that I'm going to be able to drive much, but had guests that day, so the first trip I made without a teacher was to the Gurdwara, to drop the guests (",)

After the test, mum (who was waiting in the car), went to work, and I was meant to go home (with public transport!). Since the test place is near a shopping center, I decide to check out clothes. I usually don't spend much time shopping clothes. That day I speant a few hours, and quite a lot of money on buying shorts and shirts (Summer seasons here)!

I think I deserved it. I did however realise one thing; Shopping on your own can be very fun. As long as you've got time to check out stuff, and don't have anyone (an annoying relative, or parent) nagging on you to hurry up, to just BUY THE CLOTHES OR NOT TO BUY THEM. So that was actually a lot of fun! Mum wasn't too happy to see my bank balance after the shopping, but that's another story alltogether!

I'm satisfied. One thing that I do remember from a previous post about contentment is about license being one of the things I still don't have. Now thats removed from the list. Now it's just; a Digri (Degree, in hardcore Punjabi), a job (academic, to come after the digri), a car, and a voti.
Thats it! Amazing!

I went to the post office to pick up the license, which came by mail today; I look pretty good in it (okayish haha )

p.s Mum still doesn't know I, kind of, bumped the car into the garange door while taking the car out of the garage . Nothing serious, hardly visible (if your eyes aren't too good. )


Deynda deh lehnde thuk pay...

Dost

Dost dost nahi, Khuda hota hai.

Mehsus tab hota hai, Jab voh juda hota hai.

Bina dost ke jina, Ik saza hota hai.

Aur dost aap jaisa ho, To jine ka maza hi aur hota hai.

Copied from Himmat Singh's blog

Vaisakhi ai!

Just wanted to wish all my reader a (very) belated happy Vaisakhi!

Hopefully most of you had a great weekend and met up with other youngsters and did something cool!
We had this AKJ Jatha come from UK who did Kirtan here. I was pleasantly surprised to find some of them started by singing a Shabad in Raag; so that was cool (something that I witnessed, almost the first time).

Apart from that, My Vaisakhi has mainly been about spreading information to the youth, making and distributing flyers about the Swedish Camp, in the beginning of August.

Dates: 29 July - 3 August!
Place: Stockholm, Sweden
Everyone invited!

Hopefully I'll write some more about the camp; and if you've got any questions, you can simply post a comment and (hopefully) I'll answer it.

www.sikh.se/camp

Humility

There's this Hindu couple that comes to the local Gurdwara. They do soo much seva. It's unbelievable how much seva they do. You caa always find the wife doing the cleaning-the-shoes-seva. And what's so cool is that, they never show off, talk about it or anything. It's as if they do the seva; and forget about it, never to be remembered again. Now I don't know what's going on in their brains; they might be stuck in the 5 vices, and what not; but what really amazes me ias that they do the seva they do, with a LOT of humility.

It feels as if they've got a lot more humility in the Gurdwara than most of the Sikhs put together (including me haha). It feels as if they're the carrier of the torch of Guru Nanak, more than the Sikh sangat is; which is stuck in ritualism, Akhand Paath, and what not. I'm not talking about rehit or anything; because although they might not be following the rehit, I personally think that the devotion they're serving with passes all lengths; of the devotion most rehitvan Sikhs do in this part of the world.

I don't have much to say, other than; although I'm not saying Rehit isn't important, I still think there are more important things (despite the many quotes the exist to emphasise rehit), in the spiritual life, such as; devotion, gyan etc. That being said; I'm not saying there aren't rehitvaan people who don't have above qualities; but I think more emphasis is put in the exterior, than the interior; rather than a balance of both.

Haven’t posted for long due to getting a part-time job, and due to preparations for a Sikh youth camp in Sweden is on the roll! So much to do; and so much things going on.
Hope to post a bit more frequently =D

My inspirations #3 - Do not deprive me of the privledge of serving the Sangat....

Nawab Kapur Singh led the Khalsa during a period of turmoil. Nawab Kapur Singh ji was initiated into the Khalsa by Panj, which included Bhai Mani Singh Ji, along with his father and brother, Vaisakhi 1721.

During this period the mughals realised that they wouldn't be able to defeat the Sikhs, so they decided to make a treaty where the Sikhs would be allowed to live freely without having price on their head! The Sikhs where given a large estate. Sardar Kapur Singh was chosen to lead the Sikhs, and to control the land. He was given the title by Five Sikhs, at whom's feet he first placed the robe of honour he had received, before putting it on. Although reluctant, he had to accept the decision made by the community, but made one request. That "he should not be deprived of his old privilege of serving in the community kitchen (Langar)." (Some say that he used to clean the dung of the horses in the barns...and that he requested that, he should not be deprived of that seva).

He got the honour of leading a whole nation, yet all he requests is that he should be allowed to continue doing seva, which most of us are reluctant on doing!

During this period the population of Sikhs had grown, so the army was dvided into two groups; Buddha Dal (army of the old) and Taruna Dal (army of the young; jawan). Nawab ji led the Panth during a period of turmoil in Sikh history, and he was involved in creating the Khalsa Army; Dal Khalsa, and creating misls (groups of Sikhs with different functions, some would protect the Gurdwara etc), under the leadership of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia who was another great Sikh warrior of the time.

It was during this period that Hindu girls was abducted by Persian invaders (Nadir Shah), and the Dal Khalsa would pursue to their rescue. The smaller holocaust occurred during this period. 1748 he requested to be relieved of his duties due to his old age, and proposed Jassa Singh Alhuwalia to be the commander of the Dal Khalsa.

What's cool is; is the fact that he wasn't just a soldier, he reflected a Sikh; a saint-soldier; a person who wouldd, at time of peace, sit and actually do seva, and serve people, and not just lead.

Read more about Nawab Kapoor Singh;

Page 1
Page 2

The reason I’ve written this up, is because I myself didn’t know much about him, and thought it would be something we’d all learn something from, since I hadn’t heard about him much till quite recently =)

ਦੇਦਾ ਦੇ ਲੈਦੇ ਥਕਿ ਪਾਹਿ ॥

ਦੇਦਾ ਦੇ ਲੈਦੇ ਥਕਿ ਪਾਹਿ ॥
ਜੁਗਾ ਜੁਗੰਤਰਿ ਖਾਹੀ ਖਾਹਿ ॥
ਹੁਕਮੀ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਚਲਾਏ ਰਾਹੁ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਵਿਗਸੈ ਵੇਪਰਵਾਹੁ ॥3॥
(SGGS: 2)

Just when I had started thinking life can't get any better; I get a call.



I have no way to express myself, so I really don't see why I'm posting this. All I can say is; acknowledge what you have been given; whether from your brother, sister, mother or whoever. Just acknowledge. Just once go and say 'thank you', and show your appreciation for something; and look how happy they become.

When you're done doing this; Go and do an ardaas, and thank God for everything he's given you.

Just a few days ago, one of my eye went black for a few seconds. I was panicking. It felt as if the right eye was paralyzed (and it didn’t help that I couldn't see anything with it). That's when it struck me. I'm not appreciating what God has given me at all. Not to the extent that I've been writing on this blog. That’s when I realised that I've been given much much more than I appreciate; and now realise that I cannot and will not be able to appreciate everything he's giving me. (My eye’s okay now )

Just once; appreciate; and thank. Acknowledge.
What's funny is; I keep getting materialistic things that keep making me more and more content (sounds very weird I know). When you look at Gurbani; you see that the Bhagats had been blessed by much more than materialistic things, and look at the extent they are content too (post getting weird and weirder ). How much they're thanking God; how much they are
appreciating....

Considering my Sikhi isn't much developed, and I'm (honestly) not making much effort to develop it; I cannot believe I'm getting so much...

ਜਾ ਤੂ ਮੇਰੈ ਵਲਿ ਹੈ ਤਾ ਕਿਆ ਮੁਹਛੰਦਾ ॥
ਤੁਧੁ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਮੈਨੋ ਸਉਪਿਆ ਜਾ ਤੇਰਾ ਬੰਦਾ ॥
ਲਖਮੀ ਤੋਟਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਖਾਇ ਖਰਚਿ ਰਹੰਦਾ ॥
ਲਖ ਚਉਰਾਸੀਹ ਮੇਦਨੀ ਸਭ ਸੇਵ ਕਰੰਦਾ ॥
ਏਹ ਵੈਰੀ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਸਭਿ ਕੀਤਿਆ ਨਹ ਮੰਗਹਿ ਮੰਦਾ ॥
ਲੇਖਾ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਪੁਛਈ ਜਾ ਹਰਿ ਬਖਸੰਦਾ ॥
ਅਨੰਦੁ ਭਇਆ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਮਿਲਿ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦਾ ॥
ਸਭੇ ਕਾਜ ਸਵਾਰਿਐ ਜਾ ਤੁਧੁ ਭਾਵੰਦਾ ॥7॥

Shabad; ang 1096

I've been typing and erasing; so I see no point in continuing. Just acknowledge; and love.