Thursday, May 24, 2007
Compassion and Wisdom

A friend’s son rang me up the other day. He was very upset as he had been cheated by someone pretending to be in trouble. I too have been cheated several times like this. More than monetary loss what troubled the boy was his own foolishness to believe the swindler. But I felt he had not been foolish as he had given away an amount that would have helped the person if he was really needy but it did not prick his own pocket much.

The incident really left me thinking over it for some time. We face such situations frequently where we are not sure whether we should donate money or not. Once in my life I had decided not to donate to anyone unless and until I was very sure of the right cause. Though I was not ever cheated, the guilt of walking away without helping someone would be heavier on my heart than the joy of “hey, you can’t fool me!”. I suppose this is the very sentiment which is exploited by the crooks.

But as a Sikh we have to be compassionate. Guru Nanak says compassion (daya) gives birth to Dharma.

DOlu Drmu dieAw kw pUqu ] (3-13, jpu, mÚ 1)

The mythical bull is Dharma, the son of compassion;

sMqoKu Qwip riKAw ijin sUiq ] (3-13, jpu, mÚ 1)

this is what patiently holds the earth in its place.

As in Asa di Var Guru Nanak tells us:-

scu qw pru jwxIAY jw isK scI lyie ] (468-11, Awsw, mÚ 1)

One knows the Truth only when he receives true instruction.

dieAw jwxY jIA kI ikCu puMnu dwnu kryie ] (468-11, Awsw, mÚ 1)

Showing mercy to other beings, he makes donations to charities.



But its no wisdom to give away to thugs (unfortunately you find them even in gurudwaras these days). That very money (however small amount) could have been utilized for some one who is really needy. A large amount of donations is also the cause of corruption

AklI swihbu syvIAY AklI pweIAY mwnu ] (1245-5, swrMg, mÚ 1)

Wisdom leads us to serve our Lord and Master; through wisdom, honour is obtained.

AklI piV@ kY buJIAY AklI kIcY dwnu ] (1245-5, swrMg, mÚ 1)

Wisdom does not come by reading textbooks; wisdom inspires us to give in charity.

Normally we are able to decide whether the cause is genuine or not. But some times we are puzzled and decision may be really difficult!

What I do in such a situation is to give something that won't hurt my pocket and would be of some help to the person concerned. After that I forget about it completely...

Anyone with better idea?


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posted by upinder kaur at 5/24/2007 01:09:00 pm | Permalink | 4 comments
Friday, May 18, 2007
ਮਾਹੁ ਜੇਠੁ ਭਲਾ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮੁ ਕਿਉ ਬਿਸਰੈ ॥
ਮਾਹੁ ਜੇਠੁ ਭਲਾ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮੁ ਕਿਉ ਬਿਸਰੈ ॥
The month of Jayt'h is so sublime. How could I forget my Beloved?
ਥਲ ਤਾਪਹਿ ਸਰ ਭਾਰ ਸਾ ਧਨ ਬਿਨਉ ਕਰੈ ॥
The earth burns like a furnace, and the soul-bride offers her prayer.
ਧਨ ਬਿਨਉ ਕਰੇਦੀ ਗੁਣ ਸਾਰੇਦੀ ਗੁਣ ਸਾਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਭਾਵਾ ॥
The bride offers her prayer, and sings His Glorious Praises; singing His Praises, she becomes pleasing to God.

ਸਾਚੈ ਮਹਲਿ ਰਹੈ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਆਵਣ ਦੇਹਿ ਤ ਆਵਾ ॥
The Unattached Lord dwells in His true mansion. If He allows me, then I will come to Him.

ਨਿਮਾਣੀ ਨਿਤਾਣੀ ਹਰਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਕਿਉ ਪਾਵੈ ਸੁਖ ਮਹਲੀ ॥
The bride is dishonored and powerless; how will she find peace without her Lord?

ਨਾਨਕ ਜੇਠਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਜੈਸੀ ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਗੁਣ ਗਹਿਲੀ ॥੭॥
O Nanak, in Jayt'h, she who knows her Lord becomes just like Him; grasping virtue, she meets with the Merciful Lord. ||7||

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posted by upinder kaur at 5/18/2007 10:14:00 am | Permalink | 0 comments
Monday, May 07, 2007
Gurbani Gaveh Bhai
Here is a video clip of kirtan by Dr. A S paintel and his students


 
posted by upinder kaur at 5/07/2007 04:12:00 pm | Permalink | 0 comments
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Just as the light of the sun's rays spread out,
This is the shabad Charhdi Kala Jatha sang at Talkatora Gardens. As the recording is not very clear I thought it will help to make it clear if you know what they are singing

ਰਾਗੁ ਬਸੰਤੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ਘਰੁ ੧ ਇਕ ਤੁਕੇ
ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
ਜਿਉ ਪਸਰੀ ਸੂਰਜ ਕਿਰਣਿ ਜੋਤਿ ॥


Just as the light of the sun's rays spread out,

ਤਿਉ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਰਮਈਆ ਓਤਿ ਪੋਤਿ ॥੧॥

the Lord permeates each and every heart, through and through. ||1||

ਏਕੋ ਹਰਿ ਰਵਿਆ ਸ੍ਰਬ ਥਾਇ ॥

The One Lord is permeating and pervading all places.


ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਮਿਲੀਐ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, we merge with Him, O my mother. ||1||Pause||


ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਏਕੋ ਹਰਿ ਸੋਇ ॥

The One Lord is deep within each and every heart.


ਗੁਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਐ ਇਕੁ ਪ੍ਰਗਟੁ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥

Meeting with the Guru, the One Lord becomes manifest, radiating forth. ||2||


ਏਕੋ ਏਕੁ ਰਹਿਆ ਭਰਪੂਰਿ ॥

The One and Only Lord is present and prevailing everywhere.


ਸਾਕਤ ਨਰ ਲੋਭੀ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਦੂਰਿ ॥੩॥

The greedy, faithless cynic thinks that God is far away. ||3||


ਏਕੋ ਏਕੁ ਵਰਤੈ ਹਰਿ ਲੋਇ ॥

The One and Only Lord permeates and pervades the world.


ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਏਕ ਕਰੇ ਸੁ ਹੋਇ ॥੪॥੧॥

O Nanak, whatever the One Lord does comes to pass. ||4||1||
 
posted by upinder kaur at 5/05/2007 09:29:00 am | Permalink | 0 comments
Friday, May 04, 2007
More videos from Talkatora
Chardikala jatha performed on 28th April 2007 at Talkatora Gardens.They sang 3 shabads but i was able to record only one.Then next day morning they did kirtan at Gurdwara Nanak piyau. there I took two videos. All the videos I have uploaded on Sikh Tube and you can watch there. Here is the video I recorded







 
posted by upinder kaur at 5/04/2007 08:43:00 am | Permalink | 1 comments
Thursday, May 03, 2007
More kirtan from Talkatora Gardens
Badar-Ur-Zaman and Qamar-Ur-Zaman had come all the way from Lahore to perform at Talkatora Gardens.Here is a video clip of their kirtan







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posted by upinder kaur at 5/03/2007 10:05:00 am | Permalink | 1 comments