http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W77ZCx0bKCw&feature=player_embedded

BHAI NIRMAL SINGH KHALSA - DHAN DHAN RAM DAS GURU

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.
"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me."

"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."

"There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."

"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."

"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."

"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.

Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that Waheguru will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!!

There's a miracle called Friendship That dwells in the heart You don't know how it happens Or when it gets started But you know the special lift It always brings And you realize that Friendship Is God's most precious gift!

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

O Lord!
If you want to send
Somebody in my life
Please make sure that
This person brings me
Nearer to You than before

Otherwise please don't send
Anybody new
As I don't want to go
Further away from You
I don't want anybody to come
In between You and me

O Lord!
If you want to send
Something new to me
Please make sure that
This thing brings me
Nearer to You than before

Otherwise I don't want it
You can give to somebody else
Who desires this more than me
I don't want anything to
Come in between You and me

O Lord!
If you want to send
Me somewhere
Send me to a place
Where I am nearer to You
From inside my heart

Otherwise I don't want
To go anywhere
Where I can't remember You
I don't want to goto any place
That takes me away from You

O Lord!
If you want to give me happiness
Please make sure that
With it You send me some sadness
To test my state of equanimity

Otherwise I don't want only joy
As it might make me
Forget You
I don't want any state to come
In between You and me

Source: http://mistakesingh.blogspot.com/2006_0 ... chive.html

Six blind men were discussing exactly what they believed an elephant to be, since each had heard how strange the creature was, yet none had ever seen one before. So the blind men agreed to find an elephant and discover what the animal was really like.

It didn't take the blind men long to find an elephant at a nearby market. The first blind man approached the beast and felt the animal's firm flat side. "It seems to me that the elephant is just like a wall," he said to his friends.

The second blind man reached out and touched one of the elephant's tusks. "No, this is round and smooth and sharp - the elephant is like a spear."

Intrigued, the third blind man stepped up to the elephant and touched its trunk. "Well, I can't agree with either of you; I feel a squirming writhing thing - surely the elephant is just like a snake."

The fourth blind man was of course by now quite puzzled. So he reached out, and felt the elephant's leg. "You are all talking complete nonsense," he said, "because clearly the elephant is just like a tree."

Utterly confused, the fifth blind man stepped forward and grabbed one of the elephant's ears. "You must all be mad - an elephant is exactly like a fan."

Duly, the sixth man approached, and, holding the beast's tail, disagreed again. "It's nothing like any of your descriptions - the elephant is just like a rope."

And all six blind men continued to argue, based on their own particular experiences, as to what they thought an elephant was like. It was an argument that they were never able to resolve. Each of them was concerned only with their own idea. None of them had the full picture, and none could see any of the other's point of view. Each man saw the elephant as something quite different, and while in part each blind man was right, none was wholly correct.

There is never just one way to look at something - there are always different perspectives, meanings, and perceptions, depending on who is looking.

Moral: God is one but everyone has different understanding therefore many form of God.

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come
from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work.
Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would
consider a bum.
From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no
money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times
that you just don't want to be bothered. This was one of those "don't
want to be bothered times."
"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought.
He didn't.
He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn't look
like he could have enough money to even ride the bus.
After a few minutes he spoke.
"That's a very pretty car," he said.
He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly
blond beard keep more than his face warm.
I said, "thanks," and continued wiping off my car.


He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never
came.
As the silence between us widened something inside said, "ask him if
he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes" but I held true
to the inner voice.
"Do you need any help?" I asked.
He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget.
We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from
those of higher learning and accomplishments.

I expected nothing but an
outstretched grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook me.
"Don't we all?" he said.

I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum
in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge
shotgun.
Don't we all?
I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I
needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus
fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those
three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter
how much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you
have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or
a place to sleep, you can give help.

Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that.
You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all.
They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A different
perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from
daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see.
Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe
he was more than that.

Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and
wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves.

Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then said, "go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help."
Don't we all?

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

Waheguru ji ka khalsa
waheguru ji ki fateh

1...God won't ask what kind of car you drove;

He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.



2...God won't ask the square footage of your house,

He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.



3...God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet,

He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.



4...God won't ask what your highest salary was,

He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.



5...God won't ask what your job title was,

He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.



6...God won't ask how many friends you had,

He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.



7...God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived,

He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.



8...God won't ask about the color of your skin,

He'll ask about the content of your character.



9...God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation,

He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the

gates of Hell.



10...God won't ask how many people you forwarded this to,

He'll ask if you were ashamed to pass it on to your friends.



Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

Quiet moments, worship God.

Painful moments, trust God.

Every moment, thank God.

Remember, when the world pushes you to your
knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.

waheguru ji ka khalsa
waheguru ji ki fateh

Wahegurujikakhalsawahegurujikifateh

There were many Gurudwara Sahibs that were established in East Africa as Singhs emigrated from Punjab during the early 1900s.

Wherever Singhs gathered one of the first things that they did was to create a place where they could meet in sadhsangat and sing the praises of Satguru Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj. In this way in a remote area called Taboro, Tanzania slowly a Gurudwara Sahib was built brick by brick by the hands of Guru Sahib's Sevaks.

The Gurudwara Sahib in Taboro has a plaque attached to it which states, “Singh Sabha 1910”. At one time the Gurudwara Sahib used to be packed with Guru Sahib's Sikhs however as time went on the sangat began to leave this area till eventually only one Sikh family; a husband and wife were left.

According to Guru Sahib's hukam the husband passed away one day. Sangat from the capital city Dar Es Salaam came in numbers to help with the Antam Sanskar of the Singh. After an Akhand Path Sahib had been completed and langar served the sangat from Dar Es Salaam told the Kaur that they planned to take Satguru Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj to Dar Es Salaam and close the Gurudwara Sahib in Taboro.

The Kaur looked at them and said, “Why do you need to do that when I'm here? Don't you know that Guru Sahib has been blessing not only Sikhs but non-Sikhs with darshan for over 80 years. How can you deprive them of that?”

“As long as I am alive I will continue to do Guru Sahib's seva as he blesses me with it.”

In this way the Kaur continued to stay with Satguru Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj in Taboro.

Akho Satnaam Sri Waheguru

Wahegurujikakhalsawahegurujikifateh

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

A businessman was highly critical of his competitors' storefront windows. "Why, they are the dirtiest windows in town," he claimed. Fellow business people grew tired of the man's continual criticism and nitpicking comments about the windows. One day over coffee, the businessman carried the subject just too far.

Before leaving, a fellow store owner suggested the man get his own windows washed. He followed the advice, and the next day at coffee, he exclaimed, "I can't believe it. As soon as I washed my windows, my competitor must have cleaned his too. You should see them shine."

Confucius once declared, "Don't complain about the snow on your neighbor's roof when your own doorstep is unclean."

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

http://www.sikhnet.com/s/BeInspired

Here is a list of things that you and others can do that will give you an experience, and hopefully give you inspiration. These are things that made a difference in my life. I hope you take the time to read through them and find at least a few things that you can commit to doing. See what happens! Get your friends involved too! Let me know what your experiences are - Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa


1. Tell an inspirational story in Gurdwara every week.
Organize with other youth and make it a regular thing. You will learn a lot and be inspired with what the Gurus did and taught. (So will others too!) Reference for stories: "The Sikh religion" by Max Macauliffe. There are also many Sikh story books available online or locally.

2. Lead a short meditation to give other youth an experience of Gurbani and meditation.
You can meditate chanting the Mul Mantra (Ik Ong Kaar Sat Nam Karta Purkh….), Sat Nam or Waheguru. Or do a silent meditation taking long deep breaths. Focus on your breath going in and out. Inhale mentally chant "Sat Nam", exhale "Waheguru". This is a good chance for yourself and others to "tune in". There are also CDs that are available that you can meditate with.

3. Make a commitment to do a meditation daily for at least 40 days.
Regular practice will make a big difference in your mental clarity. You will feel less stress and pressure from daily life. You will also feel more connected to the Gurus.

4. Learn a Shabd and sing or play it every day for yourself.
This in itself is a meditation to learn and sing the Guru’s hymns. It can be very blissful for yourself and others too. Download and print Shabds from : www.SikhNet.com/GurbaniKirtan/

5. Wear the 5 K’s and Bana.
Wear "full" turban, kurta/pajama, kirpan outside of clothes, etc. Let the projection of the Guru inspire yourself and others. It takes more time to dress this way but it will make a difference in how you feel and how others perceive you. Also when you wear the bana that the Gurus gave then you will be less likely to do things against Sikhi. You won’t see a priest in robes doing something bad.

6. Youth Run Gurdwara Day
Organize with your community Gurdwara for the youth to learn and then run the whole Gurdwara. Have a regular weekly youth day where the youth runs everything. This will give the youth experience and learn a lot. It will probably be lots of fun too! In many Gurdwaras the youth don’t have much involvement and generally get left out. Attention needs to be given to the youth so that they enjoy Gurdwara and understand the practices.

7. Shabd Sheets For Gurdwara
Organize with your Gurdwara to know in advance the Shabds that will be played. Then look up and print/make copies of the Shabds so that the Sangat can sing along and understand the bani. This seva will help you and many others be more a part of the Gurdwara. You can download and print shabds from the Siri Guru Granth at: www.SikhNet.com/GurbaniKirtan/ . Get a filing cabinet and organize the copies so that they can be used at a later time.


8. Serve Langar to the Sangat at Gurdwara - SEVA
Seva (selfless service) is a one of the Sikh practices and can be very humbling. You could do this or pick some other type of Seva. Whatever Seva you chose don’t just do it once. Make a commitment to doing it on a regular basis.


9. Sadhana (Daily Discipline/Practice).
a) Rise early in the morning. At this time your mind is quieter and it is easier to meditate. b) Take Ishnaan (cold shower) and rub your body vigorously. You can rub body oil on before you go in the shower. The shower will wake you up and increase your circulation. It is very healthy and will energize you. c) Then read your banis and meditate.


10. Organize a group of youth (or just yourself) to do Japji or Rehiras together continuously for at least 40 days.
Get the experience of doing the Gurus Bani. Having others with you will make it more enjoyable and will help you continue it on a regular basis. Also take the time to read the translation so that you understand what is being said.


11. Learn and practice Gatka, or other martial arts
Martial arts will give you discipline, self confidence and is great exercise. Doing Gatka can be inspiring. It gives a connection to Guru Gobind Singh. If you decide to learn Gatka, practice the "Pantra" (Which is a 4 Step movement) along with Jaap Sahib, played by Ragi Sat Nam Singh.


12. Listen to Gurbani throughout the day.
Doing so will help keep your mind on God. If you can, sing along with the Kirtan.


13. Inter-generational dinner to discuss issues and how each can help/learn from each other.
Help Bridge the gap between yourself and your parents/family/etc. There are many unexpressed issues and this can provide a way for you both to express them and find solutions. Take the initiative to make it happen! Invite a few families/friends. You could start with having the parents and youth talking separately to come up with a list, and then coming together to discuss the issues.


14. Study Sikh history.
Learn what the Sikh Gurus did. Do a presentation at your school to educate others. You can do the research on the internet and also from books.


15. Bored with doing banis?
Then focus on understanding them. a) Switch to reciting the English translation so that you understand what the Guru is saying. b) Recite out loud and consciously listen to what you are saying. c) Do it with full concentration and absorb yourself in the bani to overcome a wandering mind. d) Read one section or sentence and then fully understand the meaning before going onto the next.


16. Become a "Big Brother/Sister" to someone younger than you.
Other youth need help, guidance, and someone other than parents to go to. You can provide this and learn a lot in the process.


17. "Sponsor" someone younger than you during Gurdwara.
Use this as a chance to teach someone younger than you about Sikhi. You don’t have to be an expert to teach something. Actually teaching is a good way of learning. Be creative and use it as a way for you AND someone else to learn more.


18. Find your talent and use it to serve.
Everyone has something special that they are good at. Tune into your heart to see what it is. Then use it to serve. Doing selfless service is very rewarding.


19. Look at the positive in any situation.
Take the hard times as a test and learning experience that the Guru has given to you. Take the good times as a gift. If you do this then your life will be more enjoyable and rewarding.


20. Daily Hukamnama - Every day ask a question and take a hukam (in the language that you understand) to see what guidance the Guru gives you. Use the Guru as a guide whenever you have troubles and hardships. If you do not have a Gurdwara or Siri Guru Granth where you are able to take a hukam then you can take a "cyber" hukam at: www.SikhNet.com/SikhNet/Register.nsf/CyberHukamnama (Close your eyes and meditate for a moment before you do so to "tune in").


21. Go for a brisk walk chanting the Mul Mantra and focus on the rhythm of it.
This is like a meditation exercise.


22. Do Ardas in English
The Ardas that we recite in Gurdwaras is a prayer that reminds us of the sacrifices Sikhs have made. It is good to understand it when you are saying the prayer.


23. Participate in Youth Camps
Youth camps are a great place to make new friends and get support. You will learn things like Gurbani Kirtan, tabla, reading and writing punjabi, gatka and get a better understanding of Sikhism.


24. Organize a Sikh youth group
Use the group to share experiences and support each other as peers, as you will all go through the similar hardships. When you are alone it is more difficult. Together you can do a lot.


25. SMILE and be yourself!
Take the time and energy to give people a bright smile. It will make you and them feel good. These days people are becoming so impersonal and closed that it will help open people’s hearts up.


26. When you are feeling discontent find something that you are thankful for.
God has given us many gifts. We sometimes forget this till it is lost or we don’t have it anymore. Rather than looking at what you don’t have, be grateful and thankful for what you do have, and who you are.


27. Inspire and Support each other
Take the time and energy to help inspire your friends & family. We all need help being inspired and supported. Take the initiative!


28. Be yourself. Do not be concerned with what others think.
God made you who you are. Trying to be something that you are not will only make you feel unhappy. Don’t compromise your values to please others. People who get to know you will see you for what you really are. Those are the REAL friends.


29. Be a living example.
Practice some of the above suggestions on a regular basis. People will see you change and be inspired by your efforts. By setting an example it will make it easier for others to make the effort to do the same.


30. Change starts with you.
There are many problems in this world. We can sit around, complain, worry, or come up with solutions that never get implemented. But unless we take action and live what the Gurus taught then things will continue in the same direction. When you take the initiative it will spread and others will do so also.

End Note:
Ok, now that you have read the 30 ideas, and maybe think some of them would be great to do, the challenge is to actually DO SOMETHING. Don't wait till tomorrow (because it never does come). Do something today! The challenge here is "Action". It's easy to talk about things and think how good it would be to do something, but to actually DO IT is the challenge. I deal with this every day. Being disciplined is hard. The normal tendency is to take the easy way out. So, are you ready for the challenge? If so make a commitment to do it for some period of time and see what happens.

A donkey with bibles piled on it's back does not make it a padre (Priest). In other words, you can have all the knowledge in the world on your book shelf, but if you don't experience it and use it, then it is useless and doesn't make you a knowledgeable person.

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."

"Is the man of the house home?", they asked. "No", she said. "He's out." "Then we cannot come in," they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. "Go tell them I am home and invite them in!" The woman went out and invited the men in.

"We do not go into a House together", they replied.

"Why is that?" she wanted to know.

One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. "How nice!!," he said. "Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!"

His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?"

Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!"

"Let us heed our daughter-in-law's advice," said the husband to his wife. Go out and invite Love to be our guest."

The woman went out and asked the three old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest." Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other two also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: "I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?"

The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever he goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!"

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH