Bhai Jodh Ji was intellectual and held knowledge. He came to visit Guru Angad Jee’s darbaar (court). He experienced happiness, which he never felt before. Everyday Bhai Jodh would listen to Guru’s Keertan and sermon and then go to the Langar Hall, where he would wash all the jhoote bhaandey (dirty dishes) of the Sangat.

The Gur Sikhs saw that Bhai Jodh does a lot of Sewa but he does not sit in Pangat (with the congregation) to eat Langar. It must be because he is a Brahman and thinks he is higher than us that he doesn’t eat with rest of Guru’s Sangat. The GurSikhs reported this to Guru Angad. “Guru Angad Jee, Bhai Jodh does a lot of Sewa but he does not eat Langar in Pangat”. Guru Angad Jee called Bhai Jodh to see him. Bhai Jodh arrived in the presence of the Guru.

Guru Angad Jee asked him, ‘Bhai Jodh is it true that you do not eat in the Pangat like the rest of the Sangat?’ ‘No Maharaj! I do eat in the Sangat,’ replied Bhai Jodh. The GurSikhs said, ‘see, now he is a liar as well!” The Guru told Bhai Jodh, “you are holding something from me. When do you eat your Langar? Tell me.”

Bhai Jodh, now had tears in his eyes and he told the Guru infront of the GurSikhs, ‘Maharaj, when I clean the dirty dishes of the Sangat, sometimes people leave jhoot (left overs). I collect the jhoot of the Sangat in a small bowl. When all the Sangat leave, I then eat the left over jhoot.’

The listeners by where shocked to hear this, they thought Bhai Jodh didn’t eat the rest because of his pride and ego. But they were wrong, how could a person be so humble and consider themselves so low. Guru Jee asked Bhai Jodh, ‘O Sikh, why do eat the left overs of the Sangat. What makes you eat Jhoot?”

Bhai Jodh replied, “Maharaj, when I came to see you for the first time, I had a ego and pride that I was an educated Brahman. But I heard from you Guru Jee, that when we have hankaar (ego) we cannot obtain the happiness. Maharaj I hear from you that you don’t like maan (pride) and hankaar (ego).” “I put jhoot in the mouth of hankaar , in the mouth of my Ego, the thing that doesn’t let me get happiness”, said Bhai Jodh.

“Don’t say that Bhai Jodh!” replied the Guru. “Your sins have been washed, the Guru now dwells within you”.

The next day, Bhai Jodh sat in the Pangat (congregation) and ate Langar.

Some people come to the Gurdwara just to criticise and pick up faults of people, we see this today . To get happiness (kushiaan) it is hard. You have to endure lots – sewa (selfless service), simran (meditation) as well as criticism as this is the sign of living in Kaljug (era of falsehood).

The GurSikhs who reported Bhai Jodh the day before saw him eating in the Pangat. They told him, “Why are you eating in the Pangat? Has the leftovers (jhoot) finished or something? We knew you were a Pakandee, a fake.”

Now the reply Bhai Jodh said was heart moving (in Bairaag). “I ate Jooth before because I had ego and pride within me. But now within me is the Guru (the Guru’s teachings were enshrined in his heart). You can put a dirty spoon in the mouth of Ego. Ego used to dwell within me. But when I look within me now, when I contemplate within now, I see only the Guru and only feel the Guru . When I eat I, I eat for the Guru, I feed Guru within. I cannot feed my Guru jhoot so I cannot feed my Guru jhoot which resides within me.”

Guru Angad Maharaj Jee over heard this conversation. He hugged and embraced Bhai Jodh Jee.

‘jodh rasoeeaa devthaa gur saevaa kar dhuthar thaaree||’
à Jodh, the cook, served the Guru and swam across the world ocean.
(Bhai Gurdas ji vaar 11th Vaar, Pauree 15)
Via Tuhitu Blog

ਚਮਕ ਮੇਰੀ ਕਿਰਪਾਨ ਦੀ

ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸੋਚਦੇ ਹੋਵੋਗੇ ਕਿ ਘੱਟ ਗਈ ਹੈ
ਚਮਕ ਮੇਰੀ ਕਿਰਪਾਨ ਦੀ,

ਕਿੱਥੇ ਲੁੱਕ ਗਈ ਰੌਣਕ ਮੇਰੀ,
ਕਲਗੀ ਤੇ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਦੀ,

ਹੋਂਸਲੇ ਤੇ ਹਿੰਮਤ ਪਈ ਡੋਲਦੀ ਮੇਰੀ,
ਵਿੱਚ ਮੈਦਾਨੀ ਆ

ਝੂਲਦਾ ਸਿੱਦਕ ਸ਼ਰੀਰ ਮੇਰਾ,
ਵਿੱਚ ਜਵਾਨੀ ਆ,

ਨੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ,
ਚਾਰੋਂ ਪਾਸੇ ਮੇਰੀ ਹਾਰ ਦੇ,

ਰੁਲਦੀ ਜਿੰਦ ਥਾਂ ਥਾਂ ਤੇ,
ਗਿਰਦੀ ਇਹ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਦੇ,

ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ਹੋਵਾਂਗਾ ਭੁੱਲ ਆਪਣੀ,
ਅਣੱਖ ਤੇ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਨੂੰ ?

ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਪਦਾ ਸ਼ਇਦ ਜਾਗਾਵੈ
ਨਸ਼ੇ ਬਿਮਾਰੀ ਦੇ ਇਹਸਾਸ ਨੂੰ

ਹੋਇਆ ਜ਼ੁਲਮ ਨਾਲ ਬਹੁਤ ਮੇਰੇ,
ਅਬਦਾਲੀ, ਇੰਦਰਾ ਜਾ ਔਰੰਗਜ਼ੇਬ ਸੀ,

ਕੋਈ ਹਿੱਮਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ ਤੋੜ ਸਕਿਆ,
ਚਾਹੇ ਜਿਤਨਾ ਵੱਧ ਤੇਜ ਸੀ,

ਇਹ ਨਾ ਸਮਝਣਾ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਆਪਣਾ,
ਮੈਂ ਭੁੱਲਾ ਬੈਠਾ ਹਾਂ,

ਹਿੰਮਤ, ਅਣਖ਼ ਕਿਰਪਾਨ ਆਪਣੀ,
ਡੁਲਾ ਬੈਠਾ ਹਾਂ,

ਵਿੱਚ ਮੇਰੇ ਖੂਨ ਹੈਂ,
ਸਰਬੰਸਦਾਨੀ ਦਸ਼ਮੇਸ਼ ਦਾ,

ਜਿਸ ਪਿਤਾ, ਪੁੱਤਰ, ਮਾਂ ਵਾਰੀ ਧਰਮ ਤੇ,
ਬਾਦਸ਼ਾਹ ਦਰਵੇਸ਼ ਦਾ,

ਮੈਂ ਹਾਂ ਵਾਰਿਸ ਨਲਵੇ ਦਾ,
ਜਿਸ ਕਾਬੁਲ ਤਕ ਦਹਾੜ ਮਾਰੀ ਸੀ,

ਜੱਸਾ, ਰਾਮਗੜ੍ਹੀਆ, ਆਹਲੂਵਾਲੀਏ ਦਾ,
ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਾਂਗ ਬਿੱਲੀ, ਦਿੱਲੀ ਮਾਰੀ ਸੀ,

ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ ਘਲੂਘਾਰ ਮੇਰਾ,
ਪੰਜਾਹ ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਸੀ ਦਿਨ ਵਿਚ ਮਾਰ ਦਿੱਤੇ ,

ਬੱਚੇ ਕਟਾ ਗੱਲ ਹਾਰ ਪੁਆਏ,
ਮਾਵਾਂ ਸ਼ੁਕਰਾਨੇ ਦੇ ਘੁੱਟ ਪੀਤੇ,

ਇਕ ਹੱਥ ਵਿਚ ਕਲਮ, ਤੇ ਦੂੱਜੇ ,
ਹੱਥ ਵਿਚ ਖੰਡਾ ਧਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ,

ਖੜ੍ਹ ਕੇ ਬਾਬਾ ਦੀਪ ਦੇ ਵਾਂਗੂ
ਨਾਲ ਵੈਰੀ ਦੇ ਲੜਦਾ ਹਾਂ

ਭਾਈ ਵੀਰ ਤੇ, ਕਾਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਾਂਗੂ,
ਮੈਂ ਕਲਮ ਦੇ ਜੌਹਰ ਵਿਖਾਏ ਨੇ,

ਜੋ ਸੀ ਬੋਲਦੇ ਪੰਥ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਮੇਰੇ,
ਬਣ ਦਿੱਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਚੁੱਪ ਕਰਾਏ ਨੇ,

ਮਹਾਤਮਾ ਸੀ ਉਹ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦਾ,
ਬੋਲਿਆ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਕਲਗੀਆਂ ਵਾਲੇ ਦੇ,

ਗੰਡਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੇ ਵਾਂਗੂ ਜਾ ਪੁੱਛਿਆ,
ਜਵਾਬ ਨਾ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਸਕਿਆ ਦੇ,

ਵਿੱਚ ਜੱਲਿਆਂਵਾਲੇ ਬਾਗ਼ ਦੇ, ਓ’ ਡਾਇਰ
ਮਾਰ ਗੋਲੀਆਂ ਲੋਕ ਮਰਵਾਏ ਸੀ,

ਮੈਂ ਬਣ ਕੇ ਜੋਧਾ ਊਧਮ ਸਿੰਘ,
ਓਹਦੀ ਮੌਤ ਦੇ ਫ਼ਰਿਸ਼ਤੇ ਬੁਲਵਾਏ ਸੀ,

ਬਿਨਾ ਹਥਿਆਰ “ਗੁਰੂ ਕਾ ਬਾਗ਼” ਮੋਰਚੇ ਵਿੱਚ
ਜਿੱਤ ਕਰਾਉਣੀ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਹਾਂ,

ਸਰ ਕੱਟਾ ਪਟਰਿਆਂ ਤੇ ਲੰਗਰ ਲਾਏ
ਟ੍ਰੇਨ ਰੁਕਾਉਣੀ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਹਾਂ,

ਆਪਣੀ ਬੋਲੀ ਦੇ ਹਕ਼ ਲਈ ,
ਨਿੱਕੇ ਉਮਰੇ ਗੋਲੀ ਖਾ ਸੱਕਦਾ

ਰਹਿ ਵਾਂਗ ਭੁੱਖਾ ਫੇਰੂਮਾਨ ਦੇ,
ਮੌਤ ਨੂੰ ਗੱਲ ਨਾਲ ਲਾ ਸਕਦਾ

ਮੁੜ ਭਿੰਡਰਾਂਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਦੇ,
ਮੈਂ ਵੇਖਿਓ ਸ਼ੇਰ ਆਵਾਂਗਾ,

ਲੜਕੇ ਲੱਖਾਂ ਦੇ ਫੌਜ ਨਾਲ,
ਤੋਹਡੇ ਗੋਡੇ ਫਿਰ ਟਿਕਾਵਾਂਗਾ

ਮੈਂ ਵਾਂਗ ਝੱਪਟਾਂ ਬਾਜ਼ ਦੇ,
ਸਰ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਮਾਰਾਂਗਾ,

ਧਾਰ ਖੰਡੇ ਦੀ ਗਈ ਸੀ ਮੁੱਕ ,
ਮੁੜ ਉਸਨੂੰ ਚਮਕਾਵਾਂਗਾ ,

ਹੋਏ ਲੜਾਈ ਕਲਮ ਦੀ,
ਮੈਂ ਨਾਲ ਕਲਮ ਦੇ ਲੜ੍ਹਦਾ ਹਾਂ,

ਕਰੇ ਜੇ ਜ਼ੁਲਮ ਹਥਿਆਰ ਨਾਲ,
ਮੈਂ ਹੱਥ ਵਿੱਚ ਖੰਡਾ ਧਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ,

ਸਿੱਖ ਇਕ ਵੱਖਰੀ ਕੌਮ ਹੈ,
ਜਰਨੈਲ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਪੜ੍ਹਾ ਗਿਆ,

ਕਿੰਝ ਕੱਟਣੀ ਚੌਰਾਸੀ ਜਿੰਦਗੀ ਦੀ,
ਬਣ ਮਰਜੀਵੜੇ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਸਿਖਾ ਗਿਆ,

ਕਦੇ ਨਾ ਸੋਚਣਾ ਘੱਟ ਗਈ ਹੈ,
ਚਮਕ ਮੇਰੀ ਕਿਰਪਾਨ ਦੀ,

ਹੁਣ ਵੀ ਰੌਣਕ ਬਰਕਰਾਰ,
ਕਲਗੀ ਤੇ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਦੀ,

ਹਰਮੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ 5K

When Moninder Singh took his oath of office it was a historic day not just for Blacktown but for Australia.

Mr Singh is believed to be the second Sikh to be elected to local government in the country. He follows in the footsteps of Coffs Harbour deputy mayor John Arkan, who was elected to the coastal council in 2008.

In his first address to council, Mr Singh spoke about his pride in representing his community.

“I am very proud to be a councillor of this great city and today am equally proud to be an Australian – my adopted country, which not only allows everyone to practice their faith but also has given me the opportunity to take my oath on the Sikh Holy Book,” he said last week.

“I stand here a very humbled citizen.”

A former university professor, Mr Singh moved from India to Quakers Hill in 2001.

In 2008 he started the company Australian Academy of Management and Science. The organisation trains 150 disability care graduates a year.

Mr Singh was elected to ward one, which is also represented by fellow Labor councillor Chris Quilkey and Liberal councillor Jess Diaz.

The northern ward, which covers suburbs including Riverstone, Rouse Hill, Kellyville Ridge and Stanhope Gardens, was the closest contest in the local government election.

Mr Singh said he is committed to mayor Stephen Bali’s vision for Blacktown, including attracting a multi-faculty university to the city. He wants to help the council deliver a 20-year blueprint to the state government that would accommodate for predicted population growth.

“The way we are growing, we will be approaching the half-million mark very shortly. That is equal to what we have in Tasmania today,” he said. “Blacktown has a lot of opportunities but there’s a lot of challenges.”

The educator said population growth and infrastructure is also the biggest concern for ward one.

He has promised to host regular meetings with constituents, and is planning to visit railway stations, shopping centres and coffee shops each month to hear local concerns.

Source- www.blacktownsun.com.au

Candice Kaur was not born a Sikhs but after a journey of discovering her own path she found that Sikhi was her path. This is a very powerful phase where she describes her decision to boldly wear a turban.

I looked at myself in the mirror and I remembered myself at 19 years old in my long red dress and my tall eric badou style head wrap singing a cappella soul, captivating the crowd with the energy that I radiated. Owning my own presence, standing in both my humility and my power at once. I remembered… taking it off. Feeling that I didn’t have the right to embody that spirit that strength, that it wasn’t mine, that I was somehow imitating something that I could never be, whether that was aesthetically, ethnically, energetically. If only I’d learned then that the soul is beyond all of that. And that actually I not only had every right but I had the responsibility to reflect my higher self.

I looked in my mirror and remembered myself last year in the gurdwara, meditating alone. My hair wrapped on long folds of weighed understanding of myself. The cloth of growth and self-forgiveness wound around my mind, just tightly enough to keep my thoughts contained from running away with themselves, and gently enough to allow all my swallowed ego to settle while the realization of endless spirit set in. My simran.

My hair coiled up on my head as the antennae that tuned me into my truth and made the picture on the screen of my consciousness just that little bit clearer. I felt strength, I felt peace, tears flowed. Like I struck the oil of truth