Story of Ms Kirpa Kaur Khalsa who is from Australia and is currently studying in the UK. Bhenji recently took Amrit and became a member of the Khalsa family. May she be blessed with more Chardikala and Gursikhi Jeevan!

She narrates her journey of being an Amritdhari Sikhni!

I first felt a connection with Guru Sahib when I was 5 years old looking through a picture book in my school library in Australia. Growing up I continued to witness the amazing power of Guru Sahib. Every step closer I took to Guru Sahib, on my discovery I felt so much Pyaar (love) and such a strong presence guiding me on this beautiful lifelong path. Guru Sahib brought me to England for a university exchange and continued to shower me with blessings and guidance- the amount of Pyaar Guru Sahib gives his children is beyond anything in this world. On 20th December 2014 in Coventry, Guru Sahib blessed me into the Khalsa Family. There is no way to describe this feeling! All I can say is my soul is at peace now.

With the power of Naam and Guru Sahib’s Pyaar, there is no way we can ever feel alone or empty. When I was really young I just felt fascinated by the people in the library book and mesmerized by Sri Harmandir Sahib. When I looked at the pictures I felt like I had found my place in the world. It was like I had a connection with it from past janams (lives). There are not a lot of Gursikhs in Australia. However, with God’s grace I applied for exchange programs all over the world and Guru Sahib brought me to England and surrounded me with so many inspirational Gursikhs.

I had so many problems and hurdles to get to UK but Guru ji did not let me fail any test. Even in the last hurdle with my visa I had no certainty that I would be allowed into the country to stay, but I felt that confidence to just to go and everything would work out – and it did. With God’s Grace everything happened perfectly – I know Guru Sahib wanted me to come here and be amongst the Gursikhs and the Saadh Sangat. It’s an amazing feeling – everything was done for a reason!

My name before was Ruby Palmer. My family is full of beautiful people. I love them so much but it is hard for them to understand as they don’t believe in religion. There have been a lot of hurdles and the image of a Dastaar (turban) is confronting for them because it’s so different to anything they know. However, I just explain to them with love why I am doing things and with time they’re getting more and more use to it- it’s just about changing what they perceive as normal. The bottom line is that they just want me to be happy, and following Guru Sahib’s path is what makes me feel the happiest and fulfilled.

20th Dec was the best day of her life when she connected to Guru Sahib & became the member of Khalsa Panth!

~ Source: http://manvirsingh.blogspot.in/

Gurdwara Pathar Sahib, is a beautiful Gurdwara Sahib constructed in the memory of Guru Nanak, about 25 miles away from Leh, on the Leh-Kargil road, 12000 ft above the sea level. The Gurdwara was built in 1517 to commemorate the visit of Guru Nanak Dev to Ladakh , the founder of the Sikh faith.

During his lifetime Guru Nanak travelled to many distant places and one such place was Tibet. Guru Nanak is well respected by Tibetan Buddhists who consider him a saint; The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Buddhists in Tibet, has confirmed this in his discussions with some Sikh leaders saying that Tibetans revere Guru Nanak as a Buddhist saint under the name of Guru Gompka Maharaj.

During the period of 1515-18 when Guru Nanak was returning to Punjab through Srinagar, after travelling to Sikkim, Nepal and Tibet, he had rested at this place. It is believed that Guru Nanak Dev reached Leh via Sikkim, Nepal, Tibet and Yarkhand. Today the site and the Gurdwara is revered by both the local Lamas and Sikh sangat. Currently the Army is looking after the Gurdwara.

According to a local legend, once a wicked demon live in the area who terrorized the people where the Gurdwara is now situated. The people prayed to the Almighty for help. It is said that Guru Nanak heard their woes and came to their aid. He settled down on the bank of the river below the hill where the wicked demon lived. The Guru blessed the people with sermons and became popular in the area. The locals called him Nanak Lama. Seeing this, the demon got into a rage and decided to kill Guru Nanak Dev.

One morning when the Guru was sitting in meditation, the demon pushed a large pathar (boulder), down from the hilltop, with the intention of killing the Guru. The boulder gained speed as it rumbled down the hillside, but when it touched the Guru’s body, it softened like warm wax and came to a halt against Guru Nanak’s back. The Guru kept on meditating unhurt and undisturbed. Thinking that the Guru had been killed, the demon came down and was taken aback to see the Guru deep in meditation. In a fit of anger, he tried to push the boulder with his right foot, but as the Pathar still had the softness of warm wax, his foot got embedded in it. Pulling his foot from the boulder the demon was dumfounded to see the impression his foot had just left in the stone.

On seeing this, the demon realized his own powerlessness in comparison to the spiritual power of the great Guru. He fell at the feet of Guru Nanak Dev and begged for forgiveness. Guru Sahib advised him to get rid of his wicked ways and asked him to lead a life of a noble person. This changed the life of the demon, who gave up evil deeds and started serving the people.

Guru Nanak Dev thereafter continued his holy journey towards Srinagar via Kargil. The pathar pushed down by the demon, with the imprint of the body of Guru Nanak Dev and the footprint of the demon, is at present on display in Gurdwara Pathar Sahib. It is said that since the visit of Guru Sahib (in 1517) to the building of the roadway in 1965, the local Lamas had held the Pathar sacred and offered prayers to it as, no doubt, they do to this day.

~ Source: Sikhiwiki

She was born and raised in Punjab, India to Jasbir Singh, and Paramjit Kaur. Her father moved to the United States when she was about 4 years old. She eventually moved to the U.S. in 2006 when she was 17 years old. Since She grew up seeing her grandfather’s picture in his Army (Indian) uniform, military was always on the back of my mind. She finally thought about it, spoke to a military recruiter. After a lot of convincing, my parents finally agreed to let her join the Air Force.

Being an athlete prepared her physically and mentally for the upcoming challenges I was about to face in the basic military training.

She deploys, sustains and repairs standard voice, data, and video network infrastructure systems, IP detection systems and cryptographic equipment. She performs, coordinates, integrates, and supervises network design, configuration, operation, defense, restoration, and improvements.

She is responsible for analyzing capabilities and performance, identifying problems, and taking corrective action. In summary, She is a computer network hardware and communication equipment specialists for the U.S. Air Force.

When asked about What has been her biggest learning experience/moment since joining the armed services?

She said”, Learning to live on my own is definitely the greatest learning experience because I went from being dependent on my parents to being independent within few hours. Although I missed having my family around, especially my mother, I learned that being independent was something I may have never learned if I had not joined the U.S. Air Force. I have been doing everything myself, and had to polish my time management skills. I recently adopted a dog (her name is Willow), and she has taught me to be more responsible, patient, and a lot calmer.”

Her thoughts on the ongoing campaign to increase the number of Sikhs in the U.S. military were, “I think it’s a great platform and I couldn’t be more ecstatic to see the efforts of my fellow brothers and sisters to raise Sikh awareness including assisting Sabat Surat (practicing) Sikhs with the process. Sikhs have been living in the United States for ages now, and I believe that just like any other Americans, Sikhs have the right to serve. They have contributed in every other sector of our nation so why not the uniformed services?

Her experience being a Sikh woman in the armed services was quite comfortable. She had never experienced any hardships.

Her role as Victim Advocate in the U.S. Air Force is to provide essential support, liaison services and care to a sexual assault victim. VAs provide crisis counseling, ongoing non-clinical support, information and referral to assist with decisions about the case. A victim advocate can also be present for any interview or appointment at the request of the victim.

Her advice for our young men and women who are interested in joining the military is, “Military isn’t for everyone, but if you are a committed and hardworking individual that there is nothing that can stop you. Signing that contract is a huge deal, and not only are you going to be responsible for yourself but for your peers and civilians. Good research is crucial, and especially being able to talk to someone who has served or is currently serving would assist you when you are unsure. Everyone has different experience and emotions about joining, so it never hurts to speak to more than one person. My experience has been positive because joining has taught me patience, self-discipline, resilience, self-confidence and assisted me in becoming a detail oriented person.”

On being asked as to How does She practices her Sikh faith while being away from your family and community on extended missions. She said “I have a Gutka Sahib with me which I brought from Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple). Gutka Sahib keeps me sane when I am having Gurdwara Sahib and family withdrawals. Internet & technology are some great inventions!! One can listen to Gurbani anywhere at any time of the day. I tend to listen to Japji Sahib in my car on days when I’m running late to work.” Her goal is to work with the FBI, and that is what she sees herself doing in ten years!

We appreciate your achievements & the inspiration you bring to our Youth!

~ Source: facebook.com/PortraitsofSikhs

Mr. Singh received a BA (Hons) in Economics from St Stephen’s College in Delhi University and an MBA from Cornell University. He has over 16 years of global management and finance experience in France, UK, Hong Kong, India and the US.

Currently, he is on the executive committee of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association. He is also a member of the governing council of the Automotive Research Association of India and the Indian Society of Automotive Technology, as well as the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Apart from his involvement with professional bodies, he is equally well known in sports administration; he is the vice president of the Tamil Nadu Olympic Association and president of the Tamil Nadu Aquatic Association.

On the extra-curricular front, he used to represent the Tamil Nadu state in swimming events. Similarly, sister Praneet was also a state-level swimmer. According to him, his passion for work is what continues to drive him, even at seventy.

We are proud of all your achievements, Mr.Singh.

~ Source: facebook.com/PortraitsofSikhs

Students of Akal Academy Ghugg celebrated Gurpurab of Guru Gobind Singh Ji in spiritual fervor & utmost devotion. Poems enlightening the teachings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji were recited by the students, absorbing the divine essence. Students in bowed heads in reverence and joined hands pay their obeisance to Guru Sahib and their divine attire added to the glory of this auspicious day. Kirtan Darbar set up by the students added to the spiritual atmosphere.

Kirtan by students echoed all over, beautifully praising the Great Guru. Bhog of Sehaj Path was followed by Ardaas and Guru ka Langar. The atmosphere was filled with cheerfulness and liveliness.

Like & Share the Divinity among friends & family!

~ Tapasleen kaur
~ New Delhi, 16th Jan ’15

ਮਾਂ ਪਿਉ ਪਰਹਰਿ ਕਰੈ ਦਾਨ ਬੇਈਮਾਨ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਪਰਾਣੀ ||
ਮਾਂ ਪਿਉ ਪਰਹਰਿ ਵਰਤ ਕਰਿ ਮਰਿ ਮਰਿ ਜੰਮੈ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਣੀ ||
ਗੁਰੁ ਪਰਮੇਸਰੁ ਸਾਰੁ ਨ ਜਾਣੀ ||੧੩||

“The person after having deserted their parents performs charities, is corrupt and ignorant. He who pushes away his parents undertakes fasts, goes on to wander in the cycle of births and deaths. That man (in fact) has not understood the essence of Guru and God.(13)”

(Bhai Gurdaas Jee, Vaar 37: Pauri 13)

” The Wooden Bowl story”

An old man moved in with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man was in poor health, his eyesight was bad, and his hands trembled. When the family sat down to eat together, the grandfather’s shaky hands and bad eyesight made eating difficult. Food fell off his spoon, and when he drank from a glass, his drink spilled on the tablecloth. The son and his wife quickly became irritated with the old man. “We must do something about this mess” said the son. So they put a small table in the corner, where the grandfather would eat alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since he had broken some dishes before, he now ate from a wooden bowl. When the family looked at the old man, he would sometimes have a tear in his eye as he sat by himself. Still, the only time the family would talk to him is when they scolded him for making a mess. The four-year-old watched this treatment of his grandfather and said nothing.

One evening before dinner, the father noticed the little boy playing with wood scraps on the floor. The father asked his son what he was making. The boy responded “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up”. Smiling, the boy went back to playing with the wood scraps. The parents were speechless. They knew what had to be done. That evening, grandfather sat at the table during dinner. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family, and no one ever minded the mess on the tablecloth.

Lessons Learned

The initial treatment of the grandfather in this story embodies society’s growing trend of how elders are perceived. The parents in the story represent all of us while the old man signifies all the elderly. In this story, it was only through the eyes of a child that the parents were able to realize their error in the way the grandfather was treated. The child represents the pure honest truth, which freed the parents to truly see life. Children are remarkably perceptive, and if they see us patiently provide a comfortable atmosphere for our older family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives.

~ Source: ManvirSingh Blog

Here at the centre of the pool
the Golden Temple checks its mirror
and takes a long bath in the cool.

The gold sun also bathes its face.
Some nights, the moon comes down as well.
Celestial bodies know this place.

The paper kite – a soul has given its soggy face in pink surrender
and floats upon the waves of heaven.

The gold carp in their nibbling school are the blessed residents below,
eating prasad thrown in the pool.

The waves are lit with electric light, yet holy songs emit more current:
kirtan is sung here day and night.

Each pilgrim, family husband, wife
bathe each day for health and wealth,
bathe for everlasting life.

Yet, who bathes inside the mind?
who scrubs down to the spotless self?
The inner pool is hard to find.

-AmritKirtan.com

“On January 12, I did my first ever Skydive to ask France to allow religious headgear for Sikhs in schools & workplaces. They Say it is difficult to do difficult thins with a religious symbol(Turban) but I wanted to put across the message that it is not a hindrance but invokes passion, pride & love” says Harjinder Singh.

The Young Sikh was elated with the experience. He was shocked three of the Sikh basketball player had given their turban after International Basketball Association. He took special precautions to take care that his turban is intact & does not drop. He tied it tight while supporting it properly. The Young students appreciated his idea of expressing his religious freedom.

“We will keep fighting for our religious freedom and our religious symbols.”- Says Mr Singh voicing the Sikhs who struggle to practice their religious freedom.

A Sikh man has taken a leap of faith in St Kilda, skydiving from 15000 feet in the name of religious freedom. Indian Harjinder Singh believes he is the first person to jump from a plane wearing a turban.Like the Muslim burkha, the turban, a mandatory requirement for Sikh men, has been banned in government schools and workplaces in France, he said. “The whole idea is to create awareness and have a voice,” Mr Singh said.

“Our voice has been the loudest, because it affects us the most,” he said. “It’s a part of who we are and it’s not something we add on.” Mr Singh said he supported religious freedom for everyone. He shared his skydiving experience with his more than 31,000 Facebook fans and 17,000 Instagram followers.He said the message was timely as freedom of speech was in the spotlight after the recent shootings in Paris.

Kudos to Mr Singh for his breaking taking experience, standing firm on his principles!

~ Source: http://www.theweeklyreviewbayside.com.au/

At the annual Star Screen Awards, the film Chaar Sahibzaade won the best animation film. Scriptwriter and director were presented the award for the film. The Film “Chaar Sahibzaade” became India’s most watched and highest grossing animation film in history.

The audiences of the Punjab region gave an overwhelming response to the film and such high per screen average overseas caused big budget Bollywood films to loose screens. The film remained strong for a record 8 weeks with full shows being booked right up to the 7th week. The film had the highest per screen average than any film in Indian history week after week.

The film is all set to release on DVDs and online and audiences are desperately waiting for an announcement of a sequel.

~ Source: Daily Sikh Updates

After a child is born in a Sikh family, as soon as the mother is strong enough to get normal, move about and bathe (there is no rigid rule as to how soon after child-birth this should happen), the family and close relatives gather in a Gurdwara. A bowl of holy sweet pudding (Karah Prashad) is placed before Guru Granth Sahib and Hymns of Thanksgiving are sung. After performing prayer (Ardas), the Hukamnama is read from Guru Granth Sahib. After this, the name is bestowed upon the child, based on the first letter of the Hymn, read from Guru Granth Sahib. The congregation (Sangat) endorses the name by shouting the Sikh salutation – Bole So Nihal – Sat Sri Akal. The words „Singh‟ or „Kaur‟ are suffixed to a boy‟s or girl‟s name respectively.

~ Baba Iqbal Singh Ji
~ Sikh Faith Book