News & Update

It preaches help for the poor and loving thy neighbour but now a new study has provided evidence that religion can make people more generous in their everyday lives.

Research commissioned by the BBC found that people who profess a religious belief are significantly more likely to give to charity than non-believers.

Sikhs and Jews emerged as the most likely to share their worldly goods with a good cause, just ahead of Christians, Hindus and Muslims.

The study, carried out for the BBC’s network of local radio stations, included polling by ComRes of a sample of more than 3,000 people of all faiths and none.

It found that levels of generosity across the British public are strikingly high, but highest among those with a religious faith.

Overall as many as seven in 10 people in England said they had given money to a charity in the past month. But while just over two thirds of those who professed no religious faith claimed to have done so, among believers the figure rose to almost eight out of 10.

Among those polled, all of the Sikhs and 82 per cent of practising Jews had given money in the past month. Among practising Christians the figure was 78 per cent.

The Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, general Secretary of the Methodist Church, said: “Religious faith should motivate people to acts of generosity and it’s good to see this reflected in these figures.

“Of course, financial giving is only part of the picture.

“For some people a simple act of kindness, or the very fact that someone has made time for them, can mean more than any financial gift.

“But every act of generosity, however small, bears witness to a generous and loving God and helps to change the world for good.”

~ Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The surname Singh is so prevalent around the world that Canada used to ban immigrants from keeping it, claiming the name was too common to process quickly.

Today, it’s a loaded identifier: violence against those who bear the name Singh — adherents of the religion known as Sikhism — has escalated since the attacks of September 11, so much so that the FBI has devoted a branch to investigating such crimes.

Given the visual nature of the Sikh identity, the photo above is a long time coming. It’s part of The Singh Project, a new undertaking by British photographers Naroop Singh Jhooti and Amit Amin. The series features tight-cropped portraits of Sikh men, intended to “highlight the subjects,” according to a video on the project’s Kickstarter page.

The subjects are both diverse and narrowly chosen. Some are young, in leather and jeans. Others look like jolly grandfathers in a Tinkle cartoon. Several, young and old, brandish the traditional Sikh knife, or kirpan.

All though, follow the Sikh tenet forbidding the cutting of hair out of reverence for the body. Accordingly, many Sikh men — and some brave women — tend to sport luxurious facial hair. Their uncut head hair is hidden by a turban. The regal look, often confused by the uninformed for an Islamic one, befits the faith’s commonest name: Singh comes from the Sanskrit word simha, which means lion (think Disney’s “Simba”).

In the Kickstarter video, creators Jhooti and Amin discuss how embarking on the project has changed their view of Sikhism. Both are Sikhs, but neither devout enough to look the part:

“But we felt a sense of pride,” Jhooti says. “It was great to see these men come into our studio. Their pride in their identity was so strong that it reinforced our belief in our religion.”

The project also calls to mind the work of Waris Ahluwalia, a Sikh man-about-town who’s recently stirred up press. Known to his admirers simply as Waris, the designer/model/gadfly made national headlines last year, when a Gap ad he was featured in across the U.S. drew anti-Muslim vandalism.

The Singh Project is poised to pick up where Ahluwalia left off, broadcasting the unique look of Sikh men to the general public, with an exhibit of oversized prints.

“And of course,” Amin adds in the video, “plenty of tea and samosas at the launch party.”

~ Source: The Huffington Post  | By Mallika Rao

Harsangat Kaur Khalsa’s personal journey in Sikhi led her to become the 1st woman to ride a horse in Holla Mahalla since perhaps the time of Mai Bhago. She is now in Austin Texas pursuing her dream on the international Tent Pegging team.

Harsangat ji, how did you come across Tent Pegging?

It really is amazing. I moved back to Texas and I wasn’t sure why I came back. I definitely wanted to spend more time with my family, but I felt out of place because before this I was living in sangat. Here, I’m back with my old friends and this is what I had left to become a Sikh. Then, I got a call a few months ago from a friend of mine, Jamie. She is married to a Sikh and she is on the Tent Pegging team. She said, “There is a Tent Pegging team and it’s only thirty days old and it’s in Houston.”

That’s only a couple hours away from Austin. I was blown away. That’s what I wanted to do when I was in India. When I rode a horse at Holla Mahalla, I did race, but I didn’t have a lance and peg like most of the people there. I wasn’t taken seriously. I had to prove my ability. They gave me an unruly stallion and I rode it with the best of them. Now hopefully, especially with being on the Tent Pegging team, they will let me fully participate in Holla Mahalla next time.

This is the first Tent Pegging team in the history of the U.S. I interviewed to be on the team and they wanted me on. Now I’m part of U.S. history and I’m really excited about it.

International team? Is Tent Pegging in the Olympics?

Tent Pegging isn’t officially in the Olympics. It may be at the Summer Olympics in Brazil IF it is accepted. It can take a long time for a new sport to get accepted in the Olympics. I believe there are sports that have taken 20 years to get in. But this equestrian sport is actually one of the first ever sports with horses. It goes back to ancient times. It also plays a big role in Sikh history.

What exactly is Tent Pegging?

Basically, it’s a non-violent act of war. In Sikh history, if I’m correct, there was a time when everyone was starving in Anandpur Sahib and the situation was terrible. The Singhs would go out before dawn while the other army was sleeping and ride through their camp. They’d use their spears to pull up the pegs from the tents. The tent falls down on top of the people sleeping. They would do this before dawn. They would bombard the whole camp this way.

So the spear is used to hit the tent pegs down?

Actually the pegs are picked up. So the game is that you pick up the peg from the ground with the spear. We use a bamboo bundle tied together. The bundle is sticking vertically out of the ground. We are timed and we have to pick up the peg while riding straight at full speed. That’s one part of the sport. Also, we take swords and we hit oranges or limes.

The army Calvary actually practices this. U.S.A., Canada, U.K. and other countries have Calvary that use Tent Pegging in their regiment. Actually, a few members of our team are from the Calvary from the U.S. army.

And this was so interesting. About two years ago I really wanted to be in the calvary but I realized I didn’t want to be in the army. I was actually looking into Canada. I was just considering it. Then this came up.

Right now, my focus is pretraining. I’m working with this amazing trainer at the moment to build up my back strength because I have an injury.

So my next game is going to be in Dehli. That’s in November. If I’m ready by then, it will be my first game.

There are Tent Pegging teams all over the world?

All over the world! Isn’t it crazy! There one coming up in Oman, there’s going to be some in Australia. It’s totally international. What’s interesting about the sport is that about 70% of the players are Sikh.

Jamie Huger Sabharwal & Harsangat Raj Kaur Khalsa

So I’m working a lot. I’m making it happen. I’m kind of doing this on my own. I would like to find a sponsor because it is quite expensive. I have a lot of people doubting it, saying that it’s really dangerous, especially people who are close to me. I really feel like this is something beyond me. Kind of like how we have sevas. Our soul has seva for the Panth. You, as an individual, have a gift. Using your gift is your seva for the Panth. I know that whatever I’m doing right now with this team is a seva. I’m doing it and following it.

As a child, I always envisioned myself being a professional horse rider. But because of my injury I never believed that it could happen.

What was your injury?

I was in England and I was riding a race horse. I was 15. The horse had just came off the track so it was still in that mode, in the mind set of racing. My friend’s horse got spooked and started running. Mine thought it was a race so it just took off, too. I wasn’t really paying attention at that moment. So I lost my stirrup and I got dragged by one foot by a galloping horse. I hurt my lower lumbar and shoulder so bad that my parents decided that they didn’t want to support me riding. The doctors said I shouldn’t ride ever again. That was the end of it. So growing up in my teens that dream was just gone.

Picture yourself thinking your whole life that that’s what you’re going to do and then finding out it’s not going to happen. I had a lot of family and home issues anyways so I fell into depression a lot. I think my depression started then. That was my love.

To think that it’s happening at my age now. You’d think that I’m ready to have a family, kids, like everyone else, but there’s something else that is just calling me. I’ve never been lucky in love and maybe this is the reason. Maybe I need to follow this love first and see what happens with me. If I had a family I don’t think I could put all this attention and energy to something like this.
It’s a gift, it’s a blessing and I’m going to do the best that I can. I’m going to train really hard and give it all my heart!

Also, I got the number 10. I requested to get it.

Why did you request number 10?

Hahaha, I wonder why…

Actually, I missed Holla Mahalla this year. That was sad. I could feel it. But I knew that this was Hukam. I accepted that I wasn’t going to Hola Mahalla. Shortly after that, I got on the team. I’m focusing on this which is going to give me skills to complete and actually tent peg at Holla Mahalla next year.

I also feel very honored to represent the U.S. and wish to compete and give it all I’ve got. I never knew this opportunity would happen in my life. It’s so surreal.

Stay tuned for part two of this interview where Harsangat Kaur shares her experience that riding is a meditation and inspirations for the youth.

If you want to be a sponsor or donate please contact her at: www.theheartwarriors.com

~ by Harsangat Kaur Khalsa
~ Source: http://www.sikhnet.com/

~ Reason going back to your roots is the best for your Health

In many Indian households you will find that people sit on the floor and eat their meals. While most of us have embraced the table and chair as a place to eat, there are those of us who prefer to sit in front of the TV and, or sit on the bed and eat. While this might be very comfortable, it might not necessarily be the best thing for your health.

Our ancestors definitely had a plan when they made sure we sit on the floor, cross legged and ate our food. Here are 10 reasons going back to your roots is the best for your health.

1) Helps improve your digestion:

When you sit on the floor, you usually sit cross legged – an aasan known as sukhaasan, or a half padmasna which are poses that help in digestion (since it is believed that when one sits in this pose in front of food it automatically signals your brain to prepare for digestion). Apart from that when you eat from a plate placed on the floor, you will have to naturally bend forward slightly and go back to your starting position to swallow. This constant back and forth movement causes the muscles of your abdomen to be activated, and also leads to increased secretion of stomach acids – making it much easier for you to digest food.

2) Helps you lose weight:

Sitting on the floor and eating has significant weight loss benefits too. When you sit in this position, your brain automatically calms down and is better equipped to focusing on the food you eat. Moreover this position helps you cognate the amount of food you have eaten and helps you feel full faster. How does that work? Well, the main reason people overeat is because they do not know when they are full. This happens because the vagus nerve (the main nerve that transmits signals from the stomach to the brain) sends signals to the brain as you eat, telling it if you are satiated, or not. When you sit on the floor this nerve is able to perform better and transmit signals more efficiently. Also, since this position makes you eat slower than you would while sitting on a table, it gives your stomach and brain time to cognate the signals of feeling full{2}, thereby preventing overeating and binging.

3) Makes you more flexible:

When you squat, or sit in padmasana, the muscles in your lower back, pelvis, around your stomach and those of the upper and lower abdomen stretch – reducing pain and discomfort. This, in turn helps your digestive system relax and stay in a normal position. Moreover, this position does not compress your stomach in anyway helping you eat and digest better. Moreover, the regular stretching of these essential muscles also helps make you more flexible and healthy.

4) Aids in mindful eating:

When you sit on the floor and eat as a family, it aids in mindful eating. Not only does it help you focus on your food, but it also helps you make better choices when you eat. Since your mind is calm and your body is ready to accept nutrition, sitting on the floor is the best way to eat the right amount and kinds of food. According to leading nutritionist, Rujuta Diwekar, eating food while concentrating on every aspect of the food – its smell, taste, texture and how much you are eating is the key to losing weight – which is what sitting on the floor and eating gives you.

5) Helps you bond with your family:

Usually the practice of sitting on the floor and eating is a family activity. This time is great for you to bond. One of the reasons sitting on the floor is better at helping you bond is because it leads to a calm and happy mind – helping you listen more intently and peacefully.

6) Improves your posture:

Posture is very important when it comes to staying healthy. Good posture not only helps prevent injuries but it also reduces the chances of excessive strain on certain muscles and joints, which can lead to fatigue and quicker than normal wear and tear. When you sit on the floor your posture is automatically corrected, making your back straight, lengthening your spine, and pushes back your shoulders – beating all the common aches and pains that come with bad posture.

7) Can make you live longer:

Sounds a bit unbelievable right? Well, it’s true, sitting on the floor and eating can actually help you live longer. A study published in the Journal European Journal of Preventive Cardiology{2} found that people who sat on the floor in padmasana and were able to get up without any support were more likely to live longer. This is because being able to get up from that position takes a considerable amount of flexibility and lower body strength. The study found that those who were not able to get up without support were at the risk of being 6.5 times more likely to die in the next six years.

8) Lubricates and keeps your knees and hip joint healthy:

According to PS Venkateshwara, author of the book Yoga for Healing {3}, padmasana and sukhasana is one pose that has health benefits for your entire body. Not only does it help your digestive system function better, but it also helps keep your joints supple, flexible and less prone to injuries and degenerative diseases like arthritis and osteoporosis. That is because the constant bending of the knees, ankles and hip joint helps keep them flexible and free of diseases. And with flexibility comes better lubrication between the joints making it much easier to sit on the floor.

9) Relaxes the mind and calms the nerves:

Sukhaasan and padmasana, or the cross legged way one sits on the floor while eating has a number of benefits, and one of its most significant ones is that it calms the mind and relaxes frazzled nerves. A very handy tool, it is believed in Ayurveda that eating with a calm mind helps better digestion and in some cases has even helped people relish food better.

10) Strengthens the heart by improving circulation:

Have you ever noticed that when you eat, you tend to feel warmer and in some cases even sweat? Well, that is because when we eat our stomach needs all the energy it can use to digest food. One of digestion’s most important element is a sound blood circulation. To keep up with this process, your heart tends to work overtime to help out your digestive system. Here is where sitting on the floor and eating can help you out. When you sit on the floor your heart gets the benefits of circulation as the blood is easily pumped through the heart to all the organs needed for digestion. This is in contrast to the pattern of circulation when you sit on a dining table and chair, wherein the blood flows to the legs as they are lower than the heart. Therefore, sitting on the floor and eating, affords you a healthy heart with strong muscles to help it cope with the pressures of daily life.

~ By Pavitra Sampath
~ Source: http://www.sikh24.com/