News & Update

Most of the Chinese ladies cried reading the Guru. After decades of communism and atheism the need to experience spirituality is so strong that emotions overflow.

Now, at Ajai Alai Center, we are doing prakash of the Guru every morning and sukhasan every evening.

Also, the prashad recipe is now part of the new born 3HO Chinese community.

Satmukh Singh, who started all this process in China six years ago must be honored for the mission.

These are the comments of some of the Chinese ladies who participated to the Akhandh Path.

Saibhang Kaur : “Reading the Guru was indescribable, and sometimes feeling taken over”

Ramdev Kaur : “It felt like a new beginning, an opening and I am honor to be here for the first of what may be many to come”.

Devinder Kaur : “A Divine and Miraculous experience. I feel really close to God.”

Ajeet Dev Kaur : “Moving. When you make some mistakes, you feel guilty but someone didn’t judge you and saw the good part of you and treated you gently, just like the Guru’s love.”

Sukh Meher Kaur : “Amazing experience. When I was reading the book, I entered a space where I was worry free, care free. I could leave everything behind. I felt protected. I got much deeper understanding about the Sikh religion. In that space, I feel very comfortable, I just wanted to stay by the Guru. Also, one time, reading the Guru, I was crying.”

How it was achieved :

Here in China we are having the Chinese Yoga Festival. The Yoga Festival was organized by Satmukh Singh, from France, in the Ajai Alai Yoga Center in Shenzhen and Satmukh Singh wanted to have an Akhandh Path.

So Karta Singh from France gave to the new Gurdwara a Guru in one volume (made by binding the 4 volume translation together.)

Atma Singh (myself) gave the Victory and Virtues (Sikh Dharma ceremonies) book. Sat Siri Singh, from London, was our Minister for the whole process.

We just finished the Akandh Path this morning at 4:30. 29 different people read it for 110.5 hours. We started on May 1st, at 14h.

The experience was very inspiring and also fun: at the beginning, all the Chinese, with great devotion, did multiple bows, like the Muslims are doing, in front of the pictures of the Gurus on the wall. We educated them to bow in front of the Guru Granth Sahib only.

Blessings,
Atma Singh

Sri Guru Amar Das, though born in 1479, became the Guru in 1552 when he was in his seventies. Guru Amardas ji were born as Bhalla Khatri at village Basarke about 13 kms south-west of Amritsar. His father was Tej Bhan Bhalla,, a local petty trader. They were all staunch sanatanists, and vegetarians. Guru Amar das had a wife, two sons and two daughters. He often went to Haridwar and Jwalamukhi on pilgrimages and strictly observed all religious rites and ceromonies.

Before coming into contact with Sikhkism Guru Amar Das had crossed sixty years of age. His brother Manak chand lived nearby his house, Manak Chand’s wife Bibi Amro use to sing Guru Nanak’s hymns. Bhai Amar Das (Later Guru) must have heard her singing many times before. He engquired whose hymns she was singing and immediately made up his mind to call on Guru Angad. It was in 1541, when Amardas was 62 years old. Guru Amardas ji were on Guruship from 1552 to 1574, he moved to Goindwal from Khadur to avoid conflict with Guru Angad’s son’s., elder of whom named Datu had declared himself as a Guru. Gurdwara Baoli Sahib at Goindwal , Got constructed by Guru Amardas ji

All the same he took many significant steps. He established new centres for conveying to the people the message of Guru Nanak. Guru Amardas ji, condemnned Hindus for Sati, allowed widow remarriage and against Caste systems he started Guru Ka Langar. He passed on his Guru Ship to his son in law, Ramdas Sodhi, who was his most devoted disciple. Guru Amardas ji organised the proleystaion of Sikh faith into Manjis. He divided the area into 22 branches called Manjis and appointed a local Sikh preacher at each place. The preacher sat on a Manji (a cot) while the congregation all around it. Here are the name of the people he appointed to preach Sikhism.

in the area of Majha (Amritsar, Lahore, Sialkote)

1. Manak Chand Jhinwar (Water Carrier) at Variowal in Amritsar.
2. Sada ram, a Blacksmith near Amritsar.
3. Hindal at Jandiala near Amritsar.
4. Gangu Shah banker at Lahore.
5. Mutho-Murari, a devoted couple, at Chunian in Lahore Dist.

In Jalandhar Doab

1. Paro Julka at Jalandar.
2. Mahesh Dhir at Sultanpur Lodi.

In Kangra Hills.

1. Sawan mal, Nephew of Guru Amar Das, at Haripur Guler.
2. Name not given, at Dharamsala.

Kashmir Hills.

1. Phirya at Mirpur.

Malwa (Area of Patiala, Ludhiana, Bhatinda)

1. Kheira at Firozpur.
2. Mai Das Bairagi in charge of Ludhiana dist.
3. Mai Bhago at village Wayun, tehsil Kharar, dist. Rupar.
4. Mai Sewan at Village Gardnoh in Patiala District.
5. Sachna Shah in charge of Ambala distt.

Sind

1. Lalu in chage of some area in Sind.

He started the system of holding two annual gatherings of his disciples from all over the country. At his headquarters, he undertook the construction of a baoli (a well with a perennial source of spring water). For the Sikhs the headquarters of the Guru and this baoli became a holy place of pilgrimage.

Guru Angad had collected the hymns of Guru Nanak. To these Guru Amar Das added the hymns of the former as well as his own. Guru Amardas appointed three women as preachers was a unique contribution of Amardas. Guru Amardas ji were highle pleased with one of his disciple named Bhai Jetha, first Guru Amardas ji married his daughter Bibi Bhani to Bhai Jetha, and then delighted with the couple’s devotion, he passed on the Guruship to Bhai Jetha as Guru Ramdas. In his devotion to Guru Nanak, Guru Angad, God and his Sikhs Guru Amardas was as firm as a rock. He departed from this world on September 1, 1574.

They administered both to the religious and the temporal needs of the disciples; for, in the Guru’s system legitimate temporal needs were included in the religious needs. They collected offerings from the disciples and sent them to the Guru for the common use of the community. The Guru himself earned his living as a small tradesman. Langar during early sikh times as painted by Bhai Vir Singh

As an anti-caste and anti-pollution measure, he made it incumbent that no one, irrespective of his status or caste, could see him unless he had first partaken, along with others, of the food cooked at the common kitchen. Emperor Akbar had also to dine at the langar before he met the Guru.

In his time, ascetics and recluses again made an attempt to enter the Guru’s flock. But the Guru issued a final injunction that no recluse or ascetic could be a Sikh. He also denounced the system of sati and of purdah among women.

According to the Guru, the human body was the temple of God. He, therefore, laid emphasis on keeping it healthy and sound to the end. For the same reason, he denounced the ascetic practices of torturing the body. The Guru felt that the health of the body could not be divorced from moral and spiritual well-being.

KUALA LUMPUR: UNITED SIKHS MALAYSIA, a non-governmental organisation from the local Sikh community, plans to undertake a 300km goodwill walk from Singapore to Malacca beginning Saturday until May 24.

Rishi Singh Randhawa, a radio deejay better known as “The Flying Singh”, will lead the walk starting at 5 am from the Silat Road Gudwara Sahib in Singapore. The goodwill walk also aims to raise awareness and funds for the Gurpuri Foundation.

Gurpuri, which means “Place of the Guru”, intends to build a Sikh temple, a school and a home for orphans, widows, single mothers, handicapped children and the elderly on a seven-hectare site in Bentong, Pahang.

“We hope to raise a minimum of RM100 per km and we will walk for an estimated 10 hours a day for eight days,” Rishi said. There will be stops along the way, including Gurdwaras (Sikh temples) in Johor Baru, Batu Pahat and Muar.

Rishi said the walkers hoped to reach Malacca Gurdwara Sahib at 6 pm on May 24 to coincide with the annual celebration of the late Sant Sohan Singh Ji, a renowned local humanitarian and community leader who had helped many Sikhs and non-Sikhs during his lifetime.

Every year, thousands of Sikhs from across Malaysia gather in Malacca to honor Sant Sohan Singh Ji and the event also attracted Sikhs from Singapore, Thailand, Australia and Hong Kong.

The goodwill walk organisers have also invited well-known Sikh Kirtan or hymn singer Dya Singh, who is based in Melbourne, for the walk.

“I am in for the goodwill walk and I am bringing along Vikram Singh Ji for this good cause,” said Dya, whose last long distance walk was in 2011 from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca.

Vikram, the former Vic Briggs of the 1960s pop group The Animals, took on his present name after he discovered Sikhism.

Rishi said this year’s walk would also be dedicated to the passengers of MH370 and he had invited Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Idris Haron to be at the finishing line.

There will also be special prayers at the Malacca Gudwara Sahib for MH370 passengers on that day.

Rishi said UNITED SIKHS MALAYSIA had in the past raised funds for the victims of the tsunami in Acheh and an earthquake in Pakistan.

“This year we also hope to raise funds for children in Syria affected by the ongoing political turmoil in their country,” he added. — BERNAMA

By ~ New Straits Times
Source ~ www.nst.com.my

With his kirpan, a traditional Sikh sword, poking out of his blue pin-stripe blazer, Martin Singh used his speech to NDP voters to paint himself as the quintessential Canadian: different in many ways, but similar all the same.

In the last of seven showcases Friday, the pharmacist from Musquodoboit Harbour, N.S., said his religious devotion and military background, both unusual for an NDP candidate, paired well with his reputation as a family man and staunch environmentalist.
Singh, all but written off as a viable leadership candidate, then used his speech to settle any differences he may have with his rivals. He was fined $1,100 earlier this month for calling candidate Brian Topp a liar.

“I know I’ve made some of my opponents a little upset with me at times and I may not appear on the Christmas card list this year,” he said, “but I would like to say . . . to all the leadership candidates, despite our differences . . . any one of you would make fine leaders of our great party.”

He said the NDP must remain united to “stop Stephen Harper’s Conservative assault on Canadian values.” Once again Singh pushed his national pharmacare program, which would provide all Canadians with equal access to affordable medication. He talked about growing up with a pharmacist father, who sometimes gave out drugs to those who couldn’t pay. “There are some families who can’t afford to pay for their medication,” Singh said his father told him. “But their health is worth more to their family than a few dollars is worth to ours.”

Source ~ Josh Tapper, www.thestar.com

Finally construction work started on the site of the new Sikh Temple in Voorbaai on 2nd May 2014. It took five years to obtain re-zoning permission and to get the building plans approved for the construction of a Sikh place of worship in Mossel Bay.

ASG-KKG (10K)Sikhs have contributed to the welfare and economy of every country where they have settled and Mr Ajeet Singh Gill, (see pic right) who spearheaded this project had said time and again that once a place of worship has been established for the community in the area, we would see more and more Indians of all denominations flocking to the town, both as Tourists as well as Investors.

For the last two weeks a number of Sikh families from the UK have been exploring the area. Two members of the party are practising Architects – one is a Sikh and his wife, who is Japanese, is also an architect. One person is a Structural Engineer and one is in IT Engineer.

They spent a lot of time with the officers of the Building and Planning Departments of Mossel Bay Municipality discussing technical and legal issues. They also researched Immigration implications with the Home Affairs Office in George before deciding to settle in Mossel Bay. They flew back to the UK this week, having purchased four stands on which they intend to build designer properties. Their total investment into Mossel on these projects will be in the region of R20 million in foreign currency.

Hopefully this is just the beginning and Mossel Bay may yet see a lot of Sikhs coming in with large investments. Most Sikhs are businessmen or professional people. As is well known, one Sikh family has already invested a lot of foreign money into Mossel Bay, South Africa in the last five years, especially with the development of the magnificent Eden Plaza in the CBD.

Since starting the Punjabi Kitchen for Indian foods in June 2013, they have brought directly from overseas almost 300 Indian tourists into Mossel Bay in partnership with major Tour Operators in India, England and USA.

The Temple will have a major influence in attracting more Indian tourists into Mossel Bay

~ Source: www.mosselbayadvertiser.com

May 22, 2014:  HUISH Episcopi Academy [Somerset, U.K.] students whipped up a traditional Sikh meal as part of their GCSE religious studies.

Around 200 students and staff enjoyed the ‘langar’ meal at school to help them learn about Sikhism.

Year 10 catering students prepared, cooked and served the vegetarian meal and it was eaten in the authentic way by sitting on the floor.

The langar, meaning ‘kitchen’ is a common feature in a gurdwara, which is the Sikh place of worship.

Diners were also offered Karah Parshad, a sacred sweet pudding known to symbolize God’s blessings.

Courtesy ~ www.westerngazette.co.uk