Afghan Sikh children studying in a school
By: Steve Mccurry
Story - Moment of Clarity
How did I get here? It’s a good question, I ask myself often. And by here I mean this place in my life. I somehow found Sikhism, an incredible husband, a meaningful life in a world where meaning is hard to come by. How did it happen? At what point did my path point in this direction?
For most of my life I’ve wandered. never one to settle down, I’ve moved, tried different jobs, different fashion statements… couldn’t commit to a relationship, dabbled in philosophy and meditation… typical for an American of my generation I suppose.
I travelled, I read, I researched, I self educated. I used, I abused, and I spent most of my life confused.
I decided to be a Buddhist when I was 14. I wasn’t very good at it. I discovered alcohol at 16 and realized drinking was easier than meditation, and so I became a disaffected youth with a fake ID.
I tried being a Christian briefly, but I didn’t buy the pissed off God idea, so that didn’t last long.
I abandoned all hope for many years and drowned my pain in various useless ways.
I decided to be a Buddhist again when I was a bit older, after visiting Thailand. it went better this time. But the lack of God pulled at the back of my mind and so I kept looking. I studied Sufism and loved the music, the poetry, the mysticism… and hated the misogynistic Islamic bits. I thought to myself, Buddha was a Hindu originally, right? Maybe there’s something to it. I read and studied and fasted on Mondays. I meditated by candle light in front of a cheap metal statue of Durga Mata, begging for strength. she never spoke. I listened to bhangra and watched Hindi movies. I partied too much with the wrong kind of people. I drank. a lot.
I went to India.
I went to a Gurdwara.
I changed my travel plans, dropped everything, and went to Amritsar. I went to another Gurdwara. I went every day. At 4 AM.
I had… a moment of clarity. in one moment, I went from being a confused, disillusioned party girl to having a purpose in life.
I stayed in Amritsar for seven incredible days. I put everything else on hold. I threw away my razor and tweezers and bottles of hair colour. I was given a Kara and finally felt comfortable wearing it. I bought a Sundar Gutka and read from it every day. I threw away a bottle of wine I had been saving and never took another drink again. I changed my travel plans to include the major historic Gurdwaras and skipped the usual tourist stuff.
I came home. I read. Constantly, Books about Sikhs. Websites about Sikhs. Websites by Sikhs. Forums where Sikhs talked, discussed, argued, and occasionally left incredibly insightful bits of information.
I started to cover my hair. I read Japuji sahib every morning. I went to the local Gurdwara every Sunday. I stopped wearing jewellery. I met the man who would become my husband. I fell in love with my husband. I fell in love with my Guru. I started to wear a dastaar. I read more. I learned more. I attended my first Akhand Kirtan Smagaam. I fell in love all over again. The clarity continued. In fact, things became more clear.
I offered my head to my Guru. He accepted.
I offered my heart to my husband. He accepted too.
So here I am. My life is clear, defined, and purposeful. bani. simran. seva. Love. These are the things that define me now.
I look back and wonder who that other girl was. I shake my head in wonder.
All of this, from one moment of clarity.
raamakalee mehalaa 5 ||
Raamkalee, Fifth Mehla:
pavahu charanaa thal oopar aavahu aisee saev kamaavahu ||
Place yourself beneath all men’s feet, and you will be uplifted; serve Him in this way.
aapas thae oopar sabh jaanahu tho dharageh sukh paavahu ||1||
Know that all are above you, and you shall find peace in the Court of the Lord. ||1||
sa(n)thahu aisee kathhahu kehaanee || sur pavithr nar dhaev pavithraa khin bolahu guramukh baanee ||1|| rehaao ||
O Saints, speak that speech which purifies the gods and sanctifies the divine beings. As Gurmukh, chant the Word of His Bani, even for an instant. ||1||Pause||
parapa(n)ch shhodd sehaj ghar baisahu jhoot(h)aa kehahu n koee ||
Renounce your fraudulent plans, and dwell in the celestial palace; do not call anyone else false.
sathigur milahu navaI nidhh paavahu ein bidhh thath biloee ||2||
Meeting with the True Guru, you shall receive the nine treasures; in this way, you shall find the essence of reality. ||2||
bharam chukaavahu guramukh liv laavahu aatham cheenahu bhaaee||
Eradicate doubt, and as Gurmukh, enshrine love for the Lord; understand your own soul, O Siblings of Destiny.
nikatt kar jaanahu sadhaa prabh haajar kis sio karahu buraaee||3||
Know that God is near at hand, and ever-present. How could you try to hurt anyone else? ||3||
sathigur miliaI maarag mukathaa sehajae milae suaamee ||
Meeting with the True Guru, your path shall be clear, and you shall easily meet your Lord and Master.
dhhan dhhan sae jan jinee kal mehI har paaeiaa jan naanak sadh kurabaanee ||4||2||
Blessed, blessed are those humble beings, who, in this Dark Age of KalI Yuga, find the Lord. Nanak is forever a sacrifice to them. ||4||2||
For most of my life I’ve wandered. never one to settle down, I’ve moved, tried different jobs, different fashion statements… couldn’t commit to a relationship, dabbled in philosophy and meditation… typical for an American of my generation I suppose.
I travelled, I read, I researched, I self educated. I used, I abused, and I spent most of my life confused.
I decided to be a Buddhist when I was 14. I wasn’t very good at it. I discovered alcohol at 16 and realized drinking was easier than meditation, and so I became a disaffected youth with a fake ID.
I tried being a Christian briefly, but I didn’t buy the pissed off God idea, so that didn’t last long.
I abandoned all hope for many years and drowned my pain in various useless ways.
I decided to be a Buddhist again when I was a bit older, after visiting Thailand. it went better this time. But the lack of God pulled at the back of my mind and so I kept looking. I studied Sufism and loved the music, the poetry, the mysticism… and hated the misogynistic Islamic bits. I thought to myself, Buddha was a Hindu originally, right? Maybe there’s something to it. I read and studied and fasted on Mondays. I meditated by candle light in front of a cheap metal statue of Durga Mata, begging for strength. she never spoke. I listened to bhangra and watched Hindi movies. I partied too much with the wrong kind of people. I drank. a lot.
I went to India.
I went to a Gurdwara.
I changed my travel plans, dropped everything, and went to Amritsar. I went to another Gurdwara. I went every day. At 4 AM.
I had… a moment of clarity. in one moment, I went from being a confused, disillusioned party girl to having a purpose in life.
I stayed in Amritsar for seven incredible days. I put everything else on hold. I threw away my razor and tweezers and bottles of hair colour. I was given a Kara and finally felt comfortable wearing it. I bought a Sundar Gutka and read from it every day. I threw away a bottle of wine I had been saving and never took another drink again. I changed my travel plans to include the major historic Gurdwaras and skipped the usual tourist stuff.
I came home. I read. Constantly, Books about Sikhs. Websites about Sikhs. Websites by Sikhs. Forums where Sikhs talked, discussed, argued, and occasionally left incredibly insightful bits of information.
I started to cover my hair. I read Japuji sahib every morning. I went to the local Gurdwara every Sunday. I stopped wearing jewellery. I met the man who would become my husband. I fell in love with my husband. I fell in love with my Guru. I started to wear a dastaar. I read more. I learned more. I attended my first Akhand Kirtan Smagaam. I fell in love all over again. The clarity continued. In fact, things became more clear.
I offered my head to my Guru. He accepted.
I offered my heart to my husband. He accepted too.
So here I am. My life is clear, defined, and purposeful. bani. simran. seva. Love. These are the things that define me now.
I look back and wonder who that other girl was. I shake my head in wonder.
All of this, from one moment of clarity.
raamakalee mehalaa 5 ||
Raamkalee, Fifth Mehla:
pavahu charanaa thal oopar aavahu aisee saev kamaavahu ||
Place yourself beneath all men’s feet, and you will be uplifted; serve Him in this way.
aapas thae oopar sabh jaanahu tho dharageh sukh paavahu ||1||
Know that all are above you, and you shall find peace in the Court of the Lord. ||1||
sa(n)thahu aisee kathhahu kehaanee || sur pavithr nar dhaev pavithraa khin bolahu guramukh baanee ||1|| rehaao ||
O Saints, speak that speech which purifies the gods and sanctifies the divine beings. As Gurmukh, chant the Word of His Bani, even for an instant. ||1||Pause||
parapa(n)ch shhodd sehaj ghar baisahu jhoot(h)aa kehahu n koee ||
Renounce your fraudulent plans, and dwell in the celestial palace; do not call anyone else false.
sathigur milahu navaI nidhh paavahu ein bidhh thath biloee ||2||
Meeting with the True Guru, you shall receive the nine treasures; in this way, you shall find the essence of reality. ||2||
bharam chukaavahu guramukh liv laavahu aatham cheenahu bhaaee||
Eradicate doubt, and as Gurmukh, enshrine love for the Lord; understand your own soul, O Siblings of Destiny.
nikatt kar jaanahu sadhaa prabh haajar kis sio karahu buraaee||3||
Know that God is near at hand, and ever-present. How could you try to hurt anyone else? ||3||
sathigur miliaI maarag mukathaa sehajae milae suaamee ||
Meeting with the True Guru, your path shall be clear, and you shall easily meet your Lord and Master.
dhhan dhhan sae jan jinee kal mehI har paaeiaa jan naanak sadh kurabaanee ||4||2||
Blessed, blessed are those humble beings, who, in this Dark Age of KalI Yuga, find the Lord. Nanak is forever a sacrifice to them. ||4||2||
Story - got into Sikhism
A friend of mine was telling me about how her dad got into Sikhism… with her permission I’m posting his story anonymously.
Anyway my dad took amrit at 37, he used to be a huge drinker, once upon a time he smacked a dog on the nose and it bled to nearly death on our doorstep. he had a bad temper. My mum was lovely always bearing the crap from him. I don’t think he ever hit her but was always shouting gussey drinking meat etc
Anyway so one day he started getting nose bleeds and really bad I was only little back in 1988 I was 8 yrs old
the bath tub was full of blood and my mom was crying
he went to hospital and was put on life support and his nose was stuffed up
condition was very bad
Anyway doctors said that no sure of he’s going to make it
So I remember mom coming home crying every day from hospital we had aunties cooking for us because she was too depressed too
anyway the next morning a miracle he recovered - nurses said it was weird they couldn’t get into his room for a second and something odd was going on but never mind he was discharged and sent home
Your probably thinking what happened in the room - well I don’t tell anyone because people don’t believe me or my dad they think he hallucinated because of medication
but he had a messenger from death visit him
he says this thing kept saying to him come on lets go and was walking to him fast and trying to grab him, he was screaming said he was scared
Then he says he started doing simran (my dad never believed in god b4 this, thought it was routinely to go gurdwara Sunday morning)
Anyway the more he did simran the thing stepped back- and when he stopped he said it came closer
so then he said i closed my eyes and i prayed and did ardaas with Harimander Sahib in vision
He did this for ages and ages and ages
and finally this thing went away
After that he changed his life - he stopped meat, drink, started growing his hair, reading path, we have Maharaj (Guru Grath Sahib Ji) at home in our house too !!
37 isn’t that young compared to some people who take amrit young, but I thought it was for my dad the way he was … so I do believe in it all deep down because I’ve been told about this first hand by my dad.
Anyway my dad took amrit at 37, he used to be a huge drinker, once upon a time he smacked a dog on the nose and it bled to nearly death on our doorstep. he had a bad temper. My mum was lovely always bearing the crap from him. I don’t think he ever hit her but was always shouting gussey drinking meat etc
Anyway so one day he started getting nose bleeds and really bad I was only little back in 1988 I was 8 yrs old
the bath tub was full of blood and my mom was crying
he went to hospital and was put on life support and his nose was stuffed up
condition was very bad
Anyway doctors said that no sure of he’s going to make it
So I remember mom coming home crying every day from hospital we had aunties cooking for us because she was too depressed too
anyway the next morning a miracle he recovered - nurses said it was weird they couldn’t get into his room for a second and something odd was going on but never mind he was discharged and sent home
Your probably thinking what happened in the room - well I don’t tell anyone because people don’t believe me or my dad they think he hallucinated because of medication
but he had a messenger from death visit him
he says this thing kept saying to him come on lets go and was walking to him fast and trying to grab him, he was screaming said he was scared
Then he says he started doing simran (my dad never believed in god b4 this, thought it was routinely to go gurdwara Sunday morning)
Anyway the more he did simran the thing stepped back- and when he stopped he said it came closer
so then he said i closed my eyes and i prayed and did ardaas with Harimander Sahib in vision
He did this for ages and ages and ages
and finally this thing went away
After that he changed his life - he stopped meat, drink, started growing his hair, reading path, we have Maharaj (Guru Grath Sahib Ji) at home in our house too !!
37 isn’t that young compared to some people who take amrit young, but I thought it was for my dad the way he was … so I do believe in it all deep down because I’ve been told about this first hand by my dad.
Importance of Amrit
Amrit is the top institution of the Sikh faith. It is “Abae-Hayat” the water bestowing eternal life – eternity and immortality.
They become immortal by drinking Amrit of the Lord (Naam-Jaap), and vices lure them no more. 5-81-1
"ਅਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਹਰਿ ਪੀਵਤੇ ਸਦਾ ਥਿਰੁ ਥੀਵਤੇ ਬਿਖੈ ਬਨੁ ਫੀਕਾ ਜਾਨਿਆ" || ੫-੮੧-੧
Amrit has spiritual as well as, physical aspects. Spiritually speaking, Amrit is the Name of God and its recitation. Physically, it is a special drink, meant for the spiritual growth. The aim o recitation of the Name of God and of taking Amrit, is the same. Amrit is meant to put a fellow to Gurbani and Naam- Jaap (reading Scriptures and reciting His Name) – the path leading to God.
Taking “Amrit” is the cherished desire common both to the Guru and his Sikh. The Guru desires the disciple to take it, and one fully oriented to the faith, becomes keen to do so. Taking Amrit is the Sikh way of getting inducted into this faith. Drinking Amrit is a vow to live an elevated life and to do Naam-Jaap – recite God’s name.
They become immortal by drinking Amrit of the Lord (Naam-Jaap), and vices lure them no more. 5-81-1
"ਅਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਹਰਿ ਪੀਵਤੇ ਸਦਾ ਥਿਰੁ ਥੀਵਤੇ ਬਿਖੈ ਬਨੁ ਫੀਕਾ ਜਾਨਿਆ" || ੫-੮੧-੧
Amrit has spiritual as well as, physical aspects. Spiritually speaking, Amrit is the Name of God and its recitation. Physically, it is a special drink, meant for the spiritual growth. The aim o recitation of the Name of God and of taking Amrit, is the same. Amrit is meant to put a fellow to Gurbani and Naam- Jaap (reading Scriptures and reciting His Name) – the path leading to God.
Taking “Amrit” is the cherished desire common both to the Guru and his Sikh. The Guru desires the disciple to take it, and one fully oriented to the faith, becomes keen to do so. Taking Amrit is the Sikh way of getting inducted into this faith. Drinking Amrit is a vow to live an elevated life and to do Naam-Jaap – recite God’s name.
Preparation of Amrit
The Khalsa
All the five Amritdhari Gurmukh (God oriented persons who have taken Amrit) place their hands on the edge of the Bata (Bowl) and focus on the tip of the Khanda, double edged sword, dipped in sweetened water. With full concentration, these five Sikhs, turn by turn recite the specific – prescribed, five Gurbanis (Scriptures), and work Khanda to and fro. When recitation of five Gurbani is complete, Amrit is ready. Ardas – supplication is said, and Amrit is administrated to the devotees.
Amrit is given to drink to the person gathered to get inducted into the Sikh faith. They pledge to live a high ethical life according to the Reht (Edicts – dictates) of the Guru prescribed at that time.
Non Violense in Sikhism
This is mental and physical non-injury to anyone. Every creature is created by the creator [God], all is His property, and no one in this world has permission to kill or hurt anyone for one’s profit. Prime thing is not to injure or hurt anyone, even in thought. This is the rule of The God, those who make violence get stuck into the cyclone of time. This is important to get the peace of mind.
Bear it yourself, but do not hurt anyone. 3-1128-6
Aape maraae avraa nah maarae || 3-1128-6
Bear it yourself, but do not hurt anyone. 3-1128-6
Aape maraae avraa nah maarae || 3-1128-6
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