Game of love- PLEASURE & PAIN

PLEASURE & PAIN 

Once, a man visited a holy person, seeking his blessings and advice to carry him through his life. Sliding two pieces of paper in to two envelopes, he wrote "Dukh" (pain) on one and on the other he wrote "Sukh" (pleasure). He then turned and gave the envelopes to the visiting man and said, "Dear son, when you've reached a point in your life and you feel life can get no worse, I want you to open the envelope labelled "Dukh" (pain). When you've reached a point in your life and you think it can't get any better, I want you to open the envelope labelled "Sukh" (pleasure). With gratitude, the man took these and stored them safely. 

Later on in life, the man lost his friends, his business had failed him and he suffered many personal tragedies. He was sad, depressed and felt he had reached a low point in life. Recalling the holy man, he Reached for the envelope labelled "Dukh" and pulled out a paper that read, "This, too, shall pass." The message brought him hope and belief that things can change and that nothing was permanent. 

Over time, as his life improved, he found himself with new friends, his business thriving and he was surrounded with beauty and joy. He felt life couldn't get any better. He recalled the holy persons words and decided to open the envelope labelled "Sukh." He opened the envelope. A gentle smile and peace fell over him, as he read the paper that said, "This too shall pass."

..…...............

Nothing in life is permanent yet we attach ourselves to everything materialistic (maya). Pleasure and pain is the same to the spiritual beings, this is how they find tranquility and peace. We need to accept the will of God. This will come through developing a balanced mind through Naam simran  (meditation). 

Guru Nanak Dev Ji Says, "I look upon pleasure and pain alike; I shall not forsake the Naam, the Name of God. God Himself forgives me, and blends me with Himself."

Vaheguroo! 

Game of love- OPENING OF THE HEART

OPENING OF THE HEART

As we take a journey towards meditation and opening of the heart, let us experience the heart blossom like a lotus flower. let us connect with the Infinite fountain of love within. We can only truly love others when we are  
attuned to that Self love. All from the Source within.

'The fact is, if a person has not experienced the love of his/her own soul, there is no chance that person can go out and love, even though it is a faculty of love that you most powerfully need.'
Yogi Bhajan

When one realises the wealth of love within, it becomes natural for them to love others in the same way. They see the soul of others, just as they see their own soul. Everything around them becomes spiritual and they tend not to look at anything through their worldly eyes. These eyes have now been transformed to the eyes of God and they only see the love of Vaheguroo within all. 

The opening of the heart and mind only comes through the balance of Naam meditation. Otherwise, ones mind remains closed and is never ready to develop further and absorb the divine wisdom from within. The ocean of divine knowledge is within yet we have cut all links to it, through our ego and ignorance. 

Guru Ramdas Ji Says, "The Guru, the Perfect True Guru, is my Mother and Father. Obtaining the Water of the Guru, the lotus of my heart blossoms forth."

Vaheguroo!

Game of love- LOVING AND SERVING ALL MANKIND (Sikh man feeds Muslim man)

LOVING AND SERVING ALL MANKIND 
(Sikh man feeds Muslim man) 

This beautiful image was captured on Saturday 8th October 2016, as the Sikhs of Bradford took to the streets of the city centre to serve langar (free vegetarian food). Langar week takes place in many cities around the Uk, if not the world. Free food is shared with everyone and anyone. 

The Muslim brother in the image has no arms and wanted some langar. The man in the background, sitting down, is his carer. The Sikh man relished the seva (selfless service) and began to feed him, without a second thought. 

There is a lot of negativity and conflict in the world but not so much love. This picture shows there are blessed souls out there, that just get on with it, pleasing their Guru, spreading love and making themselves better human beings. Very inspiring. Give love and you'll get it back! 

The message of langar week is very simple. Langar was started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji 550 years ago. Guru ji started langar so the rich, poor, different castes, colours and creeds could sit together on one platform and share (eat) their food together. Guru Ji started langar to show and recognise universal love and compassion. Guru ji also stated, no one in the world should ever starve, as one can always be guaranteed a hot vegetarian meal, when they visit a Gurdwara anywhere in the world. (Sikh Gurdwaras are based all over the world) 

Foster love, kindness and compassion through sharing. This is the real key to open the heart. Please share this message of universal love, compassion and kindness to all your social media groups. Thank you! 

Guru Nanak Dev Ji Says, "Vich dhuneeaa saev kamaaeeai||
In the midst of this world, do seva (selfless service),

Thaa dharageh baisan paaeeai ll"
and you shall be given a place of honor in the Court of the Lord.

Vaheguroo! 

Game of love- SACRIFICE

SACRIFICE 

The below was experienced by a Gursikh brother!

Last weekend, I was doing a talk at Barking camp, on heroes. I started by asking the kids, who their favourite heroes were and why. A nine year old Gursikh girl put her hand up and said sadly, 'My massi (mothers sister) is my hero.' I asked why? She replied, 'When I was younger, both my parents died. My Massi withdrew herself from University and gave up her education so she could look after me.' 
I said, 'That was amazing! Your massi is truly a hero.' Even more amazingly, her massi inspired her to keep her faith in Guru Ji and raise her to become a Gursikh. Very inspirational.

There are very few people in this world, who would give up their own future to build the future of their friends, family or relatives. The beautiful thing is, her faith still remained steadfast, after her sister and brother in-law had passed away. Many would most probably crumble in this type of situation. 

The power of having a strong Faith! Giving is a very powerful gift. 

Bhai Gurdaas Ji says, "The Guru has preached people to speak mildly, to conduct themselves humbly and to not get noticed even after giving something to others."

True Humility!!  

Vaheguroo!

Game of love- DEVOTION

DEVOTION

In the 1960's, a 2nd World War veteran called Ranjit singh, came to deliver a speech at Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, Delhi. He talked about an incident, which occurred where the German army had surrounded a building containing a joint regiment, containing both British and Sikh soldiers. (The Sikhs were fighting for Britain to liberate European countries). There was no safe way out of this building and the leader of the British regiment made the decision to surrender. 

The Sikhs approached the leader and said, "We will not surrender. A Sikh is taught to never give up. We either win or die fighting but we never leave the battlefield" (Kabhu na Shaadai keth). The British leader said, "There is no way out." The Gursikhs requested whether they could do an Akhand Paath. 

The Sikhs were highly respected for their devotion, faith and patriotism and were granted permission. On completion of the Akhand paath, a gora British soldier came running into the building and said, "I've just seen a man on a horse and he kept pointing in that direction." 
They were confused, "Man on a horse?" They asked what he looked like. The gora (white) soldier said, "He wore long blue clothing and had a large blue turban. He had symbols on his turban and also a large sword." He then said, "Oh yeah he also had a feather on his turban" (kalgi). The Sikhs smiled with bairaag (yearning of love) and said, "That is our Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. You've seen our Guru. We must follow instructions and attack in the direction he said." 

The Sikhs followed the instruction of their Guru and attacked. Against all the odds, they were all able to escape successfully. 
Ranjit singh, who was narrating this story to the Bangla sahib Sangat, was in fact the gora who had Darshan (vision) of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. After this experience, he and his son both took Amrit (sikh Baptism). 

"So Satgur pyaara mere naal hai jithe kithe menu layee shadaae." That Beloved True Guru is always with me; wherever I may be, He will save me. Guru Amardas Ji. 

Vaheguroo!

Game of love- STATUS

STATUS

"None is high, none is low."

Guru Nanak Dev Ji 1469-1539

How do you define high and low people? People are classed by their status, wealth, background and even gender. These are man made classifications. Someone who is high in one persons view, may be low in another's. Look upon all as equals to yourself and realise that we are all human beings. 

Why do we judge others? We only judge others through our ego. Our mind is not at peace so we fear the high status of others. All should be respected in the same way. Wealthy people are given more respect than the poor, because we see them as better. People are judged by caste and background. Females are disrespected by many. 

We do not realise the soul of God sits within us all. How can anyone be higher or lower.

We need to look within ourselves, judge our heart and minds. Are we humble or egotistical? When the mind becomes lowly and humble through Naam meditation, all negative judgement for others departs. One sees all in a positive light. In this way, one begins to love and acknowledge all the same and find inner peace. One is honoured in the court of Vaheguroo. 

The cure again is meditation on Vaheguroo's name. It's the only substance in which will guide us to realise there is no higher or lower, all is Vaheguroo (God). Make space to listen to your wise heart. What you seek lies within. 

Guru Nanak Dev Ji says, if you want a status in life, find the True Guru and he will guide you to the SUPREME STATUS of meeting Vaheguroo. You will discover Vaheguroo within yourself and everyone around you.  

"Meeting him the supreme status is obtained." Guru Nanak Dev Ji 

Vaheguroo!

Game of love- SPEECH

SPEECH

"Tender speech fosters the bond Of love."

Guru Nanak Dev Ji 1469-1539

No one wants to listen to a bad tempered person. Always speak gently with others. You will notice how receptive people become to your points of view, if your words are tender and kind. 

Why is the above true? Nobody likes listening to angry people, the negative energy passed through them makes everyone around them negative. Its hard to let your soul fly, when something is weighing it down. 

On the other hand, people love listening to a tender speaking person. The reason for this is, most of us have no peace within us so when someone speaks to us in a tender voice, the peace is felt from that person. We feel calm, relaxed and more at peace. When the mind is balanced and at peace, ones speech naturally becomes soft, sweet and tender. When one speaks, it feels loving and fresh to the listener. The listener feels a connection. The reason for this is, tender loving speech is only developed through constant meditation on Vaheguroo's (Gods) name, creating a balanced mind. Then, when one speaks, they speak pure, loving, soft, gentle and truthful words, through their spirit. These words then touch the spirit of the listener, which fosters the bond of love through speech.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji says, Only their speech is true, tender and loving, who act by loving and remembering Vaheguroo. 

"O Nanak, false is the speech of one who acts without loving Vaheguroo"

Vaheguroo!

Game of love- COMPASSION

COMPASSION 

A poor old women was living in the neighbourhood of Gurus haveli. Being a widow, she was living alone. She would make ends meet by spinning thread. Whenever the child Guru saw the women had gone outside, he would enter the house and scatter the cotton balls spun by her. The poor women would complain to Mata Gujri against the mischief of the child Guru. Mata Gujri instead of telling off the Guru, she would console the women and give her loads of money compensating her loss. One day Mata Gujri said, "My dear child, why are you playing mischief on this poor lady? What do you get by scattering her cotton balls?" 
On hearing this, child Guru said, "Though I'm not getting anything out of playing mischief however, this old lady gets a lot of money. What you give her is much more than she can earn. I want to save the labour of this old mother." Hearing these words of the child Guru, Mata Gujri embraced Guru Ji in a tight hug for his love and compassion. 

No one is born hating another person through the colour of their skin, their background, age, gender or religion. People are taught to hate and if they are taught to hate, they can also be taught how to love and be compassionate, for love and compassion comes more naturally to the human heart than it's opposites. 

"He makes compassion his shovel, his body the firewood and kindles the fire of divine vision." Bhagat Kabeer Ji. 

Vaheguroo!

Game of love- WORD (Shabad)

WORD (shabad)

When you begin to meditate through the shabad, on a regular basis, you will start to notice that thoughts and feelings that may have been building up inside of you are gently released and you reach the quiet place that has always existed but never realised. Waiting for us is the place of pure wisdom and awareness. It is there that you will experience yourself, peace, healing, love, compassion, contentment, truth, high spirits and true rejuvenation. 

Repeat the name of God-again and again, as you; sit in a bus or take a train to the office, work in the kitchen or garden, during your walks, as you take your bath, as you dress up, before going to sleep, during sleep and on awakening. Repeat the name as often as you can. Repeat the name with love and longing in your heart and tears in your eyes. Take care that the repetition does not become mechanical and boring. Fasten this one word, 'Gurmantar' (Gods word Vaheguroo) to your heart. Let the 'word' go with you in your daily work and your daily life. The 'word' will keep your consciousness awake. In the case of doubt, temptation and trouble, solve it with this ONE WORD! Repeat the WORD, until it; penetrates your heart, engulfs your soul and it resounds within! 'See' it in your integral intuition and your whole being becomes this ONE WORD! All else is evaporated or eliminated! 

"The precious gift of this human life becomes fruitful when one chants the True Word of the Shabad." Guru Arjun Dev Ji. 

Vaheguroo!

Game of love- ARDAAS

ARDAAS - prayer

A prayer that is recited by Gursikhs at-least three times a day. There is a formal way of doing an Ardaas, which is standing up, with folded hands. This is usually done after Nitnem (prayers). However, we are not just set to one way of doing Ardaas. As long as the mind is set in the right place and the prayer is uttered from the heart, it will be heard in Sach Khand (the realm of truth). Our prayers are usually not heard (in most cases), because our concentration tends to waver and our words are usually not spoken whole-heartedly or we are still found desiring, whilst making a prayer. When doing an Ardaas, straight after Abhiyaas (meditation) or Nitnem, our surtee (conscious state) should be very high and focussed. Thus we come to do a whole hearted prayer.

Ardaas is something we humbly do before our master, so that he may grant us what we wish for. Therefore, it should be done everyday to keep us humble spiritually. If we don't do an Ardaas, ego very easily creeps in, because ardaas is also a way of thanking God for the little or many spiritual and physical gains he blesses us with. Ardaas will assist us to progress spiritually. It keeps us neech (lowly) but also gives us confidence in everything that we do. Knowing this, we tend to do everything successfully, with the hand of Vaheguroo (God) protecting and forever blessing us.

Everytime we achieve something, whether it be at school, university, work or whilst doing Naam Abhiyaas, always do an Ardaas to thank God. You will realise that the blessings increase ten-fold and you obtain more Phal (fruit) from your Simran (meditation) and Sevaa (service). 

"Whatever I ask for from my Lord and Master, he gives that to me."Guru ArjunDev Ji

Vaheguroo!

Game of love- VISION

VISION

In life, we can do so much but yet we choose to do so little. We can do small things to create huge changes, yet we choose not to. So many thousands of generations can reap from all the small things we do but we choose not to. We can make such a massive difference but yet we choose not to. Why are we so cooped up inside our own little worlds, thinking about our own small families, when we can love them, as well as help thousands more. The blessings are vast but we don't realise. Our life night is running away but yet we carry on as though we are never going to die. 

Here is a little advice. Just seven pointers we can reap the profits from, after we die. There are also so many more things we can do. 

1). Give a Gutka (Spiritual Book) to someone. Each time one reads from it, you gain.

2). Donate a wheelchair to a hospital. Each time a sick person uses it, you gain.

3). Participate in building a Gurudwara, hospital, school or college. Anybody uses it, you gain.

4). Place a water cooler in a public place. Anybody drinks water, you gain.

5). Plant a tree. You gain whenever a person or animal sits in its shade or eats from it.

6). To join someone to the love of Vaheguroo's (God's) meditation. They will gain, you will gain, their generations to come will gain and if they are very blessed, the whole universe will gain. 

7). And the easiest of all is to Share these posts with people. Even if one applies the Gurus Teachings, you will gain.

The internet will always provide for the globe. So find/share something you are good at doing and others will benefit from. You will reap the rewards, even after you've gone. 

"O Nanak, the Gurmukh finds the diamond of Vaheguroo, by his spiritual wisdom, kindness and compassion. He sees Vaheguroo in all hearts." Guru Nanak Dev Ji. 

Vaheguroo!

Game of love- AMRITVELA 3/3

AMRITVELA Part 3/3 (ambrosial hours)

After we have completed our Amritvelaa and Nitnem (prayers), and we decide to go to sleep for 1 or 2 hours, it will be the most peaceful sleep we will have. We have to experience it to know it. We should try to develop our seated meditation further, if we have time. If we can do 4/5 hours, that's great for our daily practice. This helps purify this filthy mind a lot faster and the Naam settles within every breath a lot quicker. 

"The night is wet with dew, and the stars twinkle in the heavens.

The Saints remain wakeful; they are the Beloveds of my Lord (Vaheguroo) .

The Beloveds of the Lord remain ever wakeful, remembering the Naam, the Name of the Lord, day and night."

'Meditation Explorers' say, if you meditate single mindedly for 1 hour, it is like sleeping for 8 hours. Therefore, those of you who love your sleep have no excuse. The reason for this is, when we meditate, we replace our thoughts through Naam (the name of God). Having no thoughts for 1 hour is like sleeping for 8 hours. It is our thoughts that make us ill, tired and unhealthy. This is why we are tired after a deep sleep. Our body might be resting but this filthy mind will not rest for a second. An average human being has over 30 thousand thoughts a day. Guru Jee says, He wants us to decrease them to 1, which is Vaheguroo.

Benti (humble request) Sangat Jee, lets all try to get up at Amritvelaa and Jap Naam Athai Pehar (meditate 24/7 with every breath). Then, with Guru Jee's unparalleled grace, we might see some true, unconditional love throughout the Gursikhs in the Panth (sikh family). Khalsa Raaj (the pure to conquer) would not be far off, if this was the case. it will only come through Naam. If we don't Jap Naam for ourselves, lets Jap Naam for the Guru Khalsa Panth. The more Naam that is being meditated upon in the Panth, the stronger and more powerful it becomes.

"The devotees of the Lord plant the seed of the Lord's wealth in the ambrosial hours of the Amrit Vaylaa; they eat it, and spend it, but it is never exhausted."

Vaheguroo!

Game of love- AMRITVELA 2/3

AMRIT VELA Part 2/3 (ambrosial hours)

Amritvelaa usually starts at 12am, which is the 3rd watch of the night (Theejaa Pehar). Most Gursikhs usually wakeup at 2am. This is a beautiful time, because it is the middle of the night and that usually makes it very difficult to wakeup. Firstly, we have a bath (Ishnaan) and then we sit in meditation. This is the only time we will get in the day to have single minded concentration. Once we start meditating, we naturally, through the Shabad, Mind, Body and Soul are connected to every single being praising Vaheguroo, at this time. The minimum amount of time that a Gursikh should try to meditate at Amritvelaa is 2 hours. Amritvelaa is the key to the days meditation. 

The body is like a battery charged by Shabad at Amritvelaa. if charged through full focus and concentration, the battery will last at least 12 hours. The Shabad will stay with us, as long as we put some Udham (effort) into hearing it with our inner ears throughout the day. This is why in the evening, we should try to do a little more seated meditation to keep the mind and body in focus and balance.

Battle with your mind!

At Amritvelaa, the first battle we have is with the Douvet (Rajaaee). We want to get up but the Bed is too warm and our mind says, "Go back to sleep, its fine." No-one wishes to get out of the warm blanket of Kal Jug (this dark age). At first, we will find it very difficult to get up but we have to battle against the mind and force ourselves out of our warm beds. Then, it becomes a habit and with Guru Jee's kirpaa (grace) it becomes a Ras (substance, taste). Those Gursikhs that get up at Amritvelaa, will understand totally. Once it becomes a Ras, it will become very difficult to miss an Amritvelaa. If we do due to some difficulty, it feels as though we have lost a part from our body. What can we do without legs? simultaneously, how would we survive without Amritvelaa? A major worry for most people is the sacrifice of sleep. When we first start doing Amritvelaa, we do feel tired during the day. However, the mind and body soon get used to less sleep. If we want to do Amritvelaa, we should try to be in bed for 10pm at the latest. Four hours sleep is more than enough sleep. look at it this way, when the mind reaches a higher state, Guru Jee says our eyes find it difficult to sleep, 'Phun Nethro Neend Naa Aavai'. 

The above will be explained in the next post! 

Vaheguroo!