Monday Afternoon

Afternoon activities this day included an interactive session based on birds of prey and watching an animated film on the Chotay Sahibjade.

The birds of prey session was really good as it allowed the kids to get close to the birds and secondly there was a presentation were the birds flew around, and the kids got to take part in these activities.

A short video clip of one of the birds flying over a line of kids

Animated Film

Evening Langar

Monday Morning

We start each day by waking the kids at 6am, and then having them dressed and ready for morning Diwan that started at 7am. Diwan generally consists of Japji Sahib, kirtan, Simran, Ardas and Hukamnama. We encourage the kids to take control of Diwan by actively doing whatever needs to be done, which also includes Chaur Sahib di Sewa and Degh di Sewa.

After Diwan the kids go out and sing the National Anthem (Deh Shiva..) and then take part in some light exercises. The exercises are aimed at waking them up abit (all the kids sleep over and as the week goes by they tend to be tired and so the fresh air helps).

Exercises

- sitting position


Exercises

- Jogging on the spot

After exercises everyone has breakfast, which tends to either be cereal or pronthe.

Morning activities on this day were creative arts workshop where the kids had an opportunity to draw a picture of any event related to Sikh history. This was followed by a workshop on the history of Mukatsar.

Creative Arts Workshop


Mukatsar Workshop

Following this there was Langar.

Langar

- Lunchtime

Sunday - 24/07/05

Pictures from Sunday.

We start every camp with an Ardas and Hukamnama. Most of the Hukamnama's we had this year were from Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaaj.

First Diwan

- Explanation of Hukamnama

Langar

- As Langar is being served the kids are encouraged to do Simran while they wait for everyone to come in. This normally turns into a competition between the boys and girls to who is the loudest.

‘Group 4 line up!’

Got home from camp late last night, even though I’ve only been home 17 hours I really miss camp already. I slept for 14 hours continuously and I still feel like I could do with another early night tonight.

Camp was brilliant, had an amazing time there. I had a group of 16 girls who were 11 years old and for once I didn’t have to send all week screaming at them even thouygh my voice has almost gone (other than the average ‘get in line’, ‘group 4 line up’ and ‘be quiet!’).

The experience on the whole was amazing and very uplifting, its this experience that charges me up and keeps me going all year till the next camp.

As every year, this year the camp had some real characters attending and we had some good laughs during it. We had some amazing people come to do talks and kirtan which most of the kids seemed to like. There’s lot of photos from camp that I’ll put up soon.

Overall I loved being with Maharaaj 24/7, there’s nothing like it...

pourree
aapae hee karanaa keeou kal aapae hee thai dhhaareeai
dhaekhehi keethaa aapanaa dhhar kachee pakee saareeai
jo aaeiaa so chalasee sabh koee aaee vaareeai
jis kae jeea paraan hehi kio saahib manahu visaareeai
aapan hathhee aapanaa aapae hee kaaj savaareeai 20

Pauree:
You Yourself created the creation; You Yourself infused Your power into it.
You behold Your creation, like the losing and winning dice of the earth.
Whoever has come, shall depart; all shall have their turn.
He who owns our soul, and our very breath of life - why should we forget that Lord and Master from our minds?
With our own hands, let us resolve our own affairs. 20

Camp

I’m off to camp tomorrow; hmm I wonder what this year will be like. Can’t wait to be honest..

dharasan maago dhaehi piaarae
thumaree saevaa koun koun n thaarae 1 rehaao

I'm all packed and ready but still have this feeling that I'm forgetting something, challo in a week then..

aasaa mehalaa 5
mathaa karo so pakan n dhaeee
seel sa(n)jam kai nikatt khaloee
vaes karae bahu roop dhikhaavai
grihi basan n dhaeee vakh vakh bharamaavai 1
ghar kee naaeik ghar vaas n dhaevai
jathan karo ourajhaae paraevai 1 rehaao
dhhur kee bhaejee aaee aamar
no kha(n)dd jeethae sabh thhaan thhana(n)thar
thatt theerathh n shhoddai jog sa(n)niaas
parr thhaakae si(n)mrith baedh abhiaas 2
jeh baiso theh naalae baisai
sagal bhavan mehi sabal pravaesai
hoshhee saran paeiaa rehan n paaee
kahu meethaa ho kai pehi jaaee 3
sun oupadhaes sathigur pehi aaeiaa
gur har har naam mohi ma(n)thra dhrirraaeiaa
nij ghar vasiaa gun gaae ana(n)thaa
prabh miliou naanak bheae achi(n)thaa 4
ghar maeraa eih naaeik hamaaree
eih aamar ham gur keeeae dharabaaree 1 rehaao dhoojaa 44


Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:
Whatever I resolve, she does not allow it to come to pass.
She stands blocking the way of goodness and self-discipline.
She wears many disguises, and assumes many forms,
and she does not allow me to dwell in my own home. She forces me to wander around in different directions. 1
She has become the mistress of my home, and she does not allow me to live in it.
If I try, she fights with me. 1Pause
In the beginning, she was sent as a helper,
but she has overwhelmed the nine continents, all places and interspaces.
She has not spared even the river banks, the sacred shrines of pilgrimage, the Yogis and Sannyaasees,
or those who tirelessly read the Simritees and study the Vedas. 2
Wherever I sit, she sits there with me.
She has imposed her power upon the whole world.
Seeking meager protection, I am not protected from her.
Tell me, O my friend: unto whom should I turn for protection? 3
I heard of His Teachings, and so I have come to the True Guru.
The Guru has implanted the Mantra of the Lord's Name, Har, Har, within me.
And now, I dwell in the home of my own inner self; I sing the Glorious Praises of the Infinite Lord.
I have met God, O Nanak, and I have become care-free. 4
My home is now my own, and she is now my mistress.
She is now my servant, and the Guru has made me intimate with the Lord. 1Second Pause44

Baby photo album

I came across some more photo albums today; there are some classic pics of my siblings and myself as kids. There are also some pictures of my parents from around when my brother and I were born, obviously I don’t remember them days so its nice to have some pictures that show what good times we all had when we were younger.

Page from my photo album.


My first photo.




Our first photo together - my brother and me.

Pain = punishment?

I’ve managed to hurt myself more in the past 2 days than I have done in the last six months. I’ve cut a finger, badly bruised the same finger on my other hand and burned my thumb; it might not sound all that bad but it hurts!!

During a chat with my dad I happened to say ‘do you think this is all a punishment for something I may have done?’ and dad said ‘it might be, but imagine if you wasn’t on the path you’re on; it may have been much worse..’

It made me think and be thankful for Maharaaj’s kirpa, if They hadn’t got me on this path then only They know how much more pain I could have been in (and the thought it of that is scary).

Friendship

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead.

Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow.

Just walk beside me and be my friend.

-Albert Camus

‘Walsall Camp’

Camp starts on Sunday; this year has flown by so quickly. I remember leaving camp last year; it was the best camp so far in the 15 years I’d been going.

I remember going there for the first time. I had broken my arm and was going to have to miss a day ‘cause I was having the cast removed and I was worried they wouldn’t let me attend the camp at all! I don’t remember much of the camp except for colouring in pictures of Guru Sahib’s (I was 8).

Fast forward 4 years and I attend camp as a 12 year old. This was a year were none of us (siblings and cousins) wanted to go, no one knew why we didn’t want to go but all the same our parents made us go. It was this year that something happened and my life changed.

I remember being told in a talk that Guru Granth Sahib Ji is not a ‘book’ and that They are our living Guru. Upon hearing this I remembered something from a earlier camp, we were sleeping close to Sach Khand and some older girls were practicing Kirtan. Some of us younger kids were making a fair bit of noise messing around and someone turns around and says ‘quieten down, Guru Ji sleeping’. That comment made no sense whatsoever to me then, I remember looking across a dark hall in the direction she pointed (towards Sach Khand) and thinking ‘who’s asleep over there?’ 4 years later I had my answer. After the talk it was time for evening Diwan and as we went and did matha tek to Maharaaj I remember looking at Maharaaj and thinking ‘this is our living Guru’.

It wasn’t until halfway through that Diwan that something inside me stirred and I felt something that I’d never felt before.

All the group leaders were on stage doing Kirtan and someone started doing the following Shabad,

maerae sathiguraa mai thujh bin avar n koe
ham moorakh mugadhh saranaagathee kar kirapaa maelae har soe 1 rehaao

O my True Guru, without You I have no other at all.
I am foolish and ignorant; I seek Your Sanctuary. Please be Merciful and unite me with the Lord. 1Pause

I remember I was looking down at the floor when this Shabad started and as I heard the first line I looked up at Maharaaj and somewhere inside felt a sense of love and happiness. It was that moment that I realised that Guru Sahib is the King of Kings that I’d been bowing down to for 12 years without even knowing it. The next Shabad that was sung was,

har har har gun gaavahu
karahu kirapaa gopaal gobidhae apanaa naam japaavahu rehaao

Sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, Har, Har, Har.
Have Mercy on me, O Life of the World, O Lord of the Universe, that I may chant Your Name. Pause

Within minutes my life had changed, I now knew who my Guru was and how I was here for a reason; to ‘Sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, Har, Har, Har’.

I’ve often had conversations with people who say things like ‘one has to make an effort to realise religion’ or ‘one gets what they are looking for only when they make an effort’. I found something so amazing without even wanting it or looking for it, I feel extremely lucky and blessed that Maharaaj took me even though I had no clue about anything. I know a lot of people who have had times at camp where they have gone home disappointed/sad with the camp/the organisers or the experience on the whole and not come back to camp. I have also been to camps where it’s been the worst thing ever, but I keep going back. I’m not too sure why I keep going back to be honest, there’s just something about it that keeps pulling me back, and I can’t get enough of it :- )

That Gurdwara Sahib, that camp, that moment is so special to me, I can go there even now and get that same feeling as I sit there looking at Maharaaj.

Going to camp is like getting your batteries recharged. Even though I get next to no sleep all week, have some of the funkiest kids I have ever come across (they get more interesting each year) in my group and have to iron my clothes in the dark (you have to be there to get it :p) I come back on a Sikhi high.

Only a few days to go now and I can’t wait, time to pull out my stash of pro plus.. Bring on year 16..

Some pictures from previous camps.

Love You Maharaaj - 'maerae preethamaa mai thujh bin avar n koe '

mohu mal bivas keeao kaam gehi kaes pashhaarryo
krodhh kha(n)dd paracha(n)dd lobh apamaan sio jhaarryo
janam kaal kar jorr hukam jo hoe s ma(n)nai
bhav saagar ba(n)dhhiao sikh thaarae suprasa(n)nai
sir aathapath sacha thakhath jog bhog sa(n)juth bal
gur raamadhaas sach saly bhan thoo attal raaj abhag dhal 1

He has crushed and overpowered emotional attachment. He seized sexual desire by the hair, and threw it down.
With His Power, He cut anger into pieces, and sent greed away in disgrace.
Life and death, with palms pressed together, respect and obey the Hukam of His Command.
He brought the terrifying world-ocean under His Control; by His Pleasure, He carried His Sikhs across.
He is seated upon the Throne of Truth, with the canopy above His Head; He is embellished with the powers of Yoga and the enjoyment of pleasures.
So speaks SALL the poet: O Guru Raam Daas, Your sovereign power is eternal and unbreakable; Your army is invincible. 1

Light from within

People are like stained-glass windows.
They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in,
their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.

-Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Saavan

It’s Sangrand today, the first day of the month of Saavan. Guru Arjan Dev Ji wrote Baareh Maahaa, which discusses each month of the year. The Shabad is in Raag Maajh on Pannaa 133. There is a Pauri/stanza allocated to each month; this is what Maharaaj says about this month,

saavan sarasee kaamanee charan kamal sio piaar
man than rathaa sach ra(n)g eiko naam adhhaar
bikhiaa ra(n)g koorraaviaa dhisan sabhae shhaar
har a(n)mrith boo(n)dh suhaavanee mil saadhhoo peevanehaar
van thin prabh sa(n)g mouliaa sa(n)mrathh purakh apaar
har milanai no man lochadhaa karam milaavanehaar
jinee sakheeeae prabh paaeiaa ha(n)o thin kai sadh balihaar
naanak har jee maeiaa kar sabadh savaaranehaar
saavan thinaa suhaaganee jin raam naam our haar 6

In the month of Saawan, the soul-bride is happy, if she falls in love with the Lotus Feet of the Lord.
Her mind and body are imbued with the Love of the True One; His Name is her only Support.
The pleasures of corruption are false. All that is seen shall turn to ashes.
The drops of the Lord's Nectar are so beautiful! Meeting the Holy Saint, we drink these in.
The forests and the meadows are rejuvenated and refreshed with the Love of God, the All-powerful, Infinite Primal Being.
My mind yearns to meet the Lord. If only He would show His Mercy, and unite me with Himself!
Those brides who have obtained God-I am forever a sacrifice to them.
O Nanak, when the Dear Lord shows kindness, He adorns His bride with the Word of His Shabad.
Saawan is delightful for those happy soul-brides whose hearts are adorned with the Necklace of the Lord's Name. 6

Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaaj.

Empty feeling

For some reason I’ve been feeling empty and I randomly tend to feel down. It wouldn’t be so bad if I knew what was making me feel this way but I have no idea what it could be.

I turned to Maharaaj and took a Hukamnama to see what Maharaaj makes of it all and this is the Shabad that came up (its long but well worth the read).

raag soohee mehlaa 3 ghar 10
Raag Soohee, Third Mehl, Tenth House:

ik-oNkaar satgur parsaad.
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

dunee-aa na saalaahi jo mar vanjsee.
Do not praise the world; it shall simply pass away.

lokaa na saalaahi jo mar khaak thee-ee. 1
Do not praise other people; they shall die and turn to dust. 1

vaahu mayray saahibaa vaahu.
Waaho! Waaho! Hail, hail to my Lord and Master.

gurmukh sadaa salaahee-ai sachaa vayparvaahu. 1 rahaa-o.
As Gurmukh, forever praise the One who is forever True, Independent and Carefree. 1Pause

dunee-aa kayree dostee manmukh dajh marann.
Making worldly friendships, the self-willed manmukhs burn and die.

jam pur baDhay maaree-ah vaylaa na lahann. 2
In the City of Death, they are bound and gagged and beaten; this opportunity shall never come again. 2

gurmukh janam sakaarthaa sachai sabad lagann.
The lives of the Gurmukhs are fruitful and blessed; they are committed to the True Word of the Shabad.

aatam raam pargaasi-aa sehjay sukh rahann. 3
Their souls are illuminated by the Lord, and they dwell in peace and pleasure. 3

gur kaa sabad visaari-aa doojai bhaa-ay rachann.
Those who forget the Word of the Guru's Shabad are engrossed in the love of duality.

tisnaa bhukh na utrai an-din jalat firann. 4
Their hunger and thirst never leave them, and night and day, they wander around burning. 4

dustaa naal dostee naal santaa vair karann.
Those who make friendships with the wicked, and harbor animosity to the Saints,

aap dubay kutamb si-o saglay kul dobann. 5
shall drown with their families, and their entire lineage shall be obliterated. 5

nindaa bhalee kisai kee naahee manmukh mugaDh karann.
It is not good to slander anyone, but the foolish, self-willed manmukhs still do it.

muh kaalay tin nindkaa narkay ghor pavann. 6
The faces of the slanderers turn black, and they fall into the most horrible hell. 6

ay man jaisaa sayveh taisaa hoveh tayhay karam kamaa-ay.
O mind, as you serve, so do you become, and so are the deeds that you do.

aap beej aapay hee khaavnaa kahnaa kichhoo na jaa-ay. 7
Whatever you yourself plant, that is what you shall have to eat; nothing else can be said about this. 7

mahaa purkhaa kaa bolnaa hovai kitai parthaa-ay.
The speech of the great spiritual beings has a higher purpose.

o-ay amrit bharay bharpoor heh onaa til na tamaa-ay. 8
They are filled to over-flowing with Ambrosial Nectar, and they have absolutely no greed at all. 8

gunkaaree gun sanghrai avraa updaysayn.
The virtuous accumulate virtue, and teach others.

say vadbhaagee je onaa mil rahay an-din naam la-ayn. 9
Those who meet with them are so very fortunate; night and day, they chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord. 9

daysee rijak sambaahi jin upaa-ee maydnee.
He who created the Universe, gives sustenance to it.

ayko hai daataar sachaa aap Dhanee. 10
The One Lord alone is the Great Giver. He Himself is the True Master. 10

so sach tayrai naal hai gurmukh nadar nihaal.
That True Lord is always with you; the Gurmukh is blessed with His Glance of Grace.

aapay bakhsay mayl la-ay so parabh sadaa samaal. 11
He Himself shall forgive you, and merge you into Himself; forever cherish and contemplate God. 11

man mailaa sach nirmalaa ki-o kar mili-aa jaa-ay.
The mind is impure; only the True Lord is pure. So how can it merge into Him?

parabh maylay taa mil rahai ha-umai sabad jalaa-ay. 12
God merges it into Himself, and then it remains merged; through the Word of His Shabad, the ego is burnt away. 12

so saho sachaa veesrai Dharig jeevan sansaar.
Cursed is the life in this world, of one who forgets her True Husband Lord.

nadar karay naa veesrai gurmatee veechaar. 13
The Lord grants His Mercy, and she does not forget Him, if she contemplates the Guru's Teachings. 13

satgur maylay taa mil rahaa saach rakhaa ur Dhaar.
The True Guru unites her, and so she remains united with Him, with the True Lord enshrined within her heart.

mili-aa ho-ay na veechhurhai gur kai hayt pi-aar. 14
And so united, she will not be separated again; she remains in the love and affection of the Guru. 14

pir saalaahee aapnaa gur kai sabad veechaar.
I praise my Husband Lord, contemplating the Word of the Guru's Shabad.

mil pareetam sukh paa-i-aa sobhaavantee naar. 15
Meeting with my Beloved, I have found peace; I am His most beautiful and happy soul-bride. 15

manmukh man na bhij-ee at mailay chit kathor.
The mind of the self-willed manmukh is not softened; his consciousness is totally polluted and stone-hearted.

sapai duDh pee-aa-ee-ai andar vis nikor. 16
Even if the venomous snake is fed on milk, it shall still be filled with poison. 16

aap karay kis aakhee-ai aapay bakhsanhaar.
He Himself does - who else should I ask? He Himself is the Forgiving Lord.

gur sabdee mail utrai taa sach bani-aa seegaar. 17
Through the Guru's Teachings, filth is washed away, and then, one is embellished with the ornament of Truth. 17

sachaa saahu sachay vanjaaray othai koorhay na tikann.
True is the Banker, and True are His traders. The false ones cannot remain there.

onaa sach na bhaav-ee dukh hee maahi pachann. 18
They do not love the Truth - they are consumed by their pain. 18

ha-umai mailaa jag firai mar jammai vaaro vaar.
The world wanders around in the filth of egotism; it dies, and is re-born, over and again.

pa-i-ai kirat kamaavanaa ko-ay na maytanhaar. 19
He acts in accordance with the karma of his past actions, which no one can erase. 19

santaa sangat mil rahai taa sach lagai pi-aar.
But if he joins the Society of the Saints, then he comes to embrace love for the Truth.

sach salaahee sach man dar sachai sachiaar. 20
Praising the True Lord with a truthful mind, he becomes true in the Court of the True Lord. 20

gur pooray pooree mat hai ahinis naam Dhi-aa-ay.
The Teachings of the Perfect Guru are perfect; meditate on the Naam, the Name of the Lord, day and night.

ha-umai mayraa vad rog hai vichahu thaak rahaa-ay. 21
Egotism and self-conceit are terrible diseases; tranquility and stillness come from within. 21

gur saalaahee aapnaa niv niv laagaa paa-ay.
I praise my Guru; bowing down to Him again and again, I fall at His Feet.

tan man sa-upee aagai Dharee vichahu aap gavaa-ay. 22
I place my body and mind in offering unto Him, eradicating self-conceit from within. 22

khinchotaan viguchee-ai aykas si-o liv laa-ay.
Indecision leads to ruin; focus your attention on the One Lord.

ha-umai mayraa chhad too taa sach rahai samaa-ay. 23
Renounce egotism and self-conceit, and remain merged in Truth. 23

satgur no milay se bhaa-iraa sachai sabad lagann.
Those who meet with the True Guru are my Siblings of Destiny; they are committed to the True Word of the Shabad.

sach milay say na vichhurheh dar sachai disann. 24
Those who merge with the True Lord shall not be separated again; they are judged to be True in the Court of the Lord. 24

say bhaa-ee say sajnaa jo sachaa sayvann.
They are my Siblings of Destiny, and they are my friends, who serve the True Lord.

avgan vikan pulHran gun kee saajh karaNniH. 25
They sell off their sins and demerits like straw, and enter into the partnership of virtue. 25

gun kee saajh sukh oopjai sachee bhagat karayn.
In the partnership of virtue, peace wells up, and they perform true devotional worship service.

sach vanaNjahi gur sabad si-o laahaa naam la-ayn. 26
They deal in Truth, through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, and they earn the profit of the Naam. 26

su-inaa rupaa paap kar kar sanchee-ai chalai na chaldi-aa naal.
Gold and silver may be earned by committing sins, but they will not go with you when you die.

vin naavai naal na chalsee sabh muthee jamkaal. 27
Nothing will go with you in the end, except the Name; all are plundered by the Messenger of Death. 27

man kaa tosaa har naam hai hirdai rakhahu samHaal.
The Lord's Name is the nourishment of the mind; cherish it, and preserve it carefully within your heart.

ayhu kharach akhut hai gurmukh nibhai naal. 28
This nourishment is inexhaustible; it is always with the Gurmukhs. 28

ay man moolhu bhuli-aa jaaseh pat gavaa-ay.
O mind, if you forget the Primal Lord, you shall depart, having lost your honor.

ih jagat mohi doojai vi-aapi-aa gurmatee sach Dhi-aa-ay. 29
This world is engrossed in the love of duality; follow the Guru's Teachings, and meditate on the True Lord. 29

har kee keemat na pavai har jas likhan na jaa-ay.
The Lord's value cannot be estimated; the Lord's Praises cannot be written down.

gur kai sabad man tan rapai har si-o rahai samaa-ay. 30
When one's mind and body are attuned to the Word of the Guru's Shabad, one remains merged in the Lord. 30

so saho mayraa rangulaa rangay sahj subhaa-ay.
My Husband Lord is playful; He has imbued me with His Love, with natural ease.

kaaman rang taa charhai jaa pir kai ank samaa-ay. 31
The soul-bride is imbued with His Love, when her Husband Lord merges her into His Being. 31
chiree vichhunay bhee milan jo satgur sayvann.
Even those who have been separated for so very long, are reunited with Him, when they serve the True Guru.

antar nav niDh naam hai khaan kharchan na nikhuta-ee har gun sahj ravann. 32
The nine treasures of the Naam, the Name of the Lord, are deep within the nucleus of the self; consuming them, they are still never exhausted. Chant the Glorious Praises of the Lord, with natural ease. 32

naa o-ay janmeh naa mareh naa o-ay dukh sahann.
They are not born, and they do not die; they do not suffer in pain.

gur raakhay say ubray har si-o kayl karann. 33
Those who are protected by the Guru are saved. They celebrate with the Lord. 33

sajan milay na vichhurheh je an-din milay rahann.
Those who are united with the Lord, the True Friend, are not separated again; night and day, they remain blended with Him.

is jag meh virlay jaanee-ahi naanak sach lahann. 3413
In this world, only a rare few are known, O Nanak, to have obtained the True Lord. 3413

Having read that I felt like all the questions that I’ve ever had have been answered, even the ones that I’ve not actively thought about but may have thought of in passing.

Some of the comments made by Guru Amar Das Ji Maharaaj are so simple yet they hit straight home due to its blinding truth. All of this Shabad is amazing, but the following Tuks really stood out for me,

dunee-aa na saalaahi jo mar vanjsee.
Do not praise the world; it shall simply pass away.

lokaa na saalaahi jo mar khaak thee-ee. 1
Do not praise other people; they shall die and turn to dust. 1

vaahu mayray saahibaa vaahu.
Waaho! Waaho! Hail, hail to my Lord and Master.

gurmukh sadaa salaahee-ai sachaa vayparvaahu. 1 rahaa-o.
As Gurmukh, forever praise the One who is forever True, Independent and Carefree. 1Pause

dunee-aa kayree dostee manmukh dajh marann.
Making worldly friendships, the self-willed manmukhs burn and die.

I often tend to get caught up in friendships and worldly distraction, if only I could learn to let go and be carefree.

I still don’t know what it is that’s making me feel the way I am, but this Shabad by Guru Amar Das Ji Maharaaj are definitely told me some home truths about life.

Ultimately there’s one thing I know for certain; ‘Man Kyon Bairag Karega, Satgur Mera Poora’.

Baba Ranjit Singh

Baba Ranjit was recently in the UK, I managed to go down to two of their Diwans. On the whole I was amazed at the number of people who had turned up to the Diwans. For the first Diwan I went to which was in Walsall, I was there just over an hour early and half the hall was already full, on the second day we decided to go an hour and half earlier and I was surprised to find the hall (this time in Wolverhampton) was almost completely full.

I found the first Diwan to be pretty incredible, there must have been around 300-500 people squashed into the hall/stairways and Langar hall and everyone was singing alone. It’s the fact that everyone sings along that really stood out for me. Baba Ranjit Singh tends to talk about a topic and explain it using examples from sakhi’s, references from Bani, and then they sing a dharna which everyone sang after them.. Like I mentioned, it was amazing to hear so many people singing alone. It would have in my personal opinion made the experience more moving if what everyone was singing was Bani, this in my opinion would have taken the experience to another level.

The second Diwan that was at Wolverhampton was the same. This time there must have been 500+ people gathered in the main hall with many more sitting in additional halls. Again everyone was singing along and it was very touching, there’s something about everyone singing along which really hits home somewhere deep inside.

I think the Diwans that took place were highly successful events as a large number of people turned up to take laha from them, even though there has been some negativity generated by some people about Baba Ranjit Singh, from what I saw and experienced they seem to be doing good parchar, which is exactly what we need.