Category: Philosophical Concepts

Two Sacrifices

Two Sacrifices Sacrifice means surrendering or giving up something for the sake of another considered more important. We therefore have the mother forgoing her comforts for the sake of her baby or one friend giving up his interest for the other. Parents tighten their hands on expenditure to provide for their children’s education and so […]

Saturday, 31 January 2009 18:21 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Let us Count our blessings

Some Sikh families had gathered at the Shabad Kirtan (congregation) at the house of one of them at Gurgaon, India. There, a proposal was put forward to establish a Gurduara since none existed in the new colony. A young homeopathic lady doctor came forward to offer her services whenever the Gurduara was established. The new […]

Saturday, 24 January 2009 23:06 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Of Ghosts, Evil Spirits and Exorcists

Stories about ghosts, evil spirits or haunted houses form part of some beliefs. According to these beliefs a ghost is the manifestation of a dead person or of being frightened by something unusual.An evil spirit may be wandering any where including entering the bodies of some people. Haunted houses create fright. Such beliefs exist in […]

Saturday, 10 January 2009 02:38 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Confessions of an Egoist

I frequently think of my achievements in life. I boast of being a self-made man and say I will achieve more. I however feel foolish when the realization comes that the control lies elsewhere. This truth dawns on me when faced with difficult situations in life. We had to leave our place of residence at […]

Sunday, 28 December 2008 23:28 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

THE ULTIMATE SANCTUARY

Guru Arjun the Fifth Sikh Guru was informed of an impending attack by a Muslim official named Sulahi Khan. A meeting was called to make out a plan for defense. Many suggestions were made but the Guru said it was best to depend on Divine protection. Sulahi Khan set out to attack but died on […]

Friday, 19 December 2008 22:08 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

How to Remember God – Simran Vidhi

Gurbani gives simple guidelines for Simran. What is Simran? The literal meaning is remembrance or repetition. What is to be repeated? Naam. What is Naam? Naam has two aspects. One since Akal Purakh has no shape or form we remember or think of His virtues – Gun. By doing this we fall in love with […]

Thursday, 11 December 2008 02:57 Written by Rawel Singh 2 Comments

Faith and Discernment – Sidak and Bibayk

Faith and discernment or reasoning are two valuable virtues. However if they are treated in two exclusive compartments they can become pitfalls. For example faith alone may lead to the belief that one’s religion is the only one or the best. This is used by some as the basis to criticize or even slander other […]

Tuesday, 18 November 2008 23:04 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Gurbani adaptation of Karma and Trans…

In the course of discussions on the subject of Karma and Transmigration/ reincarnation many participants do not agree to the concept. They ignore all the quotations from Gurbani and dub these as mere Hindu beliefs and give their own interpretations which do not nagate the concept. They just want to show that these are Hindu […]

Saturday, 25 October 2008 15:17 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

How is Sri Guru Granth Sahib the Guru? (A tribute on the tercentenary of Gurta Gaddi)

ਸਭਸਿਖਨ ਕੋ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੈ ਗੁਰੁ ਮਾਨਿਓ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ । This is the edict for all the Sikhs; accept the Granth as the Guru (Guru Gobind Singh) This edict ofthe tenth Guru makes it easy for the Sikh to answer the question of Sri Guru Granth Sahib being the Guru. For him or her it is the […]

Thursday, 16 October 2008 16:44 Written by Rawel Singh 1 Comment

The Creator – Soul Conversation

Sikh religion is the youngest and latest among all organized religions. The scriptures of earlier religions give the impression that God abides in some remote or high places and communication with Him is restricted to only a few. Also it is believed that knowledge about God is restricted only to a selected few. In Hindu […]

Sunday, 05 October 2008 00:57 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Miracles

A miracle is any extraordinary occurrence that cannot be explained by the laws of nature. It is a display of supernatural powers. A miracle may take the form of someone escaping from almost sure death, an illness being cured by means other than medical intervention or a baby being safely transported by flood waters. Other […]

Saturday, 27 September 2008 19:42 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Dasam Duar – The Tenth Gate (Revised)

Dasam Duar – The Tenth Gate (Revised) ਭਨਤਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਭਰਮ ਪਟ ਖੂਲ੍ਹ੍ਹੇ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥ ਸਾਚੀ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ ਹੈ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਿਉ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥੩॥੧॥੯॥ ੩ ੬੬੬. With the guru’s grace the mask of delusion lifts and one is able to know about God; following the guru’s instructions facilitates being absorbed in Him within […]

Monday, 01 September 2008 16:25 Written by Rawel Singh 2 Comments

Dasam Duar – The Tenth Gate (Revised)

Dasam Duar – The Tenth Gate ਭਨਤਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਭਰਮ ਪਟ ਖੂਲ੍ਹ੍ਹੇ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥ ਸਾਚੀ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ ਹੈ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਿਉ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥੩॥੧॥੯॥ ੩ ੬੬੬. With the guru’s grace the mask of delusion lifts and one is able to know about God; following the guru’s instructions facilitates being absorbed in Him within the […]

Saturday, 23 August 2008 13:35 Written by Rawel Singh 40 Comments

Understanding Simran

What is Simran? Simran means remembering or saying something again and again. In Gurbani, Simran has been used for remembering God’s virtues or names given to God. This is Naam and is the means for meeting the aspirations of the soul to merge with the Creator. It involves remembering God, contemplating on His virtues and […]

Saturday, 02 August 2008 17:59 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

The Five Khands in Japu

The Five Khands in Japu Synopsis As per Gurmat, Sojhi/awareness/consciousness must translate to action. Guru Nanak Sahib has prescribed the progression of the five Khandds in this regard. This progression in outline is. Dharam Khandd – recognise that the universe, of which the creatures are a part, functions by Naam/Divine commands/cosmic laws. Giaan Khandd – […]

Saturday, 26 July 2008 16:40 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Reincarnation

At the time of birth the soul is given a life-span and role to play in the life he is going to take by the Creator. These are Divine commands. In life he is subjected to numerous temptations that tend to take him away from performing the role. If he is able to resist the […]

Thursday, 17 July 2008 07:17 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Numeral 5 – The Five Vices to Avoid

The Five Vices to Avoid Men and women have been given sensory organs to experience nature and their surroundings. However these experiences can and do turn into obsessions. The eyes are for seeing and admiring natural, personal or created beauty as in works of art but they also look viciously on other’s beauty and wealth. […]

Wednesday, 09 July 2008 12:13 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Numeral 5 – The Five Qualities to Imbibe

Among the groups of five are qualities are recommended for a satifying and harmonious life. These qualities are also sometimes taken as the virtues that make a Panch or a respected person. The fifth Guru’s prescription for a successful life is: ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਦ ਮਤਸਰ ਏ ਖੇਲਤ ਸਭਿ ਜੂਐ ਹਾਰੇ ॥ ਸਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਦਇਆ […]

Thursday, 26 June 2008 22:14 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

The Numeral 5 – Groups of Five: Panch (ਪੰਚ)

There are a large number of concepts in groups of five used in Gurbani. For these the word ਪੰਚ (Panch), or ਪੰਜ (Panj) both meaning five has been used. Panch also means a respected person and we start with this concept. In South Asia the word Panch is used for member of a village council […]

Monday, 16 June 2008 16:17 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

The Numeral 4 – Concepts Groups of Four

The Numeral 4 represents a nunber of phenomena that occur in fours. Many of them are of common use but some of them refer to concepts in various religions. They have all been taken note of in Gurbani. These are briefly discussed below. 1. We however start with the word ਚਾਰ (Chaar), which stands for […]

Monday, 09 June 2008 15:48 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments
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