I was born a Sikh, and brought up with uncut hair and Punjabi was my first language, even before English. My parents were traditional Sikhs and as a family we used to go to Gurdwara every Sunday, even though we were never told why. My parents used to read a lot of Gurbani and as children, me and my brother would often imitate them and read the Mool Mantar, the root chant, which is the beginning of the Sikh Scriptures, the Shri Guru Granth Sahib. We had a very happy childhood, our parents never forced anything on us and me and my brother Onkardeep would just play so many various interesting games.
At the age of 9, me and my brother started going to Punjabi class to learn to read our mother tongue. We always used to mess around in class and annoy the teachers, but we slowly picked up the basics of the Punjabi language. At the same time, my father's Masi, who was also our Punjabi school teacher would give me and my brother long scripts in Punjabi to learn by heart. We would then recite these on stage at the Gurdwara in front of hundreds of people and became famous for it, even though to this day, I have no idea what we were even saying!
At the age of 10, we started going to Gurmat class, where every Saturday we would learn the basics of Sikh philosophy and history. One of the teachers at the class,became a very close friend of the family and our families grew up together. Uncle, as we call him, taught us Kirtan and Sikh philosophy. We would have many long debates, discussions and hold regular prayers at each others houses. We also used to go out to other Gurdwaras around the country and do Kirtan and Katha in English for the younger audience. Me, my brother and Uncle's son, did many radical things. We would integrate a drama into our Kirtan to teach people the meaning of the Gurbani by having a discussion between us three. Sometimes people thought we had gone mad, but really everything was always pre-planned thoroughly.
The next stage of my life came when I began to study general philosophy in Sixth Form as part of Religious Education. My teacher was a saint. He understood religion to its most fine and even controversial points and his personality was radiant. Studying philosophy, including the works of great minds like Aristotle, Plato and others was a breath of fresh air. It completely for a period of time, destroyed my concepts about life and religion. We explored the ideas of ethics, morality, freedom, science and then applied these ideas within the context of religion. I simply loved it and it opened my mind some more.
By 17 years of age, I had done more with my life and learnt more skills than people usually learn in lifetimes. I could play the tabla, competitive Badminton, could perform presentations to hundreds of people, write poetry, understand general philosophy as well as Sikh, Muslim and Christian philosophy, build websites, debate on any topic, perform the Sikh martial art of Gatka, and I was a 4 A*s and 5 As student and always at the top of my class.
However, in spite of all these qualities, still I never really became a Sikh until I was 18 years old, as surprising as that may sound. The first day I went to University, one of the first things I did was to find a Kundalini Yoga class in my local area. I had always desired to learn this technology and was always so inspired by the beauty and perfection of the American Sikhs of Yogi Bhajan which I had read a lot about for many years. So I checked on KundaliniYoga.org and found a teacher. My very first lesson was in Solihull, in a small room in a library. I remember being very keen and I had lots of questions to ask her. Even in my very first lesson I remember experiencing energy throughout my body like never before, and I understood how powerful this technology was. I wanted more!
After my second lesson, I was on the way back home and had to take a train from Sohihull station to Birmingham New Street. Solihull train station is perhaps the most secluded and deserted station I have ever seen. There was never a soul in sight at that station, not even anyone at reception! To make matters worse, the train I was meant to catch was cancelled, and the next train would be in one hour. So I waited the hour and to my surprise the next train was also cancelled! I was hungry and so decided to go and get some food. When I came back there was still no one at the station, except this one Sikh man in a turban. Naturally, I offered him some popadom, but he refused. We started talking and I told him I was doing Kundalini Yoga. He began to tell me of a teacher closer to home. For some reason, she was not listed on the Internet when I look, and for some reason, this man had her number even though he had never done Kundalini Yoga in his life. This was a miracle that the universe had arranged! I knew then that I had found my teacher.
Kundalini Yoga changed my life. It allowed me to become conscious of my mind and its games. It allowed me to experience many things of the Earth and of the Heavens. It unfolded and uncovered all those parts of my personality which had gaps and filled those gaps up. It opened me and my mind to new states of awareness and consciousness. But most of all, the pinnacle of what Kundalini Yoga gave me was new eyes to see the beauty of the people and the world as perfect. It made me innocent again, just like I once was as a child. In have no judgement any more, I can see the God within people's eyes and I accept all people for who they are and for who they're not. Even though I had developed so many skills and qualities, I had not addressed the underlying problems within my being, there was too much of me and too much judgement. There have been a lot of challenges, tests and experiences since that day I left Solihull station, but I have always come through these by the Grace of the Guru.
Now being 20, when I look back I realise that my whole life would not have turned out the way it has unless the Guru had kept me in his hands. I always would go to the Guru whenever I needed anything or had any problem, and the Guru would always bring me through. This single relationship to my Guru and God has grown over time, whilst all other worldly relationships have slowly faded away. Life is very simple now. Now me and God are in a constant communication whenever we want to be. God is not far from me, and I'm not far from God. We dwell within each other. This is what it means to be a Sikh. This is only achieved by dissolving and letting go of all concepts, not by adding more concepts and complications which people often do. Being a Sikh means expanding consciousness day-by-day and letting go day-by-day, until you get to nothing, and therefore get to everything.
Sat Naam!
Wednesday 18 February 2009
My Journey on the road towards Sikh Dharma
I was born a Sikh, and brought up with uncut hair and Punjabi was my first language, even before English. My parents were traditional Sikhs and as a family we used to go to Gurdwara every Sunday, even though we were never told why. My parents used to read a lot of Gurbani and as children, me and my brother would often imitate them and read the Mool Mantar, the root chant, which is the beginning of the Sikh Scriptures, the Shri Guru Granth Sahib. We had a very happy childhood, our parents never forced anything on us and me and my brother Onkardeep would just play so many various interesting games.
At the age of 9, me and my brother started going to Punjabi class to learn to read our mother tongue. We always used to mess around in class and annoy the teachers, but we slowly picked up the basics of the Punjabi language. At the same time, my father's Masi, who was also our Punjabi school teacher would give me and my brother long scripts in Punjabi to learn by heart. We would then recite these on stage at the Gurdwara in front of hundreds of people and became famous for it, even though to this day, I have no idea what we were even saying!
At the age of 10, we started going to Gurmat class, where every Saturday we would learn the basics of Sikh philosophy and history. One of the teachers at the class,became a very close friend of the family and our families grew up together. Uncle, as we call him, taught us Kirtan and Sikh philosophy. We would have many long debates, discussions and hold regular prayers at each others houses. We also used to go out to other Gurdwaras around the country and do Kirtan and Katha in English for the younger audience. Me, my brother and Uncle's son, did many radical things. We would integrate a drama into our Kirtan to teach people the meaning of the Gurbani by having a discussion between us three. Sometimes people thought we had gone mad, but really everything was always pre-planned thoroughly.
The next stage of my life came when I began to study general philosophy in Sixth Form as part of Religious Education. My teacher was a saint. He understood religion to its most fine and even controversial points and his personality was radiant. Studying philosophy, including the works of great minds like Aristotle, Plato and others was a breath of fresh air. It completely for a period of time, destroyed my concepts about life and religion. We explored the ideas of ethics, morality, freedom, science and then applied these ideas within the context of religion. I simply loved it and it opened my mind some more.
By 17 years of age, I had done more with my life and learnt more skills than people usually learn in lifetimes. I could play the tabla, competitive Badminton, could perform presentations to hundreds of people, write poetry, understand general philosophy as well as Sikh, Muslim and Christian philosophy, build websites, debate on any topic, perform the Sikh martial art of Gatka, and I was a 4 A*s and 5 As student and always at the top of my class.
However, in spite of all these qualities, still I never really became a Sikh until I was 18 years old, as surprising as that may sound. The first day I went to University, one of the first things I did was to find a Kundalini Yoga class in my local area. I had always desired to learn this technology and was always so inspired by the beauty and perfection of the American Sikhs of Yogi Bhajan which I had read a lot about for many years. So I checked on KundaliniYoga.org and found a teacher. My very first lesson was in Solihull, in a small room in a library. I remember being very keen and I had lots of questions to ask her. Even in my very first lesson I remember experiencing energy throughout my body like never before, and I understood how powerful this technology was. I wanted more!
After my second lesson, I was on the way back home and had to take a train from Sohihull station to Birmingham New Street. Solihull train station is perhaps the most secluded and deserted station I have ever seen. There was never a soul in sight at that station, not even anyone at reception! To make matters worse, the train I was meant to catch was cancelled, and the next train would be in one hour. So I waited the hour and to my surprise the next train was also cancelled! I was hungry and so decided to go and get some food. When I came back there was still no one at the station, except this one Sikh man in a turban. Naturally, I offered him some popadom, but he refused. We started talking and I told him I was doing Kundalini Yoga. He began to tell me of a teacher closer to home. For some reason, she was not listed on the Internet when I look, and for some reason, this man had her number even though he had never done Kundalini Yoga in his life. This was a miracle that the universe had arranged! I knew then that I had found my teacher.
Kundalini Yoga changed my life. It allowed me to become conscious of my mind and its games. It allowed me to experience many things of the Earth and of the Heavens. It unfolded and uncovered all those parts of my personality which had gaps and filled those gaps up. It opened me and my mind to new states of awareness and consciousness. But most of all, the pinnacle of what Kundalini Yoga gave me was new eyes to see the beauty of the people and the world as perfect. It made me innocent again, just like I once was as a child. In have no judgement any more, I can see the God within people's eyes and I accept all people for who they are and for who they're not. Even though I had developed so many skills and qualities, I had not addressed the underlying problems within my being, there was too much of me and too much judgement. There have been a lot of challenges, tests and experiences since that day I left Solihull station, but I have always come through these by the Grace of the Guru.
Now being 20, when I look back I realise that my whole life would not have turned out the way it has unless the Guru had kept me in his hands. I always would go to the Guru whenever I needed anything or had any problem, and the Guru would always bring me through. This single relationship to my Guru and God has grown over time, whilst all other worldly relationships have slowly faded away. Life is very simple now. Now me and God are in a constant communication whenever we want to be. God is not far from me, and I'm not far from God. We dwell within each other. This is what it means to be a Sikh. This is only achieved by dissolving and letting go of all concepts, not by adding more concepts and complications which people often do. Being a Sikh means expanding consciousness day-by-day and letting go day-by-day, until you get to nothing, and therefore get to everything.
Sat Naam!
At the age of 9, me and my brother started going to Punjabi class to learn to read our mother tongue. We always used to mess around in class and annoy the teachers, but we slowly picked up the basics of the Punjabi language. At the same time, my father's Masi, who was also our Punjabi school teacher would give me and my brother long scripts in Punjabi to learn by heart. We would then recite these on stage at the Gurdwara in front of hundreds of people and became famous for it, even though to this day, I have no idea what we were even saying!
At the age of 10, we started going to Gurmat class, where every Saturday we would learn the basics of Sikh philosophy and history. One of the teachers at the class,became a very close friend of the family and our families grew up together. Uncle, as we call him, taught us Kirtan and Sikh philosophy. We would have many long debates, discussions and hold regular prayers at each others houses. We also used to go out to other Gurdwaras around the country and do Kirtan and Katha in English for the younger audience. Me, my brother and Uncle's son, did many radical things. We would integrate a drama into our Kirtan to teach people the meaning of the Gurbani by having a discussion between us three. Sometimes people thought we had gone mad, but really everything was always pre-planned thoroughly.
The next stage of my life came when I began to study general philosophy in Sixth Form as part of Religious Education. My teacher was a saint. He understood religion to its most fine and even controversial points and his personality was radiant. Studying philosophy, including the works of great minds like Aristotle, Plato and others was a breath of fresh air. It completely for a period of time, destroyed my concepts about life and religion. We explored the ideas of ethics, morality, freedom, science and then applied these ideas within the context of religion. I simply loved it and it opened my mind some more.
By 17 years of age, I had done more with my life and learnt more skills than people usually learn in lifetimes. I could play the tabla, competitive Badminton, could perform presentations to hundreds of people, write poetry, understand general philosophy as well as Sikh, Muslim and Christian philosophy, build websites, debate on any topic, perform the Sikh martial art of Gatka, and I was a 4 A*s and 5 As student and always at the top of my class.
However, in spite of all these qualities, still I never really became a Sikh until I was 18 years old, as surprising as that may sound. The first day I went to University, one of the first things I did was to find a Kundalini Yoga class in my local area. I had always desired to learn this technology and was always so inspired by the beauty and perfection of the American Sikhs of Yogi Bhajan which I had read a lot about for many years. So I checked on KundaliniYoga.org and found a teacher. My very first lesson was in Solihull, in a small room in a library. I remember being very keen and I had lots of questions to ask her. Even in my very first lesson I remember experiencing energy throughout my body like never before, and I understood how powerful this technology was. I wanted more!
After my second lesson, I was on the way back home and had to take a train from Sohihull station to Birmingham New Street. Solihull train station is perhaps the most secluded and deserted station I have ever seen. There was never a soul in sight at that station, not even anyone at reception! To make matters worse, the train I was meant to catch was cancelled, and the next train would be in one hour. So I waited the hour and to my surprise the next train was also cancelled! I was hungry and so decided to go and get some food. When I came back there was still no one at the station, except this one Sikh man in a turban. Naturally, I offered him some popadom, but he refused. We started talking and I told him I was doing Kundalini Yoga. He began to tell me of a teacher closer to home. For some reason, she was not listed on the Internet when I look, and for some reason, this man had her number even though he had never done Kundalini Yoga in his life. This was a miracle that the universe had arranged! I knew then that I had found my teacher.
Kundalini Yoga changed my life. It allowed me to become conscious of my mind and its games. It allowed me to experience many things of the Earth and of the Heavens. It unfolded and uncovered all those parts of my personality which had gaps and filled those gaps up. It opened me and my mind to new states of awareness and consciousness. But most of all, the pinnacle of what Kundalini Yoga gave me was new eyes to see the beauty of the people and the world as perfect. It made me innocent again, just like I once was as a child. In have no judgement any more, I can see the God within people's eyes and I accept all people for who they are and for who they're not. Even though I had developed so many skills and qualities, I had not addressed the underlying problems within my being, there was too much of me and too much judgement. There have been a lot of challenges, tests and experiences since that day I left Solihull station, but I have always come through these by the Grace of the Guru.
Now being 20, when I look back I realise that my whole life would not have turned out the way it has unless the Guru had kept me in his hands. I always would go to the Guru whenever I needed anything or had any problem, and the Guru would always bring me through. This single relationship to my Guru and God has grown over time, whilst all other worldly relationships have slowly faded away. Life is very simple now. Now me and God are in a constant communication whenever we want to be. God is not far from me, and I'm not far from God. We dwell within each other. This is what it means to be a Sikh. This is only achieved by dissolving and letting go of all concepts, not by adding more concepts and complications which people often do. Being a Sikh means expanding consciousness day-by-day and letting go day-by-day, until you get to nothing, and therefore get to everything.
Sat Naam!
0
comments
Labels:
article,
character,
consciousness,
god,
grace,
gurmukhi,
letting go,
new life awakening,
spirituality
Labels:
article,
character,
consciousness,
god,
grace,
gurmukhi,
letting go,
new life awakening,
spirituality
My Experience of Summer Solstice Sadhana 2008 in New Mexico
Ram Das Puri, Española, New Mexico
http://www.3ho.org/events/yoga-retreat2.html
Friday 13th June 2008 to Monday 20th June 2008
By Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa
The story of Summer Solstice is too beautiful and miraculous to ever truly capture in words. It is something which must be experienced in order to understand and appreciate the extent of its beauty. Ram Das Puri, which is the land used for Summer Solstice, is a centre of healing, clarity and truth situated about half an hour from the town of Española in New Mexico. It is a heavenly realm which God has put on Earth. Heaven is not on Cloud 9, it’s in Ram Das Puri!
Yogi Bhajan, the master of Kundalini Yoga and founder of the Summer Solstice Sadhana said, “Revolve your life around Summer and Winter Solstice and everything will be taken care of”. This could not be truer. Ram Das Puri has the potential to dissolve all a person’s worries and leave a person in a state of profound peace. Everything is perfectly organised and worked out there without needing to control anything. The entire play of the universe can be seen apparently at work there. Ram Das Puri has a profound healing energy which attracts the spiritually inclined from all the four corners of the Earth, people of all colours, cultures, religions and at all stages of their spiritual path. Both the land and the congregation there are blessed. Everyday something new and magical unfolds there, whether it is an amazing soul that you meet, or a profound realisation of your own soul. This has been my experience. I cannot glorify it enough with words, it must be experienced.
I wish to share with you a few of the many experiences I had there. When arriving in Albuquerque in New Mexico, me and my brother Onkardeep had planned to take a taxi straight to our booked hotel accommodation. The next day we were going to attend Gurubachan Singh Khalsa’s closing ceremony of a continuous reading of the Sikh Holy Scripture from beginning to end, for his son’s 21st and daughter’s 33rd birthday. Gurubachan has been Yogi Bhajan’s personal cook and confidant for over 30 years, and has pioneered the Lord of the Miracles tour in South America, where him and a team of volunteers teach Kundalini Yoga and mediation to the governments of entire countries. It is not an everyday experience to meet a person of such calibre.
We had pre-planned to get picked up by Gurubachan in the morning. However, our plan of arriving and going straight to our hotel soon changed. As soon as we got off our flight and entered arrivals, there unexpectedly in the distance we saw Gurubachan walking towards us, standing about 7 feet tall, dressed in brilliant white and with one rose in each hand. We met halfway and were absolutely stunned that he had come to pick us up. He welcomed us to the State of New Mexico and on behalf of all of the Western Sikh Dharma organisations and institutions, gave us a rose each and then took us to his car to relax whilst our baggage came through. We were both speechless. I knew then that this journey would be a unique one. It was almost like coming back home after many years. Everything felt so familiar, natural and homely. Gurubachan then asked us if we were hungry. I replied ‘It’s Ok, not to worry’. Gurubachan replied, ‘You didn’t answer my question’. We laughed and said ‘Yes, maybe a little’. Gurubachan then took us to the Frontiers restaurant and gave us real Mexican burritos, a drink of coke and a cinnamon roll with extra butter. We certainly were not hungry after that! This was the just the beginning of our experience of New Mexico and the beginning of understanding real hospitality.
A few days later we decided to go visit Yogi Bhajan’s ranch. That morning we did not have an exact schedule for our day. All we knew was what we wanted to do and everything else was left to the universe to work it out. A few days ago at Gurubachan’s house we were kindly invited by Yogi Bhajan’s wife, Bibiji Inderjit Kaur, to come to the ranch whatever time we wanted for breakfast, lunch, dinner or tea. Such is her hospitality. So, today we had decided to go visit, but firstly we wanted to enquire whether Bibiji was actually in. To our disappointment, everyone we asked said she was away! Defiantly, we decided to visit anyway.
Deva Singh, who we were staying with, kindly offered to give us a lift to the ranch. Once inside the ranch we explored a little. We saw beautiful inter-faith sculptures, ornaments and a number of little properties scattered across it. Then unexpectedly Siri Dyal Kaur, who we had met a few days before, came out of one of the properties. She told us that she has been trying to get in contact with us for a long time to invite us to go to a Chinese restaurant, but could not find any way to reach us. In fact, surprisingly, she was planning to go to the restaurant within the next few minutes! We were both in awe how the Universe had arranged the situation so that she could invite us to the restaurant and we of course agreed to go with her. At the same time, as we walked around the ranch, the white and coloured peacocks all spread their feathers as if to welcome us. This was beautiful to behold.
When we arrived at the restaurant, the first thing we noticed is a table of Sikh women dressed all in white and in beautifully tied turbans. From afar we shouted ‘Sat Nam!’ meaning ‘God’s Name is Truth’. Then we went up close and greeted the women with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’, a Sikh greeting meaning ‘In those whose hearts there is love for the Wondrous Lord, their victories are God’s victories’. We sat at a nearby table to order our food. Just then, I had a feeling that one of the women sitting at the other table was Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa!
Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa (http://ekongkaar.blogspot.com/) is an established authority on the Sikh scriptures and is popular for her English translations of the Sikh daily prayers, including Jap Ji Sahib and Anand Sahib, that are the most beautiful I have ever come across. Before coming to New Mexico, I already had the deep intention to meet her for many years, to ask her whether I could include her translations in a project of mine called the Sikher project (http://www.sikher.com). We had talked briefly about my project over the internet many years ago, but I had not had the privilege to meet her in person.
So without delay, I got up to speak to her, knowing that this was why God had brought us to this restaurant seemingly randomly. She recognised me, but did not remember from where. I familiarised her with my project and she gracefully agreed to help me with it, with a smile, love and understanding. Right then, I felt so humbled that the universe would give me this opportunity and realised how special Española really was. I was bursting with so much excitement that I had to try and contain it all! It was a profound feeling of higher purpose. However, little did I know that even this was just the beginning!
After our meal, Siri Dyal Kaur dropped us back at Yogi Bhajan’s ranch, and me and my brother continued to explore from where we left off before the restaurant interlude. And then the next miracle happened! Sadhana Singh, who we also met at Gurubachan’s house, randomly came out of one of the houses at the ranch as we approached. We were happy and surprised to see him, and asked him what he was doing here. He told us that he works for Bibiji. Me and my brother looked at each other in glee. We asked Sadhana whether Bibiji was in and he told us that she was! We were again in absolute amazement! Even though everyone had said Bibiji was not available, the universe had given us the opportunity to meet her again.
So we went inside and Bibiji greeted us, and gave us some tea and biscuits. We talked a little and took a few pictures with her. Bibiji had such a kindness and sincerity to her, just like a mother to her children. It was a blessing to be with her and to be where Yogi Bhajan once lived. There was an incredible warmth there and I was overwhelmed with the feeling that we were long lost sons which had come back home. Also, that evening Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa (http://www.mrsikhnet.com) had invited us to dinner at his house, and so after talking with Bibiji, Sadhana dropped us back at the SikhNet office. The timing had worked out perfectly without needing to influence anything. At Gurumustuk’s house we had the pleasure to meet his beautiful family and to eat such lovingly cooked food. This was the end of just one day in Española. The day was so perfect, profound and organised that it felt surreal like a fairytale. Only this was no fairytale, this was the reality of one day in Española.
The next day we headed up to Ram Das Puri, the site for Summer Solstice, which is 7000 feet up in the extraordinary Jemez Mountains. After getting there we noticed a hoard of people of all different cultures, colours and religions, it was a heart-warming sight! The first thing we did was to find a good spot to setup our tent. This was quite difficult in the blazing sun, but we managed. We soon realised that a hammer would be useful to wedge some pegs securely into the ground, and at that exact moment someone came into our half-done tent and provided us with a hammer. Next, after setting up our tent successfully, we began to pump our mattresses and realised we needed a better pump, at that moment someone offered us an electric pump. These “coincidences” continued day-by-day, and we soon came to a realisation about Ram Das Puri and life. Our thought waves were being manifested into reality, instantly. As soon as you think of someone, they walk past. As soon as you need something, somebody gives it to you in that moment. Time and space are in complete harmony. There is a perfect synchronicity. This left us in no doubt about the nature of reality, that you are what you think!
A final experience which I shall share is that of taking Sikh Baptism called Amrit, at Ram Das Puri, to become part of the Khalsa, the society of saint-soldiers started by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth master of the Sikhs. It was a transformational experience, and life has been very different since that day. The Amrit ceremony first began in the early hours before the rise of the Sun, the Amritveylah. First we began to chant mantras together outside in the open, whilst being called into the Gurdwara one-by-one to be questioned by the five beloved ones, the Panj Pyareh, of whether we were ready for this great blessing of the Guru’s immortal nectar, the Amrit.
Soon enough my time had come to enter the Gurdwara, and I stood outside the door with my hands folded and my eyes closed as everyone chanted the mantra ‘Vaheguru’. I could feel my heart beating and my heart-centre was vibrating with the love for the Guru. I knew my time had come. I had thought it would take me many lifetimes to receive such a blessing, but the Guru in his grace had given me everything I needed to become ready for this moment. My entire life had been planned for this moment.
I was then called in and asked to bow before the Sikh Holy Scripture, the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The Panj Pyareh greeted me with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’. Together they had the presence of the tenth master of the Sikhs, of Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself, and they were most extravagantly dressed in royal navy blue robes of the Guru. They asked me a few questions and I responded in turn. Once they were satisfied they said ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’ and I returned back outside to the chanting.
After each of us had been called in and questioned, then everyone was called into the Gurdwara for the main Amrit ceremony to begin. We each went up in turn before the Panj Pyareh to receive the Amrit, the immortal nectar, which is water with added sugar crystals prepared whilst reciting five verses of Divine song to infuse the vibrations of God within it.
First, the disciple bows before the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and then each of the five beloved ones pour Amrit into their hands which they then drink, symbolising the experience of sweet bliss of the spiritual aspirant every moment. Amrit is then sprinkled into the eyes and hair of the disciple, symbolising the importance of seeing God in everyone and the opening of the tenth gate to merge with God. The Panj Pyareh then give the disciple the mantra ‘Vaheguru’ to recite, meaning ‘Wonderful God’. Finally, the disciple bows before the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and greets everyone with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’. Each of us went through this process in turn.
My experience of this ceremony was very precious. As the Amrit was sprinkled into my eyes, I kept my focus at the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and I felt that the Guru was closer to me, and me to the Guru. This was my formal commitment of giving my mind, body and soul to the Guru. It was my marriage to the Guru, a lifetime contract. At that moment, ‘I’ as an identity was no longer, and instead a new identity was grafted upon me. An identity infinitely more beautiful, perfect and radiant than ‘I’ could ever be. This was the miracle that Guru Gobind Singh Ji had left humanity with, that an ordinary human being could choose to let go of their own identity and accept a new identity of extraordinary royal radiance. However, it must be clarified that this was just the beginning of this journey, not the end. This was the start in realising how to be radiant, compassionate and graceful in every moment of life. I was no longer Jasdeep Singh Bhatia, but now Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa. I now have the rest of my life to work out who I’ve become, and to grow into this new identity.
Out of all these experiences, the biggest lesson for me was how the universe takes care of everything, and one does not need to worry about anything. I learnt that as soon as I try and control, influence or cause something to happen, then life becomes complicated. Instead, by letting go of all doubts, worries and concerns, the universe steps in to help and everything is perfectly resolved. Even coming back to the United Kingdom, I have found that the same rules apply as Ram Das Puri, but it is just more difficult to let go of perceived problems in an environment of distractions, negative vibrations and stress. My continued challenge is therefore to remain in the elevated mindset that Ram Das Puri gave me by staying constant in my spiritual practice.
So now imagine that at Ram Das Puri experiences like mine happen constantly every day, and you shall get a glimpse of how profound the Summer Solstice experience really is. It was not big experiences that made New Mexico beautiful, it was the cumulative effect of lots of small beautiful moment-to-moment experiences. Also, it is not my intention to give people an expectation of Summer Solstice, because everyone’s experience of it shall be unique, but I do wish to inspire more people from all around the world to make the trip one summer to experience it for themselves. Each experience is just as life transforming as the next, and together these experiences can alter your destiny.
It is my heartfelt plea and prayer that every human being should experience Summer Solstice at least once in their lifetime so that the world may progress to a higher level of consciousness.
With love and blessings to all,
Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa.
http://www.3ho.org/events/yoga-retreat2.html
Friday 13th June 2008 to Monday 20th June 2008
By Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa
The story of Summer Solstice is too beautiful and miraculous to ever truly capture in words. It is something which must be experienced in order to understand and appreciate the extent of its beauty. Ram Das Puri, which is the land used for Summer Solstice, is a centre of healing, clarity and truth situated about half an hour from the town of Española in New Mexico. It is a heavenly realm which God has put on Earth. Heaven is not on Cloud 9, it’s in Ram Das Puri!
Yogi Bhajan, the master of Kundalini Yoga and founder of the Summer Solstice Sadhana said, “Revolve your life around Summer and Winter Solstice and everything will be taken care of”. This could not be truer. Ram Das Puri has the potential to dissolve all a person’s worries and leave a person in a state of profound peace. Everything is perfectly organised and worked out there without needing to control anything. The entire play of the universe can be seen apparently at work there. Ram Das Puri has a profound healing energy which attracts the spiritually inclined from all the four corners of the Earth, people of all colours, cultures, religions and at all stages of their spiritual path. Both the land and the congregation there are blessed. Everyday something new and magical unfolds there, whether it is an amazing soul that you meet, or a profound realisation of your own soul. This has been my experience. I cannot glorify it enough with words, it must be experienced.
I wish to share with you a few of the many experiences I had there. When arriving in Albuquerque in New Mexico, me and my brother Onkardeep had planned to take a taxi straight to our booked hotel accommodation. The next day we were going to attend Gurubachan Singh Khalsa’s closing ceremony of a continuous reading of the Sikh Holy Scripture from beginning to end, for his son’s 21st and daughter’s 33rd birthday. Gurubachan has been Yogi Bhajan’s personal cook and confidant for over 30 years, and has pioneered the Lord of the Miracles tour in South America, where him and a team of volunteers teach Kundalini Yoga and mediation to the governments of entire countries. It is not an everyday experience to meet a person of such calibre.
We had pre-planned to get picked up by Gurubachan in the morning. However, our plan of arriving and going straight to our hotel soon changed. As soon as we got off our flight and entered arrivals, there unexpectedly in the distance we saw Gurubachan walking towards us, standing about 7 feet tall, dressed in brilliant white and with one rose in each hand. We met halfway and were absolutely stunned that he had come to pick us up. He welcomed us to the State of New Mexico and on behalf of all of the Western Sikh Dharma organisations and institutions, gave us a rose each and then took us to his car to relax whilst our baggage came through. We were both speechless. I knew then that this journey would be a unique one. It was almost like coming back home after many years. Everything felt so familiar, natural and homely. Gurubachan then asked us if we were hungry. I replied ‘It’s Ok, not to worry’. Gurubachan replied, ‘You didn’t answer my question’. We laughed and said ‘Yes, maybe a little’. Gurubachan then took us to the Frontiers restaurant and gave us real Mexican burritos, a drink of coke and a cinnamon roll with extra butter. We certainly were not hungry after that! This was the just the beginning of our experience of New Mexico and the beginning of understanding real hospitality.
A few days later we decided to go visit Yogi Bhajan’s ranch. That morning we did not have an exact schedule for our day. All we knew was what we wanted to do and everything else was left to the universe to work it out. A few days ago at Gurubachan’s house we were kindly invited by Yogi Bhajan’s wife, Bibiji Inderjit Kaur, to come to the ranch whatever time we wanted for breakfast, lunch, dinner or tea. Such is her hospitality. So, today we had decided to go visit, but firstly we wanted to enquire whether Bibiji was actually in. To our disappointment, everyone we asked said she was away! Defiantly, we decided to visit anyway.
Deva Singh, who we were staying with, kindly offered to give us a lift to the ranch. Once inside the ranch we explored a little. We saw beautiful inter-faith sculptures, ornaments and a number of little properties scattered across it. Then unexpectedly Siri Dyal Kaur, who we had met a few days before, came out of one of the properties. She told us that she has been trying to get in contact with us for a long time to invite us to go to a Chinese restaurant, but could not find any way to reach us. In fact, surprisingly, she was planning to go to the restaurant within the next few minutes! We were both in awe how the Universe had arranged the situation so that she could invite us to the restaurant and we of course agreed to go with her. At the same time, as we walked around the ranch, the white and coloured peacocks all spread their feathers as if to welcome us. This was beautiful to behold.
When we arrived at the restaurant, the first thing we noticed is a table of Sikh women dressed all in white and in beautifully tied turbans. From afar we shouted ‘Sat Nam!’ meaning ‘God’s Name is Truth’. Then we went up close and greeted the women with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’, a Sikh greeting meaning ‘In those whose hearts there is love for the Wondrous Lord, their victories are God’s victories’. We sat at a nearby table to order our food. Just then, I had a feeling that one of the women sitting at the other table was Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa!
Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa (http://ekongkaar.blogspot.com/) is an established authority on the Sikh scriptures and is popular for her English translations of the Sikh daily prayers, including Jap Ji Sahib and Anand Sahib, that are the most beautiful I have ever come across. Before coming to New Mexico, I already had the deep intention to meet her for many years, to ask her whether I could include her translations in a project of mine called the Sikher project (http://www.sikher.com). We had talked briefly about my project over the internet many years ago, but I had not had the privilege to meet her in person.
So without delay, I got up to speak to her, knowing that this was why God had brought us to this restaurant seemingly randomly. She recognised me, but did not remember from where. I familiarised her with my project and she gracefully agreed to help me with it, with a smile, love and understanding. Right then, I felt so humbled that the universe would give me this opportunity and realised how special Española really was. I was bursting with so much excitement that I had to try and contain it all! It was a profound feeling of higher purpose. However, little did I know that even this was just the beginning!
After our meal, Siri Dyal Kaur dropped us back at Yogi Bhajan’s ranch, and me and my brother continued to explore from where we left off before the restaurant interlude. And then the next miracle happened! Sadhana Singh, who we also met at Gurubachan’s house, randomly came out of one of the houses at the ranch as we approached. We were happy and surprised to see him, and asked him what he was doing here. He told us that he works for Bibiji. Me and my brother looked at each other in glee. We asked Sadhana whether Bibiji was in and he told us that she was! We were again in absolute amazement! Even though everyone had said Bibiji was not available, the universe had given us the opportunity to meet her again.
So we went inside and Bibiji greeted us, and gave us some tea and biscuits. We talked a little and took a few pictures with her. Bibiji had such a kindness and sincerity to her, just like a mother to her children. It was a blessing to be with her and to be where Yogi Bhajan once lived. There was an incredible warmth there and I was overwhelmed with the feeling that we were long lost sons which had come back home. Also, that evening Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa (http://www.mrsikhnet.com) had invited us to dinner at his house, and so after talking with Bibiji, Sadhana dropped us back at the SikhNet office. The timing had worked out perfectly without needing to influence anything. At Gurumustuk’s house we had the pleasure to meet his beautiful family and to eat such lovingly cooked food. This was the end of just one day in Española. The day was so perfect, profound and organised that it felt surreal like a fairytale. Only this was no fairytale, this was the reality of one day in Española.
The next day we headed up to Ram Das Puri, the site for Summer Solstice, which is 7000 feet up in the extraordinary Jemez Mountains. After getting there we noticed a hoard of people of all different cultures, colours and religions, it was a heart-warming sight! The first thing we did was to find a good spot to setup our tent. This was quite difficult in the blazing sun, but we managed. We soon realised that a hammer would be useful to wedge some pegs securely into the ground, and at that exact moment someone came into our half-done tent and provided us with a hammer. Next, after setting up our tent successfully, we began to pump our mattresses and realised we needed a better pump, at that moment someone offered us an electric pump. These “coincidences” continued day-by-day, and we soon came to a realisation about Ram Das Puri and life. Our thought waves were being manifested into reality, instantly. As soon as you think of someone, they walk past. As soon as you need something, somebody gives it to you in that moment. Time and space are in complete harmony. There is a perfect synchronicity. This left us in no doubt about the nature of reality, that you are what you think!
A final experience which I shall share is that of taking Sikh Baptism called Amrit, at Ram Das Puri, to become part of the Khalsa, the society of saint-soldiers started by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth master of the Sikhs. It was a transformational experience, and life has been very different since that day. The Amrit ceremony first began in the early hours before the rise of the Sun, the Amritveylah. First we began to chant mantras together outside in the open, whilst being called into the Gurdwara one-by-one to be questioned by the five beloved ones, the Panj Pyareh, of whether we were ready for this great blessing of the Guru’s immortal nectar, the Amrit.
Soon enough my time had come to enter the Gurdwara, and I stood outside the door with my hands folded and my eyes closed as everyone chanted the mantra ‘Vaheguru’. I could feel my heart beating and my heart-centre was vibrating with the love for the Guru. I knew my time had come. I had thought it would take me many lifetimes to receive such a blessing, but the Guru in his grace had given me everything I needed to become ready for this moment. My entire life had been planned for this moment.
I was then called in and asked to bow before the Sikh Holy Scripture, the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The Panj Pyareh greeted me with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’. Together they had the presence of the tenth master of the Sikhs, of Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself, and they were most extravagantly dressed in royal navy blue robes of the Guru. They asked me a few questions and I responded in turn. Once they were satisfied they said ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’ and I returned back outside to the chanting.
After each of us had been called in and questioned, then everyone was called into the Gurdwara for the main Amrit ceremony to begin. We each went up in turn before the Panj Pyareh to receive the Amrit, the immortal nectar, which is water with added sugar crystals prepared whilst reciting five verses of Divine song to infuse the vibrations of God within it.
First, the disciple bows before the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and then each of the five beloved ones pour Amrit into their hands which they then drink, symbolising the experience of sweet bliss of the spiritual aspirant every moment. Amrit is then sprinkled into the eyes and hair of the disciple, symbolising the importance of seeing God in everyone and the opening of the tenth gate to merge with God. The Panj Pyareh then give the disciple the mantra ‘Vaheguru’ to recite, meaning ‘Wonderful God’. Finally, the disciple bows before the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and greets everyone with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’. Each of us went through this process in turn.
My experience of this ceremony was very precious. As the Amrit was sprinkled into my eyes, I kept my focus at the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and I felt that the Guru was closer to me, and me to the Guru. This was my formal commitment of giving my mind, body and soul to the Guru. It was my marriage to the Guru, a lifetime contract. At that moment, ‘I’ as an identity was no longer, and instead a new identity was grafted upon me. An identity infinitely more beautiful, perfect and radiant than ‘I’ could ever be. This was the miracle that Guru Gobind Singh Ji had left humanity with, that an ordinary human being could choose to let go of their own identity and accept a new identity of extraordinary royal radiance. However, it must be clarified that this was just the beginning of this journey, not the end. This was the start in realising how to be radiant, compassionate and graceful in every moment of life. I was no longer Jasdeep Singh Bhatia, but now Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa. I now have the rest of my life to work out who I’ve become, and to grow into this new identity.
Out of all these experiences, the biggest lesson for me was how the universe takes care of everything, and one does not need to worry about anything. I learnt that as soon as I try and control, influence or cause something to happen, then life becomes complicated. Instead, by letting go of all doubts, worries and concerns, the universe steps in to help and everything is perfectly resolved. Even coming back to the United Kingdom, I have found that the same rules apply as Ram Das Puri, but it is just more difficult to let go of perceived problems in an environment of distractions, negative vibrations and stress. My continued challenge is therefore to remain in the elevated mindset that Ram Das Puri gave me by staying constant in my spiritual practice.
So now imagine that at Ram Das Puri experiences like mine happen constantly every day, and you shall get a glimpse of how profound the Summer Solstice experience really is. It was not big experiences that made New Mexico beautiful, it was the cumulative effect of lots of small beautiful moment-to-moment experiences. Also, it is not my intention to give people an expectation of Summer Solstice, because everyone’s experience of it shall be unique, but I do wish to inspire more people from all around the world to make the trip one summer to experience it for themselves. Each experience is just as life transforming as the next, and together these experiences can alter your destiny.
It is my heartfelt plea and prayer that every human being should experience Summer Solstice at least once in their lifetime so that the world may progress to a higher level of consciousness.
With love and blessings to all,
Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa.
My Experience of Summer Solstice Sadhana 2008 in New Mexico
Ram Das Puri, Española, New Mexico
http://www.3ho.org/events/yoga-retreat2.html
Friday 13th June 2008 to Monday 20th June 2008
By Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa
The story of Summer Solstice is too beautiful and miraculous to ever truly capture in words. It is something which must be experienced in order to understand and appreciate the extent of its beauty. Ram Das Puri, which is the land used for Summer Solstice, is a centre of healing, clarity and truth situated about half an hour from the town of Española in New Mexico. It is a heavenly realm which God has put on Earth. Heaven is not on Cloud 9, it’s in Ram Das Puri!
Yogi Bhajan, the master of Kundalini Yoga and founder of the Summer Solstice Sadhana said, “Revolve your life around Summer and Winter Solstice and everything will be taken care of”. This could not be truer. Ram Das Puri has the potential to dissolve all a person’s worries and leave a person in a state of profound peace. Everything is perfectly organised and worked out there without needing to control anything. The entire play of the universe can be seen apparently at work there. Ram Das Puri has a profound healing energy which attracts the spiritually inclined from all the four corners of the Earth, people of all colours, cultures, religions and at all stages of their spiritual path. Both the land and the congregation there are blessed. Everyday something new and magical unfolds there, whether it is an amazing soul that you meet, or a profound realisation of your own soul. This has been my experience. I cannot glorify it enough with words, it must be experienced.
I wish to share with you a few of the many experiences I had there. When arriving in Albuquerque in New Mexico, me and my brother Onkardeep had planned to take a taxi straight to our booked hotel accommodation. The next day we were going to attend Gurubachan Singh Khalsa’s closing ceremony of a continuous reading of the Sikh Holy Scripture from beginning to end, for his son’s 21st and daughter’s 33rd birthday. Gurubachan has been Yogi Bhajan’s personal cook and confidant for over 30 years, and has pioneered the Lord of the Miracles tour in South America, where him and a team of volunteers teach Kundalini Yoga and mediation to the governments of entire countries. It is not an everyday experience to meet a person of such calibre.
We had pre-planned to get picked up by Gurubachan in the morning. However, our plan of arriving and going straight to our hotel soon changed. As soon as we got off our flight and entered arrivals, there unexpectedly in the distance we saw Gurubachan walking towards us, standing about 7 feet tall, dressed in brilliant white and with one rose in each hand. We met halfway and were absolutely stunned that he had come to pick us up. He welcomed us to the State of New Mexico and on behalf of all of the Western Sikh Dharma organisations and institutions, gave us a rose each and then took us to his car to relax whilst our baggage came through. We were both speechless. I knew then that this journey would be a unique one. It was almost like coming back home after many years. Everything felt so familiar, natural and homely. Gurubachan then asked us if we were hungry. I replied ‘It’s Ok, not to worry’. Gurubachan replied, ‘You didn’t answer my question’. We laughed and said ‘Yes, maybe a little’. Gurubachan then took us to the Frontiers restaurant and gave us real Mexican burritos, a drink of coke and a cinnamon roll with extra butter. We certainly were not hungry after that! This was the just the beginning of our experience of New Mexico and the beginning of understanding real hospitality.
A few days later we decided to go visit Yogi Bhajan’s ranch. That morning we did not have an exact schedule for our day. All we knew was what we wanted to do and everything else was left to the universe to work it out. A few days ago at Gurubachan’s house we were kindly invited by Yogi Bhajan’s wife, Bibiji Inderjit Kaur, to come to the ranch whatever time we wanted for breakfast, lunch, dinner or tea. Such is her hospitality. So, today we had decided to go visit, but firstly we wanted to enquire whether Bibiji was actually in. To our disappointment, everyone we asked said she was away! Defiantly, we decided to visit anyway.
Deva Singh, who we were staying with, kindly offered to give us a lift to the ranch. Once inside the ranch we explored a little. We saw beautiful inter-faith sculptures, ornaments and a number of little properties scattered across it. Then unexpectedly Siri Dyal Kaur, who we had met a few days before, came out of one of the properties. She told us that she has been trying to get in contact with us for a long time to invite us to go to a Chinese restaurant, but could not find any way to reach us. In fact, surprisingly, she was planning to go to the restaurant within the next few minutes! We were both in awe how the Universe had arranged the situation so that she could invite us to the restaurant and we of course agreed to go with her. At the same time, as we walked around the ranch, the white and coloured peacocks all spread their feathers as if to welcome us. This was beautiful to behold.
When we arrived at the restaurant, the first thing we noticed is a table of Sikh women dressed all in white and in beautifully tied turbans. From afar we shouted ‘Sat Nam!’ meaning ‘God’s Name is Truth’. Then we went up close and greeted the women with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’, a Sikh greeting meaning ‘In those whose hearts there is love for the Wondrous Lord, their victories are God’s victories’. We sat at a nearby table to order our food. Just then, I had a feeling that one of the women sitting at the other table was Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa!
Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa (http://ekongkaar.blogspot.com/) is an established authority on the Sikh scriptures and is popular for her English translations of the Sikh daily prayers, including Jap Ji Sahib and Anand Sahib, that are the most beautiful I have ever come across. Before coming to New Mexico, I already had the deep intention to meet her for many years, to ask her whether I could include her translations in a project of mine called the Sikher project (http://www.sikher.com). We had talked briefly about my project over the internet many years ago, but I had not had the privilege to meet her in person.
So without delay, I got up to speak to her, knowing that this was why God had brought us to this restaurant seemingly randomly. She recognised me, but did not remember from where. I familiarised her with my project and she gracefully agreed to help me with it, with a smile, love and understanding. Right then, I felt so humbled that the universe would give me this opportunity and realised how special Española really was. I was bursting with so much excitement that I had to try and contain it all! It was a profound feeling of higher purpose. However, little did I know that even this was just the beginning!
After our meal, Siri Dyal Kaur dropped us back at Yogi Bhajan’s ranch, and me and my brother continued to explore from where we left off before the restaurant interlude. And then the next miracle happened! Sadhana Singh, who we also met at Gurubachan’s house, randomly came out of one of the houses at the ranch as we approached. We were happy and surprised to see him, and asked him what he was doing here. He told us that he works for Bibiji. Me and my brother looked at each other in glee. We asked Sadhana whether Bibiji was in and he told us that she was! We were again in absolute amazement! Even though everyone had said Bibiji was not available, the universe had given us the opportunity to meet her again.
So we went inside and Bibiji greeted us, and gave us some tea and biscuits. We talked a little and took a few pictures with her. Bibiji had such a kindness and sincerity to her, just like a mother to her children. It was a blessing to be with her and to be where Yogi Bhajan once lived. There was an incredible warmth there and I was overwhelmed with the feeling that we were long lost sons which had come back home. Also, that evening Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa (http://www.mrsikhnet.com) had invited us to dinner at his house, and so after talking with Bibiji, Sadhana dropped us back at the SikhNet office. The timing had worked out perfectly without needing to influence anything. At Gurumustuk’s house we had the pleasure to meet his beautiful family and to eat such lovingly cooked food. This was the end of just one day in Española. The day was so perfect, profound and organised that it felt surreal like a fairytale. Only this was no fairytale, this was the reality of one day in Española.
The next day we headed up to Ram Das Puri, the site for Summer Solstice, which is 7000 feet up in the extraordinary Jemez Mountains. After getting there we noticed a hoard of people of all different cultures, colours and religions, it was a heart-warming sight! The first thing we did was to find a good spot to setup our tent. This was quite difficult in the blazing sun, but we managed. We soon realised that a hammer would be useful to wedge some pegs securely into the ground, and at that exact moment someone came into our half-done tent and provided us with a hammer. Next, after setting up our tent successfully, we began to pump our mattresses and realised we needed a better pump, at that moment someone offered us an electric pump. These “coincidences” continued day-by-day, and we soon came to a realisation about Ram Das Puri and life. Our thought waves were being manifested into reality, instantly. As soon as you think of someone, they walk past. As soon as you need something, somebody gives it to you in that moment. Time and space are in complete harmony. There is a perfect synchronicity. This left us in no doubt about the nature of reality, that you are what you think!
A final experience which I shall share is that of taking Sikh Baptism called Amrit, at Ram Das Puri, to become part of the Khalsa, the society of saint-soldiers started by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth master of the Sikhs. It was a transformational experience, and life has been very different since that day. The Amrit ceremony first began in the early hours before the rise of the Sun, the Amritveylah. First we began to chant mantras together outside in the open, whilst being called into the Gurdwara one-by-one to be questioned by the five beloved ones, the Panj Pyareh, of whether we were ready for this great blessing of the Guru’s immortal nectar, the Amrit.
Soon enough my time had come to enter the Gurdwara, and I stood outside the door with my hands folded and my eyes closed as everyone chanted the mantra ‘Vaheguru’. I could feel my heart beating and my heart-centre was vibrating with the love for the Guru. I knew my time had come. I had thought it would take me many lifetimes to receive such a blessing, but the Guru in his grace had given me everything I needed to become ready for this moment. My entire life had been planned for this moment.
I was then called in and asked to bow before the Sikh Holy Scripture, the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The Panj Pyareh greeted me with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’. Together they had the presence of the tenth master of the Sikhs, of Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself, and they were most extravagantly dressed in royal navy blue robes of the Guru. They asked me a few questions and I responded in turn. Once they were satisfied they said ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’ and I returned back outside to the chanting.
After each of us had been called in and questioned, then everyone was called into the Gurdwara for the main Amrit ceremony to begin. We each went up in turn before the Panj Pyareh to receive the Amrit, the immortal nectar, which is water with added sugar crystals prepared whilst reciting five verses of Divine song to infuse the vibrations of God within it.
First, the disciple bows before the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and then each of the five beloved ones pour Amrit into their hands which they then drink, symbolising the experience of sweet bliss of the spiritual aspirant every moment. Amrit is then sprinkled into the eyes and hair of the disciple, symbolising the importance of seeing God in everyone and the opening of the tenth gate to merge with God. The Panj Pyareh then give the disciple the mantra ‘Vaheguru’ to recite, meaning ‘Wonderful God’. Finally, the disciple bows before the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and greets everyone with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’. Each of us went through this process in turn.
My experience of this ceremony was very precious. As the Amrit was sprinkled into my eyes, I kept my focus at the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and I felt that the Guru was closer to me, and me to the Guru. This was my formal commitment of giving my mind, body and soul to the Guru. It was my marriage to the Guru, a lifetime contract. At that moment, ‘I’ as an identity was no longer, and instead a new identity was grafted upon me. An identity infinitely more beautiful, perfect and radiant than ‘I’ could ever be. This was the miracle that Guru Gobind Singh Ji had left humanity with, that an ordinary human being could choose to let go of their own identity and accept a new identity of extraordinary royal radiance. However, it must be clarified that this was just the beginning of this journey, not the end. This was the start in realising how to be radiant, compassionate and graceful in every moment of life. I was no longer Jasdeep Singh Bhatia, but now Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa. I now have the rest of my life to work out who I’ve become, and to grow into this new identity.
Out of all these experiences, the biggest lesson for me was how the universe takes care of everything, and one does not need to worry about anything. I learnt that as soon as I try and control, influence or cause something to happen, then life becomes complicated. Instead, by letting go of all doubts, worries and concerns, the universe steps in to help and everything is perfectly resolved. Even coming back to the United Kingdom, I have found that the same rules apply as Ram Das Puri, but it is just more difficult to let go of perceived problems in an environment of distractions, negative vibrations and stress. My continued challenge is therefore to remain in the elevated mindset that Ram Das Puri gave me by staying constant in my spiritual practice.
So now imagine that at Ram Das Puri experiences like mine happen constantly every day, and you shall get a glimpse of how profound the Summer Solstice experience really is. It was not big experiences that made New Mexico beautiful, it was the cumulative effect of lots of small beautiful moment-to-moment experiences. Also, it is not my intention to give people an expectation of Summer Solstice, because everyone’s experience of it shall be unique, but I do wish to inspire more people from all around the world to make the trip one summer to experience it for themselves. Each experience is just as life transforming as the next, and together these experiences can alter your destiny.
It is my heartfelt plea and prayer that every human being should experience Summer Solstice at least once in their lifetime so that the world may progress to a higher level of consciousness.
With love and blessings to all,
Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa.
http://www.3ho.org/events/yoga-retreat2.html
Friday 13th June 2008 to Monday 20th June 2008
By Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa
The story of Summer Solstice is too beautiful and miraculous to ever truly capture in words. It is something which must be experienced in order to understand and appreciate the extent of its beauty. Ram Das Puri, which is the land used for Summer Solstice, is a centre of healing, clarity and truth situated about half an hour from the town of Española in New Mexico. It is a heavenly realm which God has put on Earth. Heaven is not on Cloud 9, it’s in Ram Das Puri!
Yogi Bhajan, the master of Kundalini Yoga and founder of the Summer Solstice Sadhana said, “Revolve your life around Summer and Winter Solstice and everything will be taken care of”. This could not be truer. Ram Das Puri has the potential to dissolve all a person’s worries and leave a person in a state of profound peace. Everything is perfectly organised and worked out there without needing to control anything. The entire play of the universe can be seen apparently at work there. Ram Das Puri has a profound healing energy which attracts the spiritually inclined from all the four corners of the Earth, people of all colours, cultures, religions and at all stages of their spiritual path. Both the land and the congregation there are blessed. Everyday something new and magical unfolds there, whether it is an amazing soul that you meet, or a profound realisation of your own soul. This has been my experience. I cannot glorify it enough with words, it must be experienced.
I wish to share with you a few of the many experiences I had there. When arriving in Albuquerque in New Mexico, me and my brother Onkardeep had planned to take a taxi straight to our booked hotel accommodation. The next day we were going to attend Gurubachan Singh Khalsa’s closing ceremony of a continuous reading of the Sikh Holy Scripture from beginning to end, for his son’s 21st and daughter’s 33rd birthday. Gurubachan has been Yogi Bhajan’s personal cook and confidant for over 30 years, and has pioneered the Lord of the Miracles tour in South America, where him and a team of volunteers teach Kundalini Yoga and mediation to the governments of entire countries. It is not an everyday experience to meet a person of such calibre.
We had pre-planned to get picked up by Gurubachan in the morning. However, our plan of arriving and going straight to our hotel soon changed. As soon as we got off our flight and entered arrivals, there unexpectedly in the distance we saw Gurubachan walking towards us, standing about 7 feet tall, dressed in brilliant white and with one rose in each hand. We met halfway and were absolutely stunned that he had come to pick us up. He welcomed us to the State of New Mexico and on behalf of all of the Western Sikh Dharma organisations and institutions, gave us a rose each and then took us to his car to relax whilst our baggage came through. We were both speechless. I knew then that this journey would be a unique one. It was almost like coming back home after many years. Everything felt so familiar, natural and homely. Gurubachan then asked us if we were hungry. I replied ‘It’s Ok, not to worry’. Gurubachan replied, ‘You didn’t answer my question’. We laughed and said ‘Yes, maybe a little’. Gurubachan then took us to the Frontiers restaurant and gave us real Mexican burritos, a drink of coke and a cinnamon roll with extra butter. We certainly were not hungry after that! This was the just the beginning of our experience of New Mexico and the beginning of understanding real hospitality.
A few days later we decided to go visit Yogi Bhajan’s ranch. That morning we did not have an exact schedule for our day. All we knew was what we wanted to do and everything else was left to the universe to work it out. A few days ago at Gurubachan’s house we were kindly invited by Yogi Bhajan’s wife, Bibiji Inderjit Kaur, to come to the ranch whatever time we wanted for breakfast, lunch, dinner or tea. Such is her hospitality. So, today we had decided to go visit, but firstly we wanted to enquire whether Bibiji was actually in. To our disappointment, everyone we asked said she was away! Defiantly, we decided to visit anyway.
Deva Singh, who we were staying with, kindly offered to give us a lift to the ranch. Once inside the ranch we explored a little. We saw beautiful inter-faith sculptures, ornaments and a number of little properties scattered across it. Then unexpectedly Siri Dyal Kaur, who we had met a few days before, came out of one of the properties. She told us that she has been trying to get in contact with us for a long time to invite us to go to a Chinese restaurant, but could not find any way to reach us. In fact, surprisingly, she was planning to go to the restaurant within the next few minutes! We were both in awe how the Universe had arranged the situation so that she could invite us to the restaurant and we of course agreed to go with her. At the same time, as we walked around the ranch, the white and coloured peacocks all spread their feathers as if to welcome us. This was beautiful to behold.
When we arrived at the restaurant, the first thing we noticed is a table of Sikh women dressed all in white and in beautifully tied turbans. From afar we shouted ‘Sat Nam!’ meaning ‘God’s Name is Truth’. Then we went up close and greeted the women with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’, a Sikh greeting meaning ‘In those whose hearts there is love for the Wondrous Lord, their victories are God’s victories’. We sat at a nearby table to order our food. Just then, I had a feeling that one of the women sitting at the other table was Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa!
Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa (http://ekongkaar.blogspot.com/) is an established authority on the Sikh scriptures and is popular for her English translations of the Sikh daily prayers, including Jap Ji Sahib and Anand Sahib, that are the most beautiful I have ever come across. Before coming to New Mexico, I already had the deep intention to meet her for many years, to ask her whether I could include her translations in a project of mine called the Sikher project (http://www.sikher.com). We had talked briefly about my project over the internet many years ago, but I had not had the privilege to meet her in person.
So without delay, I got up to speak to her, knowing that this was why God had brought us to this restaurant seemingly randomly. She recognised me, but did not remember from where. I familiarised her with my project and she gracefully agreed to help me with it, with a smile, love and understanding. Right then, I felt so humbled that the universe would give me this opportunity and realised how special Española really was. I was bursting with so much excitement that I had to try and contain it all! It was a profound feeling of higher purpose. However, little did I know that even this was just the beginning!
After our meal, Siri Dyal Kaur dropped us back at Yogi Bhajan’s ranch, and me and my brother continued to explore from where we left off before the restaurant interlude. And then the next miracle happened! Sadhana Singh, who we also met at Gurubachan’s house, randomly came out of one of the houses at the ranch as we approached. We were happy and surprised to see him, and asked him what he was doing here. He told us that he works for Bibiji. Me and my brother looked at each other in glee. We asked Sadhana whether Bibiji was in and he told us that she was! We were again in absolute amazement! Even though everyone had said Bibiji was not available, the universe had given us the opportunity to meet her again.
So we went inside and Bibiji greeted us, and gave us some tea and biscuits. We talked a little and took a few pictures with her. Bibiji had such a kindness and sincerity to her, just like a mother to her children. It was a blessing to be with her and to be where Yogi Bhajan once lived. There was an incredible warmth there and I was overwhelmed with the feeling that we were long lost sons which had come back home. Also, that evening Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa (http://www.mrsikhnet.com) had invited us to dinner at his house, and so after talking with Bibiji, Sadhana dropped us back at the SikhNet office. The timing had worked out perfectly without needing to influence anything. At Gurumustuk’s house we had the pleasure to meet his beautiful family and to eat such lovingly cooked food. This was the end of just one day in Española. The day was so perfect, profound and organised that it felt surreal like a fairytale. Only this was no fairytale, this was the reality of one day in Española.
The next day we headed up to Ram Das Puri, the site for Summer Solstice, which is 7000 feet up in the extraordinary Jemez Mountains. After getting there we noticed a hoard of people of all different cultures, colours and religions, it was a heart-warming sight! The first thing we did was to find a good spot to setup our tent. This was quite difficult in the blazing sun, but we managed. We soon realised that a hammer would be useful to wedge some pegs securely into the ground, and at that exact moment someone came into our half-done tent and provided us with a hammer. Next, after setting up our tent successfully, we began to pump our mattresses and realised we needed a better pump, at that moment someone offered us an electric pump. These “coincidences” continued day-by-day, and we soon came to a realisation about Ram Das Puri and life. Our thought waves were being manifested into reality, instantly. As soon as you think of someone, they walk past. As soon as you need something, somebody gives it to you in that moment. Time and space are in complete harmony. There is a perfect synchronicity. This left us in no doubt about the nature of reality, that you are what you think!
A final experience which I shall share is that of taking Sikh Baptism called Amrit, at Ram Das Puri, to become part of the Khalsa, the society of saint-soldiers started by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth master of the Sikhs. It was a transformational experience, and life has been very different since that day. The Amrit ceremony first began in the early hours before the rise of the Sun, the Amritveylah. First we began to chant mantras together outside in the open, whilst being called into the Gurdwara one-by-one to be questioned by the five beloved ones, the Panj Pyareh, of whether we were ready for this great blessing of the Guru’s immortal nectar, the Amrit.
Soon enough my time had come to enter the Gurdwara, and I stood outside the door with my hands folded and my eyes closed as everyone chanted the mantra ‘Vaheguru’. I could feel my heart beating and my heart-centre was vibrating with the love for the Guru. I knew my time had come. I had thought it would take me many lifetimes to receive such a blessing, but the Guru in his grace had given me everything I needed to become ready for this moment. My entire life had been planned for this moment.
I was then called in and asked to bow before the Sikh Holy Scripture, the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The Panj Pyareh greeted me with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’. Together they had the presence of the tenth master of the Sikhs, of Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself, and they were most extravagantly dressed in royal navy blue robes of the Guru. They asked me a few questions and I responded in turn. Once they were satisfied they said ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’ and I returned back outside to the chanting.
After each of us had been called in and questioned, then everyone was called into the Gurdwara for the main Amrit ceremony to begin. We each went up in turn before the Panj Pyareh to receive the Amrit, the immortal nectar, which is water with added sugar crystals prepared whilst reciting five verses of Divine song to infuse the vibrations of God within it.
First, the disciple bows before the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and then each of the five beloved ones pour Amrit into their hands which they then drink, symbolising the experience of sweet bliss of the spiritual aspirant every moment. Amrit is then sprinkled into the eyes and hair of the disciple, symbolising the importance of seeing God in everyone and the opening of the tenth gate to merge with God. The Panj Pyareh then give the disciple the mantra ‘Vaheguru’ to recite, meaning ‘Wonderful God’. Finally, the disciple bows before the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and greets everyone with ‘Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ke Fateh’. Each of us went through this process in turn.
My experience of this ceremony was very precious. As the Amrit was sprinkled into my eyes, I kept my focus at the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and I felt that the Guru was closer to me, and me to the Guru. This was my formal commitment of giving my mind, body and soul to the Guru. It was my marriage to the Guru, a lifetime contract. At that moment, ‘I’ as an identity was no longer, and instead a new identity was grafted upon me. An identity infinitely more beautiful, perfect and radiant than ‘I’ could ever be. This was the miracle that Guru Gobind Singh Ji had left humanity with, that an ordinary human being could choose to let go of their own identity and accept a new identity of extraordinary royal radiance. However, it must be clarified that this was just the beginning of this journey, not the end. This was the start in realising how to be radiant, compassionate and graceful in every moment of life. I was no longer Jasdeep Singh Bhatia, but now Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa. I now have the rest of my life to work out who I’ve become, and to grow into this new identity.
Out of all these experiences, the biggest lesson for me was how the universe takes care of everything, and one does not need to worry about anything. I learnt that as soon as I try and control, influence or cause something to happen, then life becomes complicated. Instead, by letting go of all doubts, worries and concerns, the universe steps in to help and everything is perfectly resolved. Even coming back to the United Kingdom, I have found that the same rules apply as Ram Das Puri, but it is just more difficult to let go of perceived problems in an environment of distractions, negative vibrations and stress. My continued challenge is therefore to remain in the elevated mindset that Ram Das Puri gave me by staying constant in my spiritual practice.
So now imagine that at Ram Das Puri experiences like mine happen constantly every day, and you shall get a glimpse of how profound the Summer Solstice experience really is. It was not big experiences that made New Mexico beautiful, it was the cumulative effect of lots of small beautiful moment-to-moment experiences. Also, it is not my intention to give people an expectation of Summer Solstice, because everyone’s experience of it shall be unique, but I do wish to inspire more people from all around the world to make the trip one summer to experience it for themselves. Each experience is just as life transforming as the next, and together these experiences can alter your destiny.
It is my heartfelt plea and prayer that every human being should experience Summer Solstice at least once in their lifetime so that the world may progress to a higher level of consciousness.
With love and blessings to all,
Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa.
Saturday 7 February 2009
Scepticism and Infinity of the Human Being
Anything that promotes the infinity of human being shall always be naturally returned with a degree of scepticism, not only because human being has a tendency to be negative due to the negative mind being imbalanced, but also that human beings are a slave to their mind and ego to which the concept of infinity is a threat.
Therefore, it is not the soul of a person which has a problem which an expansion of consciousness, it is the mind which wants to remain the master. People are being played by the game of their mind and yet remain oblivious to this process. The process is a paradox. It is a paradox because in order to become free from the game of the mind, human beings must expand their consciousness, however, human beings are unaware they have to expand their consciousness because they remain blinded by the ego and the limited mind. Therefore, it is only through an experience or insight of the soul, which sometimes shines through, that this separation of mind, ego and soul becomes clearer and human being sets off on the path to realise their true unlimited selves within themselves. This is why human beings require a technology or tool to find the areas in which the ego and mind are playing a game, to become aware of their processes and in that awareness, become their master and not their slave.
However, even becoming unlimited is only part of the process. If a person has the power to do anything in the universe, it will bring a lot of satisfaction, but it shall not fulfil the person. Even if a human being learns to serve people, it shall bring happiness, but not fulfilment. Fulfilment is being fully-filled with love. This can only happen through a relationship. A worldly relationship may feel very fulfilling, but it is limited by time and space. Time because everyone must one day die and space because unless the person who you fall in love with is present, the separation causes pain. Worldly relationships are where a lot of technologies of finding infinity end, but it is where Sikh Dharma begins. Sikh Dharma allows the human being to fall in love with the Universal Consciousness which is beyond time and space, beyond birth and death. It is through this union with Universal Consciousness, God, Krishna, Vaheguru, Ram, Allah, whatever your terminology, that total fulfilment is possible. It is a love which never dies and is completely unconditional.
Together with being unlimited in being and fulfilled with unconditional love, the spiritual aspirant is ready to share and serve all people seeking the same spiritual path. In spiritual terminology these two concepts are known as Shakti and Bhakti. Shakti is power and Bhakti is devotion. Through a balance of Shakti and Bhakti, it is possible to become powerful yet graceful, and grounded yet intuitive. These are the two wings of a spiritual aspirant. An imbalance between these two forces, causes a person to walk towards their fate instead of their destiny. The fate is a series of causes and effects which lead a person into a reality that is not their destiny. The destiny of all human beings is to find the stillness and oneness within themselves.
In practical terms, you can develop Shakti through Kundalini Yoga, Kriya Yoga or other forms of spiritual unfolding and personal development which expands your being and your projection. However, Bhakti is developed through service of others (Seva or Karma Yoga), singing God's praises (Simran or Bhakti Yoga) and reading scriptures which make the head bow to the heart (Bani or Naad Yoga). Whatever spiritual path you take, you should make sure it is a tried and tested path to reach your inner infinity. If people in the past have followed such a path and found their Divine Indweller, then you can be sure it shall work for you, so long as you follow the tenants of that path with complete sincerity and submission. Therefore, it is important to chose a path and stick to it irrespective of your own judgements, scepticism and feelings. For nothing is as it seems, and strange are the ways of the masters and teachers.
Therefore, it is not the soul of a person which has a problem which an expansion of consciousness, it is the mind which wants to remain the master. People are being played by the game of their mind and yet remain oblivious to this process. The process is a paradox. It is a paradox because in order to become free from the game of the mind, human beings must expand their consciousness, however, human beings are unaware they have to expand their consciousness because they remain blinded by the ego and the limited mind. Therefore, it is only through an experience or insight of the soul, which sometimes shines through, that this separation of mind, ego and soul becomes clearer and human being sets off on the path to realise their true unlimited selves within themselves. This is why human beings require a technology or tool to find the areas in which the ego and mind are playing a game, to become aware of their processes and in that awareness, become their master and not their slave.
However, even becoming unlimited is only part of the process. If a person has the power to do anything in the universe, it will bring a lot of satisfaction, but it shall not fulfil the person. Even if a human being learns to serve people, it shall bring happiness, but not fulfilment. Fulfilment is being fully-filled with love. This can only happen through a relationship. A worldly relationship may feel very fulfilling, but it is limited by time and space. Time because everyone must one day die and space because unless the person who you fall in love with is present, the separation causes pain. Worldly relationships are where a lot of technologies of finding infinity end, but it is where Sikh Dharma begins. Sikh Dharma allows the human being to fall in love with the Universal Consciousness which is beyond time and space, beyond birth and death. It is through this union with Universal Consciousness, God, Krishna, Vaheguru, Ram, Allah, whatever your terminology, that total fulfilment is possible. It is a love which never dies and is completely unconditional.
Together with being unlimited in being and fulfilled with unconditional love, the spiritual aspirant is ready to share and serve all people seeking the same spiritual path. In spiritual terminology these two concepts are known as Shakti and Bhakti. Shakti is power and Bhakti is devotion. Through a balance of Shakti and Bhakti, it is possible to become powerful yet graceful, and grounded yet intuitive. These are the two wings of a spiritual aspirant. An imbalance between these two forces, causes a person to walk towards their fate instead of their destiny. The fate is a series of causes and effects which lead a person into a reality that is not their destiny. The destiny of all human beings is to find the stillness and oneness within themselves.
In practical terms, you can develop Shakti through Kundalini Yoga, Kriya Yoga or other forms of spiritual unfolding and personal development which expands your being and your projection. However, Bhakti is developed through service of others (Seva or Karma Yoga), singing God's praises (Simran or Bhakti Yoga) and reading scriptures which make the head bow to the heart (Bani or Naad Yoga). Whatever spiritual path you take, you should make sure it is a tried and tested path to reach your inner infinity. If people in the past have followed such a path and found their Divine Indweller, then you can be sure it shall work for you, so long as you follow the tenants of that path with complete sincerity and submission. Therefore, it is important to chose a path and stick to it irrespective of your own judgements, scepticism and feelings. For nothing is as it seems, and strange are the ways of the masters and teachers.
0
comments
Labels:
article,
consciousness,
fulfilment,
kundalini yoga,
love,
mind,
relationship,
sikh dharma
Labels:
article,
consciousness,
fulfilment,
kundalini yoga,
love,
mind,
relationship,
sikh dharma
Scepticism and Infinity of the Human Being
Anything that promotes the infinity of human being shall always be naturally returned with a degree of scepticism, not only because human being has a tendency to be negative due to the negative mind being imbalanced, but also that human beings are a slave to their mind and ego to which the concept of infinity is a threat.
Therefore, it is not the soul of a person which has a problem which an expansion of consciousness, it is the mind which wants to remain the master. People are being played by the game of their mind and yet remain oblivious to this process. The process is a paradox. It is a paradox because in order to become free from the game of the mind, human beings must expand their consciousness, however, human beings are unaware they have to expand their consciousness because they remain blinded by the ego and the limited mind. Therefore, it is only through an experience or insight of the soul, which sometimes shines through, that this separation of mind, ego and soul becomes clearer and human being sets off on the path to realise their true unlimited selves within themselves. This is why human beings require a technology or tool to find the areas in which the ego and mind are playing a game, to become aware of their processes and in that awareness, become their master and not their slave.
However, even becoming unlimited is only part of the process. If a person has the power to do anything in the universe, it will bring a lot of satisfaction, but it shall not fulfil the person. Even if a human being learns to serve people, it shall bring happiness, but not fulfilment. Fulfilment is being fully-filled with love. This can only happen through a relationship. A worldly relationship may feel very fulfilling, but it is limited by time and space. Time because everyone must one day die and space because unless the person who you fall in love with is present, the separation causes pain. Worldly relationships are where a lot of technologies of finding infinity end, but it is where Sikh Dharma begins. Sikh Dharma allows the human being to fall in love with the Universal Consciousness which is beyond time and space, beyond birth and death. It is through this union with Universal Consciousness, God, Krishna, Vaheguru, Ram, Allah, whatever your terminology, that total fulfilment is possible. It is a love which never dies and is completely unconditional.
Together with being unlimited in being and fulfilled with unconditional love, the spiritual aspirant is ready to share and serve all people seeking the same spiritual path. In spiritual terminology these two concepts are known as Shakti and Bhakti. Shakti is power and Bhakti is devotion. Through a balance of Shakti and Bhakti, it is possible to become powerful yet graceful, and grounded yet intuitive. These are the two wings of a spiritual aspirant. An imbalance between these two forces, causes a person to walk towards their fate instead of their destiny. The fate is a series of causes and effects which lead a person into a reality that is not their destiny. The destiny of all human beings is to find the stillness and oneness within themselves.
In practical terms, you can develop Shakti through Kundalini Yoga, Kriya Yoga or other forms of spiritual unfolding and personal development which expands your being and your projection. However, Bhakti is developed through service of others (Seva or Karma Yoga), singing God's praises (Simran or Bhakti Yoga) and reading scriptures which make the head bow to the heart (Bani or Naad Yoga). Whatever spiritual path you take, you should make sure it is a tried and tested path to reach your inner infinity. If people in the past have followed such a path and found their Divine Indweller, then you can be sure it shall work for you, so long as you follow the tenants of that path with complete sincerity and submission. Therefore, it is important to chose a path and stick to it irrespective of your own judgements, scepticism and feelings. For nothing is as it seems, and strange are the ways of the masters and teachers.
Therefore, it is not the soul of a person which has a problem which an expansion of consciousness, it is the mind which wants to remain the master. People are being played by the game of their mind and yet remain oblivious to this process. The process is a paradox. It is a paradox because in order to become free from the game of the mind, human beings must expand their consciousness, however, human beings are unaware they have to expand their consciousness because they remain blinded by the ego and the limited mind. Therefore, it is only through an experience or insight of the soul, which sometimes shines through, that this separation of mind, ego and soul becomes clearer and human being sets off on the path to realise their true unlimited selves within themselves. This is why human beings require a technology or tool to find the areas in which the ego and mind are playing a game, to become aware of their processes and in that awareness, become their master and not their slave.
However, even becoming unlimited is only part of the process. If a person has the power to do anything in the universe, it will bring a lot of satisfaction, but it shall not fulfil the person. Even if a human being learns to serve people, it shall bring happiness, but not fulfilment. Fulfilment is being fully-filled with love. This can only happen through a relationship. A worldly relationship may feel very fulfilling, but it is limited by time and space. Time because everyone must one day die and space because unless the person who you fall in love with is present, the separation causes pain. Worldly relationships are where a lot of technologies of finding infinity end, but it is where Sikh Dharma begins. Sikh Dharma allows the human being to fall in love with the Universal Consciousness which is beyond time and space, beyond birth and death. It is through this union with Universal Consciousness, God, Krishna, Vaheguru, Ram, Allah, whatever your terminology, that total fulfilment is possible. It is a love which never dies and is completely unconditional.
Together with being unlimited in being and fulfilled with unconditional love, the spiritual aspirant is ready to share and serve all people seeking the same spiritual path. In spiritual terminology these two concepts are known as Shakti and Bhakti. Shakti is power and Bhakti is devotion. Through a balance of Shakti and Bhakti, it is possible to become powerful yet graceful, and grounded yet intuitive. These are the two wings of a spiritual aspirant. An imbalance between these two forces, causes a person to walk towards their fate instead of their destiny. The fate is a series of causes and effects which lead a person into a reality that is not their destiny. The destiny of all human beings is to find the stillness and oneness within themselves.
In practical terms, you can develop Shakti through Kundalini Yoga, Kriya Yoga or other forms of spiritual unfolding and personal development which expands your being and your projection. However, Bhakti is developed through service of others (Seva or Karma Yoga), singing God's praises (Simran or Bhakti Yoga) and reading scriptures which make the head bow to the heart (Bani or Naad Yoga). Whatever spiritual path you take, you should make sure it is a tried and tested path to reach your inner infinity. If people in the past have followed such a path and found their Divine Indweller, then you can be sure it shall work for you, so long as you follow the tenants of that path with complete sincerity and submission. Therefore, it is important to chose a path and stick to it irrespective of your own judgements, scepticism and feelings. For nothing is as it seems, and strange are the ways of the masters and teachers.
0
comments
Labels:
article,
consciousness,
fulfilment,
kundalini yoga,
love,
mind,
relationship,
sikh dharma
Labels:
article,
consciousness,
fulfilment,
kundalini yoga,
love,
mind,
relationship,
sikh dharma
Thursday 5 February 2009
Degrees of being present
Being present and the degrees to being present are two different things. There are three basic degrees of being present. The first degree is the realisation that you are who you are, and I am who I am. There are no judgements associated with this, as a person you see others as they are and as they are not, and yourself as you are and as you are not. The next degree, is the realisation that you are who I am, and I am who you are. The sense of separation is removed from the experience of being present. And finally is the realisation that neither you are, nor I am, but it is.
The question then arises, what is it? It is the totality of consciousness. Some people call this God, others Allah, Ram, Krishna, Christ or Waheguru. Whatever the terminology, this totality of consciousness is all that exists, all that has ever existed, all that exists now and all that shall exist in the future. Another way to say this is God and me, me and God are one. Or God, I am nothing, you are everything. It is a complete submission and union to the totality of consciousness.
It is not that you cease to exist, but in that space, you become of that totality of consciousness, and the totality of consciousness works through you, with you and for you to fulfil its purpose. This purpose is to aware people into recognising this consciousness. Consciousness itself achieves this in a myriad of ways, and thus there are so many religions, tools and techniques to expand the individual consciousness, into group consciousness and then universal consciousness. This is another way to explain the degrees of being present: individual, group and universal.
Since being present is a function of consciousness, by expanding consciousness you become more present. It is in the present moment that life becomes clear, and true joy can be experienced. Therefore to live in the present moment-to-moment and to expand the consciousness to become more present is the highest purpose of human life.
Degrees of being present
Being present and the degrees to being present are two different things. There are three basic degrees of being present. The first degree is the realisation that you are who you are, and I am who I am. There are no judgements associated with this, as a person you see others as they are and as they are not, and yourself as you are and as you are not. The next degree, is the realisation that you are who I am, and I am who you are. The sense of separation is removed from the experience of being present. And finally is the realisation that neither you are, nor I am, but it is.
The question then arises, what is it? It is the totality of consciousness. Some people call this God, others Allah, Ram, Krishna, Christ or Waheguru. Whatever the terminology, this totality of consciousness is all that exists, all that has ever existed, all that exists now and all that shall exist in the future. Another way to say this is God and me, me and God are one. Or God, I am nothing, you are everything. It is a complete submission and union to the totality of consciousness.
It is not that you cease to exist, but in that space, you become of that totality of consciousness, and the totality of consciousness works through you, with you and for you to fulfil its purpose. This purpose is to aware people into recognising this consciousness. Consciousness itself achieves this in a myriad of ways, and thus there are so many religions, tools and techniques to expand the individual consciousness, into group consciousness and then universal consciousness. This is another way to explain the degrees of being present: individual, group and universal.
Since being present is a function of consciousness, by expanding consciousness you become more present. It is in the present moment that life becomes clear, and true joy can be experienced. Therefore to live in the present moment-to-moment and to expand the consciousness to become more present is the highest purpose of human life.
The question then arises, what is it? It is the totality of consciousness. Some people call this God, others Allah, Ram, Krishna, Christ or Waheguru. Whatever the terminology, this totality of consciousness is all that exists, all that has ever existed, all that exists now and all that shall exist in the future. Another way to say this is God and me, me and God are one. Or God, I am nothing, you are everything. It is a complete submission and union to the totality of consciousness.
It is not that you cease to exist, but in that space, you become of that totality of consciousness, and the totality of consciousness works through you, with you and for you to fulfil its purpose. This purpose is to aware people into recognising this consciousness. Consciousness itself achieves this in a myriad of ways, and thus there are so many religions, tools and techniques to expand the individual consciousness, into group consciousness and then universal consciousness. This is another way to explain the degrees of being present: individual, group and universal.
Since being present is a function of consciousness, by expanding consciousness you become more present. It is in the present moment that life becomes clear, and true joy can be experienced. Therefore to live in the present moment-to-moment and to expand the consciousness to become more present is the highest purpose of human life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)