Keeping the heart healthy

Recently I just started doing some running in the local park, and I've not ran for at least two years - properly at least. I have to say that I was absolutely exhausted after just 15 minutes of running non-stop and it made me realise how unhealthy I really am! I was getting blurred vision and felt quite sick - it took a few minutes to regain my composure. It's quite strange because I'm a lacto-vegetarian, I can do very difficult yoga sets and sit in meditation for an hour effortlessly, but to run for 15 minutes really is something else! For me it's been a real wake-up call, that no matter how young you are, no matter how much you meditate and do yoga, no matter how healthy your diet is, working the cardiovascular system is extremely important too - keeping the heart healthy is crucial.

I've now committed to doing at least 20-30 minutes of running everyday and after just a few days, running the same distance is getting easier and easier. It's really quite beautiful to be outside and enjoy the natural surroundings of the park, especially the trees. Whilst I'm running I'm listening to some music to keep me motivated, a bit of Aretha Franklin, Black Eyed Peas and Snatam Kaur. Whilst I'm running I try and keep focused on the mantra "Sat Naam" to avoid the mental excuses of "I can't run anymore" or "Just stop and walk for a bit" amongst many others. After finishing a run, I try and control the breath and breathe more deeply to expand the capacity of my lungs. I love it! I feel so free when I run! I can't think why I didn't start it sooner.

So, I shall keep you all updated on my progress. For now the question remains: what are you doing to keep your heart healthy? Please do not make the same mistake I did, regular exercise which works the cardiovascular system should be part of your routine. May we all remain healthy, happy and holy and keep a healthy body so we may house a healthy God. Sat Naam!

Keeping the heart healthy

Recently I just started doing some running in the local park, and I've not ran for at least two years - properly at least. I have to say that I was absolutely exhausted after just 15 minutes of running non-stop and it made me realise how unhealthy I really am! I was getting blurred vision and felt quite sick - it took a few minutes to regain my composure. It's quite strange because I'm a lacto-vegetarian, I can do very difficult yoga sets and sit in meditation for an hour effortlessly, but to run for 15 minutes really is something else! For me it's been a real wake-up call, that no matter how young you are, no matter how much you meditate and do yoga, no matter how healthy your diet is, working the cardiovascular system is extremely important too - keeping the heart healthy is crucial.

I've now committed to doing at least 20-30 minutes of running everyday and after just a few days, running the same distance is getting easier and easier. It's really quite beautiful to be outside and enjoy the natural surroundings of the park, especially the trees. Whilst I'm running I'm listening to some music to keep me motivated, a bit of Aretha Franklin, Black Eyed Peas and Snatam Kaur. Whilst I'm running I try and keep focused on the mantra "Sat Naam" to avoid the mental excuses of "I can't run anymore" or "Just stop and walk for a bit" amongst many others. After finishing a run, I try and control the breath and breathe more deeply to expand the capacity of my lungs. I love it! I feel so free when I run! I can't think why I didn't start it sooner.

So, I shall keep you all updated on my progress. For now the question remains: what are you doing to keep your heart healthy? Please do not make the same mistake I did, regular exercise which works the cardiovascular system should be part of your routine. May we all remain healthy, happy and holy and keep a healthy body so we may house a healthy God. Sat Naam!

Know yourself?

I always see people walking around with a certainty in where they are going and what they are doing. But do people really stop to think what they are doing? Personally I find it quite bizarre that we as a species assume we know what we are, but if we were ever to really stop and reflect in silence, it would reveal dimensions to ourselves we never knew even existed.

Ultimately, it is our basic goal to feel fulfilled, happy and joyous. And thus, is what we are doing everyday bringing us closer to that goal, or further away? Usually we tend to mistake those things which bring some degree of happiness as being a way to fulfilment. For example, recreational drugs, alcohol, relationships, job promotions, going on holiday, lots of money, friends and personal possessions. However, in the end these things cannot provide sustained happiness without negative side effects. For example, working hard to get a job promotion may bring lots of wealth and recognition, but the cost may be your aliveness, family time and health. Trying out recreational drugs may bring a buzz for 2 hours, but the cost is your health, time and money. All these things do bring happiness, but in order to sustain that happiness, the cost continues to multiply in its severity. Therefore, to reach the goal of happiness and to sustain it, none of these solutions are practical.

So what should we do? We should practice a tried and tested science for happiness - indeed this is what all spiritual teachers have taught, but overtime people have diluted the teachings, making it difficult to ascertain what is authentic. And so the quest for happiness lies in getting back to an original authentic science and then practising that science - such teachings are known as the eternal teachings for humankind. The eternal teachings are concerned with the heart and the head (mind).

The Heart
The heart-centre, located in the centre of the chest two and a half inches below the neck, is where God resides. God is everywhere but we can find Him in the heart. The heart-centre is an infinite source of love, joy and compassion. When people fall in love it is this centre which is activated and a person experiences bliss. Similarly, this experience gives a glimpse of the state of happiness which can be achieved through devotion to God. Devotion. There's no right or wrong way to love or worship God, so long as a person doesn't hurt others in the process. Love is love is love. Love is in sacrifice, communication and service. Sacrificing your own time to serve your higher self, communicating with God constantly through the heart-centre and serving others without intending for reward.

The Head/Mind
The mind is more precious than a diamond but treated worse than dust. The secret of the mind is that when it is clear it is as expansive as the universe and allows us to know the unknown, see the unseen and hear the unheard, but when it is dirty it makes us limited and becomes our worst enemy. All authentic spiritual practices should result in the purification of the mind's thought waves to bring it to stillness. There are many practices which do this, but one of the most effective of all in the current age is the chanting of the Name of God at the Third Eye (in between the two eyebrows) along with an awareness of the breath incoming and outgoing through the nose. Two eternal Names of God are Sat Naam (rhymes with But-Mom) meaning 'Truth is My Identity" or Wa-Hey-Guru which is an expression of complete intoxication in God.

Ultimately, it shall be God who gives us liberation through His Grace, and thus chanting the Name of God connects us back to the source of happiness and liberation. The single-pointed concentration at the Third Eye gives us direct access to our soul, so we may discover who we really are. Chanting Sat Naam gives us the power to discover the truth in all areas of our life and to control all the 5 elements of earth, fire, water, air and ether within the being to give command of our domain. Chanting Wa-Hey-Guru brings us to our origin so that we may see God in all and be intoxicated with love of God day and night, night and day, forever. These Names of God are universal and may be chanted by anyone, not just those practicing Sikh Dharma.

Conclusion
Until we purify the mind and connect to God in our heart, the eternal teachings explain that fulfilment is not possible. The heart and the mind are the two keys in unlocking a life of sustained happiness without negative side effects. By using these two keys it is possible to live a life free from all worry, anxiety, stress and pressure, irrespective of time, space or circumstance. If we are fortunate enough to come across an authentic science of happiness which deals with the heart and the mind, may we practice it and be fulfilled and then go on to help others find fulfillment.

Sat Naam.

Know yourself?

I always see people walking around with a certainty in where they are going and what they are doing. But do people really stop to think what they are doing? Personally I find it quite bizarre that we as a species assume we know what we are, but if we were ever to really stop and reflect in silence, it would reveal dimensions to ourselves we never knew even existed.

Ultimately, it is our basic goal to feel fulfilled, happy and joyous. And thus, is what we are doing everyday bringing us closer to that goal, or further away? Usually we tend to mistake those things which bring some degree of happiness as being a way to fulfilment. For example, recreational drugs, alcohol, relationships, job promotions, going on holiday, lots of money, friends and personal possessions. However, in the end these things cannot provide sustained happiness without negative side effects. For example, working hard to get a job promotion may bring lots of wealth and recognition, but the cost may be your aliveness, family time and health. Trying out recreational drugs may bring a buzz for 2 hours, but the cost is your health, time and money. All these things do bring happiness, but in order to sustain that happiness, the cost continues to multiply in its severity. Therefore, to reach the goal of happiness and to sustain it, none of these solutions are practical.

So what should we do? We should practice a tried and tested science for happiness - indeed this is what all spiritual teachers have taught, but overtime people have diluted the teachings, making it difficult to ascertain what is authentic. And so the quest for happiness lies in getting back to an original authentic science and then practising that science - such teachings are known as the eternal teachings for humankind. The eternal teachings are concerned with the heart and the head (mind).

The Heart
The heart-centre, located in the centre of the chest two and a half inches below the neck, is where God resides. God is everywhere but we can find Him in the heart. The heart-centre is an infinite source of love, joy and compassion. When people fall in love it is this centre which is activated and a person experiences bliss. Similarly, this experience gives a glimpse of the state of happiness which can be achieved through devotion to God. Devotion. There's no right or wrong way to love or worship God, so long as a person doesn't hurt others in the process. Love is love is love. Love is in sacrifice, communication and service. Sacrificing your own time to serve your higher self, communicating with God constantly through the heart-centre and serving others without intending for reward.

The Head/Mind
The mind is more precious than a diamond but treated worse than dust. The secret of the mind is that when it is clear it is as expansive as the universe and allows us to know the unknown, see the unseen and hear the unheard, but when it is dirty it makes us limited and becomes our worst enemy. All authentic spiritual practices should result in the purification of the mind's thought waves to bring it to stillness. There are many practices which do this, but one of the most effective of all in the current age is the chanting of the Name of God at the Third Eye (in between the two eyebrows) along with an awareness of the breath incoming and outgoing through the nose. Two eternal Names of God are Sat Naam (rhymes with But-Mom) meaning 'Truth is My Identity" or Wa-Hey-Guru which is an expression of complete intoxication in God.

Ultimately, it shall be God who gives us liberation through His Grace, and thus chanting the Name of God connects us back to the source of happiness and liberation. The single-pointed concentration at the Third Eye gives us direct access to our soul, so we may discover who we really are. Chanting Sat Naam gives us the power to discover the truth in all areas of our life and to control all the 5 elements of earth, fire, water, air and ether within the being to give command of our domain. Chanting Wa-Hey-Guru brings us to our origin so that we may see God in all and be intoxicated with love of God day and night, night and day, forever. These Names of God are universal and may be chanted by anyone, not just those practicing Sikh Dharma.

Conclusion
Until we purify the mind and connect to God in our heart, the eternal teachings explain that fulfilment is not possible. The heart and the mind are the two keys in unlocking a life of sustained happiness without negative side effects. By using these two keys it is possible to live a life free from all worry, anxiety, stress and pressure, irrespective of time, space or circumstance. If we are fortunate enough to come across an authentic science of happiness which deals with the heart and the mind, may we practice it and be fulfilled and then go on to help others find fulfillment.

Sat Naam.

How do you view the world?

We live in world which is full of views. Don't do this, don't do that. You must do this, you must do that. You shouldn't do this, you shouldn't do that. We also live as if our views are us. In reality, your view is your view, and you are you. They are two different things. Your view that you hold about a particular topic is just your view, it is not who you really are. You really are just you. Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing added, nothing taken away.

Therefore, a view is just like a filter or a pattern which consolidates reality in such a way so it may be understood and grounds the mind into a particular way of thinking. For example, if I say that "apples are disgusting" then every time I see an apple, the view I hold about the apple filters the information from my senses so that the apple seems disgusting to me. Actually what my senses are picking up is just an apple - the apple is neither disgusting nor tasty - it's just an apple! But my view of what an apple is misconstrues this input coming in from my senses and gives me the result "apples are disgusting". To another person who holds the view "apples are delicious", the result will be different.

However, our views of the world which were formed when we were children, are a little more complex than this basic apple analogy. They affect each of our actions, each of our interactions and each of our relationships with everything. Every-thing! Every time we do anything, we are acting under the filter of our views which we ourselves created but forgot we created! This basically means everything we do is inauthentic. It's not pure, it's not truthful, it's not anything but a 4-year-old running our lives! And that 4-year-old is us when we were 4 years old and formed our view about reality. An example of a view created by a 4-year-old might include "Don't express", or "No one loves me", or "Life is boring". This view then goes onto affect every action, interaction and relationship we have - it becomes the foundation from which we build our lives upon.

Unfortunately however, views can also cause great divisions to our world and to our society when we lead ourselves to believe that our particular set of views are the only truth, and therefore all other views are false. This is only true in the animal kingdom, where one beast reigns supreme and everyone else is second-class. But in the human kingdom every human being on Earth has a different view to everyone else, and every view is valid. You see, the difference between me and other people is that I am aware that even my view that all views are valid, is just a view, it is also not the truth, it is merely my truth. However, my view is a Universal one and allows us to create a world of peace in which everyone respects each others' points of view, whereas if a person thinks there is only one truth and it's exclusively for them then this will create a divided society. The choice is up to us, either to create a world of unity or create a world of division.

Also, sometimes views can become very destructive when, a person who thinks their view is the only truth, tries to force another person to accept their view. At a macro level this happened with the Mughal Empire in the 16th century which began to forcibly convert people to Islam, and with Adolf Hitler in the 19th Century who began ethnic cleansing of the Jews. At a micro level this happens everyday at home, in the workplace and at places of 'worship', and most people do this unconsciously. We all try and force our views about particular subjects on other people thinking that they are the absolute and only truth. Examples of this include: homosexuality is wrong, women are weaker than men, all men are cheaters, all Americans are greedy, having too much money is bad, governments are to blame for everything, there will always be violence in the world. We have to understand that these are just views, they are not the truth and they do not correspond to the reality - they only correspond to our individual truth and our individual reality.

Therefore, there is nothing right or wrong in having views, whatever the views may be, in fact we need them as human beings to function on a day-to-day basis. But if our particular set of views do not allow us to understand who we really are, or our purpose in this life, then this view is keeping us limited. Some of these views which we created as children or as adults don't serve us anymore, so we should become aware of these views and then choose to let go of them. Other views may still serve our purpose in life very well, but by becoming aware that these still are just views we created, means we are aware that they may not serve us one day and we can just choose to let go and move on.

The reason why the world is divided at a macro level is because we have created small divisions at a micro level. These divisions exist because we hold steadfast to our views as the only reality and only truth. If we are to create a peaceful society we will have to transform our limited views into a Universal view, and to let go of our views that do not serve our purpose in this life, and to become aware that: your view that you hold about a particular topic is just your view, it is not who you really are. You really are just you. Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing added, nothing taken away!

Sat Naam.

Article inspired by Landmark Education and Yogi Bhajan's book on The Mind and It's Multiple Facets and Projections

How do you view the world?

We live in world which is full of views. Don't do this, don't do that. You must do this, you must do that. You shouldn't do this, you shouldn't do that. We also live as if our views are us. In reality, your view is your view, and you are you. They are two different things. Your view that you hold about a particular topic is just your view, it is not who you really are. You really are just you. Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing added, nothing taken away.

Therefore, a view is just like a filter or a pattern which consolidates reality in such a way so it may be understood and grounds the mind into a particular way of thinking. For example, if I say that "apples are disgusting" then every time I see an apple, the view I hold about the apple filters the information from my senses so that the apple seems disgusting to me. Actually what my senses are picking up is just an apple - the apple is neither disgusting nor tasty - it's just an apple! But my view of what an apple is misconstrues this input coming in from my senses and gives me the result "apples are disgusting". To another person who holds the view "apples are delicious", the result will be different.

However, our views of the world which were formed when we were children, are a little more complex than this basic apple analogy. They affect each of our actions, each of our interactions and each of our relationships with everything. Every-thing! Every time we do anything, we are acting under the filter of our views which we ourselves created but forgot we created! This basically means everything we do is inauthentic. It's not pure, it's not truthful, it's not anything but a 4-year-old running our lives! And that 4-year-old is us when we were 4 years old and formed our view about reality. An example of a view created by a 4-year-old might include "Don't express", or "No one loves me", or "Life is boring". This view then goes onto affect every action, interaction and relationship we have - it becomes the foundation from which we build our lives upon.

Unfortunately however, views can also cause great divisions to our world and to our society when we lead ourselves to believe that our particular set of views are the only truth, and therefore all other views are false. This is only true in the animal kingdom, where one beast reigns supreme and everyone else is second-class. But in the human kingdom every human being on Earth has a different view to everyone else, and every view is valid. You see, the difference between me and other people is that I am aware that even my view that all views are valid, is just a view, it is also not the truth, it is merely my truth. However, my view is a Universal one and allows us to create a world of peace in which everyone respects each others' points of view, whereas if a person thinks there is only one truth and it's exclusively for them then this will create a divided society. The choice is up to us, either to create a world of unity or create a world of division.

Also, sometimes views can become very destructive when, a person who thinks their view is the only truth, tries to force another person to accept their view. At a macro level this happened with the Mughal Empire in the 16th century which began to forcibly convert people to Islam, and with Adolf Hitler in the 19th Century who began ethnic cleansing of the Jews. At a micro level this happens everyday at home, in the workplace and at places of 'worship', and most people do this unconsciously. We all try and force our views about particular subjects on other people thinking that they are the absolute and only truth. Examples of this include: homosexuality is wrong, women are weaker than men, all men are cheaters, all Americans are greedy, having too much money is bad, governments are to blame for everything, there will always be violence in the world. We have to understand that these are just views, they are not the truth and they do not correspond to the reality - they only correspond to our individual truth and our individual reality.

Therefore, there is nothing right or wrong in having views, whatever the views may be, in fact we need them as human beings to function on a day-to-day basis. But if our particular set of views do not allow us to understand who we really are, or our purpose in this life, then this view is keeping us limited. Some of these views which we created as children or as adults don't serve us anymore, so we should become aware of these views and then choose to let go of them. Other views may still serve our purpose in life very well, but by becoming aware that these still are just views we created, means we are aware that they may not serve us one day and we can just choose to let go and move on.

The reason why the world is divided at a macro level is because we have created small divisions at a micro level. These divisions exist because we hold steadfast to our views as the only reality and only truth. If we are to create a peaceful society we will have to transform our limited views into a Universal view, and to let go of our views that do not serve our purpose in this life, and to become aware that: your view that you hold about a particular topic is just your view, it is not who you really are. You really are just you. Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing added, nothing taken away!

Sat Naam.

Article inspired by Landmark Education and Yogi Bhajan's book on The Mind and It's Multiple Facets and Projections

Infinite, Forever

Never ending, beginning forever,
Present future, past,
Experience, life’s endeavour,
World finite, contrast.

Endless, countless,
Within, unfounded,
Wealthy fame, fruitless
Unlimited, unbounded.

Boundless, vast,
Tenth gate, accessible,
Attachments, surpassed,
Immeasurable, inestimable.

Everlasting, continual,
Sow seed, water the crop,
Loving love, perpetual,
Continuous, nonstop.

Constant, incessant,
Daily practice, unwilling,
Meditatively sit, chant,
Interminable, unremitting.

Permanent, Eternal,
Reality, life parade,
Cleanly focus, internal,
Innumerable, myriad.

Limitless, incalculable,
Materially happy, addicted,
Divine peace, Insurmountable,
Numerous, unrestricted.

Unrestrained, bottomless,
Knowledgeable, clever,
Spiritual experience, true success,
Infinite, Forever.

Written with God’s Grace by,
Onkardeep Singh Khalsa

Infinite, Forever

Never ending, beginning forever,
Present future, past,
Experience, life’s endeavour,
World finite, contrast.

Endless, countless,
Within, unfounded,
Wealthy fame, fruitless
Unlimited, unbounded.

Boundless, vast,
Tenth gate, accessible,
Attachments, surpassed,
Immeasurable, inestimable.

Everlasting, continual,
Sow seed, water the crop,
Loving love, perpetual,
Continuous, nonstop.

Constant, incessant,
Daily practice, unwilling,
Meditatively sit, chant,
Interminable, unremitting.

Permanent, Eternal,
Reality, life parade,
Cleanly focus, internal,
Innumerable, myriad.

Limitless, incalculable,
Materially happy, addicted,
Divine peace, Insurmountable,
Numerous, unrestricted.

Unrestrained, bottomless,
Knowledgeable, clever,
Spiritual experience, true success,
Infinite, Forever.

Written with God’s Grace by,
Onkardeep Singh Khalsa

The Kara - A Succinct Summary

I was recently asked by a non-sikh student studying Sikh Dharma at university what the Kara was. A lot has been written about this but I think this is a great summary:

1. The Kara is my handcuff to God. (My commitment to a God-Centered life)
2. The Kara is my pledge to be aware of my actions and be in a state of higher conscience in all actions (Hence, it worn on the hand most used or even both arms). Higher Conciousness leads to better actions. Actions are our behavior. Behavior is our society. Society is our world.
3. The Kara is my pledge to stand for justice and be courageous. (It has and is also a weapon (melee weapon) sometimes called 'chakar')
4. The Kara signifies God's infinite never beginning and never ending nature. (Ofcourse the nature of God is not exactly empirically provable but being beyond the dimension of time would by default make something infinite)
5. The Kara for me acts as a balancer of the body's magnetic field (being made of Iron) and provides some iron to the body.
6. The Kara for me is symbolic but more importantly it is a spiritual tool gifted to the Sikhs along with 4 other 'k's' (spiritual tools) that help a person on their spiritual journey. The Kara is an integral part of a Sikh's identity because it is an integral part to a Sikhs way of life. It is certainly not jewelry (which is of course the assumed purpose).

Blessings,

Onkardeep Singh Khalsa

The Kara - A Succinct Summary

I was recently asked by a non-sikh student studying Sikh Dharma at university what the Kara was. A lot has been written about this but I think this is a great summary:

1. The Kara is my handcuff to God. (My commitment to a God-Centered life)
2. The Kara is my pledge to be aware of my actions and be in a state of higher conscience in all actions (Hence, it worn on the hand most used or even both arms). Higher Conciousness leads to better actions. Actions are our behavior. Behavior is our society. Society is our world.
3. The Kara is my pledge to stand for justice and be courageous. (It has and is also a weapon (melee weapon) sometimes called 'chakar')
4. The Kara signifies God's infinite never beginning and never ending nature. (Ofcourse the nature of God is not exactly empirically provable but being beyond the dimension of time would by default make something infinite)
5. The Kara for me acts as a balancer of the body's magnetic field (being made of Iron) and provides some iron to the body.
6. The Kara for me is symbolic but more importantly it is a spiritual tool gifted to the Sikhs along with 4 other 'k's' (spiritual tools) that help a person on their spiritual journey. The Kara is an integral part of a Sikh's identity because it is an integral part to a Sikhs way of life. It is certainly not jewelry (which is of course the assumed purpose).

Blessings,

Onkardeep Singh Khalsa