Sikh Approach to War and Peace.

Sikh philosophy looks at peace and war from three angles. First against evil within the mind, second defense against attacks, including preemptive strikes, and third in aid of the weak or oppressed. There is a continuous battle raging in the mind. On the one hand temptations try to entice the mind and largely succeed in [...]

Sunday, 27 December 2009 02:54 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Human Rights and the Sikh Faith

Every human being aspires to be treated with dignity. It is the birth right of every one. Accordingly, on December 10, 1948 CE the United Nations General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration has 30 articles the first six being: All human beings are born free and equal in [...]

Monday, 30 November 2009 03:36 Written by Rawel Singh 2 Comments

SERVICE – SEVA

In the spiritual context, service refers to voluntary work done for the good of humanity. It also includes service of parents and elders in one’s family and help that may be given to siblings and other relatives. Service should not be taken as something to be always done deliberately or planned in advance. Small and [...]

Sunday, 22 November 2009 02:45 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

The Living- Dead.

ਜਉ ਤਉ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਖੇਲਣ ਕਾ ਚਾਉ ॥ ਸਿਰੁ ਧਰਿ ਤਲੀ ਗਲੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਆਉ ॥ ਇਤੁ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਪੈਰੁ ਧਰੀਜੈ ॥ ਸਿਰੁ ਦੀਜੈ ਕਾਣਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ॥੨੦॥੧੧੪੧੨ If you like to play the game of love, Be prepared to sacrifice your self; Those who step on this path do not hesitate to give their [...]

Sunday, 02 August 2009 04:42 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Japji Pauris 8-11, Suniai

Listening – Suniai There are five aids to spiritual advancement – Living by Hukam or Divine will – Dutifulness. Remembering God’s virtues. Listening. Believing. Belief leading to faith. This paper discusses the aspect of listening. Listening has an important connotation – that of being the second person to one who speaks. It thus has an [...]

Wednesday, 22 July 2009 16:04 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

God – The Unifying Spirit

ਨਾਨਕ ਕਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੋਇ ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਸਰਬ ਰਹਿਆ ਭਰਪੂਰਿ ਸਚਾ ਸਚੁ ਸੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਅ(ਆਸਾ ਮ: ੫, ਪੰ: ੩੯੮). My God is One who belongs to all; God is eternal and all pervasive. Pause. (M: 5, p 398). The above verse from the Sikh scripture Sri Guru Granth Sahib emphasizes the [...]

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 12:54 Written by Rawel Singh 2 Comments

The Process of Creation

Gurbani provides fascinating details of the planning as well as well as the process of creation. Every thing started from nothingness. The first step was to have someone do all this and thus the came the Creator from no where. The Creator CreatesItself There was a period when nothing existed, and then – [...]

Monday, 06 July 2009 03:58 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

The Duty of Fear

Fear is a sign of insecurity felt in the face of any impending or perceived adverse situation. Fear may be of physical, emotional or financial insecurity or for retribution for having done some thing improper or illegal. Fear may be of other people including the law, elders and bosses or it may be of God. [...]

Saturday, 27 June 2009 22:13 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Jap Ji Sahib on Karma

Jap Ji Sahib is the first composition in Sri Guru Granth Sahib and comprises of 38 Pauris or stanzas. It may roughly be divided in two parts, exactly in the middle i.e. at the end of the 19th Pauri. The first part gives updesh (instruction) on various aspects of a practical spiritual life. It [...]

Saturday, 20 June 2009 22:28 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Guru Arjun – Martyrdom Day Tribute

ਮਨ ਬਚ ਕ੍ਰਮ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਅਪਨਾ ਧਿਆਈ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਸ ਤੇਰੀ ਸਰਣਾਈ ॥੪॥ ੫ ੨੦੦ Mann bach kram prabhu apna dhiaaee; Nanak daas tayree sarnaaee (M: 5, p 200). For ever in Its sanctuary, I remember my Creator in thought, word and deed. The pronoun ‘It’ is used for the Creator because of It not being [...]

Wednesday, 17 June 2009 01:45 Written by Rawel Singh 2 Comments

Jaapu – Learning Nirankaar’s Virtues

Jaapu reverently called Jaap Sahib, a composition of the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh has 199 verses. It is the second Baani after Japu or Jap Ji Sahib in the morning Nitnem, the daily practice of remembering the Formless Creator, Nirakaar. This Baani addresses or talks about Akal Purakh, the timeless and deathless Master throughout. [...]

Monday, 15 June 2009 01:40 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Mool Mantar

Mool Mantar meaning the Root Mantra is considered the essence of whole of Sri Guru Granth Sahib whose contents are also called Gurbani, the Guru’s word. Its text is: ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ ੧ ੧ It does not form part of any one Baani (composition) [...]

Tuesday, 02 June 2009 20:05 Written by Rawel Singh 1 Comment

The Seeker’s Quest and Reward

Love is an elixir for life. Company of the beloved is revitalizing. Conversely separation of beloveds therefore results in their spirits withering. Guru Nanak watching a withering water Lilly that once looked attractive asks it, and gets a reply: ਪਬਰ ਤੂੰ ਹਰੀਆਵਲਾ ਕਵਲਾ ਕੰਚਨ ਵੰਨਿ ॥ ਕੈ ਦੋਖੜੈ ਸੜਿਓਹਿ ਕਾਲੀ ਹੋਈਆ ਦੇਹੁਰੀ ਨਾਨਕ ਮੈ [...]

Tuesday, 12 May 2009 14:15 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

JAP JI SAHIB – A JOURNEY TO DIVINE GRACE

Jap Ji Sahib is the first composition in the Sikh Holy Scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS). Its contents are referred to as Gurbani the Guru’s word. One of the themes that runs throughout is Nadar meaning Divine grace. Jap Ji Sahib is a composion of 38 Pauris (stanzas) and a Slok (epilogue). Guru Nanak [...]

Saturday, 02 May 2009 16:03 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Jap Ji Sahib and Cosmology

Cosmology is the study of creation and structure of the universe and the place of man/woman in it. Guru Nanak’s Jap Ji Sahib, the opening composition in Sri Guru Granth Sahib provides considerable information on this. As one progresses in its study a feeling of being part of the whole universe is experienced. It starts [...]

Saturday, 25 April 2009 01:53 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Who Controls Human Actions?

The question of who controls human actions is often discussed in the context of religious teachings as well as otherwise. One view is that every man (or woman) decides the course of action, some times after seeking counsel. According to the other view that God controls the actions of all. He is omnipresent and omniscient; [...]

Friday, 10 April 2009 16:32 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Bandhan tay Mukti – Bondage and Liberty

Bandhan or bondage is a state in which one feels bound down and wishes to be freed. There are many types of bondages some forced and the others self-inflicted. The examples of forced type are slavery, abductions and bonded labor. These may result because of carelessness in ensuring security or by circumstances. The second type [...]

Friday, 03 April 2009 02:14 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

The Spiritual and the Mundane

We often come across statements like “you cannot combine the spiritual with the mundane, science with religion, religion with politics” and so on. Each of these pairs deserves a full discussion. However it is possible to consider these together and show how each element of any of these pairs is complementary rather than antagonistic to [...]

Thursday, 26 March 2009 15:16 Written by Rawel Singh 2 Comments

Bhagti – Bhakti

Bhagti or Bhakti is wholehearted devotion to God. It is love of God, a virtuous life and obedience to the laws of nature. This means submitting to Hukam, will of God or Divine commands and remaining in a state of equipoise under diverse circumstances. Bhagti is not pretense; it is practice: ਹਰਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ [...]

Sunday, 22 March 2009 01:12 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Food for Body and Soul

All creatures need food to live. We all work to make a living to which food for self and family is fundamental. A few days ago a friend quoted from the Christian prayer “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread“ and asked if the Sikhs also pray for food or do we depend only on [...]

Sunday, 08 March 2009 02:30 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Category: Philosophical Concepts