Rawel Singh

Rawel Singh I am a Sikh writer currently based in the United States. My interests include the exegesis of the Guru Granth Sahib, along with the comparative study of the Qur'an, Hebrew Bible, New Testament and Hindu texts. This blog is intended to engage in a dialogue with wider audience mostly on theological issues.
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Congregation

"Sādh Saṅgat" in the Sikh parlance refers to the congregational body of committed human beings who aspire toward the attainment of self-realization while alive through the dual-act of active engagement with the Divine Word (gur śabad) and loving adherence to the long-established traditions (rahat maryādā) of the Panth.

The Creator – Soul Conversation

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

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

Miracles

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

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

My Guru and I – Some Experiences

My communication with my Guru started early. I was born at Kutbal a village about 29 miles from Rawalpindi in the Punjab province in undivided India. In that area there were many mixed families of Kesadharis and Sehjdharis. I was one whose hair had been cut. I do not distinctly remember what happened but when […]

Wednesday, 10 September 2008 13:26 Written by Rawel Singh 1 Comment

Dasam Duar – The Tenth Gate (Revised)

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

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

Dasam Duar – The Tenth Gate (Revised)

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

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

The Numeral 6

The Numeral 6 In the Hindu belief system there are a number of concepts connected with the number 6. These include the scriptures, the authors, rituals and the chakras in the body. Gurbani mentions these and gives practical interpretation for each of them. In our daily bed-time Baani of Sohila we read ਛਿਅ ਘਰ ਛਿਅ […]

Wednesday, 13 August 2008 13:53 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Understanding Simran

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

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

The Five Khands in Japu

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

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

Conversion Agenda of Christian Missionaries

Introduction Wide networks of Christian missionaries of various denominations exist all over the globe. Missionary work is a legitimate activity if its purpose is to impart religious education to adherents of one’s own faith and to inform others. Christian missionaries, however, have an agenda of obtaining conversions from other faiths. They often twist facts, enabling […]

Tuesday, 22 July 2008 12:44 Written by Rawel Singh 6 Comments

Reincarnation

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

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

Numeral 5 – The Five Vices to Avoid

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

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

Sri Guru Granth Sahib

Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the sacred scripture of the Sikh faith which is the youngest of the organized religions of the world. The Sikhs had ten Gurus in physical form but SGGS has the hymns of the first five and the ninth Gurus only. Also included are the compositions of 15 Hindu and Muslim […]

Wednesday, 02 July 2008 12:52 Written by Rawel Singh 1 Comment

Numeral 5 – The Five Qualities to Imbibe

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

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

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

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

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

The Numeral 4 – Concepts Groups of Four

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

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

Numeral 3 – The Trinities

Numeral 3- The Trinities The numeral 3 represents a number of entities or qualities that occur in groups of three. Some of them are complementary within the same group while others coexist. The two well known trinities are those in Hinduism and Christianity. Eight groups of three are briefly discussed below. 1. The Christians consider […]

Monday, 02 June 2008 14:43 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments

Karma

KARMA Note: This study is based on Gurbani or Guru’s Word as contained in Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) and all pages in parentheses are thereof. The original in Gurmukhi also shows the author e.g. the numeral ੫ means the Fifth Guru. Karma which literally means ‘deeds’, covers both physical and mental actions as also […]

Monday, 26 May 2008 01:29 Written by Rawel Singh 2 Comments

Duality

Monday, May 19, 2008                                  Duality The numeral 2 indicates duality. Duality or dualism is the existence of two opposite and mutually exclusive entities or states, which are given equal or nearly equal status. It refers to the quality of being […]

Monday, 19 May 2008 15:03 Written by Rawel Singh 1 Comment

Does Gurbani Prohibit Eating Meat?

Does Gurbani Prohibit Eating Meat? Different people have different views on whether consumption of meat by a Sikh is allowed. Some feel it is prohibited while others feel there is no prohibition. Let us make an effort to understand what Gurbani says. Those who think meat is not to be taken by a Sikh quote […]

Monday, 12 May 2008 17:34 Written by Rawel Singh 58 Comments

Numeral 1 – The Only One

Numbers are looked at in many ways. The fundamental use of numbers is in mathematics. Numbers are also used in numerology where their effect e.g. of the year of birth is studied. However in the series of articles that follow, counts of various things and beliefs in religions, both Eastern and Semitic are proposed to […]

Thursday, 08 May 2008 20:43 Written by Rawel Singh 0 Comments
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