Kirtan @ Slough Khalsa Primary School on 12th Dec

Khalsa school Slough invites all to attend a kirtan darbar to commemorate the shaheedi of our beloved char sahibzades on Sun 12th Dec from 5.30pm to 8.30pm in which kirtanis Bhai Manpreet Singh Kanpuri, Bhai Tejinder Singh Khanewale and Bhai Amolak Singh Australia will be attending.

A heated marquee will be installed for extra seating arrangements, please attend with family and friends and forward this link to others.

Slough Khalsa Primary School, Wexham Road, Slough, SL2 5QR

Punjabi class turned to Gurbani class!!!

Have been really busy with jobs, sikhi and family life therefore not giving us time to post inspirational posts regarding Sikhi!!

Please bear with us whilst we get things sorted on the blog front.

OHH.......as the kids in the higher punjabi class have expressed their interest in learning paaht correctly, Punjabi class for the higher set is now changed into learning paaht from the Reading Gurdwara Gianis.

This will take place from 5pm to 6pm on saturdays!!!!

5 sponges

Post from everydaysikhee.blogspot (Bhai Atma Singh - slough)

ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂਜੀਕਾਖ਼ਾਲਸਾਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂਜੀਕੀਫ਼ਤਹਿ

There are five sponges laying on your kitchen counter top. Each member of your family has been cleaning up different areas of your home, but all the sponges look the same. You are curious as to what was cleaned in your home, but you can't tell by looking...they all look the same....so what do you do?

You squeeze each sponge to see what comes out. As you squeeze the first sponge, you see that cola comes out, and so you decide that someone cleaned the kitchen with that one. Upon squeezing the second sponge, you find tub and tile cleaner - that one was used to clean the bathroom. Next, in the third sponge, you find motor oil -- hubby was cleaning the garage! In the fourth sponge, baby powder puffs out when it is squeezed -- yep, the baby's nursery was done with that one! And finally, in the last one, is floor wax -- that was the one you used on the hall floor! As you lay the last one down, you look again at their similarity - and they all look the same until they're squeezed.

We are the same way. As life squeezes us, different things come out - anger from one, greed from another, attachment from one, lust from yet another, pride from one - and finally, from the Gurmukh, pours forth the love of Waheguru.

Just like the sponge, we can only squeeze out what is put in - stay in the Word of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj daily, and be in continuous prayer, so that when life puts the squeeze on you (and it will), Vaheguru, and Vaheguru alone, will shine forth from you!

RSYA NEEDS YOU!!

For a long time now Parmvir Singh and Manmander Singh have been running Reading Sikh Youth Association (RSYA) and are now looking for more people to join to make it a large team. This will allow us to broaden the service that Reading Gurdwara can provide for the youngsters. We need people who can help us continue what we have been doing (and it isn't sitting on our backsides!!lol) such as;

Designing posters
Designing presentations for Gurpurbs and Sikhi Class
Running Punjabi Class and Sikhi class every Saturdays 5pm-7pm
Coach filling for all night kirtan programmes and other events
Providing literature and other media to sangat
Organising One day Camps at the Gurdwara
Updating this blogspot and Reading Gurdwara website (www.reading-gurdwara.org.uk)

....etc list is endless. Email RSYA@HOTMAIL.CO.UK for a full list.

Yes we know, we dont have many meetings, we just get on with the work rather than talking about it.

Khalsa Camp

A Summer without going to a sikh camp is not much of a summer holiday!!

Khalsa Camp is a journey of discovery for those who seek the truth and spiritual advancement as according to the Sikh scriptures.

The aim of Khalsa Camp is to help you "Discover the Spirit Within". It is common for Sikhs to live their lives without any spiritual experiences and consequently remain God-less. Many find it difficult to begin their spiritual journey, despite efforts they may make. Some may even find it difficult to make the effort that is required. Khalsa Camp seeks to push-start those who need to begin their journey, inspire those who have already begun and share with those who have travelled far on the path of God.

If you wish to go, please let rsya@hotmail.co.uk know!!!

22 August - 27 August

For more information and application forms, please visit;

www.khalsacamp.com

Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as if as soon as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen.

The mother filled three pots with water.

In the first, she placed carrots. In the second she placed eggs. And the last she placed ground coffee beans.

She let them sit and boil without saying a word. About twenty minutes later, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she said, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. (You known the tone of voice.)

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did, and noted that they felt soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg inside. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked, "What does it mean?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid center. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its insides had become hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water...they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your
door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot , an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship, or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my outer shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water - the very circumstances that bring the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor of the bean. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you instead of letting it change you.

When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?

How do you handle Adversity?

ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?

Make a difference

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

Protest in Downing Street against Death Sentence given to 17 Sikhs - Coach Leaving from Reading Sunday 16th May‏

Protest in Downing Street, London on Sunday 16^th May against the Death Sentence given to 17 young Sikh men in Dubai.

Coach will be leaving Siri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Reading, Cumberland Road at 11am sharp on Sunday 16^th May.

Please email rsya@hotmail.co.uk to book seats.

Book your seats ASAP as we need to know the size of coach to take.

For further information on the case please check the following links:

http://sikhchannel.tv/

http://www.sikhchannel.tv/blog.php?id=14

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118382904859949

Vaisakhi + Nagar Kirtan INFO!!!!‏

Yep its that time again when the entire Sikh population of Reading comes out to the streets for Nagar Kirtan!!!!

It will be taking place on the 2nd MAY 2010 - start about 1100am

please see poster below

We need seva for:

1. Punj Pyarai Seva

2. Nishaan Sahib Seva
* 1st line: 5 individuals above the age of 16
* 2nd line: 5/6 boys between age 9 - 16
* 3rd line : 5/6 girls between age 9 - 16

3. 15 Marshalls needed!!

Testing for gossip

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?”

“Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.”

“Triple filter?”

“That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?”

“No,” the man said, “Actually I just heard about it and ...”

“All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?”

“No, on the contrary…”

“So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, but you’re not certain it’s true. You may still pass the test though, because there’s one filter left: the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?”

“No, not really …”

“Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?”

Reading Sikh Workshop pics

Please see the pics of the Reading Sikh Workshop that took place in November 2009

link to pics

Meeting this Sunday

Sikh Youth meeting this Sunday (7th March) at Reading Singh Sabha Gurdwara at 1.30pm

please attend and tell us what you want seeing done!!

GURFATEH

Movie Day

We are showing a movie at Reading Singh Sabha Gurdwara on Saturday 6th March at 6pm.

There will also be a presentation on one of the most controversial topics in Sikhi after the movie.

Please feel free to bring popcorn to the film.

Waking up for Amrit Vela

1. That Sikh who remembers Vahiguru at Amrit Vela will achieve liberation.

2. Ishnan, nitnem and simran/abhyaas at amrit vela can transform the individual

3. Only that person can wake up for amrit vela who forsakes laziness and remembers death.

4. It is just as essential for every Gursikh to wake up in the last quarter of the night, amrit vela, as it is to do simran.

5. That person that remains asleep at amrit vela goes without the blessings and grace of Vahiguru

6. The best way of waking up for amrit vela is to eat little at night and to go to sleep on time.

7. It is at amrit vela that currents of Vahiguru's blessings are flowing but those who remain asleep at this time cannot enjoy them

8. Until the stars disappear, it is the fourth quarter of the night, amrit vela,
which is considered the most conducive time to meditate and worship Vahiguru.

9. That person that longs to wake up at amrit vela will be woken up on
time by some secret power.

10. After doing Sohila Sahib, and before going to sleep, doing ardaas for the ability to wake up at amrit vela is very beneficial.

11. That Gursikh who is thirsting for naam and baaNee will find that this thirst will be like the alarm which wakes him/her up.

12. Even cows, birds and roosters wake up at amrit vela. If a Sikh does not, it is his own bad karma.

13. It is a natural phenomenon that at amrit vela, even flowers blossom and spread their scent more than at any other time.

14. That person who wants to meditate on Vahiguru must make it a daily habit to wake up at amrit vela.

15. It is not enough to just wake up at amrit vela, ishnaan and simran are also essential.

16. Those individuals who spend their nights lost in vices and evil and then sleep through amrit vela are destroying their own lives.

17. The way in which our minds can be attached to simran and baaNee at amrit vela is not possible at any other time.

18. All great saints, rishis, munis, bhagats and Gursikhs all have woken up at amrit vela.

19. That person's life is fruitful and worthwhile who wakes up every day at amrit vela and remembers Vahiguru.

Respect of Sree Guru Granth Sahib Jee

There is no limit in the amount of respect we can gave the focus of our faith. Whatever we do is not enough. Those who are in love with the Guru keep the following things in mind:


1) They take their shoes off far away and after washing their feet come into the Guru Darbar

2) With respect they bow before Guru Sahib and sit in Sangat

3) They sit cross-legged while facing Guru Sahib

4) Before leaving the Sangat to go outside, they first bow.

5) Whatever offerings they have, they do not throw in front of the Guru but slowly and respectfully place it before the Guru and then bow.

6) KaRah Parshaad is brought in a Sarbloh Bata with a white cloth over it and placed on a wooden table before Guru jee off to one side. They do not Bring the kaRaahee the degh was prepared in straight before Guru Sahib.

7) The sevaadaars who prepare Degh do so while repeating naam or baaNee

8) They prepare degh with a lot of care: it is not undercooked or burnt.

9) When bhog is done, the degh is not so hot that it can't be eaten.

10) They accept the degh in two hands and then bow their heads in thanks and when eating the Degh do not let any fall to the ground at all.

11) The Singh sitting in attendance of Guru Sahib keeps doing chaur. The Chaur is not to make flies go away but it is a form of respect to the divine jot that has been passed into Guru Sahib.

12) When taking Hukam, they do not hang the rumallas in Guru Sahib's ang (pages). (Hukam is taken from the left side's first shabad)

13) When putting the rumala back over Guru jee, they make sure no ang is bent.

14) When turning an ang, they carefully take the corner of the ang and separate it from the next one and turn slowly. When using the thumb or finger to turn from the middle of the ang, chances of damage or ripping increase so this should not be done.

15) A clean white rumalaa should be kept for the sevaa of the angs. Silk and nylon are not good for this task.

16) Before sitting in attendance of Guru jee, all grime and oil should be removed with soap otherwise it will mark the rumallas and the angs.

17) One only sits in taabiyaa (attendance) of Guru Saahib after washing the hair and while wearing clean clothes with a hazooriyaa. Washing the kes is also the maryada for doing degh and langar seva.

18) There should be a big and clean chaananee over Guru Sahib jee.

19) If parkaash is to be done in a paalkee, it should be big enough that chaur can easily be done.

20) The divaan is only over when ardaas after sukhaasan takes place.

21) When bringing/taking Guru Sahib, at least 5 Singhs should accompany.

22) When bringing degh into sangat, water should not be sprinkled on the carpets.

23) In that home where Sree Akhand Paath is taking place (or even in general) and Guru Sahib is not on a Takhat Posh but on a manjee placed over a mat, no one in the house should sleep on a bed.

24) When doing Sehaj Paath, the reader should not put a paper/sheet in Guru Sahib to serve as a marker. The number of the ang should be recorded in a separate diary or notebook.

25) For Guru jee's sukhaasan, at least two clean and big rumalaas are necessary.



From Soora Sept. 1994:

1) Wherever a Gurmat Smaagam is to take place, before doing parkaash of Guru Sahib, it should be noted that the place is according to the status and glory of Guru Sahib. It is disrespectful to do parkash in Hotels, Bazaars, dirty plots and tight areas.

2) No one in the presence of Satguru jee should have a special sitting place, chair, bed, etc. This is manmat.

3) Going into sangat bare-headed or veiled for women is against Gurmat

4) If Guru Sahib is parkaash at home, the room should be clean and fresh. No unnecessary things should be put in that room. PUTTING ANY PICTURES OF HUMANS OR REPRESENTATIONS OF GURUS IN PARKAASH AREA IS MANMAT.

5) Parkaash should be done at Amrit Vela (before sunrise). This is important regardless if it's a gurdvara or home.

6) Guru Sahib's parkaash should be on a high place or a takhat posh. If these both are for whatever reasons not possible, then the manjee should be placed on a clean cloth and parkaash done.

7) Rumallas for Guru jee should be beautiful and clean, but simple [preferably white or another Khalsa colour]. Too shiny, gaudy or very thin ones or ones with Gurus' pictures should not be used. Rumalas, pillows, sheets and other necessary items should all be clean. This is extremely important. Every day or seeing the need, they should be changed. Putting thin rumalas in the summer or warm ones in the winter in light of temperature should not be done. Does Guru Sahib feel hot or cold? Guru Sahib is shabad-roop.

8) At the end of divaan, Guru Sahib should be taken to the Sukh Asan place and only then should the sangat disperse. Usually after listening to katha/keertan, we take parshaad and run away. This shouldn't be done.

Slander & Hatred

• Slander reduces the individual's own respect and kills feelings of brotherhood.

• Unjustly slandering someone is such a serious and massive offence that there can be no recourse for it

• In the world, any patient suffering from a disease can be treated, but there is no treatment from a slanderer

• Spreading information about someone's good or bad qualities without investigating for one's self is idiocy.

• That person that slanders the Guru's beloveds has his face blackened in this world and the next

• If you see a person with a fault, rather than slandering him before others, it is much better to educate him.

• To slander others to hide one's own faults is a very lowly and disgusting sin.

• To see and dwell on someone's faults is very easy, but to see faults and understand them is very diffcult.

• Almost everyone at some time does ninda, but to slander someone innocent or to do so with evil intent is a
• maha-paap.

• There are four types of ninda which are not sinful: that of a fake, that of someone opposed to the Guru, that of the ruler and one's own ninda.

• Someone who unjustly slanders and opposes others will never see happiness or peace.

• Just like a dog's tail can never be straightened, a nindak too will never leave his habit.

• If you give milk to a snake, it still strikes and spews venom. In the same way, if you do good to a nindak, he will still do bad to you.

• It is not wrong to join the ninda of those who are opposed to the Panth

• There is no person in existence who has not been slandered or wronged in some way.

• Only a true Soorbeer (warrior) can hear his own slander and remain uneffected

• To forget someone's good qualities and to look only at the bad is to be even worse than the ant who sorts through the dirt to find the sand.

• The mighty and wealthy may be able to crush the poor and meek, but they cannot crush Vahiguru's justice.

• The Jealous and hateful receive this punishment that their minds are never at peace.

• To cure the diseases of both the mind and body, the greatest medicine is to remain free of hatred and always remember Vahiguru

• Do not reply to the evil with evil. If you throw a rock at filth, it will only end up splattering on you.

• If the individual remains calm and peaceful after hearing hateful words, then the effect will reverse on to the
hateful individuals who spoke them.

• Having hatred towards others is the root of all bodily ills.

The Bag of Nails

There was a little boy with a bad temper.
His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Then it gradually dwindled down.
He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all.
He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his Father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.
He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence.
The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.

You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.
It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there.
A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one".

Wind Of Forgiveness

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: "Today My Best Friend Slapped Me In The Face."

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: "Today My Best Friend Saved My Life."

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"

The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."

What we have done so far

The list below shows what we have achieved to date
(15 months)

• 15^th Nov 2008 - Sikhi Workshop & Kirtan Darbar
• 14^th & 15^th February 2009 - SAS survival workshop
• 30^th May 2009 - 2 hours Chaupai Sahib paaht
• 2^nd August 2009 - Conversations with God (talk by Bhai Jagjit Singh)
• 29^th August 2009 - Family fun day out
• 31^st October 2009 - Seva day
• 21^st Nov 2009 - Sikhi Workshop & Kirtan Darbar
• Running Sikhi class for one year
• Movie day started at the Gurdwara
• Bought new books for library
• Produced a banner in remembrance of the Shaheeds
• Added 4 educational poster boards in langar hall
• Produced and printed Sikh literature
• Helped set up a Sikh society at Reading University in 2008
• Produced the Reading Gurdwara 2010 calendar
• Started Gatka and Kirtan classes at Gurdwara
• Made website with educational articles & upcoming events for Reading Gurdwara (this blog!! www.rsya.org)
• Started a Reading Gurdwara Football team
• Delivered Sikh presentations to schools and scouts

We have many more things to do this year 2010!! Be part of the change!

Pics of the snow!!

Check them out below: