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:

Trip to Derby and Leamington Spa‏

Yep we got a trip for all the Sangat with under 16's to the Sikh museum in Derby and to the brand new Gurdwara in Leamington Spa!!

The trip will take place on Sunday 27th December, will leave the Gurdwara at 0900 and will get back about 5.30pm

If you want to come, want your younger brothers / sisters / cousins / nieces / nephews or your children to attend please get in touch ASAP and book your place!

Those who wish to go, please email back saying you want to go

If you have any questions please email RSYA Team at rsya@hotmail.co.uk

TWO WOLVES

One evening an old Cherokee (Native American) told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said:

"My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all...
...one wolf is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego...

...The other one is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:
"Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."


japahu th eaeko naamaa || Chant the Name of the One Lord.

avar niraafal kaamaa ||1|| All other actions are fruitless. ||1||


Thanks to Bhai Bhupinder Singh

Mother and mute child

A mother has her first child and as she nurtures her child for the first year she looks forward to the time her child will speak. A year passes and the child does not make a sound. She worries a little that the child is not even making a single sound. At two years the mothers fears are proven correct as the child is diagnosed as not being able to speak.

The child can hear fine as he follows the sounds that they make around him, but he cannot speak. She waits another few years. And hopes that one day her child will call her, speak to her, cry out her name. She longs for some response. But nothing.

Then one day while she is working outside she hears "Maaa!" shedrops everything runs to her child and asks the child, did you say something, say it again, was it just my imagination, please say something, say it again.....

And So is our Guru waiting for his children to call out to him, talk tohim, ask for him, remember him. Sometimes we may remember for an instant in times of pain and he will always run to us, he is always there, but then we lose our voices again.

gur naanak dhaekh vigasee maerae piaarae jio maath suthae

Beholding the Guru, Nanak is filled with wondrous joy, like a child, gazing upon his mother.

Guru Raam Daas Ji Raag Aasaa 452

.

prabh maath pithaa ka(n)t(h) laaeidhaa lahurrae baalak paal

God is my mother and father; He hugs me close in His embrace, and cherishes me, like His tiny baby.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji Raag Raamkalee Ang 957

Sikhs Attacked in Ludhiana, Panjab

On Saturday 5th December, the Panjab Police shot and killed Sikhs protesting in Ludhiana against a rally organized by supporters of Ashutosh Noormehlia of the Divya Jyoti Jagran Sansthan.

Who is Ashutosh Noormehlia?

Ashutosh Noormehlia is a man from Bihar who was brought to Panjab by agencies to create a cult (Diviya Jyoti Jagran Sansthan) to attack the Sikh religion. The cult-leader Ashutosh openly claims that Sikhs should not follow Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee and instead accept him as the Guru because he says that the 'Jyot' (light) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee is within him and he claims that he is the reincarnation of Guru Gobind Singh jee as well. In his dera he keeps saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee that they treat and keep like a book which they keep on the shelf. He quotes and misinterprets Gurbani on a daily basis at his programmes. Ashutosh preaches against and insults keeping Kesh, wearing the 5 Ks, reading Gurbani, following the Shabad Guru, and going to the Gurdwara etc. The cultists claim that they are the 'true Khalsa' and oppose Amritdharis.

Video of Ashutosh Cultist preaching against Sikhi

They hold regular diwans at the heart of Sikh cities like Taran Taaran, Amritsar and Gurdaspur. Many times, events of 1978 have been repeated where the police was used for protection and attacking and killing the peaceful Sikh protestors. On one occasion, a programme was held on 19th April 2002 at which a preacher of Ashutosh, Shardha Nand, grossly insulted Sikhi and Guru Granth Sahib jee (see video above). When Sikhs showed up to protest they were attacked and fired upon. Shardha Nana escaped in government vehicles and Sikhs were arrested for causing violence. Similar events have taken place in other cities but with the help of the government Noormehls always managed to escape and Sikhs became the target of violence and police brutality.

Read more about Ashutosh here.

The events leading up to Saturday
After the events of 2002, the then government led by Capt. Amrinder Singh (Congress) banned Ashutosh from doing any form of preaching outside of his dera as it was a risk to law and order and it would hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community. However, the Badal government (the Akalis) lifted the ban and allowed Ashutosh to do programmes throughout Panjab. It should be noted that whenever anti-Sikh cults have risen in Panjab to attack the Sikhs it has always been during the Akali-BJP governments (e.g. 1978 massacre, 1984 Operation Bluestar, Bhaniaare wala, and Jhoota Saudaa).

Ashutosh had planned a Shobha Yatra (mockery and copy of Sikh's Nagar Kirtan) in Ludhiana on 5th December, in which he was to sit in a Palki and roam around Ludhiana. But Panthic Jathebandis had protested against it, and due to pressure from all sides, the Badal's government refused permission for the parade. Despite the cancellation of the Shobha Yatra, Ashutosh was adamant to hold a programme to show his power, as he knows that 40% residents of Ludhiana today are from UP and Bihar. He wanted to directly challenge the Sikh panth.

One day before on 4th December, 12,000 Bihari workers rioted across Ludhiana and burnt down Sikh buses, trucks, cars and motorcycles in protest against another issue which was related to them being treated poorly by the police when they reported that they were being their money was being looted by robbers on paydays. Although the issues are different, it is hard to ignore that both events have links. When 12,000 Biharis targetted Sikh buses (Sachkhand and Akal Takht Express buses) and Sikh property no one was fired at! However, oney day later when 500 to 600 Singhs peacefully protest they are fired with bullets by the Police.

On Friday 4th December the Sikhs were reassured by the government officials that Ashutosh's programmes were cancelled however fearing that it could be a bluff they decided to carry out a peaceful protest to the intended programme venue on 5th December. The Sikh Sangat led by Baba Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale, leaders from Damdami Taksaal and Sant Samaaj gathered at Gurudwara Kalgidhar in Ludhiana where the Singhs did Ardaas in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee for blessings and then they began to walk.

The Singhs had only walked a hundred kilometers or so when the peaceful Sikh protestors were stopped by the Police and were blocked from going forward. The Police then tried to put Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma (Damdami Taksaal) into a Police van when the Sangat intervened and prevented it from happening. At this point tensions rose due to the heavy handed tactics of the Police.

LUDHIANA MASSACRE - DECEMBER 5th 2009

The police set up a barricaded check post at Samrala Chowk, about 1 kilometer from the dera rally, and without warning fired upon the protesting Sikhs as they approached the check point. The police used tear gas and live ammunition on the protesting Sikhs. Varying reports are saying that 4 to 6 Gursikhs have been killed and 11 others were seriously injured by the indiscriminate police firing. The injured include Bhai Kanwalpreet Singh, Bhai Anup Singh, Bhai Manjinder Singh, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh, Bhai Parminder Singh, Bhai Gurpreet Singh, Bhai Gurjant Singh, Bhai Jaswinder Singh, Bhai Amarjeet Singh, Bibi Surinder Kaur and Bhai Mangal Singh.

58-year old Bhai Darshan Singh jee becomes the first Shaheed of this Saakaa (massacre). Bhai Sahib was a simple Gursikh who drove a Rikshaa for his livelihood. He was driving his Rikshaa when he saw the Gursikhs protesting. Finding out about the protest Bhai Sahib left his Rikshaa and joined the protest at the front. The Police aimed to shoot Baba Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale but when Bhai Sahib saw this he jumped in front to have bullets pierce through his chest. He has left 2 sons and 1 daughter.

Elderly Singh becomes Shaheed after Police open fire on Gursikhs.


Gursikh left bleeding and his turban removed.



Sikh youngster lying on the ground seriously injured.


Bhai Sahib jee shot in the stomach by the Police.

Panjab Police brutality

Blood on their Hands!
Panthic organizations state that Harish Bedi, the local BJP MLA leader, and his son Honey Bedi are directly responsible for organizing the cult rally with the blessings of the ruling Akali government. Both had been actively preparing for the event for several days. Witnesses attest that Honey Bedi was present at the protest site, and shot a firearm in the direction of the protesters. The organizations have requested that along with cult leader Aushutosh, Parkash Badal, Harish Bedi and his son should to be held responsible for the bloodshed in Ludhiana.



Protest ongoing
The Gursikh leaders decided that they would get the Sangat to hold back from fighting the Police as they felt it was a trip to get maximum number of Sikhs get killed. Instead the decision was made by the Mahapurkhs for the Sangat to sit down and peacefully protest and stay clear from the trap. All the Singhs and Mahapurkhs continued the protested throughout the night and on to the next day. In the cold night of December with no extra clothes or blankets, Gursikhs sat in the roads to peacefully protest. As there was a complete shutdown in Ludhiana, I assume that Langar was not allowed to be brought to the places where Gursikhs were protesting throughout the day and night. Baba Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale jee has taken the lead and are visiting hospitals to tend to the injured Singhs and preparing for the funerals of the Shaheeds tommorow in Ludhiana.

Reading Gurdwara Workshop and Kirtan Darbar

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

On Saturday November 21st Reading Gurdwara will be a day of Sikhi workshops!

Sri Guru Singh Sabha
30a Cumberland Road,
Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3LB

The workshops will be conducted by Bhai Manvir Singh and Co. who will speak in English (so you cant complain 'I dont understand!!).

This is a fantastic opportunity to really learn, appreciate and enjoy the wealth of Sikhi. The workshops will be held throughout the day so that everyone and anyone can benefit. They start at 10am and will be going on continuously until 5pm, so come when you can, ideally for the whole day lol.

'Use this chance to take a permanent hold of Guru Ji’s hand; it may be your last'

It would be amazing to see you there at the workshops on the date specified. Even coming down just a couple of hours is good enough!!!

The camp will cover the core principles of Sikhism; it will allow you to ask ANY questions you have on Sikhism that you may have, and all in English!!!!!!! It is better than asking Gianis/ Granthis where we become more confused after hearing their answer than when we went to ask them the question!! Lol

If you have any questions please email.

TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!

For the Youth: YOU ARE THE FUTURE – DISCOVER YOUR SIKHI

Also Sevadars are required so please get in contact if you can help out!


Oh and to top it off we have a Kirtan darbar at the end of it from 6pm to late! Kirtanis are coming from all over the UK to do kirtan seva in the remembrance of Guru Tegh Bahadur Jis Shaheedi (Martyrdom). PLEASE ATTEND.

Singing the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, is the highest of all actions.

So chant the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; this alone shall go along with you in the end. ||3||