Soul_jyot

The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com British hand in deadly 1984 raid in India angers UK Sikhs Documents that say Britain advised India on its June 1984 assault on Sikhism's holiest site could undermine support for the government among Britain's large Sikh community. By Ian Evans, Correspondent / January 15, 2014 at 2:27 pm EST London Revelations that Britain may have assisted the Indian Army in its deadly 1984 raid on Sikhism's most sacred temple in Amritsar are straining the British government's relations with its Sikh community. Though the assault happened 30 years ago, Sikh experts say the incident, which left hundreds dead, remains a "very raw issue" that could cost the government the support of Britain's large Sikh community. Recently released official documents suggest Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sent a British special forces officer to help the Indians as they drew up plans to remove dissident Sikhs from the Golden Temple in early June 1984. Hundreds died in the following assault, spurring the assassination of Indira Gandhi, India's prime minister at the time, by two Sikh bodyguards four months later. The assassination in turn triggered a cycle of inter-communal violence that resulted in thousands of mainly Sikh deaths in India. Prime Minister David Cameron has asked Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood to investigate the case, but tried to play down Britain’s involvement during parliamentary questions today. But Britain's Sikh leaders warn that despite being three decades old, the Amritsar assault is still an open wound for the country's half-million-strong Sikh community, and that the government needs to be very careful in how it proceeds. “It is still a very raw issue 30 years on with the attack on our holy shrine and the pogroms afterwards in Delhi which left thousands dead and for which there has been no justice,” says Gurmukh Singh from the Sikh Council UK. “There is a lot of anger and emotions within the Sikh community. If this turns out to be true, we will feel very let down and betrayed." Mr. Singh says the government must address whether the documents were authentic and if the British advice was used by the Indian military. "We are a respectful and law-abiding community," he says, "but we will make the government accountable if they did offer military help for the attack on the Golden Temple." Gurharpal Singh of the Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies at the University of London says that if the documentation and offer of help are true, they could damage the close links between the Sikh community and senior politicians and the royal family. But he notes that there was a logic to helping the Indian government at the time. “This was a critical and tragic event in the Sikh community both here and in India," Professor Singh says. "But you have to put what went on in context. Back in 1984 the government was dealing with a number of terrorist issues – the Libyan Embassy siege, IRA – so there was a broader terrorist issue which involved collaboration." He adds that Britain had both political and economic reasons to woo India at the time. Thatcher and US President Ronald Reagan were “trying to approach India which was receiving help from the Soviet Union." And in Britain, "there was an economic downturn, and the government was keen to get arm sales to India such as Westland helicopters and British Aerospace and trainer jets.” Professor Singh says that the government needs to be open and honest in its investigation if it is to build renewed trust with the Sikh community. Dr. Jasjit Singh at Leeds University agrees, pointing out that it could hurt Conservatives at the ballot box. “David Cameron has to treat this carefully because with an election coming up, he may well need Sikh votes in marginal constituencies. He needs to be sensitive and fully explain the operations that happened.” The records became public under Britain's "30-year rule" that automatically releases most classified documents to the National Archive after three decades. But Dr. Singh is surprised the documents, which found their way onto a blog called Stop Deportations, were released at all, given how incendiary they are to Sikhs. “Did [the government] not realize the significance of this if it turns out to be true?" he asks. "We will need to know if true, whether the advice was taken; but it’s unbelievable that it’s come out." © The Christian Science Monitor. All Rights Reserved. source: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2014/0115/British-hand-in-deadly-1984-raid-in-India-angers-UK-Sikhs

　 UK’s MI-5 officers visited Golden Temple: RAW officer’s book Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 15 Former Additional Director of the Research & Analysis Wing B Raman notes in his memoirs that at the request of the then RAW Chief RN Kao, two officers of the British Security Service (MI-5) had visited the Golden Temple as tourists and advised then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to be patient and avoid action or use of police force. There is no mention of a visit by members of the elite Special Air Service (SAS) of the UK, as mentioned in the latest controversy over its possible involvement in the military operation of 1984. Recalling the run-up to the Operation Bluestar by the Indian Army to flush out Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed men from the sacred place, Raman notes there was "some unease" in the intelligence community over the wisdom of the proposed course of action. "One had an impression that Kao felt it would be better to be patient for some weeks instead of taking any precipitate action, which might prove counter-productive...I was given to understand that at the request of Kao, two officers of the British Security Service (MI-5) visited the Golden Temple as tourists and gave a similar advice to Indira Gandhi to be patient and avoid action or use the police," Raman wrote in chapter "The Khalistani Terrorism" in his book "The Kaoboys of R&AW: Down Memory Lane" published in 2007. No date of the visit by these officers to the Golden Temple is mentioned. Raman, who died last June, retired as the Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat in 1994. "Rajiv Gandhi and two of his close associates held a number of secret meetings, recording the discussions, transcribing them and putting up the transcripts to Kao for briefing Indira Gandhi. These talks failed to persuade Akali Dal leaders to cooperate with the Government of India by persuading the Khalistani elements to vacate the Golden Temple peacefully. These transcripts, which were kept in the secret archives of RAW, were very valuable records. They showed how earnestly Indira Gandhi tried to avoid having to send the Army into the Golden Temple. One hopes they are kept safely and would be available for future historians" wrote Raman. The Op that still rankles The Army action at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar called "Operation Bluestar", which continues to rankle, was carried out between June 3 and 6, 1984 Major General KS Brar (later Lt Gen), then GOC of 9 Infantry Division, was entrusted with the sensitive task of flushing out Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed supporters from the precincts of the complex Though some accounts put the casualty figures higher, according to official accounts, a total of 83 Army personnel lost their lives and 248 were injured during the operation, while 492 civilians were killed and 86 injured. About 1,600 person were apprehended The operation led to a huge backlash, leading to the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, following which there was a large-scale violence against Sikhs in New Delhi and at some other places - http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140116/main2.htm#2

British PM orders probe into Thatcher link to Operation Bluestar PTI - Jan 14, 2014, 06.40 AM IST LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron has directed his cabinet secretary to establish the facts behind claims that Margaret Thatcher's government may have helped Indira Gandhi plan Operation Bluestar in 1984. Labour MP Tom Watson and Lord Indarjit Singh had demanded an explanation after recently declassified documents indicated thatBritain's Special Air Service (SAS) officials had been dispatched to help India on the planning on the raid of the Golden Temple to flush out militants from the shrine, an operation left more than 1,000 people dead. "These events led to a tragic loss of life and we understand the very legitimate concerns that these papers will raise. The Prime Minister has asked the cabinet secretary to look into this case urgently and establish the facts," a UK government spokesperson said in a statement issued here yesterday night. "The PM and the foreign secretary were unaware of these papers prior to publication. Any requests today for advice from foreign governments are always evaluated carefully with full ministerial oversight and appropriate legal advice," he added. The documents being referenced were released by the National Archives in London under the 30-year declassification rule as part of a series over the New Year. A letter marked "top secret and personal" dated February 23, 1984, nearly four months before the incident in Amritsar, titled 'Sikh Community', reads: "The Indian authorities recently sought British advice over a plan to remove Sikh extremists from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. "The foreign secretary decided to respond favourably to the Indian request and, with the Prime Minister's agreement, an SAS officer has visited India and drawn up a plan which has been approved by Mrs Gandhi. The foreign secretary believes that the Indian government may put the plan into operation shortly." "These documents prove what Sikhs have suspected all along, that plans to invade the Golden Temple went back months even though the Indian government was claiming even weeks before that there were no such plans," Lord Singh, also the director of the Network of Sikh Organisations in the UK, told. "I have already approached the Indian government through the high commission of India for the need of an independent international enquiry to establish the exact facts. I will now raise the issue in the House of Lords," he added. Some of the documents have been reproduced on the 'Stop Deportations' blog which focuses on Britain's immigration policy and claim Thatcher sent SAS officials to advise Mrs Gandhi on the operation. "I've only seen the documents this morning (Monday) and am "I've only seen the documents this morning (Monday) and am told there are others that have been withheld. This is not good enough. It is not unreasonable to ask for an explanation about the extent of British military collusion with the government of Indira Gandhi," Watson, an MP for West Bromwich East, said. He has written to UK foreign secretary William Hague and plans to raise the issue in the House of Commons. "I think British Sikhs and all those concerned about human rights will want to know exactly the extent of Britain's collusion with this period and this episode and will expect some answers from the foreign secretary. "But trying to hide what we did, not coming clean, I think would be a very grave error and I very much hope that the foreign secretary will...reveal the documents that exist and give us an explanation to the House of Commons and to the country about the role of Britain at that very difficult time for Sikhism and Sikhs," he added. Five months after Operation Bluestar, Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation for the raid on the Golden Temple. source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/British-PM-orders-probe-into-Thatcher-link-to-Operation-Bluestar/articleshow/28771352.cms

"London: A British MP on Monday claimed that top secret documents suggested Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's government helped Indira Gandhi plan the storming of the Golden Temple in 1984 to flush out militants from the shrine, an operation that left more than 1,000 people dead. Tom Watson, the Labour lawmaker from West Bromwich East, said the documents released under Britain's 30-year rule included "papers from Mrs Thatcher authorising the SAS (Special Air Service) to collude with the Indian government on the planning on the raid of the Golden Temple". The government apparently "held back" some more documents and "I don't think that's going to wash", he told BBC Asian Network. "I think British Sikhs and all those concerned about human rights will want to know exactly the extent of Britain's collusion with this period and this episode and will expect some answers from the Foreign Secretary," Watson said. He wrote on his website that he would write to the Foreign Secretary and raise the issue in the House of Commons to get a "full explanation". "But trying to hide what we did, not coming clean, I think would be a very grave error and I very much hope that the Foreign Secretary will...Reveal the documents that exist and give us an explanation to the House of Commons and to the country about the role of Britain at that very difficult time for Sikhism and Sikhs," he added. - http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/thatcher-colluded-with-indira-for-op-bluestar-labour-mp_903859.html

Revealed: SAS advised 1984 Amritsar raid: http://stopdeportations.wordpress.com/2014/01/13/revealed-sas-advised-1984-amritsar-raid/

Painful as it is, they DO NOT PRACTICE what they PREACH! They are ONLY into politics, personal glory (ego) & money, not into religion / spirituality! Fighting with kirpans in the PRESENCE of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and that at a major Sikh Takht speaks for itself! Shame on them !!!!!

India News: Two groups clash at Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara over 'Granthi' nomination http://youtu.be/mfcv7SBtbts

Crusader who has put Punjab govt in a bind I P Singh & Pardeep Rai, TNN - Dec 25, 2013, 05.21 AM IST JALANDHAR/KURUKSHETRA: Another crusader from Haryana has shaken yet another state government. A farmer from Kurukshetra district, Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, whom even people from his area didn't know, has left the Badal government Punjab jittery with his over-a-month-long fast at Mohali since November 14 to seek the release of six Sikh prisoners who have completed their jail terms. His stand has won him support from all quarters, including top Punjabi singers, and has had Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal hasten to assure that he supports parole for assassins. Till 40 days back, nobody knew Gurbaksh, a small farmer from Thaintal village of Kurukshetra. The SAD-BJP government, which initially ignored Gurbaksh and even sent him to jail after the police picked him up in a midnight swoop on December 5, is now bending backwards to assure its support for his cause. After the authorities opposed the release of three of Sikh convicts even on parole, Badal is not only advocating their release but has also fast-tracked the processing of their applications. He has even spoken to CMs of UP, Karnataka and Gujarat to ensure release of three other detainees. A follower of Damdami Taksal, the most influential Sikh seminary that guided the militant movement in Punjab, Gurbaksh has been convicted in an arms recovery case and is currently out on bail. Despite his Taksal moorings, he has stuck to the Gandhian path and swears by the power of the pen and peaceful agitation. He has already made it a point not to raise any separatist issue, frustrating some protagonists of Khalistan. He made it amply clear on Monday evening. Gurbaksh grabbed a pen from Dal Khalsa leader Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib, who was standing near him, and held it up before the people and said, "Identify its might, you can change the government with this. Now the change will come with the pen." Farmer turned crusader Gurbaksh Singh has stuck to Gandhian methods and swears by the power of the pen and peaceful agitation. Though Gurbaksh's grit is akin to that of Maharashtra's Gandhian social reformer Anna Hazare, the difference lies in the fact that multitudes have come to lend him support despite the national TV news channels staying away from his protest. Not just the political class, even the Sikh clergy has faced heat over his agitation. Breaking his initial silence on the issue, even Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and other Sikh high priests have come out in his support. While hundreds of Sikhs from Haryana are now visiting Gurbaksh, even those living in Shahbad block of Kurukshetra were unaware of him intil sometime back. "I have been active in Sikh politics in Kurukshetra for the past 12 years. I never saw Gurbaksh taking part in any movement. I always saw him as a simple farmer and man of few words. He spent most of his time in religious activities," said Kanwal Jit Singh Ajrana, a Sikh leader who had been associated with various Sikh bodies. Persons close to him say he felt anguished by the plight of Sikhs languishing in jails even after completing their sentences, as he too was allegedly jailed without any valid reason. Villagers are surprised at his ability to mobilize thousands in a day. A veteran Sikh preacher, Giani Sahib Singh Shahbad Markanda, who has known Gurbaksh for long, said, "I remember how a simple youth like him was put behind the bars, considering him to be a terrorist. But nothing was found against him." Prof Sumel Singh Sidhu, a lecturer of history at Khalsa College, Delhi, who has been working on social history of Punjab, said Gurbaksh posed a major moral question to the Punjab government and people of the state with a well-defined issue and a non-violent protest. "It is a welcome step, which demonstrates the importance of non-violent method of agitation," he said. Former Punjab DGP (prisons) Shashi Kant, who is spearheading a movement against drugs, said, "His hunger strike has exposed the government, which remains immune to issues of the people and even basic human rights, and people of Punjab need to support the cause cutting across community lines." Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Crusader-who-has-put-Punjab-govt-in-a-bind/articleshow/27875508.cms

SIKH WOMEN: Bypassed by history but why? http://www.sikhnet.com/news/sikh-women-bypassed-history-why

India’s Chief of Army Staff Gen. Bikram Singh to be inducted into Hall of Fame http://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2013/12/02/indias-chief-army-staff-gen-bikram-singh-inducted-hall-fame/

I sincerely pray & hope that all the Sikh Temples will arise immediately to the occasion and donate & raise funds for the Philippines typhoon aid!

Sleep helps 'detox' your brain: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267611.php

French mother convicted after sending three-year-old son named 'Jihad' to school in 'I am a bomb' T-shirt: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2426721/French-mother-convicted-sending-year-old-son-named-Jihad-school-T-shirt-saying-I-bomb.html

TEACHINGS OF BABA NAND SINGH JI OF NANAKSAR He (Baba Nand Singh Ji of Nanksar) unfolded the Supreme grandeur of Sri Guru Granth Sahib splendidly and glorified the eternal Sri Guru Granth Sahib as the living Guru Nanak magnificently. Blessing of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was supreme and He advised everyone to invoke that blessing by completing one path of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in a month in the following manner: Complete recitation of the whole of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in a month: Complete 50 paths of Sri Sukhmani Sahib in a month; recite 2 paths of Sri Sukhmani Sahib daily. Complete 250 paths of Jap Ji Sahib in a month; recite 10 paths of Jap Ji Sahib daily. Complete 180 Malas (Rosary Mala of 108 beads) of Mool Mantra (from Ekonkar to Nanak Hosi Bhi Such) in a month; do six malas daily. Complete 80 Malas daily of Gur Mantar 'Waheguru'; 20 Malas of Waheguru if the Nam is recited four times on each bead. Complete 160 Malas daily of Ram (Nam); 40 Malas if Ram is recited four times on each bead (for Hindus) A Mohammedan was advised to practice and recite the name of Allah on each bead as above. Hundreds of crores of Sri Guru Granth Sahib's paths were thus distributed as the most blessed Parshad to millions of devotees in His life time and are continuing uninterrupted since then. He, thus, brought the supreme blessing of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the living Sri Guru Nanak Sahib within easy comprehension, reach and grasp of everyone, educated, uneducated, lettered, unlettered, literate, illiterate and simple village folks. Every one recited Amrit Nam and sang the glory of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib in this simple and easy way. That was the grand purpose behind His holy advent. Uniqueness and greatness of the Eternal Glory of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was unveiled in its totality. The precious treasure of Lord's Name was thrown open to all. It was so simple, easily understandable within the grasp and practice of simple village folk. He freely distributed this Dargahi ticket destined for Sach Khand. Though He physically disappeared in August 1943 from this earthly scene, He perennially flows as Eternal presence in this very Dargahi Ticket given as Prashad by Him. Lakhs of refugees from either side during the partition of 1947 experienced the miraculous power of this Dargahi ticket, Dargahi Name with the Eternal presence of the Saviour Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj, and were saved. Such was the unique power of Nam He distributed. In possession of this unique Prashad, Divine Ticket, they passed through the most dreaded naked dance of death, but not a single person blessed with this celestial ticket could be injured or harmed or died an unnatural death. All Glory to Mahan Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj. Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj thus blessed millions with unique Prashad of the Lord. Unique Prashad of redeeming Gur Mantar, Mul Mantar, Japji, Sukhmani Sahib, Ram Nam and in addition the paths of Bhagwat Gita and Holy Quran Sharif were distributed as Parshad to Hindus and Muslims in same congregations. Nam was not the privilege of a selected few. It was open to all It was distributed freely to everyone without any consideration of caste, religion and creed. By thus propagating the Gospel of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Lakhs of illiterate, simple and plain-hearted villagers were able to feel and experience the spiritual satisfaction of attaining the Grace of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Babaji had thus brought lofty ideals of personal service and worship of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and resultant spiritual attainment within the immediate reach and grasp of millions of completely illiterate folk. Only those who practice, know how wonderful and rewarding this spiritual Sadhana is! http://www.babanandsinghsahib.org/marSOURCE:yada/dargahiticket.htm

Pope Francis says church too obsessed with gays, abortion Church sometimes caught up in 'small-minded' rules, Pope says in wide-ranging interview The Associated Press Posted: Sep 19, 2013 11:47 AM ET Last Updated: Sep 19, 2013 12:29 PM ET Pope Francis is warning that the Catholic Church's moral edifice might "fall like a house of cards" if it doesn't balance its divisive rules about abortion, gays and contraception with the greater need to make the church a merciful, more welcoming place for all. Six months into his papacy, Francis set out his vision for the church and his priorities as Pope in a remarkably candid and lengthy interview with La Civilta Cattolica, the Italian Jesuit magazine. It was published simultaneously Thursday in other Jesuit journals, including America magazine in the U.S. In the 12,000-word article, Francis expands on his ground-breaking comments over the summer about gays and acknowledges some of his own faults. He sheds light on his favourite composers, artists, authors and films (Mozart, Caravaggio, Dostoevsky and Fellini's La Strada) and says he prays even while at the dentist's office. 'The church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules. The most important thing is the first proclamation: Jesus Christ has saved you.'- Pope Francis But his vision of what the church should be stands out, primarily because it contrasts so sharply with many of the priorities of his immediate predecessors John Paul II and Benedict XVI. They were both intellectuals for whom doctrine was paramount, an orientation that guided the selection of generations of bishops and cardinals around the globe. Francis said the dogmatic and the moral teachings of the church were not all equivalent. "The church's pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently," Francis said. "We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel." Rather, he said, the Catholic Church must be like a "field hospital after battle," healing the wounds of its faithful and going out to find those who have been hurt, excluded or have fallen away. "It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars!" Francis said. "You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else." "The church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules," he lamented. "The most important thing is the first proclamation: Jesus Christ has saved you. And the ministers of the church must be ministers of mercy above all." Comments likely to reverberate in U.S. The admonition is likely to have sharp reverberations in the United States, where some bishops have already publicly voiced dismay that Francis hasn't hammered home church teaching on abortion, contraception and homosexuality — areas of the culture wars where U.S. bishops often put themselves on the front lines. U.S. bishops were also behind Benedict's crackdown on American nuns, who were accused of letting doctrine take a backseat to their social justice work caring for the poor — precisely the priority that Francis is endorsing. Just last week, Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, wrote in his diocesan newspaper that he was "a little bit disappointed" that Francis hadn't addressed abortion since being elected. Francis acknowledged that he had been "reprimanded" for not speaking out on such issues. But he said he didn't need to. "We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible," he said. "The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time." 'We must not reduce the bosom of the universal church to a nest protecting our mediocrity,'- Pope Francis Francis, the first Jesuit to become Pope, was interviewed by Civilta Cattolica's editor, the Rev. Antonio Spadaro, over three days in August at the Vatican hotel where Francis chose to live rather than the papal apartments. The Vatican vets all content of the journal, and the Pope approved the Italian version of the article. Nothing Francis said in this or other interviews indicate any change in church teaching. But he has set a different tone and signalled new priorities compared to Benedict and John Paul — priorities that have already been visible in his simple style, his outreach to the most marginalized and his insistence that priests be pastors, not bureaucrats. Two months ago, Francis caused a sensation during an in-flight news conference when he was asked about gay priests. "Who am I to judge?" about the sexual orientation of priests, as long as they are searching for God and have good will, he responded. Francis noted in the latest interview that he had merely repeated church teaching (though he again neglected to repeat church teaching that says while homosexuals should be treated with dignity and respect, homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered.") But he continued: "A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: 'Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?' "We must always consider the person. In life, God accompanies persons, and we must accompany them, starting from their situation. It is necessary to accompany them with mercy. When that happens, the Holy Spirit inspires the priest to say the right thing." The key, he said, is for the church to welcome, not exclude and show mercy, not condemnation. "This church with which we should be thinking is the home of all, not a small chapel that can hold only a small group of selected people. We must not reduce the bosom of the universal church to a nest protecting our mediocrity," he said. The quotable Pope ON FINDING GOD IN EVERYONE "God is in everyone's life. Even if the life of a person has been a disaster, even if it is destroyed by vices, drugs or anything else — God is in this person's life." ON FAITH AND DOUBT "If one has the answers to all the questions—that is the proof that God is not with him. It means that he is a false prophet using religion for himself. The great leaders of the people of God, like Moses, have always left room for doubt. You must leave room for the Lord, not for our certainties; we must be humble." ON THE ROLE OF WOMEN "The feminine genius is needed wherever we make important decisions. The challenge today is this: to think about the specific place of women also in those places where the authority of the church is exercised." ON BEING ARGENTINA'S JESUIT LEADER "I found myself [the Jesuit leader] when I was still very young. I was only 36 years old. That was crazy ... It was my authoritarian way of making decisions that created problems." ON PRAYER "What I really prefer is adoration in the evening, even when I get distracted and think of other things, or even fall asleep praying. In the evening then, between seven and eight o'clock, I stay in front of the Blessed Sacrament for an hour in adoration. But I pray mentally even when I am waiting at the dentist or at other times of the day." ON THE OLD LATIN MASS (Pope Benedict XVI opened up the Latin Mass for wider use among traditionalists who were opposed to the modern liturgy.) "I think the decision of Pope Benedict was prudent and motivated by the desire to help people who have this sensitivity. What is worrying, though, is the risk of the ideologization of the [Old Mass], its exploitation." ON NUNS WHO CARED FOR HIM WHEN HE LOST MOST OF 1 LUNG "I am alive because of one of them. When I went through my lung disease at the hospital, the doctor gave me penicillin and streptomycin in certain doses. The sister who was on duty tripled my doses because she was daringly astute; she knew what to do because she was with ill people all day. The doctor, who really was a good one, lived in his laboratory; the sister lived on the frontier and was in dialogue with it every day. ON HIS FAVOURITE ARTISTS "La Strada, by Fellini, is the movie that perhaps I loved the most. I identify with this movie, in which there is an implicit reference to St. Francis." "I have read The Betrothed, by Alessandro Manzoni, three times, and I have it now on my table because I want to read it again. Manzoni gave me so much. When I was a child, my grandmother taught me by heart the beginning of The Betrothed: 'That branch of Lake Como that turns off to the south between two unbroken chains of mountains..." ' "Among the great painters, I admire Caravaggio; his paintings speak to me. But also Chagall, with his White Crucifixion. Among musicians I love Mozart, of course. The Et incarnatus est from his Mass in C minor is matchless; it lifts you to God!" © The Associated Press, 2013 source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/pope-francis-says-church-too-obsessed-with-gays-abortion-1.1860560

Akal Takht bans Guru Granth Sahib in homes with bars Yudhvir Rana, TNN - Sep 18, 2013, 01.55 AM IST AMRITSAR: Acting on suggestions and complaints of some faithful, Akal Takht - the highest temporal body of Sikhs - ruled on Tuesday that Guru Granth Sahib can't co-exist in houses that have bars or with things proscribed by the religion, such as tobacco, intoxicants and halal meat. The decision was taken at a meeting of the top Sikh clergy at the Akal Takht secretariat in Amritsar. Akal Takht jathedar (chief) Giani Gurbachan Singh said keeping the Granth Sahib in houses of Sikhs who had made liquor bars in their drawing rooms was tantamount to disrespect for the holy book, which is considered a living embodiment of Sikh gurus. Besides bars, the Sikh families using substances that are against the basic tenets of the religion have also been cautioned against keeping the holy book in their homes. "Sikh families who consume halal meat, smoke hookah, charas (hashish) and tobacco are also banned from having the parkash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in their homes. We have not only given directives but also advised Sikhs to abstain from such practices else religious action would be taken against them on receiving any such complaint or violation," said Singh. source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Akal-Takht-bans-Guru-Granth-Sahib-in-homes-with-bars/articleshow/22671838.cms

Spiritual Experience of Naam Simran Tarlochan Singh Mann* *3 New York Avenue, Stonybrook. N.Y. 11790. U.S.A. This is based on Bandgi-nama by Raghbir Singh Bir. Recitation of Gurbani and meditation or Simran are complementary to each other. While Gurbani brings us closer to an understanding of God’s purpose, Simran truly unites us with the divine. Recitation from Guru Granth and repetition of a particular verse roots its sense in our mind in order that the mind is moulded accordingly. Naam - Simran increases concentration and raises levels of consciousness to higher level and unites us with the wonderful Lord, Waheguru. Philosophy of Simran: As soon as the name of any object is mentioned, its form, nature, attributes, and our re-action to it, rush into our mind, and we visualize the image of the object as picturised and projected. Similarly when we repeat God’s Name our mental picture of God gets picturised before our mind’s eyes. Gur-Bani by projecting the attributes of God helps us to form some sort of mental picture of God. In Simran when we repeat God’s Name this picture grows clearer to us. Even if we may have no mental concept of God, by mere repetition of His NAME God’s attributes are not only visualized but are also slowly assimilated. Naam-Simran is the secret of simple mindsbecoming Saints. Peculiar quality of our mind is that if some thing impresses us profoundly and if we repeatedly aspire, by continuous Simran, to be shaped in the pattern of that thing (may be saint, God), we are gradually moulded accordingly: Jaisa sevai taisa hovei. (SGGS) Methodology of Simran: Significance and worth of Naam-Simran can be appreciated only by personally practicing Simran persistently, regularly, with patience and perseverance till it becomes a habit, and goes an unceasingly. Recommendations for beginners: Choice of a secluded and fixed place and regular hours help in inculcating Simran habit. A special room, or a niche in a room, reserved for Simran is very conducive. Time - prescribed is 2.00 A.M. to 4.00 A.M. in Summer and 3.00 to 5.00 A.M. in winter. We can sleep for two hours after Simran before our daily work. Body Pasture - We should squat cross-legged on the floor as erect as possible. The avoid fatigue a cushion may be used. Tuning the mind - It is necessary to guard it from wandering and falling into negative thinking and making the entire Naam-Simran exercise of the day a futile venture Modus-operandi for tuning the mind recommended by the author may be followed or each individual should evolve and adopt his own personalized technique. Three Stages of Simran: The author describes how and why he selected "Wahe-Guru" for Simran in preference to so many other names of God mentioned in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The first stage of Simran is audible Simran. Lips more and sound is heard. We speak aloud and fix our attention on the sound produced. It is necessary to improve our concentration. If necessary beads of rosary may be used, to start with, but in no case pictures of Gurus be used to improve concentration, as it creates problems in higher spiritual stages as illustrated by our own experiences. The second stage is of mental Simran. When lips cease to move, vocal chords alone help in creating sound rhythm of Wahe-Guru Shabad. For convenience the seeker may synchronize the Simran with the rhythm of breathing, regulating the vibrations of respiration. Uttering Wah on inhaling, and uttering "Guru" on exhaling. This mental Simran focuses our attention and increase our concentration which advances spiritual development. The third stage - The Gentle sound of mental Simran picks up a higher pitch and becomes louder and louder to the exclusion of all external sounds. Mental Simran ceases and this sound seems to come down from navel and is heard from within our entire being. This concentrated Simran raises the level of consciousness and the spiritual development advances to the higher stage. The mind feels perfect peace and gets inebriated with the joy of bliss that defy description. This advanced stage of spiritual development is called stage of ‘SAHAJ’. From this last stage of Simran first stage of "GYAN’ starts and the seeker starts having a number of mystic experiences. But the seeker has to guard against the delusions of this stage viz (1) Ceasing of Simran gives the impression that it is waste of time as there is no worship of God without Simran (2) The seeker is gripped by the sleep of ease called ‘TANDRA’ and seeker is deluded to believe that he has reached the final stage of spiritual progress. This writer follows in details the methodology suggested by Late Sant Attar Singh Mastuana and Baba Nand Singh Kleran helped him to come out of first delusion regarding waste of time. Edward Carpenter’s book ‘A Visit to a Gyani’ redeemed him from the delusion of ‘TANDRA’. The other mystic experiences this writer had are - > Discovery of centers of consciousness within the body including cortex of the brain called ‘DASAM DWAR’. > Seeing glimpses of sweet cool luminosity. > Hearing melodious sounds: punch nad or Anhad nad. > Experiencing sweet smells. > Low gentle rhythmic sound in the brain inducing bliss and lightness of mind. > Getting into peaceful trance/Samadhi. > The realization that the universe is the creation of an all-pervading force beyond our comprehension.  source: http://www.sikhreview.org/july2000/naam.htm