Lunalon

Just one question. If we have begun the sava lakh Jaap, then do we need to also observe restrictions on diet?

Like abstinence from non-veg food,eggs etc.?

Gurfateh everyone.

I hope most of the people on this site must also be using 'Quora.com'. Recenlty I came across the following question on Quora

http://www.quora.com...ir-and-or-beard

The Questions is "What is it like for a Sikh to cut his hair?"

I do not know who asked this, but I did go through the answers. There are about 5-6 answers given by Sikh males themselves who got their hair cut at some point in their life.

Yes, it did hurt me reading those answers, but I felt, as you all will feel that everyone has a right to express his/her story and there is not much wrong in that.

However, let me describe some things here. If you look at the contents of the answers, you will find that mostly the people are describing that how difficult it was for them to maintain their hair, and how free they felt after getting it cut etc etc. They even mention that they felt 'proud' and 'free' after doing that.

Now, tell me how many of us feel this way? Hair keeping is of course not difficult for us and we lovingly maintain it. Don;t you all feel that a wrong general idea is being circulated?

I mean so many people read these answers; what information would they get? That all Sikhs are in great difficulty keeping their hair?

I did have a one-one comment discussion also with one of those 'answerers'. Okay let us say that we ignore this and say that let people speak what they want to, we can't stop their mouths. But you know what is more disturbing??? I have seen answers there,in which the writer (a Sikh) addresses other Sikhs who want to cut their hair and narrates to them his act of bravery (of cutting his hair ) and even advises them to act!!!

I have seen some Sikhs commenting and asking these people that even they want to cut their hair and how should they go about doing this?

You know what reason a person was giving there? He writes that since he has cut his hair he has made many girlfriends , and before he had none. Such statements are being used to lure the youth to cut their hair? ( If you read one 'Jas Anand's' answer, you'll find this).

Shouldn't we do something? I mean those people are advising other Sikhs that how to cut their hair/ how to convince their parents /how they will get girlfriends after that etc etc?

What can we do? Atleast :

1)We should comment in opposition, that keeping hair has great benefits and we take pride in it, so that the readers are not misled.

2)We should report abuse the question( We never know if the answers are actually coming from fake accounts to demean the Sikh practices)

3) We should message the Quora admin in large numbers and ask him/her to remove the question as it is hurting religious sentiments.

Here is the list of the admins (their names are mentioned in the answer

http://www.quora.com...admins-of-Quora

Or we can send a mail to moderation@quora.com asking to do the same.

Please everyone discuss and decide upon this.

Also, if anyone misses to read all the answers, I am posting here the contents of an answer (given by Jas Anand).

Here it is

"Guess this post will be mostly read by kids/adults who have hair and are planning to remove the turban. So I'll write this post just for them.

Anybody else please excuse.

Just to introduce myself - am a guy based in India - and took the decsion when I was about 20 years.

So, what was the first reaction -

Haaaww!! I was not allowed to meet my own brothers for the fact that I may 'corrupt' their minds. I was living alone in another city and working, n just completing graduation.

I wasn't told about the death of my best friend - who dies in an accident - just for the fact that I may visit the family and would bring 'shame' as others would get to know.

I was not allowed to visit family functions as I would bring 'disgrace'. This just a day's transformation from being he best child in family to now being the 'black sheep' as one uncle called me.

So how it impacted me - It made me more determined to succeed and show others!

How I felt -

Freedom.

Found a Girlfriend/s;) as I was pretty unkempt earlier - sorry guys. "

I have not posted everyhting. This person also says he would 'post more' in second post.

Somewhere or the other I feel , that isn;t it our duty to gude them? To tell them of the great martyrdoms that have taken place because of hair?

Okay even if we keep shut by thinking that let them do whatever they want, but they are not only 'doing', they are influencing million others also in the same way (who are reading their answers)

(((

ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਿ ਦਿਨਸੁ ਰਾਤਿ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹਰਿ ਧਨੁ ਜਾਨੁ ॥

Ram naam nu din raat japo, es tara Gurmukh nu Hari de dhan bare pata lag jaunda hai.

Jap all day Lunalon. Whenever you remember it, start your Jap. Don't stop, keep going. If you lose track, get back to the Jap.

Yes that is ok. But do you have any idea of the colors/Pratibimb etc that I mentioned? I have read about these in Bhajan Banadagi Da Pratap.

An indeed nice thread on meditative simran.

Well, I read in a book (Bhajan Bandagi Da Pratap,), that for a new Abhyasee, there is need of a 'pratibimb'-an object for concentration.

It can be either be a picture of Guru Sahib, or ik onkaar etc.

Also, I found it mentioned in the book that each person has his birth color. So, if he uses 'Waheguru' written in that color as a 'pratibimb' then it can be really beneficial for concentration. Talking more about colors, Sodi Harbhajan Singh Jee (the author) mentions that Sant Baba Attar Singh Jee (of Mastuana) used to advise the beginners to concentrate on 'Waheguru' wirtten in blue-red color while doing the Jaap. The abhyase should then close his eyes, and try writing 'Waheguru' in his 'trikuti'

(between eyes, above nose), with his 'surat' while japping. The reason for the bule-red color as given by the author is that blue and red are the extreme colors in the spectrum of white light; so these shall cover all colors. I did not understand much about the importance of color /pratibimb, and am still confused.

At some places he also mentions that 'listening' to the Jaap is essential. So where should one start?

Describing the astral realm is very very difficult. There are not really words to describe it but what I usually say is this:

I could see sound (and it was very colourful), and hear light (and it was angelic). Thoughts became real tangible things, and I felt more 'awake' than any wakeful moment in the physical world... if the word sleep even means anything at all.

There is a medical condition called Synesthesia where something similar happens to people here and now... and there are videos that try to illustrate what it's like. I do think it's somewhat like that, but it's not Synesthesia.... it's just a good compariso

Can one astral project while deep in simran?

Just came across this post.

I had found a video by GurIqbal Ji. In this he mentions about the book, and also narrates a chapter from it:

two people with different mindsets can have very different views and experience whilst occupying the same street, town, city...

someone paranoid sitting in the same room as someone that isn't will generate a completely different experience of that same situation...

so do you think your mindset, state of mind will impact what you experience there?

a place where they say in many astral travel journals and books that your thoughts manifest waaaay faster than here on earth...what will manifest around you...what will you attract..what will you see...

therefore my friend...Naam Simran...and daily control of your 5 thieves and actions..

Naam Simran will open everything up for you, and you will be in the right frame of mind to advance and experience all that God has created and beyond..

Just my thoughts ji... a Very interesting subject indeed:)

Hmm..true that.

yes they will rob you if you travel here back to india

Did not get you dear. Is that sarcasm/sattire?

I am in India only. Who would rob an astral traveler and of what?

Okay, I want to know are there any dangers of astral travel? Isn't it possible that the travel may psychologically affect the 'traveler'?
And are there any cases of possession? (I dont know If possession is even real, just saw it in the movie 'Insidous' )

I remembered reading this online before:

http://www.wahegurunet.com/astral-plane

(I can't speak to the validity of it or not, but I read your comments and it triggered my memory of that page, so I just looked it up again)

Oh.. yes I had read it here only I guess!

Lunalon,

Guru Nanak Sahib was a trader a vyapari. So he travelled quite a bit as part of his profession.

He didn't have 70 years, only travelled for about 35 (if I remember correctly).

Now he could astral travel, there is a sakhi where he travels to to the North star, the Dhruv Tara, to meet the child-bhagat Dhruv. That would only be possible through astral travel.

Hmm... yes he must have spent 35 years or so travelling, of course not 70 (silly me ).

I do agree that he had been a vyapaaree, but most of the travels he did were not a part of his profession, but their purpose was to spread the true message he had brought, to enlighten the greatness of Naam.

Hmm.. talking of OBE's I read somewhere that Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj was also an astral traveller. When, in Baghdad, Peer Dastgeer had asked him to prove that there were more than 7 heavens/hells, Guru Ji then, took the Peers son along with Him on an astral tour, to visit the nether lands. When they returned back, the boy had 'parshad' in his hand as proof.

Also some people cite that it is not possible that Guru Ji traveled on foot/or by some other means of (physical) transport, to all the places that he visited. Because, not only did he visit the places, he also stayed at those places for sometime. Now so many travels, and also stays at so many places don't seem to be possible in a life span of around 70 years, if Guru Ji had taken normal means of transport, or traveled on foot. Definitely he must have used some spiritual ability to go anywhere he wanted, anytime, in an instant.

I don't know how much this is true. But , definitely the Gurus were divine and possessed the capability of doing anything.

I am too having the same problem. Some months ago I had developed this wonderful habit of naturally waking up at around 4:30-5. That was when I used to go to the gurudwara too in the morning. But since some weeks I am struggling to wake up at amrit vela and continue my simran/path. The mobile alarm also does not seem to work now :-(

Sat Sree Akal Lunalon,

Hmm.. Thankyou for what you said. Actually I dont know anything. Iam going through a terrible time. Sometimes my faith in Guru and Gurbani strengthens and sometimes I even feel that Guru Jee does not do kripa equally; some people are so happy and some don't even know hat happiness is :-( (Sorry to say so, I dont mean it though)

Still I dont have any other support :-(

imagine if you can home your desire/focus/energy/determination for astral travelling to wanting to experience the ultimate truth - Waheguru...

We don't know how many breaths we have left in this precious human birth....what to spend this energy on? just astral travelling or the ultimate?

my advice/opinion....focus on Waheguru and a long the way you may 'naturally' have the opportunity to astral travel but you won't get lost in it all - your focus will still be on Waheguru...so you may get to enjoy all the wonders of his creation whilst still having the focus of your destination

People are wandering lost in this world already...do we really want our main focus to just get mesmerized and lost in another world

jusy my thoughts and nothing more ji...

God Bless

True you said jee. Hmm, but I am super confused. I am facing some troubles, so I dont know it seems i want to try and experience someting

I have started naam simran lately

VJKK VJKF

Has anyone here ever astral travelled through any of the countless heavens/hells many people talk about? I've never gotten anywhere, I've just had one OBE in my room. Is it possible to meet Guru Ji in sargun saroop this way?

Can you recall how did you actually even have an OBE in your room? Was it day or night?

I want to have one, but I dont go beyond sleep paralysis, or may be because I am scared.

Very well said Babaji ..

Dear Lunalon,

we are already failed, and our condition is hopeless and of pity. So any devotion done, even for any selfish motives, in His court is accepted.

How one calls one´s father, that is not much important. He knows how weak we are. But anyhow He is such a wonderful Father, that He says, though out of pain or despair just remeber me, just call me with a sincere heart, and see I will come running to your aid.

But there is definetely a difference in calling a worldly father and a heavenly Father like Wahiguru Akal Purukh.

While our calling Him, we are elevated, our consciousness soars high in the spiritual realms. And when we thus communicate with Him in this way, we are spiritually washed, our thinking and understanding the laws of Nature undergo a drastic change, in comparison to the earthly point of view.

Now in our present condition, we may question Him about our so called problems of any type, be it may health, mental, economical ... or any other .....

But once we elevate even a little bit our consciousness within, then we shall not even ask Him any such selfish things .....

Otherwise it is more likely we blame Him as usually we do. We may not voice our thoughts, but surely more than once we may have thought, my God, why me?

Why do I not get this or that ? Or be like him /her, or even better.... and an endles such list....

We should keep in mind, He is a Perfect Being.

He can make no mistakes.

And so, if He can not make mistakes, then, what is there for Him to rectify?

It is we, who are short sighted. And we are telling Him to do this or that, like if He was the Aladino´s genie in the lamp.

We do not try to know and understand the Nature, but rather we want the Higher consciousness, to come to our level and get involved in our selfish petty minded game... Is it not moorakhta from our side, to do something which is unlogic? Then too we harshly blame Him, for not fulfilling our expectations, and so shamelessly we say God does not exist ....

Dear Lunalon, I am not disheartening you or anyone...but it is better, if we go through the precious priceless Bani, and dye ourselves with the colors of His Beant wadeeayee . Then there will be no complaints, but only "shukur hae Sachay Patshah" on each step in our lives.

For example,Christ was nailed; Dhan Guru Arjun Dev Maharaj was ill treated badly and tortured physically ...

Just let us think a litle bit, they were the embodiments of that Supreme Power.

What could they not do if they wished to? By freeing themselves and punish their culprits...

But instead, they said: Tera bhaana meetha laage ....

In these 4 words, if paid proper attention there is a lot of wisdom for us humans to learn and apply it in our lives. Then almost all of our problems shall vanish away...

But anyhow, as brother Sat above, has soundly said: "in the house of Guru Nanak even those things can be changed".

Or even as brother Jaikaara has beautifully said: "If we can do Naam Simran abhyas ..we would achieve that level when everyting will be Gurparsaad..."

So in the end we could well say, it is all about, the attitude based on faith and devotion we adopt, to face all situations.

Sat Sree Akal.

Hmm... well explained. But I have some doubts.

"Tera bhana meetha laage" is definitely correct. But is not this also true that His "bhana" cannot be to trouble his children?

Now again,Panchmesh Pita Jee says,

"Karan Kaaran Prabh(u) ek hai, doosar naahi koe"

So He is the doer of everything, be it good or bad. But He is loving, He does not cause bad to His children.

The bad that occurs to us is because of our purab karam (past deeds) ie., the paaps of our past karams.

But isn't He that loving and great that he can erase your paaps? isn't His baani that great?

Indeed Guru Jee has given us this very gift of Baani that can erase our paaps and carry us across.

Guru Maharaj says,

"Gur poore ditta banna, dukh rog ka dera bhanna"

Accepting His Will is a different thing and not calling to Him for help, when you are in great pain is different.

Are we that great that we can do bhagti and progress in our spiritual path whilst being in great pain and apathy?? I dont think so.

And of course, you sought His help in pain so that you can contemplate on Him freely.

Such a beautiful line comes in our Aarti Sahib,

"Bhookhe bhagat na deeje le malaa apnee leeje"

Bhagat Jee says that he cannot do bhagti when his stomach is empty, and it is the Lord who should provide him nourishment so that he may contemplate upon Him.

You say that you should have devotion and face all situations.It is true, but what is the use of the devotion when you cannot even call upon Him for help, to pull you out of a situation, which you can no longer face , which is interfering even with your bhagti process.

Actually when in pain, you call out to Him with a true heart, he not only gets you out of it, but makes you His own.

Panchmesh Pita Jee says, " Baah pakad prabh(u) kaadheya, keena apaneya" (The Lord has pulled me out holding me by the arm and has made me His own)

Of course, some situations you can handle, you can be patient, but when something becomes intolerable, pathetic and kills you now and then, then you should cry to Him for help, because no one else can help.

Have also been thinking about this recently and came to the following understanding.

1) Some conditions are caused due to problems in the mind i.e. "Maansic rougue". When one spends a significant time of directing the mind on another task like paath or simran then the mind is not given the opportunity to dwell on issues as much and slowly the underlying problems in the body begin to heal.

2) The mind is a very powerful instrument and we probably don't use it to its full potential. I was reading about developing ones sankalp shakti/will power. When the mind becomes purified and reaches that state near god-hood then this ability begins to develop.

3) Prayers done in the deepest states of meditation can bare fruit. I was once listening to a Yog Nidra CD and when you had reached the end state, one was told that they could cite a prayer at that moment for something they desired.

4) Last but not least is nadar/grace, where if Waheguru wills it then anything is possible.

5) Then one could also say what is written you will get, nothing more nothing less. But in the house of Guru Nanak even those things can be changed.

Surely true. Guru ji can definitely change destinies.. ;-).

Hello,

Is this topic still open?

I know it has been seven years

I dont know why but I always have been interested to astral travel since I've heard about it. I keep on having sleep paralysis now and then, but nothing beyond that.

I have heard that sleep paralysis an lead to an OBE.
Are there any steps to be followed for an obe? I have read some online but they seem to be confusing. Also, as we are discussing astral travel here, I was wondering if there is any correlation between the spiritual path( taught by Gurmat) and astral travel?

Hello everyone,

I know that the main purpose of Nam simran is merger with God. However, if one does Nam simran to come out of some problem or for some other selfish reason etc, is that appreciated?