sukrit kaur

I would seriously suggest you do some hardcore silent jap and try feel the moons energy like the waves of the sea do. You can absorb lots of good energies from the natural sources around you.
When proximity and distances are good such that visual clarity can be observed, then the intensity of good/truthful energies can increase in magnitude.

Blood moon will be visible in Canada on Sep. 27, 2015. Any references to it, in any scripture?
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/how-to-watch-sept-27-total-lunar-eclipse-from-anywhere-in-the-world/57500/
Bhul chuk maaf
 
 

Many many congratulations to you satkirin penji for amrit and your wedding!!
Dhan Guru Sahib who bestowed his divine blessings upon you and accepted you as his child.May you have a great spiritual journey ahead and your spouse prove as your spiritual partner too!!
Congrats!!

We didn't have cake actually....
Reception was at Nageen Club right on the lake in Srinagar (Nageen Lake is attached to Dal Lake) and we had 9 varieties of veg dishes including a few local ones from kashmir like Nadru Yakhni (lotus stems) and Brinjol (they are small eggplants) and also about 6 non veg dishes for the meat eaters present on a separate table.  Also a salad table, and a staion set up for jalabies (not sure if I spelled it right) and icecream.  And dessert was actually pineapple pastry.  Also kashmiri khava (hot drink made with saffron and crushed almond).  There were over 250 people present and we had fireworks :) My hubby planned all this since I was in Canada... and he made it a memorable night! 
At the Anand Karaj, we only had about 50 people present as he didn't want it to be too much stress / pressure especially on me.  
Here is a pic... we didn't exactly match... But I wanted blue. I normally don't wear much jewelry but the necklace was from his Mother (I have never had so much real gold on me at one time, I was nervous wearing it as it's 22k solid gold. I guess it's a normal tradition for MIL to give the DIL bridal set gold jewelry - but new to me as I was not expecting it! She gave me also 4 gold bangles and the ring which covers half my finger that match the necklace but no earrings because they know I don't wear them and they are all amritdhari and piercing prohibited).  But I normally would not wear such a large necklace... now I will take it out only on very special occasions. 
By the way it's almost impossible to do anand karaj where we did :) Since it's a historical gurdwara there.. but he has connections!
 

This is not intended to spark another debate that we will only disagree on forever anyway... 
1. I got married... to the best Singh on the planet, who fully supports equality of everyone.  
2. I took Amrit. 
3. Though Panj Pyaras were five males that day, the Gurdwara where I took it, has had a woman do this seva before.  Further to this, the five addressed the women who took Amrit that day.  They said there is absolutely NO limitations placed on women in Sikhi.  They directly stated "Women who attain this level can just as easily be in the same place we are"  Even better, they then made a direct challenge to the women present with this statement "We want to see at least some of you Singhnis who are here today, be in the same place we are and do seva as Panj Pyaras someday!"  As if my day was not already awesome, THAT WAS ICING ON THE CAKE THAT MADE IT SPECTACULAR!
4. They also clarified some things:  You do NOT have to be vegetarian. It's your choice if you are (I am) but if you choose to eat meat, it can not be killed the Muslim way.  They also stated that piercings are not allowed because of the association to slavery in the past, however all other jewelry is perfectly fine. Makeup is also not prohibited.  Understanding this, I still don't wear makeup vast majority of the time anyway as I think it looks fake... except once in awhile if I have a blemish I will cover it up with some makeup.    
5.  During our Anand Karaj, we did a few things that challenged the status quo... I only had one friend and her husband present as my family could not make it.  My friend (a female) handed the palla.. A few Singhs went to object and tried to get her husband to do it, but my husband stopped them and said he wanted my friend to do it.  So thats how it happend! This was my husbands idea btw.  Though I did follow in the lavans... I would not have known enough to guage anyway when to stop as there is no screen there with translations.  For me the lavans themselves are not one leading and one following... they are both moving as one unit around Guru Ji.  It's a circle... and a circle anyway has no beginning or end, so there is no front or back.  if he moved further around who would he find in front of him?? And besides, I had more control over his movements, than he did of mine, since I controlled the slack in the palla and could make him move slower or faster based on how much slack I let get in it.  So when Singhs spout that lavans having the male in front is to denote the male's authority that she is supposed to be subject to... I laugh.  I had control over his movements, he didn't have control over mine lol.  To me it's more like a horse and chariot rider... where the male is the horse, pulling the chariot rider to the destination, but the chariot rider is the one who was in control LOL.  (I know some of you will be upset at my analogy, and try to turn it back into male 'leading' female 'following' in order to prove some point of husbands having authority or higher status over their wives but I really don't care.) 
6. My husband suggested I should stop coming here... as certain mindsets will never change and it's so not worth it to stress over opinions of others.  
 
 
 
 
 

Was just browsing through some Angs of Guru ji when I came to the following shabad. It didn't strike me the first time I read it but this time I see so much gyan revealed in it. The formula is clearly laid out... The sad thing will be if I still don't follow it.
Ang 114, Shabad by Sri Guru Amar Das Ji
Serving the True Guru is the greatest greatness.
satgur sayvi-ai vadee vadi-aa-ee.
The Dear Lord automatically comes to dwell in the mind.
har jee achint vasai man aa-ee.
   
The Dear Lord is the fruit-bearing tree; drinking in the Ambrosial Nectar, thirst is quenched.
har jee-o safli-o birakh hai amrit jin peetaa tis tikhaa lahaavani-aa.
   
I am a sacrifice, my soul is a sacrifice, to the one who leads me to join the True Congregation.
ha-o vaaree jee-o vaaree sach sangat mayl milaavani-aa.
   
The Lord Himself unites me with the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation. Through the Word of the Guru`s Shabad, I sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. Pause
har satsangat aapay maylai gur sabdee har gun gaavani-aa. rahaa-o.
 
I serve the True Guru; the Word of His Shabad is beautiful.
satgur sayvee sabad suhaa-i-aa.
   
Through it, the Name of the Lord comes to dwell within the mind.
jin har kaa naam man vasaa-i-aa.
   
The Pure Lord removes the filth of egotism, and we are honored in the True Court.
har nirmal ha-umai mail gavaa-ay dar sachai sobhaa paavni-aa.
   
Without the Guru, the Naam cannot be obtained.
bin gur naam na paa-i-aa jaa-ay.
   
The Siddhas and the seekers lack it; they weep and wail.
siDh saaDhik rahay billaa-ay.
   
Without serving the True Guru, peace is not obtained; through perfect destiny, the Guru is found.
bin gur sayvay sukh na hovee poorai bhaag gur paavni-aa.
 
This mind is a mirror; how rare are those who, as Gurmukh, see themselves in it.
ih man aarsee, ko-ee gurmukh vaykhai.
 
Rust does not stick to those who burn their ego.
morchaa na laagai jaa ha-umai sokhai.
   
The Unstruck Melody of the Bani resounds through the Pure Word of the Shabad; through the Word of the Guru`s Shabad, we are absorbed into the True One.
anhat banee nirmal sabad vajaa-ay gur sabdee sach samaavani-aa.
   
Without the True Guru, the Lord cannot be seen.
bin satgur kihu na daykhi-aa jaa-ay.
   
Granting His Grace, He Himself has allowed me to see Him.
gur kirpaa kar aap ditaa dikhaa-ay.
   
All by Himself, He Himself is permeating and pervading; He is intuitively absorbed in celestial peace.
aapay aap aap mil rahi-aa sehjay sahj samaavani-aa.
   
One who becomes Gurmukh embraces love for the One.
gurmukh hovai so ikas si-o liv laa-ay.
   
Doubt and duality are burned away by the Word of the Guru`s Shabad.
doojaa bharam gur sabad jalaa-ay.
   
Within his body, he deals and trades, and obtains the Treasure of the True Name.
kaa-i-aa andar vanaj karay vaapaaraa naam niDhaan sach paavni-aa.
   
The life-style of the Gurmukh is sublime; he sings the Praises of the Lord.
gurmukh karnee har keerat saar.
   
The Gurmukh finds the gate of salvation.
gurmukh paa-ay mokh du-aar.
   
Night and day, he is imbued with the Lord`s Love. He sings the Lord`s Glorious Praises, and he is called to the Mansion of His Presence.
an-din rang rataa gun gaavai andar mahal bulaavani-aa.  
   
The True Guru, the Giver, is met when the Lord leads us to meet Him.
satgur daataa milai milaa-i-aa.
   
Through perfect destiny, the Shabad is enshrined in the mind.
poorai bhaag man sabad vasaa-i-aa.
   
O Nanak, the greatness of the Naam, the Name of the Lord, is obtained by chanting the Glorious Praises of the True Lord.
naanak naam milai vadi-aa-ee har sachay kay gun gaavani-aa.
 
WaheGuru WaheGuru WaheGuru WaheGuru WaheGuru  ....
 

The same concept is reinforced in his book Prabhu Simran.
In Sikhism there is a general talk about the union of God's Name and mind (or consciousness). Universal Guru, Guru Nanak
Dev ji Maharaj has preached to conjoin voice with attention (Dhun and Dhian). Attention is consciousness and voice or sound is shabad (God's Name). Attention or mind or consciousness is to be conjoined with God's Name:-
dhun meh dhiaan dhiaan meh jaaniaa guramukh akath kehaanee.
The meditation is in the music, and knowledge is in meditation. Become Gurmukh, and speak the Unspoken Speech.
To conjoin attention or mind with sound, in reality, means to listen the voice. Listening only is uniting attention. The truth is that without attention, one can not listen also. One person is speaking and the other person is listening. Suddenly the listener says to his companion, "please repeat it I have not heard." But why he has not listened? He replies that his attention went elsewhere. So if the attention is not in· the voice/sound, then one can not
listen:-
matt vich ratan javaahar maanik jae eik gur kee sikh sunee.
Within the mind are gems, jewels and rubies,if you listen to the Guru's Teachings, even once.
One can become sage, spiritual guide, god or yogi by listening and all sins are erased and supreme bliss is acquired.
Naanak bhagataa sadaa vigaas.
o Nanak, the devotees are forever in bliss.
suniai dookh paap kaa naas.
Listening-pain and sin are erased.
During collective meditation by sitting in the congregation song ofHis Glory is to be listened. Even if the meaning of the song (Shabad) is not understood, even then attention is to be engrossed in listening so that the Shabad may enter the inner self through the ears.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji declares like this about individual meditation:-
Tongue may pronounce God's Name and ears should listen.
Morsel of food will enter in the body through the mouth and will become a part of the body after digestion as marrow, meat, blood and physical strength. Food is to be prepared by hands and is to be eaten by the mouth.
GOD's name is to be pronounced by the mouth and it will enter in the mind through the ears. When the Shabad (God's name) enters the inner most consciousness through the ears, then it manifests as a divine virtue and gets converted into spiritual power and it takes the form of ecstasy (~: Vismaad) and become contemplation which is the highest state of meditation. By keeping feeling of faith in the mind, God's name is to be pronounced and sung with the tongue and is to be listened through the ears:-
gaaveeai suneeai man rakheeai bhaao.
Sing, and listen, and let your mind be filled with love.
dukh parehar sukh ghar lai jaae.
Your pain shall be sent far away, and peace shall come to your home.
If we pronounce God's Name with the tongue but do not listen with the ears, then this pronounced name flies away in the air. Then it is like this that the food is prepared by the hands but is not eaten by putting in the mouth. Food is not taken inside, but is kept in the hands only. In this way a person is not satiated and the physical strength will diminish. If the tongue says Waheguru, Waheguru, but the ears do not listen, then Waheguru mantar will not become a part of the soul and the spiritual power will not be attained. The pronounced name of God (Gur Mantar) has to be listened by the ears. It is easy to pronounce, but it is difficult to listen the pronounced Word. It is our job to prepare and eat food, it is our responsibility. But it is not within our power that the food eaten by us may become blood and physical strength. It is beyond our responsibility. As the Nature's principle converts food into blood, in the similar way, the meditation done by us gets converted into supreme bliss.

I use to read hukamnaama from darbar sahib on daily basis. If it's acceptable then I can post here,otherwise one can read from official sgpc website too.We can discuss these very maharaj's gurbani tuks here too.
It would be a very learning task for everyone to discuss the daily hukamnaama and to give our own experiential views.
Gur fateh!!
P.s : I'm really enjoying this daily hukamnaama discussion with my own mind.It's like straight talk to guru maharaj himself.It's something unspoken.Every day there is new feeling of contentment.All questions are answered.Each day the bond of love with maharaj gets stronger.No more need to talk with others.Real contentment!
Dhan Guru Ramdass Maharaj!!
 

Kabir used Shabad Surat on God's Name
Ang 656
Says Kabeer, no one belongs to you.
kahat kabeer ko-ee nahee tayraa.
Why not chant the Lord`s Name in your heart, when you are still young?
hirdai raam kee na jaapeh savayraa.
   
O Saints, my windy mind has now become peaceful and still.
santahu man pavnai sukh bani-aa.
   
It seems that I have learned something of the science of Yoga. ||Pause||
kichh jog paraapat gani-aa. rahaa-o.
The Guru has shown me the hole,
gur dikhlaa-ee moree.
   
through which the deer carefully enters.
jit mirag parhat hai choree.
   
I have now closed off the doors,
moond lee-ay darvaajay.
   
and the unstruck celestial sound current resounds.
baajee-alay anhad baajay.

Bye guess who is in both pics???

Dhan Dhan Dhan Baba Ishar singh Ji!!! 

Bro, did you find any historical evidence? Any sakhi? 
Eating fish is clearly prohibited in Gurbani and it seems difficult to kill them, using Chatka maryada.
Bhul chuk maaf

But bro, Chatka's aim is to kill the animal as quickly as possible, in order to minimize the pain.
Killing all other animals swiftly, in order to reduce the pain, but no such mercy for fish - doesn't it seem odd - a non-Sikh might easily question this practice.
What is the source of your Nihang friend? There was even a Nihang Mahapurakh, who did not allow Singhs to eat fish, but he allowed Chatka of goats.
 
According to Nihang maryada (correct me, if wrong), one cannot even eat Chatka meat from shops, in addition to Halal meat. They can only eat Chatka meat, which is prepared according to maryada (washing the animal, reading Gurbanis, etc).
Bhul chuk maaf

Nihangs are much cooler than rest of panth. They don't take this life seriously take it as drama as gurbani states. 
Relax be a nihang with green leafs should be new t-shirt design. Hehe 

I'm totally serious lol

Since it's always been a matter of discussion about Amrit  on this forum,so I thought to share it with everyone.
Really a very amazing reading by bhai Randhir singh ji.The Real meaning of Amrit is very well explained there.Will certainly give you a satisfactory explanation.
One can read the entire book on : Meaning of Amrit-Bhai Randhir Singh on Scribd. Check it out: https://www.scribd.com/doc/124807897
I have taken screenshots from selected pages.Hope it rejoices your souls!! 
 

When we choose a religion from a culture which is way different from our understanding there will always arise such conflicts..the fact is women are not the same as they were then..they are independent . Besides our differences i feel you are a strong woman..and i understand your thinking .
There are different layers of Sikhi ...The Nanak Panth is a different layer ..no where in the Guru Granth Sahib you will find insistence on rehat maryada..people will give tuks to prove ..but otherwise what i feel is ..it is the Sant marg..full of Bhagti for the One Divine Hari Parmatma..full of Sehaj ..
The Khalsa of Guru Gobindsingh ji is the militarised form and has certain regulations ..people may have their thoughts about Amirt sanskaar as a uniform ceremony however i strongly feel that there would be a different process of amrit sanskaar for women and a different rehat..also women were not empowered then and had a limited role in the ceremony there is belief of them to be not playing any role .
Your feminist approach will not let you stick to any belief where you will not find the role of women, which is not a point to argue since it is all about a mindset. Good or bad is not something for me to judge because at the same time i don't have any issues with it .
Before you go forward to a major decision in your life ..it is for you to think that this is just one thing which is known to you now ..going forward at every stage you will face such challenges wherein you will find yourself  thinking differently from the society and your spouse which you will be part of .
You need to think and introspect about your decision since it is all about your life.
I personally am brought up in a cosmopolitan way and society, i don't get along with one single group in majority i prefer to have everyone around .  I can very well understand how you must be feeling . 
You might have ignored my replies to your posts in the past ..however i am saying all this to you as a fellow human being ..we aren't friends or relatives ..whatever i have experienced and known i feel you need to introspect really well and then arrive at a decision . It is about 2 people's lives and i feel everyone should be happy.
 
 
 

Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Ji covers everything that has to do with Nam in his book.
What is Nam?
Who gives Nam?
How to pratice Nam?
Misconceptions about Nam?
and many more questions that are answered
 
You can download it from this link
http://khalsaspirit.com/files/Naam_Tay_Naam_Daa_Daata_Satguru.pdf
 
 
Someone on this forum had uploaded it?
http://gurmatbibek.com/forum/read.php?3,33568

I'm not sure what kinda noises you're talking about.But yes it has to do something with spiritual progress.Like when one does lot of saas graas simran then it starts happening of its own so then it makes sounds in abdominal region.
My dad's grandfather was a very  spiritual person.He used to do lot of simran and saas graas.Then in later years of his life,whenever  he was  on bed and was almost asleep,then sounds like guru-guru (very loud)were audible from his navel region.
So they used to denote it as Nabhi chalna in punjabi.
So I think yes it denotes high spiritual awastha,when simran has been done through ROm Rom and Now it's been a part of your soul.
Really a high awastha I think!
 
 

Fifth patshayaee's furman:
Raam naam jo jan japey andin sadd jaagey||
That humble one who chants the lord's name,remains always awake and aware,night and day.

Tant mant neh johaee tit chaakh Naa laagey ||
He is not affected by charms and spells,nor is he harmed by the evil eye.

We are made up of five elements, but jamdoots are made of two elements fire and air, thats why they can travel anywhere, also we can say they are normal blokes, who sometimes make mistakes with same name person and take other person soul with them. But it is rare of rare. I heard that when jamdoots take soul from the body, unimaginable pain is experienced. Some Mahapursh were saying that if we know this pain while alive, we will never forget god for a instant because this pain is so much excruciating. 
Upside is mentioned in this Gurbani's shabad. Dharam Raja warns his jamdoots to not go near gurmukhs(any religion); 

Jeh Saadhu Gobind Bhajan Kirtan Nanak Neet|| 
Naa hau, naa tu neh chhutay, nikat na jaaeeo doot|| 

(O Jamdooths, where Saadhoos of Gobind, do bhajan and kirtan everyday, never go there; if you go there, then neither you, nor I will be saved from punishment). 
 

More instances:
-  Ninth master and the haveli in Delhi
-  Tenth master and a Sikh woman (who ate something, which affected her)
-  Srimaan 108 Sant Baba Mahaharnaam Singh jee Maharaaj Bhuchonwale (Guru of Baba Nand Singh jee) and a peer (mystic), who used to convert people using his powers.
-  Srimaan 108 Sant Baba Mahaharnaam Singh jee Maharaaj Bhuchonwale saving a Sikh from a curse of a peer (mystic)
-  Srimaan Sant Baba Nand SIngh jee Maharaaj Kaleranwale and a demonic wolf
-  Srimaan Sant Baba Harnaam Singh jee Rampurkheraywale and a Tantrik, who sent some evil forces to trouble Babajee.
-  A Gursikh vs a Tantrik (who tried to trouble the Singh)
-  Bhai Randhir Singh jee and a Ghost (please see below)
Bhul chuk maaf

This story happened in Fatehgarh Sahib between Baba Joginder Singh Ji & a muslim tantric.  He sent some fakirs to bother Baba Ji. Baba Ji saw those things at night, but those entities could not do anything. Baba Ji said what are you doing here ? Entities replied that they were sent by a muslim tantric. Baba ji was a great abhyasi of Dasam di Bani, as he was a nihang singh. Baba ji said run away or i will use power of chandi and show you stars. Those things ran away. Next day Baba Ji went to that muslim tantric and warned him that he will die a painful death for all the bad stuff he has done to people. This tantric would send negative entities into peoples house to cause deaths & create quarrels, for money. This guy then had an accident, was bed ridden for 2 years, developed sores in his back, which got infected and died a very painful death for his wrong doings to people. 
Source:  narrated by Giani Thakur Singh in Suraj Parkash Katha when Guru Nanak Ji met with Noorshah, the evil sorceress in Dhaka.
Lessons:
1) never engage in jantar mantar tantar, people die a painful death & are destroyed for eternity due to their complicated karma with such entities
2) Dasam di Bani, Chandi Di Var has great power. But only Mahapurush recite it.  Dasam di bani is for rehatvan gursikh, not any joe bloe like me. lol