Jageera

On 9/2/2018 at 12:05 AM, Ragmaala said:

One must do dhayana of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's charan to increase their focus & concentration.

 

Charan means face?

On 10/19/2018 at 4:39 PM, chatanga1 said:

This will work if you visit India only. I go to singh brothers and csjs when i go to india. Whenever I see a book that i want I look for it on amazon india as they do cash on delivery for most books. I get them sent to my aunt and then will collect them from her whenever i go. Books are a lot cheaper in india. If cost isn't an issue, then amazon usa/uk will also do international deliveries. Otherwise I have found some good books on ebay as well.

Ok thanks.

23 minutes ago, dalsingh101 said:

But once you read that, read Bhangu's work on the 10th Guru and notice the stark difference. 

Ok,will do.

3 hours ago, dalsingh101 said:

What you've (probably inadvertently) hit upon is something I believe is so currently important to our panth (especially the English reading section). 

My own journey has been one where I came up in 'Sikhism' (mainly through relying on English works for my knowledge), only to later discover that much of what I had learnt was skewed due to political processes. 'Sikhism', to me, represents a sort of political animal that was developed by the Brits during colonization, to essentially make the Sikhs more docile, casteist and accept being disarmed and loyal to them and their cause (global imperialism). It's a sort of weird mix of Sikh external form with a subtly embedded protestant Christian, and Victorian era prudery hidden within. 

So one of things you will have to learn over time is to have a discerning eye about what you read and be able to critique it's strengths and weaknesses. Macauliffe wrote this book as an apology for an earlier very negative work by a German called Ernest Trumpf. Macauliffe even explicitly mentions that at that time, the 'version' of 'Amrit' that the colonising Brits were giving to Sikh recruits in the army included a vow of loyalty to the king/queen of england. If that's not a corruption than I don't know what is. 

I'd suggest this for your development. Read the volume by Maucallief that refers to Guru Gobind Singh. Then read the sections of Bhangu's Panth Prakash about Guru ji. Then I'd suggest reading Bal and Grewal's biography on dasmesh pita and then reflect on the differences between. To me it looks like: 

Macauliffe represents a modern compromised Christianised interpretation. 

Bhangu represents a precolonial SIkh perspective. 

Bal and Grewal give an account of Guru ji's life using a modern historiography approach.  You can get this last book here: https://www.scribd.com/doc/156868315/Guru-Gobind-Singh-a-Biographical-Study-J-S-Grewal-S-S-Bal

Agree 100%. Was just reading Macauliffe vol5.Detected pro-English propaganda on page 107-108.But overall the stories are very interesting.

3 hours ago, dalsingh101 said:

Macauliffe even explicitly mentions that at that time, the 'version' of 'Amrit' that the colonising Brits were giving to Sikh recruits in the army included a vow of loyalty to the king/queen of england. If that's not a corruption than I don't know what is. here: https://www.scribd.com/doc/156868315/Guru-Gobind-Singh-a-Biographical-Study-J-S-Grewal-S-S-Bal

This is messed up.Even in my Benti Chaupee small gutka,theres a page with 'The Fundamentals of Sikh Commandments'.In the 'Beliefs' section there is:

1)The belief in One God, 2)The belief in the Guru, 3)The belief in the Guru Granth Sahib, 4)The belief in freedom, 5)The belief in democracy.

Hmmmm,belief in freedom and democracy are Sikh fundamentals?When did we become Muricans?Maybe freedom and democracy dropped from the sky with B52 bombers?

7 hours ago, chatanga1 said:

If like me you prefer to read from real books, 

Yup.Can't read for long anything on a screen.

" then look to purchase from India/ online"- What India bookstore website have you used that you can recommend?

39 minutes ago, chatanga1 said:

@Jageera  if you want to beleive that Guru Nanak spent 3 days hiding in the Bein Rivere contemplating his next course of action, or that Guru Gobind Singh Ji never took khande ki pahul then read dilgeers book. Anybody who has faith in Guru Sahib's would never waste their time or money on dilgeers books.

Ok thanks.Anyways I cant read punjabi yet so it is out of the question.Any alternative suggestion you can make on books in english?

34 minutes ago, angy15 said:

Yes you can read it but with cautions (its not 100 percent accurate)  that is the oldest available History Book.The other is Sikh History Ten Volumes By Historian Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer .Its the most authenticated work compare to others done till date.It starts from  history before Guru Nanak and  till I think 2008.

 

Thanks for the info.

35 minutes ago, angy15 said:

 

English translation is not avaible online but His work in punjabi is available online .

Owh ok.

2 hours ago, Singh123456777 said:

Sanchain are volumes of guru granth sahib ji and steeks give meanings and arths of gurbani.

Ah ok.So Sanchian would be full Gurmukhi.So I should focus on getting Steeks.Thanks.

Thanks all for your tips and contribution.I have 1 question.What is your opinion on this book 'The Sikh Religion' by Macauliffe?I managed to find volume 5 in my house.Interesting read.Just started on Guru Gobind Singh Ji's life.Is this book historically accurate?

Also,what is the difference between SGGS 'Sanchian' and 'Steek'?Thanks.

I read that article of his part 5.He claims the British were supplying opium and whores to the Jathedar of Patna Sahib.

3 hours ago, dalsingh101 said:

This is raw pre-British influence Sikh itihaas. Be ready to read stuff that might shock you if you've been heavily influenced by Singh Sabha style 'Sikhism'. 

Ok thanks for the heads up.It's a huge volume.Will go through it slowly.I'm also looking for material on the life of the Gurus.Used to have this old book written by some westerner on Guru Gobind Singh ji.Don't know where it disappeared.

Was this done using 23andMe?

Nevermind paapiman.I found both volumes till episode 169 at sikhinstitute.org.Thanks

Thanks again paapiman,chatanga1,Dalsingh101.

paapiman Sri Gur Panth Prakash by Gyani Rattan Singh jee you bought the books or downloaded online?Is this the one with 81 episodes?I found an english downloadable version online for Volume 1.

Thank you for the reply Dalsingh101.Appreciate your time and effort to type that.I am still reading your learn Gurmukhi thread,bookmarked it,going through slowly.

4 hours ago, Soulfinder said:

Thats very good veer ji. Where are you based in country wise ?

As i was in the same boat as you when i was gonna learn my nitnem banis. 

  

I just used roman english texts on a english gutka or sundar gutka app is really good as well.

 

I would use paathis like bhai jarnail singh or gyani thakur singh paath audios and would copy the sounds they made against my sounds when i was learning the banis. 

 

 Its a long nice process when i started it a few years ago and really enjoyed it.

  

 I still don't know how to read and write in punjabi but thats something i will try to learn soon or later as that would help as many dasam banis are printed wrong as i have noticed so many mistakes in the transalated versions and punjabi scripts as well.

Thanks.

35 minutes ago, chatanga1 said:

I would start by listening to katha if your Panjabi is up to it. Couple this with learning to read. How old are you?

30s. Katha means explanation of bani? I saw some on Basic of Sikhi channel. Thanks.

8 minutes ago, dalsingh101 said:

Are you being sarcastic? 

Yes sir

2 hours ago, samurai2 said:

you've got moneh doing the ground work, where are the Singhs?

Most probably busy keeping sucham,sarbloh bibek,101Japji sahibs,Akhand paaths,leveling up their Bir Ras by whole night Chandi di Var recitations trying to increase their super saiyan levels,arguing where MoolMantar ends,arguing the authorship of Dasam Granth,preventing missionaries from speaking in Gurudwaras,beating them up if necessary,arguing with then on the validity of dera sants and their significance to the panth,arguing the relevance of Sri Chand to Sikhi and the list goes on and on.

You should understand the holy mission of our highly enlightened Singhs although mere mortals like myself would need to take at least 10births to reach their levels of gyan.We plebs should just work hard,earn money and donate to them as much as we can to guarantee a better rebirth in our next life.We can't expect these holy spirits on a world changing mission to give a hoot about us plebs and our daily problems.

I can hold a conversation in punjabi,but simple punjabi...village ish punjabi...nothing sophisticated.

3 hours ago, paapiman said:

Can you understand Punjabi?

 

Bhul chuk maaf

Language? Yes. But can't read or write.

Thank you. This way,how long did it take you to be fluent in Gurmukhi?

WJKK WJKF

I grew up in a Punjabi Sikh family that practiced very basic Sikhi.Just the usual sunday Gurudwara and attending functions.I am keshdhari.

I just know Waheguru,Mool Mantar and Kabyo Bach Benti Chaupai.This is all the prayers I've ever done.

I would like advice from members and seniors here on where to begin.I have a deep urge to learn my own religion but I don't know where to start.

Been binge watching Basic of Sikhi videos absorbing as much as I can.As I understand it's best to start with learning Gurmukhi.

Thanks.

21 hours ago, amardeep said:

3) the UK Sikh community (which includes you!) for failing to safeguard their own members. 

I have no dog in this argument between you two but I disagree with you victim blaming.The community in the UK are not brahmgyianis that they can foresee something happening to their daughters.Everyone is busy making a living.They depend on the law to safeguard their children.I don't understand this mindset.How to safeguard their own female members?Lock them up in their house?They have laws in the UK.The victims were law abiders living their teenage life.It was the groomers that broke the law so the entire blame is on them.Maybe the girls got into vulnerable situations by their own doing but the law still applies here and the groomers chose to break it and take advantage of the victims.Whatever safeguards one takes,as long as there are criminal minded people out there,crime will still happen.And the entire blame is on the perpretators.This was not a one off criminal incident.It was planned and orchestrated with a specific goal in mind.

The late Bhai Jagraj from Basic of Sikhi said in his emotional video that Sikh girls were targeted because the groomers knew the girls would be too ashamed to tell their parents.

On 9/23/2018 at 5:19 PM, paapiman said:

From a perspective, Sikhism is a highly organized religion with strict codes of conduct governing the daily activities of its adherents.

It is a strict monotheist religion, but the concept of monotheism is different from that in Islam or Judaism.

Satguru Sri Guru Nanak Dev jee Maharaaj (currently in the form of Gurbani) is the incarnation of the Almighty God and is supposed to be worshiped.

 

Bhul chuk maaf

Yes Sikhism is a religion.Those not born into it should convert into Sikhi before claiming to be Sikhs. After 84 and all the attempts to absorb Sikhi it's crucial that we have our own institutions and system to separate us from other faiths.

I disagree that Guru Nanak was Waheguru himself.Waheguru doesn't take birth and never dies.What that takes birth and dies is never the almighty himself.I doubt the almighty is able to take a human form.The energy is too big for that.A human body wouldn't be able to sustain that energy. Guru Nanak must have been a part of Waheguru sent by Waheguru himself to start a third path in Punjab that would spread worldwide.I think rather than empty worship a Sikh should realize and experience Waheguru.