Samarbir Singh

Happy vaishakhi 

WJKK WJKF
Thanks for answering my question on Taking of my kara. I found a solution so we should end this topic before it gets icky, even though I respectifully don't agree with some of the stuff Tarunjot veerji said.
 
Bhul Chuck Maaf

Sarabloh Rehat is mentioned in a Puratan Rehatnama,
Please have a look at the link below:
Why do some Sikhs insist on cooking and eat of Sarbloh (iron) utensils? | Sikh Answers
 
Bhul chuk maaf

WJKK WJKF
I didn't know the exact spelling but when I searched up online "sanskaar" came up. But now that you brought it up I think its "saskaar" my family pronounces it this way. Sorry sangat ji if any mistakes were made.
 
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Yea I do sanskaar of the kesh.
 

We use to do it before, then stopped as it became a hassle. But ur right what u said in ur post. Must be sanskaar.

Usually if I find kesh on the ground somewhere I pick them up and put it in the bucket. After keshi ishnaan I pick up the kesh left in the bathtub. Thats just what I do.

WJKK WJKF
So I’ve read in Bhai Nand Lal Ji’s rehit maryada and it said that if you don’t take cold shower and eat before nitnem it is bad (something along those lines). But see I take 2 showers in day, the first one is Amrit Vela and I switched from taking hot showers to cold showers in Amrit Vela (it’s been a few days). But in the afternoon I also take another shower because I usually have been playing sports and just have been doing things throughout the day. I’ve also been taking cold showers in the afternoon (recently), but I feel like in the afternoon I should take a hot shower to clean the dirt and oil in my pores, and then do a blast cold water for a few minutes. Does this work with the rehit maryada or no?
 
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wjkk wjkf
"Sat Sri Akaal" is a war/battle cry. It is a bit surprising that a war cry, became a common greeting among Sikhs. In the past, Sikhs (non-Amritdharis) probably said Sat Kartaar, when they met each other.
You should try to greet all Sikhs, by uttering the Fateh.
 
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WJKK WJKF
Gurmuko I had a question, since I play sports like basketball. I used to take off my sarb loh kara when playing, so it doesn't hurt anyone. But I didn't like taking off my kara, so I started wearing a smaller steel kara with indent lines. But when I read the Damdami Taksaal rehat maryada it said you can only wear sarab loh kara with no indent lines, so I started wearing it again. Although it stated that the only the kirpan and kachera must never be separated from the body, I don't like taking my kara off. So is it allowed to take off my kara while playing sports? Btw I am not amritdari but am hopefully going to get blessed with amrit this year, this is why I am trying to build my rehat as much as possible with Guru sahib's kirpa.
 
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WJKK WJKF
yes they have pockets, but they dont have zippers so it could fall out but i will look for a solution. Thanks for the suggestions.
 
Bhul Chuk Maaf

I think getting to this point is a milestone. I used to 'fight' the munh to silence it for a long while when doing simran. When you realise this is futile, and carry on - you've actually achieved something. 

Good to hear brother!
Don't worry about trying to 'silence' the mind. Just let the thoughts waft away without getting behind them. 

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

June the 2nd was my 200th day of quitting alcohol and cigarettes.Still carrying on.Think about it daily but I refuse to succumb to temptation.
I find it tough as I'm having high stress levels this past month.Having flashes of memory of me drinking.Suddenly getting taste of beer or whisky in my mouth.Sometimes I get the taste and smell of cigarettes.It comes and goes. Mind is playing tricks on me.I believe that my determination not to go back being a drunk and smoker is keeping me away from these intoxicants.Taking it step by step,day by day.
Prayer wise,lots of noise in my head while doing paath.Before my mind was less noisy but now its gone real bad.Whole while I'm reading Japji Sahib my mind is active with thoughts and comments etc.Sometimes the thoughts are negative and filled with anger.Don't know why. I've given up trying to silence my mind.
Will update again in another 100 days.

Wahguru ji ki fateh
I couldn't help but feel your situation because I know what it's like. I can only tell you what I know from the way I've handled things. Although its a stage of my life that I'm extremely ashamed of, I'm aware of the darkness and difficulties. 
I remember how I'd regret most mornings and promise to not do it again. Sadly, just past afternoon, when i'd be more or less fully sober, I'd fall into a sudden slump of depression. Worried about how I would make it through to the night, I'd be craving and planning my evening liquor session. The anxiety, frustration, and just the plain fear of being sober. Sometimes, it was as if I felt naked without any drink and needed it to cover myself up and be presentable.  My mind would be working full speed to convince me that tonight it would be okay just this once to get rat-assed again.  I went up and down like a yo-yo many times.  Problem was that I was looking to fill this hole that everyone looks for. As manukhs, we tend to fill the hole with 5 vices. When I went to AA meetings and was working on step plans, I found myself spending more time at casinos. Although I wasn't drinking, I was frequenting other naughty places as well as squandering thousands in casinos.  Now, after 20 years, I realize that the "hole" I was looking for was "naam" and because I never found any naam, I just went from drinking on to other vices.  There's people out there addicted to gossip, addicted to tv, addicted to kaam, addicted to violence, addicted to moh of possessions, addicted to moh of relations, lobh of money, lobh of more square feet to own..and so on.  Either way, theire lives get consumed by panj doots unless they become Guru ka sikh and start practicing as guru ka sikh.
What did I do?
- Eventually, I plucked up the courage to start  10,000 mool mantar over 10 days. 1000 /day. This was advised by local gyani and I just took his word for it. He said do it 10 days, no khaana peena, just simple daal roti. Wake at 4am, bathe shower whilst doing Waheguru jap, then sit down cross-legged and do 1000 malas preferably with an extra mala of 108 at the end.  Then wait a few days and start again on Sunday. So it went from Sunday to  Sunday (8 days inclusive) plus Monday and Tuesday week after (10 days), then a break on wed, thu, fri and Saturday to start again on Sunday.  Gyanee told me to go back after a month and see him. When I went back the first time,  the first thing he enquired was whether I had fallen off the wagon and hit the bottle after first 10 days.   But I hadn't, the vegetarian rehat and maintaining of purity on the outside did somehow cleanse my dirty mann from the inside. After 2 months, I changed my life around and started to focus on nitnem and doing simran with techniques my dad had taught me. I've never consumed any liquor since or even had any urges. After all, it was the urges that were eating me in those days.
I strongly suggest you follow official advice as mentioned by soulfinder veer. I honestly believe the 5 vice salok will be beneficial. I explained before how I found myself switching from one vice to another after I started AA. I truly believe that it's our human nature and the 5 dhoots power to fool us this way.Doing the salok in addition is a vey good idea.   In the end, it's not just about getting off the liquor, it's about a whole new transformation into a newer you.  I remember that during  the second mool mantar japs I found myself with lots of physical energy and started powerlifting and pumping weights that I didn't think were possible for me. Doing this will also be beneficial for you if you start with small weights and combo reps.
 
 

If you ask me It's the intention that matters. You are thinking about others and that's good. Don't worry too much.

This Bhai Sahib’s telegram group link please join this don’t miss out very important information he puts on the group and he is starting live sessions akath katha, Simran, q and a.
https://t.me/pmkctohana

First of all, obviously I am not high spiritual level, but I have come a long way in the last couple years, and especially the past couple weeks I have been progressing like a rocket. There have been many mistakes I made, and much I have learned. I want to share this with you all, and I hope this will be helpful. 

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Start making values and rules and don't go back on them. Some easy but very helpful ones are to; not watch tv, movies, shows or listen to songs. Instead listen to katha and kirtan. In my free time, I don't ever watch this, if nothing to do, just sit outside alone, its 100% better, and when you give up these you will move very fast.  Second is to stop speaking harshly at all. Get control over your tongue. When doing Dasam bani, like Bhagouti astotar, etc, it fills you with bir ras, but Guru sahib ji hates it when you use that to speak badly and let it out at someone. Always speak firmly but with respect. I made this mistake, and I had to do shabad hazare (just the first mehl) 3x and do ardass and promise to never misuse my tongue ever again.  Next is don't speak extra or uselessly. Only speak as needed. Why discuss useless topics?  The biggest quality is to accept the truth even if you can't live up to it. Most people when they hear what they should be like or what they should do, they just reject it, to not make themselves feel bad. Even if you can't do it, accept that I am lacking in this. Just this acceptance alone will bring great kirpa, and keep you in the right direction.  Take Amrit. This one is obvious. Wear 5 kakkar, keep rehat, and do nitnem, and Guru sahib will take you under his wing and lead you to Sachkhand. Very good deal, lol.  When you move up fast, people or dark entities somehow something will always try to keep you down. Be aware of that. Bir Ras banis are very helpful in this case.  Always admit mistake when you make it. Don't let hankar (ego) get in the way of apologizing.  This is a big one for me that I leanred recently and it's chaning my whole reality. That is to not waver ever (dolna). Remain firm and steady. Your hand might shake and your leg might shake but the mind should stay strong and unmovable. "Asthar raho dolho matt kabhu gur ke bachan adhar, jai jai kar sagal bhu mandal mukh ujal darbar." NEVER give up your faith in your Guru for even a second. I used to do this all the time this year. For the past couple of weeks, I have been getting tested, and I have remained adhol.  Last thing is to "save your progress". We often don't realize how far we have come, and can get demotivated or side tracked. A handwritten journal is helpful. 

That verse exposes hypocrisy (pakhand) among fake holy men. The crane sits with his eyes closed, in order to catch its prey (fish, etc). The prey is unaware that the crane is about to kill it. Similarly, some imposters pretend to be holy men, but in reality, some of them may be just looking to entrap gullible people for worldly gains (financial, etc.).
Please listen to the katha below for more details.
013 Katha Tvae Prasad Savaeyae Svaeya9 1 Giani Kulwant Singh Ji - YouTube
 
Bhul chuk maaf
 

Samarbir Jee,
to understand in the right perspective the question you are asking in this thread, I believe let us see what else is said in the following 2 verses to the one you have presented above, though since the start to the end, the whole bani should be read and understood, for it contains countless pearls, diamonds and  rubies of highest spiritual value..
Here it goes:
ਕਹਾ ਭਯੋ ਜੋ ਦੋਊ ਲੋਚਨ ਮੂੰਦ ਕੈ ਬੈਠਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਬਕ ਧਿਆਨ ਲਗਾਇਓ ॥
kahaa bhayo jo dhouoo lochan moo(n)dh kai baiTh rahio bak dhiaan lagaio ||
Of what use it is if one sits and meditates like a crane with his eyes closed.
 
ਨ੍ਹਾਤ ਫਿਰਿਓ ਲੀਏ ਸਾਤ ਸਮੁਦ੍ਰਨਿ ਲੋਕ ਗਯੋ ਪਰਲੋਕ ਗਵਾਇਓ ॥
nhaat firio le'ee saat samudhran lok gayo paralok gavaio ||
If he takes bath at holy places upto the seventh sea, he loses this world and also the next world.
 
ਬਾਸ ਕੀਓ ਬਿਖਿਆਨ ਸੋਂ ਬੈਠ ਕੈ ਐਸੇ ਹੀ ਐਸੇ ਸੁ ਬੈਸ ਬਿਤਾਇਓ ॥
baas keeo bikhiaan so(n) baiTh kai aaise hee aaise su bais bitaio ||
He spends his life in such performing evil actions and wastes his life in such pursuits.
 
* In these verses above, Guru Jee is telling us, that when one sits as a crane , pretending to be absorbed in deep meditation (without actually trying to be absorbed in His Name), is like wanting to cheat and impress others, this is useless and being fake.
Or someone takes baths at so called holy places, that also is useless, because the water is  "jarr" = insentient element; which  can at most wash the physical dirt, but not the dirty subtle mind,  and this is the reason why that person as seen in the words of Guru Jee, shamelessly continues doing evil deeds.
 
Guru Jee also informs/warns us against other practices which people proudly do which in the end are futile, for maybe in the eyes of the world this holds some sort of importance, but, in reality  takes us not even  an inch towrds Him.
ਕਾਹੂ ਲੈ ਪਾਹਨ ਪੂਜ ਧਰਯੋ ਸਿਰ ਕਾਹੂ ਲੈ ਲਿੰਗੁ ਗਰੇ ਲਟਕਾਇਓ ॥
kaahoo lai paahan pooj dharayo sir kaahoo lai li(n)g gare laTakaio ||
Someone worshipped stone and placed it on his head. Someone hung the phallus (lingam) from his neck.
ਕਾਹੂ ਲਖਿਓ ਹਰਿ ਅਵਾਚੀ ਦਿਸਾ ਮਹਿ ਕਾਹੂ ਪਛਾਹ ਕੋ ਸੀਸੁ ਨਿਵਾਇਓ ॥
kaahoo lakhio har avaachee dhisaa meh kaahoo pachhaeh ko sees nivaio ||
Someone visualized God in the South and someone bowed his head towards the West.
ਕੋਊ ਬੁਤਾਨ ਕੋ ਪੂਜਤ ਹੈ ਪਸੁ ਕੋਊ ਮ੍ਰਿਤਾਨ ਕੋ ਪੂਜਨ ਧਾਇਓ ॥
kouoo butaan ko poojat hai pas kouoo mritaan ko poojan dhaio ||
Some fool worships the idols and someone goes to worship the dead.
ਕੂਰ ਕ੍ਰਿਆ ਉਰਝਿਓ ਸਭ ਹੀ ਜਗ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਕੋ ਭੇਦੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਓ ॥੧੦॥੩੦॥
koor kriaa urajhio sabh hee jag sree bhagavaan ko bhedh na paio ||10||30||
The whole world is entangled in false rituals and has not known the secret of Lord-God 10.30.
 
Moreover Guru Jee goes a step further, and tells us something about those avatars,  deites, incarnatiions, gods, godesses to which many take them as equal to the ultimate reality /Truth of Satnam, but which is far from reality cause they too can not escape the noose of death.
Death does not only exist at our physiacl level, but also at those subtle realms below Sach Khand, where countless souls in different bodies, and the rulers of those khands, brahmands, realms, rule, such as the well known trinty of Brahma, Vishnu ( and consecuently his avatars on earth plane) and Shiva.
ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਮਹੇਸਰ ਬਿਸਨ ਸਚੀਪਤਿ ਅੰਤ ਫਸੇ ਜਮ ਫਾਸ ਪਰੈਂਗੇ ॥
braham mahesar bisan sacheepat a(n)t fase jam faas parai(n)ge ||
Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu and Consort of Sachi (Indra) would ultimately fall in the noose of death.
ਏਕ ਸਿਵ ਭਏ ਏਕ ਗਏ ਏਕ ਫੇਰ ਭਏ ਰਾਮਚੰਦ੍ਰ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਕੇ ਅਵਤਾਰ ਭੀ ਅਨੇਕ ਹੈਂ ॥
ek siv bhe ek ge ek fer bhe raamacha(n)dhr kirasan ke avataar bhee anek hai(n) ||
There was one Shiva, who passed away and another one came into being there are many incarnations of Ramchandra and Krishna.
ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਅਰੁ ਬਿਸਨ ਕੇਤੇ ਬੇਦ ਔ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਕੇਤੇ ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਸਮੂਹਨ ਕੈ ਹੁਇ ਹੁਇ ਬਿਤਏ ਹੈਂ ॥
brahamaa ar bisan kete bedh aau puraan kete si(n)mirat samoohan kai hui hui bite hai(n) ||
There are many Brahmas and Vishnus, there are many Vedas and Puranas, there have been the authors of all the Smritis, who created their works and passed away.
ਕਿਤੇ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਸੇ ਕੀਟ ਕੋਟੈ ਉਪਾਏ ॥
kite kirasan se keeT koTai upaae ||
He (the Lord) hath Created millions of Krishnas like worms.
ਉਸਾਰੇ ਗੜ੍ਹੇ ਫੇਰ ਮੇਟੇ ਬਨਾਏ ॥
ausaare gaRhe fer meTe banaae ||
He (the Lord)Created them, annihilated them, again destroyed them, still again Created them.
 
Finally He reveals us, the only way to wash our sins/countless karmas and merge in Him forever:
ਫੋਕਟੋ ਸਰਬ ਧਰਮਾ ਬਿਹੀਨ ॥੨੦॥੧੪੦॥
fokaTo sarab dharamaa biheen ||20||140||
All the religious rituals are useless! 20. 140
ਬਿਨੁ ਏਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਇਕ ਚਿੱਤ ਲੀਨ ॥
bin ek naam ik chi't leen ||
Without the single-minded absorption in he Lord’s Name !
 
Now going back. to the question of the OP, of  if we are not engaged  in His name, that is useless  ......  I would say, doing His simran, is the only thing what we can do to be receptive to His barpoor grace, daya meher, in order to move forward towards Him.
We have been born countless times, we have huge amount of dirt on our heads, so it is normal that our mind wanders and does all sort of tricks to block us in trying to go back to Him.
But we too, we are no less, we are sikhs of Guru Jee, so we should also follow His orders diligently and make the mind eat the antidote of His Name(Simran), in order to defeat that naughty wicked  mind.
We are all sick, unless we take the medicine of His Name, how can we ever get well?
Waht sense does it make saying that, unless I get well, I will not take the medicine?  Would that not be foolish?  So, how can we say, if we see nothing within or our mind is not with us in Simran, it is useless to do it.
You see, we are mixing 2 things. One, when someone is trying to behave as religious by showing us that they are in meditation, that is false and cheating.
But, what cheating can it be called,  or useless practice,  if we are trying sincerely to fight with the mind by trying to give it the medicine of His Name? 
We have been wandering since countless births, so how can we ever control the mind in some days, months or even a life span of time? 
Our duty is to be truthful to Guru Jee, by faithfully carrying the devotion desribed by Him to be done, then He the Almighty  and mercifull Lord, will definetely pull us out with His strong arms.
Our duty is only to please Him and extend out our arms,  so that He may pull us out.  
Only that much is in our hands. 
For if it was not for His mercy to forgive our sins, then even countless lives doing 24/7/365  any devotion from our side, would simply not be enough to wash all the load of sins, which we have been collecting since we stepped in the mayavee creation and left our home in Sach Khand.
The Bani clearly says: 
Baha pakar kar Guru kadeeya. 
The Guru pulled me out by holding my arm.

wjkk wjkf What does this shabad mean? Is guru sahib ji sahib saying there's no point in doing simran? Surely it doesn't mean that, i just dont have buddi to understand, if someone can help it would great. kahaa bhayo jo dhouoo lochan moo(n)dh kai baiTh rahio bak dhiaan lagaio ||

wjkk wjkf What does this shabad mean? Is guru sahib ji sahib saying there's no point in doing simran? Surely it doesn't mean that, i just dont have buddi to understand, if someone can help it would great. kahaa bhayo jo dhouoo lochan moo(n)dh kai baiTh rahio bak dhiaan lagaio ||

Take laha gurmukho. The knowledge they are openly sharing in the practical sessions is very hard to come by. Don't waste the opportunity. You can sit in sangat from the comfort of your own home 24 hours a days given the current covid situation. There are some really blessed souls who have met Waheguru doing simran seva. You can hear the viraag in the voices when they come back from that union.  🙏 Even listening to the Q&A you can only just bow down in awe to some of the sangat's experiences. Really inspiring group of Gurmukhs and you know what they don't hold information back. 

This is Simranjeet Singh Tohana's Telegram group : https://t.me/pmkctohana

wjkk wjkf
 
Thanks for the link we don't live Simran sessions at my local gurdwara.
 
Bhul chuk maaf