Harbhajan

I highly recommend that if possible please try to read the book:"ARDAS SHAKTI" by Raghbir Singh Bir. It is in Punjabi and spiritually very educational !

The best educational book on this matter is: Title: "A WHITE MAN'S COUNTRY" An Exercise in Canadian Prejudice Author: Ted Ferguson I.S.B.N : 0-385-114400-1 (Published in 1975)

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/we...00a&k=79405 Komagata Maru kin want amends Descendants of passengers on ill-fated ship call on Ottawa Kim Bolan Vancouver Sun Tuesday, May 23, 2006 VANCOUVER - Descendants of passengers aboard the ill-fated Komagata Maru want to open discussions with the federal government about a formal apology and possible compensation over Canada's racist immigration laws early this century. Three grandsons and a great-grandson of some of those aboard the infamous ship that tried to land in Vancouver in 1914 gathered in Richmond Monday to address community leaders and the media about a coordinated strategy on the issue. Jas Toor said his grandfather was arrested as an independence leader after he was forced back to India with the other 375 on the chartered vessel. "My grandfather and other passengers on that ship were jailed for at least two years," Toor said. "We are looking for the help of all our politicians.... An official apology we expect from the government." Tejpal Singh Sandhu was at Monday's meeting representing his great-grandfather Gurdit Singh, who chartered the ship to travel from India to Canada. Sandhu said the South Asian community in Canada must unite and come up with a common plan before entering into formal discussions with the government. "This meeting is the first initiative taken by us," said Sandhu, who was recently accepted as an immigrant to Canada -- 92 years after his relative sought to come here. "We will try to find more and more families and we will form a committee." The Komagata Maru arrived in Vancouver Harbour in May 1914, but immigration officials refused to allow the passengers, mostly Sikhs, to disembark. Local community leaders with the Khalsa Diwan Society lobbied on their behalf for two months and raised more than $7,000 for a legal challenge, but in the end the vessel was forced back to Calcutta. Because many aboard were leaders or sympathizers of the Ghadr party, which was fighting for independence, the British opened fire when the ship docked, killing several aboard and taking others prisoner. Suki Badh, of Sher-E-Punjab Radio, organized the meeting, saying Monday that the time has come to begin a dialogue with the Canadian government. "We feel this is a timely event," Badh said to about 50 gathered at his radio station's offices. He said the Conservative government's recent decision to formally apologize for the Chinese head tax paid by early immigrants from that community has many Indo-Canadians asking about the same for the Komagata Maru incident. "There is a groundswell of support," he said. Three NDP MLAs attended Monday's meeting, as did Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal and former Conservative MP Gurmant Grewal, who said his MP wife Nina was unable to attend. Sohan Singh Deo, a former president of the Khalsa Diwan Society, noted how much work has already been done to commemorate the Komagata Maru by community leaders over the years. He urged the descendants to build on the lobbying and research that now exists to forge a united community approach. Many at the meeting suggested the government might want to fund an educational program or a Komagata Maru chair at a B.C. university instead of a compensation package aimed at individuals. Burnaby Edmonds NDP MLA Raj Chouhan said that whatever is demanded must reflect the wishes of the whole community. "We want a clear and unequivocal apology from the government of Canada," Chouhan said. "We have an apology for the Chinese head tax. We have an apology for Japanese internment. Why not an apology for the Komagata Maru?" Dhaliwal said the issue is not just for the Indo-Canadian community, but is of importance to all Canadians. "The government cannot pit one community against another," Dhaliwal said, adding that South Asians should also support the struggles of other minority communities with similar issues. Grewal said Prime Minister Stephen Harper is willing to meet with Indo-Canadians on the issue. kbolan@png.canwest.com © The Vancouver Sun 2006

Happy Mothers Day ! Mother Author Unknown After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, "I love you, but I know this other> woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you." The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who had been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. "What's wrong, are you well," she asked? My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. "I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you," I responded, "Just the two of us." She thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I would like that very much." That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's. "I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed," she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our meeting." We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. "It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small," she said. "Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor," I responded. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation---nothing extra-ordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you." I agreed. "How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home. "Very nice; much more so than I could have imagined," I answered. A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates--one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you son." At that moment, I understood the importance of saying "I LOVE YOU" in time and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till "some other time." http://mydailyinsights.com/quote.asp

The key is DAILY NAAM SIMRAN, with total Faith, Will Power (determination), and Patience of course ! In order to keep the oil lamp burning, one must add the oil too ! Spiritual Path = Selfless SEVA + SIMRAN + SANGAT

GURMAT AND NATURALISMS Dr Kanwar Ranvir Singh Nirgun Sargun Ik Hai" = the Formless and the forms Is One. This teaching is the basis for the perspective that all matter is holy and indeed, in a state-of-being conscious. Matter includes the solar systems, the earth, and us. For, "Water, wind, fire sing to You…Sing continents, worlds, and solar systems, which have been made and established." (Sodar or That Gate, which appears in both morning and evening prayers).. For Sikhs, there is a cosmic symphony of Praise which is going on and the choice is simply whether to join in, improvising the Unstruck Melody, or jarring against it. "The sky is the plate, upon which are placed the sun and moon as lamps and stars as pearls. The fragrance of sandalwood is the incense, the winds the fan and all vegetation are the flowers. How can we perform Your Worship, Destroyer of Fears? The Unstruck Melody plays and the Word is the tender flute. Your eyes are thousands, but You have no eye. Your forms are thousands, but You have no form…Light is in all , this Light is One. This Light causes the radiance of enlightenment to arise in all." (Sohila, bedtime prayer) Since the Light is in all, Sikhs have no problem with the beliefs of indigenous peoples, which rather, are respected as different angles on the Truth. What is notable is the sharing of images and practises, for instance, the uncut hair of the native Americans and the kesh of the Sikhs. "Victory to the cauldron and the sword!" proclaimed the Druid-loving Gauls in 'Asteriks' comics. Degh Tegh Fateh!! is the Sikh slogan with precisely the same meaning. The double-edged sword, the Khanda, is used to stir the cauldron, the batta, while the Elixir of Life, Khande-de-Pahul, amrit, is trans-created and given to initiate new members in the Order of the Khalsa. "Behold this sword Excalibur, which rose form the lake of still meditation and was returned to it again. The Sword of Spirit, of light and truth, is always sharp and always with us, if our lake be stilled." What Sikhs call the nectar-sweet amrit is what the Norse referred to as the mead of immortality, the drink of the One-harriers, those who realised the One. Then there is the reverence for "Mata Dharat Mahat", the Great Earth Mother. Earth is to be respected as our common mother with all other forms. Taoism precisely expresses the belief of "sehaj"; that Spontaneous Joy, which is called wu-wei. To be natural is to be allowing the Light of God to bask in your being. Source : www.SikhSpirit.com

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! SOURCE: http://www.babanandsinghsahib.org/maryada/dargahiticket.htm

http://www.swamij.com/108.htm Meaning of 108 beads on a mala by Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati On a mala, or set of mantra counting beads, there are generally 108 beads, or some fraction of that number. The question often arises: Why are there 108 beads on a mala? Below are some of the many reasons that have been given, as well as a few other points of interest. None of these reasons are being promoted here as more or less true than the others. However, you may notice that 108 appears to be somewhat like a road map of reality in general, and the human in particular. Regardless of the meaning of 108, it is important that if a mala is used to count mantras, the mantra be remembered with sincerity, devotion, feeling, and full attention. 9 times 12: Both of these numbers have been said to have spiritual significance in many traditions. 9 times 12 is 108. Also, 1 plus 8 equals 9. That 9 times 12 equals 108. Powers of 1, 2, and 3 in math: 1 to 1st power=1; 2 to 2nd power=4 (2x2); 3 to 3rd power=27 (3x3x3). 1x4x27=108 Harshad number: 108 is a Harshad number, which is an integer divisible by the sum of its digits (Harshad is from Sanskrit, and means "great joy") Desires: There are said to be 108 earthly desires in mortals. Lies: There are said to be 108 lies that humans tell. Delusions: There are said to be 108 human delusions or forms of ignorance. Heart Chakra: The chakras are the intersections of energy lines, and there are said to be a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra. One of them, sushumna leads to the crown chakra, and is said to be the path to Self-realization. Sanskrit alphabet: There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet. Each has masculine and feminine, shiva and shakti. 54 times 2 is 108. Pranayama: If one is able to be so calm in meditation as to have only 108 breaths in a day, enlightenment will come. Upanishads: Some say there are 108 Upanishads, texts of the wisdom of the ancient sages. Sri Yantra: On the Sri Yantra there are marmas where three lines intersect, and there are 54 such intersections. Each intersections has masculine and feminine, shiva and shakti qualities. 54 times 2 equals 108. Thus, there are 108 points that define the Sri Yantra as well as the human body. Pentagon: The angle formed by two adjacent lines in a pentagon equals 108 degrees. Marmas: Marmas or marmasthanas are like energy intersections called chakras, except have fewer energy lines converging to form them. There are said to be 108 marmas in the subtle body. Time: Some say there are 108 feelings, with 36 related to the past, 36 related to the present, and 36 related to the future. 8 extra beads: In doing a practice of counting the number of repetitions of the mala, 100 are counted as completed. The remaining are said to cover errors or omissions. The 8 are also said to be an offering to God and Guru. Chemistry: Interestingly, there are about 115 elements known on the periodic table of the elements. Most of those, around or higher than the number 100 only exist in the laboratory, and some for only thousandths of a second. The number that naturally exist on Earth is around 100. Astrology: There are 12 constellations, and 9 arc segments called namshas or chandrakalas. 9 times 12 equals 108. Chandra is moon, and kalas are the divisions within a whole. River Ganga: The sacred River Ganga spans a longitude of 12 degrees (79 to 91), and a latitude of 9 degrees (22 to 31). 12 times 9 equals 108. Planets and Houses: In astrology, there are 12 houses and 9 planets. 12 times 9 equals 108. Goddess names: There are said to be 108 Indian goddess names. Gopis of Krishna: In the Krishna tradition, there were said to be 108 gopis or maid servants of Krishna. 1, 0, and 8: Some say that 1 stands for God or higher Truth, 0 stands for emptiness or completeness in spiritual practice, and 8 stands for infinity or eternity. Sun and Earth: The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. The distance from the Sun to the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Sun. Moon and Earth: The average distance of the Moon from the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Moon. Silver and the moon: In astrology, the metal silver is said to represent the moon. The atomic weight of silver is 108. Numerical scale: The 1 of 108, and the 8 of 108, when added together equals 9, which is the number of the numerical scale, i.e. 1, 2, 3 ... 10, etc., where 0 is not a number. Meditations: Some say there are 108 styles of meditation. Breath: Tantra estimates the average number of breaths per day at 21,600, of which 10,800 are solar energy, and 10,800 are lunar energy. Multiplying 108 by 100 is 10,800. Multiplying 2 x 10,800 equals 21,600. Paths to God: Some suggest that there are 108 paths to God. Smaller divisions: The number 108 is divided, such as in half, third, quarter, or twelfth, so that some malas have 54, 36, 27, or 9 beads. Hinduism: 108 is said to refer to the number of Hindu deities. Some say that each of the deities has 108 names. Islam: The number 108 is used in Islam to refer to God. Jain: In the Jain religion, 108 are the combined virtues of five categories of holy ones, including 12, 8, 36, 25, and 27 virtues respectively. Sikh: The Sikh tradition has a mala of 108 knots tied in a string of wool, rather than beads. Buddhism: Some Buddhists carve 108 small Buddhas on a walnut for good luck. Some ring a bell 108 times to celebrate a new year. There are said to be 108 virtues to cultivate and 108 defilements to avoid. Chinese: The Chinese Buddhists and Taoists use a 108 bead mala, which is called su-chu, and has three dividing beads, so the mala is divided into three parts of 36 each. Chinese astrology says that there are 108 sacred stars. Stages of the soul: Said that Atman, the human soul or center goes through 108 stages on the journey. Meru: This is a larger bead, not part of the 108. It is not tied in the sequence of the other beads. It is the quiding bead, the one that marks the beginning and end of the mala. Dance: There are 108 forms of dance in the Indian traditions. Praiseworthy souls: There are 108 qualities of praiseworthy souls. First man in space: The first manned space flight lasted 108 minutes, and was on April 12, 1961 by Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut.

http://www.newkerala.com/news2.php?action=...ws&id=52311 Patna’s Harmindar Sahib gurudwara houses Guru Gobind Singh’s relics By Ajay Sharma, Patna: Patna has a rich history and was once the capital of the great Mauryan dynasty, but this apart, it also occupies an important place in Sikh heritage. Patna was the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the last Sikh guru. Patna was also graced by the visit of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh guru and Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Sikh guru. Sikhs regard Patna as one of five takths, and the city upholds great faith and devotion of the millions of Sikh devotees visiting from all over the world. Situated in one of the old quarters of the city, away from the din and bustle, is Takth Sri Harmandir Sahib, the shrine that commemorates Guru Gobind Singh. History has it that the place where the shrine is now located was once the Haveli of Salis Rai Johri, a great devotee of Guru Nanak Dev. During his visit in the year 1666, the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Teg Bahadur stayed here along with Mata Gujri Ji and it was here that Guru Gobind Singh was born. Guru Gobind Singh's childhood was spent in Patna and quite a few relics of the Guru are preserved in the shrine even today. These include a `Pangura' (cradle), four iron arrows, the sacred sword of the Guru and a pair of his sandals. The preserved `Hukamnamas', the written orders of Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh are a special attraction for the devotees. “Being the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh guru, devotees from all over the world come here to have their prayers answered. They offer prayer for their well being and that makes this an important pilgrimage site. Devotees come from England, USA, Canada and Singapore,†said Bhai Rajender Singh, Head Granthi, Gurudwara Harmandir Sahib, Patna. When fire burnt down the ancient Harminder Sahib gurudwara, Maharaja Ranjit Singh got it built again in 1839, and this is the edifice that stands till this day. The `langar', or the community meal, holds immense religious significance for the devotees. “Visiting here is a devotional feeling and we paid thanks to the Guru who made it possible for us to pay an obeisance at his holy place. We feel ourselves lucky. Guru Gobind Singh sacrificed his four sons for the well being of the religion and the country. This is a holy place for us. I came all the way from Australia and feel happy about it. It’s a heavenly feeling,†said a devotee. Rest and succour to the weary traveller is what Gurudwara Harmindar Sahib provides even now, as it did during the time of the Gurus. Generations on, the spirit of humanity has been preserved and is still practised as laid down in the tenets of Sikhism. Therein lies its message of service to humanity, the spirit of selfless service to mankind.

GENTLE WHISPER The young man had lost his job and didn't know which way to turn. So he went to see the old preacher. Pacing about the preacher's study, the young man ranted about his problem. Finally he clenched his fist and shouted, "I've begged God to say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why doesn't God answer?" The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply -- something so hushed it was indistinguishable. The young man stepped across the room. "What did you say?" he asked. The preacher repeated himself, but again in a tone as soft as a whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher's chair. "Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear you." With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. "God sometimes whispers," he said, "so we will move closer to hear Him." This time the young man heard and he understood. We all want God's voice to thunder through the air with the answer to our problem. But God's is the still, small voice . . . the gentle whisper. Perhaps there's a reason. Nothing draws human focus quite like a whisper. God's whisper means I must stop my ranting and move close to Him, until my head is bent together with His. And then, as I listen, I will find my answer. Better still, I find myself closer to God. - author unknown

10 Steps To A Worry-free Life 1. Identify and live by your values. When we know what our values are, and our goals and actions are in harmony with our values, we are seldom stressed or in conflict about what we are doing. 2. Complete the Past Sometimes we hang on to voices or perceived injustices from the past, long after the person or situation is dead and gone. By bringing closure to these events, we are free to move forward. 3. Plan for the Future. It is important to know where we want to go and to have a rough idea of how we plan to get there. While it is important to give up final control to God or the Universe, we need a sense of focus and direction to our lives. Planning for the future gives us that sense of direction. 4. Live in the Present. This is key. Once we have completed the past and planned for the future, we need to stay focused in the here and now. There is very little that we cannot handle in the moment. (A clue: if you are feeling guilt, you are in the past. If you are feeling fear, you are in the future. The absence of those feelings generally means you are planted firmly in the present!) . 5. Understand that if you can dream it, you can achieve it. If we are -- truly -- not capable of something, then it is practically impossible for us to dream about it. Knowledge of what we are capable of is in each and every cell of our being. So no matter how wild and far-fetched your dream appears, the very existence of the dream means that you can achieve it if you are willing to commit to it. 6. Allow others to live their own lives. Allowing others to be themselves and to live their own lives is the first step in being able to be yourself and living your own life. If you have any 'shoulds' or expectations of others, let them go. Shoulds kill relationships faster than any weapon I know of and fill our lives with unnecessary stress. 7. Recognize God in everyone. Everyone (literally, everyone!) is a reflection of God. Sometimes we have to dig a little deep to see it as our perceptions, expectations and fears cloud our vision. But when we can recognize how God is mirrored in each person, our lives are calmer and freer! 8. Create reserves where you need them. Stress is often created through lack, either right now or right around the corner. Create reserves of time, space, money, love, vitality and meaningful action, starting where you feel most stressed. 9. Focus on being and not doing or having. When we are focused on who we are, what kind of person we are, we tend to be on a journey of spiritual evolution, which in itself tends to have less stress (or the stress is less stressful!). When we are focused on doing or having, we are not focused on our higher selves, but only on certain dimensions of who we are (and usually on what we think that means). Be a being, not a doing! 10. Choose to be the best you possible. Making a choice to be our best selves, to live life to our fullest potential, typically allows us to transcend our lives and reduces much stress because we understand that the source of stress is temporary. Also, don't forget that today, you are the best you've ever been! Revel in that fact. ©Louise Morganti Kaelin ( http://www.touchpointcoaching.com )

Sikhs celebrate their new year NEW YEAR : Parades and festivities in Surrey and Vancouver are expected to attract thousands Jonathan Fowlie Vancouver Sun Saturday, April 15, 2006 LOWER MAINLAND I More than 100,000 people are expected to fill the streets of Newton and east Vancouver today in celebration of Vaisakhi, the Sikh new year and anniversary of the founding of the Khalsa order. "[Vaisakhi is a time to celebrate] the birth of our identity and remember who we are and what the true philosophy of the Khalsa of the Sikh religion is," Sukhpreet Singh, coordinator of the Surrey Vaisakhi parade, said Friday as he helped with final preparations. Khalsa, meaning "pure," refers to those who have been baptised in a ceremony called Amrit Sanchar. "It's a time for us to celebrate our success here in Canada," Singh added, saying the Surrey parade has grown to become the largest Vaisakhi celebration in North America. Singh said Vaisakhi is one of the most important festivals in the Sikh calendar, and that it is celebrated around the world every year on or near April 13. He explained the celebration marks end of the harvest in India and the beginning of the new spring year. "At the end of the season they celebrate once they've got all their stock. They celebrate because that's when they've made all their money," he said. Singh said Vaisakhi is also a marker of the day in 1699 when the 10th Sikh religious teacher, Guru Gobind Singh, founded the current Sikh identity, or the Khalsa. "That's the day we were given the five articles of faith and the turban," Singh said. Singh added the Surrey celebrations, which start at 9:30 a.m. at the Dasmesh Darbar Temple at 128th Street and 85th Avenue, have become the largest in the continent because of Surrey's strong Sikh community. "Surrey has the largest population of Sikh's outside the Punjab," he said, adding he expects close to 80,000 people at today's event. "Everyone invites their friends family and relatives from all over Canada." Similar celebrations will also take place in Vancouver today, with between 35,000 and 40,000 people expected for a parade beginning at the Ross Street Temple, organizers said Friday. Kesar Bhatti, manager of the Khalsa Diwan Society, which organizes those celebrations, said the day will begin at 9 a.m. with speeches from political leaders and other invited guests inside the Ross Street Temple. He said the parade begins at 11 a.m. and will weave through east Vancouver until mid-afternoon. Both parades will feature food, music and floats, organizers say. Bhatti said Friday one of the busiest parts of the Vancouver route, and the best place for spectators, will be on Main Street between 49th and 57th. "There are a lot of food stalls there," he said. "People will distribute [samples] free of charge." In Surrey, the parade will be followed by speeches and other festivities. Singh said events are planned for well into the night featuring services, food, rides and fireworks. jfowlie@png.canwest.com © The Vancouver Sun 2006

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=10204f87-c1ee-42a9-8643-40d1ea0bfc65&k=58009 Human trafficking ring caught Nine B.C. residents among those arrested for smuggling more than 60 South Asians into United States Jonathan Fowlie Vancouver Sun Thursday, April 13, 2006 Authorities in Canada and the U.S. have shut down a B.C.-based human-smuggling ring that allegedly moved more than 60 people overseas from South Asia. Officials from both sides of the border announced Wednesday they have arrested and filed U.S. indictments against 12 men -- including nine B.C. residents -- who comprised a network that had allegedly been charging about $40,000 per head to smuggle people from India and Pakistan. "Our common border, and the two countries, are safer because of the work of law enforcement agencies," said Leigh Winchell, head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigations in Seattle. Winchell said two parallel investigations have been running on each side of the border since January 2005, when authorities received a tip about three men in the Oroville, Wash. area (across the border from Osoyoos) who were buying maps and asking about local border enforcement. Winchell said investigators followed the ring closely, describing the security issues uncovered as "immense." "While we have no information that this has any terrorist ties, the obvious fact that individuals are being smuggled into the U.S. brings forward security issues for both countries," he said. Indictments have been filed in Seattle against two other men who have yet to be arrested, authorities said, bringing the total to 14. Police said they believe those two men to be on the run in Canada. Winchell, along with RCMP Chief Supt. Bud Mercer, said the people being smuggled ranged in age from as young as six to as old as the early 70s, and that most embarked on the risky trip so they could be reunited with family or friends. "The vast majority of these individuals ... are coming here for a better way of life, and for jobs and to reunite with their families," Winchell said, adding that about 10 of them are under the age of 18. RCMP Insp. Dan Malo, who lead the Canadian investigative team, added that almost all of the people who were smuggled would only have been able to pay $5,000 to $10,000 up front and would therefore be indebted to the criminal ring after their arrival in the U.S. However, he said police found no evidence of sex slavery in the investigation. Explaining how the system worked, Mercer said the smugglers would provide their customers with forged documents, which investigators believe were produced overseas. The people being smuggled would then fly on direct commercial flights from India and Pakistan to Toronto, where they would meet a designated handler. After clearing customs, the people would return the phony documents so they could be used in future smuggling operations, Mercer said. He said the people being smuggled would then fly to Vancouver where they would wait in a "safe house" until the time came to sneak into the U.S. through remote areas between crossings. Once across the border, most of the people were taken to a hotel in the Seattle area and then flown to their final destinations within the U.S., police said. Officials on both side of the border said the operation took close cooperation, and everyone involved called it a model for future cross-border investigations. "Throughout the course of the investigation both Canadian and American investigators had full access to each other's intelligence on a daily basis," said Mercer. "This collaboration demonstrates our shared resolve to keep our borders secure while respecting each other's sovereignty." Winchell said officials have begun deportation proceedings against all of the people caught sneaking into the U.S., but could not say how long it would be until their cases are resolved. Four other people were found in Canada during Tuesday's arrests and will face similar proceedings here, officials said. On Wednesday, police gave the names of 11 people they have arrested. They said RCMP officers arrested the suspected ringleader of the operation on Tuesday -- a 46-year-old named Kavel Multani. On Wednesday, police said Multani is a dual Canadian and Indian citizen living in Vancouver. Also arrested on Tuesday were: Sandip Parhar, 26, of Delta; Armardeep Singh Powar, 23, an Indian citizen living in Vancouver, and Nizar Sabaz-Ali, 38, a Pakistani citizen from North York, Ont. Police said they have also arrested: Raman Pathania, 19, of Surrey; Anthony Maclean, 21, of Richmond; Jatinder Brar, 19, of Surrey; Sukveer Sandhu, 18 of Surrey; Matthew Dehagi, 35, of Port Coquitlam; Harjeevan Parhar, 23, of Surrey; and Harminder Singh, 37, of Kent, Wash. jfowlie@png.canwest.com © The Vancouver Sun 2006

No Blame, No Pain What do you gain when you blame someone for something? You get to feel superior. You get to direct the focus of attention away from yourself and your own failings. You get to feel some relationship to justice. Perhaps, if you point the finger, justice will be done. If justice is not done, you can assume the role of the unjustly aggrieved person. Certainly, blaming has a valid place in the legal system. When people break the law they should be identified. But, for some of us, blaming is an overused tool in our emotional repertoire. Normally, we learn to blame early in life. As we develop our sense of right and wrong, we identify wrong doers around us. It becomes important to tell mom about the transgressions of brother or sister or friend. We hope mother will right the wrong. She has the power to restore the balance of power. She can return what is rightfully ours. She can soothe our affronted tiny ego. As we grow up, we continue to use blame to clarify the good from the bad in our world. We may come to believe that when we blame people we are providing a service. We feel we are making the world safer by shining the light of justice on transgressors. At the same time, we may be meeting our own neurotic agenda of transferring awareness of the source of our bad feelings to an external cause. If I feel bad and I can blame you, I don't need to take responsibility for my bad feelings. What's the problem with blaming? It causes an immediate rift between the blamer and the blamee. It raises the negative emotional heat between the accused and the accuser. It paints the transgressor as faulty, and stimulates in them a need to protect their self esteem. Power struggles ensue. It assumes we know something about the motivation of the guilty party, when we probably don't. It assumes we are guilt free in the situation, even if we have inadvertently caused the problem. Blaming creates attachment to negative emotional states. What can you do instead? Know yourself. Examine your own motivations. Be aware of your own faults and failings. We all have a shadow side that contains parts of our self image we can't bear to look at. Looking deeply into that shadow makes us less likely to blame others. Knowing our own weaknesses gives us more tolerance for the weaknesses of others. Give up your attachment to self-righteousness. Reaction formation is a neurotic defense mechanism where we condemn in others the fault we fear in ourselves. It is a common trait. In most cases, the more blaming someone does, the more they are hiding from awareness of their own tendencies to do the thing they condemn. Humility and forgiveness dissolve blamefulness. Forgive. Hanging from the cross, suffering the ultimate in injustice and indignity, Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Whatever else happened, this example was a true redemptive act of the crucifixion. This forgiving attitude is a key to salvation. Jesus would not blame the false accusers, the torturers and executioners. He called on God the Father to forgive them, knowing that ultimately, God is the source of forgiveness. He also acknowledged that the source of evil is ignorance: "For they know not what they do." People do not do evil when they are in touch with wisdom. Evil occurs when we are cut off from the knowledge of causes and effects. Given the level of ignorance in the world, we should not be surprised by the level of evil. When we forgive, or ask God's forgiveness, we invoke love. Forgiving is the antidote to blamefulness. Love is the antidote to hate. Wisdom is the antidote to evil. Forgiveness, love, and wisdom go together -- three attributes of higher being. Live like an animal. Animals don't blame. It's one of the things we like about pets. Animals respond to pleasure and pain without projecting judgment on the source of the pleasure or pain. They give love freely. They don't have to be right. They express their true nature unselfconsciously. We could all be more like that. http://www.interluderetreat.com/meditate/blame.htm

http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/6839/vaisakhi8hw.jpg[left:ffe5dfed8d]http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/6839/vaisakhi8hw.jpg[/left:ffe5dfed8d] VAISAKHI GREETINGS TO ALL With The Divine Love & Blessings of Waheguru Ji, may we all WALK the Life Path as indicated to us by Guru Ji, and thus always enjoy: peace, love, light (enlightenment), health, happiness and prosperity ! Humbly yours, Harbhajan Singh Sangha

Spiritual Internship Sometimes it can be a struggle to make sense of our lives here on Earth, and it is only by imagining a larger context that all of the pieces fall into place. We might often wonder why we have had experiences of pain and hardship. If we knew the whole of our soul’s journey, we might view times of difficulty as part of a spiritual internship. Imagine one who had a troubled childhood. Perhaps there was abuse, alcoholism or neglect. This person may, on reaching adulthood, decide to do things completely differently, taking a much more compassionate, spirit-honoring approach to their children. Much as they do well with their children, they may continue to carry some inner torment. It can be a constant challenge to remain on the higher path they have chosen. There may always be an inner ache, reflecting the pain of loss in not having been seen in childhood There may also be sense of ‘making life up as I go along’, because there is no blueprint to follow. What if such lives were the result of the following scenario? Aeons ago, there was a faraway planet where souls rested between incarnations. It was a very pleasant space, where the energy of souls blended into a loving resonance. If desired, a soul could remain there throughout eternity. Occasionally, a special call went out for volunteers. On Planet Earth, there was an evolutionary process that was unfolding. Souls were incarnating into human beings, and these beings reproduced themselves in a genetic succession. Ideally, each generation was more highly evolved than the ones before. In some instances the evolutionary process became blocked, and consequently some Earth “families†were locked into a destructive pattern. It appeared almost like a kind of spiritual mutation, which resulted in negative human qualities reappearing generation after generation. The call that went out was for souls who would volunteer to be born into these troubled family systems, so that they could shift the evolutionary pattern. Many very evolved souls stepped forward immediately. They were cautioned that the assignment would be extremely difficult. They would have complete amnesia about the peaceful paradise, which now surrounded them. They would be born as an innocent child into one of these troubled family systems, and would have to suffer the pain of the negative, even destructive patterns. They might also have to endure a childhood with little, if any love. In many cases, they would feel rejected and abandoned. For most of their lives, they may feel somehow that they just do not ‘belong’ on Earth. Their pain would be so deep, so profound as to be almost unbearable. The evolved souls accepted the challenge, even knowing this, for they knew that they had the strength to endure. They did not know beforehand that the experience of their childhood pain would be so deeply etched upon their consciousness, that as they grew they would easily identify with the pain of others. When they had children of their own, their deepest commitment would be to do things differently than the generations before them. A consciousness would be awakened within which allowed them to see the mistakes of the past, and how souls had been dishonored through the generations. They would become the architects of a new way of being. They would model this way for their own children, and for all who knew them. Still, it would not be easy. They would always struggle a little because of the profound contrast between their inner soul essence, and their beliefs about themselves on the level of ego, where most of their Earth learning transpired. However, their presence on the Earth would be profound, because their children, and their children’s children would have a legacy of love and wisdom to carry into their futures. One river of negativity and darkness would have been rerouted. So it may be that those of us who have struggled with childhood pain, sadness and confusion have been on a special mission. Had we failed at our task, we would not even realize it, and would blindly follow in the footsteps of those troubled beings before us. If we recognize that we have been instrumental in creating a shift at that intersection between all that was before, and all that will be in the future, then the amnesia is beginning to lift. No longer need we feel tentative about our purpose here. While there is still work to do, and constant challenges inherent in three-dimensional reality and physical form, we begin to know who we are. We can shed the crumbling shell of an ego no longer required, and allow spirit to expand in all directions. When we do this, home is not so far away. source: http://gwen.ca/html/higher/spiritual_internship.htm

Let go Let go of that nagging feeling that something could go wrong. For whatever may happen, you can always choose a way to move forward. Let go of your resentment and anger over things that are beyond your control. Do the very best with where you are, with what you have, and that will be more than enough. Let go of the pain you carry from things that happened long ago. Allow yourself to experience the glorious freedom of forgiveness. Let go of the needs that you don't really need, that keep your life so anxious and complicated. Find real fulfillment not in getting, but in being. Let go of the regrets, the disappointments and distress. Choose to follow the very best of the possibilities that beckon you forward. Let go of all the excuses you have for not living fully. Give beauty and meaning to the life and the world that you're in right now. -- Ralph Marston http://www.greatday.com/motivate/

http://technology.sympatico.msn.ca/Tech_Li...ct=&abc=abc Beware of identity thieves 29/03/2006 3:19:00 PM Could it happen to you? Identity theft is the unauthorised collection and use of a person's, or even a business's, information. Identity thieves steal key pieces of personal information and use them to impersonate a person to commit crimes in his name. What do identity thieves look for? In addition to names, addresses and telephone numbers, identity thieves also look for: - date of birth - social insurance numbers (SIN) - driver license numbers - credit card and bank card numbers - bank account numbers With a name, address, date of birth, SIN, and mother´s maiden name this information, identity thieves can easily invade our personal and financial lives; they can open bank accounts, apply for credit cards or loans, redirect mail, rent vehicles and much more. How do they collect personal information on the web? Many websites collect personal information; while some do it upfront, others are less obvious about it. Certain websites request users to register prior to granting them access. Registration can be as simple as providing a username, password and email address; or they can require more detailed personal information such as your address or date of birth, questions about personal interests and hobbies, household income and even a password reminder question along the lines of "What is your mother´s maiden name?". Some websites use cookies to collect information. The cookies are commonly used to identify users when they return to a site; this way the site can be tailored to the user based on his history or preferences and the user doesn't need to re-enter certain details each time he visits the site. Cookies can also be used by a website to create a profile of a user based on his activity and browsing patterns that can then be used for advertising purposes. Once all the data is collected, it can be shared with advertisers or media networks or worse and can be abused if it gets in the wrong hands. Some websites will attach spyware to its freeware. The spyware can monitor and report your activities, and even what you type, and can also install more spyware. Email is a great and quick way to communicate; however, it is not a secure form of communication. An email is just about as private as a postcard. It can easily be shared, printed, forwarded, posted in a forum or newsgroup or even intercepted; exposing all of it's content for the world to see. By opening SPAM mail or clicking on any links (possibly "unsubscribe" links too) found within unsolicited emails you may be confirming to the spammer that your email is valid and opening yourself to more SPAM. How to lower your risks when using the Internet? - Avoid clicking on an unknown link or website or unfamiliar e-mail. The link may take you to a fraudulent site. - Familiarise yourself with a website's privacy policy before entering any information or subscribing to any services or electronic newsletters. - Be wary of computer start-up software that asks for registration information. - Password protect your PC. - Never share your passwords and don't use the same password for everything. - Don't use e-mail to send personal information. - Consider using webmail or "disposable" e-mail addresses for online registrations or purchases, in order to help keep your personal email address private and spam free. - Beware of Internet promotions that ask for personal information. - After completing any sort of financial transaction online, properly sign out of the website and clear your internet file/cache. Check your browser´s help menu to find instructions. - Don't give a credit card number or other information to a company that doesn't provide their name, business address, telephone number and e-mail address or to a company you aren´t already familiar with. - Before giving your credit card number or other financial information to a business, make sure that their website is protected and secured. Look for a yellow padlock located on your browser's window and make sure the URL begins with "https://". - Keep your identity confidential in chat rooms, forums, instant messaging, and newsgroups. Choose usernames/aliases that do not identify you, and keep in mind that any information you exchange is not private. = Look into encryption, firewalls and virus protection for your computer. Enforce the above practices within your family Internet use and web transactions are on the rise. More people are transmitting valuable personal information across cyberspace on a regular basis causing an increase of identify theft, fraud and privacy concerns. Use the convenience of the Internet, just use it wisely at all times. Think before you click. © 2006 Bell Canada, Microsoft Corporation and/or their contributors. All rights reserved.

Life's teachers Do you remember ever having a really great teacher in school -- someone who inspired you to learn and to do your best? If so, you'll probably recall that he or she challenged you to a much greater degree than most of your other teachers. At the time, the extra challenge may have seemed unfair, or even cruel. Yet looking back on it, you realize that it was not cruel at all, but rather was a true expression of respect for, and confidence in, your ability to learn and grow. Life outside of school has its great teachers, too. And the best ones often seem unfair, unkind and even brutal. Those teachers include disappointment, sorrow, confusion, loneliness, and frustration. They are all painful and yet some of our greatest learning and growth can come from them. They challenge us and compel us to reach higher. They help to reveal our true character, and by so doing build that character to be even stronger. Amidst despair, take heart. A loving, caring teacher is even now working to bring out the best in you. Though it is impossible to fully appreciate now, the day will come when you surely will. So take this and every opportunity to learn and grow. -- Ralph Marston http://greatday.com/motivate/991213.html

This was the Editorial Cartoon in the Montreal Gazette, the major Newspaper in the Province of Quebec, Canada . There was no article attached to it. It pertained to the following news item: School ban on Sikh daggers not justified: SCC CTV.ca News Staff - March 2. 2006 Canada's top court ruled Thursday that a Montreal school went too far when it barred a Sikh boy from wearing his ceremonial dagger to school. In a unanimous 8-0 judgment, the Supreme Court of Canada overturned a decision that banned teenager Gurbaj Singh Multani from wearing the dagger, known as a kirpan, to class. The court said a total ban infringes guarantees of religious freedom and doesn't tally with the Charter of Rights. However, the court did leave room for some restrictions to be imposed on the carrying of kirpans in the name of public safety. The final decision in the long-running case -- which pits religious freedom against school safety -- is likely to resonate across the country and could give some direction to provincial governments on how far they must go to accommodate religious beliefs. Reporting from outside the court in Ottawa, CTV's Rosemary Thompson described the ruling as "very exciting" for the Multani family. "They (the court) said this is a fundamental religious symbol to this boy and for that reason, it would be an infringment of his religious rights if there were to be a complete ban on the kirpan," Thompson told CTV Newsnet. Dagger The dispute began in 2001, when Multani wore his kirpan to Ste-Catherine-Laboure school in LaSalle, Que. The school's principal ordered Multani, who was 12 at the time, to remove the kirpan, but the young boy decided to leave school rather than remove the 10-centimetre dagger. Orthodox Sikhs, who make up about 10 per cent of the estimated 250,000 Sikhs in Canada, are required by their religion to wear the kirpan at all times. The Multani family took the case to court, and in May 2002, the Quebec Superior Court ruled the boy could wear his kirpan to school but only if it was wrapped in a cloth and hidden inside a wooden case underneath clothing. Quebec's government at the time, the Parti Québécois, appealed the decision. But in 2004, the Quebec Court of Appeal struck down the decision completely, instead ruling that community safety was more important. In the court's view, the kirpan violated a student conduct code that prohibited the carrying of "weapons and dangerous objects." At a Supreme Court hearing in April 2005, Multani family lawyer Julius Grey noted that schools in other Canadian provinces have permitted the wearing of kirpans and there had never been a case where one has been used to stab a student. That adds up to "overwhelming empirical evidence that the kirpan is not a dangerous weapon," said Grey. However, Francois Aquin, lawyer for the Montreal school board, retorted that there have never been any school assaults with kitchen knives either. "That doesn't mean we will allow students to carry kitchen knives in school," she told the hearing. Compromise Other provinces, including schools in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, have solved the issue with a compromise. They permit the wearing of kirpans with certain restrictions -- such as a limit on size or a requirement that they be worn hidden under clothing. Sikh MPs are allowed to wear kirpans in the House of Commons, but trial judges in some provinces have banned them from courtrooms. Most airlines once routinely allowed passengers to wear kirpans with blades no longer than 10 centimetres. However, after the 9/11 terror attacks on the U.S., Transport Canada imposed a total ban on all "knives or knife-like objects," which included religious ones. Thursday's Supreme Court of Canada ruling focused specifically on wearing kirpans in schools.

Instructions For Life Instructions for life in the new millennium from the Dalai Lama 1. Take into account that great love and great achievement involve great risk. 2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson. 3. Follow the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions. 4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. 5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. 6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship. 7. When you realise you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. 8. Spend some time alone every day. 9. Open your arms to change but don't let go of your values. 10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. 11. Live a good and honourable life, then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time. 12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation of your life. 13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. 14. Don't bring up the past. Share your knowledge - it’s a way to achieve immortality. 15. Be gentle with the earth. 16. Once a year go somewhere you’ve never been before. 17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other. 18. Judge your success by what you had to give up to get it. 19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. http://www.spiritualplatform.org/sp/phil/dalailama.html

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=f41cf38c-7a1c-4b8b-acd5-3ddb5f7b063b India steps in to help brides Special units to weed out marriage fraud Mike Roberts CanWest News Service Sunday, March 12, 2006 India has announced plans to set up an international network to crack down on fake marriages, and has vowed to aid harassed and abandoned brides at home and abroad. Sending its strongest message to date on the issue of marital fraud involving non-resident Indians, India proposes to create "special cells" in Canada and other "locations that have a significant Indian population," said Vayalar Ravi, minister for overseas Indian affairs. Wherever required, Ravi said, "the effort would be to get the guilty extradited to India." This is the third initiative from India in response to Abandoned Brides, a Calgary Herald/Vancouver Province series on the tragic trend of brides in India being abandoned by Canadian men. The series ran over five days in October, and sparked an international outcry. The units will help parents verify eligibility of prospective grooms, and ensure abandoned brides receive legal and medical aid in India or abroad. "I would advise state governments to establish independent gender cells to deal with issues related to marriages to overseas Indians and to extend the required assistance. These cells can then act in a co-ordinated manner with the overseas centres," Ravi said. Vancouver's Indian consul general, Ashok Kumar, welcomed the initiative. "We are seeking details from Delhi," he said. India's proposal preceded the establishment last week of the Canadian Marriage Fraud Victims Force Society, a B.C. Lower Mainland immigrant services and lobby group. At the Grand Taj banquet hall in Surrey, B.C., earlier this month, more than 300 concerned citizens voiced their anger over the growing issue of marital fraud in the Indo-Canadian community. "There's not only boys who leave girls behind, there are girls who leave boys behind and people who come here and disappear from the airport, or vanish after one week, three weeks," organizer Palwinder Gill said. Gill, whose Indian wife came to Canada last June and subsequently fled, has formed a non-profit society to assist other victims of marital fraud. The Canadian Marriage Fraud Victims Force Society will petition Ottawa for a change to Canada's immigration law placing a "three-year condition" on spousal sponsorship. "They would get landed status from the very beginning, but if they are going out of that relationship within three years, their landed status would be cancelled," said Gill. "There would be exceptions, if there is abuse or crime, but there must be solid evidence." Last October, Sikh holy leaders in Amritsar urged Sikhs to stop offering dowries for their daughters in a bid to prevent dishonest non-resident Indians from seeking to defraud their Indian brides. In January, New Delhi's Union Ministry for NRI Affairs launched an educational campaign listing precautions women should take when considering marriage proposals from abroad, as well as outlining their rights under Indian law. © The Calgary Herald 2006

Hold On Tightly Hold on tightly to what is truly important in life. Hold on to faith. It is the source of believing that all things are possible. It is fiber and strength of a confident soul. Hold on to hope. It banishes doubt and enables attitudes to be positive and cheerful. Hold on to trust. It is at the core of fruitful relationships that are secure and content. Hold on to love. It is life's greatest gift of all, for it shares, cares, and gives meaning to life. Hold on to family and friends. They are the most important people in your life, and they make the world a better place. They are your roots and the beginnings that you grew from; they are the vine that has grown through time to nourish you, help you on your way, and always remain close by. Hold on to all that you are and all that you have learned, for these things are what make you unique. Don't ignore what you feel and what you believe is right and important; your heart has a way of speaking louder than your mind. Hold on to your dreams. Achieve them diligently and honestly. Never take the easy way or surrender to deceit. Remember others on your way and take time to care for their needs. Enjoy the beauty around you. Have the courage to see things differently and clearly. Make the world a better place one day at a time, and don't let go of the important things that give meaning to your life. ~ Author Unknown

http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/dates/iwd/index_e.html INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY March 8, 2006 Beyond Laws: The Right to Be Me -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Did you know that March 8 is International Women's Day? Established in 1977 by the United Nations, this special day provides an opportunity to celebrate the progress made to advance equality for women and to assess the challenges that remain. This special day also provides an opportunity to consider steps to bring about equality for women in all their diversity. Canadians will celebrate International Women's Week from Sunday, March 5, to Saturday, March 11, 2006, with the highlight being International Women's Day on March 8. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Theme The Canadian theme for International Women's Week 2006 is “Beyond Laws: The Right to be Me'', which addresses women's rights, women's diversity and the need to put words into action. 2006 marks the 25th anniversary of Canada's ratification of the most comprehensive international treaty on women's rights, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The law guarantees women and men equal rights, opportunities and responsibilities in all aspects of Canadian life. Much has been accomplished to put into place legal foundations such as the Canadian Human Rights Act, pay and employment equity laws, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and maternity and parental benefits. Despite these legal foundations, a gap remains between laws and the reality of women's lives. Many issues from the past, such as violence and poverty, have not been resolved. Today, as women join the labour force in record numbers, raise families and participate in their communities, barriers remain. These barriers keep women, whether they are Aboriginal women, women with disabilities, lesbians, single women, lone parents or women living in poverty, from realizing their full potential. The legal removal of barriers is not enough. We need to close the gap between the sexes in our daily lives. The 25-year wait for equality is over!

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/ed...a7-69fa06fdd028 Kirpan decision furthers schools' role to teach respect for others Editorial - Vancouver Sun Wednesday, March 08, 2006 Teenager Gurbaj Singh Multani took his quest to wear his Sikh ceremonial dagger to school to the Supreme Court of Canada. Although many school boards had already decided in favour of permitting Sikh students to wear kirpans, the Supreme Court of Canada last week struck a major blow in favour of freedom of religion. In a unanimous 8-0 decision, the court held that schools must embrace religious tolerance and multiculturalism by letting Sikh students wear the ceremonial daggers their religion requires. The case arose after 17-year-old Montrealer Gurbaj Singh Multani switched to a private school after the public school board prohibited his carrying the kirpan on the grounds that it was a potentially dangerous weapon. Not all judges considered the Charter of Rights in resolving the case, but the five who did found the board's decision infringed Multani's Charter right to freedom of religion. Further, the judges concluded that the infringement could be not be justified under s. 1 of the Charter. The board's decision was motivated by a pressing and substantial objective -- to ensure a reasonable level of safety at the school -- but the court held that that objective could be achieved without maintaining an absolute prohibition on carrying the kirpan. Although the school board expressed concern that the dagger could be used for violent purposes, the court noted there has not been a single violent school incident involving kirpans in the 100-plus years Sikhs have been attending schools in Canada. The court also found that Multani had previously agreed to certain conditions -- including that the kirpan be sewn into a cloth envelope, placed in a wooden sheath and kept beneath his clothes -- that would reduce any danger the dagger might pose. Given these conditions and the lack of violence associated with the kirpan in schools, the court concluded that it posed less danger than other objects found in schools, such as scissors, pens and baseball bats. In contrast, the court noted that maintaining an absolute prohibition on the kirpan sends the damaging message that some religious practices don't merit the same protection as others. And given that the damage done to the Canadian values of religious tolerance and multiculturalism by banning the kirpan outweigh the limited benefits of maintaining the prohibition, the court held that an absolute prohibition could not be justified. Reaction to the judgment has been mixed, with one Montreal teacher even suggesting that someone could now bring a Kalashnikov to school in the name of religion. But this rhetoric betrays a complete lack of understanding of the importance Sikhs place on the kirpan which, as the court argued, is a religious symbol, not a weapon. Further, as the court also argued, schools are one of the primary places in which we inculcate respect for Canadian values in the younger generation. With the court's latest decision, schools will be expected to continue fulfilling that noble task. © The Vancouver Sun 2006