Harbhajan

Kirpans okay : http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/aislin/0303.html

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060306/punjab1.htm#5 Change in Maryada draws criticism Varinder Walia Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 5 The amendment in the Sikh 60-year-old Rehat Maryada by the SGPC has evoked a strong reaction from Sikh intellectuals. Mr Gurcharnjit Singh Lamba, a Sikh intellectual and Editor of monthly ‘Sant Sipahi’, has said the Sikh Maryada was formulated after marathon discussions and hence any amendment without taking the Sikh Panth into confidence was unacceptable to the sangat. He was here today to pay his obeisance at Harmandar Sahib. A comparative study of two versions of the ‘Sikh Rehat Maryada’ - one of 1945 and the recent one published by the SGPC - shows glaring discrepancies. Questioning the wisdom of changing the Article on re-marriage, Mr Lamba alleged the amendment was aimed to benefit certain influential persons who had indulged in bigamy. The original Rehat Maryada clearly mentions that no Sikh could remarry when his wife was alive. However, the amended Maryada has added the word ‘generally’ that reads, “Generally, no Sikh should marry a second wife if the first wife is alive.†Another glaring amendment in the new version is on the definition of a Sikh. The Punjabi version of the original Maryada gives the definition of a Sikh as “Any human being who believes in all Sikh Gurus in One Immortal Being, (ii.) Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Sahib to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, (iii.) Guru Granth Sahib, and the utterances and teachings of the 10 Gurus and baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a Sikh. However, the amended Punjabi version has deleted ‘Dassan’ (meaning all 10 from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh). Mr Lamba further alleges that the deletion of ‘plucking of gray hair’ from the new version of Maryada was a blunder on the part of the SGPC. He also criticised a section of the Sant Samaj for pursuing its own Maryada which was in sharp contrast to the original version, passed with the consent of the Sikh sangat.

FRIENDSHIP Friendship is a gift given to another to do with as they see fit. You do not have the right to dictate terms or conditions. Once given it must be allowed to either blossom and grow or fade and die. Interference of any kind should not be part of the deal. Sometimes encouragement is needed, guidance even, but, as the friend becomes stronger and more confident, it is good to sit back and take delight in the transformation. As time passes there might be a parting of the ways, but that does not mean the friendship has come to an end. True friendship does not have strings attached. Manipulation or the expectation of gratitude is harmful and will end up hurting the very person you hold dear in your heart. You have no right to try to control or undermine the progress that has been made. How would you feel if the roles were reversed? It is a two-way partnership, both parties contributing to the relationship. Each as important as the other, giving and receiving and blossoming in the warmth of the Love offered from the heart to the heart. Nobody can destroy the harmony unless you yourselves allow it to happen. You should try to spread Love and Light to all those you meet. Some will return the favour, but always remember that a stranger could be a friend you have yet to meet. Friendship is a priceless gift that should be cherished by both parties. Give with Love, receive with Love, grow with Love. source: http://www.daily-spiritual.co.uk/thoughts.html

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/st...a8-83ce445ccaf1 Want to live longer? Be nice to your spouse Sharon Kirkey CanWest News Service Friday, March 03, 2006 Everyone knows the drill for a strong heart: Don't smoke. Exercise. Eat healthy foods. Now comes a new warning: Be nice to your spouse. A new study based on 150 healthy, older married couples found that women who are hostile towards their husbands during disagreements are more likely to have hardening of their coronary arteries. For men, being controlling -- or being married to someone who is -- promotes atherosclerosis. "It was intriguing that we could find a relationship between a six-minute behavioural snapshot of couples talking about an argument they have, and a silent but very serious condition in their coronary arteries," said researcher Tim Smith, a professor of psychology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. "These were all people who were outwardly healthy but some had advanced atherosclerosis." Smith is to present his findings today in Denver at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. Other researchers have found that matrimony helps people live longer. Married people are less likely to have a stroke, die after an operation or suffer from chronic illnesses. No one knows why, but scientists have speculated that marriage might reduce stress because people are less likely to feel lonely or isolated. They're also more likely to exercise, eat well and not drink too much. Now, the Utah study says the way couples fight is important, too. Smith's team interviewed married couples, mostly in their early 60s, who had no history of cardiovascular disease. The couples were taken into the lab and videotaped as they discussed something -- money, in-laws, kids -- that they had had disagreements about in the past. Researchers who watched the tapes coded every comment into categories. Two days later, each couple had a CAT scan to check for calcification of the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood. Plaque is a build-up of fat, calcium and other substances that, over time, can lead to narrowing of the arteries and an eventual heart attack. The researchers found that the more hostile and unfriendly the women were during the six-minute discussions, especially if their husbands were, too, the more severe the hardening of their arteries. However, their arterial health was not influenced by whether they or their husband acted in a controlling or dominating way. Men, on the other hand, who were more dominant or controlling, or whose wives were, were more likely than other men to have more severe hardening of the arteries. Men who didn't have to struggle for control had much lower levels of atherosclerosis, Smith says. Smith said warm connections between people tend to dampen down physiological "fight or flight" stress responses, whereas angry interactions tend to lead to changes in heart rate, blood pressure and stress hormones. © The Vancouver Sun 2006

http://sympaticomsn.ctv.ca/servlet/A..._dagger_060302 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.

http://www.deepikaglobal.com/ENG3_sub.asp?...amp;subcatcode= Sikh Conference announces formation of 'Darbar-e-Khalsa' Fatehgarh Sahib, Feb 26 (UNI) An organisation, 'Darbar-e-Khalsa' will be set up to guide the Sikh community and create social, religious, political and economic awareness among Sikhs. This decision was announced during the 'Virsa Sambhal Vishav Sikh Sammelan' held at Sirhind under the patronage of Damadami Taksal and Sant Samaj. 'Darbar-e-Khalsa will comprise of Sikh scholars who will function under the patronage of a Chairman. Former Akal Takht Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode will be the co-ordinator for setting up this organisation. 'The announcement of the formation of the 'Darbar-e-Khalsa will be made on the occasion of Baisakhi. A member of the 'Darbar-e-Khalsa' will not contest in any election and this organisation would be purely dedicated for the betterment of the Sikh community. The gathering at the Sammelan was impressive with representatives of Sant Samaj and Damdami Taksal making their presence felt. There was no direct criticism of any political leader including Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Parkash Singh Badal, who did not attend the conference. The Congress was criticised on various fronts and at one point the SAD leadership also came under attack on the issue of ineffective debate on terrorism in Punjab Assembly session. Mostly social issues related with Sikhs were discussed during the function. The issue of separate Calendar for the Sikhs was also raised in the function. During the sammelan, representatives of Sant Samaj stressed that all out efforts should be made to bring about improvement in the social, economical, educational and religious spheres to make the Sikhs prosperous. A call was also given to Sikh leaders to sink their petty individual differences and to join hands for the cause of Sikhism. While addressing the gathering Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa said the function was not organized for criticising any individual or group. The function was held to discuss challenges faced by the Sikh community, he said. He said the Sammelan was a way to check deterioration in Sikh values and principles and to make efforts to maintain their separate identity.The Taksal chief suggested that to make Sikhism popular a Sikh TV channel should be started .

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/we...21-94a34c4ccba7 Infant's broken bones left untreated Parents found guilty of failing to provide necessities of life Darah Hansen Vancouver Sun, with files from the Surrey Now Thursday, February 23, 2006 SURREY - A Surrey couple who failed to get timely medical care for their infant son's broken bones in 2002 were found guilty Wednesday in B.C. Supreme Court on a charge of failing to provide their child with the necessities of life. Gurpreet Toor, 24, and her now-estranged husband, 28-year-old Naib Toor, are scheduled to be sentenced May 17 in New Westminster. In pronouncing his verdict, Justice David Brine said it was difficult to imagine the agony and horror suffered by their young son, Ravinder Toor, in the summer of 2002, when the boy was just 10 months old. In testimony during the trial -- held Feb. 6 to 13 -- the court heard that Ravinder suffered several serious fractures to his legs, left wrist and left elbow in July and August of 2002 while he was primarily in the care of his father. Surrey Memorial Hospital doctors who examined the child during that period told the court the boy's injuries were "non-accidental" -- meaning they were likely caused by someone else, or in the presence of someone else. However, no explanation for the injuries was offered during trial. A police investigation was launched Aug. 15, 2002 after Naib Toor brought the boy into Surrey Memorial with a severely swollen left elbow, which was quickly diagnosed as broken. Dr. Robert White testified Ravinder's father said he'd noticed the swelling on the child's arm the day before but waited for a family member to accompany him to hospital and act as translator from his native Punjabi. X-rays taken of the boy at that time revealed older breaks to Ravinder's leg and wrist, court heard at trial. White testified the wrist fracture likely happened two to three weeks before Ravinder was brought to hospital. The court also heard that Ravinder had been diagnosed with a possible broken leg in July 2002, but the family failed to get medical help for the fracture. Instead, Ravinder's leg was bound with cloth by a traditional Indian healer. On Wednesday, the judge said though the child was primarily under his father's care at the time of the injuries, Gurpreet, too, failed in her responsibilities as a parent by neglecting to take her obviously injured child to a doctor. Crown counsel Kris Pechet noted during the trial that the family lived two blocks from a medical clinic, and within 10 minutes' drive of Surrey Memorial. In an interview Wednesday, Pechet said Ravinder, now four, currently lives with his mother and is in good health. "There are no ongoing problems that we know of," he said. Gurpreet and Naib Toor are separated, with a divorce pending. A pre-sentence report is being prepared to aid the judge with sentencing. The maximum penalty for the crime is two years in jail. dahansen@png.canwest.com © The Vancouver Sun 2006

To the best of my knowledge that has never been the case !

http://www.panthic.org/news/132/ARTICLE/2260/2006-02-19.html The Rising Tide: Authority of the Akal Takhat Sunday 19th February, 2006 Dr. Amrik Singh (Sacramento) February 10, 2006 may assume significance in the history of Akal Takhat on many counts. It has prepared groundwork for enlightened discussion on issues of religion and politics in the Sikh world. Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti’s directions to call for an intra-party convention to resolve turban issue in France, declaring Baba Daljit Singh Chicagowale guilty of religious misconduct and withdrawing the boycott of the Sarna brothers conclude a religio-political chain of events that followed after DSGMC former Chief Paramjit Singh Sarna’s procession to Nankana Sahib for the installation of the golden Palki. Sarna’s effort won him a spot in the limelight. The SGPC seemed paled into insignificance in face of the welcome treatment accorded to Sarna both in East and West Punjab. Capt. Araminder Singh appeared as if shooting a message to Parkash Singh Badal “So what if you control SGPC in Amritsar, I control DSGMC in Delhi†Parmjit Singh Sarna was still in the thick of his devotional somersault, when his detractors enacted a mutiny with the express help of Parkash Singh Badal. Badal’s supporters in Delhi sought the intervention of the Akal Takhat which the Jathedar of the supreme body directly granted. The unsavory situation sparked a very heated discussion among Sikhs across party lines. The Jathedar’s role came under sharp criticism. The sponsorship of the Jathedar’s visit to USA by Baba Daljit Singh Chicagowale had also put him in lurid lights. The vituperative fallsout inflicted on the Jathedar sometimes crossed even the decency of language thus creating an injury on the psyche of the ones who believe in its supremacy. The historical aspect of the whole scenario may be significant because of its dimensions. In view of several controversies, the following issues have come up for further discussion. * Jathedar’s appointment and the enormity of his role in Sikh World. * Monitoring the religious practices and stopping the spawning of commercial preachers at home and abroad. * Standardizing norms for the title Sant under Sikh Maryada. * Scrutinizing the activities of self appointed Sants and their damage to Sikhism. * Providing support to film, movie or documentary producers who intend to use Sikh history, religion and culture. * Making available resources to researchers with a professional guidance. * Spreading the message of Sikh Gurus untainted and uncontaminated by caste, creed and class considerations. * Maintaining a forum of diversity of opinions The foremost issue that has come to light is how to appoint Jathedar of Akal Takhat and how to make his participation possible in deciding matters of religious importance. Since the appointing authority is in the hands of SGPC, it should be made sure that the nominee is able to face debates, discussions and determinations. The nominee’s appointment should be ratified by the general house of SGPC. The nominee should face questions in the house about his group allegiance, preferences, favors and past record. It may seem irrelevant to cite Judge Alito’s case here, but it gives insight into the Sikhs’ problems. Judge Alito had to encounter scathing criticism about issues that were detrimental to democrats. Though democrats couldn’t thwart his appointment, yet Judge Alito came out chastened after facing the Senate. The first decision after being appointed was most unlike a republican representative. He voted with the majority (6-3) and surprised Chief Justice, John Roberts and two others known to be the conservative wing of the court. The lives of two Missouri inmates on death row were spared. The second most nagging issue before the Sikhs may be ever increasing number of individuals claiming themselves to be Sants. How do they get the honorific? Perhaps no one can answer that question. How do they meet the norms of becoming a Sant? Are they promoting Sikh values in the best tradition of Sikhism? These are some of the questions Sikh Sangat around the globe deserves to know. Is Akal Takhat prepared to issue a directive to the SGPC for arriving at a consensus on issues that affect one and all? The opposing groups in the general house of SGPC may be called to work out viable solutions to these problems. The present trend of slitting each other’s throats will only extend the regime of confusion worse confounded. The third most important issue is to monitor the activities of self-appointed Sants. The SRS society Chicago brought up a case of religious misconduct and also produced enough evidence against Daljit Singh Chicagowale for enjoying the illicit company of a woman. The case against Baba Daljit Singh is said to be so complete in details that it leaves no room for a second opinion. The work of the SRS and newspapers in investigative reporting is appreciable. Assuming the responsibility for what one is writing about is the highest moral of modern journalistic writing. The Baba Chicago case can set the precedent for all those who believe in merely slandering religious people, and doing very little to make a case supported with concrete evidence. The defensive posture taken by Baba, that it was an invasion on his privacy, would have more ground if he was living a private life. As a spiritual head of a religious place dependent on offerings of devotees can’t be said, under no stretch of imagination, to support a private life. Fourth, the issue which is going to crop up again and again will be the misrepresentation of Sikh history, culture and religion. Under the directive of Akal Takhat, the SGPC should set up an office to make available all kind support required by producers, directors, and media managers for the truthful representation of history, culture and religion. The focus on Sikh history and religion has grown 10 times greater in recent times. Therefore, a larger number of producers, directors and media managers will be working to bring Sikh history on the silver screen. It is the right time to seize on the possibilities to the demand of this ignored area. Fifth, the professional guidance to researchers is equally important. Researchers working under the guidance of University professors will use Sikh history resources in different ways. It may conflict with the traditional view held by Sikhs. Sometimes, misunderstanding may occur because of ignorance and lack of perspective. Therefore, the SGPC should nominate a person of high credentials to provide enlightened guidance to all those who are venturing to write on historical facts and circumstances. Sixth, caste, gender and class considerations are so rampant in Sikh circles that the real message of the Gurus lies buried under the monopolistic politics of few dominant castes. The curse continues uninterrupted because it gives legitimacy to the supremacy of a few on the majority. The criticism of Brahmanism has little effect in the face of Sikhs’ own participation in caste ridden politics. There is no tradition of maintaining a forum for the play of differences. As a result Sikhs end up pigeonholed into separate groups with no chance of any interaction. The segregation of Sikhs from Sikhs makes them a most vulnerable community. They easily become instruments of their enemies’ design. In such a situation, they are incapable to safeguard their interests. On the contrary, they are sometimes a party to the misbegotten view of their own history and religion. In the long history of the institutions, the Jathedar of Akal Takhat became controversial many times for playing a partisan role. Earlier, [bhai] Ranjit Singh was criticized for becoming a party to Capt. Araminder Singh’s charge against Tohra for visiting the Sant Nirankari Bhavan. Tohra was exonerated by the then Jathedar Ranjit Singh. Capt. Araminder Singh maintained a studied silence after that. Nobody knows till today what transpired between the two. People said Tohra manipulated Jathedar Ranjit Singh through the offices of CPM Politbureau member Harkishan Sujeet Singh. Sonia told Araminder Singh to stop his campaign against the veteran leader. The summons to appear before Akal Takhat was not complied by Prakash Singh Badal either. The stand taken both by Tohra and Badal was to avoid embarrassment to their political careers. The right course, however, for them would have been to submit to the authority of the Takhat. The resultant punishment would have only raised their stature as Sikhs. Paramjit Singh Sarna emerged greater in a situation that otherwise would have made him look more hardheaded. The court of Akal Takhat is not like other institutions of justice. It has only moral authority on the religious conduct of Sikhs in representative positions. The religious punishment is in fact no punishment. It is like the seva that is done willingly by hundreds of devotees everyday in Gurdwaras. It has more spiritual meanings rather than poetic justice in the phenomenal sense. To clean shoes, dishes, reciting Gurbani, paying for Karah Prashad to name a few of these sevas are just in the nature of fracturing the inflated ego and bringing the fear of God in the minds of the guilty. Editors can be reached at editors@panthic.org

Remember this. When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from light, the light continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God. ~Augustine

It's better to sleep on it, research shows Margaret Munro CanWest News Service Friday, February 17, 2006 Thinking too hard about complex decisions, such as choosing a car, may lead to worse decisions, scientists say. New research suggests the best way to make tough decisions is to forget about them. Collect the relevant information, it says, then let the unconscious churn through the options. In the end, it makes for better decisions. "Contrary to conventional wisdom, it is not always advantageous to engage in thorough conscious deliberation before choosing," say psychologist Dr. Ap Dijksterhuis and his colleagues at the University of Amsterdam, who make a strong case in the journal Science today for listening to gut feelings and intuition. Their work on "unconscious thought theory" taps into the brain's hidden -- and many psychologists say unappreciated -- ability to juggle and weigh complicated situations and options. "In short, consciousness should be used to gather information, the unconscious to work on it," says Dijksterhuis. A similar approach was proposed in Malcolm Gladwell's bestselling book Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, which has made the author a popular figure on the corporate lecture circuit. The new study focuses on consumer choices, but Dijksterhuis and other psychologists say politicians, managers and negotiators would also be well advised to delegate tricky decisions to the unconscious. "This process of just 'sleeping on it' and 'letting it sit' is not just procrastination but is a valuable, productive technique that is drawing on cognitive processes that seem to really exist," says psychologist Dr. Jonathan Schooler of the University of British Columbia, who has done extensive research in the field. "At a minimum, people should include this in their tool kit of decision-making." The Dutch studies suggest simple choices like deciding on shampoo, towels or oven mitts can be safely left to the conscious mind. But more complex decisions are best left to the unconscious. In one of the experiments, university students were presented with four hypothetical cars, and a list of 12 attributes for each of them. Half the students were then immediately given word puzzles to keep their conscious minds busy. The other half was asked to mull over the pros and cons for the different cars, one of which had far more pluses than the others. After four minutes the students were asked to pick the best car. More than half the students who had been preoccupied with puzzles made the best choice. But only 25 per cent of the students who actively considered the choices picked the right car. The researchers say people can only consciously consider and weigh a limited amount of information. The unconscious mind, they say, can integrate wider swaths of information, which leads to better and more satisfying decisions. All of which indicates people shouldn't agonize over and fixate on choices. The better approach, say the psychologists, is to gather relevant information and then take a break. The break does not necessarily have to be long, judging by the car experiments, which gave the students just a four-minute distraction. "The important recommendation of this work is that there can be real utility to just letting it percolate and then seeing what comes to mind," says Schooler. If a decision doesn't come, he says the conscious mind probably needs to gather more information for the unconscious to shift through. © The Vancouver Sun 2006 http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/st...e2-be8eaac23f99

'LIFE' Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air. You name them: work, family, health, friends, and spirit - and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls - family, health, friends and spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these, hey will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for Balance in your life. How? Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only God knows what is best for you. Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless. Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life. Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying. Don't run through life so fast that you forget. don't forget a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated. Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily. Don't use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savoured each step of the way. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a Mystery and Today is a gift: that's why we call it The Present'. -- Author Unknown

http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetai...6&cat=India Individuals can 'bid' for Golden Temple 'langar' sewa Amritsar | February 16, 2006 6:42:16 PM IST In a significant departure from tradition the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandik Committee (SGPC) has given the nod for 'alloting' the 'sewa' at the Guru Ram Dass 'langar' (community kitchen) at the Golden Temple to individuals. The first to be given this privilege is Mr Surjit Singh Rakhra, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA from Samana in Patiala district.The millionaire MLA, who has business interests abroad had made a request to the SGPC in this regard. The request was made after the SGPC executive at its meeting on February 14 it was decided to allow individuals to organise the community kitchen 'sewa' at the Golden Temple for a specified period not exceeding beyond 15-days.The decision was taken following requests by Sikh NRIs that they should be allowed to organise the 'sewa' as they do not get the opportunity to do 'sewa' at the 'langar' due to their short stay in India. Mr Rakhra made a request for organising the 'sewa' for a month but the SGPC allowed him to do so for 15 days.The dates however have not yet been decided. SGPC general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur when contacted today said that the decision of the executive did not imply that ''the sewa is up for sale''.He made it clear that the SGPC was not charging many fee for alloting the 'sewa' which is a religious and voluntary act. Elaborating on the decision Mr Bhaur said that the individual organising the 'sewa' will provide the 'rasad' (ration) at his own expense for the 'langar'.The individual and his relatives or friends would be free to participate in the 'sewa', he said while clarifying that other devotees who come to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple can also participate in the 'sewa' as is the custom. The 'sewa' at the 'langar' which is generally performed by devotees includes making 'chapattis',a task usually performed by women.It also includes distributing the food prepared to devotees at the community kitchens,usually by the male devotees and picking-up and washing used utensils,undertaken both by men and women devotees. Mr Bhaur said that the SGPC would however continue to supervise the 'sewa' and maintain the 'maryada' (ritual) of the 'langar'.On days when the 'sewa' is not alloted to any individual,the SGPC will organise the 'sewa',as has been the tradition,he added.

Hot tub for the mind ! In these times, a common prescription for a day packed with troubles is to go jump in your hot tub. Relaxation starts immediately; for a time, at least, the body is at peace. Now imagine a hot tub for the mind. That is what meditation is; it can bathe your mind in relaxing thoughts. This requires a lot of practice, but when you have learned to jump in the hot tub of meditation at the end of a day, instead of rehashing problems with your co-workers or downing a double martini, you can close your eyes, start in with an inspirational passage, and let the accumulated tensions of the day dissolve. http://dev.nilgiri.org/nilgiri.cfm/pageid:727

TODAY'S AFFIRMATION "I will waste not even a precious second today in anger or hate or jealousy or selfishness. I know that the seeds I sow I will harvest, because every action, good or bad, is always followed by an equal reaction. I will plant only good seeds this day." -Og Mandino 1923-1996, Author and Speaker

Putting Your Faith in God At times of great difficulty, human beings cry out to God and ask for divine intervention. This crying out stretches the heart and soul, and helps to bring the soul closer to God's heart. In order for a deeper level of trust to occur in relation to God, there must first be an act of love and faith on the part of the soul that is seeking. The actions of love and trust, made as an offering to God, open the doorway so that the soul can have a deeper experience of God's reality. This experience in turn creates greater faith, so that what the soul most longs for can eventually be satisfied. At this time the actions of faith are seen and heard by God, even if the human consciousness cannot yet feel faith in its fullness. Putting your faith in God, even when you cannot feel faith, even when you cannot feel God's reality, is a powerful antidote to the forces of darkness which would wish to create fear, doubt and despair. Putting your faith in God is one of the first steps in the process of redemption, where all hurts are healed, where all wrong actions are righted, where what has been out of balance can become whole and pure once again. Putting your faith in God is one of the most worthy actions a soul can undertake at this time, which will create a pathway of light for all souls to eventually return home. With all love and blessings, Amen. Copyright ©2006 WorldBlessings.com

History of Valentine's Day Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France. © The History Channel®

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060211/main7.htm Sarna brothers freed from boycott diktat Rashmi Talwar - TribuneIndia Amritsar, February 10 With ‘social boycott’ of Sarnas and three others withdrawn, hands of former and present president, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), Paramjit Sarna and his brother Harvinder Sarna, respectively, have been strengthened in Delhi gurdwara management. Five Sikh high priests headed by Jathedar Akal Takht, Joginder Singh Vedanti and Giani Tarlochan Singh, Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Giani Balwant Singh Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Iqbal Singh Takht Patna sahib, Gian Gurbachan Singh, head-Granthi, today withdraw the ‘boycott’ and stated that clarification submitted by Sarna brothers would be deliberated at the next meeting. The Sarna brothers today appeared before five head priests here in view of interim directions issued to them by Jathedar, Akal Takht on February 01. However Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna addressing mediapersons soon after appearing at Akal Takht said they were ‘exonerated’ by head priests and this was a victory for them. Meanwhile, the Sarnas demanded from Sikh high priests that those who had made false depositions against them including Mr Parkash Singh Badal his son Mr Sukhbir Badal, Mr Avtar Singh hit and Mr Prahlad Singh Chandok, be summoned to Akal Takht for an explanation. In another decision the Sikh head priests held Baba Daljit Singh Chicago guilty of ‘religious misconduct’. Allegations had been made that Daljit was caught with a woman in a motel in America in a compromising position. The Sikh head priests rejected the appeal made by 11 Sikh organisations for an open hearing of Sarna brothers, who arrived at 1 PM along with 28 members of the DSGMC and were supported by seven members of the SGPC from Haryana led by its president Mr Jagdish Singh Jhinda, lone former Member of Parliament Rajdev arrived form Sangrur, justice (retd) Ajit Singh Bains PHRO, the Dal Khalsa, the Khalra Mission Committee, Mian Mir Foundation etc. In another decision the high priests directed the SGPC to invite all religious representatives at Akal Takht to deliberate on the ban on wearing of conspicuous religious symbols in schools of France. Khalistan ideologue Jagjit Singh Chouhan also joined the DSGMC gathering. After reciting path the Sarna brothers appeared Takht at 2.10 PM and were welcomed by various panthic organisations soon after emerging from secretariat at 3.30 PM. They thanked all organizations which had supported them and assured support to them. Incidentally, the seven-members from Haryana were rallying to drum up support for a separate Haryana committee. They alleged that the SGPC meted out ‘step motherly’ treatment to them. Former MP Rajdev Singh Khalsa denounced the edict issued against Sarnas.

Whatever dreams you're dreaming, May each one of them come true. Whatever plans you're making, May they all work out for you. And may you have more happiness Than any words can tell. Not only on this day, But all the year as well. May you have a little sunlight to guide you on your way. May you discover, little by little, happiness that's here to stay. May you grow a little stronger and a little wiser with each dawn May you have a little time to believe in dreams to dream upon May all the joy your heart desires find its way to you. And may the blessings that brighten up your days keep on shining through. - Author Unknown

What Is Maturity What is maturity ? Maturity is the ability to control anger and settle differences without violence or destruction. Maturity is patience. It is the willingness to pass up immediate pleasure in favor of the long-term gain. Maturity is perseverance, the ability to sweat out a project or a situation in spite of heavy opposition and discouraging set-backs. Maturity is the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat, without complaint or collapse. Maturity is humility. It is being big enough to say, "I was wrong." And, when right, the mature person need not experience the satisfaction of saying, "I told you so." Maturity is the ability to make a decision and stand by it. The immature spend their lives exploring endless possibilities; then they do nothing. Maturity means dependability, keeping one's word, coming through in a crisis. The immature are masters of the alibi. They are the confused and the disorganized. Their lives are a maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business, and good intentions that somehow never materialize. Maturity is the art of living in peace with that which we cannot change, the courage to change that which should be changed -- and the wisdom to know the difference. http://www.storybin.com/words/words132.shtml

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060204/punjab1.htm#1 Sikh bodies train guns on Akal Takht Jathedar Our Correspondent Amritsar, February 3 While the radical Sikh organisation, the Khalra Mission Committee (KMC), today gave an ultimatum to Akal Takht Jathedar to resign from his post, a former Akal Takht high priest alleged that the directive was issued at the behest of Shiromani Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal. In a significant turn of events, former head priest Akal Takht Giani Bhagwan Singh said the directive by the jathedar smacked of partisan approach. He said the results of such actions would be hard to control by the SAD. He appealed to the Sikh community to oppose the decision of the jathedar. The former head priest said those who talked of “violation of maryada†in foreign countries should look at their own actions. He added that the jathedar by his actions had dimmed the halo of the revered seat of Akal Takht. Echoing similar concern, the Punjab Human Rights Organisation castigated the jathedar for acting at the behest of Mr Badal and dealing a serious blow to the “Sikh maryadaâ€. Harmandeep Singh and Bibi Paramjit Kaur Khalra, chairman and member, KMC, respectively, and Justice Ajit Singh Bains (retd) and Kirpal Singh, chairman and deputy chairman, PHRO, respectively, said the decision of social boycott was made at the behest of Mr Badal and violated “religious ethosâ€. Denying any connection with Sarna brothers, they asserted that they could not condone wrong actions and asked the jathedar to clarify why a “siropa†was bestowed on Mr Badal after his bail on charges of corruption. They raised a questions on the integrity of the jathedar for not summoning Mr Badal and his wife for alleged connections with Swami Chandraswami and Ashutosh. Mr Baldev Singh, who heads the Akhand Kirtani Jatha, in a statement said the controversy was unfortunate and the matter should be resolved through discussion. He suggested that SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar should intervene immediately.

Reflections Of Self We Are All Mirrors For Each Other When we look at other people, we see many of their qualities in innumerable and seemingly random combinations. However, the qualities that we see in the people around us are directly related to the traits that exist in us. "Like attracts like" is one of the spiritual laws of the universe. We attract individuals into our lives that mirror who we are. Those you feel drawn to reflect your inner self back at you, and you act as a mirror for them. Simply put, when you look at others, you will likely see what exists in you. When you see beauty, divinity, sweetness, or light in the soul of another, you are seeing the goodness that resides in your soul. When you see traits in others that evoke feelings of anger, annoyance, or hatred, you may be seeing reflected back at you those parts of yourself that you have disowned or do not like. Because we are all mirrors for each other, looking at the people in your life can tell you a lot about yourself. Who you are can be laid bare to you through what you see in others. It is easy to see the traits you do not like in others. It is much more difficult to realize that you possess those same traits. Often, the habits, attitudes, and behaviors of others are closely linked to our unconscious and unresolved issues. When you come into contact with someone you admire, search your soul for similarly admirable traits. Likewise, when you meet someone exhibiting traits that you dislike, accept that you are looking at your reflection. Looking at yourself through your perception of others can be a humbling and eye-opening experience. You can also cultivate in you the traits and behaviors that you do like. Be loving and respectful to all people, and you will attract individuals that will love and respect you back. Nurture compassion and empathy and let the goodness you see in others be your mirror. http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2006/2009.html

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060203/punjab1.htm#4 Jathedar Vedanti’s directive on Sarna brothers criticised Varinder Walia Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 2 The Sikh organisations and Panthic leaders today criticised Akal Takht Jathedar following the issuance of ‘unprecedented interim directive’ asking the Sikh Panth to boycott socially Sarna brothers and three other Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) members. The Dal Khalsa ‘disowned’ (Jathedar, Akal Takht) for his ‘biased decisions’. The Dal Khalsa announced that no case or petition would be made to Akal Takht till Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti was its Jathedar. However, Akal Takht Secretariat said that Sikh clergy might take strict action against all those who would violate the ‘interim orders’ against Sarna brothers and three DSGMC members . Former Akal Takht, Jathedar Prof Darshan Singh sought the ‘social boycott’ of Jathedar Vedanti for his ‘worst performance’ as Jathedar. He said that it was unbecoming of the Akal Takht, Jathedar to act as a ‘slave’ of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal). He said the ‘interim order’, on the social boycott of the DSGMC chief without giving him an opportunity of being heard was ‘shocking’. He said the Sikh masses would have to take a decision whether or not to take any petition before Jathedar Vedanti. Violating the directive of the Akal Takht, Jathedar, Dal Khalsa leaders talked to Mr Harwinder Singh Sarna, President, DSGMC on telephone despite the call of ‘social boycott’ given by Jathedar Vedanti. In a hard-hitting letter to the Akal Takht, Jathedar, Prof Darshan Singh, alleged that the Jathedar Vedanti was being used as rubber stamp by the vested interests. Meanwhile, addressing a press conference Mr Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib Mr Harcharanjit Singh Dhami and Mr Kanwar Pal Singh, leaders of the Dal Khalsa, described the decision of Jathedar Vedanti as unprincipled. They held Mr Vedanti responsible for eroding supremacy of Akal Takht by following the dictates of Mr Parkash Singh Badal and his coterie. They said, “We will continue our cooperation with Sarna brothers on issues pertaining to the Sikhs. We appeal to Sikh Panth not to follow the directive of Mr Vedanti and his co-jathedars since it was aimed of giving political benefit to Mr Badal and his company in the coming elections to management of Delhi Gurdwaras. They said time had come when Sikhs would have to confront persons occupying high posts, and who had been misusing their powers. They called upon the Sikhs to save the honour and dignity of Akal Takht Sahib from the clutches of modern ‘Mahants’. They said their party would start a movement on the pattern of the Singh Sabha Lehar to save religious institutions from the politicians, who had no agenda other than of remaining in power. They said there was a long list of violations of Sikh principles and maryada by Akalis due to the weakness of Mr Vedanti, who never considered to punish them.

Steps To Happiness Author Unknown Everybody Knows: You can't be all things to all people. You can't do all things at once. You can't do all things equally well. You can't do all things better than everyone else. Your humanity is showing just like everyone else's. So: You have to find out who you are, and be that. You have to decide what comes first, and do that. You have to discover your strengths, and use them. You have to learn not to compete with others, Because no one else is in the contest of *being you*. Then: You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness. You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions. You will have learned to live with your limitations. You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due. And you'll be a most vital mortal. Dare To Believe: That you are a wonderful, unique person. That you are a once-in-all-history event. That it's more than a right, it's your duty, to be who you are. That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish. And you'll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down.

http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200601310454.html Indian Dowry Woes: Test for Law Makers New Vision (Kampala, UGANDA - Africa) NEWS January 31, 2006 Posted to the web January 31, 2006 By Alice Emasu Kampala TWO weeks ago, Navpreet Kaur, 22, of Indian origin, residing in Kampala tasted the wrath of her parents Mr and Mrs Garbax Sigh of Old Kampala. Crime: She refused to marry the men of her parents' choice. Navpreet was tortured and taken out of Citizen Secondary School where she as in S.5. "Money is not my parents' problem. They simply want me to marry against my wish. When I got myself a job to raise money for school fees, my parents refused," says Navpreet. Only a week later, an Indian mother of one, also residing in Old Kampala who had been forced into marriage three years ago, was burnt by her partner in their house. She died on the way to Mulago Hospital. The man says she attempted to commit suicide. A concerned Indian who preferred anonymity said. "The man returned from Arua district where he works and proceeded to a nightclub. When he came back from the club at midnight, he picked an argument with his wife. The following morning, he rushed the badly burnt wife to Mulago Hospital. Whenever you hear of an Indian case like this, where the man claims the wife or daughter committed suicide, most likely it is murder," says the source. These are not isolated cases. There are thousands of dowry-related cases that occur regularly within the Indian communities. Some of them are quietly happening here in Uganda. In 1997, Ugandan women activists, together with members of the Indian Women Association in Kampala led a demonstration protesting the murder of Renu Joshi, wife of Kooky Sharma, an Indian businessman. Kooky is now on death row at Luzira. Joshi was killed with electric shock on Christmas Eve in 1997 at her home in Old Kampala. According to BBC 2006 reports, Indian Government statistics show as many as 7,000 women were murdered by their husbands and in-laws in 2001 in disputes over dowry payments. Sometimes women are tortured to squeeze more money out of their families and in extreme cases, they are killed so that their husbands can remarry and get more dowry, the report says. According to the study, the birth of a girl in most Indian families is mourned, which contributes to the rate of female infanticide in India today. Female babies are regarded as a burden to the father. It means he must work and save money to marry her off. "The dowry problem is one of the factors driving most Indian families to use sex-selective abortion to avoid having female children. More than 10 million female births in India may have been lost to abortion and sex selection in 20 years," the BBC research suggests. But without clear laws to address dowry issues in the country, dowry-related deaths might escalate. Navpreet's father says Ugandan laws do not affect the Indian culture of forced marriages. He says ever since Navpreet went public on the matter, his wife has deserted their marital bed blaming him for not being hard enough on the girl. He says if Navpreet does not get married, his wife will be criticised for bringing up the girl poorly. "I have the right as the father of Navpreet to choose a partner for her. Being in Uganda doesn't mean we should disrespect our (Indian) laws," Gearbox Sigh says arrogantly. But Indian sources in Kampala say most girls who oppose the marriage arranged by their parents are often deported to India, where maximum pressure is exerted on them until they yield to the marriage. Jackie Asiimwe Mwesigye, a lawyer and woman activist in Kampala says most Indian women just like most of their Ugandan colleagues, tolerate all forms of abuse and subsequent death because society has made them believe that domestic violence is a family matter that should only be resolved at home by family members. "It is unfortunate the Indian community is closed. Many young Indian women quietly go through Navpreet's experience, irrespective of their level of education. Even when women have reported cases of abuse, the community shields the culprits. This is a challenge for women activists," Asiimwe argues. Asiimwe says Ugandan laws apply to both citizens and non-citizens in the country. She says according to the 1995 Constitution and the Marriage Act, forcing any one into marriage is a crime. "At worse, if a non-citizen is found guilty of an offence, he or she can be deported. But not all crimes attract deportation. Some crimes require the offender to be detained for a few days," she says. She regrets that Uganda does not have shelters where domestic violence victims can be protected from their abusers. She calls upon the Indian women activists to work closely with their Ugandan colleagues to end domestic violence. Ann Kampire, head of conflict disputes management at FIDA says Navpreet is now safe. She says her parents were not prosecuted because the girl is not interested in having them punished. She observes that if Navpreet wanted her parents punished, they would have been charged with confinement and torture. Navpreet has since fled her homes and initially had to seek refuge at FIDA-Uganda. Currently she is under the care of the Indian Women's Association (IWA) in Kampala. Initially, she feared to involve the IWA saying the Indian community would not understand why she refused to marry the men of her parent's choice. But Navpreet's case has lessons for the women activist in the country. The activist have to intensify their advocacy for a clear family law to adequately protect women's rights. Atuki Turner, the Africa Domestic Violence co-ordinator for Amnesty International, says Navpreet's case offers women activists a better opportunity to reflect on the existing laws and identify gaps that need to be improved to adequately address issues of domestic violence. She regrets that the Domestic Relations Bill (DRB) has been shelved, yet if passed; it would be the starting point for women activists to advocate clear laws on domestic violence. She argues that issues of domestic, dowry or bride price in particular, are difficult to address because of the dynamics of religious and cultural beliefs. Dipali Sharma, the general secretary for the IWA, condemns Garbox's act towards his daughter but says the association has handled similar cases in the recent past. "Her problem could be dowry-related. But if it is about education, Navpreet could still get married and continue with her education. I believe every parent wants the best for their children," she says. She says IWA members secured for Navpreet a job at Shell Petrol Company, in addition to accepting to take her back to school. She says Navpreet's decision against reconciliation has, however, caused tension between her parents and IWA. The resolution was made at the regional police headquarters after attempts to reconcile Navpreet with her parents failed. She says today, many Indian parents especially those that are highly educated are liberated and are likely to allow their daughters to choose their partners. The 2002 national population census shows the population of foreigners, of which Indians are the majority, stands at two million people. It is, therefore, crucial the Government makes a deliberate move and come up with a family law that will protect all women including, the likes of Navpreet. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2006 New Vision. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------