shaheediyan

Actually he studied Sufi music/poetry @ PHD level, which is why he is a Dr. His knowledge on Sufi poetry is truely phenomenal, its all engrained in his mind. He is able to answer questions using Sufi quotes. More than just a 'trend'. His philosophy on life is also very clearly Sufi inclined. He is not a kanjar or amli/sharabi like many other Punjabi singers.

Yes plenty for both, in Aad Guru Granth Sahib and Sri Dasam Granth Sahib. Do a search in the relevant search engines for the on-line granths.

http://www.upasani.org/home/iTablaPro.html This is a genius application which provides a surpeti and taalmala all in one alongside a standard tanpura. Invaluable for riaz and better than carrying a big metal boxes around :-)

If anyone can find the animal forms Tony Jaa demonstrates at the beginning of the film 'Warrior King' and post the link here also, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

My interest in Martial Arts has lead to me find many interesting connections between Martial Arts throughout SE Asia and India. I met/trained alongside some French guys abroad in recent months who run a massive Combat Academy in Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. The Owner of the Academy has studied many martial arts over the last 40 years and is a respected teacher in Kali, Muay Thai, Savate, Ju-Jits, Wing Chun (Ip-Man), JKD and Grappling/MMA. He has however devised his own devastating system which uses the destructive elements of 2 of Thailands original Warrior Arts - Muay Chaiya and Muay Buran. I was already a fan of Tony Jaa, but seeing some real life applications of this secretive art made me appreciate it even more. It also made me realise that many Muay Thai people out there pretend to have knowledge of these ancient arts and pass of improvised MT as MC and MB. I love these 2 systems for many reasons - but sadly (as yet) it is near impossible for a foreigner to learn them (Thai are highly protective). They vary greatly form Muay Thai in that they are not a sport but a killing art - so cannot be used in sport - Muay Thai is the highly watered down and commercial evolution. The original arts use strikes to highly vulnerable areas, footwork, intelligent movement/positioning, locks and bone breaking/muscle tearing. In Cinema - Tony Jaa is well known for heavily basing his amazing choreaography on these systems, in which he has received traditional training. The really great thing is these systems is the various styles (pentrai) they include - which are based on animals and Indian deities. Having also spoken to a very famous Grand Master/Historian of Filipino Ancestral Combat recently I found that Hindu raj actually extended all the way to the Phillipines up until the 13th/14th C. And many customs, words, martial influences from India are still highly visible in countries like the Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Burma, Indonesia and Phillipines. Most evidently - warrior dress (we compared kacherai :-) is very similar - including most warriors wearing a form a kamarkasa, long loose shorts, headwear (some decorated with ad chands in the form of a blade - to be used in combat also) sharp heavy bangles made of heavy shell which men wear on their arms and use in battle etc etc. The biggest connection is dance - traditional dance and dance dress from all these countries is so, so similar.... the GM also showed me techniques taken directly from dance (poses which exist in Indian dance). Back to the subject - here is a tiny demo of Muay Chaiya using some manouvres from Hanuman: Another interesting video: And one of my favourite cinema fight scenes (sorry Ishwar - I gave you the wrong film - it wasn't Ong-bak but Warrior King that I should've given you, apologies to Bhupinder also :-) This contains some excellent examples of Muay Chaiya combat elements! Enjoy!

Warriors Eskrima is a mainstream/modern Eskrima organisation headed by Guro Krishna Godhania in the UK. There are around 3 Sikhs who teach under his banner in London, Harminder Singh is one of them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzPBsOiCbN0

"But we still need our hawks brother." Oh don't worry, I have access to those too (literally) :-)

PS, none of what I say is personally directed towards you - I don't know you from Adam. I talk in general terms only :-)

I feel this subject is close to being talked to death – so will make some final points and exit: The uplift of the community is not the objective, but the outcome of individual simran – Sant Singh Maskeen eloquently explained to me many years ago when my blood was a little warmer and I was trying to put the world to right... “focus on yourself and light your candle, the light will automatically shine on those around you”. Of course we should seek justice – that is a Singhs right/duty – but there is a difference between justice and blind revenge. As I said, don’t mistake me for being passive or blind to peoples evil intentions (from mine, Islamic or any other community) – if anything I am more sensitive – I just don’t feel the need to stereotype or curse a whole community for the actions of the minority. As much as I promote the spirit of Shaant – I also promote (and meditate on) the spirit of Chandi – this was the element that was (during the periods you mention) and is, missing from Singhs today – all talk and living off ancestors reputations – and having no capability for fighting/controlled destruction ourselves (Chandi). When Chandi sleeps inside – one can take a much more relaxed view of the world and dangers, and even focus on simran with less worries . Baba Deep Singh is the ideal example of someone who was able to invoke Chandi (pure destruction) at the right time (and towards the right target) but remained absorbed in Vahegurus kamal charan otherwise. One needs to however feed Chandi in order to maintain her – this is done through dedicated daily physical effort and meditation on combat. Shukraan.

Exactly right. Which is why I don't give 2 hoots about gaining the popularity vote on this forum and banging on about evil Islam. On this forum people bang on about being PC, PC changes according to the platform, it is not stagnant. On this platform it is PC to insult Islam. Dasmesh Pita makes his views clear in Akaal Ustat. It is Parmatma that is going o judge my opinions, not people here. This is why I said Shere Mohammed Khans example is so great - he didn't give a hoot about what the Political or Religious authority said in that court - he acted in accordance to his correct understanding of Islam i.e. not killing maasoum. He asked for bal from Allah to give him the opportunity to fight Dasmesh Pita in mardyana jung in order to settle his score. For this I bow my head to him and for this very reason - his single honorable voice, ensured his family remained untouched in Sirhind. Those rare gems exist everywhere, in every faith, not just in ours. For us, it is recognise and be inspired by them, rather than follow the blind/animal instinct controlled majority and justify it. Guru has asked us to become anmol (in thought and action). If we don't set our standards high, then we have no hope of ever attaining them, life becomes a total waste of time (as Gurbani tells us again and again). This is why the Khalsa was unique when it came to plunder - it never layed a finger on the izzat of the dushmans istriyan - because the Khalsas rehit was once upon a time pyaari to the Khalsa.

Yes, change the world environment through Gurmat, not Manmat. In order to achieve a state of Gurmat - one must pratice introspection - do simran, abhyaas on Gurbani. The problem today (in all faiths) is that we have do-gooders, experts and parchaareks who have no Gurmat. Any action without God in mind is wasted/useless action. When one purifies ones mind - his actions are in accordance with God-thought - and his seva (changing the world) becomes obvious -in fact at this point, it is God himself changing the world and not a self concious individual.

"How do you marry your admirable idealism with the real nit, grit and grime of this world Shaheediyan?" The purpose of our existence is to rise above the animal state. This is why Parmatma blessed us with Gurbani. If our target is always low, our aim will be low, and sadly, our nishana will be low. It's not for us to change or even worry about changing the world, only our own minds.

I am sure there are some poetry lovers here like me. Thought it would be nice to start a thread on poems that catch the imagination, are original and/or deep (in style or content). Here is a lovely one I found on the underground today - : Whalesong – Sophie Stephenson-Wright I boom-mumble I bass-blow I gulf-cross I listen-talk I hull-heavy I big/slow I moon-map I wave-walk I boat-bump I limpet-skin I tail-turn I time-keep I soft-sink I sky-swim I ship-wreck I song-seek I sea-search I salt-swallow I blue-blood I grumble-sing I bone-backed I fluke-follow I fish-heart I dream-king

I have no issues with believing that every single human on Earth has the potential for pure evil and pure devotion. Nor do I have any problem believing that most of us are living with a false sense of security, thinking that we are in a civilised country. Any nice country can turn savage in the blink of an eye - with the right circumstances. Which is why Singhs should be tyar bar tyar, and not simply keyboard warriors. Your example of Banda Bahadur is not comporable in my opinion - as HE took revenge on the perpetrators (and witnesses to the crime.. argueably) directly - and not on random Muslims in other states. A better example would be that of the chhotai Sahibzadey and the offer made to Sher Mohammad Khan of Malerkotla to take revenge on the chhotai Babai for the killing of his brother by their Father. His response speaks for it self, as opposed to that of people who justify revenge on innocents.

If you think 2 wrongs make a right, and killing of innocent elders, women and children is somehow understandable and justified, then our understanding of Gurmat is very different. In all this frenzy there were Heroes who put their lives on the line to rescue parmatmas other children as well as those who fought like real men i.e the enemy, not innocent Muslims. What will justify next, rape? Or let me guess, that didn't occur on our side. Sikhs and Muslims who commited attrocities against innocents were both as bad as each other and in my opinion are both rotting in hell. The who started nonsense was just a bahana of parmatma to test the compassion of his children, and as I said, I am glad to be priviledged to have met some of those few diamonds who passed that test. And Chatanga, don't make the mistake of confusing my logic which I try to base on Gurmat, with a passive nature. I am not interested in justifying animalistic acts, but rather observing and understanding those that can rise above them.

Of course there was hate - hate is what differentiates lower men from higher men - both have always existed - only the wallpaper changes. Same is true today. Killing innocent people on yourside of the border because some fanatics killed your people on the other side is a perfect example of an Evil act. It was committed by all parties. All parties were also driven into a frenzy by select evil individuals, these individuals existed n all sides. I have been unfortunate enough to have known someone who still brags about the fact his Grandad rounded up all the men in his village and massacred all Musle in the neighbouring village (irrelevant of age/sex etc). The shame is that no one on either side is willing to admit their own people are capable of such evil - always blame the other and downplay the revenge. Old story. Chatanga - for your one unsubstantiated example of an evil pehlvaan I am sure there are one hundred of pehlvaans that committed good acts during 47 - as is even spoken about in the video. Anyways, back to the thread.

Lol. That doesn't change anything - if it wasn't from a movie, then it would belong in a movie. Many martial arts today belong to the 'cinema' category - as they focus on what looks good, rather than what actually works. In Capoeira, one develops great arm and upper body strength, they have excellent wrist exercises, one develops excellent timing, distancing, opportunity identifying and waiting skills, as well as great awareness of the body. I wouldn't class it as a complete MA - but it's elements, if incorporated could certainly make you extremely dangerous, even against weapons. It's not just a matter of doing cool handstands in different positions.

Just watched the doc properly - excellent job by Nav. The sentiments shared by the Babai are exactly in accord with those I have heard from many elders back in the day re the respect and love all had for each other pre-partition - as opposed to the hate/toleration that ignorant people insist existed.

I recall at least one Sikh ithihaasik tradition does say that chhotai Babai had their throats cut when the wall reached their heads and they were still at that point defiant.

Kashmiri Sikhs, like Hazuri Sikhs are very different to Punjabi Sikhs, they are still kattar as a population (rather than the odd individual here and there). I hope these small proud Sikh communities continue to exist and resist the bad elements of modernisation.

This Brazilian MA is excellent on many levels - I have friends who practice it. I will post some more info - but I will start off with 'what doesn't work' i.e. flashy! LOL.

Actually there thousands of British White people who follow some form of esoteric Hindu belief system. I have and continue to surprisingly meet more and more. There are also tens and thousands of yogi sikhs in Europe and worldwide i.e south america, russia etc who are finding solace in simran and the philosophy of the Gurus. There is also a massive worldwide Sufi movement.

Metronome is more like rhythm/beat/tempo timing device, the Indian equivalent is a tabla or electronic taalmala. A tanpura is for ensuring saaj and voice are in sur.

http://www.shasterkhajana.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=111&p=770#p770 All carefully handmade. 1 Kurki 1 Chhoor 1 Pesh Kabz