namjap

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

GURU NANAK IN TIBET - A Buddhist Viewpoint? Tarungpa Tulku (As published in the Indian Express, March 6th, 1966) It gave me great pleasure when I was asked to write this article as I have wanted for a long time to say something about my impressions of the Religion of the Sikhs in India, and my connections with it. After my escape from Tibet, I lived as a refugee in India for several years, alongside so many of my countrymen. There I had the great good fortune to be looked after by a Sikh family, by Baba Bedi, his English wife, and their three children. While I was with them, I was able to visit many of the Sikh holy places and I was given hospitality there. My interest in Sikhism is not only a personal one, however. In Tibet, Guru Nanak is revered as an emanation of Guru Padmasambhava. Many of our pilgrims visited Amritsar and other holy places which they looked upon as equal in importance to Buddha-Gaya. They always said that the Sikhs treated them with great respect and were very hospitable: " as our expression goes, they bowed down to their feet." It seems that the Sikhs really practice the doctrine of their religion; perhaps they are the only ones who give such wonderful dana to travellers. Full version: http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Guru_Na...in_Tibet_Quotes

In his lifetime Guru Nanak traveled to distant places and one such place was Tibet. Guru Nanak is well respected by Tibetan Buddhists who consider him a saint; The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Buddhists in Tibet, has confirmed it in his discussions with some Sikh leaders and that Tibetans revere Guru Nanak as a Buddhist saint under the name of Guru Gompka Maharaj. According to the local legends of North Sikkim, some people approached Guru Ji with an appeal for help. The lake had remained frozen during most of the year and rendered it incapable as a source of water. Guru Nanak Dev Ji is said to have touched the lake with his foot, and it has never frozen since. Guru Nanak's footprints, a robe and a water-carrying utensil are preserved in a nearby place called Lachen Gompha. Here the locals refer to Guru Ji as Rimpoche Nanak Guru who on his way to Tibet had rested there. For full version: http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=G...p;printable=yes Everyone loved Guru Nanak and want to believe that he was a Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, etc.

Further confirmation also adds that Harappan civilization inscriptions had its roots in old tamil writings. And see the close similarities between signs and seals of Harappa and Egypt. http://www.harappa.com/arrow/indus-agricultural-terms.pdf

Iyengar was one of the earliest to realize that the legends in the Vaishnava and Shaiva literature were originally composed in Prakrit and only much later translated into Sanskrit. Dravidian Basis of Sanskrit Iyengar fully accepted the immense contribution of Dravidian languages to Sanskrit. Thus, he notes, "The non-Sanskrit portion of the Dravidian languages exceeds the Sanskrit portion." (Iyengar 1925, p.70) He continues, "Tamil is not dependant on Sanskrit for the full expression of thought. The ancient or classical dialect of this language, the Sen Tamil, is almost entirely free from Sanskrit words and idioms. The finest works in Tamil, such as the Kural, are original in design and execution, and also almost independant of Sanskrit." (Iyengar 1925, p.71) Divers from India and England made the discovery based on the statements of local fishermen and the old Indian legend of the Seven Pagodas. "That our view of South India being the probable home of civilization is not entirely a baseless fabric of a dream receives support from Dr. Chatterji who says, `It would be established,' provided Hall's theory of Sumerian origins be true, `that civilization first arose in India, and was associated probably with the primitive Dravidians. Then it was taken to Mesopotamia to become the source of the Babylonian and other ancient cultures which form the basis of modern civilization." (Iyengar 1925, p.59) "It was proved years ago by Dr. Taylor that a Tamiloid language, now represented by its most cultivated branch in the South, constituted the original staple of all the languages of India. The existence of a Tamilian substratum in all the modern dialects of India and of the profound influence, which the classical Tamil has exercised on the formation and development of both the Vedic and the classical Sanskrit, is gradually coming to be recognised by students of Indian philology. [ftn. Origin of the word Arya - Tamby Pillai, Tamilian Antiquary, Vol.II, No.2 ]" (Iyengar 1925, p.78) "Agastya is said to have learnt Tamil, the language of the South, from Siva. From this it may be inferred that Siva was a Dravidian deity. [ftn.  The Dravidian Element in Indian Culture,' by Dr. Glibert Slater, see p.108 ] Dr. Gilbert Slater {p.101} says that the fact that the Rig Veda refers to phallic worship with disapproval, seems to point to the establishment of the worship of Siva among the Dravidians before the Vedic period. To the Tamil every hill-top is sacred to the gods. Siva, the lord of the Dravidians, was Malai-Arasan (Mountain Chief) according to Dr. Oppert. Siva came to be known in later times as Dakshinamurthy, ie the God of the South." (Iyengar 1925, p.100-101) The discovery of a late Tamil Sangam age temple 50 km from Chennai strengthens the view that a string of Seven Pagodas existed along the Mamallapuram coast. The Atiranachandesvara Cave Temple, popularly known as the Tiger Cave and which is located 2 km ahead of the Shore Temple, has two temples: the one on the southern side resembles a tiger's head and has bas relief of elephants, and the one on the northern side has a Sivalingam. Another important evidence is noted: "Dr. Stevenson [2.Siddhanta Dipika, Vol.IV, p.108 ] was the first to point out that Siva is not named at all in the ancient hymns of the Vedas." (Iyengar 1925, p.105)

The level of preference on useage of diplomacy and tolerance over 'human-rights approach' differs in every community. Taking KL, Malaysia for example. Just in KL there are 18 Gurudwaras. Out of these 18, only 1 gurdwara offers unlimited stay to Raagis. Although the Raagi Jathas do have programmes in other Gurdwaras, the Titiwangsa Gurdwara committee never turns them down. Not only do these raagi jathas enjoy a 24 hour air-conditioning environment, they also can make their own food in their separate quarters with full facilities. Naturally, some of the raagis have to share rooms like Sardine Packs. This Gurdwara is run by the Cloth Merchant Sikhs (Arora) just like in Thailand. But where the other 17 gurdwaras, (Non-Aurora) are concerned, tolerance levels are low and the unwelcoming and suspicious atmosphere alineates one to uncomfortable levels. Why I sing praises of the Gurdwara Titiwangsa is also because it is the only Gurdwara in KL that allows mixed marraiges, allows Arthi Rites for the Sindhi community, and have Hindu/Sikh joint families as committee members.

Thank you for bringing out the essence of living. Now I have to use it as a guideline in my daily practice. but sometimes confusion takes over and diminishes clarity, sometimes the mind runs amok and I end up chasing everything. How then can I stop all this mind stuff which is now in charge of my life ? Can you please give me a setp-by-step approach towards an easy and fulfilling life? By easy I mean, not letting my mind run loose like making schemes of how to this and that.

Thank you for bringing out the essence of living. Now I have to use it as a guideline in my daily practice. but sometimes confusion takes over and diminishes clarity, sometimes the mind runs amok and I end up chasing everything. How then can I stop all this mind stuff which is now in charge of my life ? Can you please give me a setp-by-step approach towards an easy and fulfilling life? By easy I mean, not letting my mind run loose like making schemes of how to this and that.

The following is an extract from SikhiWiki.org :- Jaap Sahib is made up of 199 verses and is the first Bani of the Dasam Granth (p.1-10). The Jaap Sahib begins with "Sri Mukhwakh Patshahi Dasvee," "By the holy mouth of the Tenth King." This appears to be a specific saying to authenticate the writings of Guru Gobind Singh himself. Among the thousand names there are seventy-five Muslim names. Only a few of these, such as Rahim and Karim, Razakai (Nourisher), Aruv (Pardoner), and Salamai (Peaceful) are among the Muslim's ninety-nine names of Allah: but all the names used would be familiar to Punjabi Muslims. The Mohammadan tongue and ear would surely delight in Allah and Nirsharik; Karimur Rahim; Husnul Chirag, Garibun Niwaz; Kamal Karim; Rajak Rahim; Bahistun Niwas; and many such others. Refer to English Translations of Jaap Sahib for full info.

Thank you N30 for your good sewa. Already very difficult re-writing all this over here. Let's say, if I want to discuss these stages of awareness with someone already on the path, who can I get in touch with?

Without doing Sukhmani Sahib daily, I feel there's something missing in my life.

After reading this tuk there is a yeaning in my heart to go within and cut out all outer (false) influence which show their presence day by day. What remains is heart wanting fulfillment and imagination to take you for a ride. I wonder what benefit does imagination have in directing me to the inner experience. Is it a shart ladder which is discarded soon enough when the inner (real) movie starts ? Kindly shed some light on this subject, not for intellectual gain, but sending me to the right 'school'.

"Bani Guru Guru Hai Bani, Vich Bani Amrit Saarey, Bani Kehay Sewak Jann Maney, Partakh Guru Nistarey. Is there a parallel of this verse in Vedanta ? btw why am I not allowed to answer 2 topics ? Never caused any upheaval there ? The topics are (1) Purpose of Amrit and (2) What would you do if GuruJi gave you darshan. Admin Jee, where are you ?

I agree with gurpreet_singh for saying, "Why would you need knowledge of vedant to do veechar of a tuk such as 'simrou simar simar sukh pavou. kal kalaes tan maahi mitaavou.'? " When a sikh already knows in her heart that GuruJi is "Satgur mera behmotaj, satgur mera sacha saaj, ...." and does Sukhmani Sahib paht everyday it is pointless to climb two ladders to get to the roof. One ladder is enough. Gurbani mentions about Brahma with all the gian he had couldn't take him beyond the realm of duality.

tSingh, I remember N30 mentioning you as very experienced and knowledgable. So here I am, yeaning to sincerely understand - goonge ki mithiyai ( not providing literal meaning, anybody can do that) but expanding it in the form of real experience. Just like a dumb person cannot express the taste of the candy, so a devotee of God cannot express his experience in words." But please expand this to a practical level which will bring me success. Sincerely, I am asking. You may choose to answer it via email. But please do answer. I will appreciate it.

Experience is subjective and all expression of experience vary. A true seeker leaves no stone unturned in an attempt to find company having similar experiences. One does not have to agree with another's narrative description of inner experience, just like you have every right to disagree with me. But this does not stop one from seeking for company who share partially similar challenges. Using terms in Gurmat does have its limitations as well. Because in gurmat kindergarten level experiences might now suffice documentation. But here I am in my infancy stages eager to explore the world. You as the more experienced parent can stop me from going towards that direction again and again. But you were a child like me before. And you know it that parental advise is often sought as a last resort because I ( the crawling baby) want to learn by touch, taste, smell and hard-knocks. I also know that GuruJi will always be there for me when I meet with failure.

Here is a poem dedicated to all of you, with dedication at heart for great Allah HU, I am now a Sayani Bachi as you can see I wasn't earlier could become a bibi with kainchi vergi zubaan in a year from all the venom I spitted out, a wise man can make an anecdote and in his wisdom he could in turn tell me that I am not a living joke all of mankind need people like Jawanmard and Malwe Da Sher who give their lives in Shaheediyan ordained thru Guru Di Meher It is apparent that the ones hurt badly need a soothing balm so here and now I declare, I am in peace and mean no harm my well wishes cannot be taken lightly as time keeps passing by won't know how to put your attention in the present, till you try

In Bangkok, Namdharis and Sikhs live in general harmony. Both sides know the highlighted differences of each others' beliefs and they respect them. Bangkokis, know that a Namdhari isn't going to get converted. Because their Satguru Jagjit Singh often visits the community. When the longest serving Giani in Bangkok, Giani Arjan Singh passed away, this Namdhari Guru came to Bangkok Sikh Gurdwara, bowed before the Guru Granth Sahib and sat in the Sangat with his followers to pay his respects for the late Giani. I particularly like Namdhari Kirtan not because of the 'show-off' tabla player but because of the sarangi and taar shenai that pulls the heart.