Nek

i think we should forget all these minor stories and cooked up fables n concentrate on the sggs. when we ourselves become supermen/women (divine) we shall know the truth..

what ya say...

jtsingh thank you for the reply

I thuoght instiute of sikh studies in chandigrah were one of the best for sikh source? or maybe im just confused with patiala one :s have you heard of Encyclopedia of Sikhism BY R.C. Dogra, G.S Mansukhani? are they any good?

anyway i will still be reserving my copy of the new one...i'll let u know how it is

Is there such thing called encyclopedia of sikhism? i believe there is. I was on amazon, book hunting and i found one which is not even published yet. Its called 'Encyclopedia of Sikhism' by Arvin-Pal S. Mandair and Christopher Shackle. I wanted to know if any of you heard about it or know if it will be any good. i think it will, because after reading its synopsis it clearly shows it reveal all the anti propoganda and slander done to the sikhs. I would say it may be a similar book to 'SIKHISM its philosophy and ideaology' by daljeet singh which is a must buy but revised edition to its fullest...

heres the link

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0...4756173-1539633

Also I know thier is another book which is very good. its called Sikhs and Sikhism: A View with a Bias by I.J Singh. Its full Essays that challenge the Sikhs and intrigue the non Sikhs. They debate religious, historical, social and political issues and recast age old traditions and practices in concepts and language that are contemporary and relevant.

I will be reserving a copy for sure

N30 singh ki hoya...!Waiting for the rain!

Regarding Heaven or hell I found this on

http://allaboutsikhs.com/mansukh/031.htm

Is there Heaven or Hell (Sikhism)

Man is judged according to his actions. If he has done evil deeds, he goes into lower forms of life; if he has done noble deeds, he gets a human life again. The idea of hell and heaven is a mere hypothesis. The picture of hell as a place of varied and terrible tortures is symbolic:

"There is a stream of fire from which comes poisnous flames.

There is none else there except the self.

The waves of the ocean of fire are aflame.

And the sinners are burning in them." (A.G. p 1026)

Shaikh Farid tells us that hell is a burning lake resounding with terrible cries. It may be added that the result of a sinful life is its adverse effect on character from which ultimately comes suffering and torment. In short, to be in hell is to be out of the presence of God.

Similarly there is no actual place called heaven. Sikhism does not regard the winning of a place in heaven as a worthy object. The old Indian concept of heaven is of a beautiful place providing all sorts of comforts and luxuries. The devotee is neither afraid of hell nor anxious to go to heaven. In a way, hell and heaven are conditions of mind. The virtuous man is happy and contented, as if he is living in heaven.

The concept of hell and heaven is just a rough illustration for clarifying the doctrine of Karma. Hell and heaven refer to evil or good stages of life repectively and they can be lived here and now in our earthly existence. According to Guru Arjan, "Whereever the praises of God are sung, there verily is heaven." Likewise, the society of the wicked is a hell. The condition of an average man is described thus: "Like birds that flock in the evening on a tree, flutter with pleasure and pain, scan the skies morning and evening, wandering everywhere, driven by hunger. So the soul of man wanders and suffers on earth." The worldly man eats, enjoys and sleeps, unmindful of the higher things of life. He is free, and perhaps, may choose wrongly.

amriksingh u gonna love the end of part 2! espacially the last line of the teacher....init n3o! :wink:

R U NORMAL?

... who wants to be normal? Was Guru Nanak Dev Ji normal when he walked 82,000 miles? Was guru Gobind Singh ji normal when he asked for a head! Were any of the martyrs normal, choosing death than living like slaves? No, the devotees of God are not normal they are madly and deeply in love with God while the whole world thinks they are insane ...

When Guru Nanak Maharaj appeared from the river after three days, all soaked and with messy hair, people called him many things as guru nanak dev ji himself writes:

"Some call him a ghost; some say that he is a demon.

Some call him a mere mortal; O, poor Nanak! ||1||

Crazy Nanak has gone insane, after his Lord, the King.

I know of none other than the Lord. ||1||Pause||" SGGS 991

So on this path to being a Gurmukh, forget about what the world thinks of you, forget about being normal, forget about fiiting in with society, think only of loving God, the Wondrous Creator and go where God takes you

Everyday is new,

every day my Master is New .. "sahib mera nit navaa"

every moment is wondrous

every second something amazing is happening in the universe

God is not just the Creator,

God is Karta Purakh...the Creative Being...

God is still the Master Artist

still creating ,

still being young and fresh

brilliant and beautiful,

if being normal means being bored ,

being stuck in another rut ,

then that God is not.

Being in love with God is exciting every day,

everday the love increases

everyday God calls me closer,

everyday the spiritual sun shines

brighter in my heart

Don't be normal

be different

be in love with God

by loving the Name of your Beloved

swing your arms in joy

"Nanak says: swing your arms in joy!" (SGGS 22)

smile and laugh

while singing the Name of your Beloved

You are God's and God is Yours!

God says, "If you reform yourself, you shall meet me, and meeting me, you shall be at peace.

O Fareed, if you will be mine, the whole world will be yours."||95|| SGGS (1382)

waheguru ji ka khalsa

waheguru ji kee fateh!

Yes im talking about the khanda as the symbol of the sikhs. Is there a difference?

let me rephase the question

How was the khanda formed the way it is. who placed it the way it is?

SSA all,

I have been pondering for the last few weeks, how the khanda was designed the way it is. It couldnt just fell in to place just like that, neither would Guru Gobind Singh ji just appeared it from nowhere. how was it merged? how was it put together? when did it really start? how/who manifiested it? I know the basic answers (not boasting) but would really appriciate if someone could really explain from the root.

Thank you

P.S The new site looks much better and friendlier

just to be sure, the book is in english right?

yeh i got this thruogh a fwd too, n n30, if u notice my emails on it aswell!

but it gets better aftrwoulds

mines pretty much depressing

1710 Bahadhur Shah issued the orders to kill Sikhs.

1841 Battle for the conquest of Tibet by Sikhs.

1988 Conference on Sikh Studies, Long Beach

you can also buy a book which dedicates the differences with both religions....excellent book!

its called

SIKH RELEGION AND ISLAM - a camparative study by G.S Sidhu

chrismas is coming up, maybe u should give him a copy

why do ppl continu to make translations of the dasam granth when they perfectly know thiers no complete evidence of its authenticity and authership.......ppl huh

what a coincidence! i just bought a copy of the dasam granth yesterday from the sikh resource center in southall. Its by Dr. jodh singh and Dr dharam singh.but like one of the veers said the truth over the dasam granth is still questioned and disputed by many scholars. however, at the outset, it may be mentioned that there is no controversy regarding the authorship of jap, Akal Ustat (except from verses 201 to 230) and swayyias. These portions of the dasam granth are indisputaly accepted as composition of the tenth guru....

I still suggest u buy a copy of the dasam granth and come to a conclusion...

All,

i think festivals like rakhri, diwali and holi were all celebrated on the same day as the hindu calende on purpose. If you think about it, after all the guru jis left,the sikhs would have easily bn influenced by the majority of hindus around themat time. so they would have drifted away into hindu fold. so inorder to keep the religion seperate and distinct the events occured on the same day as the hindu fesitvels

simran singh u spoke the exact words outta my mouth. i to wonder that...i even believe i was a dinosaur in my previous life.

whos the author of that book?

All,

we had a similar post like this called 'books' (by me 8) ). I think the best book of the books on sikhism is by daljeet singh (that man is god 8) ) this dude has a phd in english so he knows what hes talking about. it covers everything regarding sikhism and has a awesome way of bashing bahmaniziation and covers every event happendd from the time of the guru to sant jarnail singh bhinderwalia and further.

its called

SIKHISM its philosophy and history, introduction by choor singh, edited by daljeet singh and kharak singh

and if any of u are going india the address is....

NEW BOOKS CO.

MAI GIRAN GATE.

JALANDHAR (thats all it says :? )

ssa all,

I would like to know what sikhism say about miracles. Is it allowed? did any of our gurus performed any miracles. i am told they didnt coz it contradicts sikh teachings. but i also read a story where guru nanak saved bhai mardana from a mullah (or something) by stopping a rock thrown at him with his one hand. And theres also a gurdwara built where u can see guru ji hand printed on the rock. is it true?

References will be grateful 8)

cheers

Dear People,

Just out of curiosity, I would like to know what sikhs have done for civilization? I have read many books on sikhism and how our ancestors made sacrifices for their faith, but still havent found what sikhs have done at this time. I heard fiber optic was invented by a sikh but still not sure..

I would be very grateful if everyone could contribute and list a few things what sikhs have achieved in this day and age.

Thank you

can i request u to translate that in english

hello

i know dis aint got nothin to do wid dis post but i couldnt stop noticing that Phat pic PRITAM has on his signature place. mate can you terll me where i can get one but a bigger size?

i dont think im gonna be much help but i think its forbidden. in order to reach salvation you need your whole body to help you reach enlightenment. for example if u donate a heart or lung away u probably be reincarnated with diseases like asthma n similar diseases related to the heart.