BhagatSingh

24 minutes ago, Singh123456777 said:

Um, painting is good and all, but its not a purpose. Akaal purkh only wants a person to do bhagti and bhagti alone. Nothing else matters. So nobody has a purpose in this world, except to do bhagti.

Indeed the purpose of the human birth is to do Bhagti. There is no greater purpose than Bhagti.

However Akal Purakh sahib also has another task for us. And when we do Bhagti, then reveals that task to us.

And that task becomes our mission in this world.

Guru Nanak Dev ji went into the river for 3 days and did Bhagti, during which he received his mission, to travel and spread the message of the Oneness.

Guru Gobind Singh ji meditated atop the Hemkunt parbat and there Akal Purakh sahib gave him the mission to establish the Khalsa panth and fight tyrants.

In this way Akal Purakh sahib has a mission for all of us, if we meditate on him, he will tell us what that mission is.

It doesn't have to be a grand mission like the Gurus received.

It can be something insignificant like gardening, painting, doing maths, etc.

Initially I didn't know my mission was to do paintings.

I was originally studying to become a doctor, but during my studies and during the summer holidays, I was absorbed in Akal Purakh sahib's feet.

I would stay up all night obsessing over him. And when I did sleep, I would have dreams in which I would do Bhagti.

So I was meditating and I was also dreaming about meditating. I would wake up and find myself still meditating.

I devoted all my time to it so much so that it entered all my activities.

What I've found from doing that is that Bhagti improves the quality of all other activities.

Even activities that our brain has automated, like washing hands, taking a dump or driving a car, when these are done with the current of Bhagti running through them, then it is quite something!

Anyway this whole process lead to a series of insights about the nature of Akal Purakh sahib and this body in which he is sitting in.

This whole process felt like a purification, where the burden of my past mistakes and wrong actions was being lifted one by one.

This process rewired huge chunks of my brain and made me into a new person, so much so that my parents could no longer recognize me.

And it was through this process, I found out what my mission was.

So then I left my original path and started painting full-time.
 

27 minutes ago, Singh123456777 said:

Also charging an arm and leg for one painting is not sikh values 

Singh, if 60 bucks is too much for you then email me, I'll send you one for free.

9 hours ago, amardeep said:

He is a good parcharak. He adds a unique next level to sikhi in the west 

He is the only parcharak, that I have stumbled upon who understands the Truth.

If you liked this video, you can donate to their website at http://www.nanaknaam.org/

@paapiman

On 5/26/2018 at 7:03 PM, samurai2 said:

How can a word that has a siharee and a biharee sound (and or be pronounced) the same? (hareh and haree?) 

Sihari is short -e sound, like the i in Tin. - Hari

Bihari is long -ee sound, like the ee in Teen. - Haree

6 minutes ago, dalsingh101 said:

So you've excused yourself from any physical activity.....

I think you are getting ahead yourself.

I keep myself physically fit but it is not the same as going to a gun range.

Also, explain what all this has to do with the video game.

8 hours ago, dalsingh101 said:

Oh okay, so you just like to fantasize about that stuff.......

 

Guru Sahib lived at a time when weapons and warfare was a high-priority for him, due to the execution of his father by a tyrannical government.

He fought many battles at a young age, and so did his eldest son, Baba Ajit Singh ji.

When I was Baba Ajit Singh ji's age, the age when he was martyred, I was making a painting of him, of those moments before his martyrdom.

So Akal Purakh sahib has sent me here for a different purpose.

http://www.sikhiart.com/2017/06/30/my-purpose-in-this-world/

Recently when I was reading a shabad of Sant Ravi Das ji, it reminded me of this thread.

I think the philosophy in Sikhi is not Advait of Guru Adi Shankar ji, rather it is Vishisht Advait of Guru Ramanuj ji.

Vishisht Advait is a Qualified Advait.

Whereas Advait says that the Soul is God, they are the same. Vishist Advait agrees but says they are the same but they are also different.

This key difference is perfectly encapsulated in the shabad of Sant Ravi Das ji, Guru Granth Sahib, 93.

ਤੋਹੀ ਮੋਹੀ ਮੋਹੀ ਤੋਹੀ ਅੰਤਰੁ ਕੈਸਾ ॥ ਕਨਕ ਕਟਿਕ ਜਲ ਤਰੰਗ ਜੈਸਾ ॥੧॥
You, Me, Me, You, what is the difference? The difference is like Gold and Jewellery, like Water and Waves.

He continues -

ਜਉ ਪੈ ਹਮ ਨ ਪਾਪ ਕਰੰਤਾ ਅਹੇ ਅਨੰਤਾ ॥ ਪਤਿਤ ਪਾਵਨ ਨਾਮੁ ਕੈਸੇ ਹੁੰਤਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

If I did not commit sins, then how would you be known as the Pavit Pavan, the redeemer of sins.

Ravidas ji says – Hey Ram! You and I, we are different but one. I am the sinner and you redeem me. You reside in me; I am known through you, and you are known through me. Grant me this wisdom so that my body constantly worships you. Ravidas says, give me the company of those who have realized that You resides in all beings.

So Adi Shankar ji would ask  - ਤੋਹੀ ਮੋਹੀ ਮੋਹੀ ਤੋਹੀ ਅੰਤਰੁ ਕੈਸਾ ॥ You, Me, Me, You, what is the difference? He would stop there and say there is fundamentally no Real difference.

But Ramanuj ji would come in and say - ਕਨਕ ਕਟਿਕ ਜਲ ਤਰੰਗ ਜੈਸਾ ॥੧॥ The difference is like Gold and Jewellery, like Water and Waves. And that this is a Real difference.

Bhai Gurdas ji in his Vaar 1, 11th pauri, explains a possible pitfall that an Advaitist must be careful of -
 

7 hours ago, paapiman said:

Daas has already answered your concern above. Examples were also provided.

Daas does not believe that spiritual practices other than the ones approved in Gurmat, cannot bring you closer to Waheguru jee. They might, but Sikhs must refrain from following them. Dancing is one of them.

Narrower perspective is to say "my way or the highway". One can believe that some practice is good for a person, without actually following it or encouraging it. 

Thanks for clarifying but I understood you the first time.

Maybe I wasn't clear in my post but my comment was from within the perspective of Gurmati.

From within the Gurmati perspective, it would be narrow to claim that Dancing is prohibited.

7 hours ago, paapiman said:

They might, but Sikhs must refrain from following them. Dancing is one of them. 

Please respond to the remainder of my post where I address the issue of prohibitive practices.

Read from -

As for practices that are prohibited in Guru Granth Sahib -

I mean there are certain practices like that.

7 hours ago, paapiman said:

If you are pronouncing (for Gurbani recitation) the siharis like the matra for इ in Hindi, then you are wrong. 

The sihari in Gurmukhi does not have the same pronunciation as the matra for इ.

So, for example,  सिखाना in Hindi is pronounced differently than ਸਿਖਾਨਾ in Punjabi (or at least when it comes to Gurbani pronunciation).

What you think is "Gurbani pronunciation" is actually a specific dialect of Punjabi.

Both Sihari and Chhoti E Ki Matra have the same pronunciations.

It's either a short -ee sound or short -eh, depending on the dialect and personal preference.

For example my dad always said - Kyonke - and my mom always said Kyonki, when pronouncing Sihari or Chhoti E Ki Matra that is at the end of the word.

7 hours ago, paapiman said:

Thanks for that. It's a very subtle sound. It's like a shortened version of ੇ.

Even, if someone pronounces it as Har, that would be fine, but Hari and Haree are both wrong (for ਹਰਿ).

So here we have the word - ਹਰਿ - Hari

It is definitely wrong to pronounce this as Har ਹਰ because you are not pronouncing the matra there.

That is definitely a wrong way to pronounce it.

But whether ਹਰਿ is pronounce as Hari where -i is a short -e sound, or Hare where -e is a short -eh sound, that depends on dialect and personal preference.

Both are right.

So if you want to pronounce Siharis as short -eh, then go ahead.

But remember to always pronounce them.

I will bring your attention to the first two pauris of Japji Sahib -

Sochai sochi na hovaee, je sochee lakh waar;

chupai chup na hovaaee, je lae rahan liv taar;

Bhukhian bhukkh na utree, je banhan puriyan bhaar.

Sehas sianpa lakh hoe, tan ikk na chalai naali;

Kiv sachiara hoeeai, kiv koorhai tutai paali;

Hukmi raza-e chalna, Nanak likhia naali. 1 .

Hukmee hovni aakaar, hukam na kahia jaee;

Hukmee hovni jeev, hukmi milai vadeaee.

Hukmee uttam neech, hukmi likhi dukh sukh paeeyeh;

Ikkna hukmee bakhsheesh, ikki hukmee sada bhavaeeyeh.

Hukmai andari sabh ko, bahari hukam na koe;

Nanak hukmai je bujhai, ta haumai kahai na koe. 2 .

Look at this part right here -

Sehas sianpa lakh hoe, tan ikk na chalai naali;

Kiv sachiara hoeeai, kiv koorhai tutai paali;

Hukmi raza-e chalna, Nanak likhia naali. 1 .

I normally say - naale - in common everyday speaking. So here I pronounce the sihari as a short -eh sound. - naale, - paale, - naale.

But the word - Hukmi - I read as Hukmi where i is a short -e sound. Due to the next tuk - Hukmee hovni aakaar, hukam na kahia jaee;

If you read - Hukmi - as Hukme where e is a short -eh sound, then that would not be wrong. It would be correct as well. Because of the tuk - Hukmai andari sabh ko, bahari hukam na koe;

In common usage-

Some people say - Sikh. Someone people say - Sekh.

Some people say - Vicch. Some people say - Vecch.

Both Sihari and Chhoti E Ki Matra  either make a short -ee sound or short -eh, depending on your dialect and preference.

And trying to say one is more correct over the other, is just nitpicking in my opinion. It's not worth making a big deal out of it.
 

4 hours ago, dalsingh101 said:

Have you been to a gun range out there in Canada? 

I would like to hit the gun range at some point but it's not high on my priority list.

Ever since I played my first video-game at a young age, I have always wanted to make one of my own. Recently I have been working on a game, which I am calling Singh and Gun (working title).

Singh and Gun is a run-and-gun platformer, where you fight alien invaders, who seek to capture earth and to drive humanity to extinction. It is your job to find out what they are upto and to stop their nefarious plans.

I need your help with further development of this project. With your support, I will be able to further flesh out the game, add more content to it, make it available on Mobile phones, and so on. When the game is finished, I want to eventually release it for free, to the wider audience. So with your support I can make all that happen.

You can support this game by donating to my Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/sikhiart - starting from $1 or 68Rs per month.

All of my Patreon Supporters can start playing the game immediately by downloading the current build of the game from Patreon.

14 hours ago, Lucky said:

I think that studies should consider other variables such as quality of sleep

True. We should also look at our quality of sleep.

Quality of sleep is of utmost importance.

Good nutrition, Exercise, and Meditation improve quality of sleep.

14 hours ago, Lucky said:

I've never looked into it much, but I also believe that for spirituality, you need exposure to full spectrum of direct sunlight(sun gazing) and complete darkness at sleep time. Both of these have been proven to stimulate pineal gland. 

Light and Darkness works with the Melanin in our eyes to create a rhythm of waking and sleeping cycles.

In old times, we depended on natural day and night cycles to set a good rhythm.

Modern techonology such as screens and lights, can mess with that. Thus it is important to create a dark room before and during sleep.

16 hours ago, Lucky said:

Focus on the light and it should still. If it doesn't stay steady, it could also be awakening of 3rd eye dristi. Either way, it's most probably the route to see parkash of nirankar.   However, you must try and listen to anhad to get the full connection.    If all this is happening whilst you are trying rom rom technique, then it's real good. It may all fall into place in an instant.    Must continue working and slogging at it with prem.

Shouldn't really be a shape or figure. Roop, na rekh, na rang.   No form, shape or color.   Again, if you focus on anhad dhun, it should still the mind further for better connection and dristi.

and

@HisServant

Everything you experience is ultimately experience.

And experience will always have some roop, rekha, rang and qualities.

It will always be composed of lights and sounds, forms and shape

So of course what you see is some kind of form.

But the one who sees, the one who experiences, himself has no roop, rekha, rang, and no qualities.

This is because  all roops, rekhas, rangs and qualities arise in the one who experiences.

If you are specifically trying to shut off all senses, which is a type of meditation, then don't read further. 

If not, then try to pull back from lights and sounds, forms and shapes, and simply become aware of all of it, as a whole.

Just sit back and watch the experience as a whole, and pull back into the seat of the one who experiences that experience.

Notice the difference between the objects of your experience (the lights and sounds, forms and shapes, etc) and the space around them (the space in which those objects exist).

Try to become more and more aware of that space.

7 hours ago, Lucky said:

Brahmgyan is the MANN, not the body.  It's mann's avastha.

Music is sacred and originates from the raags that come various notes of naad (Waheguru's voice). True, music can be polluted in many ways with it's association and lyrics. But the mool and origins of saroop can never be polluted and one can connect to these higher vibrations of satch's voice at some lower avasthas than brahmgyan.

The same is true of Dance, it is sacred and it comes from the vibrations of Waheguru, who is known as Shrirang, the one who dances with Maya.

It through his dace, that the universe came to be. It is through his dance, that life continues. It is through his dance that it will all cease one day.

1 hour ago, dalsingh101 said:

It's really great that you post Gurmukhi stuff, but why do you fail to put the sources in???

It's great that you want to know the source but why do you fail to ask for it politely???

1 hour ago, samurai2 said:

Not a compliment.

With compliments from sikh awareness's fans of your work, i find it only appropriate to introduce your words as such. Little do i think  your words be recognised as artistic. 

I take that as a compliment too.

ਉਸਤਤਿ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਗੁਰਿ ਸਮ ਜਾਣਾਈ ਇਸੁ ਜੁਗ ਮਹਿ ਲਾਹਾ ਹਰਿ ਜਪਿ ਲੈ ਜਾਇ ॥੧॥

Ustati Ninda Guri sum jaanaaee is yug meh  laahaa Hari japi lai jae .1.

1 hour ago, samurai2 said:

It looks like you are either accusing Guru Gobind Singh Ji's pronunciation wrong or his sons?

I don't believe Guru Gobind Singh ji or his sons taught this.

I believe it was standardized in that way much later.

And I believe it was done because of Aunkars.

You see sometimes Aunkars (at the end of the word) are pronounced and sometimes they are not.

So the rule was created to not pronounce them to avoid confusion.

I am not sure how we arrived at not pronouncing Siharis.

Perhaps it was due the evolution of spoken Punjabi.

Perhaps it was due to lack of understanding.

But one thing is for sure - The pronunciation of Siharis is the key to understanding the meaning of the word.

So it would be good for scholarly Sikhs to start taking Gurbani pronunciation seriously and start studying the puratan Punjabi laguage.

7 hours ago, Soulfinder said:

Veer ji 99.5% of all the movies made in bollywood & hollywood tv serials etc are based just on kaam and krodh there is nothing related to bhagati simran in them.

Its really rare for movies like Oh My God to be made.

I agree.

Most of the content in the world, most of youtube, facebook, other social media, film industry, art industry, music industry, most of it is all low vibration material (vibration that is attachment to material objects).

It is generally not advisable for a gursikh to indulge in this content.

7 hours ago, Soulfinder said:

Veer ji a Puran Brahmgyani would never ever host any of the above mentioned events as they are 100% against gurmat which a mahapursh would never ever promote or think about it. 

The Music industry is full of bad quality and low vibration songs.

This was also true at the time of the Gurus.

However the circumstance, Guru Sahibs did compose Music and Shabads for inducing high vibration (vibration that is of spiritual nature).

Maybe you don't know how a Brahmgyani might host a Brahm-oriented party or how he might dance to the tune of Akal Purakh sahib.

But believe me a Brahmgyani can do these things in a high vibration.

As one does bhagti and simran, and develops higher states.

As one develops those qualities of the Brahmgyani in themself, they will start doing things in high-vibration , which they previously did in low-vibration.

Even everyday activities like driving, talking, washing, etc get transformed into a high-vibration spiritual dance when the mind is attuned to the feet of Akal Purakh sahib.

By disciplining the sleeping body, many other worlds are known.

@samurai2

1. No one has ever described my words as artistic. I will take that as a compliment. Thank you.

2. Everything is by the order of God.

So @paapiman was correct to tell me to make peace with the current way we pronounce Gurbani.

3. The sooner you can make peace with this order of God the better.

This is not a weapon that one should use to harm others or deny their feelings regarding unjust actions e.g. rape.

It is a weapon one should use to cut down their own mind-made ego and become truthful.

4. This principle is mentioned in the first two pauris of Jap ji sahib.

It is clear from your post that you have not read them.

So let's read them together right now -

Make sure to pronounce the siharis.

Sochai sochi na hovaee, je sochee lakh waar;

chupai chup na hovaaee, je lae rahan liv taar;

Bhukhian bhukkh na utree, je banhan puriyan bhaar.

Sehas sianpa lakh hoe, tan ikk na chalai naali;

Kiv sachiara hoeeai, kiv koorhai tutai paali;

Hukmi raza-e chalna, Nanak lkhia naali. 1 .

Hukmee hovni aakaar, hukam na kahia jaee;

Hukmee hovni jeev, hukmi milai vadeaee.

Hukmee uttam neech, hukmi likhi dukh sukh paeeyeh;

Ikkna hukmee bakhsheesh, ikki hukmee sada bhavaeeyeh.

Hukmai andari sabh ko, bahari hukam na koe;

Nanak hukmai je bujhai, ta haumai kahai na koe. 2 .

On 5/22/2018 at 3:59 PM, Soulfinder said:

bhangra, parties,dancing and bollywood

Certainly the way these things are normally done, is not spiritual.

But you can certainly do it in a spiritual way.

E.g. Bollywood - normally puts out BS movies but sometimes you get movies like Oh My God.

You must ask yourself -

In what way would a Brahmgyani perform Bhangra?

In what way would a Brahmgyani host a Party?