Kaljug

Reminds me of the Zen koan. "If you see the Buddha on the road, cut him down."

Just make sure that it's not just any old buddha that you cut down.

K.

A Cuban friend of mine once told me a story.

There was once a Cubano Catolico who so broke that he hadn't eaten any food for days. So, like a good Catholic, he got down on his knees and prayed: "Dios mio, I haven't had a straight meal for days. I'm starving, please answer my prayers and send me some good food and I'll go the Church next Sunday and light a candle for you in thanksgiving."

After the first day, the Cubano is getting pains in his abdomen because he still hasn't received anything. Again, he gets down on his knees, and this time with more passion and desperation, he prays and prays with tears in his eyes. "Eh Dios, I know that I haven't been the best Catholic that I could be, but I still love you. You are my mother and father, please provide for me.

It's approaching midnight on the second day and there has still been no response from Our Father in Heaven.

On the third day, too weak to stay on his knees and too dehydrates to weep, the man lies prostrate on the ground and mumbles his prayers continuously for the whole day. "Dios mio, I have no one but you. Provide me for me and my children as you provided for St Joseph to care for the infant Jesus." He goes on and on like this until early on Sunday morning.

On Sunday morning, at amritvela, the Devil appears in a puff of smoke, laughing at the man's misfortune. Says the Prince of Darkness, "You fool, you see that God does not answer your prayers because I am the real god of this world. Indeed, I am the sargun form of the Almighty who has come in answer to your prayers. Eat this food which I provide for you, and a light a candle for the one who has truly answered your prayers."

At this, a veritable feast with smoked jutia, chicharones, ropa vieja, and all the arroz the man can eat appears as if by jadu. The man takes one look at the food and eats his fill with the Devil laughing uproariously above him.

Come time for Sunday mass, the Cubano goes straight to church and lights a candle in thanksgiving, praying: "Dios mio, thank you for answering my prayer and sending your servant, the Devil, to bring me the food I asked you for. I light this candle for you, may it be a pleasing offering to you."

The point is that, you may have personal experiences of devatay, pirs, sheikhs, or whatever, but one shouldn't allow them to distract you from the path of worship of the Highest.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Is there a maximum to the number of Chandi di Vars one should recite each day? I have heard some people say that one should not read more than 5.

For those of you who read Braham Kavach, do you recite all 32 in the morning? Is it possible to split them up during the day, e.g., half in morning with nitnem and half in the evening with rehras?

Thanks,
K.

Congrats on your bhakti, veer ji!

I'm game for the chalisa. It would be cool if we could get at least 5 people so we could do 25,000 each over a period of 40 days. Ten people would be better because I'm a lazy moorakh.

Some opinions on the objective would be great. My vote would be for both martial power and cool heads (or political astuteness) for the Panth so that we have the ability to conquer enemies but the presence of mind to know when rajniti is called for rather than rudra ras.

K.

After all your complaining about Singh Sabha incorrectly interpreting Gurbani tuks, you turn around and say "Oh Guru Ji didn't mean what he said. He must have meant something else."

Your hypocrisy is incredible (and quite amusing to see).

K.

Have you spoken with Sant Jagjit Singh Harkhowale about this issue? I recall him telling the sangat the reasons that Panj Piaray had to be men (similar to Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale's given in the clip above), and also advising that the Singhs in the Panj Piaray needed to be healthy in body (he gave example of why a Singh with a missing limb should not be in the Panj Piaray) as well as in his Sikhi.

My personal opinion is that maryada should not be altered by anyone, brahmgyani or not, if it is Guru given. I also feel that since Khande Ki Pahul was initially a warrior's initiation and given first by 5 Sikhs in male human form, it should always be administered by 5 Sikhs in male human form who have health, strength, and at least some understanding of shastar puja/vidya.

Yes, brahmgyanis are beyond gender in spiritual avastha but their physical roop has a gender, and an energy based on this gender, which is represented and passed on by them during amrit sanchar.

K.