Shasterkovich

A couple of kerambit pics are here: http://fcskali.tripod.com/filipinocombatsystems/id34.html The normal way of using it is (contrary to what's described on some websites) to put the index finger through the hole, and hold the handle securely in a tightly-clenched fist, the blade sticking out from under the fist.

How about if you held it in a reverse grip (upside down), with your index finger going through the ring, and the point of the blade pointing forward? And then just punching with it? That way, you would have a punch dagger that's also capable of ripping attacks (with a lot of force). Would be very difficult to disarm.

How do you guys rate this Indonesian weapon? Advantages or disadvantages? Lynn Thompson (a knife seller) his analysis is here: http://lib1.store.vip.sc5.yahoo.com/lib/cs...ne/Karambit.pdf

All your boost are belong to us...

Not sure about that biblical sort of font, though...

Before I start I would like to say that your faith in the egality and open-mindedness of all kung fu schools is very Yoda-like, and very touching in a quaint way. It's also very irrational. I wrote "shasterdhari Sikhs". The problem was'nt my beard or my turban. It was the 9-inch kirpan I removed before the class (led by a senior student who was a skinhead) started. The instructor (of Chinese ethnicity)kept telling me it was a "knife". First he said/implied I was of bad character for carrying a "knife". I explained what I did for a living (trying to prove that I was responsible), and told him I carried it for religious reasons. He then changed his tack, continued to call it a "knife" (even though I indicated it was not a knife but a kirpan) and said that he would'nt allow it, because during the class his beginner students might take it and use it (and therefore invalidate his insurance). This instructor is obviously trying to create his own little fascist kung fu empire, inside which the human rights of the Western world don't apply. I would feel happier if he was a snakehead or a triad, than a fascist. I don't want to name him here, because I think he wants me to make a fuss about this and thereby generate publicity (among fascists) for his club. If you tell me who you are by PM, I am happy to name him and his organisation, and give you his email address and mobile number so that you can find out for yourself whether what I am saying is true.

... many of these are grossly inferior to Nihang Niddar Singh's shastar vidiya/savya rakhsah sessions. Many of them even, believe it or not, BAN SHASTERDHARI SIKHS outright. Must be out of sheer fear.

I don't know. I've read the Hagakure, and to me the fundamental disfference lies in the difference between the suicidal (morbid?) self-sacrifice of what might be called "bushido" and the sheer will to win of kshatriya dharam. An essential difference there? Although the attraction of a heroic death is ever strong. Nischay kar aapne JEET karo

It's very nice to read this discussion. At least a few people care about religion these days. If you were'nt anxious or confused, you simpluy would'nt care. At least you do care. And that's encouraging.

Guru Khalsa Panth is'nt dying, man. GUR BAR AKAAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can we start transcribing please? With my legal mind, I feel suited to take on the task of the hadith (all schools) in Islam. Can also pass questions on to a very stern, very old Gosain. Let's do this.

Hari, that's superb. I know most of this stuff already, though. Although I believe there are many other interpretations of the attributes to Lord Shiv. I simply did'nt mention them because to me, Shiv is Gosain (i.e. Allah) and his attributes are beyond our ken. If anyone has any questions for a very senior and learned GOSAIN, please pass them to me and I will pass them on and report the answers here. What these guys hold in their memory is simply staggering. And they're not to be messed with, too.

Sorry. The British used this term ("sahib log") to refer to themselves, and encouraged the use of it among natives, starting with sepoys. The British accounts of their campaigns in the Sindh, Punjab and NWFP mention this term quite a lot. From my point of view, it seems an obvious corruption of the militant libertarianism of the Khalsa Dal, which at the time was very devoted to "SARAB LOH", which was a term much in use among ordinary people too. A propagranda coup, which I want you to think about. Substantially altering the PUNJABI self-image, and trying to do the impossible (depict the Punjabis as an inferior race). I find that the gleeful and detailed British accounts of the surrender of remaning pockets of the Khalsa Dal following the second Anglo-Sikh war are evidence of this attitude: focussing especially on the despair and decline of old warriors of Ranjit Singh's army, forced to surrender their swords, and thereafter declining into alcoholism, opium-addiction, etc.

I ought to add: the emphasis on "Gosain" was added by me.

From 1. The brilliance of the One Being's light does not vanish in external light or in darkness because all light and darkness resides in the supreme light of God Consciousness. 2. This Being is called Lord Siva. He is the nature and existence of all beings. The external objective world is the expansion of His Energy and it is filled with the glamour of the glory of God Consciousness. 3. Siva and Sakti are not aware that they are separate. They are interconnected just as fire is one with heat. 4. He is the God Bhairava. He creates, protects, destroys, conceals, and reveals His nature through the cycle of this world. This whole universe is created by God in His own nature, just as one finds the reflection of the world in a mirror. 5. The collective state of the universe is His supreme Energy (Sakti), which He created in order to recognize His own nature. This (Sakti), who is the embodiment of the collective state of the universe, loves possessing the state of God Consciousness. She is in the state of ignorance, remaining perfectly complete and full in each and every object. 6. The supreme Lord Siva, who is all-pervasive and fond of playing and falling, together with the Energy of His own nature simultaneously brings about the varieties of creation and destruction. 7. This supreme action cannot be accomplished by any other power in this universe except Lord 'Siva, who is completely independent, perfectly glorious and intelligent. 8. The limited state of consciousness is insentient and cannot simultaneously expand itself to become the various forms of the universe. The possessor of independence is absolutely different from that insentient state of consciousness. You cannot, therefore, recognize Him in only one way. The moment you recognize Him in one way you will also recognize Him in the other way. 9. This Lord Siva, who is completely independent (svatantra), has the diversity of creation and destruction existing in His own nature. And, at the same time, this diversity is found existing in its own way as the field of ignorance. 10. In this world you will find varieties of creation and destruction, some of which are created in the upper cycle, some of which are created below, and some of which are even created sideways. Attached to these worlds smaller portions of worlds are created. Pain, pleasure, and intellectual power are created according to the status of being. This is the world. 11. If you do not understand that there is actually no span of time, this misunderstanding is also the independence (svatantrya) of Lord Siva. This misunderstanding results in worldly existence (samsara). And those who are ignorant are terrified by worldly existence. 12. & 13. When, because the grace of Lord Siva is showered upon you, or due to the teachings or vibrating force of your Master, or through understanding the scriptures concerned with Supreme Siva, you attain the real knowledge of reality, that is the existent state of Lord Siva, and that is final liberation. This fullness is achieved by elevated souls and is called liberation in this life (jivanmukti). 14. These two cycles, bondage and liberation, are the play of Lord Siva and nothing else. They are not separate from Lord Siva because differentiated states have not risen at all. In reality, nothing has happened to Lord Siva. 15. In this way the Lord, Bhairava, the essence of all being, has held in His own way in His own nature, the three great energies: the energy of will (iccha-sakti), the energy of action (kriya-sakti), and the energy of knowledge (jnana-sakti). These three energies are just like that trident which is the three-fold lotus. And seated on this lotus is Lord Bhairava, who is the nature of the whole universe of 118 worlds.

This is absolutely great: "Koi bole Raam Raam Koi Khuda Koi Sevay GOSAIN Koi Allah" - Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

(Translated by Arjuna Taradasa) Women are Goddesses, women are the life-breath, women are jewels. Always be with a woman – another's or your own. (Kali-tantra 4.14, 8.10; Kaulavali-nirnaya 10.88; Yoni-tantra 7.17) Women are Divine, women are Creation, women bring happiness. O Devi, all that exit in this world is in the form of a woman. Every woman should be worshipped by the whole world. (Shaktisangama-tantra, Kali-khanda 3.142-143) Women should be revered; Women are Heaven, women are Dharma, women are the Flame of transformation. Women are Buddha, women are Sangha, women are the Ultimate Wisdom! (Chandamaharoshana-tantra 8.30) O Devi, all Vidyas are Your aspects, and in the world U dwell in women! (Devi-mahatmyam 11.6) All men are Mahakala's forms, all women are of Kali's and Tara's nature. When you percieve it in this way, there's no imagined samsara anymore! (Shaktisangama-tantra, Kali-khanda 5.4-5) O Kulabhairava, every woman should be worshipped and seen. They all are Highest Goddesses, who deserve reverence! (Kulachudamani-tantra 3.53) In the form of women Devi resides amongst the creation. From a woman creation comes into being, in her it dissolves. Therefore woman is the highest Essence and should be served with all efforts. (Kaulavali-nirnaya 10.76-77) Always serve a woman that she will be pleased. Happiness is in woman's joy. Rejecting the service to women brings misery. (Kaulavali-nirnaya 10.79) He who doesn't worship his beloved, gets stuck in obstacles and looses all benefits acqwired in previous births. Then what to say of a highest birth? (Shyama-rahasya 5.76; Kulachudamani-tantra 3.55; Kaulavali-nirnaya 12.180) When you see a beautiful form, bow before it. The beauty brings Bliss. If you enjoy a beautiful form, what else is needed? Beauty is the highest abode, beauty is the highest tapas; Nothing was or will be above beauty! (Shaktisangama-tantra, Kali-khanda 3.145-146) He who knows the Heart of Kalika and is submerged in sadhana with a woman, becomes Godlike and attains the eternal Liberation. (Kali-tantra 9.23) See the woman, touch her and join with her, especially with the blessed one born in Kula. (Kali-tantra 8.15; Kaulavali-nairnaya 10.92) Never there's Attainment without a woman – therefore give yourself to her! (Kulachudamani-tantra) A man can be perfect only by joining with a woman and not otherwise. (Guptasadhana-tantra 3.9) Siva said: Woman is the Base for the whole world, woman is the base of highest tapas. Take a refuge in woman... Woman revered by a sadhaka is a cause of his Jnana. So he enjoying the happiness in this world gets submerged in the Body of Goddess. Such best sadhaka attains a great siddhi and goes to the world of Hari. That is why he should worship a woman with 5 makaras. (Guptasadhana-tantra 1.9-11) Useless is nyasa, useless is puja, useless are japa and prayers, useless are homa and daxina – if a sadhaka doesn't make a woman pleased! (Maya-tantra 11.34) Woman is the root of sadhana, woman is the base of japa etc., woman is the base of the Way, woman is the essence of life. Woman is a cause of the benefits in this world and woman is a cause of Salvation. (Kamakhya-tantra 3.41-42)

I believe that the British adopted and tacitly encouraged references to themselves as the "sahib log" following the First Sikh War, coining the term in order to stage a propaganda coup over the Sikhs. This was possible, because uttered quickly the 2 terms sound similar. Hence, the report of the sepoy speaking out against the British and another sepoy daring him to go and confront him could be interpreted either to show the sepoys subdued or else, as Indian fighting men, to have a belief that God was Sarab loh: "Why don't you go and knock the hat off one of the master race, if you dare" (note the political spin) OR "Why don't you go and knock the hat off that Britisher, and let steel decide what happens next". (BTW, the first is a genuine report by a British officer of the ECO, reproduced in "Soldier Sahibs" by Charles Allen) It's a theory... Any perspectives?

There are parallels with reports of the death/near-death experience, especially those described in the Bardo Thoedol. However, the differences are such that it's not possible to equate the reference to the Day to Indian mystical traditions. This is because the Koran states that everyone will be called together on the same day (whether alive or dead) and judged. Also, the Koran is explicit that one will not be spared from going to Hell, unless one accepts the Day of Judgement. Also, the Bardo Thoedol (without a doubt the most refined and masterful technical treatise on the vidiya of dying) is absolutely clear that the judgements and visions and feelings of fear come from the well-spring of one's consciousness only, and that even the judges and denizens of hell a recently-deceased might see are hallucinations caused by the subsconscious. Therefore, the near-death experiences are not compatible with what is being described in the Koran.

Drishadwichiitra talpayor-bhujangmaukti kasrajorgarishtha ratna loshthayoh Suhridwipakaha pakshyoh; Trinar vindachachakshushoh Prajamahee mahendra yoh Sama pravrittikah kada sada Shivam bhajamyaham "Maintaining my equanimity amidst the bed of rocks and comfy mattresses; amidst the pearl necklace and the snakes; amidst the gems or clumps of mud; amidst the friends and foes; amidst the dry straw and the lotus-eyed young ladies; amidst the masses and the ruler on Earth; when shall I worship Lord Shiv?" (from Shiv-Tandav Strotra by the demon lord Raavan) Namamishamishan nirwanroopam Vibhum vyapakam Brahm vedaswaroopam Nijam nirgunam nirvikalpam nireeham Chidakashmakashvasam bhaje ham "I bow to that Great Lord, O Eesan (i.e. Eesar or Shiv) who is always free: the omniscient, all-pervading Brahm, manifestation of the Vedas, steady, always engrossed in the form of his self; without attributes; all alone and desireless and with whom this whole universe is instinct." (verse in praise of Shiv, by Tulsidaas) Vishwashrishthi vidhayanam punreva palantatparam Samharantmath prapancham shesh lok niwasinam; Kreeda yantimaharnisham gananath yooth sama vratam Chandrashkhar mashraye mum kim karashyati vai yamah "He who creates the world in the form of Brahm, preserves it in the form of Vishnu and then destroys the whole creation; who dwells in all the realms; who, surrounded by the henchmen of Ganesh (a demi-god) amuses himself in a variety of amusements - I seek shelter in that Lord Chandrashekhar (Shiv). What possible damage could the god of death (Yama - another demi-god) inflict upon me?" (from the Mrityunjaya Strotra)

Hi Hari, We are all a little insane, but I am completely under fire from my subconscious and instinctive mind at this time, due to a physical and psychical meditation/penance I am going through. However, I believe that one side effect of this subconscious expurgation is that I can view alternative ideologies and belief systems with much more clarity than I could before. Hence, I can site my consciousness in alternative certainties without sinking in the mire. I will try my best to answer your questions. From the perspective of a Muslim, your hypothesis is an illogic because the Koran is explicit that only one angel disobeyed God by refusing to prostrate before Adam, and that that angel was cursed and punished terribly for his disobedience. Therefore it is unreasonable to consider that Gabriel was acting otherwise than in accordance with God's express instructions, especially given that past Semitic scriptures and revelations are clear that only one angel (who was not Gabriel) was punished and is a rebel. Also, from the perspective of a Muslim, the evidence is that the Koran contains no grammatical error. Therefore, it is completely perfect, and it could not be perfect unless it was from God, because only God is perfect. Furthermore, it is implausible that Mohammed (PBUH) could have simply made up the Koran, because he did not have the education, the craft or the skill to do it. All that can be said about Gabriel (from the perspective of a Muslim), is that he conveyed the words of Allah (which were perfect) directly into Mohammed (PBUH). Also, that he is ranked very highly by God, and the enemies of Gabriel are the enemies of God too. Gabriel is NOT unclean. There is one unclean fallen angel, and a host of djinn who may be clean or unclean. There exist, according to the Koran, very many beings and things which are unseen.

It's very nice. Will be using it.

Thanks Neo, but most of us already have these chapters (probably from when you linked to them here previously). Prithpal Singh's translation is full of silly apologetics about the "real meanings" behind the drugs and sex plotlines of these tales. Therefore there is a slight suspicion that there is a bit of prudery at play, which increases the curiousity for the vast amount that has been omitted from the online translated Treh Charittar. Need the whole version really, translated into English. If someone could scan it and then turn it into a PDF, that would be good. If that happened, maybe someone could turn up from somewhere having just done it, create a new username and let people know where....

I'm sorry but you have simply missed the point. Saihaljeen, as you probably know, Mohammed (PBUH) is especially favoured by God. The declaration of faith for a Muslim is "There is only one God, and his Prophet is Mohammed (PBUH)". Muslims will, according the Koran, be judged favourably by God. Hence, reference to Mohammed (PBUH) immediately with an expression of good-will ("May peace be upon him") is an affirmation of a Muslim's credentials as a Muslim. According to the Koran, simply declaring oneself a Muslim is considered an act of piety and virtue that will tip the scales on your side very, very much when your deeds are being weighed up and judged on the Day of Judgement.

The rest of the "body" of Shiv is "worshipped" by folk Hindus, in the common (folk) Shiv-devotee prayers. The lingam is treated differently, because according to the Shiv Puran, it fell to earth in 12 places (called Jotirlings), and is therefore considered to be a divine thing in mundane form. The other "known" attributes of Shiv are beyond our ken, such as the moon in his head, the Ganges flowing from his hair, etc. According to the pundits, it's possible to do brahmanical rituals to enpower a stone to become a true Shiv Ling. This is not accepted by the Gosains, who are the true Shaivites, in the martial tradition. In the Gosain tradition, Shaivism is both yoga and Tantrik. The folk (low-caste) Hindus have devised their own (corrupted) imitations of Shaivism, and their practices are not supported by scripture.