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Dya Singh's Diary - October 2006 | ||||||||
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1. Naam Simran 'service' gaining greater meaning and momentum. |
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| 2. A couple of readers of my monthly column have written about 'problems' within Sikhs and directional problems of our 'dharam-dhe-thekedars'. These are more in line with suggestingto them that they go on 'chat-lines' and 'forums' like 'learning-zone' which always attract further advice and comments and are a great way of airing such problems. In fact I believe these 'chat-lines' are responsible for exposing a great many of the 'misdeeds' of our 'dharam-dhe-thekedars' especially in SGPC and Akal Takhat.Too many for this column. | ||||||||
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3. There was one point from a reader from Nairobi about a lack of allowance by Guru Jis to allow 'responsible' change, within SGGS which I must comment upon. I think SGGS is not prescriptive, more a methodology for each individual to lead his/her life. It is up to the 'Panth' or rather our so-calledleaders in Amritsar to affect responsible change. I believe that the forsight of our Guru Jis as reflected in the SGGS is remarkable. Nothing needs change in the SGGS. It is up to the collective 'Panth' to affect responsible change. If reader has anything specific, perhaps I can comment upon it. |
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Finally,remember, if you want change, be the change. We are all collectively responsible to do something
about the things we feel need change. If it is about your local gurdwara, then get into the committee and affect
change or start an organisation which reflects the change. We have to be pro-active to affect change. FOUR DAY GROUP TOUR TO QUEENSLAND Saturday 14th. Group in Queensland. Sat. night concert in Gold Coast (Yoga Centre, Burleigh Heads) Long day, after early morning 'Sikh Simran service' in Melbourne boarded plane for Brisbane at noon. Concert at night to about 100 at Gold Coast. Very warm response and first time we have attracted over 100 in Gold Coast. |
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| The Sikh community,which is on its way to establishing a gurdwara, had 'threatened' to come in force. In the end one devotee, Bhagwan(John) Singh turned up. Well he was worth 125,000. Very enthusiastic and devoted to 'naam simran'. Nothing too much to say about all the others who preferred to stay away or were not destined to attend this very magical evening. Best of luck for setting up the gurdwara.Sunday 15th. Multicultural festival - Roma Park, BrisbaneThe Queensland government is putting great effort into multiculturalism. We opened the program at 9.30am. to a very appreciative crowd who had either come to swear the Oath of Commonwealth Citizenship or come to observe. We gave a one hour concert and also attempted to invoke the 'Australian values'which our PM keeps talking about but has never really elaborated yet! Nevertheless, a very moving ceremony followed.We came back in for a five minute presentation of the Sikh community alongside all the other communities present. The day ended at 9pm. with Parvyn and Harsel joining the 'bhangra' which was the finale. We were suitably honoured that such a significant ceremony started with a Sikh theme and ended with bhangra! We lead and also bring up the rear - the life of a Sikh in a nutshell! Monday 16th. Bhangra workshops by Parvyn and Jamel (my ddaughters) in Roma Park The weekend festivities continued with Jamel and Parvyn performing and doing workshops teaching 1000 school kids how to do bhangra and its background. Harsel had to fly back yesterdayas she has just started work in Sydney. | ||||||||
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Their program was alongside five other groups from around the world doing the same. I was just a silent observer.
Perhaps I shud join in the bhangra for my fitness!Monday night - Brisbane Gurdwara.The day followed up with 'hajri'
at Brisbane gurdwara. I think we are helping to break the deadlock amongst the two groups in Brisbane who have
also got their own 'granthis'! The 'uppers' and the 'downers', or the 'A' group (stands for Advanced as they
sit on tables and chairs for langgar) and the 'B' group(stands for Backward) came together and even shared
langgar.Even the 'downer's' granthi turned up with his family. A first after a very long time, it will seem.
For those who have not read my previous 'meanderings', the 'uppers' are those who eat their langgar on tables and
chairs and the 'downers' are those who sit cross legged on carpet and eat langgar. The twain do not normally meet
in the 'war zone' - the langgar hall. May Waheguru bring these two groups together. We had one and a half hour of blissful kirtan. I think all enjoyed it. We had good sales of our new album - the Asa Di Var.Tuesday - Woodford to see our 'chandan' (sandalwood) trees.I was finally able to see our sandal wood trees which are going to be part of a 'sacred forest' being planned for one of the valleys of the Wood ford Folk festival site in the Glass house Montains inland from the Sunshine coast. The trees themselves are not very impressive looking, but then nothing of 'real' value is really impressive looking. It is in the eye of the be holder. |
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Maharajah Ranjit Singh was one-eyed and pock-marked -ugly!We stayed on site in container rooms. 300 acres of farm land inundulating hills which is being
nurtured back to its original pristine forest self. Butterflies, which had not been seen for 60 years
and beyond are now slowly coming back including wallabies, kangaroos, a large variety of air and
water birds,lizards, goannas, and even deer.We flew back home by Wednesday (18th) night. A STORY - OF INTEREST TO MALAYSIANSA Sikh sardar gentleman came to see me from Tasmania this month. He is a professor specialising in Transport. He teaches in a university here and also acts as consultant to various governments. I shall spare his name in case of ridicule because this story which he told me is what it is - a story. But, it might be of interest to 'believers' - especially Malaysian Sikhs.He asked me when I had migrated to Malaysia. I told him that I was born in Malaysia. He said - 'karma valay ho' (You are blessed). I asked him why he had said that and a sly smile crept onto his face as he told me this story. As I said before,take it whichever way you like. But, I must tell it. This is his story ...Near the city of Pune, south of Mumbai, there is a guru shrine built in memory of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. It is on Dehu Road, in the compounds of an army cantonment. It was built through the initiative of an old 'Mayi' (mother) who is at present about 104 years old. This gentlemen told me that she is an old soul - the soul of 'Mata'. The soul of Bebe Nanaki. The soul of mata Sahib Kaur, the mother of the Khalsa. This gentleman has been introduced to her through his 'souray' (his in-laws are fromPune).This Mata Ji had been 'directed' to look for this site which housed a Siamese tree. A tree with one root trunk which then divides into two. She located it with in the cantonment but it being in the cantonment she had difficulty in convincing the Commandant of its authenticity. She asked for help from her'peers'. She was told that if the site is dug, pure spring water will appear within a few feet even though the water table was more than a hundred feet down. The Commandant relented andsure enough a few feet down a spring of clear water bubbled outto his astonishment. So, a gurdwara now stands there.This gentleman questioned Mayi Ji as to when Guru Ji came here.She claimed that it was 'after' Nanded and the handing over ofthe Guruship to Sri Guru Granth Sahib. No,she claims, he did not pass on at Nanded. No more being the Guru, he moved on andwent west and ended up here for some time. This gentleman asked one final question - 'Where did Guru Ji go from here?'The answer simply was, "MALAYA". He did not question her any further.So, if anyone goes to Dehu Road near Pune and finds this Mata Ji, you might want to question her further. I hope to, in my next trip. As a kid I remember 'granthis' at a Granthi Gurmatt Camp in Malacca (Malaysia) saying that Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji of Malaysia actually made Malacca his final abode because he believed that Baba Nanak had actually been to China and had returned to Punjab via sea and had landed in Malacca which was a flourishing port in the early 1500' s.The first strong Sikh 'colony' outside India was Malaya which then became Malaysia. So, Malaysians - do you feel lucky or are you pooh-pooing this story? Aahh, the mysticism surrounding spirituality! Well, I feel good being born a Malaysian Sikh!A very Happy Gurpurab (Baba Nanak) on 5 November and Shahidhi Guru Tegh Bahadur.We hope to be in USA in mid-November for a short tour and the Spinning Wheel Film Festival in LA on 17/18 November. For details contact Bicky Singh Bsingh@fcsinet.com |
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