By Shanti Kaur
Handling the Guru’s money is a sacred trust. When money is used properly, it serves and secures the sangat; when it is used for personal gain, it becomes an obstacle upon the very path it was meant to protect. Near the end of the 17th century, Guru Gobind Singh confronted such a crisis within the Sikh community with the masands.
By Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa
On a true spiritual path, a student will be challenged ALL along the way. As the saying goes, ‘it comes with the turf.’ A spiritual aspirant may follow a specific path which provides some answers However, there’s always a shelf life attached. I’m not judging. I’m just a scribe stating the facts the way they’ve been taught to me.
By Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa
Post WW2, the TV show “Leave it to Beaver” did more to influence how the perfect American family is supposed to live. For good or otherwise, the show’s impact was big. Families living under this umbrella of hope, this veil of reality, this shield of protection, still widely exist.
Religions, lifestyles, philosophies, you name it, profess to be the best guide in living a life like “Leave it to Beaver.” TV has made this dream a reality, at least so in our perception. Marketing and/or projection can do that.
By Shanti Kaur
Guru Ram Das (1534–1581) is the fourth Guru of the Sikhs and the founder of the nectar tank and holy city of Amritsar. The beautiful Siri Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, stands today as a testament to the love of Guru Ram Das.
Guru Ram Das was born in Lahore in 1534 to Haridas and Devi Anup Devi. They named him Jetha, meaning the firstborn. His mother died while he was still very young, and his father struggled to care for him while earning a living. Knowing that his own health was failing, Hari Das taught the boy to support himself by selling cooked wheatberries in the marketplace.
by Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa
Once upon a time there lived a king. Not just any old king, no. This was a real king born of centuries of decedent kings. This king was the continuation of a great dynasty. He thought that he was the king of kings. Why not? No one would dare challenge him. He carried many great armies along with him. He could do whatever he wanted without accountability, judgement, or suppression.
By Shanti Kaur
In the Sikh tradition, Gur Prasad is at the core of our existence. It is the word in the Mool Mantra before the command Jap, the root teaching with which Guru Nanak Dev Ji begins Japji Sahib and the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. The mantra teaches us that the Formless One is the Creator, without fear or enmity, timeless, unborn, and self-existent. Then comes Gur Prasad—by the Guru’s grace. It tells us that the Divine Reality described by the Mool Mantra cannot be grasped by intellect alone. It is known through grace, through the light and wisdom of the Guru.
By Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa
What follows is a parable inspired by the legends of old Hollywood. It is not presented as a historical event. It is a story about grace—how one man displayed it and another man discovered it.
Many years ago, a respected actor received the Academy Award for Best Director. He had spent decades in Hollywood, first becoming famous for playing men who were strong, silent, and seemingly indestructible. Now, rather late in his career, the Academy was honoring him for what he had accomplished behind the camera.
By Shanti Kaur
The mantra Guru Guru Wahe Guru, Guru Ram Das Guru came to Yogi Bhajan through an experience of prayer and spiritual challenge. Unlike many mantras drawn directly from Gurbani, this mantra came to us as a revealed mantra: a sacred sound current received by Yogi Bhajan in meditation. This mantra is an important part of our community, a channel for protection, healing, and connection to Guru Ram Das.
By Nam Hari Kaur
We are now shifting into a softer moment, allowing us to establish a renewed sense of balance.
The ease and flow of July’s number 7 is within reach, and catching it for all it’s worth is your way to a new beginning. Seven is the domain of the Water Element, so all activities that are near, upon, or soaking in water will allow you to rest and rejuvenate. Camping for a few days by a lake or mountain stream will bless your electro-magnetic field with a clarity that few other activities can accomplish. The keynote theme of July is, “Rest, Relax, Rejuvenate.”
By Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa
Half a century ago, a young lady emerged from the hills of Appalachia. She came with a guitar in one hand and a big voice in the other. Through talent, perseverance, and grace, she became one of the most beloved entertainers in the world. We all know her. Her name is Dolly Parton.
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