Here is a short video by SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji during some question and answer session with Sikh Youth in Surrey, Canada (March 19th 1996) on the topic of Humbleness and Jewelry.Over the years I have observed some characteristics that some Sikhs have taken on regarding an effort to reduce ego/pride. As Sikhs we are taught to not get attached to the five "challenges" of Lust, Anger, Greed, Pride and Attachment. In an effort to prevent these feelings I have seen some practices by Sikhs which I think are unnecessary. The first routine is the overly humble guise. It goes something like this: "I am just a lowly sinner?" , "I am the dust of the dust of the dirt"? "I am a das of the das", "I know nothing?", etc. Most of the time when I hear this type of thing from people it feels just like a cover to try to negate any ego. In reality for most people it feels like a false routine to portray ones self as humble. I know in Gurbani Guru Nanak and other Gurus have used similar words as this?but this was our Gurus expression. It?s one thing if you say this to yourself as an internal thing in your mind?..but to say it to other people is very different. It?s as if you have to say it out loud to prove, or make sure that people know you are humble. It?s sort of a false humbleness. If you are humble people will see it in your actions, words, and in your presence (not by words and statements about your humbleness). There is the "Please forgive me" Maafi routine ("Bhul Chuk Maaf) - That one starts out apologizing and then getting really heavy. As if by apologizing it makes everything that is said ok. There is the "I know nothing" routine - Someone gives a lecture for two hours and then ends with something like "I know nothing and am just a servant of you all." Another routine is the "anonymous sevadhar". This is by far the most common I have seen these days. I think many Sikhs have been taught that in order to prevent ego from coming into your mind that you should remain hidden and unknown when doing seva. While this might work and be great in some situations, I think quite often this is taken to extremes for everything. Example 1: My friend Gurujot Singh went to a Samagam out of town and was doing lagar seva. Later on a Sikh was telling him that he should not do seva in Bana, he should dress very simply and do seva that no one knows about. The person?s impression probably was that by wearing bana and doing a seva in public that it was being done out of ego to show people how servicefull and how "spiritual" you are.Example 2: In the world of the internet it is easy to remain anonymous, so the "anonymous sevadhar" is very common online. Many people that run Sikh websites or do various seva online go to great lengths to stay anonymous. I can email back and forth with someone tens of times and have no idea who I am taking to except for the name "sevadhar" that is signed at the end. I have no idea who I am dealing with. Bana, Clothing, jewelry, etc - This is another one where people think that if you are wearing bana that you are showing off and trying to look holy. So they say you should wear very simple clothes that don?t stand out. This routine also relates to jewelry and people feel that by wearing jewelry that you are getting caught up maya. We all talk about being Khalsa Raj, Kings, Queens, princes and princesses. So?are we paupers or are we kings/queens? This is another case of trying to shelter ourselves from feeling ego/pride/etc. The point of all this is more about finding a balance. As Sikhs we are householders that live in this world. We are not sadhus hiding up in the mountains to escape from all the Maya. Trying to shelter or protect one self from feeling these things is not the answer (in my opinion). We as Sikhs should deal with it head on. God gave us a mind and intellect to feel these things and to be able to deal with them. Beating around the bush trying to hide from it can only work for so long. When you have a feeling of pride/ego/lust/etc?.you have a choice. You can dwell or act on it?or you can be conscious of this feeling and "cut" it and change the direction of your thoughts. I think the problem is when you are not conscious of these feelings. Being a Leader and Examples for others to Follow Another thing in relation to "anonymous seva" is that there is a need for leadership and good examples for everyone around us. It is a good thing to have role models and be able to see people who are doing good things for the community. If all these people are "hiding out" they might not be available to share and help inspire others to do the same. I think it is great to be out there and help others in a public way. I deal with this all the time being the so called "Mr. SikhNet". Lots of people know me, and I serve and share very publicly. Am I full of ego and pride? I don?t think so. The service isn?t about me?it?s about being of service and helping others. It?s just a medium. It?s not to say I never feel pride or ego, but I watch my mind and catch it if it tries to go astray. It?s just part of the territory. I choose to face these things head on. Some people do this and may fall victim, but this is just part of life and learning. We learn by overcoming these challenges and controlling our mind, not by hiding out. There is something good about being very personal with people, being honest, and sharing who I am. Having nothing to hide makes one also more conscious of things that they do and say, because you have to take responsibility for everything, which isn?t always easy. On the internet lots of people (Sikhs included) choose to hide behind anonymous names and say/do things that they would never do publicly as "themself". There is a certain character I think in being you, and taking responsibility (good and bad) for your actions and words. Hopefully all this makes you think about these topics and become more conscious about how you deal with it in the future.

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The past few days I have been watching old videos of SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji in dialog and question and answer sessions with Sikh Youth in various places. Here is one that I really enjoyed and highly recommend that you watch or listen to! I?ve already watched it at least five times in the course of editing and reviewing the videos and it really hit home for me so wanted to share with you all. In the video yogiji starts by talking about just "being" a Sikh verses experiencing and living as a Sikh (He related this in the terms he called "Concept" and "Conception"). He then talks about how Sikhs have been betrayed by the so called "Sikh Leadership" and how youth should not rely on them and BECOME the leaders themselves. He shares inspiring experiences from his youth before the partition of India when he was part of creating the All India Sikh Student Federation. He explains how the youth worked together and formed a powerful force with Sikhi as a base and through trust, honesty, equality. He shares the ingredients of what made this work and how youth of today can do this as well. After watching it makes you want get all your friends together and take action. Hopefully this video will inspire some of you to do something and benefit from this. It?s easy to watch the video and say "very good video"?.. So, after you watch it, think about what you can do to take it from "Concept" to "Conception"! The video looks like it was recorded at someone?s home and is from a very informal discussion with some Sikh youth in Bromwick, UK in 1992. The full recording is almost three hours long so I narrowed it down to one part of the discussion and is about 30 minutes long.

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In the past I have posted quite a few audio lectures from Gurdwara by SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji which I thought were very inspirational and educational (and have shaped who I am today). This weekend has been a very thoughtful and pensive weekend for me. I was not feeling so well so stayed home with daughter Charanjeet Kaur and watched quite a few old videos of lectures and questions and answer sessions with Sikh youth from England, Canada and USA. In the videos he answers many common questions related to Sikhi, and more specifically questions related to Sikhs of western origin. Normally most of his lectures are one way to the sangat in Gurdwara, so the ones I watched are very different because people ask questions and he answers them. As I have time I'll watch them again and edit them down to smaller chunks so you all can benefit. Here is one of the videos which is an eleven minute excerpt on the topic of our youth and being a Sikh. This is from Dec. 29th 1988 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The video is mostly in English but switches into Punjabi from time to time.

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I just got a beautiful new audio track from Balvinder Singh (Australia wale) which is titled "The Sweet Song". The actual words are from the shabad by Guru Arjan Dev Ji: "Jo Mangeh Thakur Apne Thae". The vocals are by Harinder Kaur. You can hear some other music by Balvinder Singh that I have posted in the past. Balvinder Singh is currently in India right now learning Sarangi and planning to release a new album mid year (2008). So stay tuned to hear when it is released! In the mean time take a few long deep breaths in and out, and listen to the below shabad. Let your worries and stress melt away?.Ps. We just got lots of new snow last night so it is so magical outside with white all over and the bright New Mexico sun!

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Shanti Kaur Khalsa played kirtan on Sunday and she started one of the Shabads with this introduction about the Shabad and Guru Gobind Singh ji.

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Here is an inspiring talk by SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa on the topic of "Chardikala" and your relationship with the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. It?s only about 28 min long so definitely have a listen! :)

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Those of you who have an IPOD or other digital audio/video player might have heard the term "podcast". Podcasting is a way to get the audio/videos automatically downloaded to your computer or portable audio player. Once you have things set up, you will always have access to the most recent shows, as MP3 files on your computer or portable device, ready for listening! There are very few Sikh related podcasts at this time, however one of my friends (Dr. Savi) produces a regular podcast called "Sikhwithin". One tuned into one of the recent podcasts and enjoyed listening to it, so I thought I would share it with you all. Sikhwithin Episode 28 - Special with Snatam Kaur Nice interview with Snatam Kaur from here recent visit to England and a recording of her playing kirtan.

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Here is an audio clip by Hari Bhajan Kaur who brought the Espanola sangat through to the new year during the all night Rainsabhai Kirtan. She ended just after midnight 2008 singing the Shabad "Ram Japo Jee Aasay Aasay".

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This is some different snippets of her saying things. Some of her common "expressions" are in this clip: Parantha!, Sikaboo (translation: Scooby doo)

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In the morning when we do banis she always wants a nitnem. Here is one of the "Nitnem" encounters along with her cute "wah-hey-goodoo".

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You can also download another variation of Mul Mantra by Hari Bhajan from a previous Gurdwara..

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Here is a short soothing Mul Mantra introduction that Hari Bhajan Kaur played in Gurdwara yesterday before she started playing kirtan. (with Gurujot Singh on Dilruba). Download; set your player on repeat; and relax to the soothing sounds.

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Here is the Gurdwara lecture from July 16th, 1989 by SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa that we heard today in Gurdwara.

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Gurdwara lecture by SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa from Aug 27th 1989 on the topic of Insensitivity and Human Nature.

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Here is another inspiring and thought provoking Gurdwara lecture by SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa from Sept. 10th 1989 - Los Angeles, California. Have a listen!

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Here is the Gurdwara lecture that the sangat listened to this past sunday by SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa (from Sept. 24th 1989). Another thought provoking talk :)

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Here is the third short video interview with Sadasat Simran Singh (Chardikala Jatha). In this video he shares in Punjabi why he is a Sikh and chose to live is life on this path.

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During the Jaap Sahib Course the Chardikala Jatha were quite involved so I recorded a lot of interesting video with them talking about many different topics. On the last day I was able to pull them into the SikhNet office to do a few quick interviews. Sadasat Simran Singh speaks Punjabi quite fluently so I thought it would be cool to have a video interview with him in Punjabi (though I do ask the questions in English). Here is one of the videos from yesterday....

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Here is yet another very inspiring lecture that we heard today in Gurdwara by SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa. It really hit home for me in many ways and he touched upon so many great topics and areas. If you don?t normally listen to the lectures then definitely don?t miss this one. This lecture is from June 25th 1989 in Espanola, New Mexico.

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This video began from a discussion about the Amrit Sanchar and became a discussion about the difference between a ritual and a ceremony. In Sikhi we have ceremonies, not rituals. But a ceremony can become a ritual when no one understands the how and why of what is happening. Water is like a battery for sound frequencies and patterns. Water holds vibrations. I?m sure you?ve seen Dr. Emoto?s work on this. This fact is the basis for both the amrit sanchar and also the mechanism of the nectar tank at the Golden Temple. Harimandir Sahib is a giant generator that produces a huge amount of powerful, clear blue light that cleanses the entire planet. Thousands of devotees perambulate the Perkarma - always in an anticlockwise direction. The sound current of the Shabd Guru is constantly being generated within the temple itself. The temple is coated with a layer of copper covered in gold (a great conductor.) Just as an electrical generator rotates a coil within a magnetic field, the electromagnetic fields of the devotees walking around the walkway create a moving field while the sound current within the temple is magnified and focused by the structure itself. This creates a powerful beam of light that penetrates the axis of the temple and in fact, the earth itself. It is like a huge etheric cleaner for the planet. Now on to the Amrit Sanchar discussion?.

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Every year the Summer Solstice Camp here in Espanola, New Mexico (USA) attracts spiritual seekers of all kind, from all over the world, and from all walks of life. It is a gathering place where you can interface with people from so many different backgrounds and religions (this year around 1,400 people came). I love the universality and oneness that people with a common spiritual goal but different backgrounds can be together. After all?we are all spiritual beings and human right? During the week of Summer Solstice I frequently visit the sound booth which is way up high near the top of the huge shelter, and overlooks the main stage area. This is the source for connecting my recording equipment or getting audio recordings (which I have shared with you over the years). The sevadhars in the sound booth are hardcore and always seem to be on duty at all hours, tending to some audio related task. (I think there are at least 10 people on the audio team). There is something happening from around 3AM in the morning till about 11PM every night!One person who is normally part of the sound team every year at Summer Solstice is Mahan Kalpa Singh. I have met him many times in the sound booth, but never really had a chance to get to know him better. I just recently got to know him better through some awesome music that he created. Little did I know that he was actually a music producer (and a good one!). A few weeks ago I heard about his music from a friend after our normal sunday game of ultimate frisbee. I hunted it down till I got my hands on the audio files and had a chance to listen to it. The music is great and very original, so I wanted to share it with you all too. After emailing Mahan Kalpa he was happy to allow me to post the audio files online for you all. So, grab some headphones and have a listen to the tracks from his album "Love is Love". My thanks go out to Mahan Kalpa Singh for sharing this music and making it freely available for everyone to enjoy. I hope you make more!

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Another inspiring Gurdwara lecture, from March 5th 1989, Los Angeles, California by SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa (Yogi Bhajan)

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