One moment. One touch. One person. It can bring light to the world. It can bring the deepest darkness. On August 5, 2012, a year ago, the Oak Creek Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, experienced the worst and the best of humanity.
This is probably the first declaration of independence in present day India and you will not pick that up from Indian history books where even Guru Gobind Singh is not, or hardly, mentioned.
The metaphor of the elephant-mind has been frequently employed in Gurbani to describe the nature of the mind. In fact this is a traditional term for the inflated ego, which has been in use for a very long time. The earliest recorded use can be found in the Buddhist texts on the nature of mind.
I do not have any children of my own. So it is no surprise that I pour all of my mothering instincts into my garden.
Gurbani uses metaphors to explain mystical concepts. The usage of the word buneay is fascinating. Whether it alludes to a synthesis with the teachings or transformation into the essence of the Truth (Sat Swaroop), it is essentially the same message: imbibe the teaching so completely that there is no difference between the teacher (Gurbani) and the learner (Student, Sikh).
Jews have been phenomenally successful in the world. Starting as a nation without borders over 2000 years ago, they have transformed themselves and the world around them, while creating a homeland. They have paid a heavy price along the way.
On the other hand, we all regularly participate in a system that protects a select few, and we all play roles that contribute to the denigration of others.
Motherhood is not an accident of biology. Somebody has sex with somebody. Somebody gets pregnant. And look – there is life! Birth is the beginning of a very long process. A child needs values. A child needs love. A child needs time and attention.
For those tuning into the news in the United States last week, a Senator in the Texas Legislature launched a 13 hour filibuster blocking the passage of a drastic anti-abortion bill.
Sikhpoint, a newly revamped website focusing on Sikh lifestyle was launched on June 14, 2013. Sikhs across the world are familiar with Sikhpoint calendars that celebrate Sikh art and history, and over the years have become collector's items.