Swiss couple with child
I met this Swiss family at the Germany Akhand Keertan Smaagam. I'll try my best to convey the story of how this family found Sikhi.
On Saturday of the Smaagam, Veer jee came and asked for Singhs to tie a Dastaar on him. When I asked "Why do you want to become a Sikh?" He replied with a smile, "Sikhism is great. It is the only religion where everything is logical, straight-forward and makes sense." I then spoke to his wife, who is of Portuguese origin but was born in Switzerland. Bhenji explained that where they lived there were no Sikhs and the nearest Gurdwara was a 2 hour drive. Intrigued how they got introduced by Sikhi, Bhenji explained that the Sikhi journey began on a family holiday to Austria.
They went to a small town in Autria where there are no Sikhs nearby, however once whilst visiting the local market them came across an elderly Sikh. The elderly Sikh, with a white beard and glowing face, came up to Bhenji and said something like, "In your past life you have done great things. Awaken your destiny and find your future." Saying these words the elderly Singh walked away. Both husband and wife were left stunned but feeling peaceful and happy at the same time. After a few moments, they wished to find the old Singh and talk to him some more. However, when they searched the whole market, they couldn't find a trace of him.
Arriving back from holiday, the couple decided to find out who the person was. Not knowing anything about Sikhs or Sikhi, they searched for India on the Internet. They eventually realized that people who wear a Dastaar and have uncut hair in India are called Sikhs. Whilst searching about Sikhs they came across the website 'Sikhs in the Netherlands'. Bhenji emailed the website with some questions regarding Sikhi. At one point, the website asked Bhenji if she could translate an article in English about the miracles of Mool Mantar into French. In order to translate the article, Bhenji decided to research about the Mool Mantar as she knew nothing about Sikhi. Researching about Mool Mantar changed Bhenji's life. She fell in love with Gurbani and realized the power of Gurbani. After translating the article, the website put the article up but they showed the author as being 'Sat Kartaar Kaur'.
Bhenji and her husband felt confused why the website would not put her name on the article when she had written it and instead put someone else's name. She then translated another article for the website. Again the website displayed the author's name as 'Sat Kartaar Kaur'. Bhenji said, "My husband and I realized that perhaps God is telling me that my name is Sat Kartaar Kaur." After this Bhenji changed her name to 'Sat Kartaar Kaur'.
I asked, "When did you become vegetarian and give up alcohol?" She said, "Before I met the elderly Sikh man on holiday, I somehow became a vegetarian and stopped drinking alcohol. I am a Catholic and in our culture drinking alcohol is very important. But Guru Jee showed me this way. I also gave up my job." Bhenji worked in a wine bar and gave up her job when she discovered Sikhi as she thought working or being near alcohol was unethical.
Throughout the Smaagam I noticed that both Veer jee and Bhenji listened to the Keertan very carefully and even though they didn't know Punjabi or Gurmukhi they closed their eyes and tried to sing along.
Bhai Manmohan Singh Jee (California)
Bhenji learnt how to do Keertan. I was amazed how she learnt Keeertan when there was no Gurdwara or Sikh nearby where they lived. She told me that she learnt Keertan from a DVD by Bhai Manmohan Singh jee (California) called "How to do Keertan" which she ordered through the Internet. On Saturday Bhenji played the Shabad she learnt from the DVD to Bhai Manmohan Singh jee (California) who was also at the Smaagam. Bhai Sahib was very impressed that Bhenji learnt Keertan considering he explains how to do Keertan in Punjabi in the DVD, and Bhenji cannot understand Punjabi.
I then asked how Bhenj how she began to tie a Keski (turban). Bhenji replied, "I felt like wearing a turban one day. I looked on the Internet on SikhNet and saw videos of how women tie turbans. I got some material, tied my hair up and tried my best. I liked it. So I keep it on and since then never took it off." Bhenji keeps her Keski on, even when sleeping. Vaheguru.
On Saturday evening after the Rainsbaaee there was a mix-up with rooms and Bhenji went to sleep with her daughter in a room where the Singhs were going to sleep afterwards. The Singhs came in to the room and did their Nitnem in the dark. Once we started Nitnem we realized Bhenji was lying in the corner with her daughter. At the end of the Nitnem Bhenji stood up in the Ardaas and then moved to the ladies room. In the morning Bhenji apologized that she was in the wrong room. I explained it wasn't any problem. Bhenji said, "I am glad I was in the room though because when you all did Nitnem, I felt like Mai Bhaag Kaur doing Nitnem with her brothers before going to battle. I really enjoyed it. Thank you." Vaheguru!
On Sunday I asked Veer Jee if he would like me to tie a Dastaar on him. He replied, "Not today. Today I have to go back home. I cannot wear a turban because I have to go back to the Bar. I don't want to bring shame on the Dastaar by wearing it home." It was amazing how much respect Veer Jee had for the Dastaar that he realized it was an insult to Guru Jee for someone to look like a Sikh and be near alcohol, let alone sell it.
Veer Jee and Bhenji requested the Saadh Sangat to do an Ardaas for them at the end of the Divaan that Guru jee blesses them by getting rid of their current business as soon as possible so that they can live a complete Gurmat life-style and then take Amrit.
[This story appears in two parts (both included here), the second part is on:
http://manvirsingh.blogspot.com/2011/08/story-of-swiss-couple-finding-sikhi_11.htm
- ED ]