Friday, May 26, 2006
Celebrate Peace Goes to the UK!!!!
Ok.... here's me being a tourist and taking pictures of double decker buses in London. How fun!!!
We played kirtan in a beautiful old English house right in the heart of London. It was organized just a week before, but the living room was packed with people. How beautiful the voices were who sang with us! Many thanx to Karta Kaur who organized it.
Here we are with Jagjit Singh who joined us to play tabla. He is a very beautiful Gursikh and a great tabla player. He has a similar playing style to our dear friend Harimander Jot Singh of the Chardi Kalaa Jatha. I hope they can meet some day.
Here we are with friends at Karta Kaur's house. After Kirtan they served us a delicious meal and some very tasty cakes.
Karta Singh and Karta Kaur.
We visited an incredible school called Guru Nanak School in Hayes, Middlesex UK. We did an assembly with about 400 of the students. Here they are doing Celestial Communications to the Mul Mantra.
The children sing with us the song written by the Siri Singh Sahib, " I am the light of my soul, I am beautiful, I am bountiful, I am bliss, I am, I am!"
Children of the Guru Nanak School sang with us, with so much Piaar (love). It was very beautiful.
Here we are with some of the beautiful women and teachers of the Guru Nanak School, Sukhmani Kaur, a Russian Sikh, is standing with us. She organized our visit to the school. I love the way that God works... through so many different kinds of people. We are truly blessed to witness it.
An earth shaking dhol class at the Guru Nanak School.
GuruGanesha Singh with very inspirational Khalsa men at the Wolverhampton Gurdwara.
Sopurkh Singh and I during a break at the White Tantric Yoga Course in Portland Oregon, USA.
A number of people have come up to me in the past couple of days asking ways in which they can get up early in the morning in the nectar hours, or Amrit Vela. This time is between 4 am and 7 am, and it is a very peaceful time to meditate before the rush of the day starts. A few things that I shared with people from my experience that have helped me are as follows. The first thing is that if you want to get up but are having a hard time, put it in God's hands... and ask God for the help. Feeling guilty never seemed to help me. Actually, my morning practise became very regular because I really enjoyed it... I didn't want to miss a day because it felt so good. Doing a yoga practise really helps, because not only do you feel good in the mind and soul but also the body. So, here's a few practical tips. Go to bed early!!!! In order to do this, you've got to decrease the things that send radio waves through you... like computers, TV, etc because these energy waves are very stimulating and can be disturbing if you are exposed to them to much. When it gets close to the time that you want to go to bed do more relaxing things like spend time with family, read an inspirational book, play music, do artwork, do yoga and meditation, etc. Its also good to eat early and leave yourself at least 2 hours and ideally 3 hours after you eat before you go to bed. Most of acid reflux disease is caused by eating late and going to bed soon after. You can also have a big glass of water before going to bed so that you've got a really good reason to get up when the alarm clock goes off! Anyway... these are just a few things. Remember life is a journey... and as my dearest friend and teacher Shakti Parwha Kaur said to me many times "Never take yourself too seriously and always have the right containers for everthing."
Ok.... here's me being a tourist and taking pictures of double decker buses in London. How fun!!!
We played kirtan in a beautiful old English house right in the heart of London. It was organized just a week before, but the living room was packed with people. How beautiful the voices were who sang with us! Many thanx to Karta Kaur who organized it.
Here we are with Jagjit Singh who joined us to play tabla. He is a very beautiful Gursikh and a great tabla player. He has a similar playing style to our dear friend Harimander Jot Singh of the Chardi Kalaa Jatha. I hope they can meet some day.
Here we are with friends at Karta Kaur's house. After Kirtan they served us a delicious meal and some very tasty cakes.
Karta Singh and Karta Kaur.
We visited an incredible school called Guru Nanak School in Hayes, Middlesex UK. We did an assembly with about 400 of the students. Here they are doing Celestial Communications to the Mul Mantra.
The children sing with us the song written by the Siri Singh Sahib, " I am the light of my soul, I am beautiful, I am bountiful, I am bliss, I am, I am!"
Children of the Guru Nanak School sang with us, with so much Piaar (love). It was very beautiful.
Here we are with some of the beautiful women and teachers of the Guru Nanak School, Sukhmani Kaur, a Russian Sikh, is standing with us. She organized our visit to the school. I love the way that God works... through so many different kinds of people. We are truly blessed to witness it.
An earth shaking dhol class at the Guru Nanak School.
GuruGanesha Singh with very inspirational Khalsa men at the Wolverhampton Gurdwara.
Sopurkh Singh and I during a break at the White Tantric Yoga Course in Portland Oregon, USA.
A number of people have come up to me in the past couple of days asking ways in which they can get up early in the morning in the nectar hours, or Amrit Vela. This time is between 4 am and 7 am, and it is a very peaceful time to meditate before the rush of the day starts. A few things that I shared with people from my experience that have helped me are as follows. The first thing is that if you want to get up but are having a hard time, put it in God's hands... and ask God for the help. Feeling guilty never seemed to help me. Actually, my morning practise became very regular because I really enjoyed it... I didn't want to miss a day because it felt so good. Doing a yoga practise really helps, because not only do you feel good in the mind and soul but also the body. So, here's a few practical tips. Go to bed early!!!! In order to do this, you've got to decrease the things that send radio waves through you... like computers, TV, etc because these energy waves are very stimulating and can be disturbing if you are exposed to them to much. When it gets close to the time that you want to go to bed do more relaxing things like spend time with family, read an inspirational book, play music, do artwork, do yoga and meditation, etc. Its also good to eat early and leave yourself at least 2 hours and ideally 3 hours after you eat before you go to bed. Most of acid reflux disease is caused by eating late and going to bed soon after. You can also have a big glass of water before going to bed so that you've got a really good reason to get up when the alarm clock goes off! Anyway... these are just a few things. Remember life is a journey... and as my dearest friend and teacher Shakti Parwha Kaur said to me many times "Never take yourself too seriously and always have the right containers for everthing."
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Dear Snatam Kaur,
I'm really looking forward to seeing her at Southall, London on Sunday.
Your CDs are excellent.
On the side, I’m one of the few Sikh Podcasters and I always promote your wonderful tracks and also www.spiritvoyage.com - playing snippets et al.
Do you think it would be possible for me to record a snippet and include it in my next podcast?
Our Sikhhwithin podcasts can be located in i-tunes or at http://sikhwithin.blogspot.com
Have a fantastic time in London -
I believe that Peace is a route to goodness and for humankind to demonstrate their will to help each other.
I'm really looking forward to seeing her at Southall, London on Sunday.
Your CDs are excellent.
On the side, I’m one of the few Sikh Podcasters and I always promote your wonderful tracks and also www.spiritvoyage.com - playing snippets et al.
Do you think it would be possible for me to record a snippet and include it in my next podcast?
Our Sikhhwithin podcasts can be located in i-tunes or at http://sikhwithin.blogspot.com
Have a fantastic time in London -
I believe that Peace is a route to goodness and for humankind to demonstrate their will to help each other.
Thanks for saying Hi! yesterday @Park Avenue.
All the best for the remaining part of the tour.
Seeing you 'live' was inspirational.
Wishing you peace.
All the best for the remaining part of the tour.
Seeing you 'live' was inspirational.
Wishing you peace.
Just wanted to say that I also write for the Sikh Times every week as a non-paid volunteer. The following text comprises of my article (Lifestyle column) this week (to be published on Thursday 1st June 2006). A full transcript is available at my blog site:
Text Starts...
Snatam Kaur Khalsa and Party – 28th May 2006 – Park Avenue, Southall - We must become the light
On Sunday 28th May my phone diary chimed out my reminder that later today would be the time for me to head out to Park Avenue, Southall, West London (UK) to hear Snatam Kaur and GuruGanesha Singh Khalsa, currently on a world peace tour.
The race was on at home to get a few household chores complete, get ready and then get to Southall in West London.
The traffic was relatively clear but the picture was different in the Gurdwara car park. After zipping around the car park a few times we managed to jostle and find a place to park.
At 3.15pm the Dabar Hall (Darbar Sahib refers to the main hall within a Sikh Gurdwara. This hall is where the Guru Granth Sahib is placed in a prominent central position in the hall) was packed.
Then Snatam Kaur and party arrived and took their places just behind the Guru Granth Sahib.
The party consisted of Snatam Kaur Khalsa, GuruGanesha Singh Khalsa and a wonderful tabla player, Jagjit Singh.
After a quick introduction and in parallel audio set-up, the party started the one hour programme. There are a some words that came to my mind whilst listening to the Peace party:
Humbleness, Calm, Unity and Joy.
Humbleness and Calm came to mind as there was a sense of ‘grace’ in the air. The sound was unique, soothing and provided a meditative atmosphere. In parallel the Sikhi-to-the-Max power-point presentation provided one with a view to meanings of Gurbani. There was passion in the singing by all and an energy level that confirmed commitment to the belief in God and the Spirit of the Guru.
Unity came to mind as the Sangat sang in unison. It appeared to me that with every breath the harmony of Waheguru (wonderful Lord) simran was felt.
Joy came to mind as it was suggested that (paraphrased) that in order to become enlightened we must first become a light. I really loved this line as it was inspiring and captured an essence of being a Sikh.
The latter message is something that I have been thinking about since Sunday. We come to this Earth, perform our daily chores, try to keep fit in body but how much do we devote to our spiritual being? How much do we work with each other to help others?
It is up to us to develop peace but also we have the potential to sustain its atmosphere once created. We should not simply ‘treat’ our soul but bring our soul closer to the Guru everyday. We can do this by believing in God and treating everyone as equal.
In the Sangat hall we prayed and sang together as one world – a world that needs peace today and for always. Thank you Snatam Kaur and Party for an inspiring time.
...Text Ends
Text Starts...
Snatam Kaur Khalsa and Party – 28th May 2006 – Park Avenue, Southall - We must become the light
On Sunday 28th May my phone diary chimed out my reminder that later today would be the time for me to head out to Park Avenue, Southall, West London (UK) to hear Snatam Kaur and GuruGanesha Singh Khalsa, currently on a world peace tour.
The race was on at home to get a few household chores complete, get ready and then get to Southall in West London.
The traffic was relatively clear but the picture was different in the Gurdwara car park. After zipping around the car park a few times we managed to jostle and find a place to park.
At 3.15pm the Dabar Hall (Darbar Sahib refers to the main hall within a Sikh Gurdwara. This hall is where the Guru Granth Sahib is placed in a prominent central position in the hall) was packed.
Then Snatam Kaur and party arrived and took their places just behind the Guru Granth Sahib.
The party consisted of Snatam Kaur Khalsa, GuruGanesha Singh Khalsa and a wonderful tabla player, Jagjit Singh.
After a quick introduction and in parallel audio set-up, the party started the one hour programme. There are a some words that came to my mind whilst listening to the Peace party:
Humbleness, Calm, Unity and Joy.
Humbleness and Calm came to mind as there was a sense of ‘grace’ in the air. The sound was unique, soothing and provided a meditative atmosphere. In parallel the Sikhi-to-the-Max power-point presentation provided one with a view to meanings of Gurbani. There was passion in the singing by all and an energy level that confirmed commitment to the belief in God and the Spirit of the Guru.
Unity came to mind as the Sangat sang in unison. It appeared to me that with every breath the harmony of Waheguru (wonderful Lord) simran was felt.
Joy came to mind as it was suggested that (paraphrased) that in order to become enlightened we must first become a light. I really loved this line as it was inspiring and captured an essence of being a Sikh.
The latter message is something that I have been thinking about since Sunday. We come to this Earth, perform our daily chores, try to keep fit in body but how much do we devote to our spiritual being? How much do we work with each other to help others?
It is up to us to develop peace but also we have the potential to sustain its atmosphere once created. We should not simply ‘treat’ our soul but bring our soul closer to the Guru everyday. We can do this by believing in God and treating everyone as equal.
In the Sangat hall we prayed and sang together as one world – a world that needs peace today and for always. Thank you Snatam Kaur and Party for an inspiring time.
...Text Ends
Dearest Snatam, I attended to your concert in Barcelona and I absolutely loved your songs (I already loved them, but now I feel really happy to have had the chance to listen live!). I feel so privileged to have sang with you, between other 800 persons! I am looking forward to your photos on Barcelona!! Love and hugs from Barcelona! We love you a lot!!
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