Service is the theme of Sikh philosophy

2 Jun 2009, 1200 hrs IST, KULBIR KAUR

The concept of community service or seva is central to the spirit of the Sikh faith. God is all-pervasive and what better way to realise Him than through service?

He is not separate from His Creation; so serving Him by serving what He has created is the ultimate duty of every Sikh. The Sikh often prays as did Guru Arjan Dev: `As Your servant, I beg for seva of your people, which is available through good fortune alone.'

Seva or service occupies a central place in Sikhism where no worship is conceivable without seva. The spirit of service not only creates in one's heart love and affection for others but also helps the person overcome his ego, the main obstacle in the path of spiritual realisation. Service is suggested as a practical way of life for a Sikh and he is expected, among other things, to meditate on the Name of God and perform service for the welfare of humanity.

Service could be of any kind serving the poor and needy; giving charity, providing food or shelter, helping a person in distress, saving someone in danger or reading the scriptures for his solace or providing services for the common good. These acts are considered far superior to the countless sacrificial fires and performance of ceremonies or mere meditation and worldly knowledge, says Bhai Gurdas.

Seva can be rendered in any form through labour, feelings or material means. The first is considered as the highest of all and is prescribed for every Sikh. Dignity of labour is realised foremost in Guru ka Langar, the community kitchen, and in serving the sangat, the holy assembly. Langar is the unique way of combining worship with seva. One can contribute in cutting of vegetables, cooking of food, distribution of water and langar, washing of utensils, cleaning of the premises, taking care of footwear as well as in collection of rations.

Langar, therefore, becomes a place of training in voluntary service and helps develop the notions of equality, hospitality and love for human beings. It makes you humble by helping you curb your ego. Humility is a special virtue recommended to the Sikhs. It can be acquired through seva. The Sikh prayer, Ardas, ends with a supplication for the welfare of all, 'Sarbat da Bhala'. The attitude of compassion should be combined with a practical way of serving God through His Creation.

Seva through material means should be a silent and non-personal contribution. It is meant for the welfare of the community and the whole humanity and should be done in a way as to help dissolve one's ego. Even in serving others, one serves not the person concerned, but God Himself through him. Even as one feeds the hungry, it has been the customary Sikh practice to pray: 'The grain, O God, is your own gift. Only the seva is mine which please be gracious enough to accept.'

Service should be done without any expectation of reward. Desire for any reward in return turns it into a bargain and it ceases to be a service. 'He who serves without reward, he alone attains God'. True seva, as proclaimed by the Gurus, must be performed in humility, with purity of intention and without any desire for reward. Service is its own reward that leads to liberation. `We get eternal bliss through the service of God and merge in the peace of poise,' says the Guru Granth Sahib.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Speaking-Tree/Service-is-the-theme-of-Sikh-philosophy-/articleshow/4605003.cms

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Shocked at the sad demise of Bhai Sahib bhai Zoravar singh ji

With profound grief and sorrow we regret to inform you that Famous Ragee sahiban Bhai Sahib Bhai Zorawar Singh Ji has passed away in a boat accident. This accident took place while immersing the ashes of gursikh Baba Sadhu Singh ji from Nanaksar.

The boat took a turn and probably due to load on that side it just sinked in a minute. Dozens of boats were sent for the rescue. But As per reports,out of 13 people, 10 were taken out and three were missing. Among the missing one’s were famous ragi, bhai zorawar singh ji (ludhiana) and bhai gurcharan singh ji who is son of another renowed ragi bhai harbans singh ji jagadhari and one more baba ji’s sewak harjinder singh.Baba Mangal Singh who was taken out from water and sent to hospital for treatment could not survive and passed away.

Bhai sahib bhai Zoravar Singh ji's body was found at Sigrur, stuck with a large stone. Bhai Zorawar Singh Ji was creamted on friday morning at 9.00 a.m. It's a big loss to the Sikh Community.

The video of the Boat mishap can be viewed at : http://sikhsindia.blogspot.com/2009/05/ragi-bhai-zorawar-singh-2-others.html

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Thumbs down for SGPC edict by city's Sikh youths

1 Jun 2009, 0410 hrs IST, TNN

NEW DELHI: Religion is apparently personal. Or so say youngsters in the city despite the Punjab and Haryana High Court upholding a Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee edict. The SGPC, which refused to give admission to an aspiring student on the grounds that she plucked her eyebrows and therefore, didn't follow the rules laid down in the Guru Granth Sahib, may have got the backing of the court but when it comes to Delhi's young generation, there's plenty to debate.

Most of whom TOI spoke to felt that religious beliefs were personal, and shouldn't be confused with personal grooming. Said Nisha Kaur (name changed), a 26-year old journalist working with a television channel: "My religious beliefs are clear I live my life the way the Granth Sahib tells me to. But that has nothing to do with whether I cut my hair or get my eyebrows plucked. Harping on these issues trivialises the teachings.'' And Nisha's not the only one who is carving a clear line between the teachings or moral values that the Sikh religious book advocates and the way of life followed by this generation.

Said Harpreet Kaur, who has just finished her computer degree, "Following the teachings is a way of life. But with time, some things need to change. My family has never insisted that I follow all the rules as long as I behaved like a good human being.'' It's a point that both Chetan and Hema, who had come for a Sunday visit at the Bangla Sahib gurudwara, also maintained. "The teachings talk about doing your duty and being a good person. Beyond that, I don't think that the Gurus would be upset if I cut my hair or plucked my eyebrow once in a while,'' said Chetan.

For many though, the teachings of the Granth Sahib have relevance in every sphere. Said Amandeep Kaur, a second year DU student, "It depends on your beliefs. I have not cut my hair or plucked my eyebrows since I took the Amrit, as I believe that rules should be followed. "Though my friends follow the latest trends, I have never felt the need to be like them. I have faith in my belief.''

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi/Thumbs-down-for-SGPC-edict-by-citys-Sikh-youths/articleshow/4601023.cms

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Ragi Bhai Zorawar Singh & 2 others Missing in Boat Accident

After losing Baba Sadhu Singh ji from Nanaksar few days back,it was another sad day for Sikh community after the boat which was taking 13 people in Harike Pattan during ‘jal parvah’ of baba ji’s remains,sunk and all fell into the water body.

As per latest reports,out of 13 people, 10 were taken out and three are still missing. Among the missing one’s are famous ragi, bhai zorawar singh ji (ludhiana) and bhai gurcharan singh ji who is son of another renowed ragi bhai harbans singh ji jagadhari and one more baba ji’s sewak harjinder singh. Baba Mangal Singh who was taken out and sent to hospital treatment could not survive and passed away.

LATEST UPDATE:: As per the information we received from one of the readers of blog, that came in today, Bhai Zorawar Singhs body was found at Sigrur because of the being stuck with a large stone. He was cremated by the family. Bhai Gurcharan Singh’s body was not found till this post.

with thanks : source : http://www.amritsarovar.com/blog/others/ragi-bhai-zorawar-singh-and-son-of-bhai-harbans-singh-missing/

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Amritsar Sahib has the largest number of HIV positive drug users in India.

Amritsar Sahib has the largest number of HIV positive drug users in India. This message has been flashed by Sikhnetwork vide the SMS. You can join the sikhnetwork by sending a SMS in India to 567678 with words "Join Sikhnetwork"

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Family fights for right to cremate 'converted' Malaysian-Sikh

31 May 2009, 1810 hrs IST, PTI

KUALA LUMPUR: An ethnic Indian family is fighting with Islamic authorities in Malaysia for claiming the body of a Sikh art director who allegedly
converted to Islam 17 years ago.

The family of Mohan Singh, 41, who died last week, wants to cremate the body according to Sikh rites while the Islamic authorities want to bury him according to Muslim rituals.

Currently, Singh's body is in the hospital, family lawyer Rajesh Kumar said.

Islamic department officials claim that Singh had converted to Islam in 1992. The department has filed a case in the Shariah court while Singh's family members have filed a case at the high court.

The lawyer claimed that Mohan Singh was a practising Sikh and had gone to a Sikh temple with his sister recently.

The incident is the latest row over conversion in the Muslim-majority nation which had seen a number of recent legal disputes between converted Muslim husbands and Hindu wives over the faith of their children.

New Prime Minister Najib Razak had announced a landmark decision last month, declaring that minors could no longer be converted without both parents' consent.

Malaysia has also witnessed several cases when Islamic authorities have battled with relatives over the remains of people whose religion is disputed.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Family-fights-for-right-to-cremate-converted-Malaysian-Sikh/articleshow/4600694.cms

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Sikhs to agitate if cases against protestors are withdrawn

Published by: Noor Khan
Sun, 31 May 2009

Jalandhar, May 31 : A day after Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's assurance to Dera Sachkhand to review cases against protesters who indulged in violence after the killing of a sect leader in Vienna, a group of social and religious leaders today threatened an agitation if the cases were withdrawn.

The group had a meeting at local Paragpur Gurudwara and constituted a 101-member committee to take up its issues with the State Government.

Addressing the meeting former president of All India Sikh Students Federation Harinder Singh Kahlon said that the compensation announced by the state government for the kin of deceased protestors means it is honouring those who ransacked public property.

Founder President of Punjab Youth Clubs Organisations and committee member Joginder Singh Jogi said that cancellation of cases against protestors, who burnt properties of innocent people, would encourage them for doing it again and convey a signal from the State Government that it was favouring the violence.

He said if the State Government does not pay heed to their demands they would be forced to launch an intense agitation.

Badal told a sect delegation yesterday that he had constituted a committee headed by Regional Commissioner S R Ladhar and Inspector General of Police (Zonal) Sanjeev Kalra to review the cases against the Dalit protrestors.

with thanks : source : http://www.samaylive.com/news/sikhs-to-agitate-if-cases-against-protestors-are-withdrawn/631174.html

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Girl who plucked eyebrow not true Sikh, says HC

31 May 2009, 0503 hrs IST, TNN

CHANDIGARH: Endorsing a hardline stand by high priests of Sikhism who barred a young girl admission in a minority institution on grounds that she violated a fundamental tenet of the religion by plucking her eyebrows, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Saturday ruled that the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee was fully justified in doing so.

Leaning on the side of a text-based, more conservative definition of who is a true Sikh and the importance of hair in Sikhism, the full bench of justices JS Khehar, Jasbir Singh and Ajay Kumar Mittal in a 152-page order said keeping unshorn hair was an essential and most fundamental component of the religion.

The order came on a plea by Gurleen Kaur and others who had challenged denial of admission into an MBBS course at the Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar, a Sikh minority institution, on grounds that they plucked their eyebrows and trimmed their hair.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (SGPC) had also ruled that ''she was not a true Sikh as she was plucking her eyebrows.'' The court said the requisite of maintaining Sikh `swarup' (appearance) was a permissible precondition for admitting students under the Sikh minority community quota.

The SGPC runs two medical colleges, two engineering institutes, one polytechnic, 40 degree colleges and 150 schools, most of them in Punjab.

Saturday's order, replete with references to Sikh history and Sikh model code of conduct, also noted that the Guru Granth Sahib is for guidance of Sikhs in their pursuit towards spiritual salvation. It does not deal with the code of conduct prescribed for Sikhs. It was the Sikh rehat-maryada (code of conduct) that dealt with issues like importance of unshorn hair.

It added that the Guru Granth Sahib made no reference to the terms amritdhari (Sikhs who wear the five Ks - kesh, kacchha, kanga, kara, kirpan - and who have partaken amrit), sehajdhari (who are learning to be Amritdhari Sikhs) and patit (who were born Sikhs but violated one of the tenets).

Reflecting on contours of Sikh identity, the bench held the cardinal principle of retaining unshorn hair was not only for adults but also for minors, as it was the adults who were required to maintain the hair of their children.

Although the bench took the view that unshorn hair was an inalienable part of Sikh swarup, it observed that keeping the kirpan was not as important.

The SGPC burst out in celebration moments after the verdict and its chief Avtar Singh Makkar said, ``We are happy with the judgment. Our stand that unshorn hair is of paramount importance for Sikhs has been vindicated.''

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Girl-who-plucked-eyebrow-not-true-Sikh-says-HC/articleshow/4598931.cms

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Unshorn hair is basic Sikh tenet: HC

Pawan Sharma, Hindustan Times
Chandigarh, May 30, 2009

Retaining unshorn hair is one of the most important and fundamental tenets of Sikhism, Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled on Saturday.

A full bench upheld the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee precondition for maintaining ‘Sikh Swarup’ by students seeking admission under the Sikh minority community quota in institutions run by the religious body.

The bench dismissed the petition of Sikh students whom the Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar, had denied admission in MBBS, despite merit, on the grounds that they had violated the Sikh religion by trimming beard and plucking eyebrows.

“On the basis of the undisputed factual position, that all the petitioners indulge in trimming their hair or plucking hair of their eyebrows, they can legitimately be denied of a benefit otherwise available to Sikhs,” justice Khehar said.

“We have repeatedly concluded…that retaining bodily hair unshorn is one of the most essential tenets of the Sikh religion. And as such, if a Sikh organisation or body decides not to extend any benefit, which is otherwise available to a Sikh, to a person who does not maintain his hair unshorn, its determination would be perfectly legitimate.”

with thanks : source : http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=RSSFeed-News&id=aa5b5223-7966-447b-bfff-f6e60c3cc160&Headline=Unshorn+hair+is+basic+Sikh+tenet%3a+HC

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Men found guilty of fire-bombing Temple

Three Wiltshire men have been convicted of fire-bombing a temple and a house after being angered by the marriage of a Sikh woman to her Hindu boyfriend.

Sandip Rooprai, 21, of Penhill Drive, Swindon, acted out of a "misguided sense of honour" following his sister's wedding, Winchester Crown Court heard.

He and brothers Mukham Dogra, 18, and Jasdev Dogra, 19, of Cowdrey Close, Toothill, decided to make petrol bombs.

They then attacked a Bristol temple and the Swindon home of a wedding witness.

The brothers, who were friends of Rooprai, had driven with him to Bristol to attack the Gilbert Road Hindu temple where the marriage had taken place.

'Very good relations'

The Swindon house of the wedding witness, Alpona Begum Rahim, was then attacked by the men on two occasions in February 2008.

All three men had already pleaded guilty to arson after setting fire to a car that was parked outside the Rahim family home.

The jury found the men guilty of two counts of arson with recklessness as to whether life is endangered. However they were cleared of more serious charges of arson with intent to endanger life.

Speaking outside court, Bartook Pandya, who campaigns against racial attacks in Bristol, said the events were not representative of relations between the Hindu and Sikh communities, which he described as "usually very good".

He said: "Those marriages take place [in] lots of places. In India they are quite common. They are quite common here.

"And if this brother decides to fire-bomb, it is his own personal thing, it is nothing cultural, nothing from the community. I do not think the Sikh community would endorse that sort of behaviour."

Sentencing is expected on 6 July 2009.

with thanks : source : http://www.sikhnet.com/news/men-found-guilty-fire-bombing-gurdwara

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