Monday 2 November 2009

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Birthday

On this day, more than any day is remembered for the Sikhs. Our first guru, our first teacher came to this planet to help us and guide us through this Kalyug, dark era, that we are in. Guru ji enlightened people not because he performed miracles and gave them what they wanted but because he spoke TRUTH!!

This Shabad is by Bhai Gurdaas Ji in Vaars Bhai Gurdaas on Pannaa 1

iPir bwbw igAw bgdwd no bwhr jwie kIAw AsQwnw]
fir baabaa giaa bagadhaadh no baahar jaae keeaa asathhaanaa||
From Mecca Baba went to Baghdad and stayed outside the city.

iek bwbw Akwl rUpu dUjw rbwbI mrdwnw]
eik baabaa akaal roop dhoojaa rabaabee maradhaanaa||
Firstly, Baba himself was in the form of Timeless and secondly, he had his companion Mardana, the rebeck player.

idqI bWig invwij kir suMn smwin hoAw jhwnw]
dhithee baa(n)g nivaaj kar su(n)n samaan hoaa jehaanaa||
For Naamaz (in his own style), Baba gave call, listening to which the whole world went into absolute silence.

suMn muMin ngrI BeI dyiK Pir BieAw hYrwnw]
su(n)n mu(n)n nagaree bhee dhaekh far bhaeiaa hairaanaa||
The whole city became quiet and Lo! to behold it, the Pir (of the town) also got wonderstruck.

vyKY iDAwn lgwie kir ieku PkIru vfw msqwnw]
vaekhai dhhiaan lagaae kar eik fakeer vaddaa masathaanaa||
Observing minutely he found (in the form of Baba Nanak) an exhilarated Faqir.

puiCAw iPrkY dsqgIr kaun PkIru ikskw GirAwnw]
pushhiaa firakai dhasathageer koun fakeer kisakaa ghariaanaa||
Pir Dastegir asked him, which category of Faqir you belong to and what is your parentage.

nwnk kil ivic AwieAw rbu PkIru ieko pihcwnw]
naanak kal vich aaeiaa rab fakeer eiko pehichaanaa||
(Mardana told) He is Nanak, who has come into Kalyug, and, he recognises God and His Faqirs as one.

Drq Akws chU ids jwnw ]35]
dhharath akaas chehoo dhis jaanaa ||35||
He is known in all the directions besides Earth and Sky.(35)

Sunday 27 September 2009

Discussion with God

Discussion with God - Just place yourself as ME and the conversation can be interesting. Its really good one..
----
God
: Hello... Did you call me?
Me:
Called you? No.. who is this?
God:
This is GOD. I heard your prayers. So I thought I will chat.

Me:
I do pray. Just makes me feel good. I am actually busy now. I am in the midst of something..
God:
What are you busy at? Ants are busy too.

Me:
Don't know. But I cant find free time. Life has become hectic. It's rush hour all the time.
God:
Sure. Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results.
Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.


Me:
I understand. But I still cant figure it out.. By the way, I was not expecting YOU to buzz me on instant messaging chat.
God:
Well I wanted to resolve your fight for time, by giving you some clarity. In this net era, I wanted to reach you through the medium you are comfortable with.

Me: Tell me, why has life become complicated now?

God:
Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.

Me:
why are we then constantly unhappy?
God:
Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. You are worrying because you are analyzing. Worrying has become your habit. That's why you are not happy.

Me:
But how can we not worry when there is so much uncertainty?
God:
Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional.

Me:
But then, there is so much pain due to uncertainty..
God:
Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

Me:
If suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer?
God:
Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don't suffer. With that experience their life becomes better not bitter.

Me:
You mean to say such experience is useful?
God:
Yes. In every terms, Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.

Me:
But still, why should we go through such tests? Why can't we be free from problems?
God:
Problems are Purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial Lessons (to) Enhance Mental Strength. Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from problems.

Me:
Frankly in the midst of so many problems, we don't know where we are heading..
God:
If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Looking outside, you dream. Looking inside, you awaken. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides insight.

Me:
Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt more than moving in the right direction. What should I do?
God:
Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you.Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than knowing you rode ahead. You work with the compass. Let others work with the clock.

Me:
In tough times, how do you stay motivated?
God:
Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessing, not what you are missing.

Me:
What surprises you about people?
God:
when they suffer they ask, "why me?" When they prosper, they never ask "Why me". Everyone wishes to have truth on their side, but few want
to be on the side of the truth.


Me:
Sometimes I ask, who am I, why am I here. I can't get the answer.
God:
Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be. Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it. Life is not a process of discovery but a process of creation.

Me:
How can I get the best out of life?
God:
Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

Me:
One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.
God:
There are no unanswered prayers. At times the answer is NO.

Me:
Thank you for this wonderful chat. I am so happy to start the New Day with a new sense of inspiration.
God:
Well. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Don't believe your doubts and doubt your beliefs. Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to resolve.

Sunday 16 August 2009

KEERTAN PROGRAMME - PLEASE ATTEND

KEERTAN PROGRAMME

SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2009

GURU NANAK DEV JI GURDWARA
PROSPECT HALL
WAKEFIELD ROAD
BRADFORD
BD4 7DP

6 PM TO LATE

PLEASE BLESS US WITH YOUR SANGAT

Thursday 30 July 2009

Meet the First Sikh Soldiers to Guard the Queen

Armed and ready to protect One: Meet the first Sikh soldiers to guard the Queen

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 3:02 AM on 28th July 2009

These are the first two Sikh soldiers to have the honour of guarding the Queen.

Signaler Simranjit Singh, 26, and Lance Corporal Sarvjit Singh, 28, proudly pose with their guns while on duty in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.

Signaler Singh made history as the very first Sikh soldier to wear his turban on Public Duties guarding the monarch and protecting the Crown Jewels. He was soon joined by Lance Corporal Singh.

Signaler Simranjit Sim Singh and Lance Corporal Sarvjit Singh

On duty: Signaler Simranjit Singh (left) and Lance Corporal Sarvjit Singh (right) are the first Sikh soldiers to guard the Queen

The proud soldier from Coventry enthusiastically took on the duty for the first time in May this year.

He serves with 21st Signal Regiment based in Chippenham, Wiltshire, while Lance Corporal serves with 3rd Regiment Army Air Corps based at Wattisham, Suffolk.

Turbans, long hair and beards are considered a mandatory religious uniform for all Sikhs.

Keeping uncut hair is required according to the Rehat Maryada, the Sikh instruction for living.

Sikh guards

Tradition: Turbans, long hair and beards are considered a mandatory religious uniform for all Sikhs

Monday 22 June 2009

Something Cool - GET THE MISCONCEPTIONS SORTED

Q & A with Guru ji

Question: Guru Jee please tell me can Sikhs eat meat?

Answer:
ਕਬੀਰ ਜੋਰੀ ਕੀਏ ਜੁਲਮੁ ਹੈ ਕਹਤਾ ਨਾਉ ਹਲਾਲੁ ॥
ਦਫਤਰਿ ਲੇਖਾ ਮਾਂਗੀਐ ਤਬ ਹੋਇਗੋ ਕਉਨੁ ਹਵਾਲੁ ॥੧੮੭॥
"O Kabeer! Those that use force and kill and call it lawful, after going to the Court of God, what will be their state? ||187||"
(SGGS - Ang 1374)


Question: But my friends told me that I should eat meat because it is good for me and will make me strong. Is it that bad if I have meat now and again?

Answer:
ਕਬੀਰ ਖੂਬੁ ਖਾਨਾ ਖੀਚਰੀ ਜਾ ਮਹਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਲੋਨੁ ॥
ਹੇਰਾ ਰੋਟੀ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਗਲਾ ਕਟਾਵੈ ਕਉਨੁ ॥੧੮੮॥
"O Kabeer! The dinner of beans and rice is excellent, if it is (just) flavoured with salt. I am not ready to have my own throat cut to have meat with my bread? ||188||"
(SGGS - Ang 1374)


Question: But Guru Jee, why can't Sikhs eat meat?
Answer:
ਦੂਖੁ ਨ ਦੇਈ ਕਿਸੈ ਜੀਅ ਪਤਿ ਸਿਉ ਘਰਿ ਜਾਵਉ ॥
"Do not cause any being to suffer, and you shall go to your true home with honor."
(SGGS - Ang 322)


Question: That's all good, but I have seen Nihang Singhs do Jhatka and they say that its on going tradition to slaughter goats and eat its meat. So is it okay for the Nihang Singhs to do Jhatka?
Answer:
ਜੀਅ ਬਧਹੁ ਸੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਕਰਿ ਥਾਪਹੁ ਅਧਰਮੁ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਤ ਭਾਈ ॥
ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਮੁਨਿਵਰ ਕਰਿ ਥਾਪਹੁ ਕਾ ਕਉ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਸਾਈ ॥2॥
"You kill living beings, and call it a righteous action. Tell me, brother, what would you call an unrighteous action? If you religious people are doing "religious" killing for meat, then what is A-dharam (atheism)? If you are a religious person then whom will we call a butcher? ||2||"
(SGGS - Ang 1103)


Question: Okay. What about eating fish? I suppose that isn't really meat?
Answer:
ਕਬੀਰ ਭਾਂਗ ਮਾਛੁਲੀ ਸੁਰਾ ਪਾਨਿ ਜੋ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਾਨੀ ਖਾਂਹਿ ॥
ਤੀਰਥ ਬਰਤ ਨੇਮ ਕੀਏ ਤੇ ਸਭੈ ਰਸਾਤਲਿ ਜਾਂਹਿ ॥੨੩੩॥
"O Kabeer! Those mortals who consume marijuana, fish and wine - no matter what pilgrimages, fasts and rituals they follow, they will all go to hell. ||233||"
(SGGS - Ang 1377)


Question: Guru Jee, can you eat meat and still do Bhagti (devotional worship)?
Answer:
ਜਉ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਏਕੁ ਖੁਦਾਇ ਕਹਤ ਹਉ ਤਉ ਕਿਉ ਮੁਰਗੀ ਮਾਰੈ ॥੧॥
"If in all is the one God, then why kill a chicken?"
(SGGS - Ang 1350)


Question: Does it affect our spirituality if we eat meat?

Answer:
ਜੇ ਰਤੁ ਲਗੈ ਕਪੜੈ ਜਾਮਾ ਹੋਇ ਪਲੀਤੁ ॥
ਜੋ ਰਤੁ ਪੀਵਹਿ ਮਾਣਸਾ ਤਿਨ ਕਿਉ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਚੀਤੁ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਉ ਖੁਦਾਇ ਕਾ ਦਿਲਿ ਹਛੈ ਮੁਖਿ ਲੇਹੁ ॥
ਅਵਰਿ ਦਿਵਾਜੇ ਦੁਨੀ ਕੇ ਝੂਠੇ ਅਮਲ ਕਰੇਹੁ ॥੧॥
"If one's clothes are stained with blood, the garment becomes polluted. Those who drink the blood of others - how can those people's consciousness be pure?"
(SGGS - Ang 140)


Question: Guru Jee does becoming a vegetarian make me religious? If I just give eating meat, does that please you?
Answer:
ਮਾਸੁ ਮਾਸੁ ਕਰਿ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਝਗੜੇ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਣੈ ॥
ਕਉਣੁ ਮਾਸੁ ਕਉਣੁ ਸਾਗੁ ਕਹਾਵੈ ਕਿਸੁ ਮਹਿ ਪਾਪ ਸਮਾਣੇ ॥
"Only the fool quarrels over the question of eating or not eating of the meat; that person does not have the True Wisdom. (Without True Wisdom or Meditation), the person harps on which is flesh and which is not flesh and which food is sinful and which is not."
(SGGS - Ang 1289-1290)


Question: So a Sikh doesn't eat meat because a Sikh should have compassion and kindness for living life, but what thing makes a person religious if just becoming a vegetarian doesn't make a person religious?
Answer:
ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕਰਤ ਮਿਟੇ ਸਭਿ ਭਰਮਾ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਲੈ ਊਤਮ ਧਰਮਾ ॥
"Chanting the Name of the Lord all doubts are dispelled. Naam, the Name of the Lord is the highest religion."
(SGGS – Ang 874)


Question: Guru Jee thanks for clearing up things. But why is the Panth in doubt over what "Kuttha" means and whether it means Halal meat or all meat?
Answer:
ਕਬੀਰ ਸਾਚਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਕਿਆ ਕਰੈ ਜਉ ਸਿਖਾ ਮਹਿ ਚੂਕ ॥
ਅੰਧੇ ਏਕ ਨ ਲਾਗਈ ਜਿਉ ਬਾਂਸੁ ਬਜਾਈਐ ਫੂਕ ॥੧੫੮॥
"O Kabeer! What can the True Guru do, when His Sikhs are at fault? The blind do not take in any of His Teachings; it is as useless as blowing into bamboo. ||158||"
(SGGS – Ang 1372)


Compiled by Bhai Manvir Singh ji (UK)

Monday 1 June 2009

Turban

Turban

Turban – The unique outlook of a Sikh
Turban – The protector of lovingly kept Kesh (unshorn hair)
Turban – The Guru’s divine gift
Turban – The pride of a Sikh
Turban – The saint-soldier’s uniform
Turban – The mark of valor
Turban – The crown bestowed by the Guru
Turban – The style of lions
Turban – The honor of the Khalsa
Turban – The most amazing piece of cloth
Turban – The spirit of the brave
Turban – The identity of a Gursikh
Turban – The fierce pride in Sikhism
Turban – The obedience of a Sikh
Turban – The true love for the Guru displayed
Turban – The way to identify a Sikh of the Guru
Turban – The identification of the humble
Turban – The portrayal of submission to Gods Will.
Turban – The reminder to work for humanity
Turban – The promise to stay faithful
Turban – The self-esteem of a Sikh
Turban – The desire for recognition as a Sikh
Turban – The acceptance of Guru Granth Sahib as the final Guru body
Turban – The lovingly and neatly tied cloth on the head


Friday 29 May 2009

LOST GENERATION

Well worth watching....

Friday 1 May 2009

Conservative Party 2007 film.

Bread - Not Vegetarian

Give Us Our Daily Bread

The Hidden Ingredients of Bread

© Mark Alexander Bain

Nov 5, 2008

Bread is part of the staple diet of millions of people - what are they actually eating?

Bread has been made since the dawn of civilisation - in fact, it can be argued that bread is the foundation stone of civilisation as we know it, and it still forms part of the staple diet of millions of people around the world; every day thousands of children ask for their daily bread when reciting the Lord's prayer. But what is it exactly that they're actually praying for? If they knew then they may well have second thoughts.

The Key Ingredients for Bread

The basic ingredients for bread have remained unchanged for generations:

  • wheat flour
  • water
  • yeast
  • vegetable oil
  • salt

Many breads also contain a certain amount of soya flour, and that's because it:

  • add protein to the bread (thereby giving it a higher nutritional value)
  • improves the consistency of the bread

And finally, many breads contain flavouring - that may, for example, be malt, spices or extracts derived from the natural yeast fermentation

However, a quick read of the ingredient list for any top of the range, off the shelf bread will show that it contains more than just the basic ingredients.

The Lesser Known Ingredients for Bread

If any shoppers have a strong pair of glasses with them then they may find that there is more that just flour in their bread:

  • preservative calcium propionate
  • emulsifiers
    • E471
    • E481
  • flour treatment agents
    • Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
    • E920

The key question is, of course, what does all of that mean?

Calcium Propionate

Calcium Propionate is used to inhibit mould growth in bread - meaning that the bread has a much longer shelf life; however, as well as being toxic to mould, calcium propionate can also be toxic to humans with a few possible side effects:

  • migraine and headaches
  • stomach upsets
  • skin rashes and nasal congestion
  • depression, tiredness and irritability
  • restlessness and inattention

E471: Mono and Di-glycerides of Fatty Acids

There are no known side effects to using the emulsifier E471 (although it is a fat, and so will be absorbed into the body); however, it is the source of the substance that's of interest, not what it does. E471 has two primary sources:

  • hydrogenated vegetable oils
  • animal fats

The result is that although bread is labelled as suitable for vegetarians, it may actually contain animal products.

E481: Sodium Stearoyl Lactate

Like E471 there are no known side effects to using E481, but like E471 it is derived from hydrogenated vegetable oils and animal fats.

E920: L-Cysteine

E920 is perhaps the most surprising of the additives; again, not because of what it does, but because of where it comes from; the two main sources of E920 are:

  • animal fat (often pork)
  • human hair

Alternatives to Bread with Additives

It is, of course, possible to obtain bread without additives:

  • use local bakeries - the bread is usually of better quality and only a little more expensive than the off the shelf bread
  • invest in a bread maker - these are cheap to buy and easy to use and above all, provide low cost, but high quality, bread; and, if nothing else, make any house smell wonderful.

References:

Pesticide Action Network Pesticide Database

Food Intolerance Network Factsheets

Wageningen University Food-info.net


The copyright of the article Give Us Our Daily Bread in Food Facts is owned by Mark Alexander Bain. Permission to republish Give Us Our Daily Bread in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Tuesday 28 April 2009

Defend the Truth in the True Spirit of being a Sikh

A video i have just come across.

Have a look - Sardaar Simranjit Singh Mann, who then was a MP from Panjab. He has the courage to speak and defend the truth in the true spirit of being a Sikh - worth listening to.

Thursday 23 April 2009

Good Blog

A blog I just found

check it out

http://random-wisdom.blogspot.com/

Still Shining

Still Shining

It gets dark at night,

but has the sun stopped shining?

I switch off the TV,

but has the 24-hour station stopped transmitting?

In the same way,

I may close my eyes to God's existence, but God hasn't abandoned me.

Love and light permeate throughout Creation whether I accept it or not.

Guru Granth Sahib jee says that between us and God is the curtain of eg. But this curtain is thinner than a butterfly's wing!!!! Yet the whole world is suffering from the chronic disease of eg. All we have to do is follow Hukam, God's order as in Guru Granth Sahib Jee and the curtain will be pulled aside.

Kirpa is on everyone, don't blame Guru jee, blame eg if you can't see it. Guru jee has given us the blueprints, we have to do the construction and build our Jeevan - Spiritual Life.

-Anon

Wednesday 18 March 2009

KEEP YOUR FAITH

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy speaks to his Class on the Problem Science has with GOD, The ALMIGHTY.
He asks one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .

Professor : You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor : So you Believe in GOD ?

Student : Absolutely, sir.

Professor : Is GOD Good ?

Student : Sure.

Professor : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?

Student : Yes.

Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him.
Most of us would attempt to Help Others who are ill.
But GOD didn't.
How is this GOD Good then ? Hmm ?

(Student is silent)

Professor : You can't answer, can you ?
Let's start again, Young Fella.
Is GOD Good ?

Student : Yes.

Professor : Is Satan good ?

Student : No.

Professor : Where does Satan come from ?

Student : From . . . GOD . . .

Professor : That's right.
Tell me son, is there evil in this World ?

Student : Yes.

Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ?
And GOD did make Everything. Correct ?

Student : Yes.

Professor : So who created evil ?

(Student does not answer)

Professor : Is there Sickness ? Immorality ? Hatred ? Ugliness ?
All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they ?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor : So, who Created them ?

(Student has no answer)

Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you.
Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD ?

Student : No, sir.

Professor : Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD ?

Student : No , sir.

Professor : Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD ?
Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter ?

Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

Professor : Yet you still Believe in HIM ?

Student : Yes.

Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist.
What do you say to that, son ?

Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith.

Professor : Yes. Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat ?

Professor : Yes.

Student : And is there such a thing as Cold ?

Professor : Yes.

Student : No sir. There isn't.

(The Lecture Theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events)

Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat,
a Little Heat or No Heat.
But we don't have anything called Cold.
We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that.
There is no such thing as Cold.
Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.
We cannot Measure Cold.
Heat is Energy.
Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.

(There is Pin - Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre)

Student : What about Darkness, Professor ? Is there such a thing as Darkness ?

Professor : Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness ?

Student : You're wrong again, sir.
Darkness is the Absence of Something.
You can have Low Light, Normal Light , Bright Light, Flashing Light . . .
But if you have No Light Constantly, you have Nothing and it's called Darkness, isn't it ?
In reality, Darkness isn't.
If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you ?

Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?

Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is Flawed.

Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how ?

Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality.
You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD.
You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure.
Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought.
It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.
To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that
Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing.
Death is Not the Opposite of Life : just the Absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor, do you Teach your Students that they Evolved from a Monkey ?

Professor : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir ?

(The Professor shakes his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the Argument is going)

Student : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and
cannot even prove that this Process is an On - Going Endeavor,
are you not Teaching your Opinion, sir ?
Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher ?

(The Class is in Uproar)

Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever Seen the Professor's Brain ?

(The Class breaks out into Laughter)

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever Heard the Professor's Brain, Felt it, Touched or Smelt it ? . . .
No one appears to have done so.
So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that
you have No Brain, sir.
With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir ?

(The Room is Silent. The Professor stares at the Student, his face unfathomable)

Professor : I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.

Student : That is it sir . . .
the Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
That is all that Keeps Things Moving & Alive.


I guess you have enjoyed the Conversation . . . and if so .. . .
you'll probably want your Friends / Colleagues to enjoy the same . . . won't you ? . . .
Forward them to Increase their Knowledge . . . or FAITH

It turned out later that the student is Albert Einsten.

Saturday 14 March 2009

Conversation With God







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Tuesday 10 March 2009

A Love Letter From the Womb

by MEETA KAUR


Dear Mom, Dear Dad:

We will meet soon. The past nine months have been transformative. I appreciate the hushed conversations we are having amongst our souls.

With my arrival, know our time together is no random act, a haphazard collision of lives. It wasn't written on a fortune cookie message or wished upon when the sky was full of stars.

This is destiny.

You are meant to be my parents and I'm meant to be your child.

It was established centuries ago when we all existed in the same womb where the sky touches the cosmos. We gathered together as stars forming constellations that nomads used in the desert to find their way back home.

We simply fit with each other.

All it took was a fleeting yet joyful thought in your mind, a nice daydream to lean on while sipping a cup of tea, and that was it, I came to be.

To meet you, I will walk forward in time from a glorious past where we gathered in courtyards wearing jamawari in pomegranate red and pashmina in clear water blues.

We savored papayas and custard apples, almonds and cashews. Listening to the smallest sparrows sing God's greatest songs.

And when we were summoned to ride stallions with pounding hooves, we knew it was our greatest glory to serve and protect the creed established by the Ten Kings illuminated by One Light. It was an honour to serve men who wore cotton and ate rationed rice and daal, for their lives held their weight in gold equally.

Please know the day I arrive, within that hour, that exact moment I come to you, I will be shivering, squinting, naked and wet. As you wrap me into your arms and swaddle me with your skin, know I also come to you in complete and utter perfection.

You are my flesh and blood parents and I'm deeply thankful for that, but please keep me close to the mother, the father who has brightly lit my soul.

Yes. There is a lantern in me that has a wick that will be lit the day I am born. The light will shine through my eyes and as you look at me, really look at me - you will see how much I will want to love this life I will live.

I will rely on you to keep this wick burning in me by seeing me for who I authentically am, and by showing me that there is a lantern brightly lit in every being I encounter, and it is just a matter of looking into their eyes and seeing them, really seeing them.

I will rely on you to help me create a quiet and open field in my mind, where we are still, where cherry and almond trees grow, where the air is pure and the water is clean, where I can sit under a tree with myself and seek guidance and wisdom and know everything and anything is possible.

Please keep me linked to my history and my faith and when you tell me stories about the dynasty of the Ten Kings illuminated by One Light and how they believed that life is sacred, life is a perpetual celebration, life is the truest gift, and that we must do everything we can to make each second count.

I will want to know that I am strong enough and brave enough to serve these Ten Glorious Kings and ride with our history's freedom fighters on stallions with pounding hooves, protecting the light in each and every soul.

And when we have to leave that glorious battle ground in our imaginations and set foot into the real world, I will ask you to listen for those riders on stallions with pounding hooves and prepare me to ride with them by sharpening the sword in my mind and expanding the shield in my heart to take on any thought, idea, or action that extinguishes the wick of a brightly lit soul.

Please know your dreams for me are only the beginning of what I am capable of and when I reach the heights of my potential, my capacity - please remind me I come from the minerals and water of the land of the Five Rivers and keep me grounded near the earth, close to the soil.

When I am prepared to leave home to follow my own light, know that I will take with me a love that YOU have given me that is so complete, so full, given in such absolute faith that my heart will spill over with the sunsets we share, it will run over with the waterfalls we stand under, it will gush with each and every desire you fulfill, it will flood in such excess, I will be able to enter the world, serve it with honour, and be that part of the earth people walk on when they are free.

Saturday 28 February 2009

Identity 'at risk' on Facebook

A program that was on last year. Something interesting to watch and see how people use Facebook to get your information.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/7375772.stm

Personal details of Facebook users could potentially be stolen, the BBC technology programme Click has found.

The popular social networking site allows users to add a variety of applications to their profile.

But a malicious program, masquerading as a harmless application, could potentially harvest personal data.

Facebook says users should exercise caution when adding applications. Any programs which violate their terms will be removed, the network said.

Stealing details

Facebook is the darling of the moment, allowing friends to stay in touch, post photos, and share fun little games and quizzes. And it also lets you keep your details private from the rest of the world. Or at least that is the implication.

How the BBC exposed Facebook security flaw

We have discovered a way to steal the personal details of you and all your Facebook friends without you knowing.

We made up the fictitious profile of Bob Smith. He keeps most of his details on his profile private from non-friends.

While we could not get all details, what we did get, included his name, hometown, school, interests and photograph, would certainly help us to steal someone's identity.

Mining data

So how did we do it?

Click's resident coder, Pete
Thousands of applications are available to Facebook users

Using a couple of laptops and our resident coder Pete, we created a special application for Facebookers to add.

One of the reasons Facebook has become so popular so quickly is because of the wealth of applications users can add to their profile pages.

Little games, quizzes, IQ tests, there are thousands of them available. And once you have added an application, your friends are encouraged to add it too.

Anyone with a basic understanding of web programming can write an application.

SECURITY ADVICE

We wrote an evil data mining application called Miner, which, if we wanted, could masquerade as a game, a test, or a joke of the day. It took us less than three hours.

But whatever it looks like, in the background, it is collecting personal details, and those of the users' friends, and e-mailing them out of Facebook, to our inbox.

When you add an application, unless you say otherwise, it is given access to most of the information in your profile. That includes information you have on your friends even if they think they have tight security settings.

Did you know that you were responsible for other people's security?

Security

Now, many applications do need access to your details, in order to work properly.

We do not know of any specific application which abuses user information, apart from ours.

But the ease with we created our application has many people worried. If it is being used you would not even have to use the application we created to become a victim, you would just have to be a friend of someone who has.

Morally, Facebook has acted naively
Paul Docherty, Technical Director of Portcullis Security

Because these applications run on third-party servers, not run by Facebook - it is difficult for the company to check what is going on, whether anything has changed, and how long applications store data for and what they do with it.

Although Facebook's terms and conditions contain a warning that this could in theory happen, and offer the option to stop an application from accessing your details, many games and quizzes would not work if this option is engaged.

In fact, the only way we can see of completely protecting yourself from applications skimming information about you and your friends is to erase all the applications on your profile and opt to not use any applications in the future.

So has Facebook done enough to protect its users from identity theft?

Paul Docherty is the Technical Director of Portcullis Security, which advises several governments on IT security matters including British government.

He told us he believed that Facebook's terms and conditions stated on the site meant that Facebook had legally covered itself from any liability.

But he added: "Morally, Facebook has acted naively."

He said: "Facebook needs to change its default settings and tighten up security."

He also believes it would be difficult to secure the current system because so many third party applications are now in circulation.

Removal team

We put these concerns to Facebook.

It told us that it has an entire investigations team watching the site, and removing applications that violate its terms of use which would include our Miner application.

FACEBOOK Q&A
It also advises users to use the same precautions while downloading software from Facebook applications that they use when downloading software on their desktop.

Now, all this comes in the month that competitor MySpace opened up its application platform. However, it handles them differently - here all applications run on its own servers so it can see what they are up to.

MySpace also manually checks all submissions and rechecks them if authors wish to change the code. We were unable to create a similar threat to users' security using the MySpace system.

It certainly seems that Facebook's standard security settings are not sufficient to protect your personal information, and those of your friends.

Monday 9 February 2009

Like Maths, you'll love this

Just some fun:

Proof that Girls are evil

Girls = Time x Money

Time = Money

Money^2 (squared) = Girls

Money = squareroot/Evil

Evil = Girls

Tuesday 27 January 2009

POEM - MOOL MANTAR

from http://everydaysikhee.blogspot.com/2009/01/poem-mool-mantar.html
Poem - Mool Mantar

Granthee © Atma Singh 2008
Mool Mantar
You are the Essence
You are the Form
You are the Source
Forever
Unborn

You are the weft
You are the warp
Oh’ Ever-New…
Siree Ik Onkaar



You are the Truth,
You are the Proof
You are the Known
Forever
Aloof

You are the tears
You are the calm
Oh’ My Beloved…
Siree Sat Naam



You are the Doer
You are the Done
You are the Many
Forever
One

You are the reader
You are the book
Oh’ Beautiful Beholder…
Siree Kartaa Purakh



You are Friend
You are Enemy
You are the Hand
Forever
Mercy

You are the Lover
You are the Loved
Oh’ Perfect Poise…
Siree Nirbhau , Nirvair



You are the Death
You are the Life
You are the Form
Forever
Alike

You are the Constant
You are the Stable
Oh’ Wondrous Wonder…
Siree Akaal Moorat



You are Alpha
You are Omega
You are the Treasured
Forever
Un-measured

You are the Trader
You are the Traded
Oh’ Perfect Perfection…
Siree Ajoonee Saibhang



You are the Light
You are the Sound
You are the Now
To Whom
I
Forever
Bow

You are the Aad…
You are Jugaad…
Oh’ Perfect Grace…
Siree Gurparsaad

You are the Essence
You are the Form
You are the Source
Forever
Unborn

Friday 23 January 2009

PRESIDENT OBAMA



Just a small post to congratulate Obama for becoming President and showing that the world can change. Hope the future is bright for him, his family and the world!

Monday 5 January 2009

THE NEW YEAR --- EXAM TIME

So the new year is now here, it doesn't feel like it because for most of us kids still studying, exams are around the corner. This year the festive season was canceled for me, at least i thought, but then family came up from London and Sheffield and we had a grand time, chilling out and talking and getting to know one another again after not meeting up for a year now. But in the back of my head all i could think was, I got five exams in January and i haven't even started my revision, i haven't once opened my books! ARGGGHHHHHH! So when everyone finally went to sleep at 2 in the morning after ice-cream, cereal, chocolate milk, Chinese .... junk food basically.... I finally got some quiet to revise. :)

So, now with exams days away, I thought I'd share some exam techniques and tips that's helped me through the times.

1 - WORK HARD, STUDY HARD, PLAY HARD
The first thing my dad ever taught me.
Work hard - do the best in everything that you do and never say no to helping people as it helps you in the long run and volunteer for everything and anything - it's a good experience and most of the time FUN!
Study Hard - keep looking at your notes, even when you don't have exams because when the exams come, the facts and figures will already be in your head. Never stop looking and trying and practising - its all for the best. And when your teachers predict your something, say, I'm gonna get better, just so your don't get lazy and think your don't have to put the effort it.
Play Hard- Learn to chill out. Go for a walk or a run. Play on the PC, on the Wii, on your DS or PlayStation's. Anything. Just not for too long, go for half an hour breaks and then get back to studying. REMEMBER THE MORE TIMES YOU READ SOMETHING THE MORE CHANCE IT HAS FOR STICKING IN

2 - PAST PAPERS OR MAKE QUESTIONS FOR YOURSELF
Do as many past papers as possible. The examiner can only ask you certain questions, if you've done all the past papers available and re-do them, then your set. But remember, keep doing them, even when you know the answer, this will help with exam technique and calculations. Go step by step and show all your workings out - you get marks for these !! A lot of the exams today are new so there might not be past papers, see if there's anything similar and if not,m write your own questions and answers separately. Then in a week or two's time, answer them or do this with a friend. The more practice you get the better.

3 - SLEEP, EAT
Make sure you eat well the night before the exam as it's this food that'll give you energy for the nest morning and breakfast helps to keep your tummy happy and not rumble and put you off your exam. If your not a breakfast person then get up half an hour earlier, get ready and do something for that half an hour an hour spare, then eat - it's not morning now, you've been up half an hour more already. Or you could make it the night before and make something you fancy, anything, it doesn't have to be toast or cereal. It could be a stuffed pitta bread with salad or cheesy beans on toast or even soup.
Sleep is needed. Not too much though. Sleep around 7-8 hours before you have to wake up. No more. The more you sleep the more you want to sleep. Have an average sleep, 7 hours and wake early for the fresh air - it helps and makes you awake and alert. Cold showers help too.

4 - REVISE
For the days and weeks leading up to your exam, you have to revise! Make a checklist of the topic that you have to learn and the main content - don't make it too detailed. Then from that one word on the checklist, write down everything you can remember. Keep doing this for all the words of your checklist and check against your text books to make sure you've included everything. Make a note in a different colour things you forgot or didn't include, no matter how small. Then re-do this checklist brain check the next day and the next till your exam. This will from one word help you remember everything you need to know. The exam questions will have one word in them to set of the chain reaction of your knowledge. !!

5 - COMBAT EXAM STRESS AND NERVES / PANIC ATTACKS
Do you have exam nerves? Well there are things to do to help. Some easy things such as breathing exercises, physical exercises, play hard as well as studying. There are many things to do. Timetables work well but don't be too rigid and stick to it like glue, remember life does go on. As long as each day you do what you planned to do, then that's good. Timetables don't have to be like, what time you have to do things by, it's more of a list of how long you are going to revise what and what you want to achieve. BUT MAKE SURE YOU DO IT!!
Sometimes, exam stress and nerves can make you restless, some herbal medicine can help wonders. Things like St Johns Wort or aromatherapy candles - this stimulates your brain to produce nerves to clam you down. Calming yourself then shows that you can reach what you want and makes you strive to be better and it helps your revision as you can concentrate more.
A good website to look at is http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/natural-health-articles/mental-health/tips-for-panic-attacks-00884.html JUST REMEMBER EVERYONE HAS THESE PANIC ATTACKS AND STRESS/NERVES, PEOPLE JUST DEAL WITH THEN DIFFERENTLY. FIND THE RIGHT WAY FOR YOU!

Well that's all i have at the moment, let us know your ideas and how you cope.
AND GOOD LUCK ON YOUR EXAMS!