Saturday, March 27, 2010

Your mind as the Enemy - it will drag you down if you let it be.

Listened to this lecture this morning posted on Sikhnet and thought was very uplifting and decided to share. It had been a very bumpy ride for the last two years and train had been just off the track. Still trying to get it back on the track eventhough at times see no light at the end of this long tunnel of darkness and bumps. At times, it feels like I am walking on such a lose rope and could fall any time with the slighest mistake or unbalance. Trying to read Gurbani doesn't seem to be helping since mind is so unbalanced with events and thoughts of uncertainity and unhappiness that focus on Gurbani even seems farfetched.

But somehow since yesterday morning, there is this feeling that there is light at the end of this tunnel and things would get better. And, they seem to be getting better. They are not perfect or at the level where I would like them to be. But just better. I know I am being vague and not specific and don't want to share all of the agony, painful things from the last two years, some of which were of my own making. And, it is not even money or job or too much work or lack of work. It just seems my mind had been controlled and someone had just sucked all of the peace, happiness, brightness out of my body and mind. Thank Waheguru for bringing me out from this pit of darkness, yuk, and this downtrodden stage of mind, keeping me spiritually, financially, physically intact and healthy to cope with these dark times. Sadly, the family suffers along with me too. I just hope there are better times ahead and this train hopefully will get back and stay on track with right speed for a long time to come.

Anyways, this is probably one of best weekends for the past two years I am having

Satnam and God Bless All! Thank you for visiting.

http://www.sikhnet.com/news/your-mind-enemy

And, here is one of my favourite shabad in Gurbani that always helps me and tells me to "Keep Up and Keep Going!". This is on page 441 of Guru Granth Sahib:


ਮਨ ਤੂੰ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਆਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥
मन तूं जोति सरूपु है आपणा मूलु पछाणु ॥
Man ṯūʼn joṯ sarūp hai āpṇā mūl pacẖẖāṇ.
O my mind, you are the embodiment of the Divine Light - recognize your own origin.


ਮਨ ਹਰਿ ਜੀ ਤੇਰੈ ਨਾਲਿ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਰੰਗੁ ਮਾਣੁ ॥
मन हरि जी तेरै नालि है गुरमती रंगु माणु ॥
Man har jī ṯerai nāl hai gurmaṯī rang māṇ.
O my mind, the Dear Lord is with you; through the Guru's Teachings, enjoy His Love.


ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਤਾਂ ਸਹੁ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਮਰਣ ਜੀਵਣ ਕੀ ਸੋਝੀ ਹੋਈ ॥
मूलु पछाणहि तां सहु जाणहि मरण जीवण की सोझी होई ॥
Mūl pacẖẖāṇėh ṯāʼn saho jāṇėh maraṇ jīvaṇ kī sojẖī ho▫ī.
Acknowledge your origin, and then you shall know your Husband Lord, and so understand death and birth.


ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਏਕੋ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਤਾਂ ਦੂਜਾ ਭਾਉ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥
गुर परसादी एको जाणहि तां दूजा भाउ न होई ॥
Gur parsādī eko jāṇėh ṯāʼn ḏūjā bẖā▫o na ho▫ī.
By Guru's Grace, know the One; then, you shall not love any other.


ਮਨਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਆਈ ਵਜੀ ਵਧਾਈ ਤਾ ਹੋਆ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ॥
मनि सांति आई वजी वधाई ता होआ परवाणु ॥
Man sāʼnṯ ā▫ī vajī vaḏẖā▫ī ṯā ho▫ā parvāṇ.
Peace comes to the mind, and gladness resounds; then, you shall be acclaimed.


ਇਉ ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮਨ ਤੂੰ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਅਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥੫॥
इउ कहै नानकु मन तूं जोति सरूपु है अपणा मूलु पछाणु ॥५॥
I▫o kahai Nānak man ṯūʼn joṯ sarūp hai apṇā mūl pacẖẖāṇ. ||5||
Thus says Nanak: O my mind, you are the very image of the Luminous Lord; recognize the true origin of your self. ||5||

http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=441&english=t&id=20141

Oh! Gurbani has so many references to the mind, it is just amazing. Here is another one:




ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
सिरीरागु महला १ ॥
Sirīrāg mėhlā 1.
Siree Raag, First Mehl:


ਚਿਤੇ ਦਿਸਹਿ ਧਉਲਹਰ ਬਗੇ ਬੰਕ ਦੁਆਰ ॥
चिते दिसहि धउलहर बगे बंक दुआर ॥
Cẖiṯe ḏisėh ḏẖa▫ulhar bage bank ḏu▫ār.
There are painted mansions to behold, white-washed, with beautiful doors;


ਕਰਿ ਮਨ ਖੁਸੀ ਉਸਾਰਿਆ ਦੂਜੈ ਹੇਤਿ ਪਿਆਰਿ ॥
करि मन खुसी उसारिआ दूजै हेति पिआरि ॥
Kar man kẖusī usāri▫ā ḏūjai heṯ pi▫ār.
they were constructed to give pleasure to the mind, but this is only for the sake of the love of duality.


ਅੰਦਰੁ ਖਾਲੀ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਬਿਨੁ ਢਹਿ ਢੇਰੀ ਤਨੁ ਛਾਰੁ ॥੧॥
अंदरु खाली प्रेम बिनु ढहि ढेरी तनु छारु ॥१॥
Anḏar kẖālī parem bin dẖėh dẖerī ṯan cẖẖār. ||1||
The inner being is empty without love. The body shall crumble into a heap of ashes. ||1||


ਭਾਈ ਰੇ ਤਨੁ ਧਨੁ ਸਾਥਿ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥
भाई रे तनु धनु साथि न होइ ॥
Bẖā▫ī re ṯan ḏẖan sāth na ho▫e.
O Siblings of Destiny, this body and wealth shall not go along with you.


ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੋ ਗੁਰੁ ਦਾਤਿ ਕਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
राम नामु धनु निरमलो गुरु दाति करे प्रभु सोइ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Rām nām ḏẖan nirmalo gur ḏāṯ kare parabẖ so▫e. ||1|| rahā▫o.
The Lord's Name is the pure wealth; through the Guru, God bestows this gift. ||1||Pause||


ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੋ ਜੇ ਦੇਵੈ ਦੇਵਣਹਾਰੁ ॥
राम नामु धनु निरमलो जे देवै देवणहारु ॥
Rām nām ḏẖan nirmalo je ḏevai ḏevaṇhār.
The Lord's Name is the pure wealth; it is given only by the Giver.


ਆਗੈ ਪੂਛ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜਿਸੁ ਬੇਲੀ ਗੁਰੁ ਕਰਤਾਰੁ ॥
आगै पूछ न होवई जिसु बेली गुरु करतारु ॥
Āgai pūcẖẖ na hova▫ī jis belī gur karṯār.
One who has the Guru, the Creator, as his Friend, shall not be questioned hereafter.


ਆਪਿ ਛਡਾਏ ਛੁਟੀਐ ਆਪੇ ਬਖਸਣਹਾਰੁ ॥੨॥
आपि छडाए छुटीऐ आपे बखसणहारु ॥२॥
Āp cẖẖadā▫e cẖẖutī▫ai āpe bakẖsaṇhār. ||2||
He Himself delivers those who are delivered. He Himself is the Forgiver. ||2||

ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਜਾਣੈ ਆਪਣੇ ਧੀਆ ਪੂਤ ਸੰਜੋਗੁ ॥
मनमुखु जाणै आपणे धीआ पूत संजोगु ॥
Manmukẖ jāṇai āpṇe ḏẖī▫ā pūṯ sanjog.
The self-willed manmukh looks upon his daughters, sons and relatives as his own.


ਨਾਰੀ ਦੇਖਿ ਵਿਗਾਸੀਅਹਿ ਨਾਲੇ ਹਰਖੁ ਸੁ ਸੋਗੁ ॥
नारी देखि विगासीअहि नाले हरखु सु सोगु ॥
Nārī ḏekẖ vigāsī▫ah nāle harakẖ so sog.
Gazing upon his wife, he is pleased. But along with happiness, they bring grief.


ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਰੰਗਾਵਲੇ ਅਹਿਨਿਸਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਭੋਗੁ ॥੩॥
गुरमुखि सबदि रंगावले अहिनिसि हरि रसु भोगु ॥३॥
Gurmukẖ sabaḏ rangāvle ahinis har ras bẖog. ||3||
The Gurmukhs are attuned to the Word of the Shabad. Day and night, they enjoy the Sublime Essence of the Lord. ||3||


ਚਿਤੁ ਚਲੈ ਵਿਤੁ ਜਾਵਣੋ ਸਾਕਤ ਡੋਲਿ ਡੋਲਾਇ ॥
चितु चलै वितु जावणो साकत डोलि डोलाइ ॥
Cẖiṯ cẖalai viṯ jāvṇo sākaṯ dol dolā▫e.
The consciousness of the wicked, faithless cynics wanders around in search of transitory wealth, unstable and distracted.


ਬਾਹਰਿ ਢੂੰਢਿ ਵਿਗੁਚੀਐ ਘਰ ਮਹਿ ਵਸਤੁ ਸੁਥਾਇ ॥
बाहरि ढूंढि विगुचीऐ घर महि वसतु सुथाइ ॥
Bāhar dẖūndẖ vigucẖī▫ai gẖar mėh vasaṯ suthā▫e.
Searching outside of themselves, they are ruined; the object of their search is in that sacred place within the home of the heart.


ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਰਿ ਮੁਸੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਲੈ ਪਾਇ ॥੪॥
मनमुखि हउमै करि मुसी गुरमुखि पलै पाइ ॥४॥
Manmukẖ ha▫umai kar musī gurmukẖ palai pā▫e. ||4||
The self-willed manmukhs, in their ego, miss it; the Gurmukhs receive it in their laps. ||4||


ਸਾਕਤ ਨਿਰਗੁਣਿਆਰਿਆ ਆਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥
साकत निरगुणिआरिआ आपणा मूलु पछाणु ॥
Sākaṯ nirguṇi▫āri▫ā āpṇā mūl pacẖẖāṇ.
You worthless, faithless cynic-recognize your own origin!


ਰਕਤੁ ਬਿੰਦੁ ਕਾ ਇਹੁ ਤਨੋ ਅਗਨੀ ਪਾਸਿ ਪਿਰਾਣੁ ॥
रकतु बिंदु का इहु तनो अगनी पासि पिराणु ॥
Rakaṯ binḏ kā ih ṯano agnī pās pirāṇ.
This body is made of blood and semen. It shall be consigned to the fire in the end.


ਪਵਣੈ ਕੈ ਵਸਿ ਦੇਹੁਰੀ ਮਸਤਕਿ ਸਚੁ ਨੀਸਾਣੁ ॥੫॥
पवणै कै वसि देहुरी मसतकि सचु नीसाणु ॥५॥
Pavṇai kai vas ḏehurī masṯak sacẖ nīsāṇ. ||5||
The body is under the power of the breath, according to the True Sign inscribed upon your forehead. ||5||


ਬਹੁਤਾ ਜੀਵਣੁ ਮੰਗੀਐ ਮੁਆ ਨ ਲੋੜੈ ਕੋਇ ॥
बहुता जीवणु मंगीऐ मुआ न लोड़ै कोइ ॥
Bahuṯā jīvaṇ mangī▫ai mu▫ā na loṛai ko▫e.
Everyone begs for a long life-no one wishes to die.


ਸੁਖ ਜੀਵਣੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਿਸੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਸੋਇ ॥
सुख जीवणु तिसु आखीऐ जिसु गुरमुखि वसिआ सोइ ॥
Sukẖ jīvaṇ ṯis ākẖī▫ai jis gurmukẖ vasi▫ā so▫e.
A life of peace and comfort comes to that Gurmukh, within whom God dwells.


ਨਾਮ ਵਿਹੂਣੇ ਕਿਆ ਗਣੀ ਜਿਸੁ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਦਰਸੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੬॥
नाम विहूणे किआ गणी जिसु हरि गुर दरसु न होइ ॥६॥
Nām vihūṇe ki▫ā gaṇī jis har gur ḏaras na ho▫e. ||6||
Without the Naam, what good those who do not have the Blessed Vision, the Darshan of the Lord and Guru? ||6||


ਜਿਉ ਸੁਪਨੈ ਨਿਸਿ ਭੁਲੀਐ ਜਬ ਲਗਿ ਨਿਦ੍ਰਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
जिउ सुपनै निसि भुलीऐ जब लगि निद्रा होइ ॥
Ji▫o supnai nis bẖulī▫ai jab lag niḏrā ho▫e.
In their dreams at night, people wander around as long as they sleep;


ਇਉ ਸਰਪਨਿ ਕੈ ਵਸਿ ਜੀਅੜਾ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਦੋਇ ॥
इउ सरपनि कै वसि जीअड़ा अंतरि हउमै दोइ ॥
I▫o sarpan kai vas jī▫aṛā anṯar ha▫umai ḏo▫e.
just so, they are under the power of the snake Maya, as long as their hearts are filled with ego and duality.


ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਹੋਇ ਵੀਚਾਰੀਐ ਸੁਪਨਾ ਇਹੁ ਜਗੁ ਲੋਇ ॥੭॥
गुरमति होइ वीचारीऐ सुपना इहु जगु लोइ ॥७॥
Gurmaṯ ho▫e vīcẖārī▫ai supnā ih jag lo▫e. ||7||
Through the Guru's Teachings, they come to understand and see that this world is just a dream. ||7||


ਅਗਨਿ ਮਰੈ ਜਲੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਜਿਉ ਬਾਰਿਕ ਦੂਧੈ ਮਾਇ ॥
अगनि मरै जलु पाईऐ जिउ बारिक दूधै माइ ॥
Agan marai jal pā▫ī▫ai ji▫o bārik ḏūḏẖai mā▫e.
As thirst is quenched with water, and the baby is satisfied with mother's milk,


ਬਿਨੁ ਜਲ ਕਮਲ ਸੁ ਨਾ ਥੀਐ ਬਿਨੁ ਜਲ ਮੀਨੁ ਮਰਾਇ ॥
बिनु जल कमल सु ना थीऐ बिनु जल मीनु मराइ ॥
Bin jal kamal so nā thī▫ai bin jal mīn marā▫e.
and as the lotus does not exist without water, and as the fish dies without water -


ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਸਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਜੀਵਾ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਇ ॥੮॥੧੫॥
नानक गुरमुखि हरि रसि मिलै जीवा हरि गुण गाइ ॥८॥१५॥
Nānak gurmukẖ har ras milai jīvā har guṇ gā▫e. ||8||15||
O Nanak, so does the Gurmukh live, receiving the Sublime Essence of the Lord, and singing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. ||8||15||

Friday, March 26, 2010

Indian Farmer Suicides Still on the Rise - So much for Jai Jawan Jai Kisan!

Growing up in Punjab as a kid, one of the common logos on the farm tractors, goods trucks and other vehicles that was common in the 60's, 70's and 80's was "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" loosely translated to "Vitory to the Soldier, Victory to the Farmer" with one side bearing picture of a soldier and other side a picture of a farmer.  The logo was given by the Prime Minister of India "Lal Bahadur Shastri" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jai_Jawan_Jai_Kisan.  That was the time when government wanted people to skip one meal in a day so others can have meal to eat.

Now with the all of the news about farmers committing suicides, farmer unions getting a bad rap from politician and police in India. It is a sad state of affairs.  I don't understand why people committ suicide, but I am not the one to judge. I have written a blog post on how Sikhism and suicide is an oxymoron because Sikhs are always supposed to stay in chardi kala (rising spirit or unlimited optimism against all odds). Recently, I have read about two to three murders of Kisan union leaders in Punjab and arrest of several others. It is a sad state of things and seems like a never ending cycle. Thank God for farmers and May God bless them for what they do for humanity! There should not be even a single suicide of a farmer. Shame on India! Shame on all of the other states! To farmers, I say "Educate yourself and diversify your crops".

Why can't Punjab and other state's Chief Ministers perform like Uttarakhand Chielf below:

Highest SAP for Cane
BKU’s Tikait compliments Nishank
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 9
Mahendra Singh Tikait, leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), today met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and complimented him for announcing the highest state advised price (SAP) of sugarcane in the country for sugarcane. The Chief Minister reiterated his resolve to work for the benefit of sugarcane farmers, sugarcane cooperative societies as well as the sugar mills for the overall development of the state.

Uttarkhand Sugarcane Minister Madan Kaushik, who was also present at the meeting, said the Uttarakhand government had been fully committed to the welfare of the farmers of the state.

Tikait also gave a memorandum of farmers’ demands to the Chief Minister. He demanded the formation of a Farmers’ Commission in the state besides the removal of penalty on domestic power bills of farmers, withdrawal of cases lodged against farmers during the agitation and transport subsidy for hill farmers.

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In two years, farm suicides doubled in Rajasthan
Perneet Singh
Tribune News Service
Jaipur, March 26
Even as states like Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra may have hit the headlines for farmer suicides in the past, it is Rajasthan where the number of farmer suicides has more than doubled over the last two years.
According to the latest National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) figures, 796 persons with farming background committed suicide in Rajasthan in 2008 as against 395 in 2006, which means a surge of over 100 per cent. Interestingly, during the same period, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have witnessed a significant decline in the number of farmer suicides. Also, other major farming states like UP and Punjab lag behind Rajasthan.
In 2006, agriculture-related suicides were 9.3 per cent of the total number of suicides in the desert state, which went up to 13.9 per cent in 2007 and 15.4 per cent in 2008.
As per the report, the total number of suicides by farmers has dipped nationally, but it has gone up in the country’s eight states - Rajasthan, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. The figures are important in view of the multi-crore loan waiver scheme offered by the Congress-led UPA government ahead of the last year’s Lok Sabha elections.
These figures, when seen in view of a recent report ‘Combined Finances of Union and State Governments’, bring to the fore the fact that all states that registered an increase in farmer suicides, except Chhattisgarh, had a very poor per capita expenditure on agriculture. Also, all states, except West Bengal, that recorded a fall have a very high per capita expenditure on agriculture.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Harjiram Burdak claimed that the suicides had nothing to do with crop failure or rising debt, two factors largely blamed for such incidents in other parts of the country. His stand has not come as a surprise, particularly when the ruling Congress has been trying to project itself as pro-farmer ever since its ascent to power in December 2008.
Even in his recent Budget, CM Ashok Gehlot announced a slew of measures for the farmers.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100327/nation.htm#3
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Farmer unions flay arrests to thwart dharna Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 24
The Kirti Kisan Union (KKU), Punjab Kisan Union (PKU) and Pendu Mazdoor Union (PMU) have criticised Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP government for arresting a number of farmer unions’ activists from different parts of the state, including Dr Darshan Pal from Patiala, to thwart their attempt to hold a dharna outside the office of the IG, Border Range, on March 25.

In a separate press notes issued here today, general secretary of PKS Lehmber Singh Taggar, KKU state president Nirbhai Singh Dhudike and PMU state chief Tarsem Peter alleged that the government adopted undemocratic ways to foil the proposed dharna, the call for which had been given by 22 mazdoor-kisan organisations in favour of their several demands.

Meanwhile, most of the leaders and workers belonging to different mazdoor-kisan organisations have gone underground to avoid their arrests.


Farmers’ arrest condemned

Hoshiarpur, March 24
Bhup Chand Chano and Gurmesh Singh, president and general secretary, respectively, of the All-India Khet Mazdoor Union, Punjab, condemned the arrest of farmers and farm labourers in an “undemocratic” way.

In a press note here yesterday, both leaders urged the Punjab Governor to register a case of murder and arrest those police officials responsible for killing of tehsil president of the Tarn Taran unit of the union Kashmir Singh.

They said it had been decided that 22 unions of farmers and rural farm labourers would stage a peaceful protest march and hold a dharna in front of the office of the DIG, Boarder Range, from March 25 to 27 to pressurise the state police to arrest the killers of Sadhu Singh Thaktupura and assailants of five farmers who were roaming scot-free. — OC
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Labourer union leader cremated

Tarn Taran, March 24
Kashmir Singh (60), leader of the All-India Khet Mazdoor Union, was cremated at his native village Palasaur, 4 km from here, today.

Kashmir died of heart failure when a police party raided his residence last night to take him in custody to prevent him from taking part in the proposed dharna to be staged at the residence of the IG, Border Range, Amritsar, from March 25. A number of communist workers attended the cremation. Vijay Mishra, state committee member of the CPI (M), demanded for a grant of Rs 10 lakh to the bereaved family and government job for a kin of the deceased. — OC
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100325/jal.htm#8
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