Himmat Singh Khalsa

2006-03-07T15:15:00.000-07:00

Evidently, it has been a while since I last posted something. I have been pretty busy with school, work and some other things. I am also hesitant to post on a new topic, because of all the time that was wasted arguing on the kachhera post. It wasn't all unproductive, there were some good, educational comments.
I will post some pictures of things that have been going on here. And if you would like to request a topic to be discussed, it could help to make me post a new discussion. Just leave a comment on what you want to discuss, and any details. It will be like a vote, but I will have veto power on topics that I don't know enough about or that I just don't want to post. By this weekend I will count up the votes and hopefully have a good topic to post about.

2006-02-21T14:18:00.000-07:00

I have learned, hopefully along with all of the people involved in last discussion, that we all have strong beliefs, and arguing is simply not going to change them. My intention was not to start a debate, but to discuss what people had learned and, especially, what they had experienced with the five K's. There are several Rehit Namas, a few of which were written by people in the court of Guru Gobind Singh (Bhai Nand Laal and Bhai Daya Singh), yet they are still different. This could have been just the Rehit that they had gotten personally, or they could have been changed over time. These things (five K's, Bani, Bana, Seva and Simran) are not just there because "The Guru told us to do/wear it" they all have symbolic, spiritual and scientific reasons. Knowing this, I just wanted to discuss what people knew, not what other people knew or said. So in future posts, please understand this.
In the previous comments, I said that I did not want people to Quote the Siri Guru Granth Sahib or anyone else. The reason for this was because most of the quotes that had been posted were either not translated accurately, or the were misspelled. So, if you are going to post a quote, look over it a couple times so that you are not misquoting the Gurus. And for the translations, ideally, I would like people to translate them by themselves, word-for-word. But if you want to put one please check over it yourself. Also, just so things can be looked at neutrally, please state the page number, so that people can check for themselves. I just want to make sure the Guru is not misunderstood, and try my best to make these discussions neutral and not big, endless arguments. Also remember: there is no good or bad (or wrong or right) only thinking makes it so!
Charh di Kala!

2006-02-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

Ustaad Surjeet Singh
Raag classes and performances

Starting on Friday, February 17th, there have been classes on Raag Kirtan with Ustaad Surjeet Singh and his nephew Avtar Singh. I used to play the sitar in 11th grade at Miri Piri, but in 12th grade I stopped for studies. I picked it again, and am recovering my lost skills.

Here are some pictures of all the students of the class playing Kirtan in Gurudwara:

Photos courtesy Gurumustuk Singh (my camera)

And a couple pictures of the Raag performance at Shanti Kaur and Tyaga Singh's House:

And Avtar Singh's short performance:

I also got the audio for all of the performances and I will try to post them later once I have edited them.

2006-02-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

The Five K's
Over the next week I would like to discuss the five K's: The original reason for them, what is understood of them now, certain fanaticisms about them, and what we can do about them. It could be more than one post per K, since more things could be brought up about the current K. Please feel free to comment on any posts, with positive and especially negative points. This will hopefully be a learning experience to all.

As the first K, I would like to discuss the kachhera. First, it contains the sexual temptations and reminds the wearer to think twice before taking them off (it is important to have the nala [drawstring] otherwise this value is almost gone). Also, they slightly hug the upper thigh - where the largest bone in the body is (it produces the most calcium). It is ideally made of pure white cotton, a pure color and natural fiber.
Some people say that none of the K's should ever be removed from the body. I can see where that is coming from, because then there is no limit to the leniancy of taking them off. But personally, I believe that it's all up to you. No one is going to be able to tell if you are wearing your kachhera under your pajama, or if you are growing you hair or wearing your kanga under your turban. I have heard that when some people change their kachhera, they take one leg out of the dirty ones, put it into the new ones, then take the other leg out of the old ones and put it in the new ones. There is nothing wrong with doing this, but I think it is a rediculous thing to force on other people, especially your kids. Because, if having one foot in - while you are changing - counts as having them on, then you could just have the kachhera on one leg all the time. Then, you could pull them up, and tie them around your leg, then you could just keep making them smaller until they were just a string around your leg. I know this is rediculous, maybe it is just my mind that can think up these creative thoughts, but if I can do it, there has to be at least one person in the future who could start this and corrupt the whole reason for the kachhera. It's totally fine to me to have a strong and strict discipline but if it becomes fanatic, then you are just becoming insecure about it. Yogi Bhajan once said "Fanaticism is insecurity taken to the next level" - I'm sure that's not exactly what he said, but along those lines. Anyway, I hope this is enough to start up a good discussion.

Sat Nam

2006-02-11T21:13:00.000-07:00

Got the Camera!

So my camera finally came in the mail yesterday, which was a day earlier than the minimum delivery time (I usually add a day since we are in Espanola). I am very happy with it, thanks to all of your suggestions.
So, here are some pictures from today's basketball game:

We were probably in the third round of "21" when I was accidentally tripped and I scraped my knee on the ground. You can see the skid mark starting and ending between the orange dots, it's about 2 to 3 feet. It's wasn't to painful except for the thought of what was happening to my skin while I was sliding.

I also took this picture of Harbhajan while he was dribbling:

2006-02-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

Skiing and Snowboarding in the Desert

During the construction phase...

Dubai , United Arab Emirates

Completed Building - Look at the palm trees in comparrison

Pictures of the inside.

Pretty awesome, sounds like a ridiculous idea at first, but if I lived there I would definately build one of those.

2006-02-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

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Also, good news. I ordered my camera off Amazon.com, it is on it's way. I don't know if anyone else thinks that blogs are more interesting with pictures. I think so in most cases, unless it is a story blog or a educational blog.

2006-02-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

So I still haven't gotten my camera yet. That was one of the main things I wanted to do on the weekend - besides go to Gurudwara and Sadhana and not waste time. Anyway I am going to Santa Fe today and hopefully by the will of God I will get it. Here's an old distorted picture of me:

2006-02-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

I'm at college today, I finally met with my fitness teacher since I missed the orientation. I am just in the "Open lab" right now surfing the internet. I found this funny comic and thought it was appropriate to put up on a blog.

2006-01-31T10:10:00.000-07:00

I missed two days, oh well, GM has been slacking on his blog for the last couple days (I don't blame him, always having something new and intersting on his blog). Since I go to Santa Fe for school on Mondays and Wednesdays, I think I might go to Best Buy tomorrow and at least look at cameras. Thanks for the advice on the Casio, in my search I did, it was the best quality, slickest, and pretty cheap in comparisson to the other cameras in it's class. So the blog will hopefully get more interesting soon, although it will be a little more work. I am at work right now, but my boss is on the phone and I have nothing to do, so I am writing this post until he is free. Ok, gotta go.

2006-01-28T21:43:00.000-07:00

Day Three.
Wow, this is actually my third day in a row. I hope you all don't get too used to reading this daily because I probably won't post this often in the future, I have just been on the computer a lot lately. I just got my first paycheck and I am thinking of getting a digital camera with part of it. Since I am living with my mother and all I have to pitch in for is groceries (I volunteered to since I eat so much). I also have some money left over from my birthday. So, I will definately post pictures a lot more often if I get it, I love taking pictures anyway. If anyone knows of any good quality, fairly small cameras that are soming out soon I would greatly appreciate if you would let me know, I hate buying things right before the next model comes out! I bought the ipod photo just two or three months before the video came out, and it's the same price! I'll be doing my own research too, but just incase someone else is doing the same for themselves it would help me save some time.

2006-01-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

So now for an update on my life. As I had mentioned on my first post around two and a half months ago, I was working at the DAO (Dharmic Accounting Office), but I'm not sure if I mentioned that I was on temporary work. So I was let go right before Winter Solstice Sadhana Camp and after I got home from that I went snowboarding in Colorado for my birthday with Saibhang and Dharam. There was a gigantic mountain will a lot of trails. We were there for three days of boarding and over the second night we were there it snowed at least one foot, so we had a great time on tons of fresh powder. I had never experienced snowboarding on powder, I had only gone on machine made snow which had turned into ice. After we got back I just hung out for about two weeks. Then at the beginning of last week I started working at Akal Security in the purchasing department, it's been pretty different from all my other jobs, I have learned a lot already. I will be working in this job until the early summer. I am also hoping I will get the opportunity to teach what I have learned at Miri Piri at the Jaap Sahib course, of course I am a lot younger than what the people who will be attending the course will expect. Those are my main thoughts and happenings these days.

2006-01-26T21:57:00.000-07:00

I am very sorry to the people who check this blog regularly to see if something new is happening in my life, because of my lack of attention to my blog. I know I check some blogs once every few days to see what's going on, and I get frustrated when there is nothing new posted. So here is a post which will hopefully restart my blog life enough to satisfy the visitors, and not so much as to waste my time.
I got a comment about my snowboarding pictures criticizing me wearing my hat and no t a turban, and I am very greatful for it. I was not in my bana representing the Khalsa as I usually do. The only thing in the comment was the qoute from the Rehit Nama, I have not heard this before. But I remembered this Shabad when I thought about it:

Je sukh deh ta tujhahe araadhhee dukh bhee thujhai dhhiaaee 2

If You will bless me with happiness, then I will worship and adore You. Even in pain, I will meditate on You. 2

Je bhukh deh ta it hee raajaa dukh vich sookh manaaee 3
Even if You give me hunger, I will still feel satisfied; I am joyful, even in the midst of sorrow.3

Tan man kaat kaat sabh arapee vich aganee aap jalaaee 4

I would cut my mind and body apart into pieces, and offer them all to You; I would burn myself in fire. 4

2005-12-25T14:22:00.000-07:00

So I just got back from the Winter Solstice Sadhana event in Lake Wales, Florida. I have to get some pictures from my friends to post up. The job at the DAO the I mentioned in my first post was just temporary work, and they decided to hire someone else with more experience for the job. It's great though because now I am free on my Birthday (Dec. 28th) and I can go to community college without stressing about working full-time. Just thought I would update people on my life.

Pictures coming soon!

2005-12-03T21:08:00.000-07:00

On my way to go snowboarding at Sipapu.

2005-12-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

2005-12-03T21:06:00.000-07:00

2005-12-03T21:03:00.000-07:00

On the way up the hill on the lift.

2005-12-03T21:02:00.000-07:00

I turned in to a Sesame Street character all of a sudden after snowboarding.

2005-12-03T21:01:00.001-07:00

Dharam after snowboaring

2005-12-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

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2005-12-03T21:00:00.002-07:00

2005-12-03T21:00:00.001-07:00

2005-12-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

2005-12-03T20:59:00.002-07:00

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2005-12-03T20:59:00.000-07:00

On the way back from snowboarding.

2005-12-03T20:47:00.000-07:00

Portrait

2005-11-30T22:55:00.000-07:00

This is Narayan Singh, Dharam's nephew, being thrown by me on to the couch. This was a few months ago. By the way, he wanted me to throw him.

2005-11-30T22:25:00.000-07:00

Chilling at movie night. We watched triple X state of union with Ice Cube. It was alright.

2005-11-30T22:24:00.000-07:00

The Thinker

2005-11-30T22:23:00.000-07:00

With my Dumala after Gurudwara before going to play frisbee.

2005-11-19T18:45:00.000-07:00

This me after chopping wood for the fireplace. Chopping wood is my new hobby.

2005-11-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

It is my lunch break right now, so I'm just putting up a new post. I am looking forward to game night tonight at my house. I already took some pictures yesterday, I will definately post them tonight.

2005-11-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

No one knows about this blog right now, but am still going to put this post up just because I have to start somewhere. My name is Himmat Singh Khalsa, hence the title of this blog. I just graduated from Miri Piri Academy, and I am currently on lunch break at my new job, at the DAO (Dharmic accounting Office) in Española, New Mexico. I'll post some pictures later.