As I drove past the car carcasses of many people on the freeway, it struck me that each of those lives have been changed. We often look from the outside in and barely register other people’s lives. We constantly live in a life of “ME ME ME” while what happens to others is of no consequence or it seems. Take for instance what happened to me on Saturday night.
After finally delaying for many days, I decided Blockbuster really does need its rentals of The Other Guys (not bad) and A-Team (great time pass) back. So I hustled off telling Preeti it was imperative I return the movies (really because I wanted more to watch) and I would be back in an hour (no rental trip is complete with at least another chore tagged alone or then you really feel like a loser). So I got into the car, fumbled around with the wipers (after all I am a full-blooded Southern Californian, rain is pretty much a foreign concept), and got them up to appropriate speed so I could see through. So far so good.
I first thought of doing the chore (but Trader Joe’s can wait), first let’s get the movies back ( I hope they got in Salt, I haven’t seen that). As I got out my driveway, I put on the new songs I had synced to my iPod integration in-car (definitely proud of that gadget) and the first song turned out to the Shabad Kabeer from a CD my dad had compiled for guests and family members as we prayed together for a swift recovery for loved ones.
As the Shabad played, I turned my focus towards getting to the Promised Land of Rentals. I got onto the ancillary street that took me to the main one, thought about stopping by Gurjit’s by decided against it (realized he was staying with my other cousin and if I took those two with me Blockbuster, that’s the only errand I would get done.) I got to the main light, and stopped, waiting for Traffic Control to give me permission to make a left. Since this was Cerritos, Ca, they are not big fans of free will and instead of letting drivers follow the rules they had learned in Driver’s Ed, I was required to wait until a green arrow pointed the way. So I waited, glancing at the Taco Bell, realizing I haven’t eaten there in weeks. Realized how much my brain was prattling along, took a deep breath and tried to still myself (something I had learned from The Power of Now by Elkhart Tolle). The light turned green, and as I began to turn, a car hit me head on, which made me giggle (at the thought what more could wrong in my life and that for once Cerritos was right).
At first, I glanced up quickly to check the light (perhaps a bit guiltily, maybe I misread red to be green), but it was turning orange, as if to say “last chance to get through buddy!” The other guy (who happened to be a Domino’s delivery guy, Preeti’s favorite but not mine) had run the red light. I knew that instinctively, he was speeding since his air bag had deployed. I rushed out the car to check on him, while calling 911 (probably the only time multi-tasking is OK). Moments later, a Sheriff’s car pulled up (lights blazing, yay Cavalry is here!), and asked what happened (no, are you ok? Is he ok?) while tersely telling us both to get out the intersection (God Forbid, we cause a scene or worse more traffic). My car struggled to get me into the gas station, and as I kept giggling (really can anything more go wrong in 2010?), an old woman and her son (presumably) approached me, and said “we saw what happened. Normally, it’s the guy who’s making the left that’s at issue but you had the green arrow (instinctively thinking of the DC comic book hero), and he ran a red light. Those poor guys waited patiently for over an hour and a half to give their statement. Total strangers who could have driven by my carcass of a life, but instead chose to rain me with compassion and ethics.
To some, it may seem a car accident as just more bad luck for me, but as a dear friend said, it’s better to be lucky sometimes than good.
—— Forwarded Message From: Marc and Angel Hack Life <marc.chernoff@gmail.com> Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:09:15 +0000 To: Sanjay Sabarwal <sanjay@zibabeauty.com> Subject: Marc and Angel
Marc and Angel <http://www.marcandangel.com> <http://fusion.google.com/add?source=atgs&feedurl=http://feeds.feedburner.com/MarcAndAngel> The Only Way You Can Change The World <http://www.marcandangel.com/2010/12/20/the-only-way-you-can-change-the-world/> Posted: 19 Dec 2010 08:52 PM PST An Epiphany Imagine for a moment that the year is 2000 B.C. and you’re a fisherman living along the coast of what is now Southern Europe. Like any other morning, you’re fishing when suddenly a powerful burst of energy enters your body. It creates a tingling sensation in your fingertips, a flutter in your heart and warmth in your belly. You know it’s not anxiety or a heart attack because it feels comforting and fulfilling. You put your fishing pole down and sit at the water’s edge. You reach down and splash a handful of cool water up onto your face. It is here, in this quiet moment, that you have an epiphany. And while you are unable to explain how or why this epiphany is coming to you now – you haven’t done anything out of the ordinary to receive it – its message is crystal clear: The Earth is not flat. The Earth is a sphere. You can visualize it revolving around the sun in a predictable orbital pattern. These visualizations also reveal that the Earth is part of a solar system of eight planets separate from other stars in the night’s sky and that these other stars follow similar predictable patterns of movement. There is a whole uncharted universe out there that nobody else is aware of. Once the magnitude of your epiphany settles in your mind, you begin to sweat from nervousness. Because while the small village you live in is peaceful, there is little tolerance for outlandish ideas and theories like the ones that just rattled your brain. If you were to tell others about them, the nobles and town leaders might interpret it as a direct threat to the religious and cultural stability of the community, and the rest of the villagers would likely think you’re insane. You could be exiled. You decide that you must handle your business as usual and leave the futuristic visions and epiphanies to the witch doctors and nomads who dwell in the forests on the outskirts of civilization. These people have already decided that the world they grew up in doesn’t hold the answers they are looking for. They are the ones who should convey these outlandish ideas to the world. Because they have nothing to lose. At least not as much as you do. So you don’t tell a soul about your epiphany. Days roll into weeks. Weeks roll into months. And you imagine, each day, that you are better off for having kept it a secret. But you are also aware that keeping this secret is eating away at you from the inside out. You have distanced yourself from people and have been sleeping less and less. Your mind won’t stop stirring. Words of Wisdom One night, after hours of stirring, you finally fall asleep and begin to dream. You dream that you’re sitting at round table in a dimly lit room. There is a man sitting across the table from you. You can barely make out his face, but you can see his hair is peppered with silver and his skin is worn. He seems old and wise. And it feels like he can see right through to your soul. But you also feel comforted because there is nothing to hide from him. He already knows what you know. “Do you know why you’re sitting here with me,” he asks in a low, soothing voice. “I don’t know,” you reply. “I guess I’m here because I have no one else I can talk to.” He smiles and says, “You are here because you have something to say. Something you know that is of immense importance – something that will change the world when you finally say it. But you are afraid to say it because you don’t think people are ready to hear it.” You sit in silence with him for a moment. Just staring into his eyes. You feel an energy emanating from his heart and gently soothing yours. Easing it of tension. Letting it know that it can beat loudly and proudly at any pace it wants to without concern. Because it’s safe here – a sanctuary devoid of judgment. And all of the fear inside you slowly subsides. You take a deep breath and say, “I am here because I had an epiphany in which I saw, clearly, that the earth is not flat. It is a sphere that it revolves around the sun as part of an eight planet solar system. And there are other stars out there too, perhaps in other solar systems in what is likely a vast, uncharted universe.” You pause for a moment, take two more deep breaths and continue, “I don’t know where this epiphany came from or why it came to me when it did. But I’m certain that it’s accurate. And I’m certain, also, that the people of this world aren’t ready for it. I have already been punished for having this epiphany – for simply knowing what I know. And I don’t want to be punished once more for conveying what I know to others.” He smiles again. And you feel, as he smiles, more comforted than you have since before you had your epiphany. “In all walks of life, you will never know when the world is ready,” he says. “You will only know when you are ready. And you will know when you are simply because you will take action and do something about it. And after you do something, you will know when there is more to do, because you will do more.” His words of wisdom are so clear, so simple. But the real world, you recall, is far more twisted and convoluted. In the real world, there are cultures and customs that have been around for generations that must be dealt with. “The most important thing to remember,” he continues, “is that while it may feel like you are at the mercy of the world, you are not. Because the world is merely a reflection of what’s inside you – your thoughts. So what feels like an entire world that isn’t ready, isn’t really a world at all. It’s just you. And when you change, you will notice that the world outside has changed too.” Changed Your eyes slowly open. You sit up in bed and silently meditate over your dream. After a few moments, you stand up and walk out the front door of your cabin to get some fresh air. And as you stand there watching the sun rise over the village, you notice something is different. The entire village seems brighter and more alive than you remember. Has the village changed? Have the people changed? Or is it just you? You aren’t sure. What you are sure of is that you have fish to catch today. And that you have something important to say. And while you don’t know yet how you will say it, you are gradually growing more and more confident that you will know soon. And by the time you realize you know, you will have already begun to say what you need to say. And the world around you will have already begun to change. Because you have changed. Recommended reading for those who liked this post: The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World <http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399536108?ie=UTF8&tag=marandang-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399536108> Photo by: Jony Cunha <> <https://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ClejNb_giZ39UBkzoLAegJfE0uA/FMtje1JF9ZStBytPsQSNczAgx8M/0/pa> <https://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ClejNb_giZ39UBkzoLAegJfE0uA/FMtje1JF9ZStBytPsQSNczAgx8M/1/pa> You are subscribed to email updates from Marc and Angel Hack Life <http://www.marcandangel.com> To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now <http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailunsubscribe?k=ClejNb_giZ39UBkzoLAegJfE0uA> .Email delivery powered by Google Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610
—— End of Forwarded Message
You lied to me” she accused me groggily, her eyes still heavy with the general anesthesia, dangerously pulling me to the brink of breaking down. But the tears never made it to my eyes, I would not, could not let them. All she saw was my smile, and the assurance that this phase was over. What did the doctor say, she asked? Babu, just rest and we can talk about it later. Was not telling her a lie? Yes it was, but it is a lie I will tell her over and over. In this case, the truth would not set us free, the irony hitting me when I think about the friend I betrayed recently. When is a lie ok, the right thing to do? Now. Always. When it involves her current fight with cancer.
The actions and emotion sof this week flutter around in my mind. Words said, regrets swallowed, anger yelled, the many emotions of the body come up and I realize that we are just at the beginning of this very long road. From a procedure that yielded one great hope, to getting hit by a guy running a red light, I realize life continues. I cannot lie, I am scared yet in there is a voice growing stronger, saying we will get through this. I know we can and we will. I can keep looking at the past, let the regrets pile up, the fear dominate my days, while watching her in pain and nausea or I can hold her, give her my strength, let her know, everything will be ok, no more lies, everything will be ok. I will be a liar when needed but the there is only one truth: She will be fine.
Worldwide praise for the Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Granth Sahib The manuscript of the Sikh Gurus’ hymns contained in Guru Granth Sahib were handed down by Guru Nanak , the First and founder Guru. It passed on, down the lines to the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. He then guided the Sikh community to follow the GURU GRANTH SAHIB (Sikh scriptures), as our ultimate and as Living Guru, in 1708 (300 years ago) and not worship or follow any human soul as the GURU (GOD) Contents Authenticity of Guru Granth Sahib This is what Max Arthur Macauliffe writes about the authenticity of the Guru’s teaching: "The Sikh religion differs as regards the authenticity of its dogmas from most other theological systems. Many of the great teachers the world has known, have not left a line of their own composition and we only know what they taught through tradition or second-hand information. If Pythagoras wrote of his tenets, his writings have not descended to us. We know the teachings of Socrates only through the writings of Plato and Xenophanes. Buddha has left no written memorial of his teaching. Kungfu-tze, known to Europeans as Confucius, left no documents in which he detailed the principles of his moral and social system. The founder of Christianity did not reduce his doctrines to writing and for them we are obliged to trust to the gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Arabian Prophet did not himself reduce to writing the chapters of the Quran. They were written or compiled by his adherents and followers. But the compositions of Sikh Gurus are preserved and we know at first hand what they taught."
"Guru Nanak was not a priest either by birth or education, but a man who soared to the loftiest heights of divine emotionalism, and exalted his mental vision to an ethical ideal beyond the concept of Hinduism or Mohammadanism.
It (Sikhism) prohibits idolatry, hypocrisy, caste exclusiveness, con-cremation (Satti) of widows, the immurement (confinement) of women (like Muslims), the use of wine and other intoxicants, tobacco smoking, infanticide, slander, pilgrimage to the sacred rivers and tanks of the Hindus. It inculcates loyalty, justice, impartiality, truth, honesty and all the moral and domestic virtues to holiest citizens of any country."
[hide] 1 Praise of Sri Guru Granth Sahib by modern Scholars 1.1 Rev. H.L. Bradshaw of the U.S.A., Sikh Review, Calcutta. 1.2 Miss Pearl S. Buck, a Nobel laureate 1.3 Archer in his book on Sikh faith 1.4 Dorothy Field in her book, The Sikh Religion 1.5 Arnold Toynbee, a historian 1.6 Dr. W.O. Cole of U.K. 1.7 Bertrand Russell 1.8 Swami Nitya Nand 2 Authenticity of Guru Granth Sahib 3 See also 4 References Praise of Sri Guru Granth Sahib by modern Scholars
The Sikh scriptures are uniqueamong the religious "Holy Books" of the world in that they don’t just offer spiritual guidance for the Sikhs alone but impart guidance and assistance for all the peoples and religions of the world. The Siri Guru Granth is a supreme treasure for all mankind. It is the true and permanent spiritual guide of the Sikhs. Guru Granth Sahib transcends creed and caste, cant and convention. It does not belong to the Sikhs alone. It consecrates the sayings of 11 Hindu Bhagat and as many bard poets and seven Muslim saints, along with the teachings of six Sikh gurus. No other religion has included in its holy book the sayings of others, however revered. The Guru Granth Sahib provides unique and unequalled guidance and advice to the whole of the human race. It is the torch that will lead humanity out of Kaljug, (the dark era) to a life in peace, tranquility and spiritual enlightenment for all the nations of the World.
Rev. H.L. Bradshaw of the U.S.A., Sikh Review, Calcutta.
Sikhism is a Universal world Faith…a message for all men. This is amply illustrated in the writings of the Gurus. Sikhs must cease to think of their faith as just another good religion and must begin to think of Sikhism being the religion for this New Age.
Also: The Guru Granth Sahib of all the world religious scriptures, alone states that there are innumerable worlds and universes other than our own. The previous scriptures were all concerned only with this world and its spiritual counterpart. To imply that they spoke of other worlds as does the Guru Granth Sahib, is to stretch their obvious meanings out of context. The Sikh religion is truly the answer to the problems of the modern man.
Miss Pearl S. Buck, a Nobel laureate
(From the foreword to the English translation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib by Dr Gopal Singh Dardi) Miss Pearl S. Buck, a Nobel laureate wrote: When I was in India in 1962, one of the notable events of my Visit was the presentation to me of the English version of Sri Guru-Granth Sahib, translated and annotated by Dr. Gopal Singh. I was deeply grateful to receive this great work, for in the original it was inaccessible to me, and this was a matter of regret, for I have had many Sikh friends, and have always admired their qualities of character. Now that I have had time in my quiet Pennsylvania home to read their scriptures slowly and thoughtfully, I can understand why I have found so much to admire. The religion of a people has a profound and subtle influence upon them as a whole, and this is true whether individuals do or do not profess to be religious. I have studied the scriptures of the great religions, but I do not find elsewhere the same power of appeal to the heart and mind as I find here in these volumes. They are compact in spite of their length and are a revelation of the concept of God to the recognition and indeed the insistence upon the practical needs of the human body. There is something strangely modern about these scriptures and this puzzled me until I learned that they are in fact comparatively modern, compiled as late as the 16th century when explorers were beginning to discover the globe upon which we all live is a single entity divided only by arbitrary lines of our making. Perhaps this sense of unity is the source of power I find in these volumes. They speak to a person of any religion or of none. They speak for the human heart and the searching mind.
Dorothy Field in her book, The Sikh Religion
Pure Sikhism is far above dependence on Hindu rituals and is capable of a distinct position as a world religion so long as Sikhs maintain their distinctiveness. The religion is also one which should appeal to the occidental mind. It is essentially a practical religion. If judged from the pragmatic standpoint which is a favorite point of view in some quarters, it would rank almost first in the world (emphasis by the author). Of no other religion can it be said that it has made a nation in so short a time.
And also: The religion of the Sikhs is one of the most interesting at present existing in India, possibly indeed in the whole world. A reading of the Granth strongly suggests that Sikhism should be regarded as a new and separate world religion and not as a reformed sect of Hinduism. Arnold Toynbee, a historian Main article: Arnold Toynbee Arnold Joseph Toynbee (1889 – 1975) was a British historian whose twelve-volume analysis of the rise and fall of civilizations, A Study of History, 1934-1961, was a synthesis of world history, a metahistory based on universal rhythms of rise, flowering and decline, which examined history from a global perspective. His work includes over 50 titles on various aspects of world history. Toynbee has given very high and prominent place to the Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in Sikh History. He calls Guru Ji a "divinity of highest rank." He gets emotional when he writes about Guru Sahib’s contribution in the formation of Khalsa. Again and again he emphasizes the fact that there cannot be any person like the Sikh Gurus. (Foreword to the Sacred Writings of the Sikhs by UNESCO) Mankind’s religious futuremay be obscure; yet one thing can be foreseen. The living higher religions are going to influence each other more than ever before, in the days of increasing communications between all parts of the world and branches of human race. In this coming religious debate, the Sikh religion and its scriptures, the Guru Granth, will have something special of value to say to the rest of the world. Dr. W.O. Cole of U.K.
whohas written more thanhalf a dozen books on Sikhism. In 1985, he visited India where in a keynote lecture by him on the Mission and Message of Guru Nanak Dev, he gave a message to the Sangat (congregation) there and through them to all of humanity: Remember the tenets of Guru Nanak, his concepts of oneness of God and Universal Brotherhood of man. If any community holds the key to national integration of India, it is the Sikhs all the way. After the lecture, he was asked what drew him to the study of Sikhism. (Quoted from Spokesman, Toronto, Canada) He replied: Theologically, I cannot answer the question what drew me to the study of Sikhism. You may call it, the purpose of God. But to be more specific, the unique concept of universality and the system of Langar (free community meal) in Sikhism are the two features that attract me towards the study of Sikhism. Langar is the exclusive feature of Sikhism and found nowhere else in the world. Sikhism is the only religion which welcomes each and every one to its Langar without any discrimination of caste, creed, color, or sex. Bertrand Russell
This isthe man who destroyed Christianity (same applies to Islam and Judaism) and exposed its absurdities about all religions; but even this great man got stuck when it came to Sikhism! In fact he gave up and said "that if some lucky men survive the onslaught of the third world war of atomic and hydrogen bombs, then the Sikh religion will be the only means of guiding them." Russell was asked that he was talking about the third world war, but isn’t this religion capable of guiding mankind before the third world war? In reply, Russell said, "Yes, it has the capability, but the Sikhs have not brought out in the broad daylight, the splendid doctrines of this religion which has come into existence for the benefit of the entire mankind. This is their greatest sin and the Sikhs cannot be freed of it." Swami Nitya Nand
A Hindu mystics mentions his experiences with the Sikh faith. (he is believed to have expired at the age of 135 years) writes in his book “Gur Gian”: I, in the company of myguru, Brahma Nand Ji, went to Mathura…While on pilgrimage tour, we reached Punjab and here we met Swami Satya Nand Udasi. He explained the philosophy and religious practices of Nanak in such a way that Swami Brahma Nand Ji enjoyed a mystic lore. During the visit to the Golden Temple, Amritsar, his soul was so much affected that he became a devotee of the Guru. After spending some time in Punjab he went to Hardwar. Though he was hail and hearty, one day I saw tears in his eyes. I asked the reason for that. He replied, “I sifted sand the whole of my life. The truth was in the house of Nanak. I will have to take one more birth in that house, only then will I attain Kalyan.” After saying that the soul left his body. Swami Nitya Nand also wrote his own experience: I also constantly meditate on Waheguru revealed by Nanak. I practiced Yoga Asanas under the guidance of Yogis and did that for many years; the bliss and peace which I enjoy now was never obtained earlier.
REQUEST:- As a courtesy, please ensure to delete my name as a sender before forwarding this mail. Please use the ‘Bcc’ box instead of the ‘To’ box to help prevent Spammers from mining addresses and spreading viruses. Thank you.
