April is a time of renewal and new beginnings, as it marks the arrival of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The longer days and warmer weather are a reminder of the cycle of life and the promise of new growth. This is why many religious holidays that fall in April have themes of liberation, renewal, and rebirth.
For Christians, April is the time of Easter, the most important holiday in the Christian calendar. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life. The Easter story is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of new life, and the idea of liberation from sin and death.
For Jews, April is the month of Nisan, which is when Passover is celebrated. Passover commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and the journey towards freedom and a new life. It is a time for reflection on the themes of redemption and liberation, and the power of hope and faith to overcome adversity.
For Sikhs, April marks the holiday of Vaisakhi, which celebrates the founding of the Khalsa, the community of baptized Sikhs. This holiday is also a harvest festival, a time of joy and abundance, and a celebration of the renewal of nature.
For Jains, April marks the holiday of Mahavir Jayanti, which celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavir, the 24th and last Tirthankara of the Jain religion. Lord Mahavir's teachings emphasize the importance of non-violence, compassion, and the liberation of the soul from the cycle of birth and death.
In all these religions, the month of April represents a time of new beginnings, hope, and the promise of liberation and new life. It is a time to reflect on the power of faith and renewal, and to celebrate the abundance and beauty of the world around us.
The good news is that you are here to serve The one who’s name is Exalted. The one.
That among the comings And goings of the world You are here to play as a reflection of Krishna playing In Dwarka
That you have found perfect balance Like Krishna. Your name and your deeds Are both exalted. You have found a high Stature but the tone of your voice hasn’t soured or become harsh It remains sweet.
As a reflection of Krishna Your turban is amazing Still your words Are sweet
You come from the same one That a thousand worlds Came from.
You have also attained the dark Complexion of Krishna The ruler of the world
That the one who owns All the horses and elephants Your master is the king Through whom you Attain salvation
Christian Perspective
Luke 4:16-19 quotes an abbreviated version of Isaiah 61:1-2
The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
A Buddhist Perspective
The Good News
by Thich Nhat Hanh
They don’t publish
the good news. The good news is published by us. We have a special edition every moment, and we need you to read it. The good news is that you are alive, and the linden tree is still there, standing firm in the harsh winter. The good news is that you have wonderful eyes to touch the blue sky. The good news is that your child is there before you, and your arms are available: hugging is possible. They only print what is wrong. Look at each of our special editions. We always offer the things that are not wrong. We want you to benefit from them and help protect them. The dandelion is there by the sidewalk, smiling its wondrous smile, singing the song of eternity. Listen! You have ears that can hear it. Bow your head. Listen to it. Leave behind the world of sorrow and preoccupation and get free. The latest good news is that you can do it.
ਹਲੇ ਯਾਰਾਂ ਹਲੇ ਯਾਰਾਂ ਖੁਸਿਖਬਰੀ ॥
ਬਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਂਉ ਹਉ ਬਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਂਉ ॥
ਨੀਕੀ ਤੇਰੀ ਬਿਗਾਰੀ ਆਲੇ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਕੁਜਾ ਆਮਦ ਕੁਜਾ ਰਫਤੀ ਕੁਜਾ ਮੇ ਰਵੀ ॥
ਦ੍ਵਾਰਿਕਾ ਨਗਰੀ ਰਾਸਿ ਬੁਗੋਈ ॥੧॥
ਖੂਬੁ ਤੇਰੀ ਪਗਰੀ ਮੀਠੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਬੋਲ ॥
ਦ੍ਵਾਰਿਕਾ ਨਗਰੀ ਕਾਹੇ ਕੇ ਮਗੋਲ ॥੨॥
ਚੰਦੀ ਹਜਾਰ ਆਲਮ ਏਕਲ ਖਾਨਾਂ ॥
ਹਮ ਚਿਨੀ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹ ਸਾਂਵਲੇ ਬਰਨਾਂ ॥੩॥
ਅਸਪਤਿ ਗਜਪਤਿ ਨਰਹ ਨਰਿੰਦ ॥
ਨਾਮੇ ਕੇ ਸ੍ਵਾਮੀ ਮੀਰ ਮੁਕੰਦ ॥੪॥੨॥੩॥
ਹਲੇ ਯਾਰਾਂ ਹਲੇ ਯਾਰਾਂ ਖੁਸਿਖਬਰੀ ॥
ਬਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਂਉ ਹਉ ਬਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਂਉ ॥
ਨੀਕੀ ਤੇਰੀ ਬਿਗਾਰੀ ਆਲੇ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ Listen my friend Listen I have good news.
I am in love with you.
Your gifts are good.
Your name is great.
Bigaari could mean one of two things. It could come from "Bigaarna" which means "undoing" or "breaking" or "deconstructing" or "creating obstacles" - it has a negative connotation. So then the line could mean, "Even when you create obstacles, the result is good." But I don't like this translation. It assumes that God is undoing something good, which is not congruent with the "Nirvair" principle of Gurbani. Some scholars have said that "Bigaari" comes from "Bhikhaari" - or begging. This is one of those words where the root of the word is similar in latin. Bigari could literally mean Beggary which makes it a noun -- even closer to the Gurbani than the modern noun of Bhikhari which is Bheekh. In that sense, the line means, "Begging for you is good." That makes a little more sense. But what God is giving us is gift. So two alternative translations are: "Your gifts are good/Your name is great." or "Begging for you is good/Chanting your name is great."
ਕੁਜਾ ਆਮਦ ਕੁਜਾ ਰਫਤੀ ਕੁਜਾ ਮੇ ਰਵੀ ॥
ਦ੍ਵਾਰਿਕਾ ਨਗਰੀ ਰਾਸਿ ਬੁਗੋਈ ॥੧॥
Where are you coming from, where are you, and where will you go?
In the city at the door of heaven, you are commanded to play.
"raas" - Garba - it is a kind of play. Or it could be "truth". I think it is play. Namdev is talking about Gujrat and is using some of the colloquial language.
Bugoyi - means saying. Guru Nanak uses "bugoyad" in one of his Farsi shabads. I think here it refers to God and means commanding. "raas bugoyi" thereby means - Paramatma commands, and atma plays. Supersoul commands and the soul plays. God commands and the soul plays.
Dwarka literally means door of heaven. So Dwarka nagri literally means the city at the door of heaven. Any heavenly place is Dwarka Nagri. It could be this life, this body, this gurdwara, and even this earth. It can be anything. It doesn't matter where you have come from. But now you are at the door of heaven. Dwarka Nagri. Isn't it great news that you are at the door of heaven?
Dwarka is a place - its the city at the gate of heaven.
Dwarka - can be earth. It can be the temple, the dharamsaala that God has created for us. The gate of heaven.
Aape Takhat Rachayon, Akaas Paataala
Aape Dharti Saajiyan Sachi Dharamsaala
Aap Upaye Khapaayenda Sache Deen Dayaala
Sabna Rijak Sabaheda Tera Hukam Niraala
Aape Aap Varatada Aape Pritpaalaa
Dwarka can also mean our body, the temple that God has again created for us -- an instrument for us to get to him. Again, a gate of heaven.
Dwarka can also be the Guru. Another way for us to get to God. Another gateway to heaven. So its better to think of Dwarka as a gateway to heaven.
ਖੂਬੁ ਤੇਰੀ ਪਗਰੀ ਮੀਠੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਬੋਲ ॥
ਦ੍ਵਾਰਿਕਾ ਨਗਰੀ ਕਾਹੇ ਕੇ ਮਗੋਲ ॥੨॥
Your turban is wonderful. Your words are sweet.
In the city at the door of heaven, what can the enemies do?
Turban here is a symbol of royalty. Something that is worn by a king as an external show of his excellence. Don't wear your turban slant. Make it good. Make it wonderful. Don't make your words sharp. Make them sweet. Look good and be good.
Two ballad singers Natha (Nath Mal) and Abdulla (contemporaries of the sixth Guru in the 17th century) used to sing in his court. While describing the two swords of Miri and Piri and the elegance of the turban of Guru Hargobind Sahib, they ranked his turban much higher than that of the Mir (Emperor Jahangir). Before sitting on the throne, Jahangir had to kill his son. His turban had his son's blood on it. Guru Sahib's turban had kesar that was sprinkled on him by the holy congregation. People would bow before both Jahangir and Gur Hargobind. But before Jahangir people were full of fear. Before Guru Hargobind people were full of love.
Do talvaareen badheeyan ik miri di ik piri di.
Ik azmat di ik raaj di ik raakhi karay vaziri di
Himmat baahaan kot gahrr darvaza balakh bakhir di
Naal sipahi neer nal naal dushtaan karay tabir di
Pagg teri ke jahaangir di
The path of love is too long. You cannot just use your feet. You have to walk with your head. You have to walk with your mind.
Sochai Soch Na Hovai, Je Sochi Lakh vaar
You cannot become beautiful by using soap. Your mind has to become beautiful. Your words have to be beautiful. And your deeds have to be beautiful. Words are important -- they form the connection between mind and action. You have to think about doing something, and even to do that you need words. So making your words sweet is bigger than just speaking sweetly. When Guru Nanak says "Aakhan Jeevan" he implies actions. When he is serving food to the hungry travelers, he is "saying" the name of God. Making your words means making your thoughts sweet and making your actions sweet.
Wearing Pagri is external. Words are internal. Both make you beautiful. But words are even more important than the pagri. Having a mind is important but heart is essential.
Dwarka is the lost city of Indian mythology. Much like Atlantis for Greek mythology. The difference being Atlantis was a city of enemies ... an antagonist naval power that besieges ancient Athens. In contrast, Dwarka is the city built by Krishna, the avatar of God - Vishnu. This is a city of beauty, a city of peace, a city of splendor made in gold. It is attacked at least seven times by enemies and each time the attack is repelled and the city emerges stronger and more beautiful.
There is a city called Dwarka now in Gujrat. But the real Dwarka was different. Some say it was mythical. Others say that it drowned in the ocean once Krishna died. Dwarka was the city that Krishna settled after he left M? This city was meant to be invincible. This city was meant to be beautiful. It is said that the city was attacked 7 times, but it remained beautiful, a center of spirituality, and therefore invincible.
You are here in the temple of your body, the beautiful city of Dwarika for play for a while. And while you are here, be inspired by the beautiful to be beautiful. Don a beautiful turban. Have self respect. Make use of your mind. But remember to not fall victim to enemies who will try to bring you down. Beware of the invaders of peace ... the five thieves, the kaam, krodh, lobh, moh, ahankaar. Remain invincible and beautiful like Dwarka. And how you will stay that way, is not only by using your mind - which can make you smart and intelligent, but also by using your heart. Your heart makes you sweet. Strive to be the best human you possibly can become but remember to balance your beautiful pagdi with sweet words. Balance the rightness of your intellect with sweetness of your heart.
The five thieves will come to look you. Greed will try to drown you in this ocean of life. Anger will try to overtake your goodness. But you have to repel these attacks. You have to come out the victor. You have to remain good. Shubh Karman Tay Kabhun na taron. Two abilities have been given to you. And you must use these. One is your mind. You have to use it. Use it too much and you will be too full of your self. You will not remain sweet. The other is your heart. Use it too much and you will not be able to do any good for others. So you have to achieve a balance.
ਚੰਦੀ ਹਜਾਰ ਆਲਮ ਏਕਲ ਖਾਨਾਂ ॥
ਹਮ ਚਿਨੀ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹ ਸਾਂਵਲੇ ਬਰਨਾਂ ॥੩॥ One caretaker of thousands of worlds
Such is my king in his wheatish skin
Not just this city, my emperor, the one in the dark clothes is the provider of the countless lives on thousands of worlds. All lives are his and he is the protector.
Vision
If you don't
see God everywhere
You see God ... nowhere!
If you don't
See God in all ...
You don't see God at all!
Paataala Paataal Lakh Aagaasaa Aagaas
Udak Udak Bhal Thakey Ved Kehen Ik Vaat
(Guru Nanak: Japji 22)
Why is Krishna blue:
According to Sadhguru: "Blue is the color of all-inclusiveness. You will see in the existence, anything that is vast and beyond your perception generally tends to be blue, whether it is the ocean or the sky. Anything which is larger than your perception tends to be blue because blue is the basis of all-inclusiveness. It is based on this that so many gods in India are shown as blue-skinned. Shiva has a blue skin, Krishna has a blue skin, Rama has a blue skin. It is not that their skin was blue. They were referred to as blue gods because they had a blue aura."
The dark qualities of Krishna - Depth like the ocean or the sky, and infinity of the same, and also the unknown nature. It may also depict his ordinary nature. The fact that he is present everywhere and within everyone, making him ordinary and average or Saavla. Saavla is not black nor fair, it is "medium." This fits with this ordinary theory. Thus I felt like dark skinned could potentially be called "ordinary". The extraordinary in an ordinary package.
ਅਸਪਤਿ ਗਜਪਤਿ ਨਰਹ ਨਰਿੰਦ ॥
ਨਾਮੇ ਕੇ ਸ੍ਵਾਮੀ ਮੀਰ ਮੁਕੰਦ ॥੪॥੨॥੩॥
Lord of all horses, Lord of all elephants, and Lord of all men
Namdev's lord is the generous one that gives freedom to all
If you don't see God in all
you don't see God at all.
Prabh Paas Jan Ki Ardaas Tu Sachha Sayeen
Tu Rakhvaala Sadaa Sadaa Haun Tudh Dhyaayeen
Jee Jant Sab Tereya, Tu Raheya Samayeen
Its about sovereignity.
Dwarka
Come here my friend I have news for you
Once I asked In this city at the gate of heaven
Where from I come and where shall I go? What game I'll play and will I know
Now I see you Donning a great turban and speaking sweet words Disguised in simple clothes ruling upon thousands of worlds commanding everything ordering all horses ruling elephants, and all men in this city
What business remains for enslavers, the five thieves of my soul, in this body at the gate of heaven?
Come here
Come here my friend Come and rejoice with me
Lets celebrate this good news for in all's sovereignty we are all free in this city
to open the gates of heaven
Play
The play is happening and our purpose is to find the truth, to find happiness, to find love. And we can get all that and more if we can see the sovereignty and benevolence of the creator. We recognize that he is donning a beautiful turban, that he is in complete control and we don't need to worry about anything, and that his words are always sweet. Then we are not entangled by those who seem like enemies. The Mogals of the body are Kam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh, Ahankar.
Prabh paas jan ki ardaas tu sachcha sayeen Tu rakhwaala sadaa sadaa haun tudh dhyayeen Jee Jant Sabh Tereya Tu Rehyaa Samayeen Jo das tere ki ninda karai tis maar pachayeen Chinta Chhad Achint Raho Naanak Lag Payeen
Narayan Narpat Namaskaarai Aise Gur Kao Bal Bal Jaiyeh Aap Mukat Mohe Tarai
As we grow older and wise, we become able to make our own decisions. We don a turban of responsibility, a turban of sovereignty. Our turbans come in different colors and different shades, different styles. Some people like their turbans, and their decisions, and their sovereignty, and their freedom in one style, one shade, one color. But we do get to wear this turban of sovereignty. We become free. The bonds are broken and the soul is freed. Bandhan Todai Mukat Hoye.
This freedom does not come for free. We have to fight for it. The kind of fight that Guru Gobind describes in Deh Shiva Bar Mohe.
The 10th Master's Prayer
Let me not shirk from what is good Let me not fear when fight I should Let me well learn how prayer is done Let me sure make my victory is won And in the end ... I pray my God ... Let me die fighting, when my time has come And in the end ... I pray my God ... Let me die fighting, when my time has come
But while we are fighting for freedom, wearing a turban remembering the sovereignty that we borrow from the emperor of the world, we should remember how prayer is done. We should remember to win the battle with the five thieves. We have to win this battle or else we do not become complete. We remain incomplete. Puran Purakh is the goal for every human. The destiny of every human is Godliness. And Godliness becomes complete by matching your turban with your sweetness.
More important than matching the color of your turban with your clothes, is matching the Guru Gobind Singh's turban with his sweetness, with his love. The destiny is achieved only through love. Everyone can wear a turban, but only a few can love. In fact a lot of charlatons are wearing turbans these days. The difference between your turban and the others is that your turban needs to be balanced with sweetness.
There is old saying in India - when a tree is laden with fruit it bows down. You become fruitful doning this turban. But if you think too much of your greatness you will crack. Sweetness is the only balance to the turban, and you have to remember that.
We are not sitting in heaven. We are sitting at the gate to heaven. We can choose to open the gate to this heaven. The gate is opened with sweetness.
Khushkhabri
So what is this khushkhabri in the end. What is this good news. The good news is realization. God realization.
The good news is that Namdev is in love. The good news is that Namdev realizes that God's gifts are great. The good news is that Namdev has realized that the essence of God is great. The good news is that Namdev now knows where he has come from, where he is and where he is going. From God, with God and to God. He realizes that God has arranged this play for him on earth, which is the gateway to heaven. The good news is the realization that God has sovereignity, yet God is sweet. The good news is the realization that the gateway to heaven is attained when your enemies -- the five theives of the soul -- are vanquished. The good news is the realization the extraordinary god can be found in ordinary things. The good news is that the realization of the lord of all can lead to freedom. The good news is that we are sitting at the doorstep of happiness, love and freedom. Provided we can balance the realization of both the qualities of the sovereign - having the ability to make a difference, and being sweet to everyone. In the end the good news is about finding the royalty of the excellence within yourself - replete with a turban, symbolizing exterior beauty and sweet words symbolizing internal beauty.
May 30, 2017 Listening to Sant Sujan Singh
15 minutes is when katha starts ...
धीरज धरम मित्र अरु नारी |
आपद काल परखिये चारी ||
- तुलसीकृत रामायण
Dheeraj dharam mitra aru naari
aapad kal parakhiye chari !
- Ramayan by Tulsidas
Meaning: In the time of crisis are the (deep waters) of patience, religion (karma~deeds), friends and women (wife/partner) tested!
Singing oneness!
