Shivpreet Singh
Shivpreet Singh
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For inspiration on MLK day today I am reading his book “Why we can’t wait.” Martin Luther understood demonstrations, and the effect and power of singing and music. He often talked positively about singing and music. Here are a couple of inspirational MLK quotes:

As long as we live, there is never enough singing.

 

Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.

 

Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. No greater commendation than this can be found — at least not by us. After all, the gift of language combined with the gift of song was only given to man to let him know that he should praise God with both word and music, namely, by proclaiming [the Word of God] through music.

Music and singing played a critical role in inspiring, mobilizing, and giving voice to the civil rights movement. “The freedom songs are playing a strong and vital role in our struggle,” said Martin Luther King, Jr., during the Albany Movement. “They give the people new courage and a sense of unity. I think they keep alive a faith, a radiant hope, in the future, particularly in our most trying hours” (Shelton, “Songs a Weapon”).

The evolution of music in the black freedom struggle reflects the evolution of the movement itself. Calling songs “the soul of the movement,” King explained in his 1964 book Why We Can’t Wait that civil rights activists “sing the freedom songs today for the same reason the slaves sang them, because we too are in bondage and the songs add hope to our determination that ‘We shall overcome, Black and white together, We shall overcome someday’” (King, Why, 86).

Every breath I remember Gobind
- Guru Arjan, Raag Gauri
Every moment I sing Gobind.
- Guru Arjan, Raag Malhar

 

It is John Lennon’s birthday today. He was a singer of peace and hope, a kindler of imaginations. He passed away prematurely at the age of 40, but he left behind a legacy of lovely melodies and a message of love.

Lennon attained fame all over the world after joining the Beatles as a founding member. The songwriting connection he formed with Paul McCartney was one of the most productive in music history. Together, they produced enduring works that resonate across generations.

I especially like the lyrics of “Imagine”. The song challenges us to picture a world free of division and conflicts. It urges us to work for peace and imagine a society devoid of material possessions and greed, and it strikes a deep chord with me. The lyrics clearly convey Lennon's faith in group effort and his desire for a peaceful society.

Personally, I think John Lennon's idealism and capacity for human connection through music to be inspirational. His creations, such as "Imagine," cross barriers and inspire us to envision a better future. We cherish his message of love and unity that continues to touch hearts all across the world as we commemorate his life and honor his memory today, the day of his birthday.

Imagine by John Lennon

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us, only sky
Imagine all the people
Livin' for today
Ah
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Livin' life in peace
You
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one


#quote #johnlennon #flowers #shivpreetsingh #love #imagine #kirtanyoga #yoga

Two Bhagwad Gita Shlokas about Dedicating all deeds to Krishna:

Chapter 3, Verse 30

mayi sarvani karmani
sannyasyadhyatma-cetasa
nirasir nirmamo bhutva
yudhyasva vigata-jvarah?

Translation of Bhagavad Gita 3.30

Therefore, O Arjuna, surrendering all your works unto Me, with full knowledge of Me, without desires for profit, with no claims to proprietorship, and free from lethargy, fight.


Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:


This verse clearly indicates the purpose of the Bhagavad-gita. The Lord instructs that one has to become fully Krishna conscious to discharge duties, as if in military discipline. Such an injunction may make things a little difficult; nevertheless duties must be carried out, with dependence on Krishna, because that is the constitutional position of the living entity. The living entity cannot be happy independent of the cooperation of the Supreme Lord, because the eternal constitutional position of the living entity is to become subordinate to the desires of the Lord. Arjuna was therefore ordered by Sri Krishna to fight as if the Lord were his military commander. One has to sacrifice everything for the good will of the Supreme Lord, and at the same time discharge prescribed duties without claiming proprietorship. Arjuna did not have to consider the order of the Lord; he had only to execute His order. The Supreme Lord is the soul of all souls; therefore, one who depends solely and wholly on the Supreme Soul without personal consideration, or in other words, one who is fully Krishna conscious, is called adhyatma-cetas. Nirasih means that one has to act on the order of the master but should not expect fruitive results. The cashier may count millions of dollars for his employer, but he does not claim a cent for himself. Similarly, one has to realize that nothing in the world belongs to any individual person, but that everything belongs to the Supreme Lord. That is the real purport of mayi, or “unto Me.” And when one acts in such Krishna consciousness, certainly he does not claim proprietorship over anything. This consciousness is called nirmama, or “nothing is mine.” And if there is any reluctance to execute such a stern order, which is without consideration of so-called kinsmen in the bodily relationship, that reluctance should be thrown off; in this way one may become vigata-jvara, or without feverish mentality or lethargy. Everyone, according to his quality and position, has a particular type of work to discharge, and all such duties may be discharged in Krishna consciousness, as described above. That will lead one to the path of liberation.

Chapter 9, Verse 28

शुभाशुभफलैरेवं मोक्ष्यसे कर्मबन्धनै: |
संन्यासयोगयुक्तात्मा विमुक्तो मामुपैष्यसि || 28||

śhubhāśhubha-phalair evaṁ mokṣhyase karma-bandhanaiḥ
sannyāsa-yoga-yuktātmā vimukto mām upaiṣhyasi

śhubha aśhubha phalaiḥ—from good and bad results; evam—thus; mokṣhyase—you shall be freed; karma—work; bandhanaiḥ—from the bondage; sanyāsa-yoga—renunciation of selfishness; yukta-ātmā—having the mind attached to Me; vimuktaḥ—liberated; mām—to Me; upaiṣhyasi—you shall reach
Translation
BG 9.28: By dedicating all your works to Me, you will be freed from the bondage of good and bad results. With your mind attached to Me through renunciation, you will be liberated and will reach Me.

Commentary -

Every action has defects, just as fire is covered by smoke.  When we walk on the earth, we unknowingly kill millions of tiny living entities.  In our occupational duties, no matter how careful we are in the fulfillment of our duties, we still end up harming the environment and hurting others.  Even if we eat a cup of yogurt, we still incur the sin of destroying the living entities that reside in it.  Some religious sects try to reduce this involuntary killing by tying a cloth over their mouth.  Even this does not fully eliminate the destruction of living entities in our breath. 

When we perform our actions with the intention of fulfilling our self-interest, we are culpable for the sins we commit, knowingly or unknowingly.  In accordance with the law of karma, we have to reap their karmic reactions.  Good works can also be binding because they oblige the soul to go to the celestial abodes to enjoy their results.  Thus, both bad and good karmas result in the continuity of the cycle of birth and death.   However, in this verse, Shree Krishna gives a simple solution for destroying all karmic reactions of work.  He uses the word sanyās yog, meaning renunciation of selfishness.  He says that when we dedicate our actions for the pleasure of the Lord, we are freed from the fetters of both good and bad results. 

Those who establish themselves in such consciousness are called yog yuktātmā (united in consciousness with God).  Such yogis become jīvan mukt (liberated in consciousness) even in this body.  And, upon leaving their mortal frame, they receive a divine body and eternal service in the divine Abode of God. 
Balhaari Jaon Jete Tere Nav Hai 
I am a sacrifice to Your Names, as many as there are, O Lord. 
- Guru Nanak



This quote comes at the end of a Raag Basant shabad, Tera Daasan Daasa. Oneness is found in so many colors in this world. And Guru Nanak sings all the colors of oneness. To him all the names of the supreme are celebratory.  




ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ਬਸੰਤੁ ॥
महला १ बसंतु ॥
Mėhlā 1 basanṯ.
First Mehl, Basant:

ਰੁਤਿ ਆਈਲੇ ਸਰਸ ਬਸੰਤ ਮਾਹਿ ॥
रुति आईले सरस बसंत माहि ॥
Ruṯ ā▫īle saras basanṯ māhi.
The season of spring, so delightful, has come.

ਰੰਗਿ ਰਾਤੇ ਰਵਹਿ ਸਿ ਤੇਰੈ ਚਾਇ ॥
रंगि राते रवहि सि तेरै चाइ ॥
Rang rāṯe ravėh sė ṯerai cẖā▫e.
Those who are imbued with love for You, O Lord, chant Your Name with joy.

ਕਿਸੁ ਪੂਜ ਚੜਾਵਉ ਲਗਉ ਪਾਇ ॥੧॥
किसु पूज चड़ावउ लगउ पाइ ॥१॥
Kis pūj cẖaṛāva▫o laga▫o pā▫e. ||1||
Whom else should I worship? At whose feet should I bow? ||1||

ਤੇਰਾ ਦਾਸਨਿ ਦਾਸਾ ਕਹਉ ਰਾਇ ॥
तेरा दासनि दासा कहउ राइ ॥
Ŧerā ḏāsan ḏāsā kaha▫o rā▫e.
I am the slave of Your slaves, O my Sovereign Lord King.

ਜਗਜੀਵਨ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਨ ਮਿਲੈ ਕਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
जगजीवन जुगति न मिलै काइ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Jagjīvan jugaṯ na milai kā▫e. ||1|| rahā▫o.
O Life of the Universe, there is no other way to meet You. ||1||Pause||

ਤੇਰੀ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਏਕਾ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਰੂਪ ॥
तेरी मूरति एका बहुतु रूप ॥
Ŧerī mūraṯ ekā bahuṯ rūp.
You have only One Form, and yet You have countless forms.

ਕਿਸੁ ਪੂਜ ਚੜਾਵਉ ਦੇਉ ਧੂਪ ॥
किसु पूज चड़ावउ देउ धूप ॥
Kis pūj cẖaṛāva▫o ḏe▫o ḏẖūp.
Which one should I worship? Before which one should I burn incense?

ਤੇਰਾ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ਕਹਾ ਪਾਇ ॥
तेरा अंतु न पाइआ कहा पाइ ॥
Ŧerā anṯ na pā▫i▫ā kahā pā▫e.
Your limits cannot be found. How can anyone find them?

ਤੇਰਾ ਦਾਸਨਿ ਦਾਸਾ ਕਹਉ ਰਾਇ ॥੨॥
तेरा दासनि दासा कहउ राइ ॥२॥
Ŧerā ḏāsan ḏāsā kaha▫o rā▫e. ||2||
I am the slave of Your slaves, O my Sovereign Lord King. ||2||

ਤੇਰੇ ਸਠਿ ਸੰਬਤ ਸਭਿ ਤੀਰਥਾ ॥
तेरे सठि स्मबत सभि तीरथा ॥
Ŧere saṯẖ sambaṯ sabẖ ṯīrthā.
The cycles of years and the places of pilgrimage are Yours, O Lord.

ਤੇਰਾ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਰਮੇਸਰਾ ॥
तेरा सचु नामु परमेसरा ॥
Ŧerā sacẖ nām parmesrā.
Your Name is True, O Transcendent Lord God.

ਤੇਰੀ ਗਤਿ ਅਵਿਗਤਿ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਣੀਐ ॥
तेरी गति अविगति नही जाणीऐ ॥
Ŧerī gaṯ avigaṯ nahī jāṇī▫ai.
Your State cannot be known, O Eternal, Unchanging Lord God.

ਅਣਜਾਣਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਖਾਣੀਐ ॥੩॥
अणजाणत नामु वखाणीऐ ॥३॥
Aṇjāṇaṯ nām vakẖāṇī▫ai. ||3||
Although You are unknown, still we chant Your Name. ||3||

ਨਾਨਕੁ ਵੇਚਾਰਾ ਕਿਆ ਕਹੈ ॥
नानकु वेचारा किआ कहै ॥
Nānak vecẖārā ki▫ā kahai.
What can poor Nanak say?

ਸਭੁ ਲੋਕੁ ਸਲਾਹੇ ਏਕਸੈ ॥
सभु लोकु सलाहे एकसै ॥
Sabẖ lok salāhe eksai.
All people praise the One Lord.

ਸਿਰੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਲੋਕਾ ਪਾਵ ਹੈ ॥
सिरु नानक लोका पाव है ॥
Sir Nānak lokā pāv hai.
Nanak places his head on the feet of such people.

ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਜਾਉ ਜੇਤੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਵ ਹੈ ॥੪॥੨॥
बलिहारी जाउ जेते तेरे नाव है ॥४॥२॥
Balihārī jā▫o jeṯe ṯere nāv hai. ||4||2||
I am a sacrifice to Your Names, as many as there are, O Lord. ||4||2||
Log jaanai eho geet hai, eho to brahm beechar
People thing these are songs, but these are discussions of the infinite

Lake, Mountains, Water, Reflection, Landscape, Scenic

From the following Bhagat Kabir Shabad:







Matthew 6:14-15

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
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SHIVPREET SINGH

Singing oneness!
- Shivpreet Singh

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