I just came back after attending a talk by Professor Cynthia Mahmood on Sikhs, and she raised this question in the beginning of her chat: Who is a sikh?  And then attempted to answer in many different ways what a Sikh was.  She was talking about her interviews with extremists.

The most traditional definition is a Sikh is a disciple of Guru Nanak and the 9 Gurus following him, and the Guru Granth Sahib.  But, because the rest is really an essense of Guru Nanak's teaching, it is apt to say that a Sikh is a disciple of Guru Nanak.

Then the question arises, who is Guru Nanak?  Is it that person that was born in the 15th century that apparently started "Sikhism"? I hardly know that Guru Nanak.  The Guru Nanak I know sings poems now. Guru Nanak is not born and cannot die.  Guru Nanak lives as long as there is the singing of the creator.  So Guru Nanak is the singer among us.  All of us.  Me and you, and every thing surrounding us and inside us. 

Kabir sings, "Saying 'You! You!' I have become You; Now wherever I see, I see You."  There is nothing that does not sing.  So, there is nothing that is not Guru Nanak.  The disciple of Guru Nanak is one who realizes that the singer within him, and around him is Guru Nanak. 

Translation of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Song:

You left me in deep thoughts
You left me sick in separation




Punjabi Version:

Sochaan doongiyaan de vas mahi paageyaa
key das ke kasoor na geyaa
rog jind nu judaiyaan vaale laageyaa
key das ke kasoor na geyaa
Kedi gallon mainu raavan vichon roleyaa
haasa mainu saare jag da banageyaa
key das ke kasoor na geyaa

laare la ke sanu door jaan waleyaa
changa ghar muhabbatan daa paleyaa
vaade keete saare sajjan bhulaageyaa
key das ke kasoor na geyaa

September 30, 2011. Archived on Jan 5, 2023

Alice Leonz recently sang with me for the first time in "Prem - Amore" - a new arrangement of an earlier composition.


She is quite an amazing singer. Within a very short time of hearing the song she came up with a harmony for it, recorded it and sent it. And she sang quite well. Apart from that Alice is very friendly and helpful. She was one of the first people I met on Kompoz and she helped me a lot getting around the website and introducing me to musicians. She really went out of her way. She is a genuinely good human being. Every time I interact with her, she brings a smile to my face. Such talent without an ego is born of pure love.

Therefore, today, I am pleased to say that she is an angel who teaches me how to sing. The song of life is to be sung with enthusiasm and love. And Alice can help anyone sing that song. And that she literally sings so sweetly is bonus! Get to know her better and you will then know what I mean.

To support her:
(1) listen to her beautiful music on reverbnation
http://www.reverbnation.com/aliceleonz

(2) hit "like" on her facebook artist page.
http://www.facebook.com/aliceleonzmusic

(3) send her a message to thank her. 

Listening to Shania Twain this morning ... My favorite song of hers about a Love that wins against all odds:



Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday

They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong

(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

Ain't nothin' better
We beat the odds together
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missin'

They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong

(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

I'm so glad we made it
Look how far we've come my baby