Roundtable
The Roundtable Open Forum - Round Eight: Dec 23 - 29
EDITOR
The Rules of the forum are posted here on the right, and need to be followed strictly by all participants.
The following is this week's (Dec 23 - 29, 2009) topic for discussion, which should focus on the questions posed therein:
NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS
THE FACTS
1 The turn of the year has long been a popular juncture to stop and look back at not only the past year but also at one's life to date, and assess it according to our personal life-long aspirations, hopes and desires. Have the last few months met our expectations? Have we succeeded in our goals? Why did we falter on some of them?
2 Based on how we look at our recent past, we also take time to look ahead at the coming twelve months ... and the years to follow ... and make resolutions as to how we wish to conduct ourselves, or what we want to achieve, which challenges we think are uppermost and need to be tackled with priority.
3 These are very personal and private moments and the more honest we are with ourselves, the more useful and fruitful the whole exercise becomes.
4 As members of the worldwide Sikh sangat, we are - to borrow a phrase from an old Chinese proverb - "living in interesting times". Not that we have ever in our five centuries history NOT lived during ‘interesting times'.
5 However, the fact is that as Sikhs our work is cut out - there are no ifs and buts about it - for each one of us. We live in a world full of challenges and we need to address them, both individually and collectively, if we are to leave the world a better place for our children, than we found it.
5 This week's topic deals with what we want to do individually, at the personal level, to shoulder the collective burden, to solve the community's problems, to address the issues we face as a community which spans the globe.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
- Will you make some resolutions with respect to the needs of the community?
- What will you do, for example, when you wake up on January 1, 2010 - and for the twelve months thereafter - to do your bit to help the Sikh community?
- Will you change your personal patterns vis-à-vis community issues?
- Each one of us has opinions on what needs to be fixed, or how it can be fixed. The question then is, what as individuals are we willing to do to help?
- What will you want to change at the micro level? What are you able to change? What are you willing to change?
- Volunteer? Contribute? Support? Participate? Daswandh?
- At home? At work? At play? On the computer? At the gurdwara?
- Is there something new you can do with your children vis-à-vis Sikhi? With your friends, neighbours, colleagues ... to increase better awareness, for example? Or, by example?
Please Note: These questions are NOT about big or mega-projects. They are about little, personal things; small projects; a cottage industry of strategic, committed, focused, finely-honed, fun-filled activities ... which bring a lot of joy in the doing, and make a measurable difference in our lives. Baby steps, that is.
Conversation about this article
1: Bishen Singh (New Delhi, India), December 23, 2009, 8:12 AM.
I have already decided that I will direct half of my daswandh to two types of institutions: Sikh education and assistance for the 1984 victims. I should add that I intend to give funds for these two causes to people outside the gurdwara network, The gurdwaras will, however, continue to get the other half of my daswandh.
2: Harjit Kaur (New Jersey, U.S.A.), December 23, 2009, 8:39 AM.
I have promised myself not to get distracted anymore by any new "crises" or "issues". I need to focus on our primary needs as a community, and not let our detractors cook up distractions for us - such as the charade against Prof. Darshan Singh, the Dasam Granth issue. the Dera shenanigans, the imitation of the Darbar Sahib, the falsified conflict with the Bhagat Ravidas sangat, etc., etc. I am adamant that I will work on positive things in the community, and let the busy-bodies get mired in the chaturayiaan (clevernesses). Hope that makes it a better year. [Great topic, I must say. I reserve the right to come back with more as I give this more thought between now and the New Year.]
3: Harnam (New Delhi, India), December 23, 2009, 11:39 AM.
I have been thinking about these things a lot recently. And your topic has triggered some more thoughts. I think it is time for me to turn to basics. I'm inclined to spend an hour each week on jorriaan di seva at the gurdwara, and another couple of hours in the langar. A week more ... and I'll hopefully turn it into a resolve!
4: I.J. Singh (New York, U.S.A.), December 23, 2009, 11:41 AM.
Quite clearly, no matter how unworthy the causes, an individual can do best by focusing on the cause that one can find meaningful. And that means choosing one cause among the many that may be available, even if they all need attention. The idea remains to stick to something bigger than the self and what can command one's attention. To make a difference, one needs passion but, more than that, a steady and single minded dedication, if possible over even a lifetime. Keep in mind that passion is transitory and episodic and will ultimately abate. On the other hand, dedication becomes the purpose that defines and drives a life, and that's how societies are changed. Passion demands "now" while dedication works unceasingly, and with faith.
5: Amardeep Kaur (Seattle, U.S.A.), December 23, 2009, 12:11 PM.
I think that our gurdwaras are lacking 'volunteer matching' programs. For seva, it boils down to doing either langar or utensil seva (most of the time). There are many needy people in the sangat whose needs should be met. In each gurdwara there should be a 'help drop box'. When sangat member is in need, he/she should drop his/her request in the box. At the same time, management needs to maintain an active list of volunteers. Then there can be a matching process, like who wants to bring an elderly gentleman to the gurdwara every Sunday, or help someone's kids once a week, or take someone for a single visit to the doctor, or give warm clothes to someone in need ... the list goes on and on. We are not helping our community because of lack of management skills (I think that we have enough resources). This service is especially needed in the diaspora where people are usually isolated without much of family around. I should work to get this service started in my gurdwara.
6: Michele Gibson (Guelph, Ontario, Canada), December 23, 2009, 12:58 PM.
One of my resolutions for the New Year is to learn to read Punjabi: hopefully by the end of winter. I am, of course, competing with our two-year old niece, Rushmi - I've promised myself to outdo her Punjabi by then! It's going to be nip and tuck, though ...
7: Kamaljeet Kaur (Wisconsin, U.S.A.), December 23, 2009, 1:21 PM.
Our children have all flown from the nest. My husband and I haven't been to The Darbar Sahib for almost a decade. We miss it dearly. This year, inshallah!
8: Chintan Singh (San Jose, California, U.S.A.), December 23, 2009, 1:30 PM.
I would like to first grow in my relationship with the Guru by getting better in reading and understanding gurbani and doing simran. I truly believe if I increase my kirat of naam, my community service and involvement will go up. Furthermore, I will be less distracted by the "new crises and issues" that keep coming up in our community. I am trying to follow a statement made by an elderly Sikh to me a few years ago, when I was giving a presentation on the need for us to educate others about Sikhism - "As long as Sikhs behave and act like Sikhs, we do not need to inform the world who we are. The world will know us from our actions." I have taken this statement to heart for myself and therefore my hypothesis is that if I first start acting like a Sikh, then I can find the company of similar individuals (sangat) and we can then start working together on community issues.
9: Pardeep Singh (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), December 23, 2009, 1:39 PM.
My New Year resolution is to do the Polar Bear Dip and, along with a bunch of mighty Sardars - and Sardarnis? - the Khalsa Kanucks will share in the ringing-in of the new year with other Canadians in Toronto ... Will Keep you posted! Check us out at www.torontopolarbear.com
10: Gurmeet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), December 23, 2009, 2:05 PM.
A year ago, at the dawn of 2009, there was only one thing on my mind: the 25th anniversary of the 1984 Sikh Genocide. I resolved to do something small but meaningful to commemorate it. I traveled into the past and penned my personal story so it does not go away with me. I encouraged everyone I knew as a survivor to write his/ her own. My son and I roamed the villages and schools of Punjab to talk and learn about 1984. We talked to the youth in schools and in the streets, at the thekas and the de-addiction centers, at the farms and the gurdwaras. We learnt that there is nothing but misinformation, people are dying to know the truth but there are our own who have closed their ears and mouths to the truth. Even in Sikh schools in India, no discussions are allowed on 1984. Back here in the West, things are no different. I organized a vigil in remembrance and half the community shied away. "Move on?" is what they say, buried under the notions of shame from the lies propagated by the Indian government and media. On a positive note, when discussions took place, knowledge was disseminated, questions were answered, the youth was inspired to take on the challenge and walk the path of Sikhi ... to honor the martyrs and to be resilient. So, this year, when the 25th anniversary is still warm in the heart, my resolution with the community is to create more awareness about the facts, and inspire "Remembrance, Resilience and Revival" of Panthic pride. We will be working on pamphlets and posters, songs and stories - all to keep the memory alive. Of course, we also intend to keep continuing the project of creating awareness about diversity and Sikhi through Angad Singh's documentary "Roots and Wings" in the schools of North America.
11: Sanmeet Kaur (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), December 23, 2009, 2:59 PM.
This year I hope to read one book of Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh ji start to finish. This means I will be spending a LOT of time with the Punjabi-English Dictionary. For our daughter Jeeya, who will turn 3 in 2010, I would like her to learn some Gurmukhi.
12: Sandeep Singh Brar (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), December 23, 2009, 4:42 PM.
Interesting times indeed. As we see our Sikh institutions in disarray, factions full of hate and anger arguing about relative triviliaties, gurdwara programs and kirtan being reduced to self-hypnotic 2-word mantars while ignoring 1,430 pages of the most exquisite poetry ever written ... the list goes on and on. The patient is on serious life-support, that's for sure. One of our favourite topics as a people, whenever we get together, is to talk and complain about everything that's going wrong in the religion; it seems to bring great self-satisfaction to point out what's wrong and how it needs to change. But how will it ever change if all we can do is complain about it? I'm a firm believer that real change is never effected from the top down, we don't need any Grand Poobahs, Popes or priests to tell us what to believe or how to believe. It's about a personal and intimate relationship with the Guru and respecting that your fellow Sikh may see things differently from you, yet still love the Guru as much as you do. The strength and future of Sikhi will rest on the solid foundations of the grass roots. Forget about whining about this or that. Real change and making the Panth better and stronger will only come about by changing ourselves and our immediate families for the better. If I dwelt at all on the toxic negativity and fruitless debates, I would drive myself crazy. Sikhi for me is a path of discovery. Most of my free time is spent in researching our history for future SikhMuseum.com exhibits. I get a tremendous amount of joy when I can show my daughter, 8-year old Anoop Kaur a century-old picture of the Guru Granth Sahib being led in a procession atop an elephant that I've discovered (she loves animals) and explain to her what's going on in the picture, and see the amazed look in her face. The other day I showed my 14 year-old son Arjan Singh a 230-year old French map of Punjab and pointed out the reference to Sikhs on the map as well as one of the first mentions of Amritsar on a printed map, he was as excited as me and was explaining to me other parts of the map as he's studying French at school and can now read it as well. Hopefully, my work on SikhMuseum.com in making these kinds of items readily accessible can enable other parents and their kids to have similar conversations. In the New Year we, as a family, are going to start our next great project of reading and understanding each word and sentence of the Guru Granth Sahib, starting with Page One, in both Gurmukhi and English. It should be a good project to keep our little family busy for many years to come. That's where my focus lies, and it's the best use of our family time to honour the gift that Guru Nanak has given us. I always tell the kids that they are the Guru's Nishaan Sahibs, the tall and proud banner that we find at each gurdwara proclaiming that this is a Sikh place of worship. Each one of us that cares about Sikhi is the Guru's Nishaan Sahib, so in the coming years, let's be positive, be proud, be humble and keep on learning. I'm confident everything will eventually fall into place and the House of Nanak will continue to shine brightly for all time to come ... that's my New Year's hope.
13: Parveen Kaur Dhatt (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), December 23, 2009, 7:36 PM.
I literally grew up at the Dixie Road Gurughar in Mississauga (Toronto), Canada, from the time it used to be a 3 bedroom home. By Guru's grace, there is no lack of funds and seva there. Lately, I have found the urge and the itch to extend seva to the community outside. It seems our energy is so focused on the gurdwaras that we forget that our volunteerism can be used in soup kitchens, shelters and the homeless on the streets as well. I think we all have a responsibility to showcase our religion rather than allowing others to merely fill the gaps. Volunteering is a great way to integrate and perhaps a busload of sangat can make langar at one of the shelters. I hope to organize this type of seva in the coming year.
14: Jasjit Singh (Leeds, U.K.), December 23, 2009, 7:41 PM.
GurFateh, all - I am hoping to continue with my Ph.D., looking at how and why young British Sikhs learn about Sikhism. I currently have an online survey running on this topic: http://www.survey.leeds.ac.uk/sikhs Further details about my project can be found here: http://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~trs5j2s/ Please pass these on to any 18-30 year old British Sikhs that you know.
15: Ravinder Singh Taneja (Westerville, Ohio, U.S.A.), December 24, 2009, 10:51 AM.
Like past years, I will make the customary personal resolve to loose weight, manage my time better, organize the clutter on my desk, call up friends I have not spoken to in years - and then proceed to lapse into my old habits. There is much that needs fixing - individually, socially and institutionally. Our contribution should be (I think) to try and be the best we can be and that requires a good deal of dedicated and sustained hard work. Follow your bliss. For me - personal failings apart - that means a deeper immersion in gurbani - through reading, listening, reflecting and writing.
16: Gehna Singh (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), December 24, 2009, 12:11 PM.
I'd like to start an 'Opportunity Fund' this year on behalf of our community that takes a disadvantaged child from ANY community and sees him/her through university education.
17: Harbans Lal (Arlington, Texas, U.S.A.), December 26, 2009, 12:22 AM.
From postings on your forum, it is obvious that many are thinking seriously to solidify their goals for the future years, and your initiative permitted them opportunity to outline them on paper. It may be an effective way to focus and be creative. To begin with, I wish to follow Harjit Kaur's "not to get distracted anymore by the distractors, who mostly blow out of proportion non-issues which are effectively cooked up not to let us dedicate our resources on our real needs of the hour." Our populations are not expanding to accept our tenets. They are being distracted by the look-alike and the imitation. The keepers of the Light of the Guru are excelling in wrapping their possessions in ceremonial splendour, and show the Light to those whom they deem fit; they recite for those who can pay to hear, and make it available to comprehend by a few select that are willing to learn a language foreign to their ear. These ploys seemed to insure ownership of the Light within the narrowly defined 'clergy' and 'saint' class, and their family members or clans. They succeeded in driving away over a quarter of billion friends of the Panth in the past centuries. The need of the hour is to go back to basics. What I mean is to recognize exclusively the religion of Guru Granth Sahib to guide our personal life and our life goals; to convert its teachings in the idiom that may impact the world. What impacts us may be shared with others freely and without any pre-condition so that the asserts of Sikhi to be a world religion, and that it will impact people as well as world affairs all around in the world may be made realistic. In my personal effort, I wish to accelerate the gurbani study, and then communicate my understanding to others by increasing participation in the cyber sangats on one side as well as expanding communications with people outside the Sikh world. By promoting interfaith dialogue, at local, national and international level, I may reach those who are being kept out of our circles and those being marginalized by our 'clergy' and their political masters.
18: Sanmeet Kaur (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), December 29, 2009, 12:13 PM.
New beginnings and clean slates, like fresh snow on the ground, are wonderful things - unmarked and pure. They just reek of optimism. Invariably, the enthusiasm of New Year resolutions wear off as the days pass. Resolutions are made in personal and private moments. However, we have ventured two steps further. By penning them down we have converted them into commitments. We own these commitments, with our names we have presented them to the sangat. In this sense we are all responsible for each other now. There is strength to be found here. And if ever I shall find myself slacking, I will be revisiting this page. I salute every single resolve on this page. Amardeep, words fail me. I wish you all the success in my every prayer in setting up the "Volunteer Matching Programme" in your gurdwara. I hope you will put up the prototype online so we can implicate in as many gurdwaras as possible. I believe strongly that charity begins at home, which does not mean that we should shy away from proffering any kind of help and limit ourselves in seva. Gehna, I hope you will post the details of your Opportunity Fund. A Sikh has his work cut out for him - as Sandeep says, "real change will come (in the panth) by changing ourselves and our immediate families." Studying and understanding the Guru Granth is the ultimate resolve - the goal we all are walking towards at our own pace. It is inspiring that we have chosen to delve deeper and return to basics, walking away from the various crises generated by communal power plays and its players, and following our inner bliss. Michele, I am looking forward to reading your poetry in Punjabi. You will find it a language so sweet, at times the lines between prose and poetry are blurred. As for me, I've found a friend to read my book with - we will be attempting Sant Bimla Singh - Part 1, by Bhai Vir Singh. Anyone else is welcome to join in. I maintain I am a work-in-progress. There is but a split second that will separate the end of 2009 from the beginning of 2010 and I hope to make the most of it. Wish you all a Happy New Year. May we all receive His grace in moving forward through our resolutions.