Category: Bani

The Mystical Process of the Divine as Described in the Mool Mantra

Guru Nanak gave the Mool Mantra as the essence of the Sikh teachings. Recently, while meditating on it, it dawned on me how inter-dependent the phrases of the Mool Mantra really are. For a long time the Mool Mantra seemed to me a group of adjectives describing the experience of Divinity. But like a seed
Mul Mantra - Entrance of Golden Temple. Courtesy of Gurumustuk Singh.

Reflections on the Salok from JapJī Sāhib by Gurū Nānak

In the first line of this Salok Guru Nānak reminds us of the trinity of our primary relationships of Father, Mother and "Guru" (our connection to the Divine). This trinity directly invokes three of the elements, or Tattvas, namely Air, Water and Earth. In other scriptures Guru Nānak describes how in the beginning of creation Air
Slok

Japji Sahib and the Shabad Guru

"Give because God gives to you.  Love because that is your purpose in life.  Shine because it is important. Share because it is demanded of you. How can you do it?  In Japji, Guru Nanak gave you guidance, telling you the way he found liberation, ‘In the ambrosial hour, meditate on the True Identity.  Your
guru-nanak-dev-ji (1)

The Golden Gift of Peaceful Sleep ~ Kirtan Sohila

I have been listening to, or reciting Kirtan Sohila (evening Sikh prayer) my whole life. My first conscious memory of this prayer was when my stepfather, Sat Santokh would read Kirtan Sohila to me every night before going to sleep. I am grateful beyond any words I can come up with that my stepfather did this. There
Kirtan Sohila-Snatam

The Power and Blessings of Siri Guru Granth Sahib – Part 2

The Guru's word (Gurbani) is what the Guru spoke. It is the imprint of the essence of God. It is the pathway to God. If the ordin­ary human being speaks it, it will always elevate him to that state of consciousness of the Guru.
Portrait of Yogi Bhajan, 1973

Journey into the Heart of Sikh Dharma – September 2018

Journey into the Heart of Sikh Dharma, a small group tele-course in its 18th year, is a unique opportunity to deepen your experience and understanding of Sikh Dharma, and to take a spiritual journey of transformation and inspiration. ​ ​ To bring your knowledge and experience to life,­­­ each session covers a different topic​,
Golden Temple-meditating

Resistance

by SS Kartar Singh Khalsa, Sterling VA Winter 2017 SDI Ministry Newsletter Let me be clear—I don’t currently read my banis every day, although I did so as a daily practice for many years. So let me speak honestly and openly about the topic of resistance. Three times the Siri Singh Sahib told me—all
sri_guru_granth_sahib-480x300

The Highest Meditation

by SS Siri Bhrosa Kaur Khalsa, Anandpur Sahib India Winter 2017 SDI Ministry Newsletter My personal approach to reading the banis has always been a very practical one. I feel that reading the banis in the vernacular (in English or whatever your native tongue) and pondering on the meaning of the words, either one line or
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Kirtan Sohila: Facing the Little Death

Kirtan Sohila speaks the Guru’s wisdom, presenting itself as both an art and a science: art, as the beautiful poetry and music that vibrates the Divine as it soothes the unsettled minds and bodies of this human life. And science as the sound current presented in the unique language of Gurmukhi (meaning from the mouth of the Guru).
Reading banis