I Love Mantras

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh A common question I get is “How did you find Sikhi?” Actually, Sikhi found me... by way of a Shaman.  During a 9-month course I was taking in Austin, a Shaman introduced me to a mantra. Aad Guray Nameh. I didn’t know where the mantra originated or what it meant, other than it was “protective”. I was resistant at first, but followed the Shaman’s instructions to sing the mantra daily. I found this practice oddly soothing and comforting. When I returned two weeks later for our next class, the Shaman assigned another mantra and revealed their origins: Sikhi. I learned a few more mantras over the next month and began listening to kirtan. My curiosity about Sikhi grew. I studied Sikh beliefs for several months before I was ready to visit a Gurdwara. Gurdwara Nishkam Seva - Irving (where I now serve) is just 2 miles from my home. I’ve been a long-time resident of Irving since 1978, yet never knew we had a Gurdwara in our city. Since my “dance wi...

A central hallmark of the Sikh Gurdwara is its hospitality to all visitors. Race, gender, religion, social status georgaphical origins - none of these things matter at the Gurdwara - all are welcome.  Gurdwaras provide a place for visitors to escape the elements, pray, grab a bite to eat, and bed down for the night. Many visitors even plan their travel around Gurdwara locations.  The demographics of these visitors and the reasons they appear at the Guru’s feet vary. At my Gurdwara I’ve seen the homeless - simply needing a meal, families on the move from one home to another - needing a place to pray and rest from the road, and truckers needing a place to bed down before they head to their next stop.  If you find yourself in need of a place to stay for the night and you’ve decided to stay at a Gurdwara, seek out the Granthi or Bhai Sahab of the Gurdwara. There are several things you should discuss before you settle in for the night: Length of Stay: Many Gurdwaras have a lim...

ਆਦਿ ਪੂਰਨ ਮਧਿ ਪੂਰਨ ਅੰਤਿ ਪੂਰਨ ਪਰਮੇਸੁਰਹ ॥ Language:  Gurmukhi Source:  Siri Guru Granth Sahib (Page 705, Line 19) Communities:  Sikh, Sikh Dharma, Kundalini Yoga Author:  Guru Arjun Dev ji Transliteration: Aad Pooran Madh Pooran Ant Pooran Paramaysureh Paramaysareh, Paramaysareh Aad Pooran Madh Pooran Ant Pooran Paramaysureh Paramaysareh, Paramaysareh Paramaysareh ditaa bannaa Dukh rog kaa dayraa bannaa Anad karahi nar naaree Har har prabh kirpaa Dharee Translation: "From the beginning, He was pervading; in the middle, He is pervading; in the end, He will be pervading. He is the Transcendent Lord." More Information: Aad means "the beginning", but its definition is actually closer to "the primal", something that existed before the beginning, beyond and predating anything we consider to be in existence. Pooran means "complete" as it is - it needs nothing more to complete it. In the beginning, God was complete truth. Madh Poora...

Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ke Fateh In modern times we seem to be in a rush. Sometimes so much so, that we don’t stop to think about what we’re doing, much less take a breath. It’s easier for us to do things automatically, without thinking - simply for the sake of getting them done. We hurry to complete things and pride ourselves on being the fastest - like that makes something better than its slower version. We do things by rote - it’s the way we were taught or it’s traditional. I believe all these things are true. I also believe we are just plain lazy. I see the word rahaao  when reading/reciting Shabads. During Kirtan, I see it on the display. I sometimes hear it when a Hukam is read. Sikhs aren’t the only ones who are given some kind of instruction to pause and reflect. Another thing we have in common is that once we get to that point we quickly move on. We say or read rahaao  and then utter the next word - all without taking a breath. We don’t all do it,...

Language: Gurmukhi Source: Unknown Communities: Sikh, Sikh Dharma, Kundalini Yoga Author: Unknown Transliteration: Ardas Bhaee, Amar Das Guru Amar Das Guru, Ardas Bhaee Ram Das Guru, Ram Das Guru Ram Das Guru, Sachee Sahee Translation: The prayer has been given to Guru Amar Das. The prayer is manifested by Guru Ram Das. The miracle is complete. More Information: "Normally there is no power in the human, but the power of prayer. And to do prayer, you have to put your mind and body together and then pray from the soul. Ardas Bhaee is a mantra prayer. If you sing it, your mind, body, and soul automatically combine and, without saying what you want, the need of the life is adjusted. That is the beauty of this prayer." - Yogi Bhajan Ardas Bhaee is a prayer for miracles, said to grant the heart's purest desire, even prayers unknown to you. Guru Amas Das is the energy of grace and hope (of the hopeless), when there is no hope. Guru Ram Das is the ene...

I sit on the floor of the Gurdwara and take it all in. Watching the screen above the kirtan players, I carefully sing the words displayed on the screen. I’m thankful for the transliteration and the translation. Everything here is foreign to me. I’m one of three Westerners present today, and the only Western woman. As I re-adjust my legs, I see the word remember on the screen. For some unknown reason it jumps out at me as I continue to sing. I feel good when I’m here. It’s the kind of feeling you get when you’ve returned home after a long trip. My eyes remain focused on the screen above, but my mind begins to move inward. I think it’s strange that I feel so at home here. I shouldn’t, right? I’m not India-born. I don’t speak Punjabi or Hindi. I wasn’t born a Sikh. I didn’t even know a single Sikh a year ago. I admit that I feel a little conspicuous, but what I don't feel is uncomfortable. I hear "Remembering" whispered in my left ear. I turn, delighted to identify ano...

ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Also Known As: Mul Mantra; Mool Mantra Language: Gurmukhi Source: Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) Communities: Sikh, Sikh Dharma, Kundalini Yoga Author: Guru Nanak Dev Transliteration: Ek ong kaar, sat naam, karataa purakh, nirbho, nirvair Akaal moorat, ajoonee, saibhang, gur prasaad. Jap! Aad such, jugaad such, Hai bhee such, Naanak hosee bhee such. Translation: One Creator. Truth is His name. Doer of everything. Fearless, Revengeless, Undying, Unborn, Self illumined, The Guru's gift, Meditate! True in the beginning. True through all the ages. True even now. Oh Nanak it is forever true. More Information:  The Mool Mantra is the most important (and first) composition contained within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS), the holy scripture of the Sikhs. The Guru Granth Sahib, totalling 1430 pages, is said to be a detailed amplification of the Mool Mantra. The Mool Mantra encompasses the entire un...

Sat Sri Akal! I recently came upon a recording of Tina Turner singing Om Sarvesham Svastir Bhavatu. Here's the link to the video . It's a short mantra of only twelve (12) words, sung in Sanskrit. When I chant this mantra, what language will I use - English? Sanskrit? सर्वेषां स्वस्तिर्भवतु । सर्वेषां शान्तिर्भवतु । सर्वेषां पूर्नं भवतु । सर्वेषां मड्गलं भवतु ॥ Sarveśām Svastir Bhavatu Sarveśām Shāntir Bhavatu Sarveśām Pūrnam Bhavatu Sarveśām Maṇgalam Bhavatu May there be happiness in all May there be peace in all May there be completeness in all May there be success in all   There are five factors I consider when choosing what language to use for mantra recitation: Origin, History, and Purpose of the Mantra - The very first thing I do with all mantras is research its origin, history, and purpose. Om Sarvesham Svastir Bhavatu is a universal prayer of peace from the Brhadaranyaka Upanisads. This is a prayer for universal peace. I believe in two-sourc...

When I was a child, maybe 5 or so, my mother used to drive us around town in a T-bird. With the top down, the wind in our hair, and the radio blaring. To everyone around us my mother was unseemly as she flaunted herself (and me) in this huge boat of a car, down packed downtown residential streets. To my mother, we were free spirits, cruising the streets of Memphis in search of adventure. My time with my mother and the T-bird are the happiest memories from my entire childhood. Not because of the time that she and I spent together. But because of the music. That car was my mobile sound booth. As each song came on the radio, I'd quickly began to sing every word and note. If the song was a new release, I'd learn it as quickly as possible so I'd be ready the next time it played. This whole process quickly became a game with us. A game to see if I could name the song before my mother, and then sing it (as perfectly as 5-year old me could). My mother couldn't sing a note to ...

Three years ago, after a stroke nearly ended my life, I needed advice about a lot of things, but mostly about my life’s path. Only there wasn’t anyone around to lend it. I fell in a lot of potholes along the way, took a wrong turn or two, and ended up in places I never  in a million years  thought I’d be.  Much in my life has changed: my health, my body, my life’s purpose, my interests, my spirituality, my values, what I hold most dear, what I’m willing to part with, and much more.  I’m still alive – that’s always a good thing! I can’t help but wish the road had been smoother and that the directions had been less cryptic. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. True. Only I’m impatient and keep asking “Am I there yet?” I read books, blogs, and articles written by others who walked a similar path, and I come away feeling even more confused.  Because of space constraints, these writers often don’t get into as much detail as I would like, leavi...