The Sikh Cast
A podcast hosted by the Sikh Research Institute that will feature members of Sikh community to talk about issues relevant to Sikhs around the world
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Episodes
Monday Sep 02, 2019
Monday Sep 02, 2019
I have been yearning to experience a silent retreat. Not a structured one but a personal one. Being somewhat of a recluse, I just cannot see myself in a structured environment. It goes against my very core.
However, it has been challenging to convince the family that I need to go into silence. “You are already so quiet,” they would say, and I have been bowing to their wishes for the past fifteen years or so.
But this summer, the urge to go into silence was so strong that I found a place, registered and then told the family. I was pleasantly surprised to hear them say, “You need it. Go and enjoy your silence.”
So, off I went.
Tuesday Aug 20, 2019
Tuesday Aug 20, 2019
Chapter 5 - Being True, Inside & Out | The SikhCast by SikhRI
English – Inni Kaur
Panjabi – Arpinder Kaur
~~
2019 would mark the 550th Prakash Purab (Illumination Day) of Guru Nanak Sahib. To commemorate this monumental event SikhRI is launching a children’s audio story series in English and Panjabi based on the life and travels of Guru Nanak Sahib. These well-loved stories will help to initiate Sikh children into the Guru’s life and his teachings in a non-judgmental way.
Friday Jun 21, 2019
Friday Jun 21, 2019
Chapter 4 - Importance of Honest Living | The SikhCast by SikhRI
English – Inni Kaur
Panjabi – Arpinder Kaur
~~
2019 would mark the 550th Prakash Purab (Illumination Day) of Guru Nanak Sahib. To commemorate this monumental event SikhRI is launching a children’s audio story series in English and Panjabi based on the life and travels of Guru Nanak Sahib. These well-loved stories will help to initiate Sikh children into the Guru’s life and his teachings in a non-judgmental way.
Tuesday May 07, 2019
Tuesday May 07, 2019
Chapter 3- Lasting Friendship | Children Audio Stories
English – Inni Kaur
Panjabi – Arpinder Kaur
~~
2019 would mark the 550th Prakash Purab (Illumination Day) of Guru Nanak Sahib. To commemorate this monumental event SikhRI is launching a children’s audio story series in English and Panjabi based on the life and travels of Guru Nanak Sahib. These well-loved stories will help to initiate Sikh children into the Guru’s life and his teachings in a non-judgmental way.
Thursday Apr 11, 2019
Thursday Apr 11, 2019
The Graceful Bride
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
When You are with me,
I have all wealth.
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
When You are within me,
comfort, grandeur exists within me.
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
In Your Will, I sit on a majestic throne.
In Your Will, I wander begging.
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
In Your Will, water flows in drylands.
In Your Will, lotus blooms in the sky.
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
In Your Will, I cross the world-ocean.
In Your Will, I drown.
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
In Your Will, I get colored by Husband.
I am absorbed in the treasure-house of virtues.
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
In Your Will, Husband seems fearful, hence -
I go through birth-death-cycles.
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
In Your Will, Husband is unweighable, unreachable.
I fall down acknowledging.
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
What to ask, what to say, what to listen?
I hunger and thirst for Your vision.
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
In Gur Sabad1 I met Husband.
This is Nanak’s true prayer. 2.
1. The wisdom learnt from the Guru. Popularly refers to the hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib.
Guru Nanak Sahib in Rag Suhi | Guru Granth Sahib 762
ਸੂਹੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ਸੁਚਜੀ ॥
ਜਾ ਤੂ ਤਾ ਮੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਤੂ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਮੇਰੀ ਰਾਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਤੁਧੁ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਉ ਸੁਖਿ ਵਸਾ ਤੂੰ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਾਬਾਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਭਾਣੈ ਤਖਤਿ ਵਡਾਈਆ ਭਾਣੈ ਭੀਖ ਉਦਾਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਭਾਣੈ ਥਲ ਸਿਰਿ ਸਰੁ ਵਹੈ ਕਮਲੁ ਫੁਲੈ ਆਕਾਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਭਾਣੈ ਭਵਜਲੁ ਲੰਘੀਐ ਭਾਣੈ ਮੰਝਿ ਭਰੀਆਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਭਾਣੈ ਸੋ ਸਹੁ ਰੰਗੁਲਾ ਸਿਫਤਿ ਰਤਾ ਗੁਣਤਾਸਿ ਜੀਉ
ਭਾਣੈ ਸਹੁ ਭੀਹਾਵਲਾ ਹਉ ਆਵਣਿ ਜਾਣਿ ਮੁਈਆਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਤੂ ਸਹੁ ਅਗਮੁ ਅਤੋਲਵਾ ਹਉ ਕਹਿ ਕਹਿ ਢਹਿ ਪਈਆਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਕਿਆ ਮਾਗਉ ਕਿਆ ਕਹਿ ਸੁਣੀ ਮੈ ਦਰਸਨ ਭੂਖ ਪਿਆਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਸਹੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੀ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥੨॥
Sabad is Infinite; we are very finite. This is our understanding at the moment, which was different yesterday and may evolve tomorrow, as we deepen our relationship with the Sabad. In this trans-creation, we have chosen to keep the repeating words in the Sabad same. We aspire to learn and retain the Divine attribute as used in the original Sabad and avoid terms like God or Lord.
Guest: Inni Kaur (@innikaur)
Host: Manpreet Singh (@mjassal)
Wednesday Mar 27, 2019
Wednesday Mar 27, 2019
Chapter 2- Lessons in Equality | Children Audio Stories
English – Inni Kaur
Panjabi – Arpinder Kaur
2019 would mark the 550th Prakash Purab (Illumination Day) of Guru Nanak Sahib. To commemorate this monumental event SikhRI is launching a children’s audio story series in English and Panjabi based on the life and travels of Guru Nanak Sahib. These well-loved stories will help to initiate Sikh children into the Guru’s life and his teachings in a non-judgmental way.
Friday Feb 15, 2019
Friday Feb 15, 2019
The Ungraceful Bride
1 Reality realized by Eternal Perfection’s Grace!
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
I am an unvirtuous-bride, and have a myriad of flaws.
How can I expect a pleasure-union from Husband1?
I did not sit alongside my Husband.
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
Dark cranes have flown away.
White herons are in the sky.
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
The bride is leaving for her in-laws3.
What face will she reveal upon reaching there?
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
I slept and slept, it turned into late morning,
I forgot The Path.
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
Then I was separated from You, my Husband.
I put myself in grief.
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
You have all virtues; I all faults.
Nanak’s one prayer:
O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath!
Virtuous bride-lovers enjoy all nights.
Spare a night, for this unvirtuous one.
Guru Nanak Sahib in Rag Suhi | Guru Granth Sahib 762
Divine
Fellow-travelers. Beings that set an example.
The life that we are living in this world is considered as temporary (peka - parental home). Eternal (sauhra –husband’s home) is merging with Divine existence, which is often used as an analogy for after death
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੂਹੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ਕੁਚਜੀ
ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
ਮੰਞੁ ਕੁਚਜੀ ਅੰਮਾਵਣਿ ਡੋਸੜੇ ਹਉ ਕਿਉ ਸਹੁ ਰਾਵਣਿ ਜਾਉ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਇਕ ਦੂ ਇਕਿ ਚੜੰਦੀਆ ਕਉਣੁ ਜਾਣੈ ਮੇਰਾ ਨਾਉ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਸਖੀ ਸਹੁ ਰਾਵਿਆ ਸੇ ਅੰਬੀ ਛਾਵੜੀਏਹਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਸੇ ਗੁਣ ਮੰਞੁ ਨ ਆਵਨੀ ਹਉ ਕੈ ਜੀ ਦੋਸ ਧਰੇਉ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਕਿਆ ਗੁਣ ਤੇਰੇ ਵਿਥਰਾ ਹਉ ਕਿਆ ਕਿਆ ਘਿਨਾ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਉ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਇਕਤੁ ਟੋਲਿ ਨ ਅੰਬੜਾ ਹਉ ਸਦ ਕੁਰਬਾਣੈ ਤੇਰੈ ਜਾਉ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਸੁਇਨਾ ਰੁਪਾ ਰੰਗੁਲਾ ਮੋਤੀ ਤੈ ਮਾਣਿਕੁ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਸੇ ਵਸਤੂ ਸਹਿ ਦਿਤੀਆ ਮੈ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਸਿਉ ਲਾਇਆ ਚਿਤੁ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਮੰਦਰ ਮਿਟੀ ਸੰਦੜੇ ਪਥਰ ਕੀਤੇ ਰਾਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਹਉ ਏਨੀ ਟੋਲੀ ਭੁਲੀਅਸੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਕੰਤ ਨ ਬੈਠੀ ਪਾਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਅੰਬਰਿ ਕੂੰਜਾ ਕੁਰਲੀਆ ਬਗ ਬਹਿਠੇ ਆਇ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਸਾ ਧਨ ਚਲੀ ਸਾਹੁਰੈ ਕਿਆ ਮੁਹੁ ਦੇਸੀ ਅਗੈ ਜਾਇ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਸੁਤੀ ਸੁਤੀ ਝਾਲੁ ਥੀਆ ਭੁਲੀ ਵਾਟੜੀਆਸੁ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਤੈ ਸਹ ਨਾਲਹੁ ਮੁਤੀਅਸੁ ਦੁਖਾ ਕੂੰ ਧਰੀਆਸੁ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਤੁਧੁ ਗੁਣ ਮੈ ਸਭਿ ਅਵਗਣਾ ਇਕ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੀ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਸਭਿ ਰਾਤੀ ਸੋਹਾਗਣੀ ਮੈ ਡੋਹਾਗਣਿ ਕਾਈ ਰਾਤਿ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥
Sabad is Infinite; we are very finite. This is our understanding at the moment, which was different yesterday and may evolve tomorrow, as we deepen our relationship with the Sabad. In this trans-creation, we have chosen to keep the repeating words in the Sabad same. We aspire to learn and retain the Divine attribute as used in the original Sabad and avoid terms like God or Lord.
Guest: Inni Kaur (@innikaur)
Host: Manpreet Singh (@mjassal)
Thursday Feb 14, 2019
Thursday Feb 14, 2019
Valentine’s Day Special:
Love is not a transaction.
Love does not measure, it just flows.
Love does not compare, love just loves.
Love is…
In this special Valentine’s Day podcast, Inni Kaur explores the epic Panjabi love stories mentioned in the Varan of Bhai Gurdas. These epic romances give us a glimpse into a transcendent love that Bhai Gurdas points to as an example of the relationship between the Sikh and the Guru -- a relationship between the lover and the Beloved that exists without transactions, that teaches us about surrender and devotion and shows us how to rise in love.
Wednesday Feb 06, 2019
Wednesday Feb 06, 2019
Chapter 1- When Guru Nanak was Little | Children Audio Stories
English – Inni Kaur
Panjabi – Arpinder Kaur
Friday Jan 25, 2019
Friday Jan 25, 2019
Immortal Companionship
It is Nanakshahi 550.
And I ask myself a question:
“What are you doing
to honor the Guru
who transformed you
from a dry twig into a blossoming tree?”
There is silence.
There is an emptiness.
So, I ask myself another question:
“If you could ask Guru Nanak Sahib
for anything, what would it be?”
Instantly words roll out: “May I walk with you?”
And there is my answer.
So, I pick up the book titled
“Bhai Mardana” penned by Bhai Vir Singh.
Chapter one, paragraph one captivates me.
“O’ Mind! Where does the water in the well come from?”
“O’ Mind! This is not the water that falls like rain from the sky,
that walks on the earth without caring and fills the well.”
Nay, this is not that water.
This well-water lies deep within the ground,
visible only when dug with a shovel
or when there is an upheaval in the earth.
This water flows silently.
Silent like the love-water that flows
deep within the human heart.
One does not even realize that this love-water exists,
penetrating deeper and deeper within.
It is only when the separation hits the heart
when this love-water rises.
I sat with him.
I sang with him.
I laughed with him.
It felt good to be with him.
I met him every day and suffered the days
I did not meet him. But it never occurred to me
that I had developed such a deep love for him.
But now, that this separation has occurred,
it has revealed the depth of my love.
This is that type of love that Rai has for him.
“O’ Mind! Let’s go! Let’s go to him!”
“O’ Mind! I can no longer bear to be away from him.”
“O’ Mind! Will he happy to see me?”
“O’ Mind! Does it even matter? I am going for my happiness.”
“O’ Mind! Can it be that I am burning for him
yet he has forgotten me?
No, that cannot be. He loves me.”
For days, Bhai Mardana debates the pros
and cons of leaving Talwandi.
But wait!
When does love weigh pros and cons?
If it does, it is not love, it is a transaction.
So, is my love a transaction?
I pause.
I cannot read anymore.
Tears are flowing.
The heart is breaking.
Yet, I am compelled to pick up my pen
to write what I am hearing:
Sleepless nights, sunken eyes,
And unspoken grief are now my companions.
I had a companion once.
But then he left.
I wonder why I did not go with him.
We would laugh, talk and sing for hours.
My rabab strummed his Song,
while he strummed the love-strings of my heart.
His love silently entering the deep recesses of my heart,
permeating me unbeknownst to me.
What did I know of love?
Nothing.
For I was dead.
His love revived me, and is now flowing from my eyes.
This separation is agony.
My being is on fire.
I am plummeting into the black hole.
I need to see him.
I need to be with him.
But wait! Will he remember me?
I hear he is singing in Sultanpur.
I wonder, who is strumming with him?
Has he found someone else?
Does it even matter?
I long for him.
I need him.
I need to go to him.
I need to be with him.
Exhausted and emotionally drained, I continue to read...
“O’ Mind! Now that you have discovered this love in you,
know that it is because of him. It was his rain of love
that kept dripping and permeating through you without your knowledge.
You had no love within you. This love that you are now able to feel,
to see, is because of this separation.”
“O’ Mind! Don’t get confused
and think that this love
that has arisen within you is
because you had something to do with it.
This is his Grace.”
With a heart immersed in love
and a Song on his lips
Bhai Mardana leaves for Sultanpur.
He walks the land.
He crosses the rivers.
His love has become his pilgrimage.
He reaches Sultanpur.
Waiting for him is his Love.
Embraced, his longing is fulfilled.
The fire within him dissipates.
He is home.
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