Dya Singh has just instigated the opening of Australia's fist Simran House. Also refered to as Universal House of Meditation, it promotes self respect, empowerment and mental stability using Simran Meditation techniques.

Nanak naam Nanak's name. Recite the name of Nanak (God) Chardi kalaah Live in Eternal Optimism. Everlasting Happiness. Positive. Content. Grateful Tere bhaneh Your will. The wish of God. It is part of God's plan. Just accept it. Sarbat da bhalaSeva. Live in the service of others. Do good Get good. Naam tera Japiyeh Sadah, Keerth Karah, Thay Wand ShakahMay I always recite and remember Your Name, May I always earn an honest livingAnd, may I always be giving, and share with others.

Lesson 5

Manjeeteh Conquer your mind (When the Mind wills it)

Jagjeet Conquer the world - (the rest of the world will follow) Visualisation

The power of the mind

Manjeeteh When your mind wills / creates it Jagjeet Ultimately the world/universe will also will / create it Visualise a basket ball, a basket ball ring, the court and them being on a basket ball team. Close your eyes and see yourself making the basket. Relax and do it again - See the ball going in through the basket and than landing on the court and everyone cheering for you. Submerse yourself in that feeling. Now - put your hands in the air. Hold the basket ball the way they would hold it. See the basket, bend your arms and than execute a perfect shot. Do this a few times.NOW – You can see the perfect shot. When you Make the shot – what is the world around you doing? They are all cheering for joy, the ball has gone through the ring. You DID it. The world around has HAD to follow suit. You CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.Never say - Can’t, too hard, quit, I’m too small, I’m too short, I’m not strong enough. If you can dispel these words from your vocabulary now, you will never have them in your vocabulary. Another word to get rid of is the word “Board” If you are board, maybe you should think about doing some seva. There is always something to do. Even grab a shovel and go find a patch in the garden that needs some TLC.

YOU CAN CONQUER THE WORLD

YOU ARE GOOD AT EVERYTHING YOU DO

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO DO.

YOU ARE STRONG - YOU ARE BRAVE - YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE - YOU ARE THE BEST YOU CAN BE

Now - WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

LESSON 4

Nanak Naam - Recipt Gods Name

What are the different ways we can Receipt God’s name?

Meditation
Prayer
Bani
Ardaas
Tai Chi
Yoga
Kirtan
A walk on the Beach
Being contempt with silence and greatful for what we have

Tere Baneh

Ultimately it is God’s will

When should we just except that something is gods will?

· Always

We go through life wondering “WHY” – “Why me” – “Why now” – “Why him/her” The list goes on. Just find faith and say “Babaji Tuhi Tu Tuhi Tu” – just you just you just you.There is a bigger picture. We may not see it now, we may see it in a month, year, decade, maybe never at all, but there is always a reason.Just accept that it is his will and these are the lessons in life we must endure. What ever it is – it couldn’t be as bad as it seems. And if it is, it couldn’t be as bad as what Guru Gobind Singh Ji faced when he sang the Shabad, Mitre Pyare Nuu.

LESSON 3

Who do we learn things from:

Parents, Siblings, Family, Friends
Teachers
Me (hot chai/practise/repetition)
The World around me (5 senses and copying)
Media
Babaji (Unconditional love, trust, faith) – The GURU

People/things we learn from, may not always be correct. IE Media may be bought, people may be biased for some reason. Friends may not be thinking in their right mind – ie under the influence. Make your own judgement call. Be your own person, Don’t fall under PEER PRESSURE.

Don’t try and be different like everyone else.

When I am not in Chardi Kala, I feel…

Sad
Angry
Sleepy
Un-motivated
Un-enthusiastic
Drained of energy
NEGATIVE

What makes me feel negative?

Being told off
Teased
Shouted at
Picked on
Death
Terrible weather
Inability to do things

When I feel these things, what happens?

Not living in Chardi Kala
Can’t concentrate
Fight with those around me
Don’t feel like doing anything
Can’t get out of bed – tired and lethargic

When others feel negative, how does that make me feel?

Negative
Sad/Angry etc
I get dragged down
Depressed
Fearful

What can I do to make myself always feel Chardi Kala?

Think good things
Prayers
Kirtan
Do something nice for someone
Close my eyes and think of being in a very happy/fun place
Shout “YES”
Make a fist and think “YES”

Attitude can change in a HEARTBEAT. Click your finger and say HEARTBEAT.

- YES – is a positive/strong/assertive/control word.

- WOW – Wonder of Waheguru - is also a very powerful word.

Use them to bring the attention of the children to a valid point or to bring them back when getting out of Chardi Kala – the louder and stronger – the better the result. The click of the fingers can also be made into a trigger point. Drill into them "Attitude can be changed in a HEARTBEAT" On the word -Heartbeat- click your fingers and than ask - "How quickly can you change your attitude?" They should all respond by saying Heartbeat - "Click your fingers when you say it - How quickly can you change your attitude?" Say it a few more times - getting louder and with more enthusiasm and commitment. With more determination and strength.

This can be used than at any time to get them back into a positive "Chardi Kala" frame of mind.

Best way to learn - is to teach - Happy teaching.

LESSON 2

SEVA

Service – to do service for all around me and for me. Seva - in our humble opinion is not confined to the compounds of teh Gurdawara. It is not JUTS about Chor Seva, about giving langar and water, about giving Tegh. It is about the service to humanity, to the universe, the planet. Open the doors in your eyes - in your childrens eyes that seva is service to all!

Seva MUST be done without expectation of return. Don't ever expect at least a Thank you. Do it because you want to, because it is the right thing to do. Not because you are looking for affection, gratitude, praise.

Seva I can do is:

Help Mummy / Daddy
- Clean
- Cook
- Make my bed
- Put away my clothes
- Out away the dishes
Help someone if they are hurt or in need
Help my school friends – with homework – to have someone to play with
Help the planet by opening blinds in stead of turning on a light
Help myself by being respectful and taking care of ME
Help Babaji by respecting everyone as Babaji resides within us all
Help with langar, darbar, parshad seva at Gurdawara
Help an injured animal
SEVA is about respecting, helping and loving everyone and everything around me.

SIKH – to seek, to learn, to always be a student

To be a Sikh to me means:

Keep long hair
Respect Babaji and therefore everyone and thing around me
Help people (Seva)
Speak Punjabi
Learn Bhangra
Pray – do Paat
Live in Chardi Kala
Understand and if possible keep the 5 K’s with me at all times

THE 5 K’s

Why did Babaji give us the 5 K’s? Where they just gifts or did they have a deeper meaning? What do you think they may have signified/meant?

Maybe:

Kanga– Hygiene, Cleanliness – Traditional Kanga is a great lice comb. It’s small wooden bristles break the lice’s neck. Maybe Babji was telling us to always stay clean. Neat and tidy.
Kara – A visual reminder to always do the right thing.
Kirpan – Self defence and preservation
Kess – Hair has life to its very tip. Samson. Strength. Identity.
Keshara – Maybe it is the sign for modesty. To always be covered. To keep your dignity. To keep your pride.

Be proud of who you are. Make your children proud of who you are. If your child doesn't want you to attend school functions, figure out why. Maybe your command of the main language (ie english in Australia) is not good enough. Maybe you are not dressed well enough. Don't let the turban, beard, poverty be the cause. Do something about it. You have the power. You can change the world. A Sikh is well spoken, dignified, courageous, strong, respectful, spiritual and powerful. Be the child of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Make him proud. Make yourself proud. Make your children proud.

LESSON 1 - Sikhi Gym - aimed at our children - Primary age.

Chardi Kala

Eternal Optimism. Feeling positive, strong, courageous, optimistic, excited, happy etc.

This lesson is about creating a sense of positive attitudes in someone at all times. It's about encouraging a positive outlook on life. If someone can snap into Chardi Kala at the snap of your fingers - they will retain this gift for life. An attitude can change in a heartbeat. It is about first jerking them into Chardi Kala. A simple snap of the fingers can create a positive energy flow.

Following the physical flow of enerygy ask the question:

Things that make me happy are:

Some examples of the answers I received from the youth at the Casey Youth Centre were:

Flowers
Hugs
Family
Kisses
Movies
Presents
Lollies/Chocolates/Food
Playing games – video games, cricket, basketball, netball, hockey
Going to the beach – happy place
Gardening
Making things
Drawings
Going to school

It is very important for you to find out what makes you Happy. Write it down.

I am greatful and thankful for:

Being looked after
Being helped to do things
Getting presents
Having pets
Having many people that love me
Having a great family / friends
Having the best Mummy in the world
Having Waheguru in my life
Having lots of people that love me

Next is to start creating a positive approach to everything. You must first believe in your self before you can believe in others. You must love and respect yourself, before you can love ans respect others. Start writing affirmations. Add to this list as often as possible. This is for you and you alone. Dont be shy to want or believe. Positive thinking – Affirmations:

I am the best at everything I do
I am strong and courageous
I am a great student
I am a great son/daughter
I am a great friend
I am the best at soccer/hockey/netball etc

Think about these things. Add to the lists. Create a book which will become your Journal, your goals, your life, your story. A reflection to you - of who you are and who you want to be.

Love, Live and Learn.

Keep checking the website for the next LIFE LESSON

A HOUSE FOR SIMRAN & KIRTAN - (Dya Singh)

After 15 years of performing Sikh spiritual music in Sikh Gurdwaras in Australia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Kenya, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and U.S (besides world music concerts), I found very few attempts at encouraging the younger generation Sikhs, especially those first generation born outside India, in the Sikh way of life especially 'naam simran'. Even less attempts are made in promoting universal Sikh ideology in the mainstream.

Firstly, committees elected yearly in general, run Sikh Gurdwaras. The A.G.M’s are normally lively affairs with opposing parties fighting it out, sometimes physically, to have the right to run these religious institutions. True western democracy at its finest! But that is not a conducive climate for an institution of religion, or spirituality, nor a good example set for the young. How often have I heard youngsters say 'why should we go to gurdwara where all 'they' do is fight or talk politics?'

Secondly, the congregational requirements, these days, are handled by one or two ‘granthis’ (priests) who learn their craft in northern India. They are normally providing service for short lengths thereby not having much chance to truly communicate with their congregational members. At best they carry out the required rituals and religious protocol of the faith. To them it is a job, not a spiritual mission of improving the lives of the congregational members. Furthermore, being born and brought up in a mono-cultural environment they are totally out of touch and ill equipped to deal with the problems and spiritual needs of diaspora Sikhs especially first generation non-Indian born youth.

The second string of providers of spiritual nourishment after the ‘granthis’ are the Sikh minstrels (ragi jathas) who come in three man teams and sing Sikh hymns, and sermon deliverers (parcharaks) who give ‘talks’ in Panjabi.

All of these service providers do not speak the language of the overseas Sikh youth, namely English. All they do is cater for the needs of Indian born Sikhs living overseas creating a ghetto environment, a sanctuary for them with familiar language, familiar rituals and services, familiar food and fellow beings of the same background.

My experiences of taking Sikh spiritual music into the mainstream, through world music firstly showed me the extent of ignorance of anything “Sikh’ in the mainstream. Even in inter-religious or multi-faith conventions, seminars, forums and other gatherings, it was common to find all major and even minor faiths represented but not Sikhism which stands at number five amongst religions in the world - one ahead of Judaism. It was as if Sikhism was the best kept secret in the world!

Workshops in Sikh meditation especially Sikh spiritual music at folk festivals have become more and more popular. Sikh youth who are generally drifting away from gurdwaras too, have shown growing interest in our spiritual activities in the mainstream.

Therefore, over the last few years especially into the 21^st century, the desire to have a permanent place for Sikh spiritual activities has grown stronger. In 2006, with a few like-minded friends we set up the International Sikh Simran Society in my house in Melbourne, with a Saturday morning service and an email newsletter to those interested. This resulted in a further informal chapter set up in Sydney and one, believe it or not, in Varanasi in India! We also produced a simple Sikh Chant CD, which, within six months has reached 1000 Sikh and non-Sikh households worldwide.

This opportunity arose to fulfil that dream of a permanent Sikh meditation house. A few like-minded friends in Sydney have shown keen interest in such a project with a strong belief in its necessity for today’s Sikh youth.

The project also depended on the right like-minded ‘caretaker’, and the right individual stepped in. Jasvinder Singh has over thirty years first hand experience as a Sikh minstrel in the right spirit. English and Punjabi educated and born in the multi-cultural and multi-religious environment of Malaysia, he was groomed in his early years by one of the pioneers in bi-lingual Sikh services in Malaysia, Bhai Mahinder Singh ‘Khalsa’. He then married and raised a family, moved to Australia to earn a living and raise a family- the true way of life of a Sikh.

He involved himself in the Sikh community and religious activities also helping to establish two gurdwaras - one in Sydney (Austral) and one in Melbourne (Keysborough). He is now ready, at age 50, to take up this challenge of promoting the Sikh balanced way of life. 'Simran House' is ready to help promote meditation as a catalyst towards a life of balance and as a self-improvement tool, besides promoting other Sikh spiritual activities and preaching universal truths as espoused by Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. This is essentially a ‘back to basics’ Sikh project.