Seven decades after the searing partition of 1947, the Sikh community continues to yearn to experience its glorious heritage abandoned across Pakistan. For those fortunate few able to visit the country, they remain confined to a handful of functional gurdwaras. Would the heritage of the land where Sikhism was born...
Through flush of colors, the Creator makes his presence felt in the Creation. It requires an elevated sense of realization to understand that the use of vibrant colors by mortals, is their unaware expression of the search for the ever elusive Master. But the worldly colors are transitionary, like...
Sometimes it feels I am constantly in search for something! Though mostly the search is not far, as the answer always resides in the proximity of observations. I have found that stilling the mind and driven by a passionate desire, an indescribable energy always manifests to naturally gravitate towards...
Chasing happiness, shying suffering, I experienced suffering in the back alleys of happiness. Failing to isolate the two, I wondered how can I see both as one? When I chased happiness, it soon transformed into dissatisfaction. On the other hand, looking at life from a...
Prepared through self-effort, as observers we need to be able to spot and leverage positive situations being created around us. This is the principle for attaining positive growth in any aspect of life. With this mindset, before dawn we positioned ourselves at a vantage point to capture the spectacle...
Beauty is that which does not reveal itself in totality. It holds an element of mystery, the undescribable that links to transcendence. When beauty surrounds itself by mystery, inviting to find it through an experience, it can create a sense of enlightenment, leading to silence. The weather at Yuanyang...
Close to Gyantse fort in Tibet, at the Palkhor Chode Monastery, an old Chinese man approached me with curiosity. I reciprocated with a smile to help break the ice. Old Chinese Man : “You are wearing a turban. Are you a Sikh?” Me : “Indeed and I am...
The process of learning also feeds the Ego, creating a mist around our subtle faculties that perceive the world. It sometimes leads us to believe that we know everything. Therefore as part of our development, it is important to remain humble and associate with people who are more knowledgeable. Here...
From vantage points spread across Laohuzui, observing the meticulously crafted rice terraces, I was reminded of the process of internal growth as I have understood. The internal faculties of our subtle body comprising of Mind, Ego and Intellect are preordained with specific functions, which they faithfully perform, resulting in...
If my body were frozen in the Himalayas even then my mind would not be free of disease. Guru Nanak, page 62 of Adi Granth For ages, Himalayas have signified asceticism. Needless to say, it is more than coincidence that certain practices are...
