Object ives:

To promote Sikh
heritage.
To meet the needs of
the Sikh Community.
To organise and
promote the learning of
Gurbani and Kirtan.
To lead the Sangat to
become and remain
Amritdhari Sikhs.
To propagate Sikhism
by providing quality
religious services.
To inculcate the practice
of the Sikh way of life.

The Bi-mont hly Newslet t er of t he Cent r al Sikh Gur dwar a Boar d
I ssue No : 47
J une/ J uly 2011
Insi de t hi s i ssue


2. -Vesakhi Celebration
-Vesakhi Fun Fair

3. -Vesak Day
Celebration
-Neu Pc

4. -Upcoming Events
-Guru Arjan Dev
Shahidi Gupurab
-Bhai Maharaj Singh
Ji anniversary
celebration
-Book of the month

5. -Gurmat sangeet and
Sikh studies
information

6. -Offering Rumalas
-Searching shabads
by keywords

7. -Divine treasures

8. -Tribute to a beloved
teacher
This is the 18
th
article in the series Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Khaas (Who is a Khalsa?),
started in Apr 2008. In our previous articles, we discussed some of the virtues of the
Khalsa. This article continues the discussion of other virtues.

A Sikh has no ill will towards anyone
He is humble and kind to all
Jaswant Singh

Everyone begs for ones own good. But a Sikh also asks for the good of all. He hates no
one, and bears no ill will towards anyone. He beholds the same Divine light in everyone.
Truly speaking, a God-conscious being never labels anyone negatively. He reasons,
Who should I call good or bad, since all beings are yours, O God?

A Sikh learns this message from the Gurus word - that the omnipresent Creator is all
embracing. He always reminds himself that no one is his enemy, and he is no one's
opponent. All are his friends and he is everyones friend.

He is spiritually enlightened that it is the same universal Creator who has created all
mortal beings. From the single light the entire universe has welled up. So who is good,
and who is bad? The creation dwells in the Creator, and the Creator manifests through
the creation, totally pervading and permeating all places. It is like the clay which is the
same, but the divine Potter has fashioned it in various ways. There can be nothing
wrong with the pots as there is nothing wrong with the Potter. The Potter abides in all
His pots. Everything is made by Him.

The Gurbani further states that a Guru-oriented person attains the divine wisdom and
looks upon pleasure and pain as alike. He leads an immaculate life, free of any
vengeance and shares its teachings with friends and enemies alike.

A Sikh is aware that the one whose heart is filled with jealousy of others never comes to
any good. One of the contributors of Guru Granth Sahib, Baba Fareed advises,
Respond to evil with goodness; do not fill your mind with anger. Your body shall not
suffer from any mental illness, and you shall obtain everything.
The image of the Divine in the Sikh Scripture is described as the merciful giver,
compassionate to all. The Gurus word reveals to a Sikh that the Lord gives sanctuary to
all beings. Enlightened by these divine teachings, a Sikh leads a pious and virtuous life.
His prayers and actions include the welfare of all humanity. He is kind to all beings. His
humility shows generosity and compassion to one and all. Instead of seeing himself as
superior and others inferior, he remains modest and sees the rest of the world as good.
References:
bur wBl wkhui ks nokhIAYsgl yj IA qum@wr y] 1] r hwau] (383)
nwkomyr wdusmnur i hAwnwhmi ks kybYr weI ] . . . (671)
mwt I eyk Any k BWi q ki r swj I swj nhwr Y]
nwkCupoc mwt I kyBWf ynwkCupoc kuMBwr Y] 2] (1350)
I HH e H HIl3 lH l=J
aupdysMsmi mqRsqRh BgvMq Bgi q BwvnI ] (1357)
i j suAMdi r qwi q pr weI hovYi qs dwkdyn hovI Bl w] (308)
Pr Idwbur ydwBl wki r guswmi n n hFwi e ]
dyhI r ogun l geI pl YsBui kCupwi e ] 78] (1381)
eU H83 Hlo (9=)
mMdwj wxYAwp kauAvr uBl wsMswr u] 4] 7]
Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Hi ghl i ghts
Page 2

The Gurmat Sangeet Academy was privileged
to demonstrate Gurmat Sangeet (Kirtan)
musical instruments for Vesakhi Day
celebrations at The Singapore Khalsa
Association on 24 April 2011.






Mr. George Yeo, Minister for Foreign Affairs was
the Guest of Honour and showed keen interest in
these musical instruments and was fascinated by
their creation and melodious sounds.
VESAKHI DAY CELEBRATI ON
The Central Sikh Gurdwara Board embarked upon the celebration of Vesakhi on a grand
scale. The festivities continued for more than a week commencing from 9 April 2011. Vesakhi
holds great importance for the Sikhs. This day is commonly known for the establishment of
Khalsa Panth. The Mighty Khalsa team put in their best efforts in organizing the Vesakhi
Funfair at CST on 17 April 2011. Apart from Gurbani recital, a number of other stalls were
established to cater to children of different age groups for instilling and imbibing in them the
values of Sikh Culture, tradition and heritage. Along with the colorful festivities, Guru Ka langar
was also served to the Sadh-sangat. It was indeed a sterling effort in the right direction and
will go a long way in binding our generations to the Sikh faith.
VESAKHI FUN FAI R


Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Hi ghl i ghts
Page 3
Gurmat Sangeet Academy added yet another feather in their
cap when they were invited to participate in the Inter Faith
Celebrations at the Asian Civilizations Museum on Vesak Day.
Gurmat Sangeet teacher Satnam Singh left the audience in a
trance when he played Raaga Dhansari on Rabab (Rebeck, in English). His students
accompanied him on Sarangi, Tabla, Tanpura and swar mandal. The audience of different faiths
was enthralled by the performance as the holy music pierced through their hearts and minds.
Vesak Day Cel ebr at i ons at t he
Asi an Ci vi l i zat i ons Museum
NEU PC plus
Programme

Please note that a gross
monthly household in-
come cap applies for
eligibility to this scheme.

For initial enquiries
please call Melvinder at
the Sikh Centre on
Tel: 6327 2007/4

Email:
[email protected]
Bhai Maharaj Singh Ji anniversar y celebrations commence
from 3 to 10 July,2011

The program is listed below:
3 July to 10 July Simran, Kirtan And Katha by various jathas
8 July - Arambh of Akhand Path at 8.00am
10 July - Path da Bhog at 8.00am followed by Guru Ka langar.
Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Hi ghl i ghts
Page 4
UPCOM I NG EVENTS
Bhai Maharaj Si ngh Ji Barsi
BHAI AMRI TPAL SI NGH
(SANGRUR WALE)
BHAI HARPREET SI NGH
HAZOORI RAAGI
SRI HARMANDHI R SAHI B
BHAI MEHTAB SI NGH
(SRI GANGANAGAR
WALE)

Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Hi ghl i ghts
Page 5
Why do we need Kirtan in our lives?
Kirtan, also known as Gurmat Sangeet, is about understanding yourself. The true purpose of
Kirtan is to establish a mutual understanding between our mind and soul. Gurmat Sangeet is to learn
Kirtan Gurus way. As a student of Gurmat Sangeet, you will learn Kirtan with string and percussion
instruments.
Registration for Gurmat Sangeet classes continues throughout the year at all levels.
Master Satnam Singh is a professionally qualified sangeet teacher and holds a Master of
Gurmat Sangeet from Punjabi University, Patiala, India. If you are ready to begin your sacred journey,
visit our website http://www.sikhs.org.sg to register online, or contact Melvinder at tel. 6327 2004
In our humble attempt to promote the rich cultural heritage of Sikhism, the Sikh Centre runs various
programs on Sikhi with the assistance of our in-house lecturer Mr. Jaswant Singh, an M.A. in Religious
Studies from Punjabi University, Patiala, India.
The schedule of upcoming Sikhism Classes is listed below:
SIKHISM STUDIES
SIKHISM CLASSES CONDUCTED BY PROF. JASWANT SINGH
DAY CLASS TIME
TUESDAY Gurmukhi 7:15pm - 8:15pm

WEDNESDAY
Sikhism 201 Advance course 11:00am -12:30pm
Sikhism 101 7:15pm - 8:45pm

THURSDAY Sikhism 201 7:15pm - 8:45pm

FRIDAY Sikhism 101 11:00am -12:30pm

SATURDAY
Majh Ki Var 10:30am - 11:30am
Gurbani Pronounciation 12:15pm - 1:15pm
Kids Path Class 1:45pm - 2:45pm

SUNDAY
Kids Path Class (Aternate Sundays ) 10:00am - 11am
Sikhism 101 2:30pm - 4:00pm
You are welcome to enroll for any of these ongoing/new courses at any time.
Feedback on these classes has been very positive and encouraging.
Please ring the Sikh Centre on 6327 2004 for more details of upcoming courses.
Feedback from course participants

A well planned and structured course that will teach you, in simple English, all that you want to know
about Sikhism and other religions as well. Knowledgeable and thoughtful insights from Mr.Jaswant Singh Ji
helps you understand the material better and make the course more meaningful. I have benefitted a lot from
Sikhism 101 and strongly recommend it to all of you who are yet to attend the course.
Surjit Wasan

Enlightening, easy to understand, even for a non-Sikh person.
Lily Goh

Very interesting and enlightening in discovering the history and heritage of the Sikhs, Sikhism and Sikh
Scripture, and becoming aware of the practical, rational and universal basis and principles of Sikhism
Dr.Kuldip Kaur
Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Hi ghl i ghts
Page 6
Searching Shabads by keywords

Maan Sarovar is an index of Shabads in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji which are
elated to different words, terms, feelings etc. For example if you want to find a
shabad related to word ausqq (praise), just go to heading ausqq and you will find
shabads related to this word along with the page number in Sri Guru Granth
Sahib.

Maan Sarovar is compiled by Dr. Kulwant Singh, Academy of Sikh Studies USA.
Dr. Kulwant Singh is a retired ophthalmologist and also a Sikh Studies Scholar and
writer of many books on Sikhism.

For details, visit: http://gurbanifm.com/ereadings/maansarovar.pdf

Of f er i ng a Rumal a - i s i t a must ?
Message f r om t he Cent r al Si k h Gur dw ar a Boar d

We all have profound love and deep devotion for our Guru - Guru Granth Sahib Ji. One of the ways a Sikh
expresses his love and devotion is by offering a Rumala, mostly at the conclusion of a prayer.

Is it compulsory to offer a Rumala every time we solemnize a function in a Gurdwara or at home? The Sikh Code
of Conduct states:
On the conclusion of the reading, offering of draperies, fly-whisk and awning, having regard to the
requirements of the Guru Granth Sahib, and of other things, for Panthic causes should be made to the best
of means.

So our offerings must have regards to the requirements of Guruji or must be for Panthic causes. The large number
of Rumalas being offered far exceeds the requirements of Guru Ji and these offerings do not serve any Panthic
cause. Instead these offerings create the difficulty of storing them with respect and disposing them with reverence.

Premium space that can be used for the benefit of the Sangat in Gurdwaras is taken up to store them. Over time,
they start deteriorating. They cannot be used for other purposes. We cannot cremate them with due respect as open
burning in Singapore is illegal.

The Board urges the Sangat to avoid offering Rumalas as far as possible and instead offer cash donations that
would be channelled to bring more programs to spread, strengthen and promote Sikhism.
Turban Thursdays - Coming Soon

A group of Sikh Professionals in Singapore has started a monthly networking event to provide a forum for Sikh
professionals living and working in the Singapore Central Business District. Building on the ongoing monthly
networking lunches, the mandate of this group is to facilitate professional and social interaction for individuals
looking to meet other Sikhs, pursue employment and volunteering opportunities, and learn about community events.
Membership to the group is open to all (Sikh and non-Sikh) and is free of charge.
More details to come soon!

Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Hi ghl i ghts
Page 7













TITLE
1 A Practical Guide to Gurbani Pronunciation and Punctuation;2008;Volumes 1-5;Sri
Guru Granth Sahib Ji Academy, Kuala Lumpur ,Malaysia
2 Bhagats of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji; An insight into their spiritual journey; 2008,Sri
Guru Granth Sahib Ji Academy,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.
3 Fun Learning Gurmukhi
4 Gurmukhi Course Book
5 Gurmukhi Reading Course, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Academy, Kuala Lumpur, Ma-
laysia
6 Gurbani Contemplation Salok Sahaskriti, Gatha, Jaitsari Dhi Vaar & Alahnia; 2011;
Shlok Shaskriti; Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Academy, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
7 Life of Guru Amar Das Ji ; The Saviour of Mercy; Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Academy,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
8 Life of Guru Angad Dev Ji; The Saviour of Endurance; Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Academy, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
9 Ramkali Sadh, Ramkali Ki Vaar & Barah Maha
10 Sarbat Da Bhela; A single shabad of God lights up my life; Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Academy, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
11 Gurbani Foundation, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Academy, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
12 Saloks of Bhagat Kabir and Fareed

CDs
1 Asa Di Waar(A Ballad of Hope) , 2009
2 GurbaniThe Light of the World
3 Sant Sepahi Bhai Maharaj Singh Ji,
2006
4 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
5 Sri Sukhmani Sahib Kirtan, 2009
For the information of our Sangat, we have stock of the following audio CDs in our
collection. Kindly contact us at the Sikh Centre Office (Dilraj -6327 2004), if you are
interested in obtaining a copy for your listening pleasure.
NEWEST ADDI TI ONS TO OUR LI BRARY COLLECTI ON
Central Sikh Gurdwara Board
Page 8
For info on Central Sikh Gurdwara Board activities,
Please visit our Website @ www.sikhs.org.sg
In our lifetime, we as people are sometimes graced with the
presence of an excellent and inspiring teacher. These people
end up shaping our lives for the better because of their high
enthusiasm and passion for teaching, and we deeply admire
them for that. They act as inspirational role models, have a
high Emotional Quotient (EQ) to empathise and motivate their
students, and instill inside us values, knowledge, hopes and
dreams. Once they've been taught to us, we are changed for
the rest of our lives.
More than a year ago, the
Central Sikh Gurdwara Board
received an email from a post-
doctoral research fellow in
biomedical optics at Harvard
Medical School and
Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, US). Steve Lee
wrote I am turning to you in the hope that, through the close-
knit network in the Sikh community, it would be possible to find
Mr Balbir Singh, who was my teacher at Mountbatten Primary
School. I would like to get in touch with him so that I can
personally convey my deepest gratitude for his excellence in
teaching more than twenty years ago, that sowed the seeds for
my current inspiration in scientific research. I first got interested
in science from Mr.Balbir Singh and still remember one of his
lessons on how fish survive during the winter due to the unique freezing point of water. Apart
from science, I gained early insight into life lessons. I remember how he brought in one of Mother
Teresa's helpers right into class. This particular lesson taught me how humility and giving is an
important virtue to maintain for life. His passion in teaching has furnished me with the right
motivation to learn to better oneself!
It is only with such a caring and motivated teacher that I learnt to push the borders of learning:
doing research. I am grateful for his teaching although it only lasted for one year. More
importantly, I am very happy to have been able to personally give him my very best thanks, after
2 years of search, upon completion of my PhD degree
Good on you, Mr.Balbir Singh Ji. We are proud of you!
P.S: Though retired from teaching, Mr Balbir Singh still works as an Educational Consultant with
an international school in Surabaya, Indonesia.
TRIBUTE TO A BELOVED TEACHER
Steve Lee
Mr. Balbir Singh