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Sikh Student Camp 2008.

News Source: www.sikhstudent.org

Sikh Student Camp near London has become an annual event. If you've been there before, you understand.  And if you haven't, then THIS is the year to attend!  It's seven days of pure bliss and deep piyar filled with inspiration, elevation, laughter, sports, games, langar, kirtan, meditation and discussions about REAL things, plus that inexpressible something “extra” that you may not find in your local Gurdwara. This year we're planning Archery, Gladiators, Yoga, Football and much more. 


Sikh Student camp gives you a chance to serve, learn and chill out with people of your own generation that have been thorough the cycles of schools, uni’s and the whole shabang that goes with it, and who want to learn more about their roots in an open and loving atmosphere.

Everyone has experiences to share and knowledge that can help others. This camp has an amazing and lasting effect on everyone who attends and it can be a real catalyst for transformation and inspiration in one's life. You could call it a “springboard” into the experience of the Soul. Come have an indescribable experience, filled with love, understanding and a wicked time to be had by all. The Camp is 17th August  - 23rd August, so NOW is the time to get your forms and cheques in!

 Here's my account of one day at Sikh Student Camp 2006:


"Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh!

Thursday at camp was an absolutely smashing day. It rained most of the day, a steady downpour that kept us all inside, so we had a full camp turban tying party! Lots of campers who had never tied dastar before got to experience the wonderful experience of Guru’s crown for the first time. We had some very creative turbans as well. Sodhi tied a green plaid pug with a dashing tail hanging down. But then again, he always cuts quite a figure poking and uplifting everyone with his sharp wit. Two Singhs tied a proper Nihung Dumalla on me. It took them nearly half an hour. I guess I have a somewhat slippery head ;-)

 The day was filled with so many smiling faces! In the afternoon the sun broke through as we began the Nishan Sahib Seva. The school where the camp is held is in Chigwell, in the London suburbs. It’s the Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa School. In front of the main school building entrance is a beautiful Nishan Sahib, and we spent the afternoon yesterday lowering it, cleaning it and redressing it with a new orange cover (chola) and a new nishan (flag.) The entire camp participated over a period of several hours with continuous chanting and scores of Jaikaras (shouts of "Bole So Nihal!") Everyone got hoarse (but filled with joy) and after the footwashing the whole camp posed for a group snap.


The camp sevadar team is awesome! Not only do they plan and coordinate the camp, but they serve all day and night on every level taking care of everyone, guiding the day’s activities and taking care of camp security. That’s security team captain, Dala, and the camp security hound, "Tiger." Tiger is fed some milk and langer in the morning and perhaps a bit of cold pizza for lunch, so he’s a fairly hungry, grumpy Rottweiller come evening time and he’s ready to take a nice bite out of anyone who approaches our camp with bad intentions. The camp sevadars give all their time to the camp as seva - many taking over a week off from their jobs and family to serve the sadhsangat here.


In the evening we had an special Keertan Darbar with Guest ragis like Amarjit Singh, who sings Keertan in classical Raag (there are 31 ragas in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib.) Midday Langer yesterday was delicious Saag dripping with butter, fresh hot roti and daal. Evening Langar was take away from "Rocky’s", a London institution known among the campers for it’s huge, yummy vegeburgers and chips (French fries.) The evening Keertan went on past 11 PM, so everyone was pretty tired, but this morning (Friday - the final day of camp) everyone was in Cherdi Kala as Navleen Kaur began her talk on Seva.

She called me up to share the stage and sit with her. She’s the most lovely, inspiring, dedicated and divine sister - beloved of the Siri Singh Sahib and a great teacher as well. I have met so many bright, open hearted, shining young Singhs and Singhinis here, and my heart is so full of love for everyone that it’ll be hard to leave camp tomorrow when we all pack up and depart. So to all my beloveds, I’ll see you soon and I send you a proper Jaikara from Sikh Student Camp… Bole So Nihal!  Saaaaaaaat Siri Akaaaaaal!!!!"


So to all of you who may have watched my SikhNet YouTube videos and all those who have attended Sikh Student Camp before - and especially if you are a newcomer - I will see you there again this year, along with the Cherdi Kala Jatha, Sardarni Guru Kirin Kaur, Guru Kaur Khalsa and many more teachers, kirtanees and your brothers and sisters in Sikhi!

- Guruka Singh


When: Sunday 17th August 2008 - Saturday 23rd August 2008
Who: Sikhs (aged 18 and above) looking to learn about their roots, enjoy some great activities and meet other young Sikhs in a loving and supportive environment
Where: An extremely picturesque setting. South East England, with pickup points in West & East London, Midlands, Luton & Gravesend.
Application Form: Apply here now!
FAQs: Click here!
 

we are 2 separate groups

w are 2 separate groups. Hope this clarifies.

Project nad i have asked you

Project nad i have asked you a question.Are you involved in this camp? I do not consider your views anywhere related to sikhi.

We apologise

Dear Community of World Wide Sikhs, The Punjabi people which form part of the ProjectNaad team would like to apologise on behalf of our community for the remarks made by Bharat Vir SIngh. His name is so beautiful yet his words are that of an unwise person. Let us pray for him and hope that Guru Ram Das gives him the vision to see God in All because if you cant see God in al then you can't see God at all. We did flag his post as offensive and would idealy like it removed because it makes a mockey of such a beautiful and positive article! Blessings and love www.ProjectNaad.com

Quit picking on Bharat Vir Singh Ji

PCJ's picture
I saw his comments maybe a couple days ago. I think he was only objecting to Yoga and White Tantrik. I don't think there was anything rude... A tiny drop of haumei spoils ocean full of spirituality.

Beautiful Gursikhs Around The World: Apology From A Punjabi

Dear Bharat Vir Singh I really feel so much resentment and hatred in your words and hope Guru jee blesses you with the humbleness to see beyond the krodh (blind anger) in which you made such narrow minded and bigoted comments. I am a punjabi 'inspiring' to be Sikh and I find the love, depth and wisdom in which the non-punjabi Sikhs share such an open heart inspiring. Dear brother who are you to decide what is manmat? What you have displayed is insecurity, hatred, lack of wisdom and most if all a closed heart and mind. Please my dear brother take time to understand the message of Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Ji, your rage will be no more...because your ego will be no more. God Bless you and yours. Beautiful Gursikhs around the word apologies for these wreckless remarks from a punjabi sikh for the wreckless and neagtive remarks from Bharat Vir Singh. Satnam

Bharat Vir Singh Ji and Yoga/White Tantrik

PCJ's picture
Bharat Vir Singh Ji is a good man and his concern is very valid. Although Yoga may be harmless and I am pretty sure is good for health, nobody can establish a connection with God through yoga and it may mislead people regarding Sikhi. It may wrongly convey to people that Sikhi has anything to do with Yoga. A tiny drop of haumei spoils ocean full of spirituality.

sikhi & yoga

sikhi encourages a number of different yogas to achieve yoga (union) and these include seva (karma yoga), simren (raj yoga), paath (jaapa yoga), keertan (naad yoga), singing devotional songs (bhakti yoga). To say that Sikh and Yoga are unrelated is the biggest understatement in the world!

Actually, yoga IS union with

guruka's picture
Actually, yoga IS union with God. That's what the word yoga means: "union." The connection with God is already inside of you. i.e., there's nothing to establish. That's how the word is used in Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. There's clearly a misunderstanding here. .....G "A sound man's heart is not shut within itself but it is always open to other people's hearts. If I am true enough, I feel the heartbeats of others above my own."

Yoga and Gurbani

PCJ's picture
I don't know if Gurbani actually refers to Yoga but obviously, there are many references to yog/jog. Since Yoga is not an English word but both Yog and Yoga are originally Sanskrit words, it can not be said that English translation for Yog is Yoga. Yog is achieving a certain state of mind, detachment from the world but since Yogis could not attach their mind with the Lord, Sikh gurus told the yogis that the type of yog they (yogis) achieve is all useless because they are incapable of attaching themselves to the Lord. That's why Sikh Gurus teach their way of achieving what yogis could not achieve in yog, which has nothing to do with yog of a yogi or yoga. For example, the fifth guru said anjan mahe niranjan rahiye, jog jugat iv paayiye meaning you should not indulge in the world even while living in it and that's the kind of jog (state of mind) you should achieve. This jog/yog gurus are referring to has nothing to do with Yogi or Yoga. Unfortunately when Guru Granth Sahib Ji is translated into English, many times, the translation is not proper and many other times, it's taken out of context because of people's own perception. A tiny drop of haumei spoils ocean full of spirituality.

Sort of ridiculous

It is sort of ridiculous to say that yog/jog is not the same thing as yoga, and that Sikhs aren't yogis. "This jog/yog gurus are referring to has nothing to do with Yogi or Yoga." What are you basing this statement on? They are the same words, they have the same meanings. Please try to understand that yoga means union with God. Guru Ji is very explicit on what true yoga is and what a true yogi is. The Siri Guru Granth Sahib is a formula for yoga/union/jeevan mukti.

Yog/Jog generally means that

PCJ's picture
Yog/Jog generally means that someone has abandoned his social life to achieve stability of mind and yoga is what people practice. A tiny drop of haumei spoils ocean full of spirituality.

Project nad Are you people

Project nad Are you people involved in this camp?

This is going to be an amazing Sikhi Camp!

This is going to be an amazing camp with many wondeful members of the American Sikh Community. If you live in the UK and want to learn more about Sikh philosophy and the Sikh lifestyle then this is the place to be! Blessings and satnam www.ProjectNaad.com

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