I came across an article in the newspaper this morning that actually shook me but also made me happy at the thought, how much faith and love people showed for God even in times of difficulty…
Here is the article..
‘A special Diwali for blast survivors’
“Where is the money to celebrate Diwali”, Shivkumar Sharma snapped at his wife. Prabha didn’t shout back. She waited for us to ask our next question and then yell it for Sharma to hear. The Mumbai train blasts of July 11th had left the Malad resident almost deaf, besides injuring his right arm and head.
Prabha knew her husband’s frustration was only natural. He has a family of six to look after but has not gone back to the welding factory in Girgaum since the blasts. “We have been living off my meagre savings”, Sharma, 48, said. But Sharma mellowed down soon enough. He knew how much his boys wanted crackers for Diwali.
For the Sharmas, Diwali meant Laxmi puja, new clothes, lots of crackers and new jewellery. “We used to buy crackers in bulk. But this year, we will only pray. We have to thank God for saving my husband", Prabha said.
While Sharma hopes to work after Diwali, he dreads having to go on the train. “Even the Diwali crackers upset me. I know the boys will be upset this Diwali, “ said Sharma.
Ask the boys. “This will be our biggest Diwali. We will celebrate it like never before since father is with me and my family", said Girish, Sharma’s 19 year old son.
The neighbours, the Chavans will agree. Their 21 year old son was paralysed in the blasts but the family is looking forward to celebrate Diwali. There won’t be crackers but heart-felt prayers. “I will do the Diwali puja with all my heart and thank God that I am alive“, said Chavan, strapped to a wheelchair.
“My mother has always encouraged me to look ahead. She constantly reminds me that this is just a passing phase and things will be fine again. Laxmi puja this year will be like every other year”, he said.
I guess it’s the way we handle things… we can live life, walk the difficult paths with a smile or with a frown.. frowning or thinking over things wont make things easier for us…as Guru Nanak Dev Ji so beautifully says in Japji Sahib “Sochey Soch Naa Hovayee Je Sochi Lakh Vaar…”
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At Wednesday, January 24, 2007,
StoryOfOurTimes -
At Friday, January 26, 2007,
UnknownKaur/Singh ji,
Thank you for your kind comments & for making me aware of my mistake in interpreting Gurbani.
Am here to learn & am glad that you have explained the meaning of that line so beautifully, esp pointing out that we need to understand Bani from Guru Sahib's context!!
I thought that it was enough to understand the translations of Gurbani from say one sourse(eg. srigranth.org)..for i believed i'd get even more confused if i refer to other translations..
This confusion, this anxiety was cleared by a friend one day...He went on to ask me that if i were to go home & had lost my way, would i ask the directon from just one person or 3-4 people...So i said 3-4 people & he said, its the same case here...We all need to reach that one destination which is to meet Akaal Purakh...i had no words to say after that...
So thank you for guiding me!
" guess it’s the way we handle things… we can live life, walk the difficult paths with a smile or with a frown.. frowning or thinking over things wont make things easier for us…as Guru Nanak Dev Ji so beautifully says in Japji Sahib “Sochey Soch Naa Hovayee Je Sochi Lakh Vaar…”
A small comment on this section. "Sochet Soch naa hovaay.." does not refer to thinking but bathing.
From word "shaouch" which means bathing. It should also be in the seen of the context Guruji is talking about it. When he says "Soche Soch na hovey... Chupe Chup na hovai..." GuruJi means that you cannot attain God just by bathing....As was the prevelant among people that time and yet is that they want to attain God by taking bath in Sacred rivers. Similarly you cannot attain God by Staying "quiet" as in taking "Maun Vrat" still prevelant among some Indian religions.
That is what I think it means...but I may be wrong...better to check with a knowledgable person.