Volume 6 | April 2020
(COVID-19 Special Edition)
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ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮ ਚੜ੍ਹਦੀ ਕਲਾ ॥
ਤੇਰੇ ਭਾਣੇ ਸਰਬੱਤ ਦਾ ਭਲਾ॥
Nanak Naam Chardi Kala,
Tere Bhaane Sarbat da Bhala
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Recited by Sikhs worldwide twice a day at the conclusion of the Sikh Congregational Prayer (Ardas), the above phrase can be translated as
"Nanak asks for 'Naam' (name of God) with which comes well being, happiness and positive spirit and with your blessings, Lord may everyone in the world prosper and may there be peace for all.”
A true Sikh selflessly prays daily for "
all to prosper
". This gesture comes from the clear and pure teachings of Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) and forms the Gurmat code of conduct. Gurbani tells us that there are
no "others".
There is only One. The same One God resides within all.
We are
all the children of that One God.
As the potter makes pots of different forms and colors from the same basic clay; and as the goldsmith moulds jewelry of various types, colors and shapes from the same single homogenous material, gold; similarly, we are all born of the same One Light.
There is no difference.
It is important for us Sikhs to remember and apply this at all times, especially during these tough times with the
Coronavirus outbreak
. The phrase “
Sarbat Da Bhala”
is a reminder to Sikhs to seek the “well-being of everyone in the world.” It is a declaration that Sikhs will become active members of society and are to serve everyone, regardless of their faith, ethnicity, gender, or nationality. During this time, many Sikh groups and other faith organizations have been helping the community in many different ways. The Sikh Panth is showcasing and highlighting the basics of Sikhi:
SEVA, SIMRAN & SANGAT
With the entire globe weathering COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus, we are in uncharted territory. Not many people, if any at all, have experienced anything like this. This pandemic has led to a lot of media coverage, but the bias is towards news painting a doomsday scenario. Every day we hear bad, sad, and depressing news spreading negativity. If we look at the world through the Sikhi Lens, there is a silver lining even in these unprecedented times, be it a time of self-reflection, quality family time, community food drives, or significant improvements in the environment. In essence, we want to highlight the positives as well as how Sikhs have not failed to show that they are always willing to put their best foot forward in the time of crisis.
This special edition is dedicated to the above mentioned Sikh beliefs and principles being put into practice during this global pandemic. This special edition of the Newsletter is to highlight and reiterate this Positivity.
~Nishkam TV Newsletter Team
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Selfless service or Seva, in
Sikhism
, is a service which is performed to benefit other human beings or society without expecting any reward in return. Seva means Service & Selfless Efforts for Welfare of All. We are all made up of a community of communities. The constituents of our overarching community is what makes us individuals—a fingerprints of collaboration that unlocks growth, within us and in those we interact with. A quality of convergence is what the Coronavirus outbreak has helped us foster in our communities. Sikhs - and people from all faiths - have come together and have spent their time and resources towards helping others in this time of need.
Seva, the idea of helping others, is a pillar of a Sikhi that demands intrinsic motivation. From United Sikhs, to Khalsa Aid and the NESSC Food Pantry, people from all walks of life have been contributing their share for the greater good during the tough times of this global pandemic ....
(Read More)
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SIMRAN (The Act of Remembrance)
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Simran is the act of remembrance, reminiscence, and recollection," which leads to the realization of what may be the highest aspect and purpose in one's life. Simran commonly refers to 'meditating' of the Nām, or name, of God. As stated in an article by Sikh Dharma International, “Simran is a continuous, meditative, longingly creative feeling. It’s a feeling, it’s a flow, it is a touch, it is a substance.” Although we may think meditation and prayer can be defined as Simran, they only provide us the strength to create an atmosphere and mentality for Simran. Once true simran is achieved by an individual, that individual does not tell anyone or feel they have the entire word in their hands. God will simply follow them in infinite spirituality. Reciting simran everyday provides a spiritual aspect to a daily life to an individual who otherwise may be successful, but only have previously immersed themselves in worldly matters. Sikhs have not been able to attend Gurdwara for over a month due to the public health emergency. However, it is most definitely still possible to stay connected to Gurbani and create a spiritual and earthly balance in our daily lives. Thanks to the blessing of Waheguru upon us, we are able to still experience virtual divans and are granted easy access to Gurbani, Shabad kirtan, and Katha through the existence of the internet.
(Read More)
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Meet Sikh Associations in America
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Featured Interview
North American Sikh Medical and Dental Association (NASMDA)
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President - Navinderdeep Nijher
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Marketing Officer - Rajnarind Kaur
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Expert's Perspective on Coronavirus
Kanwardeep Singh Sethi, MD Psychiatrist, Pennsylvania
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It was in mid-January 2020 that I became aware of coronavirus, as my brother travelled to China for a business trip. Fortunately, he did not get infected but I kept myself updated on the development and spread of this virus. Least did I know that within a couple of months a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will be declared a global pandemic. Apart from its effect on the physical health, the fear, apprehension, change lifestyle and non-availability of vaccines has led to an increased surge in mental health issues.
(Read More)
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Expert's Perspective on Coronavirus
Sonia Bagga, MD Assistant Professor of Medicine at University of Massachusetts
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As a Primary Care Physician, I am trained to help patients maintain good health and prevent diseases. I am trained to treat them if they fall sick. And God forbid, if the sickness is incurable, I am trained to get them ready to die. No matter how challenging, emotionally draining, and imperfect it sounds, giving my patients hope of respectful and peaceful death, surrounded by their loved ones is as important as preserving a healthy life. After all, death is the ultimate truth of our lives. Hence, “helplessness” is not the feeling that I have struggled with much, until lately…
(Read More)
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Sangat can be described as the Sikh word for company, fellowship or association. In Sikhi, along with company, the word also stands for men and women that gather at the Gurdwara in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Nanak Dev Ji believed creating a community of Sikhs would help individuals become closer to Waheguru (God). When entering the Gurdwara, many are immediately overcome with a welcoming community who are willing to help others and provide seva or selfless service. Sangat leads Sikhs coming together for various purposes such as teaching kids punjabi, seva inside and outside the Sikh community, for Nam Japna or reciting God’s name, and countless more. In the midst of these uncertain times, various organizations have created resources for the Sikh community to continue initiating the presence of sangat and togetherness. The Sikh Coalition and SikhNet are to name a few.
(Read More)
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Road to Recovery/Conquering Coronavirus
Interview with Meher Kaur
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Westborough Sikh Sangat members
Meher Kaur and her father Navdeep Singh
, were diagnosed with the coronavirus. They had a long and difficult journey from self quarantining to recovering from Coronavirus. Nishkam TV kids interviewed Meher to get to know more about her first hand and real experience with this deadly virus and her road to recovery.
(Read More)
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Positive Impact of Coronavirus on Environment
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A silver lining of the
Coronavirus pandemic - In order to control the spread of Covid -19, many countries implemented lockdown which has led to some unexpected consequences. It has drastically reduced air pollution and caused a sudden drop in carbon emissions making the skies look clear and blue. The effects of the Coronavirus on the environment are surprisingly good. Places around the world are experiencing less pollution than has ever been seen in those areas. Hence, slowing down climate change. For example the view in Jalandhar, Punjab has gotten better. For the first time in decades, locals have been able to see the Himalayan Mountains. These mountains are over 200 kilometers away. Germany has produced a record amount of electricity this week through solar panels as the coronavirus lockdown clears pollution.
(Read More)
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Nishkam TV Website and Newsletter Team
Student Body
Riya Mahanta, Harneet Kaur, Arimita Padam, Simrit Kukreja
Youth Representative
Tanya Singh
Team Advisors
Simerpreet Kaur, Amanpreet Kaur
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