Winter 2025 Edition
Table of Contents
Awestruck
Nadhri Kaur
The importance of Vand Chakna
Jehva Kaur
Aisee Kirpa Mohe Karo: A Shabad Translation
Sahai Kaur
Change Blossoms
Sayva Kaur
Meditation in Sikhi: What Can Be Found in Stillness
Nadhri Kaur
Awestruck
By Nadhri Kaur
This walking against pavement creates a rhythm, a song.
At eye level, I see dressy passerbys, and beams rise high.
I marvel, muse, meditate, and stare in awe at the sky,
The skyline is lofty; the architect was deliberate, strong,
and electricity through the power lines connects us along.
Every inch of the map drawn, every brick is laid by Your eye,
and so I never allow my love and regard for it to be shy-
even for the smog, traffic, or the ones burning to be wrong.
Seeing Waheguru’s spirit, the breath and pulse through all,
and I love each street sign, each subway stop, each moment.
A creation worthy of reverence, of tourists who are enthralled.
Under astonishment is gratitude, beholden to each component.
The Importance of Vand Chakna
By Jehva Kaur
Vand Chakna has always been an important part of Sikh life. It means sharing what you have, but it goes much deeper than that. Even though this teaching started hundreds of years ago, it still shapes how Sikhs live today, and it keeps adapting to each generation.
In early Sikh communities, Vand Chakna showed up through things like langar, where everyone sat together and ate the same food. It broke down social boundaries that were common at the time. Langar grew so much that whole villages could be fed, and travelers were welcomed like family. Even during difficult times, Sikhs shared food, water, and shelter with people who needed it. These stories remind me that sharing was never just a rule. It was a way of building connection and trust.
Today, Vand Chakna shows up in many new forms. Sikh groups help in disaster zones, students run coat drives in the winter, and volunteers cook meals for people going through unfortunate circumstances. Sikhs organize tutoring programs, blood drives, and fundraisers for families who are struggling. Even online platforms are used to support people who feel alone. The actions look modern, but the purpose is still the same.
As a fifteen-year-old Sikh American, I try to practice Vand Chakna in ways that fit my life. I teach keertan at Gurmat School, and it feels meaningful when younger kids finally perfect a tune they have been working on. I help with langar by pitching in with whatever is needed, from cutting paneer to blending onions. I also spend time with my grandma because she enjoys having someone to talk to, and I like hearing her stories.
What I have learned is that Vand Chakna also has real mental benefits. Sharing makes me feel more grounded and less stressed. Helping others pulls me out of my own worries and makes me feel connected instead of alone. It gives me a sense of purpose that I do not always feel at school or in regular life. Research shows that acts of giving can improve mood, build confidence, and even reduce anxiety. I can honestly feel that in myself.
Practicing Vand Chakna feels even more important now because the world can feel so divided. People are often focused on themselves or their differences, and it is easy to get caught up in stress, comparison, or online drama. As a teenager, I’ve noticed how hard it can be to feel connected or to know how to make a difference. Sharing what I have, whether it is time, energy, or attention, helps me feel part of something bigger. It reminds me that kindness and generosity are stronger than negativity and separation. Vand Chakna teaches me that even small actions matter, that helping others can bring real joy and purpose, and that being a caring person is one way to create a more connected and fair world.
Aisee Kirpa Mohe Karo: A Shabad Translation
By Sahai Kaur
Shabad Translation - Aisee Kirpa Mohe Karo
ਐਸੀ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਮੋਹਿ ਕਰਹੁ ॥
Bestow upon me such a blessing, Lord ॥
ਸੰਤਹ ਚਰਣ ਹਮਾਰੋ ਮਾਥਾ ਨੈਨ ਦਰਸੁ ਤਨਿ ਧੂਰਿ ਪਰਹੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
My forehead is at the feet of someone considered to be one with God and my eyes may catch sight of the divine vision of their Darshan, as my body bows down before the dust of their feet॥
ਗੁਰ ਕੋ ਸਬਦੁ ਮੇਰੈ ਹੀਅਰੈ ਬਾਸੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮਾ ਮਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਧਰਹੁ ॥
May the instruction of the Guru dwell in my heart and the name of the be Lord ingrained in my memory॥
ਤਸਕਰ ਪੰਚ ਨਿਵਾਰਹੁ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਸਗਲੋ ਭਰਮਾ ਹੋਮਿ ਜਰਹੁ ॥੧॥
Force out the five thieves, O my Lord and Master, and let my uncertainties all burn like incense॥
ਜੋ ਤੁਮੑ ਕਰਹੁ ਸੋਈ ਭਲ ਮਾਨੈ ਭਾਵਨੁ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਦੂਰਿ ਟਰਹੁ ॥
Regardless of what you do, I believe it to be right; I have expelled the sensation of ambivalence॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਤੁਮ ਹੀ ਦਾਤੇ ਸੰਤਸੰਗਿ ਲੇ ਮੋਹਿ ਉਧਰਹੁ ॥੨॥੩॥੧੧੯॥
You are the God of Nanak, the Supreme Provider; in the Assembly of the Saints, liberate me॥
As I read this shabad written by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, I understood the Shabad’s meaning to be that we should emphasize the importance of the Guru’s word. The Guru’s teachings can oftentimes be forgotten because of our tendency to focus on egotistical habits. This can be applied to our lives in many ways. I hope to devote more of my time to learning about Sikhi, instead of spending my time on other unnecessary things. I also hope to try and be more conscious about avoiding haumai within my life. It is vital to know that the Guru has a path for you, yet it is only there if you choose to follow it.
Sources: iGurbani
Change Blossoms
By Sayva Kaur
People have begun to give up hope
That those beings who are so far removed will ever change
Those beings who have the Guru within, but don’t realize
Those beings who have lost their way, their path, their direction
But Sikhs aren’t supposed to see the world in black and white
And there’s always room to change and grow
Bani gives us this room, a way to transform
Bani also tells of the actions of a true Sikh
It tells us our actions speak
That slowly, when we begin to change our ways
To embody the doings of a Gursikh
Change blossoms
In our hearts, our minds, our spirits
We become the people we always strove to be
By following the path the Guru created
Our actions allow us to embrace the selves
That we envision
Because of the lifestyle Gurbani laid out for us,
We are constantly improving
And so we remain Sikhs, students, always learning
Meditation in Sikhi: What Can Be Found in Stillness
By Nadhri Kaur
I first thought about the intersection of meditation and Sikhi when doing research for a school project a few years ago. We were given the freedom to pick any topic to do a speech on. As the teacher explained the assignment, the topic of meditation stood out immediately in my mind. It had changed my own life so much, and I felt grateful for the opportunity to share it with my peers. As I prepared my speech, I felt hopeful at the prospect of influencing others to begin their own meditation journeys.
While researching this topic, I found aspects of meditation that closely aligned to aspects of Sikhi. For example, sources I explored emphasized using a “mantra” or repeating affirmations during meditation. I noticed the parallel between these mantras and doing naam simran, and realized that I had been meditating at the gurdwara for years before I even realized it.
By no means do I know everything about meditation or Sikhi. But I feel that my own exploration of these two topics has given me experience, and has fueled my curiosity about meditation in Sikhi. As I perfected my speech, I thought about what I noticed surrounding mantras in meditation. This led me to wonder what gurbani says about meditation, and how I could incorporate Sikhi into my own daily meditation. Through these explorations, I noticed how the value of silence and presence through remembrance is emphasized in gurbani. For instance, the line “simra-o simar simar sukh paava-o saas saas samaalay” (Ang 262), which translates to “Remembering, remembering, remembering Waheguru in meditation, I find peace; with each and every breath, I dwell upon Waheguru”, shows that gurbani emphasizes the peace that can be found from pondering Waheguru.
I noticed that while remembering Waheguru, I was furthering my connection to the divine. Meditating allowed me to simultaneously clear my head and think deeply, all while fostering a deep sense of peace and contentment. The practice has been found to have several mental health benefits, including stress reduction. In addition to this, I’ve found that many people, myself included, have experienced improvements spiritually through spending time each day to reflect. Feeling oneness every day and dedicating time to focus on Waheguru has made me happier overall, and has made me aware of why meditation was so heavily emphasized by gurus.
Meditation can also take form in mindfulness, a key part of Sikhi. In every moment, by remembering Waheguru and letting go of your ego, you are practicing a form of meditation. It’s important to be fully present with the divine in each moment, which can be achieved through meditation.
Another important realization I have had throughout my meditation journey is learning that meditation is a skill, and requires practice to “improve”. It’s difficult at times, which is okay. In my experience, trying is the most important part. Even starting small and meditating for five minutes or less can be incredibly helpful. Especially during the beginning (but even at times now), I found myself questioning the process. Am I doing this right? Why can’t I focus? Am I just repeating words without feeling them? I learned that with time, my focus on meditation improved. While I still feel distracted at times, I feel that implementing it into my life has been immensely positive and has made me better at focusing on Waheguru. It is an accessible way to make me feel grounded, and gives me a time to fill my mind with love whenever I want. Every time I sit and think about Waheguru, it feels like I am truly home. Even if it’s just for a moment.
