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October 2003
The title of the book and its cover touched my heart. It depicts the Nishkam Sewa of washing the marble floor of Golden Temple, and that happens to be the fulfillment of a Pure Longing.
It reminded me of Ms. Pearl S. Buck, Nobel Laureate. Let me share some of her quotes about Sikhs and Guru Granth Sahib:
“ I have had many Sikh friends, and have always admired their qualities of character. Now that I have had time in my quiet Pennsylvania home to read their scriptures slowly and thoughtfully, I can understand why I have found so much to admire.”
“Sri Guru Granth Sahib is a source book, an expression of man’s loneliness, his aspirations, his longings, his cry to God and his hunger for communication with that being.”
“It speaks to me of life and death; of time and eternity; of the temporal human body and its needs; of the mystic human soul and it’s longing to be fulfilled..”
Gurukirn Kaur Ji Khalsa has experienced the sweet pangs of exuberant arrows of Gurbani (ANHAELE TEER). We are lucky that she is an artist and she could express her heartfelt feelings in exquisite poetry.
Poem after poem is a subtle expression of different aspects of Sikh way of Life, so beautifully depicted that the reader is just mesmerized. It gives a glimpse of Universe and its creation by the One Creator. It covers history by Sakhis in poetry. It covers the daily practices of a Sikh in his individual capacity as well as collectively. Her free verse poignant poetic style is marvelous. It teaches you the essence of each theme covered in that poem.
She has beautifully expressed the flight of soul, freed from dogmas. I was reminded of “Jonathan The Sea Gull.” Each and every poem needs an essay, nay a book to describe its depth of feelings and beauty.
Her poems are bold reminders that how far away we have gone from Guru Jis teachings. She politely points out what those institutions means like langar how to make, serve and partake. Sewa and sublime status of women, the Turban that is a Crown. The Sikhs are so blinded with the footlights of MAYA that they have defaced everything sublime in Sikhism. Her poem “Answering the Call” brought tears in my eyes. She is gracious; she calls it “Longing Fulfilled”. I felt depressed that to what lowest level we have sunk. Men entering the Golden Temple by a small side door, like thieves, at ambrosial hours to do sewa? Yes this amounts to thievery of the right of women who had been specifically granted permission and invited and they were kept waiting outside. But then I am reminded that Pujaris at Golden Temple did not even allow Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji in. These ladies were at least allowed later on to do peripheral sewa. Gurukirn has a great heart; she still calls it “Longing Fulfilled.” To me it is a statement of Forgiveness and shows that she understands” Zafarnama.”
Another question she asks is “Why the Sikhs of Indian origin do not welcome American and other Sikhs?” We do profess that there are four doors and every one from anywhere is welcome. Do you have an answer? I think it is hypocrisy combined with inferiority complex.
The Artwork and layout of this book is simply superb. Understandably, because in this area not one Artist, Gurukirn Kaur herself, but another top creative artist Teresa Singh has also lent her talents.
Sikhism can be understood more from heart than head. If you are courageous enough to enjoy the pangs of “Exuberant Arrows” and are brave enough to face the dismal reality and are committed enough to take action, you are invited to take this capsule course in Sikhism, “PURE LONGING FULFILLED.”
Jasbir Singh Sethi
Houston
September 24, 2003 Find
out more details of this book
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