I went to the Sikh Student Camp 2005 as I felt that I had some free time before a full time career or further study. I wanted to do something productive and learn more about Sikhism. I thought the student camp would offer some good lectures as I had been to a few Sikh Student events throughout the year. During my week at the camp I discovered that many people my age could read paath and Gurbani, sing kirtan and carry out a Sikh life. This inspired me to want to learn panjabi and gurmukhi and since camp i have been attending weekly adult classes in Sikhism and Punjabi.
At the camp I also fell in love with Kirtan which I didn’t quite understand before or feel the power of the word of god. But the kind, respectful and non-judgemental environment at the camp made me feel really good and comfortable and allowed me to learn a lot about Sikhism. I also enjoyed the activities throughout the week, which were provided by the metropolitan police, army, and royal airforce, this allowed me to see how I can live a good Sikh lifestyle with a career in one of these services. I also enjoyed the lectures by Navleen Kaur, Mr SikhNet, Mr Davinder Singh, and Peter Singh who taught me about Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his son Dulip Singh and the sikh history. It was great seeing real life newspaper articles from newspapers from the same date as Vaisakhi 1699 and of Udham Singh from 1940's.
All in all, during the week I learned a huge amount about Sikhism and why Sikhs practice their way of life, as sometimes my parents cannot explain these things to me and I was also able to do Guru Granth Sahib Ji seva which I cannot often do in the local Gurdwara. I learnt how I can incorporate Sikhism into my daily life style and I met a great sadh sangat, some of which are really close friends of mine now, one year later. I will defiantly be going to Sikh Student Camp 2006 and I will be taking my sister, cousins and friends with me and hope they can have a life changing experience, like I had.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ke Fateh!
Sorat'h, Fifth Mehla:
God is the Lord and Master of millions of universes; He is the Giver of all beings.
He ever cherishes and cares for all beings, but the fool does not appreciate any of His virtues. ||1||
I do not know how to worship the Lord in adoration.
I can only repeat, ""Lord, Lord, Guru, Guru.""
O Dear Lord, I go by the name of the Lord's slave. ||Pause||
The Compassionate Lord is Merciful to the meek, the ocean of peace; He fills all hearts.
He sees, hears, and is always with me; but I am a fool, and I think that He is far away. ||2||
The Lord is limitless, but I can only describe Him within my limitations; what do I know, about what He is like?
I offer my prayer to my True Guru; I am so foolish - please, teach me! ||3||
I am just a fool, but millions of sinners just like me have been saved.
Those who have heard, and seen Guru Nanak, do not descend into the womb of reincarnation again. ||4||2||13||
Pravinder Singh, 22, London, Currently studying MSc, attended Sikh Student Camp 2005.
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