Please, hold my hand.

Many years ago, a friend shared an anecdote with me. Which I now recall every 'Father's day'.

A little girl was walking along a path with her father, when they came to a rickety and treacherous bridge. Instinctively the father stretched out his hand to his daughter and said; "Here, take my hand."

The daughter replied; "No father, you please hold my hand."

The father was confused, "What is the difference, whether you hold my hand or I hold yours?"

The little girl smilingly said, "If I hold your hand and stumble, I may let go of your hand, but if you hold my hand I know you will never ever let me fall."

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Living in Dubai at that time, I telephoned my late father from who I had become estranged, to hear his voice and to tell him I loved him. We both wept as I expressed my gratefulness  for the countless blessings that he had bestowed upon me. Asked him, to forgive me for the pain I had caused him. Finally, my desire to be with him, especially on that Father's day.

Somewhere along the way, when we tasted the fruits of material success we forgot an important fact. Our achievements were the result not only of our labour but also the investment in, care, protection, values, love, wisdom, etc. provided by our teachers and parents. 

Protected by the shield of our parents love and blessings, their spiritual energies merging into ours we experienced success and happiness.

Youth normally tends to be arrogant. When combined with success and wealth, youth grows impudent. Without meaning to nor realising it, we offended and disrespected our parents with our dismissive manner and reckless choice of words.

Success, fame and wealth makes us believe that the love and blessings of parents is superfluous, and hence we squander this fortune. 

When we began ignoring their love and disregarded the importance of their blessings,  we soon found ourselves engulfed by a tsunami of problems and misfortune.

For several years I wandered in material, emotional and spiritual wilderness. 

Fortunately, with the Guru's grace, and the support of my wife Mohini and our two young sons, I was and transformed for the better. I returned to the open arms and heart of my parents.

Maybe it's a coincidence, but thereafter my life blossomed once again. I was materially poorer, but emotionally and spiritually richer. Living in the present, I am  free of want and fear.

There is a reason that in India, often father is described as 'Ana-Data' the same term used for God (provider). If we care to look beyond the human failings and at the sublime, we will catch a glimpse of the Creator.

Fathers tend to be obstinate and difficult. They are impossible to fathom, often embarrassing and exasperating us. 

Still, like a noble emperor with a big yet humble heart, love and respect them. As sure as the seasons follow one another, one day each one of us will also thirst for love and understanding.

Actually, Everyday is 'Fathers Day'

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Religion, is about emotion, not knowledge.

As I sat there listening to Gurbani Kirtan, (hymns) being sung, I was transported to another inexplicable time and space. Overcome with emotion, tears rolled down my cheeks, I could not hold them back.  Tears have salt as do the oceans, that is why we shed tears when we connect with Creation.

The Guru's message carried on the waves of music, and melodious voice, piercing my entire being. A great calm engulfed me and simultaneously I felt awake and alive.

When the minstrels had finished, the priests took over and the emotions partly receded. When I emerged from the congregation and the chit chat of society was almost everywhere. Talk of business, society, family, politics and gossip brought me back to complete normality. 

The religious experience had lifted me an individual soul to a height, and society had dragged me back to the ground.

Why could I not achieve that high for a longer time, a high with out alcohol or drugs? Why not that freedom without wealth, position or power?
I could, but I had to do it alone. Society could not help me even if the government or the priests decreed. My family and friends could also not help, even though they loved and cherished me. My employees and associates cannot not no matter how much I cared and looked out for them. 

I alone, can birth tranquility within myself and that of my  being with the universe. Religion helps me, if I take its message to heart and not to the mind. 

Bhai Kuldeep Singh ji

Unfortunately we have become too literate and excessively intellectual.
We think we know a lot by reading, analysing and dissecting, but we know little unless we feel something. 
The mind which was to serve the being has become our master. Not only is the mind a master it is a terrible and fickle master.

Of course man cannot live by emotion alone, but it allows us to plumb and reach the deepest of ourselves and that is why religion is so essential. 
This is why the greater the religion the more it binds us humans to the universe through music, singing, poetry and dancing. Religion which touches our spirit makes us childlike, wondrous, loving, trusting, friendly and respectful.
This is the one and only true Religion as brought to us by countless Gurus and Masters called by thousands of names. This is the religion of the Divine and all are capable of experiencing.

When religion does not stir the soul it is not religion. 
When religion is of the mind it is an exertion, a duty, a utility, and a weapon. It makes us arrogant, suspicious, distant, hostile and destructive. None of these qualities can  create a better human nor a better humanity. This is the religion created by men which many know and practice.

Religion of the heart is spirituality, the religion of the mind is politics.

The choice is ours. To experience the wonder of creation or to know the cunning of man. 
Religion, know it less, experience it more

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You can listen to some of the hymns as sung by Bhai Kuldeep Singh ji (of Amritsar)
Tu Mero Pyaro
Gur Bahan Pakad, Prabh Seva laayen

'Pancho Villa' - An unlearnt history lesson

It was the 18th of Dec of 2011, my friends and associates were readying themselves to celebrate the New Year.  I watched the last of the American soldiers departing from Iraq into Kuwait on my television. I was overcome with sadness at the foolishness and arrogance of some leaders and the anguish and terrible destruction such people spread on this earth and fellow man.

Study history we have often been told because history repeats itself.  Those that fail to learn are doomed to repeat the blunders but with increasingly grave consequences. 

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Had American leadership studied their history lessons well they might have not done what they did. Mighty economic and military strength demand great restraint and wisdom, for if it falls into the hands of the arrogant, the power is easily manipulated by the unscrupulous. The misuse of power often results in tragic consequences.

Almost exactly a century ago, the United States government went after one of Mexico’s most prominent revolutionary generals,  José Doroteo Arango Arámbula popularly called ‘Pancho Villa’. Much admired across Latin America and by his fellow countrymen, several towns, main roads etc.  are named after Pancho Villa.

Villa made a name for himself by converting himself from an ordinary bandit into a sort of Robin Hood. He hijacked trains, robbed the rich, took over their ranch lands and redistributed land and money to peasants and soldiers.

From 1913 to 1914 Pancho Villa was the provisional governor of the mineral rich Mexican state of Chihuahua located close to the United States border. 

Documented evidence shows that the United States initially supported Pancho Villa with weapons and other resources. In 1915 the Americans changed their stance, allied themselves by supporting and giving its official recognition instead to Venustiano Caranza's national government. This led to trouble between the Americans and Pancho Villa.

In January 1916, some Mexicans attacked and killed 16 American employees of the local railroad company near Santa Isabel, Chihuahua.   In March 1916, there was an attack on Columbus, New Mexico by a group of Mexicans. 8 soldiers and 10 civilians (an American arms merchant and his staff) were killed in the attack.  The American public was outraged and the newspapers and politicians blamed Pancho Villa for the two attacks. Villa admitted he had ordered the attacks, but he denied ordering the killings of Americans. 

The American President, Woodrow Wilson advised patience. Baying for blood, the war hawks sought revenge and closure on this perceived outrage on American pride. The situation forced President Wilson's to react.

In Jan of 1916 President Wilson ordered General Pershing to lead a powerful force of 4,800 men into Mexico to capture or kill Pancho Villa. The force grew almost immediately to 10,000 and by June 1916 swelled to 130,000 men.  The expedition was backed by latest armaments, radio, and air cover using newly inducted Curtiss JN-4 airplanes for reconnaissance and attack.

Merely throwing money, weapons, people and technology at problems rarely solves them. Appropriate strategy, based on deep understanding, diplomacy, and tact to win hearts is a softer approach and often succeeds at low costs. However the powerful rarely have patience for tact, they never pass up an opportunity to demonstrate their military and economic prowess. 

Admired as a hero for standing up to the Americans, Villa received immense local support. The locals despised the presence of American foreign troops on their soil. They often misled and misguided the Americans who braving the heat, dust and mosquitoes trampled all over Northern Mexico without any success. The Americans plight was made worse by the vast unmapped terrain and places that Villa took shelter in and used for counter-attack

A huge reward of US$ 50,000 for information leading to the capture of Villa also failed to deliver results. The Americans who had estimated that they would need a couple of weeks to meet their objectives withdrew the bulk of American forces in January 1917. 

General Pershing publicly claimed the expedition was a success, although he complained privately to his family that President Wilson had imposed too many restrictions, which made it impossible for him to fulfill his mission. He admitted to having been "outwitted and out-bluffed at every turn" and wrote, "When the true history is written, it will not be a very inspiring chapter for school children, or even grownups to contemplate. Having dashed into Mexico with the intention of eating the Mexicans raw, we turned back at the first repulse and are now sneaking home under cover, like a whipped dog with its tail between its legs."

The greatest weakness of powerful people and mighty nations is their overly sensitive egos, and their preoccupation with always looking invincible. Thus they can easily be provoked to play into the manipulative games of their enemies.  

History repeated itself, in addition to creating global disorder and chaos; the price paid has been tragically very high,

• Approx 150,000 Iraqis killed (many of them civilians)
• Approx 5,000 deaths of US and Allied soldiers
• Approx 2 Million Iraqi’s displaced from Iraq to neighbouring countries.
• Approx 1.8 Million Iraqi’s displaced internally within Iraq
• Approx 1 Million orphans in Iraq
• 36% of Iraqi people have been uprooted and a majority of them have lost their homes.

The financial burden to be borne by the two main nations of USA and Iraq are,

• US citizens will have to pay a whopping debt of US$ 3 trillion (that is US$ 3,000,000,000,000)
• Iraqi’s will have to invest US$ 500 Billion just to get back to where they were before the start of the Gulf wars 22 years ago. Of course no amount of money can bring back the lives of those killed, maimed, separated, orphaned and traumatized.

The only beneficiaries of this war are the powerful lobbies of arms manufacturers, oil companies, trigger-happy generals, the undertakers, scrap merchants and evil people who spread hatred and violence etc.

Once upon a time I like many others was a great admirer of America and what it stood for, now I am not so sure.   I pray that,

I pray that your thoughts and actions never be clouded by your ego, anger and greed.   May you always remain cool and composed and therefore always be able to respond rather than react to challenges in your life.

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US$ 4.77 Billion for a chair.

History is full of tragedies. Not so long ago the deadliest war in terms of casualties was World War II. 60 Million people perished unnecessarily because of the arrogance and stupidity of European leaders.

Almost 5.7 Million, that is approx 78% of the 7.8 Million Jews living in German dominated Europe were killed in what came to be called the 'Holocaust'. Most of them innocent civilians. They were the citizens of the very countries whose governments ordered them to be looted and killed. Their only crime was that they belonged to the Jewish faith.

Before World War II the laws in most European countries prohibited Jews from owning land /property. Yet the Jews were by and large wealthier than their fellow citizens. Most of their wealth was in assets that could be easily liquidated.

When the atrocities against Jews gained prominence, many Jews fled with whatever wealth they could save to Switzerland which bordered Germany, Italy and France. Many people stayed behind in their countries mainly in Poland and Germany but sent their money and wealth for safekeeping with Banks in Switzerland. After all the Swiss had announced that they would remain neutral in any war.

The Jews believed that, they had safeguarded the future for their children and families.

Unfortunately the anti-Semitism wave killed most of the Jews. Even their bodies were scavenged for things like gold from the teeth, which was melted down and sent to Switzerland to finance the war effort.

It was estimated that in the years just before the war US$ 700 Million at that time (worth about US$ 8 Billion today) of savings and money was kept with the Swiss Bankers for safekeeping by Jews.

After the war survivors and many families of Holocaust victims, sought information on the dormant accounts of their parents and deceased family members.
The Swiss refused to cooperate. Citing time held procedures and guidelines the Swiss bankers simply refused to address the special circumstances of the situation. They demanded death certificates etc and created numerous other obstacles so that descendants were unable to get the wealth saved by their elders for them.

Soon after the war the WJC (World Jewish Council)was formed. It sought amongst many other things the restitution from the Swiss for the families of the victims of the holocaust.
Nothing really happened for a long time until the WJC got a new President, Mr. Edgar Bronfman.

Edgar Bronfman the North American liquor baron and owners of Seagram group who made gigantic profits during the US prohibition years amassed a fortune worth of US$ 9.5 Billion by the late Nineteen eighties. Bronfman was a shrewd, and resourceful man. He was a seasoned fighter and politically extremely well connected.

To recover the wealth of the Jews who had banked with the Swiss, Bronfman sought a meeting with the Swiss bankers. He pursued the bankers for a long time. Finally the bankers agreed to grant Bronfman an audience. In Sept 1995 Bronfman flew to Switzerland to meet the Swiss bankers . The meeting was a disaster.

It is believed that this is what transpired;
The Swiss had heard of Bronfman's aggressive nature and decided to show him his place. Bronfman was initially kept waiting and then eventually ushered into an office where no chair was made available for Bronfman. As an insult he was made to stand during the brief meeting.

Bronfman was undeterred, he delivered his message and ultimatum standing up. 'The Swiss were only custodians and not owners of the money parked with them. They must return the money of the Jews who were Holocaust victims to the families, descendants and inheritors". The enraged Bronfman struggled to keep his temper under control.

Smarting over the high handed, and disgraceful conduct of the Swiss, Bronfman now made this issue a crusade. He used his influence with the United States political machinery, the administration and lobbied both Republican and Democrat leaders.

Soon thereafter the American government machinery swung into action. The Americans launched a multi pronged investigation to look into Switzerland's war time dealings with Nazi Germany.

The Swiss government eager to avoid an avalanche of skeletons tumbling out of its cupboards, advised the Swiss bankers to cooperate with the Americans and show some token of good faith.

Fearing punitive action by the US government on Swiss banking and other interests in the United States, the Swiss bankers agreed to attend hearings in Washington.

The Swiss bankers did not know what hit them. Skillful manoeuvring by Bronfman and his colleagues within and outside the US government coupled with the inept attitude and ham handed approach of the Swiss bankers (who hardly ever speak) cost them dearly.

The hearings based on the testimony of thousands of Holocaust survivors and descendants of victims clearly portrayed Swiss bankers as heartless, arrogant, and guilty of denying the victims their due rights.

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It is easy to get carried away by the trappings of power and position that they ride roughshod over others. This high handed approach can frequently come back to haunt the perpetrator of the slight.

Eventually after facing a global embarrassment the Swiss bankers and the government had to shell out US$ 4.77 Billion for a restitution fund. An amount significantly higher and multi fold more than what the WJC originally sought.

For the Jews justice was seen to have been done. However for the Swiss it was a huge price for denying a visitor a chair.