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Summary of Question:	Stories About Our Gurus
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Monday, 9/16/2002 11:25 AM MDT

Waheguru ji ka khalsa

waheguru ji ki fateh !!

I have been going to gurudwaras regularly and often times there are various raagis and katha vachak that visit the gurudwaras, mostly from india. They do a wonderful job but sometimes while doing kirtan and katha, they tell stories about Gurus which seem to have been made up or the contents have changed to sensationalize the stories. My question is that is it wrong to question anything that is being told by these raagis? I dont know a lot about our gurus history and I could be totally wrong but some sakhis seem illogical.

My second question is that Some people are vocally gifted and they do beautiful kirtan and I could sit for a long time enjoying the ras. And there are some people who try to do kirtan but their way of singing does not really rhyme. This gets my concentration to be unfocused and my mind starts to wander. How can i keep my focus when i dont enjoy the kirtan without walking out of the hall?

Thank You for your help

rab rakha
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Reply
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Greetings and blessings to you.

Ragi's are professional singers and emmissary's of the Guru. I think that they have a responsibility to get their facts correct. Perhaps they do not know. Or, maybe they do not consider that their poetic license is not appropriate. After all, we have the example of what happened to Ram Rai, son of Guru Har Rai, when he distorted the bani of the Guru to please Emperor Aurangzeb. Because of his distorting the Guru's meaning, he lost the Guruship. If I were in your position, I would definitely question the Ragi's. Perhaps they do not know. At least you can feel free to discuss with them in a friendly way. Maybe they think no knows anything. Please let them know.

ABout your Kirtan question. I have the same problem you do and so I have given myself a few options that seem to work when I am not able to enjoy the kirtan.
1.sing along with enthusiasm so I claim an experience, and support them.
2.start meditating or reciting softly my favorite shabd....this is hard but wins me into a deep concentration.
3.Start doing the one minute breath....counting 20 seconds for my inhale, hold my breath for 20 seconds then exhale for 20 second. Doing this allows me to continue my meditation.
4.If nothing else works, then get up and go out and find some other seva to do or go eat langar.

God bless you to relax and enjoy your life and your devotion even when it is not perfect.
SKKK