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Summary of Question:	Exams
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 4/25/2001 12:55 PM MDT

hi,

i have v. important a-level exams coming up, and i was wanting to know if there is any kind of medetation etc. which would help me to motivate myself,focus and concentrate, while revising and while in the exam room,as i have problems with them. i do phat regularly, but i need something more.
i also was wandering, could someone be a sikh, but not speak punjabi? my dad says that we should all speak it, as sikhs. i understand this and have great respect for the language, but would anyone be less of a sikh if they did not speak/understand it? and is it okay to do phat in english, or better to do it in punjabi? are there any sikh dictionaries out there?
i would appreciate a fast reply, as my exams are very near.
also, great job on the site, i am sure you have filled in many missing gaps for the sikh youth, you've certainly helped me.
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Reply
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Greetings and blessings to you in the Name of God and Guru. You are asking a very good question. Meditation and bani will definitely enhance your intellect and intuituve powers.

First you must ask yourself, "Are you deeply meditating on Wahe Guru and the sound of path that you recite?" Here is a meditation that I am suggesting for you.

Meditation for the next 40 days: Sudarshan Chakra Kriya..from Siri Guru Granth Sahib.

Sit in quiet peaceful space where you wil not be disturbed.(You could even do this breath meditation in your exam room when needing to calm and focus). Sit in easy crosslegged position. Straight spine. Close your eyes and look at the tip of the nose.

Place your right thumb over your right nostril and inhale deeply and completely through your left nostril. Hold your breath and pump the naval in and out 16 times as you meditate on Wahe Guru(mentally) for each pump of the diaphram. You can use your fingers to keep track of the 16 times you pump and mentally do Wahe Guru. Then exhale through the right nostril...by closing off the left nostril with your fingers as you exhale. Repeat the left nostril breath and pumping of naval etc. for 31 minutes. The eyes are focused 9/10 closed at the tip of the nose. Do this on an almost empty stomach. If you have eaten, it will be quite uncomfortable to do.

If you can, when you are finished, lie down and deeply relax and feel the love of God and Guru inside of you.

Do this for 31 minutes a day for the next 40 days....See how your center of power and intuitive clarity overpower your insecurity and fears run away. Let yourself work for the complete you.

Your question regarding the importance of Punjabi. I assume that you mean "Gurbani" the language or words of the Gurus'. It is very important to hear and recite Gurbani in it's original sound. This sound is the power that removes the separation between you and YOU, the God within you. However, you can still be a good Sikh by living your life properly. You can and should read the Guru and Path in English so you can understand the Gurmukhi and apply the teaching to your life.

I can read Gurmuhki quite fluently, although I still do not understand it fully. Learning to read Gurmukhi is easy. When you learn the alphabet you can study with a Giani or Granthi or some family member to teach you the rules of pronunciation.

God bless you and guide you in all that you do. May you have the blessing of Guru in mastering your upcoming exam. Say, " in the name of the Guru, I bless myself, bless myself, bless myself, to excel in this exam.