Stories of Extraordinary Faith
I had just dropped my son off at school and popped onto the train to Southall. The journey usually takes about two hours. I had agreed to meet with someone at midday, so I had an hour to kill. I was directed to platform 12 at Paddington station to go to Southall. Once the train arrived I hopped on, only to discover later that I was on the wrong train. I stayed on the train while it was going back to Ealing Broadway and this time I got on the correct train to Southall. My guide was right about the platform, but I did not check the directions. I waited for a friend who was running late and whose car had broken down. I started to get negative feelings, but then I saw my old, blind kirtan teacher Seetal Singh Sitira who was trying to talk one of the station guards and asking her to guide him. I quickly let him know I was here as well and he did not need the support of the railway guard. I was delighted to see him and he asked me to guide him to the end of the road where he was going to be picked up to do a talk on Sangat TV. The road was curvy and I gently took his arm and led him to the car which was waiting for him at the end of road.
Seetal Singh 'Sitara' is the ultimate guide. A guide now in his eighties who still travels blind alone on the London underground railway. He has been blind since the age of two due to a medical error. He was trained in classical kirtan from a very early age and from 12-20 he learnt the art of classical kirtan, singing and playing classical stringed instruments. He was so talented and he loved stringed instruments so much that he is now known affectionately as Seetal Singh 'Sitara.' (The sitar is, of course, a classical stringed instrument.) I once asked him, "How can you learn and know so much knowledge of Gurbani when you cannot see?" I clearly remember his answer, "I learnt everything by my heart." I immediately thought "the heart is where God resides." What he was taught in the early years he has now spread across the world. He went to Africa and spent time running a radio show there on classical kirtan. He stayed temporarily in the same flat as my dad, then he got married and successfully brought up a family. Over the past 50 years he has taught thousands of people classical kirtan, tabla and stringed instruments, and in some cases he has taught three generations of the same family! He continues teaching and singing kirtan around the country, and when he cannot get support he travels alone on the London Underground and seeks the guidance of friendly souls. He has also set up a school for blind children in India, where many children just like him are able to learn kirtan. He has around 100 children he supports there.
His is an extraordinary life built on faith, and having faith as its solid foundation. One living such a life is able to surmount any blocks or setbacks. His faith turns his disability into the ability to transform the lives of thousands of others with blindness so that they too can learn and sing kirtan.
My reason for venturing outside was to meet an MP to discuss possible ways of preventing suicides on Southall railway station. We discussed having posters and barriers to prevent suicides. Although this will not combat the root cause of suicides, it is a step in the right direction, giving a guide to those who feel misguided. Just seeing a poster can be a visual turning point for those on the periphery who feel that there is no point in going on living this life giving them the faith they need to turn their life around.
When professionals gave Amarjit Kaur, who had bowel cancer which then spread to her liver and her lungs, notice that there was nothing they could to do save her life, she did not give up but turned her faith to www.gurunanakhealing.com who simply told her to mediate in the early hours of the morning and pray with the Sangat and when that is not possible, then pray alone. She followed these instructions and eventually she got to a point where she looked forward to her meditation. Now she walks with a spring in her step and a smile that would melt a million hearts. There is joy in her presence and she walks and talks with happiness. Her cancer has been reduced to 2% and she is happy. Just with living and appreciating all she has.
I was going to stop writing and sharing stories, but then I realized that some stories need to be shared; stories of the lives of ordinary people and the extraordinary things they do with little other than the faith in their hearts. Sometimes the delays in our journey in life and the obstacles we face enrich our experience and appreciation of life itself, and when we take the time share these experiences it may enhance the lives of many others.
