Day 4: August 4, 2017 A hike of remembering and a hike to remember...

The plan was to hike on Saturday, 8/5 in the evening to have dinner on top and to remember with prayer. The plan was to watch the sunset and then do Kirtan Sohila paath (evening Sikh prayer) at the top of Mount Mansfield to remember our dear friend, Benjamin Wood-Lewis who passed away 2 years ago and to remember the 6 Sikhs who lost their lives in the Oak Creek Gurdwara shooting 5 years ago. The ultimate goal of this plan was to feel Chardi Kala. This is the Sikh concept of eternal optimism. What better place than the top of the mountain?


Our plans were to be foiled. Our often beautiful sunset behind the Adironack Mountains with Lake Champlain in the forefront was covered by clouds, wind, pelting rain and ominous thunder. Instead, hungry as we ascended, we stopped under cover and ate our sandwiches. We spent all of 2 minutes at the top deciding if we were going to risk the lightening risk coming down Sunset Ridge. And, although, Kirtan Sohila, is the shortest of the 5 daily prayers, we were not going to pray at the top of that mountain on this evening.

The 'sunset'
Still happy to be there...

The wind was whipping and the rain was starting. Here is a view of the impending storm.

So, we hiked down Sunset Ridge as fast as we could. No conversation as the wind was too loud and we were focused on not being blown off the side of the mountain. We hiked to the bottom of the trail but still in the woods, sat at a picnic table and did Kirtan Sohila paath followed by Ardas in remembrance of Parmajit Kaur (41), Satwant Singh Kaleka (65), Prakash Singh (39), Sita Singh (41), Ranjit Singh (49), Suveg Singh (84) and of course, our very dear, Ben (almost 16). And the whole time up and down that mountain, alone together, we felt Chardi Kala.

Last verse of Kirtan Sohila...the translation does not do justice but gives a flavor of the meaning.

This life is diminishing, day and night. Meeting with the Guru, your affairs shall be resolved. ||1||Pause||

This world is engrossed in corruption and cynicism. Only those who know God are saved.

Only those who are awakened by the Lord to drink in this Sublime Essence, come to know the Unspoken Speech of the Lord. ||2||

Purchase only that for which you have come into the world, and through the Guru, the Lord shall dwell within your mind.

Within the home of your own inner being, you shall obtain the Mansion of the Lord's Presence with intuitive ease. You shall not be consigned again to the wheel of reincarnation. ||3||

O Inner-knower, Searcher of Hearts, O Primal Being, Architect of Destiny: please fulfill this yearning of my mind.

Nanak, Your slave, begs for this happiness: let me be the dust of the feet of the Saints. ||4||5||

Comments

  1. UnknownAugust 7, 2017 at 4:31 AM

    Parm, This means so very much to all of us. Simi told me how harrowing it was! I love the picture of the four of you and downloaded it to save. Love you all - Valerie

    ReplyDelete

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