I am not really good at talking about myself and my work.. so I will instead send your over too a album review by Music Webzine, O(h)rtlos – LINK

There are no maps to find me, is free too download by clicking the download button above.

I have heard about three Chinese mystics. Nobody knows their names now, and nobody ever knew their names. They were known only as the “Three Laughing Saints” because they never did anything else; they simply laughed.

These three people were really beautiful–laughing, and their bellies shaking. And then it would become an infection and others would start laughing. The whole marketplace would laugh. When just a few moments before, it was an ugly place where people were thinking only of money, suddenly these three mad people came and changed the quality of the whole marketplace. Now they had forgotten that they had come to purchase and sell. Nobody bothered about greed. For a few seconds a new world opened.

They moved all over China, from place to place, from village to village, just helping people to laugh. Sad people, angry people, greedy people, jealous people–they all started laughing with them. And many felt the key–you can be transformed.

Then, in one village it happened that one of the three died. Village people gathered and they said, “Now there will be trouble. Now we have to see how they laugh. Their friend has died; they must weep.”

But when they came, the two were dancing, laughing and celebrating the death. The village people said, “Now this is too much. When a man is dead it is profane to laugh and dance.”

They said, “The whole life we laughed with him. How can we give him the last send-off with anything else?–we have to laugh, we have to enjoy, we have to celebrate. This is the only farewell that is possible for a man who has laughed his whole life. We don’t see that he is dead. How can laughter die, how can life die?”

Then the body was to be burned, and the village people said, “We will give him a bath as the ritual prescribes.” But those two friends said, “No, our friend has said, ‘Don’t perform any ritual and don’t change my clothes and don’t give me a bath. You just put me as I am on the burning pyre.’ So we have to follow his instructions.”

And then, suddenly, there was a great happening. When the body was put on the fire, that old man had played the last trick. He had hidden many fireworks under his clothes, and suddenly there was a festival! Then the whole village started laughing. These two mad friends were dancing, then the whole village started dancing.

It was not a death, it was a new life.

~ OSHO

The following is an excerpt from OSHO – Sikhs are people who cannot budge an inch. They would rather die completely than surrender to an idea which is not their idea. Their politicians are continuously provoking them; every day there is violence.

And just a few days ago they killed the high priest, their own high priest, because the high priest was a liberal type of man; he wanted some kind of negotiation. But what negotiation can there be? Either Punjab remains part of India or it becomes an independent country – what negotiation? Because he said he wanted some negotiations with Rajiv Gandhi, Sikhs killed him – and to kill their own high priest means they are determined.

Sikhs have a tradition that anybody who goes against the Sikh religion, if he is a Sikh, then the high command of the Sikh community can call him to the Golden Temple in Amritsar to punish him. Now they have called two persons to the temple; one is a cabinet minister in Rajiv Gandhi’s government – a Sikh – and the second is the president of India; he is also a Sikh.

These two persons should come to the temple to receive punishment, and the punishment can be anything. You can be beaten, you can be told to go naked around the temple, your face can be painted black, you can be put on a donkey and moved around the town – any punishment, because “both of you Sikhs are in power and yet millions of Sikhs are living in terror and thousands have died, and their temple has been profaned.” This is the first time that the military has entered the Golden Temple.

In three hundred years the British government never dared. In two thousand years of Mohammedan rule, Mohammedans never dared. No army could enter the Golden Temple. It had become conventionally accepted that the Golden Temple had its own authority, a kind of sovereignty in its own territory.

The assassination of Indira Gandhi was not accidental. She was the first one who forced the army into the Golden Temple. This was provoking the Sikhs, and if they got mad and assassinated her, it was not just accidental: she had asked for it.

To me it seems all absolutely idiotic. Let them be free. They want to be free, and freedom is everybody’s right.

My understanding is that the whole world slowly, slowly should be divided into smaller and smaller units so every unit becomes a direct democracy. Then these direct democracies choose a Rotary Club for the whole world. But that Rotary Club will be functional, utilitarian, not based on a lust for a power. And these people will be continually changed. So this will be one government, the closest to no government.

The final dream should remain no government. In fact there is no need for any government – just a little understanding in people. What is the need for governments?

The Hinduism and Islam I refer too, is not of the extremists, or even Imams/Pandits/Priests/Popes/Ayatollahs/the slavish masses. The true spirituality I am referring too, is that of the true enlightened saints. The true spirituality which I am still seeking, within myself.

Guru Nanak/Nanak Lama/ Nanak Shah (all the same person) says in his poetry.. “there is no Hindu, there is no Musalmaan (Muslim)”. Indeed there is no Sikh, Christian, Peruvian, black or white (etc). These are all constructs which we harbour in our mind,  which we enforce in our temporal reality. I am not suggesting it is conceivably possible not too enforce these concepts on our temporal realities (globally). But our collective, even every universal atom and thought, belong to the divine absolute universal self, which we all hold within ourselves.

That is my opinion, expressed poorly. But I will end this on a final point I believe important. The ‘Sikh’ Guru’s, great mystics ‘from Islam’, the nameless divine authors of the Veda’s.. even the original compilers of the Bible, all wrote in poetry. Why poetry? Cause it sounds good? I believe its more than that.. I believe we are all meant to have individual experiences with that poetry. We are all meant to ‘understand’ it differently, as per our requirements possibly. But a extremely important thing is, poetry, certainly sacred enlightened poetry can not be enforced to mean one singular thing, and we are all meant to understand it differently, because we are individuals in this temporal reality. Unfortunately in all religions most have broken there connections with experiencing sacred poetry individually and rather understand it as someone else (religious organisations) wish you to understand it (often via translations). So-called religious institutions are the main perpetrators of the most irreligious thing… that is causing guilt. Guilt and morality is all conceptual, but they way they translate our sacred poetry/scriptures will have you thinking differently.

Now I am onto the final and most important reason why I believe Poetry is so widespread in sacred literature. It’s because no truth can be wholely contained in a single concept. Poetry can offer infinite amounts of concepts/ thoughts, for it is creative, and creates new reactions/thoughts within ourselves.

What I have delivered today is not poetry. It is very limited by concepts, and only contains a few strands of truth. Even a lie contains a few strands of truth. So see what I wrote, as a honest lie, for I still have dust of the mind on myself and that dust covers all my words.

Gurfateh

This is a design/animation I (Ranvir Singh Bassi) created a few weeks back. To view it Click Here.

I like playing around with famous logos and brands. There seems to be too much in this world which is meant to be untouchable. The medium of “art” gives people a bit more liberty before they get sued for copyright infringement.

If you are wondering what a Shivling is, well its a stone kept in Hindu temples on which milk is poured, and rituals are performed. Not many people know this too much these days, though the Shivling actually represents and looks like a penis. It has special religous significance. Indian people are so sexually repressed now, (partly thanks to Gandhi and Christian influence) that the Shivling has been removed from the national consciousness and its not even known by most people (even the priests) that it is a spiritual representation of a penis. This artwork questions that sexual repression, and in no way do I wish to offend ancient practices. The shivling should be celebrated, though celebrated as a whole, not just as what people want to make of it.

There is a story behind this piece. It starts off with a friend sketching something he calls “Pinkle Pingu” in my sketchbook. Gave me a idea for a design, then I changed it some more, and then after a dozen more changes, I end up with a artwork from what it was originally. I didn’t intend for the Durex logo to be there, though it just fitted so I put it in. I also made some Christmas/Birthday/Present wrapping paper, based on this design. See it Below, its called Pinkle Pingu -

It is rather simplisticly and naively comparing the percieved difference between pink and black dicks. These artworks are a bit of a joke to be honest. Most my artworks are jokes. Though the artworks I make which do not process any humour are my most boring pieces, even if they are the technically the most skilled.

I don’t really know if I care, whether anyone likes my work. I like these two pieces alot. Art is personal and I am not naturally a exhibitionist. If I continue making works as creative as these, till the end of my days, I will be happy with that. They are simple compared to what I normally do, though without sounding too full of myself, I feel they are INSPIRED!

Check out my Portfolio website www.RanBassi.com

When I am infused with the sound, my joints move. Theres magic in recognising I’m the puppet. The puppeteer goes beyond the confines of my atomic body, although those very atoms are as much the puppeteer as anything else.

There is a sanskrit term, “leela”. I have witnessed it as a dance. We may witness it as anything and everything, or nothing at all. My logic is no Buddha, though what is a better representation/expression of the Tao, than a natural free flowing dance? Maybe I am thinking too simplistic.

Conventional stereotypes would suggest, that someone like me, would be unlikely to appreciate Ballet. I may have a bad memory, though after one girl, and music, nothing has touched my heart more. Maybe because sometimes ballet reminds me of that old love; the love lost. Whatever the reason it touches me and this is same guy, who would like to be a boxer and some might say already is.

Logically something percieved as so pompus, gay, pink, Snow White, upper class and frivalous should not be able to do what it does. But because there is no text, our minds fill it with a story. Consciously or more often unconciously. That story may be our own, or a aspect of ourselves, our lives and our experience. Thus ballet may act as a mirror unto our true self or emotions.

You could call it a treehouse, though its a treehouse with a longer story than most. It starts with Osman Kalin, one of many Turkish emigrants, who has left the Kreuzberg area of Berlin known as Little Istanbul. From Mr Kalin’s apartment, he saw a piece of unused land. This land, was left by the GDR (Former East Germany) during its construction of Wall. There was a bend in the border and to save on material, the East Germans, decided to just straighten the wall.

Well over time, this land, became a bit of a tip; that is until Mr Kalin, decided to use it as a garden. The East Germans, let him use the land as he was a unfortunate victim of capitalist circumstances. Ofcourse West German authorities, could not do anything about it as it wasn’t in there Jurisdiction.

Out of the garden, sprouted the treehouse. Constructed gradually from 1989, using bits of random unused materials. He even used abandoned mattresses. Today its a example of what a person can do with what society considers waste. Though its still a sturdy German construction, with a unique Turkish twist; leaving it with a reputation of being iconic building in Berlin.

Though its not its architectural uniqueness which leaves it with such a esteemed reputation. This construction and Mr Kalin, himself, went through a great ordeal to keep it standing. After re-unification and the fall of the wall, the united Berlin authorities wanted to build a road, where the wall once stood. This road would have meant, the demolition of Mr Kalin’s creation. Though he stood strong, and faced the rath of the authorities. He even feared, they would come and take his belongings away, so his response was to cement every piece of furniture to the ground.

Mr Kalin, received a saving grace in the form, of the nearby Church. Officially the Treehouse was on Church land. Under the complexities of German law, this meant the building could not be demolished without prior consent from the Church. Though consent was not forth coming. Mr Kalin lobbied the Church and because they liked his way of life and his family ethic, they decided he should stay. It is worth applaud considering the Christian estabilishment defended a Muslim family.

To this day, it is where Osman Kalin calls home, the place he raised his children, and where his grandchildren come to visit him.

Article from Sikh Reality Blog and Artwork is by me (Ranvir Singh Bassi)

Jai Chandi – Passage from Sarbloh Granth

ਤ੍ਰਿਭੰਗੀ ਛੰਦ॥

ਸ੍ਰੀ ਨਮੋ ਭਵਾਨੀ, ਲੋਕਾਂ ਰਾਨੀ, ਪ੍ਰਭੰ ਮੁਰਾਰੀ, ਜਯ ਚੰਡੀ ॥
Salutation to Bhavani, the queen of the Worlds, The Lord, killer of demon Mur, Victory to Chandi !

ਤ੍ਰੈਭਵਨੰ ਦਾਤਾ, ਜਗ ਪਿਤੁ ਮਾਤਾ, ਜੁਗਤਿ ਬਿਧਾਤਾ, ਭਯ ਖੰਡੀ ॥
The giver to the three worlds, Father and Mother to the world, through your creative ways you give the rewards of karama, Oh destroyer of fear !

ਸ਼ਤ੍ਰੁਨ ਦਲ ਹੰਤੀ, ਅਸੁਰ ਮਥੰਤੀ, ਜ੍ਵਾਲ ਜਯੰਤੀ, ਰਿਪੁ ਡੰਡੀ ॥
Destroyer of the enemies armies, masher of the enemies, the conqueror of fire, you are the one who gives punishment to the evil ones !

ਮਹਿਖਾਸੁਰ ਮਾਰਨਿ, ਦੁਸ਼੍ਟ ਪ੍ਰਜਾਰਨਿ, ਪਤਿਤ ਉਧਾਰਿਨ ਜਗ ਮੰਡੀ ॥ ੧੫੪ ॥
Destroyer of the demon Mahikasur, burner of the evil ones, the saviour of sinners, in this world Chandi is worthy of being accepted/believed in

ਸਰਬਲੋਹ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਟੀਕਾ, ਭਾਗ ਪਹਿਲਾ, ਅੰਗ ੩੦

Ever met a true Native American Elder Shaman?

In light of the global changes underway, there is to be another meeting between the Sikh’s and the Native American Hopi’s. Earth will face a change in energies and to learn more on the Hopi perspective, feel free to attend.

Both the Hopi’s and the Sikhs, encourage diversity, and indeed there is much diversity within us, which is to be celebrated. Diversity not just in the form of our physical self, but also of our views and opinions. We welcome as many views and peoples as there are out in the world, and all points will be totally respected. We do not seek to indoctrinate people into a singular mode of thinking, as that is not the traditon of our peoples. We do not even encourage a singular mode of thinking among ourselves. Every single persons experiences in life will be different, no matter how small the differences. We all take our breaths, move our muscles, and think our thoughts at different times.

This is a unique event!

As always its totally free. The Langar hall will be open, so you can also have as much free Vegetarian Indian cuisine as you wish.

Date: Thursday 3rd September 2009

Location: Ramgarhia Sikh Temple. Hall 2.
Street: Foleshill Road

City: Coventry, United Kingdom
Postcode: CV6 7EP
Time: 7.00pm

Please attend and spread the word!

Contact – ranbassi@hotmail.com

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This is Alpacho, commonly known by his foes as just AL.

One of the founding member of the notorious Mexican Dogs, whose exploits include supplying guns and ammunition to the 5 nation strong, Iroquois Confederacy, which at the time was under the command of the great Native American leader, Hiawatha. Though all their exploits where not always as noble. Once the battle against the Europeans was lost, the Mexican Dogs headed back south and made a habit of killing men, and robbing banks. Their are rumours, they where under the pay of the Mexican Government to keep the old enemy, Texas as wild and untamed as much as possible.

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This is the latest artwork by Ranvir Singh Bassi

www.MrMessy.com