Divine Journey by Kiran Kaur Kondal

Our first master, a rebel with a cause.

In 1469, Guru Nanak Dev Ji set out to share a message of peace and compassion to all mankind through their spiritual teaching. On these travels they took their beloved companion, Bhai Mardana. Guru Sahib went on 5 Udasis. Guru Sahib’s 5 travels are referred to as an Udasi, a prolonged absence from home. 

On the 8th of July 2021 – an email dropped into my inbox. ‘BREAKING NEWS: We have partnered with WHOA Travel to facilitate and lead the FIRST all South Asian Female Trek to Mount Kilimanjaro – we are making history here!

I read this with a bolt and all of a sudden, an animated spark appeared ahead of me, excitement all around me. I quickly read on, then I saw the cost of the trip. I stopped the thoughts immediately. Such a large sum of money, no, definitely not. I will not be spending this amount of money on myself, I have a family after all, my duty as a mother, wife and what I think I know best as so perfectly conditioned by my surroundings is that we simply ‘hush’ our inner voice and go on as normal. Park any thoughts of endearment/excitement for some stage later maybe, once the kids are older and once my responsibilities decrease both in time and depth. 

I passed this thought onto my husband. Testing for his reaction. His reaction could possibly tip how I feel/think about this (is his voice more important than my own?). He simply said, ‘Here’s the money Kiran, do it’. There was no long winded conversation, just a sudden, yes you can. This made me feel uneasy.  Why did I still seek further permission and approval? Whose permission did I really need? I sat on this for a while, had a conversation with Ravi who told me to stop thinking and just get up and do. 

Thanks for choosing WHOA! – seeing this email made my heart jump!  I did it.  I hadn’t even reached the summit yet somehow already felt like I was there by this one action.  My inner voice was telling me what to do but external conditioning was telling me NO. How many times will I, or my fellow female’s ignore their inner voice to listen to that of our tamed selves. This action allowed me to physically step out of the fancy dress I wear which pleases the world and to wear the skin and self I am born to be. 

My beloved Guru Nanak recognised the need to empower woman. To break away from the societal pressures and to raise our future generations with compassion and equality. To raise our future Kaur’s so they live with integrity. 

First Mehla:

Bhand jamiye, bhand nimiye, bhand mangan viah.

From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married. SGGS ~ Ang 473

When my beloved spoke this shabad, they called for radical change in the equality of woman. They have clearly put woman front and center, in all the roles as woman, mother, wife, companion, leader. They ensured we were held in high esteem. 

In this shabad, Bhand is a reference to woman. What do you think when you hear this shabad?  I think of wholesome, it reminds me of a strong cloth that contains all of one’s most needed possessions, most valuable, that are both priceless yet modest. A strong knot holds all four corners of this cloth together and is carried wherever one should go.  This is the power of Woman. Bhand. A creation by Guru Sahib, through this Bhand life form is born. Bhand. A container.  Bhand. The creation. Woman in sanskrit is ‘Stree’. Stree can simply be expansion. So as we expand our fathers home, as we expand our husbands home, why shouldn’t we expand our internal home. The home that is within us, for too long I have been an observer of my own life and now as I expand in ways beyond my own understanding I am aware that this is exactly what my Guru Nanak wanted for me and all my sisters. 

Alongside me, there are my sisters. My Bhand. We are unique, yet we are the same. These sisters took the leap of faith and are part of an udasi in this modern age. 

Rupinder Penji – who acted as a vessel to make this journey possible. This has been on penji’s bucket list and now she has made it happen whilst she takes others with her. 

Lorna Penji – Making time and saying this is for herself. As much as she loves her family/work/life et al, it’s definitely time to reconnect with herself and push herself to new limits – physically, mentally and emotionally. 

Mandeep Penji – After having had her 2 children, penji felt she lost a part of the old Mandeep. We all change and grow after becoming mothers, but penji lost a lot of herself, during COVID, her love for hiking and walking became an obsession once again. Owning the fact she can do this, give her butterflies at the thought. 

Satinder Penji – to work on health and on her vision board had wanted to climb a munro each month, however clearly a munro was not enough. Kili it is. 

Hardip penji – Climbing Kili was the best spontaneous decision she ever made, to physically and mentally challenge herself in her 6th decade. 

Amritpal penji – a period of ill health and life changes, she promised herself to show up for herself.

Harjit Penji – having lived her life as people had told her to, she is stepping into her own power and fulfilling dreams she didn’t even realise she had. 

Sarbjit Penji– Having arrived in her 40’s without fully acknowledging let alone experiencing the full depth of her bravery. Climbing Kili is a gateway to more future acts of bravery. 

Jasdeep Penji– Kili was on her list for such a long time and since getting married she thought it wouldn’t happen.  There was no way she could pass this opportunity. 

Kiran Penji – Loves hiking, traveling, Mother Nature and the soul food it always provides. What sets this adventure apart from any other is journeying with such an inspiring sangat (community). 

Simran penji – enjoys new adventures and wants to reach new heights. 

Belinder penji – after a spell of bad health, this journey was a wake up to get up and work on her health to be a fitter and better version of herself.

Hardeesh penji – has always wanted to challenge herself and do something out of comfort zone. Of all the circles penji is in, this opportunity would never have come her way, if it wasn’t for inspire club. 

This group of women have my heart. We have all bonded and become a glue that holds one another.

This sangat (congregation), was picked one by one by Guru Sahib themselves, I truly believe this. This sangat is part of a quiet feminism that is slowly seeping into the hearts of others as they see them step into the light and truly celebrate the role that Guru Nanak Dev Ji bestowed upon each of them as they came into being. 

Guru Nanak Dev Ji traveled far and wide spreading the divine message of Akaal Purakh Waheguru. By foot. WOW.  This is my master, my teacher. This is whom I look up to.  This is my Waheguru telling me, I worked hard to ensure you will always be strong in the face of injustice, oppression, tyranny and societal pressures.  Yet there is me. So many like me.  Who unknowingly became our own oppressors and somehow lived in our own shadow.

I truly believe that Guru Nanak will walk with us all. They will be with us, they will be our strength when we are weak, our shoulder when we need to cry, our warmth when it is cold, our home when we feel lost, our family when we feel lonely, and the voice we can hear when we pray. Bhai Mardana will be the melody deep within the cave of our hearts, speaking sweetly of our Guru and awakening the divine femine shakti that has been dormant.

My beloved Guru Nanak, it is your blood in my veins, in the veins of my sisters.  We humbly do ardaas (prayer of supplication) to you my beloved that you carry us with compassion, humility, wisdom and embrace us in your loving arms, for we are because of you. 

We are because of you.

We are because of you.

We are because of you. 

This udasi is dedicated to all our sisters.

I ask for forgiveness if I have written anything that may offend anyone.  Please bless me with your grace and the humility to learn and be better, when you read part 2 of this divine journey. 

All my love. Kiran