Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ke Fateh
Great question - to get the Gurdwara to be a better place - in short it has to be place where
you feel LOVED - so an individual will LOVE IT.-period.
How do you express prem where we have a gora type democarcy (rule and divide) democarcy system in our gurdwaras - no wonder there is chaduar puna-- rule - divide.
There at least should 5- 10 peredars at the Gurdwara at all times to listen to any pranee and to all his problems and try and resolve them and guide the pranee in the correct direction.( This will create the missing social structure and out of touch with joe average we have today)
I recall going to Gurdwara in singapore or thailand - where it was the normal for any family matter to be resolved by the panj running the gurdwara.
A SUGGESTION Box in a Gurdwara should be present where anyone express their views and panj to take these view seriously and acknowledge and help as much as possible.
I once met a hindu (patel) from Gujraat who said their mandar runs an ambulance service which goes and help anyone in need of emegency 24*7!!!!
Gurdwara should take note here and possible take on such a service back to the community.
Gurdwara a place Where childeren can be left to enjoy the day at any time!!
GURDWARA can only be great if it provides service back to the community which in return will make it GREAT and a leading example.
Baabaa Nanak did not build any Gurdawara buildings. The Gurdawar he talks about in the gurbani is that Gurdawara where the Guroo dwells within (the Heart). It is that Gurdawara, which cannot be seen with physical eyes (ਅੱਖ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀ ਦਿਸਦਾ). It is that Gurdawara, which is Eternal (which does not get old - ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਪੁਰਾਣਾਂ ਨਹੀ ਹੂੰਦਾ)...
Here are some quotes on the word Gurdwara from SGGS :ਰੋਸੁ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ਉਤਰੁ ਦੀਜੈ ਕਿਉ ਪਾਈਐ ਗੁਰ ਦੁਆਰੋ ॥ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਚਲਤਉ ਸਚ ਘਰਿ ਬੈਸੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਧਾਰੋ: Rosu n keejai outaru deejai kiou paaeeai gur duaaro. Ihu manu chalataou sach ghari baisai Nanak naamu adhaaro: Don't be angry (with us) - tell us: How can (one) obtain "Gur Duaaro" ("ਗੁਰ ਦੁਆਰੋ")? O Nanak! (One arrive at or abtain the "Gur Duaaro" -"ਗੁਰ ਦੁਆਰੋ"- when) Through the Support of the Naam (Aatam-Giaan, Divine Knowledge, Spiritual Wisdom...), this fickle (restless, mercurial, deluded...) mind sits in its True Home within (the Heart, Nij Ghar, etc.). (sggs 938).
ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੈ ਲਾਇ ਭਾਵਨੀ ਇਕਨਾ ਦਸਵਾ ਦੁਆਰੁ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ ॥: Gurduaarai laai bhaavanee ikanaa dasavaa duaar dikhaaiaa: The Tenth Door (Tenth Gate, Dasam Duaar, etc.) is revealed to the one who Reflects on the Gurduaaraa. (sggs 922).
ਭਾਂਡਾ ਹਛਾ ਸੋਇ ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵਸੀ ॥ ਭਾਂਡਾ ਅਤਿ ਮਲੀਣੁ ਧੋਤਾ ਹਛਾ ਨ ਹੋਇਸੀ ॥ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਹੋਇ ਸੋਝੀ ਪਾਇਸੀ ॥ ਏਤੁ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਧੋਇ ਹਛਾ ਹੋਇਸੀ ॥: Bhaandaa hashhaa soi jo tis bhaavasee. Bhaandaa ati maleen dhotaa hashaa ....: That Bhaandaa (ਭਾਂਡਾ: ਅੰਤਹਕਰਣ, mind-intellect, heart, etc.) alone is Good (Pure, ਪਵਿੱਤ੍ਰ, ਨਿਰਮਲ, ਸਾਫ...) which is pleasing to Him. Very filthy Bhaandaa (that has become filthy with Bikaars: lust, anger, greed, etc.) does not become Good, simply by being washed (e.g., bathing at the so called sacred ponds, etc.). Through the Guroo's Door (Guroo's Teaching or Upadesh, Shabad-Giaan, Aatam-Giaan, etc.), one obtains Understanding. By being washed through this Door, (the Bhaandaa) becomes Pure (sggs 730).
ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਸੋਈ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਆਪਿ ਬੁਝਾਏ ॥੪॥: Guroo Duaarai soee boojhai jisano aap bujhaae ||4||: At the the Guroo's Door (ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ), he alone comes to understand (the right Way of life - ਜੀਵਨ ਦਾ ਸਹੀ ਰਸਤਾ), whom God Himself gives understanding (ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਆਪ ਸਮਝ ਬਖ਼ਸ਼ਦਾ ਹੈ) ||4|| (sggs 1234).
ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਹਮਰਾ ਵੀਆਹੁ ਜਿ ਹੋਆ ਜਾਂ ਸਹੁ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਤਾਂ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥ ਤਿਹੁ ਲੋਕਾ ਮਹਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਰਵਿਆ ਹੈ ਆਪੁ ਗਇਆ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥੨॥: Gruoo Duaarai hamraa viaah ji hoyaa jaa sahu miliaa taa jaaniaa....: When I was married (spiritual wedding or Aatmic-Vivaah) in the "Guroo Duaarai" within (by coming to the Guroo's Sactuary), I met my True Beloved Lord. Then I came to know that His Shabad pervades the three worlds. My ego departed, and my mind became attuned to God ||2|| (sggs 351).
ਭਗਤਿ ਭਾਵ ਇਹੁ ਮਾਰਗੁ ਬਿਖੜਾ ਗੁਰ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਕੋ ਪਾਵਏ ॥: This path of loving devotional worship (ਭਗਤਿ ਭਾਵ) is very difficult; a rare one finds it through the "Gur Duaarai" (who seek the Gur's Sactuary) (sggs 440).
ਗੁਰ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਸੁਣੀਐ ॥ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਭੇਟਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਸੁ ਮੁਖਿ ਭਣੀਐ ॥: Gur Duaarai Hari Kirtan suneeai Satgur bhet Hari jas mukh bhaneeai : Listen Hari Kirtan at the Gur's Door (ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਦਰ ਤੇ ਰਹਿ ਕੇ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੀ ਸਿਫ਼ਤਿ-ਸਾਲਾਹ ਸੁਨਣਾਂ). Meeting with the Satgur, one chants God's Praises ||4|| (sggs 1075).
ਸਚੁ ਸਾਲਾਹੀ ਧੰਨੁ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੁ ॥: Such saalaahee dhann gurduaar: Blessed is the Gur's Door, from where the Truth is praised (ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੀ ਸਿਫ਼ਤਿ-ਸਾਲਾਹ) (sggs 153).
ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਕਥਾ ਸੁਣਾਇਹਿ ਆਪਣੀ ਸਿ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੈ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਹੇ ॥: Jis no kathaa sunaaihi aapnee is Gurduaarai sukh paavahe: (O Lord) those whom You cause to listen to Your sermon, he at the the Gur's Door finds Peace (ਆਤਮਕ ਆਨੰਦ) (sggs 919).
ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਲੇ ਸਮਸਰਿ ਰਹੈ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਏਕੁ ਵਿਰਲਾ ਕੋ ਲਹੈ ॥ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਦੇਇ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਤੇ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਏ ॥ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਆਖਿ ਸੁਣਾਏ ॥੭॥: Giaan dhyaanu le samsar rahai. Gurmukhu eku virlaa ko lahai. Jis no de kirpaa te sukhu paae. Guroo Duaarai aakh sunaae ||7||: With Divine wisdom and meditation, one abides in the state of Equanimity (evenness, sameness, etc. ). How rare is the one who, by becoming the Gurmukh, attains the One God (Realize God - ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਨਾਲ ਜਾਣ-ਪਛਾਣ). With His Grace, to whom God blesses this, He Sspeaks to him through the Guroo's Door, and (that person) alone finds Peace (ਆਤਮਕ ਆਨੰਦ) ||7|| (sggs 930).
ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਦੇਵਸੀ ਤਿਖਾ ਨਿਵਾਰੈ ਸੋਇ ॥੩੦॥: Guroo Duaarai devsee tikhaa nivaarai so ||30||: Through the Guroo's Door, (to whom the Lord) gives (Naam-Amrit:Aatmic Giaan...), he quenches his thirst (of Maya) ||30|| (sggs 933).
"Dear Devotee, God's Naam or Shabad is the Creator as well as Support of everything. To forsake the Naam (Dvine Name) is death. You have invited death by forsaking Him. Without the Naam, you cannot link with the Essence of the Divinity Within; and your life will waste away in vain. Where does the Naam dwell? This Naam dwells deep Within the nucleus of all beings. There is no place without It. Meditation on the Naam is the true Dharma. Thus, of all the religions the best religion is to meditate on God's Name; which is the most pious deed. So come, and focus your consciousness on Naam."
ਗੁਰ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਨਾਉ ਪਾਈਐ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪਲੈ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥: Gur Duaarai naaou paaeeiai bin satgur pallai n paai Through the Gur's Door, the Name is obtained. Without the Satigur (without seeking His Sactuary), it is not received (sggs 1015).
ਦੇਵਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਕੈ ਹਥਿ ਦਾਤਿ ਹੈ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਪਾਇ ॥ : The Gift (of the Name-Amrit: ਨਾਮ-ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਦੀ ਦਾਤਿ) is in the Hands of the Great Giver (God). At the Guroo's Door, it is received (sggs 33).
ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਭੇਦੀਐ ਕਿਉ ਸੋਹੈ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਿ ॥: Jaab lag Sabad n bhedeeai kiou sohai Gurduaar: Until (one's mind) has been pierced through with the Shabad, how can (one) look beautiful at the Gur's Door? (sggs 19).
bhul chuk maaf