by SS Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Summer 2016 In the month of Vaisakh we celebrate the birth of the 9th Sikh Guru—Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib. His life is an epic story of bravery and fearlessness, devotion and meditation, and ultimately the sacrifice of his own life for freedom of religion.[1] Guru Gobind Singh ji writes with loving respect about his holy father in his autobiographical Bichitra Naatak: Guru Teg Bahadur became the protector of the sacred thread and the tilak; He gave the highest sacrifice so that we remember forever; He gave his head as an offering without the
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Monthly Archives June 2016
Sweet Sloks of Guru Teg Bahadur
Moving in the World
by SS Dev Suroop Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Summer 2016 Over the past several weeks, I’ve been reflecting on the Subtle Body in relation to my actions as a Sikh Dharma Minister. I first pondered on how I actively minister, since I rarely perform ministerial duties such as weddings and other ceremonies. I believe that we minister all the time—in our work, play, family life, and in the way we move around in the world. In my experience, the action of ministering in those circumstances is rarely overt. Most of the time, ministering involves being as present as possible in
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The Perfection of Creation
by SS Gurutej Singh Khalsa, Singapore Summer 2016 This creation is one of absolute perfection and within that perfection exists the miraculous human incarnation. Since time immemorial, human beings have been trying to understand the perfection, mystery, and purpose of the incarnation, and in fact, the creation itself. When I was young, I had to write a term paper about what I wanted to do when I grew up. I wanted to be a surgeon and as part of the research for the paper I had to interview someone in that line of work. A very kind surgeon agreed to
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Compass of the Soul
by SS Gurudev Singh Khalsa, Austin TX Summer 2016 The ability to experience our physical body has served us well throughout our long history of evolution, and has been instrumental to our survival. It tells the story of what we can see, touch and feel with our five senses. Millennia ago, a long lineage of seers—rishis, yogis, saints, philosophers—began exploring the unseen, hidden part of the story, driven by the need to understand why we humans suffer. To “see the unseen,” they did not seek to build a special machine to measure the outside world; rather, they turned inwardly, making the
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Many-Colored Hues
by SS Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix AZ Summer 2016 The poetry of the Gurus is exquisite, embodying the divine in material form. To bring this subtlety into earthly form, the Gurus were able to serve as God’s channels, letting the divine flow through them by setting their egos aside. This channeling of the infinite is the source for creative works that have endured for centuries. The term “beautiful” is often used to describe such works. Through the expression of the Subtle Body, the harmonious relationship of the parts to the whole that manifests beauty comes into play in poetry, music, dance,
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Ministry News and Notes (Summer 2016)
The Office of the Secretary of Religion announces our NEW! online Minister Renewal System to facilitate annual Minister credential renewals through a secure online portal. You can review and update your Minister record, submit your renewal letters and exams, and securely pay your annual Minister fees. For assistance with your 2016 Minister Renewal or to catch up on past year’s renewals, contact Executive Assistant SS Sarb Nam Kaur Khalsa at [email protected]. Sikh Dharma International presents the SDI Academy tent at Summer Solstice 2016, offering a schedule of more than 20 classes and events about various aspects of Sikh Dharma presented
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Secretary of Religion Column (Summer 2016)
Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh! It has been a year since I first wrote to you about the inception of the Regional Minister Coordinator (RMC) program. The following is an update: The RMCs have met as a virtual group four times. We are defining, developing, and implementing this new infrastructure of volunteer sevadars to better serve the Ministry as a whole. We are striving to follow in the footsteps of Guru Amar Das from the 1500s, with a modern structure for the Aquarian Age. Our intent is to build this slowly and gradually in a
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#60 Summer 2016 Newsletter
Throughout 2016, our Ministry newsletter is focused on the Subtle Body. We invited Sikh Dharma Ministers to reflect on how we impact the world through our Subtle Bodies. Especially, how do we use the Subtle Body to support us in situations of challenge as we serve as teachers, leaders, and healers of the Aquarian Age? “If in subtlety you become very refined and in activity you become very subtle, you are very near to your soul….The spirit and the Subtle Body are very much related, they never leave each other. So anything which is refined—refined art, refined acts, refined speech…will put you nearer
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