by SS Gurujodha Singh Khalsa, Bakersfield CA Fall 2020 What does it mean to be a Sikh Dharma Minister in the age of Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter? In examining the physical pandemic of COVID-19 and the consciousness affliction known as racism and prejudice in the world, what is the role of the Sikh Dharma Minister? Are we here only to perform weddings and officiate at funerals? Are we strictly consigned to taking hukams and passing out prasad? Yes and no. We must perform each of the aforementioned ministerial functions with grace and dignity. Additionally, it is my view that
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Archives for 2020 - Fall
Standing for Righteousness and Humanity
Carried by the Chant
by SS Sangeet Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix AZ Fall 2020 Of all the mantras and chants I have discovered, practiced, and loved over many decades, undoubtedly my number one choice is the Guru Ram Das Chant. Second only to the Mul Mantra, it is my go-to in times of trouble or discomfort, as well as in times of joy. I remember in the late 1980s in New Mexico, at one of our summer yoga camps, sitting with a group of women in a very hot sweat lodge. In this detoxing, challenging environment it was difficult to breathe. A couple of people
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Smashed!
by SS Siri-Gian Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Fall 2020 I am known as the founder of Soul Answer Healing and Training. This is the story of an experience when I was most challenged. I had to learn through my own pain, so Soul had to heal me! Soul is so simple, kind and pure truth, my best Friend! We experience Soul through the “intuition” of the neutral mind. That is “Sunniai,” Soul’s Listening, and then “Mannai,” Surrender/Neutral, or Following what Soul says. That is the whole process of Japji Sahib (Editor Note: Japji is the “hymn of the soul” written
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Birthing Into a New Era
by SS Sat Tara Kaur Khalsa, Boulder CO Fall 2020 “At the time of the Buddha, there were countless religious and spiritual teachers, each advocating a different spiritual path and practice, and each claiming their teachings were the best and the most correct. One day a group of young people came to ask the Buddha, ‘Of all these teachers, whom should we believe?’ ‘Don’t believe anything, not even what I tell you!’ replied the Buddha. ‘Even if it’s an ancient teaching, even if it’s taught by a highly revered teacher. You should use your intelligence and critical mind to carefully
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Aquarian Sadhana in The Time of Covid
by SS Har Simran Kaur Khalsa, Los Angeles CA Fall 2020 When Yoga West closed its physical space due to the pandemic, I was giddy with delight. For decades, I had kicked myself out of bed and dragged myself to group sadhana, regardless of how late I had gone to sleep the night before. Liberated from the tyranny of the alarm clock, I slept until I woke up and then did my personal sadhana. Three months into this sahej (easy) practice, I started noticing that I was missing something. I have long been intrigued by the people around me who
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Facing the Unknown
by SS Harbhajan Kaur Khalsa, Millis MA Fall 2020 There was a time when I could not have imagined that big business would be given legal precedence over the rights of citizens or that the prophesied “war over water” would ever come to the United States. But neither is a stretch of the imagination now. Change and challenge are non-stop. June of 2020 began with the pandemic taking a back seat to the global protest, “Black Lives Matter.” And July has brought protests in response to not being able to protest without a militarized response. It is not only difficult
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Ministry News and Notes (Fall 2020)
In this time of quarantine, the Secretary of Religion wanted to ensure that individuals seeking to become ordained Sikh Dharma Ministers would have the ability to take their Ministerial vows in a timely fashion. With the advent of online meeting spaces, the Office of the Secretary of Religion (with approval from the Sikh Dharma International Board) made an historic decision this summer to offer “virtual” Minister vows. Traditionally, Sikh Dharma Ministers have been administered their ordination vows at our Winter and Summer Solstices, as well as at the European and Chilean Yoga Festivals, and—in some rare cases—within their local sangats.
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Secretary of Religion Column (Fall 2020)
Our community has been hit by a virtual tidal wave. We have been confronted and shaken to our very core. We have been forced to look at disturbing information and accusations, and yes, all of this in the middle of a global pandemic. Whether you believe the information that has surfaced or not, these circumstances have thrown us individually and collectively into deep and profound grief. The polarization that has manifested in our communities as a result of these events is disheartening. It is essential for our survival and future to devise a way to bridge the gap between opposing
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#77 Fall 2020 Newsletter
Throughout this year we have been exploring the qualities of Guru Ram Das and the Neutral/Meditative Mind and how these qualities are fundamental to our ability to serve one and all as Ministers and leaders in the Aquarian Age. The theme for this Fall issue is Self-Reflection: Fostering it in Ourselves. These are challenging times. Standing under those we serve—especially during times of great stress and transformation—is predicated on being able to stand by one’s self. It is important for each of us, as Ministers, to do our own internal work in order to then bring kindness, compassion, authenticity, and
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