10/21/1949 – 8/11/2021 by SS Haridass Singh Khalsa, Oak Grove, OR 2021 Fourth Quarter Dr. Guru Sandesh Singh Khalsa died unexpectedly on August 11, 2021, at his home in Lake Oswego, OR. He was 71. He was a devoted Sikh and took his Sikh Dharma Minister vows in 1975. Dr. Khalsa, known affectionately as “Dr. K.,” was a respected naturopathic physician and a revered, beloved member of the naturopathic medical profession. He served for decades in many important and trusted roles, including teacher, mentor, college president and dean, accreditor, administrator, and visionary. He touched the entire naturopathic medicine community in
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Archives for 2021 - Fourth Quarter
In Memoriam – SS Guru Sandesh Singh Khalsa
A Greater Sense of Identity
Being a Sikh Dharma Minister gives me a greater sense of identity that is both empowering and solid. It is a constant reminder that there is nothing between God and me and that for the rest of my life I will have an inner Self striving to serve God and Sikh Dharma. As a Sikh Dharma Minister, I will always have to raise the bar of my own consciousness and choose to do the right thing, when perhaps my own ego is telling me otherwise. I will have to be the best I can be, and the identity of a
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Leading by Example
From a very young age, I had a deep restlessness. I was constantly searching for answers about the Self; the origins of life; God; the relationships between human beings; the relationship between life and death; nothingness. These questions led me to look for answers in different religions—questions that were left unanswered most of the time. As my search intensified, I was directed towards the continuity and analysis of various spiritual paths. Naturally, almost magically, after reading several books on Hindu philosophy, I began to ‘feel’ that the path was dimly illuminated in my inquisitive horizon and I understood that perhaps
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Serving with Humility
Being a Sikh Dharma Minister is, first of all, a confirmation for me that I am committed to my Guru, the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, and to my Panth, the Khalsa Panth. I dedicate all my abilities and capacities during this lifetime in service to both. Secondly, being a Sikh Dharma Minister is a duty to be fulfilled in serving the sangat in every way possible. It is serving ALL with utmost humility—including those who are struggling, who are in pain, in fear, in isolation, and in poverty so that they can regain their dignity and center. Guru Gobind Singh
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The Timeless Nature of the Soul
To be a Sikh Dharma Minister has different meanings in different realms of action: At a personal level, as a Sikh Dharma Minister, I can experience and understand my own human life reflected through the crystallization of an understanding and consciousness of the integration of the Sikh teachings and way of life. For the past 21 years, practicing the Sikh teachings, combined with the teachings of Kundalini Yoga and Humanology as taught by Yogi Bhajan, has been my main journey towards self-awareness. This journey has contained several facets, which naturally integrate themselves into an identity which, to me, is that
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To Deeply Listen
To be a Sikh Dharma Minister is upgrading and solidifying my relationship to the Siri Guru Granth Sahib and the Gurus. My personal experience is not personal anymore as I am investing it into the collective space of sharing in the service of the Sangat. The habit and literally, my religious garb, carry the meaning that I am available to serve patiently, selflessly, honestly, and fearlessly. I feel called to upgrade my mind. “To be a Sikh Dharma Minister is upgrading and solidifying my relationship to the Siri Guru Granth Sahib and the Gurus.” All dimensions of myself, all facets
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An Opportunity to Serve
Spiritual Maturity is the path in which we move from individual consciousness to universal consciousness, passing through collective consciousness—unavoidably. There is no shortcut in which we do not consider that we live in society, seeing the other not as a means but as an end. So using the logic of this walk of consciousness, from my individual perspective, being a Minister of Sikh Dharma is an opportunity to serve, and to put myself on that walk. It is an opportunity to give my isht a body to direct my ego, and remember that as a Raj of the Guru my
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A Sevadar of the Guru
I decided to become a Minister of Sikh Dharma because I felt that taking that step is the way that suits me to become a better sevadar of the Guru, to honor the name which was given to me, and to honor my destiny. Then, what does it actually mean to be a Minister? This question came suddenly to my mind during our last monthly Gurdwara program. It was interesting because I was—as I usually am during every Gurdwara program in the last couple of years—worried about every single detail: Is the sound system working well for the kirtanees? Is
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To Be a Lighthouse
Being a Minister of Sikh Dharma is, for me, a vow to be a lighthouse. It is an affirmation of my role as a constant sevadar who, whether through my presence or my actions, works to uplift the people, environments, and situations I come across. The title of Minister is a frequent reminder that reinforces this sacred duty and simultaneously challenges me to keep up, to keep serving, and to rise to meet the challenges of the times with my highest consciousness. This commitment requires a special awareness that will have an impact on my personal sadhana, my daily interactions,
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Service to Humanity
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh! Being a Minister of Sikh Dharma is a tremendous blessing and honor and calls for a strong commitment. Moreover, it is a blessing from the Guru—a gift that the soul can receive only because God Himself has written it on our foreheads. “The life of a Sikh Minister is one of complete service to humanity and deliverance of the legacy of our beloved Sikh Gurus.” The life of a Sikh Minister is one of complete service to humanity and deliverance of the legacy of our beloved Sikh Gurus. As Ministers,
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