by SS Siri Vedya Singh Khalsa, Albany, California
2026 (Second Quarter)

There has been recent psychological research that looks into the dynamics of how empathy and compassion, which then give rise to acts of kindness, are manifested in our lives.

Two of the findings really touched my heart. The first finding was that there exists in the world a huge amount of undelivered kindness. The other finding was that people tended to vastly underestimate just how valued, appreciated and impactful even the smallest acts of kindness are to the people that receive them.

This ocean of undelivered kindness exists because people are not sure if it is the right time, or if they know the right way, or if they have the right words to express a kindness they would like to deliver.

Many acts of kindness go undelivered because they are thought to not have much value. As a Minister, I ask myself, how can I treat people more faithfully in the ways I would like to be treated?

In our Dharma, we have the concept of the “soldier/saint” (Sant Sipahi). I have usually thought of this concept to mean that there are times when one has to bring courage, strength, commitment to meet the challenges of life. Then, there are other times where the profound compassion and kindness of a saint are needed to be expressed.

Increasingly, it seems to me that I need to deepen my connection to that warrior’s courage to be the foundation upon which my capacity for empathy, compassion and kindness are supported.

I have found myself reflecting on the attributes of the names of the five dear Sikhs who came forward and offered their heads on that first Baisakhi Day,

It seems that it is no coincidence that the first person to come forward and offer their head was Bhai Daya Singh. Daya…Compassion…which then gets manifested as acts of kindness.

It seems clear that one of the foundation stones of the Khalsa is to cultivate the capacity to deliver kindness.

Can the names of the four Sikhs who came after Bhai Daya Singh be seen as the instructions as to what is needed to live a life informed and dedicated to compassion and kindness?  Can this be a Sikh Minister’s formula to being able to see themselves in others?

To move through the world with the compassion of Bhai Daya Singh, by weaving the discipline of a Dharmic life that Bhai Dharam Singh’s name calls for. That Dharmic life yields the capacity for courage that Bhai Himmat Singh represents. One develops the daily competence that Bhai Mohkam Singh’s name invokes. Finally, it all blossoms into a radiant presence expressed in the name of Bhai Shahib Singh.

A Personal Story

Let me close with a short personal story of how I, as a friend and as a Minister, did not fully deliver the kindness I intended for someone in need.

My dear friend, and fellow Minister, had hip surgery some time ago.

Knowing they were beginning recovery, I wanted to reach out to wish them well.

My first thought was to call, but I was concerned that I might wake them up, or call at a bad time…

I feared that my intended act of kindness would not be welcomed.

I decided to send them a text message on behalf of my wife and I letting them know we were thinking of them, and wishing them a speedy and full recovery.

The next day my daughter called me said, “Dad, I just called and spoke with your friend! They were so glad to hear from me. We had a wonderful conversation!”

That call was a lesson learned for me.

Next time, I will call upon my inner Panj Pyare, and make the phone call!

Sat Nam.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SS Siri Vedya Singh Khalsa was the Director of Guru Ram Das Ashram in San Francisco from 1979 through 1995. He has been teaching at the Kundalini Yoga Center in San Francisco and recently via Zoom, since 1977. One of his great joys is to make sacred stories come alive in their telling in a yoga class, a Gurdwara or in a public setting.