by SS Guru Shabad Singh Khalsa, La Jolla CA Winter 2012 I have just finished recording the first in a series of four Gurbani CDs called Beloved. While I was looking for shabads to put to music, I wanted to find one that would specifically talk about saints. The shabad I found was Bhinee Rainareeai, written by Guru Arjan. The night is wet with dew and the stars sparkle in the heavens. The saints remain wakeful; they’re the Beloveds of My Lord. The Beloveds of God remain ever wakeful, remembering the Nam, the Name of God, night and day. In
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Posts by Executive Assistant
Singing the Praises
Secretary of Religion Column (Winter 2012)
The journey of an idea: I was in the Executive Committee meeting for the Siblings of Destiny group when I first learned that the Office of the Secretary of Religion was being asked to give a 15-minute presentation at the meetings in less than a month. I was happy that the Ministry was being included with the non-profit presentation. I didn’t want to just talk about the Ministry. I wanted to do something informative, interesting and fun that would have some impact. A video came to mind. After the meeting I talked to Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur, our Assistant Secretary
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#46 Winter 2012 Newsletter
The theme for our 2012 quarterly Sikh Dharma Ministry newsletters is Guru Arjan: Teacher, Leader, Healer and Bringer of Prosperity. Using Tantric Numerology, the year 2012 embodies the vibration of the Fifth Guru, whose poetry and life inspire us to reach out and teach through our presence as Sikh DharmaMinisters. The topic for the Winter issue is Guru Arjan as Bringer of Prosperity. If we think of the word “prosper” in its roots of “pro” and “spirit,” we see that in his life and in his sacrifice in death, Guru Arjan was always intent on uplifting the human spirit. For this issue we have selected
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Healing the Master
by SS Sat Kartar Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Fall 2012 It was in May 1992, at noontime in Espanola. Siri Singh Sahib Ji had just returned from his travels and was preparing to stay for the summer. He was at the dining table at the Ranch, eating with a few members of the staff, when I returned from doing seva, with mop and rugs in hand. He saw me and invited me to sit and share the lunch. As you can imagine, I was rather overwhelmed! I had only met the Master a few times before, during Tantric or meditation classes,
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Exemplifying Sacrifice
by SS Guru Dharam Singh Khalsa, Mehedeby, Sweden Fall 2012 As the fifth Guru of Sikh Dharma, Guru Arjan Dev ji exemplified the qualities associated with that number in the numerological system expounded by the Siri Singh Sahib ji. As a Spiritual Teacher, Guru Arjan exemplified and defined the path of Sikh Dharma by collating and creating the first version of what would become the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred seal of the Khalsa Panth. Guru Arjan himself wrote approximately one-half of the Adi Granth, which contains much of the finest spiritual poetry ever produced by humanity. It is interesting
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The Color of Guru’s Love
by SS Dr. Harijot Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM Fall 2012 Guru Arjan healed people through the heart center. He worked with love and kindness. His shabads are universally powerful affirmations, regardless of one’s belief system. As a Sikh, I am especially a devotee of Guru Nanak. He was a prophet and a messenger of how to connect with God. He brought people directly to God. He used chanting and meditation to open the heart and taught people how to see the humanity in all. We are all children of God. He used the words “Sat Nam” or “My identity is
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Longing Into Love
by SS Dr. Sham Rang Singh Khalsa, Millis MA Fall 2012 Hearts are so easily broken: the loss of loved ones, the unfulfilled longing for that perfect partner, the betrayals from those who were dear to us, hopes and expectations dashed. And so often we do not know how to cope, what to do to change things or ourselves, or how to mend. In Sikh history, the story of Guru Arjan has shown us a way. Guru Ram Das had sent his youngest son Arjan far away, with instructions not to return until called for. Arjan loved his Guru so deeply that
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Healing and the Mind
by SS Subagh Kaur, São Paulo, Brazil Fall 2012 Guru Arjan ji reminds us in Sukhmani Sahib that when we “Meditate, meditate, meditate, peace is obtained, Worry and anguish are expelled from the body.” With the technology of Kundalini Yoga and its profound effects on the psyche through mantra and meditation, we have striking evidence from our students’ feedback, that they receive relief from their worry and anguish. We see this in their smiles as they gratefully leave the class. May the teachings prevail as we move further into the Aquarian years. Wahe Guru! I had been asking the Universe for
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Kundalini Yoga and Sikh Dharma
by MSS Guru Raj Kaur Khalsa, Vancouver BC, Canada Fall 2012 It is the Shabad Guru which unites us to the Infinite, through the meditation on the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. Kundalini Yoga prepares us to hear that Shabad. While compiling Victory & Virtue (Sikh Dharma Manual), we were aware that it would be read by Sikhs who chose to become Sikhs, as well as those who were born into a Sikh family, usually of Indian origin. At the time we created this manual, most of those individuals who chose the Sikh path had been inspired to do so through the
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Ministry News and Notes (Fall 2012)
by SS Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Assistant Secretary of Religion Fall 2012 At Summer Solstice 2012, by Guru’s grace, seven individuals were ordained as Sikh Dharma Ministers. This is the largest number of people that have taken Minister vows at one time in many years. The early morning was charged with the Prana of the Ransubhai Kirtan and the sadhana that followed, which included the Bowing Jaap Sahib kriya. The Amrit Ceremony had just ended and the Gurdwara door rolled up, revealing the majestic energy to the sangat. The seven Minister candidates were called forward. Each of them bowed, then
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