Dear Ministers, Recently I watched an interview between historian and demographer Neil Howe and Tony Robbins. The discussion centered around cycles in human history, with reference to the book The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy, by Neil Howe and William Strauss. I felt like I got the CliffsNotes version of the authors’ key concept that these cycles are inevitable and predictable, and have shaped and impacted our lives for generations. Although the book was written in 1997, much of what was detailed in it has come to pass with startling accuracy. I was struck by how much of it could
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Posts by Executive Assistant
Secretary of Religion Column (2022 Third Quarter)
#85 – 2022 Newsletter (Third Quarter)
In 2022, we are exploring the present moment in our Sikh Dharma Ministry. Earlier this year, we examined the core values that unite us as Ministers and shared intimate reflections from our authors on processing change, loss, trauma and grief during these past few turbulent years. For this August issue, we are turning our focus outward, to see what possible gifts have been gained—at the same time acknowledging the ever-changing landscape of the world in the midst of a pandemic, political upheaval, and our own Dharmic organizational challenges. The authors for this issue were asked to reflect on the questions,
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In Memoriam – SS Guru Prem Kaur Khalsa
March 6, 1951 – February 7, 2022 by SS Siri Ved Kaur Khalsa, Coarsegold CA 2022 (Second Quarter) SS Guru Prem Kaur Khalsa was born in Chicago, IL on March 6, 1951, as Nancy Mary Ule. She grew up in Southern California, where she graduated from Rolling Hills High School in 1969 and then attended UCLA. From the time she was very small she was not quite of this world, being innately attuned to that of the spirit. She seemed to cope with childhood traumas by finding solace in her inner world. Guru Prem was uniquely beautiful, quite slender, nearly
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Drawing Inspiration from Bhai Khanayia Ji
by SS Harsimrren Kaur Khalsa, Birmingham, United Kingdom 2022 (Second Quarter) Bhai Khanayia Ji was one of those gentle souls who exist ‘behind the scenes’; but his actions would cause tidal waves in our collective psyche for generations to come. He was part of the sangat during Guru Tegh Bahadur’s time through Guru Gobind Singh’s time on earth. Bhai Khanayia Ji had something profound to share with us. Guru Gobind Singh Ji was fighting to protect Anandpur Sahib. The supply chain into Punjab had been disrupted by the Moghuls in order to try and stifle the Sikhs. Food and water
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Be the Lighthouse During Difficult Times
by SS Chioneso Kulwant Kaur Khalsa, Birmingham, United Kingdom 2022 (Second Quarter) Sat Naam, all Keepers of the Flame: “When things are down and darkest, that’s when we stand tallest.” ~ Yogi Bhajan These are the times when the opportunities to live those words present themselves on so many fronts: COVID with all its attendant dire challenges, somewhat ameliorated now, by Guru’s Grace, due to the fastest discovery of an effective vaccine in the history of vaccines Now another of the ‘Dogs of War,’ released this time in Europe where one least expected it—too accustomed as we are to wars ‘elsewhere’
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Dharma Kaya to Navigate Times of Change, Loss, Trauma and War in the Aquarian Age
by SS Guru Dharam Singh Khalsa, Stockholm, Sweden 2022 (Second Quarter) In March 2020 I was in Aukland, New Zealand, teaching the Level Two module on Vitality and Stress. This was right at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Kiwi authorities were rolling out severe restrictions. Day one of the course took place as planned. But a directive of closure of yoga studios was issued, with just 12 hours notice. The studio owner and I scrambled to set up Zoom and deliver the remaining five days of the training through the medium of cyber electronics. Come the time
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Keeping Up During Times of Challenge
by SS Sat Inder Kaur Khalsa, Kansas City MO 2022 (Second Quarter) These times have been challenging in many ways, but Yogi Bhajan said it would be like this—so I am not surprised. I met Yogi Bhajan in 1976, at the age of 33, and moved into Hacienda de Guru Ram Das a few months later. I participated in ashram life and solstices, and attended as many lectures as I could. Karta Purkh Singh and I married in 1977 and became Sikh Ministers in 1979. As co-directors of Sat Tirath Ashram since 1980, we have had a wealth of opportunities
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Minister News & Notes (2022 Second Quarter)
There is an SSSC election occurring this year, with 8 seats up for re-election. Newly elected SSSC Trustees will take their seats at the Fall Khalsa Council meetings in September 2022. The Office of the Secretary of Religion is here to support all Ministers in getting current so that they can participate in the various aspects of the SSSC election. In order to vote in the election, and write letters of recommendation for Sangat members applying to join the electorate, all Ministers must be in good standing. This means that they will have completed their annual credential renewal process for the 2022-2023 calendar year.
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Secretary of Religion Column (2022 Second Quarter)
Dear Ministers, After having written my own responses to this year’s Minister renewal exam—yes, I too have to do the exam!—I read the first 60-plus responses that were received at the beginning of the renewal period. (And I look forward to reading those that have come in since.) I am both heartened and concerned. To those who took the time to contemplate the questions, and then responded honestly and thoughtfully, I thank you. To those who barely reflected at all, I missed your meditative mind. To those who wrote reactionary, critical responses, so be it. Truly, our Ministry includes many
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In Memoriam – SS Sat Purkha Singh Khalsa
October 28, 1950 – January 12, 2022 by SS Krishna Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM SS Sat Purkha Singh Khalsa (along with Guru Singh, the Siri Singh Sahib, myself, and several others) were the founders of Sunshine Brass Beds in Los Angeles in 1972. It was the first multi-million dollar 3HO business, where during our first year of operations everyone earned an average of 13 cents an hour! He and Baba Singh were outstanding punsters, providing humor while the 10-hour days wore on. Sunshine Brass Beds provided the seed capital for starting a waterbed manufacturing plant in Espanola in 1975. Sat
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