by SS Siri Vedya Singh Khalsa, Albany CA
Spring 2019

Ever since I was invited to share my reflections on the gift of Positive Mind, I have found myself exploring my internal world to question: Just what are the cables within me that hold my positivity, my hopefulness about myself and the future, and my deep desire to participate in the healing of this world and nurturing into reality the Age of Aquarius?

I know that, numerologically-speaking, 2019 is a “3” year that represents Positive Mind. I also have a “3” in my personal numerology, given my May 3rd birthday. I am a positive person—I do not despair the world’s present condition. I do take heart in the Siri Singh Sahib’s teaching that the Age of Aquarius has begun. Changes that were previously considered naïve or unrealistic are about to become the new normal, such as how kindly we will treat each other, and the kind of treatment we will expect from others.

Change can come quickly. I live in Northern California, where the change in seasons is not that dramatic. But I once spent a year in Norway, working on a farm. The change from winter to spring was so sudden; one day it was cold, with bare trees and fierce winds and the next day everything had changed. The trees quickly began to leaf out, the warmth returned, and the world was new!

Guru Amar Das’ example inspires me to be open to positive change and to listen to the subtle voices of the positive mind. He had a spiritual practice and was living a graceful life. But when he heard the Bani of Guru Nanak being recited by a relative, he answered the call of his positive mind to follow that sacred sound.

A Tapestry of Experience

When I reflect on the tapestry of experiences and practices that nurture my positive sense of self, I recall that I also heard something that shaped the direction of my life. It was during the relaxation portion of my first Kundalini Yoga class. My body hurt after stretching in ways it had not done in a long time. As I was lying on my back and beginning to relax, I heard a voice say to me: “Welcome Home!” That moment sent my life in a completely new direction. I give credit to my positive mind for being willing to pay attention to that message, even though it would mean profound changes for my life!

Soon after that yoga class, I moved into a 3HO ashram where I began weaving yoga and meditation into my daily practice. These practices over the years have nurtured my positive mind. I also had the great good fortune to marry a woman who has been a constant source of loving support and has always pointed me towards my destiny and not my fate.

Habits of the Positive Mind

Here I share some personal habits that have helped me over the years:

One practice, suggested by the Siri Singh Sahib, is to bless oneself in the morning. I now regularly put my hands on my head first thing in the morning to bless myself to experience a delightful moment of personal kindness. At night, before going to sleep, I ask myself what I am grateful for that day. This hunting for the positive events in the daily round and remembering, allows me to appreciate more deeply the gifts in my life.

Another tool I enjoy is humor. I love making people laugh! If used well and used gracefully humor serves as a gift to make others feel joy. It fills my heart as well. Finally, my experience of mostly wearing full Bana (especially now that my beard is almost completely white), has become a pillar of support to my positive sense of self.

I  saw a funny bumper sticker that reads something like “Be the person your dog thinks you are!” Well, my version is “Be that wise, radiant, kind and uplifting saint that you see in the mirror!” My intention to match my external projection deeply supports my ability to be positive and to look for the subtle potential in each moment and in each person.

About the Author

SS Siri Vedya Singh 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 since 1977. One of his great joys is to share stories from Sikh history, the life of the Siri Singh Sahib, and other sacred tales in his yoga classes, in gurdwara, and in public settings.