by SS Shiva Singh Khalsa & SS Shabad Kaur Khalsa, Evanston, Illinois
2024 (Third Quarter)

When the Catholic Church decided to open dialogue with other Christian traditions, it was called ecumenical dialogue. When they decided it was a good idea to talk to the other Abrahamic faiths—Judaism and Islam—it was called interfaith. When the Parliament of the World’s Religions met in 1893 in Chicago it opened the gate to interreligious dialogue where everyone spoke to everyone.

For us as Sikhs this should sound very familiar! Guru Nanak exemplified a life of interreligious dialogue. It is part of a Sikh minister’s ‘DNA’ to see God in all and serve all. Guru Arjan Dev Ji taught us that “No one is my enemy, and no one is a stranger. I get along with everyone.”

Being a Minister of Sikh Dharma has also been a blessing, for it allows the opportunity to represent Sikhi in a leadership role within both the diverse sangat and interreligious community.

Interestingly, when we became active in the Punjabi Sikh community in Chicago, it naturally became a kind of interfaith outreach! Sadly, there were several tragedies, and we were invited to step into healing leadership roles that cemented our acceptance in the sangat.  Shabad Kaur did several weeks of art therapy with the children after a small child was killed brutally in the Gurdwara.

There was also a series of suicides by young Punjabi men that inspired our collaborative project with fellow psychological professionals in the sangat called “It Takes a Sangat.” About 20-25 families attended, and we first separated children and parents into two different meeting rooms, asking them similar questions about familial expectations and pressures. We then brought them all back together and shared our observations and offered ideas to bridge the generation gap. It was very powerful when a young girl was speaking, and her father interrupted to speak for her and she confronted him.  All were moved when he apologized! 

In the late 1990s, a portion of the sangat came together to create the Gurdwara Sahib of Chicago. We were founders along with the Punjabis.  As part of our goal to avoid politics, we had Shiva Singh read the Hukam in English.  Shabad Kaur organized a wonderful weekly children’s program and summer camp that inspired children and families alike.

This presence in Chicago led to many opportunities for interfaith work… 

Shabad Kaur has been invited on numerous occasions to speak at women’s interfaith events as a Sikh woman.  She often introduces the powerful teaching of Guru Nanak’s Bhand Jamee-ai.  The impact of “Wthout woman there is only God” makes it clear how Sikhs view the strength of women.

We attended and were active in representing Sikh Dharma at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in 1993 in Chicago.  Since then, Shiva Singh in particular has been involved with the Parliament, including on the Planning Committee for the 1999 Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, which he attended, and as a presenter, again in Salt Lake City 2015, and Chicago 2023.

We feel most proud of our Rogers Park Interreligious Council, formed in the early 1990s and made up of 18 religious organizations in that (very diverse) Chicago neighborhood. We would regularly meet in different houses of worship where educational presentations were offered to community members about that particular faith. No proselytization was permitted. We also had annual events with over 300 people attending. Consider the event at a Catholic Church, where  after Mass the older ladies would come down and the folks from ISKCON (International Society of Krishna Consciousness) would serve them a vegetarian lunch! This collaboration created decade-long friendships.

After 9/11 Shiva Singh participated in the Superintendent of Chicago Police Multicultural Hate Crimes Forum for 2 years. We shared with law enforcement information about the Sikh faith, our traditions, including 5 K’s. (You can imagine how kirpans got their attention!)  When four Jathedars from the Takhats came to Chicago in 2005, Shiva Singh informed law enforcement about their flight in advance. Since we had prepared the police, they provided security for the guests who were carrying their full-sized swords in baggage claim!

The Gift of Hope Interfaith Council provided another important opportunity to serve.  Gift of Hope is the organization that coordinates tissue and organ donation in this area.  Our diverse group created training materials and provided support in overcoming religious and cultural obstacles to donation.

For many years the Sikh sangat and Spirit Rising Foundation, our not-for-profit, have partnered with various faith groups to serve the homeless and the underprivileged with meals at various times including Thanksgiving and Christmas.

We are always inspired to serve in every way, to find our ‘common grace’!

Learn More about the Partnership for Prevention & Community Safety Initiative in Chicago

Featured Photo: SS Shiva Singh at the Gift of Hope Interfaith Council.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

SS Shiva Singh Khalsa ordained as a Sikh Dharma Minister in 1976, is recognized as a leader in the interreligious community and an activist of HIV prevention and care of the aged and infirm. He is a KRI Mentoring Lead Teacher Trainer, E RYT-500, YACEP and President of Spirit Rising Foundation. Shiva Singh has taught and lectured on yoga and meditation, spirituality and transformation since 1971. He has been active with the Parliament of the World’s Religions since 1993 and is a co-founder of Gurdwara Sahib of Chicago. Shiva Singh has represented Sikh Dharma at scores of events, including the Chicago Police Multicultural Forum post 9/11. He is a member of the Gift of Hope Interfaith Council, a member of the Human Rights Commission and former member of the SDI board.

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SS Shabad Kaur Khalsa is an ordained Sikh Dharma Minister and co-founder of Gurdwara Sahib of Chicago. She is an LCPC, LMFT, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT, a KRI Lead Teacher Trainer and co-founder of Spirit Rising Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to spread the teachings of Kundalini Yoga to all. She has taught Kundalini Yoga for over 30 years, and as a yoga therapist and psychotherapist, she integrates the teachings into treatment plans. Shabad Kaur is passionate about bringing forth yogic teachings for the empowerment of women.  She has transcribed, edited and illustrated several 3HO books, including Flow of Eternal Power and The Mind. Shabad Kaur also organizes and leads the Annual Midwest Women’s Yoga Retreat.