March 16, 1946 – December 17, 2024 by SS Harbhajan Kaur Khalsa 2025 (First Quarter) Sangeet Kaur is probably best known for her angelic voice, and the uplifting melody she drew from the ethers for the Dhan Dhan Ram Das Gur recording. But she al ...
by MSS Nirvair Singh Khalsa, Santa Rosa, California 2025 (First Quarter) What is Shuniya? Here are few quotations from Yogi Bhajan. “In science of yoga it is called pratyahar or it is the science of shuniya or best word in English is the science of z ...
by SS Gurucharan Singh Khalsa, Claremont, California 2025 (First Quarter) I have been taught that we are Spiritual Beings, having a Human Experience. This feels true to me. In this human form, we can serve, we can elevate; we are challenged and can g ...
by SS Hargopal Kaur Khalsa, Los Angeles, California 2025 (First Quarter) Challenges in life? These days (and maybe always), there are so many opportunities to grow! Here are some of my practices that may help sail through the rough seas. Dropping att ...
by SS Shiv Charan Singh Khalsa, Moucheira, Portgual 2025 (First Quarter) To answer some of these questions posed on Shuniya, or rather to make sense of my answers, I might first say a few things as to what Shuniya is for me. My sense of Shuniya is no ...
by SS Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Espanola, New Mexico 2025 (First Quarter) “Oh mind, the most exalted and glorious thing that you can do, is to recognize the Divine Reality in you.” Ashtapadi 3, Verse 3, Sukhmani Sahib, from Guru Arjan On Guru Ra ...
by SS Bachitar Kaur Khalsa, Engen, Germany 2025 (First Quarter) “Shuniya” is often described as a state of neutrality, emptiness, or zero-point. Sunn, a Punjabi form of the Sanskrit Sunya, is rooted in terms meaning “to swell, ...
Two new Ministers were ordained at the International Kundalini Yoga Festival in Chile: SS Rai Singh and SS Sat Bachan Kaur, a beautiful couple from Valdivia, Chile! Rai Singh and Sat Bachan Kaur were ordained during morning Gurdwara at the Internatio ...
Dear Ministers, It’s a new year, and a new theme for our Minister e-newsletter: Shuniya or the “zero point.” Ministers had a little preview of this with our year-end “gift” to Ministers—the 2024 Winter Solstice Gift, on “Neutrality in Times of Chaos. ...
The calendar year 2025 carries the vibration of the Subtle Body—the subtle perceptual ability to sense the Infinite and universal reality within the material and physical worlds. In his life, Guru Teg Bahadur, our ninth Guru, embodied these traits. G ...
January 9, 1948 – September 28, 2024 A Life of Devotion and Service Originally Published in the Los Angeles Times on October 6, 2024 Dr. Soram Singh Khalsa, a pioneer in integrative medicine, passed away surrounded by love and grace on Septemb ...
by SS Nirmal Kaur Khalsa, Vancouver, Canada 2024 (Fourth Quarter) It is such an honour to serve in the court of the Guru. It is a constant teaching and teacher. It is a reminder that to serve the Guru is a blessing and a nourishment of the soul. I h ...
by SS Inderpal Singh Bola, Berkshire, United Kingdom 2024 (Fourth Quarter) Being asked to write about the seva I do is the most uncomfortable thing I could imagine. On one level, it can inspire readers to do more. But it can also go horribly wrong if ...
by MSS Hari Dharam Kaur Khalsa, Española, New Mexico 2024 (Fourth Quarter) The Siri Singh Sahib once said that we simply need to be ready to receive the Aquarian Age energy by looking within ourselves, where we will recognize that we are the Guru. G ...
From November 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025, Sikh Dharma International is coordinating a daily global meditation for peace (a 90-day meditation). During this 90-day period, different geographic areas have signed up to lead the 31-minute meditation on ...
Dear Ministers, Seva is the cornerstone of our Ministry. Yes, it is selfless service, an offering from the heart, free from ego or expectation. It is between you and your soul. It’s not something we normally give praise for. Yet, there are times when ...
This year’s newsletter series has celebrated Ministers who are engaged in meaningful service—in their communities and around the world. This seva looks different for each Minister, but the desire to serve and uplift from the heart is the unifying thr ...
by SS Jujhar Singh, Birmingham, UK 2024 (Third Quarter) Serving without Judgement The times are tough: our families, communities, societies appear more polarized than ever. When one is out there trying to be the Guru’s conduit, it is very difficult ...
by SS Atma Chanan Kaur Khalsa, Ph.D., Little River, California 2024 (Third Quarter) “Thousand are Thy forms, and yet Thou has no form.” When I think of religion and interfaith, two ongoing events come to mind: the war between Israel and Palestine and ...
by MSS Kirtan Singh Khalsa, Espanola, New Mexico 2024 (Third Quarter) Sat Nam. In God I dwell, and in His Name I write these words. In 1985 the Siri Singh Sahib Ji appointed me to serve as the Secretary of the Gurdwara at Guru Ram Das Ashram, Los Ang ...
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 t ...
by SS Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix, Arizona 2024 (Third Quarter) Strings of overhead lights illuminated the intricate patterns of the marble courtyard. Around the edge, members from the Arizona Interfaith Movement engaged in conversation with guests ...
by SS Sham Kaur Khalsa, La Paz, Bolivia 2024 (Third Quarter) As Sikhs, our active participation in interreligious dialogues around the world is nourished by the inclusive teachings of our faith. In 2023, I had the honor of experiencing this firsthand ...
Three new Ministers were ordained in Summer 2024: SS Dr. Darshan Singh Khalsa (Virginia, USA), SS Avtar Kaur Khalsa (Hessen, Germany) and SS Bachitar Kaur Khalsa (Engen, Germany). Darshan Singh took his vows in-person at the Sadhana Gurdwara at Hacie ...
Dear Ministers, There are three ways that our global Sikh Dharma International Ministry seeks to create a sense of community for our Ministers. One is through the quarterly e-newsletters for Ministers by Ministers. Another is through the Minister Ga ...
This year’s newsletter series celebrates Ministers who are engaged in meaningful service—in their communities and around the world. This seva looks different for each Minister, but the desire to serve and uplift from the heart is the unifying thread ...
by SS Guru Simran Kaur Khalsa, Espanola, New Mexico 2024 (Second Quarter) New Mexico is #2 in child hunger in the nation. Food4KidsNM began as a volunteer program to serve the elementary school children of Northern New Mexico who do not get enough (o ...
by SS Jivan Joti Kaur Khalsa, PhD, Santa Cruz, New Mexico 2024 (Second Quarter) Sikhs have a long tradition of serving food. One of the earliest accounts of this practice dates from 1481, when the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak, was 12 years old. He too ...
by SS Siri Chand Singh Khalsa, Santa Cruz, New Mexico 2024 (Second Quarter) When I was asked to share my experiences with the evening chanting and langar program that we hold at the Hacienda de Guru Ram Das ashram in Espanola, it got me thinking abou ...
by SS Hari Kirn Kaur Khalsa, Los Angeles, California 2024 (Second Quarter) As a young girl, I was dropped off at our church each Sunday to sit with my grandmother, who waited for me in the same place in the same pew. I sat quietly, wearing my white c ...
by MSS Krishna Kaur Khalsa & Keval Kaur Khalsa, Los Angeles, California 2024 (Second Quarter) Everything is a Gift Wahe Guru JI Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh! It was about 50 years ago that around 9-10 of us Kundalini Yoga Teachers vowed to be ...
by SS Prem Kaur Khalsa, Guadalajara, Spain 2024 (Second Quarter) The Inner Core of Service When I started working and training at the Secretariat as a young newcomer to the USA and the Dharma, Ram Das Kaur, the then-Secretary of Religion, told me a s ...
All Ministers are invited to attend an in-person Minister Gathering at Summer Solstice at Ram Das Puri, New Mexico, USA! The gathering will be facilitated by SS Dr. Sat Kaur Khalsa, Secretary of Religion, and will be taking place on Sunday, June 16, ...
Dear Ministers, During the 40 days prior to Baisakhi 2024, what were your experiences as you chanted, listened to, or recited the beautiful shabd by Bhagat Ravi Das Ji? I found it deeply comforting, in the midst of major changes and a difficult Mercu ...
The calendar year 2024 carries the vibration of the Pranic Body–the source of infinite energy available for us to raise our vitality, elevate our spirit, and serve in the world. This year’s newsletter series celebrates Ministers who are engaged in me ...
April 17, 1947 – February 22, 2024 by SS Gurujot Kaur Khalsa 2024 (First Quarter) Sada Anand Singh passed away suddenly on Thursday, February 22nd, as he was on his way to teach in Taiwan and then lead a Yatra to the Golden Temple in India. Li ...
October 18, 1939 – February 21, 2024 by Jiwan Shakti Kaur Khalsa 2024 (First Quarter) “As the rays of light blend into the sun and water merges into water, so does the soul merge into the Divine and becomes whole.” – Siri Guru Granth Sahi ...
September 24, 1944 – January 3, 2024 2024 (First Quarter) Ram Dass Singh was born in Boise, Idaho, but spent his childhood in the Pacific Northwest. He studied communication at the University of Washington, then began his journey with Kundalini ...
by SS Sukhdev Kaur Khalsa, Raasiku, Estonia 2024 (First Quarter) I’m sitting by the window at our MPA campus. The winter fog has draped the whole of Punjab, bringing a deep calm into the surroundings. Nevertheless, as we celebrate Guru Gobind S ...
by SS Sat Sansar Singh Khalsa, Santiago, Chile 2024 (First Quarter) What does the word ‘Minister’ mean to you? Being a Minister is for me an identity that is shared with a lineage of women and men who through the ages have been an inspira ...
by SS Nam Nidhan Kaur Khalsa, Santiago, Chile 2024 (First Quarter) For a few decades now, the internet has opened the doors to homes and hearts around the world. It has shown us the beauty, as well as the ignorance, dreams and aberrations, that are c ...
by SS Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Espanola, New Mexico 2024 (First Quarter) Where There is Courage, There is Happiness Soon after I became a Kundalini Yoga teacher in December 1971, I had the sensation that there was an unseen sangat—a not yet ide ...
Annual Sikh Dharma Minister credential renewal notices will be sent out at the end of February. This is an exam year, so be sure to complete your renewal early this year! Our electronic Minister Renewal System facilitates annual Minister credential ...
Dear Ministers, A new year, a new focus, a new time and space. Unfortunately, at the same time the turmoil present on our planet continues and, in some places, escalates. The same is true in our Dharma. I posed a question in this column (4th quarter ...
The calendar year 2024 carries the vibration of the Pranic Body–the source of infinite energy available for us to raise our vitality, elevate our spirit, and serve in the world. Our goal for this year’s newsletter series is to celebrate Ministers who ...
June 19, 1929 – November 8, 2023 by SS Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa 2023 (Fourth Quarter) The day before Shakti Parwha Kaur left her body, a book arrived for me in the mail. From a Far and Lovely Country is the latest in the Number One Ladies ...
by Guruamrit Kaur Khalsa, Bowling Green, Virginia 2023 (Fourth Quarter) Memories When I think about growing up in 3HO, I am overwhelmed with memories. I remember my Mom waking me up during the Amrit Vela when I was a young girl. Walking across the s ...
Interview with SS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 2023 (Fourth Quarter) In 2014, SS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa had a traumatic bicycle accident and almost died. After a long time away from Dharmic activities, he attended this Septembe ...
by SS Guru Sangat Kaur Khalsa, Great Falls, Virginia 2023 (Fourth Quarter) The Olive Branch report and the reports of abuse at the schools in India hit us like a bomb at a birthday party. Feelings have run the gamut from those of betrayal, to those o ...
by SS Dr. Haridass Kaur Khalsa, Los Angeles, California 2023 (Fourth Quarter) In this time and space, what do you value most in your Dharmic life? It has been a long three years with the pandemic and the upheaval in our community. I miss gathering wi ...
by SS Gurumeet Kaur Khalsa, Espanola, New Mexico 2023 (Fourth Quarter) Mere Pyare Sadh Sangat Ji, Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh! Our Sikh Ministry is sharing a powerful concept in this newsletter for our world sangat to contemplate—co ...
SS Shiva Singh Khalsa will facilitate a Minister Gathering at the 2023 Winter Solstice Festival in Lake Wales, Florida! This will be the first in-person Minister gathering since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. It will be taking place on Sunday, ...
Dear Ministers, As we move into the holiday season, my thoughts turn to two words—gratitude and grace. It seems that no matter what spiritual tradition one might follow, there is usually some kind of special celebration or acknowledgement that accomp ...
The concept of Collective Efficacy posits that together we can make meaningful change in our community, whether or not we agree on everything. Working together, anything is possible. Our 2023 Ministry Newsletter series features this concept front and ...
by SS Shiva Singh Khalsa, Chicago, Illinois 2023 (Third Quarter) The 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions was held August 14-18, 2023. This is the 4th Parliament we have attended. It is a week of presentations; plenaries by world-renowned faith a ...
by SS Charansev Kaur Khalsa, Viña del Mar, Chile 2023 (Third Quarter) Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa! Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh! The Ministry Newsletter Team invited me to write an article for the August 2023 issue. As a new mother, I have currently not been act ...
Interview with SS Guru Sangat Singh Khalsa, Great Falls, Virginia This interview was conducted over the telephone by Guruamrit Kaur, Newsletter Editor, on August 25, 2023 2023 (Third ...
by SS Arjan Kaur Khalsa, Mexico City, Mexico 2023 (Third Quarter) It is easier to give an opinion, question, judge, point out or belittle, than—on the contrary—to guide individuals towards values, appreciate their vulnerability, recognize their innat ...
by MSS Guru Raj Kaur Khalsa, Vancouver, Canada 2023 (Third Quarter) Dear Ministers, How are you doing after these last few years of the revelations about Yogi Bhajan, and from our children, oh, and the isolation of COVID?? How ARE you doing? I am ask ...
by MSS Sat Hari Singh Khalsa, Boizenburg, Germany & Guru Ram Das Aquarian Academy 2023 (Third Quarter) Sat Nam, I’d like to talk about our experience in Germany. As a part of the former Guru Ram Das Ashram and Sangat in Hamburg, we were searchi ...
Two new Ministers were ordained in August 2023: SS Inderpal Singh Bola of Berkshire, UK and SS Manjot Singh Khalsa of Gotland, Sweden. Inderpal Singh took his vows in-person at the European Yoga Festival in France, on August 12. Manjot Singh was orda ...
Dear Ministers, Throughout my many years of counseling, I have always shared with clients that everything that happens is purposeful. Yes, even those events that one might call “atrocities.” I certainly have experienced these in my own life many time ...
The concept of Collective Efficacy posits that together we can make meaningful change in our community, whether or not we agree on everything. Working together, anything is possible. Our 2023 Ministry Newsletter series features this concept front and ...
September 13, 1950 – November 23, 2022 by Hearts and Hands 2023 (Second Quarter) SS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa, formerly of Taos and a longtime member of our sangat at Hacienda de Guru Ram Das in Espanola, passed away on November 23, 2022. He was l ...
1949 – 2023 by Guru Mander Kaur Khalsa 2023 (Second Quarter) SS Gian Kaur Khalsa, woman, teacher, mother, grandmother and friend. She was a Kundalini Yoga Lead Trainer and a first-generation student trained by Yogi Bhajan. Gian Kaur discovered ...
by SS Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Espanola, New Mexico 2023 (Second Quarter) After several years of isolation due to the pandemic, women from around the world gathered in February at Dashmesh Sadan in Anandpur Sahib, India, for a ten-day retreat organized by ...
by SS Sat Sansar Singh Khalsa, Santiago, Chile 2023 (Second Quarter) In 2018 I wrote an article for the Ministry Newsletter entitled, “What does it mean to be a Sikh Dharma Minister?” In the last paragraph I wrote, “To me it is a profound ...
by SS Dr. JivanJoti Kaur Khalsa, Santa Cruz, New Mexico 2023 (Second Quarter) Dear Ministers, I wish to thank the Sikh Dharma Ministry for devoting this newsletter to the Progressive Arc of the Resolution of Trauma. I was grateful to be asked to wri ...
by SS Mata Mandir Singh Khalsa, MT 2023 (Second Quarter) This is a time when there are some 80 million refugees in the world, uprooted from their homes, families, villages, temples, culture, and way of life. The causes are many, including oppression, ...
This free online course presented by Sikh Dharma International offers an introductory-level overview of the Sikh Dharma path for those seeking a deeper understanding of the question “What is a Sikh?” This is a great course of study for Sikh Dharma be ...
Dear Ministers, It’s spring in the Northern Hemisphere—a time of renewal. After the winter season, plants begin a new cycle. Some push up from the ground and manifest into flowers; the barren trees bud and produce new leaves. It’s as if the earth is ...
The concept of Collective Efficacy posits that together we can make meaningful change in our community, whether or not we agree on everything. Working together, anything is possible. Our 2023 Ministry Newsletter series features this concept front and ...
This Is How Guru Gobind Singh Did It (By His Own Testimony) by SS Krishna Singh Khalsa, Española, New Mexico 2023 (First Quarter) “Now I relate my own story as to how I was brought here, while I was absorbed in deep meditation. The site was the moun ...
by SS Sukhdev Kaur Khalsa, Raasiku, Estonia 2023 (First Quarter) Life has presented many challenging times in the past three years. We know that hard times follow periods of peace and prosperity, just as there is winter every year, followed by anothe ...
by SS Kulwant Singh Khalsa, West Midlands, United Kingdom 2023 (First Quarter) Aasaa, Seventh House, Fifth Mehl: Meditate continually on the Name of the Lord within your heart. Thus you shall save all your companions and associates. ||1|| My Guru is ...
by SS Gurucharan Singh Khalsa, Claremont, California 2023 (First Quarter) One time a very wise man and I were sitting close together, across from each other. In what seemed to me a sudden move, he placed his hand in a clenched fist near my face. Loo ...
by SS Satwant Singh Khalsa, Leesburg, Virginia 2023 (First Quarter) Sat Nam, Though not a Sat Nam Rasayan expert, I have taken many classes in it and read up some as well. As best as I can explain it, you open a healing space—a sensitive space where ...
Annual Sikh Dharma Minister credential renewal notices will be sent out at the end of February. Since this is a non-exam year, it is easy to maintain that current status by renewing now. This will enable you to continue to fully deliver your unique g ...
Dear Ministers, Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh! We have been launched into the year 2023, ready or not. Indeed, we face many challenges in our Dharmic community. At the same time, the energy is changing. The other day I was reading an ...
The concept of Collective Efficacy posits that together we can make meaningful change in our community, whether or not we agree on everything. Working together, anything is possible. Our 2023 Ministry Newsletter series will feature this concept front ...
by SS Awtar Kaur Khalsa, San Francisco, California 2022 (Fourth Quarter) Every day I feel the pain of division in the sangat. Every day I search for inspiration in Siri Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Nanak uses the image of a forge in the 38th Pauri of Japj ...
by SS Sham Rang Singh Khalsa, Millis, Massachusetts 2022 (Fourth Quarter) My friend verbally attacks me in a meeting. I feel angry and defensive, but I keep my mouth shut. I sit and contemplate as the meeting proceeds. Who are we in this time ...
Introduction by SS Sangeet Kaur Khalsa: In the midst of the funeral and cremation service for a beloved Khalsa brother, my longtime dear friend Guru Meher Kaur and I sought out a quiet spot to sit and share our thoughts and emotions around this day. ...
by SS Gurujodha Singh Khalsa, Coarsegold, California 2022 (Fourth Quarter) Conflict is a flower rising up out of the earth. Conflict is the resistance the mountain gives to the wind. Conflict, movement and change are all part of the same system. Resi ...
by SS Shiv Charan Singh Khalsa, Quinta do Rajo, Portugal 2022 (Fourth Quarter) A personal note: I have spoken out and been damned. I have held my silence and been damned. Therefore, it is with some trepidation that I write this article. I am fully aw ...
by SS Sangeet Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix, Arizona 2022 (Fourth Quarter) As I completed our current Sikh Minister exam, this phrase came immediately to my mind. We (our community of Sikhs and Yogis) are a Force for Good in this World. We must preserve it. ...
The Dying Into Life Journey is a practical yogic guide to life, death and transformation. The Dying Into Life Journey training has three Levels, all held on zoom. Level 1 is a 5+ month in-depth training to prepare one to greet their own death with ...
Dear Ministers, It’s hard for me to fathom that we are already in November! Here in the United States, it’s easy to think about the national holiday of Thanksgiving. I was curious to find out what other countries celebrate the harvest or Thanksgiving ...
In the February 2022 issue of our newsletter, we explored the core values that unite us as Ministers. The May issue offered intimate reflections from our authors on processing change, loss, trauma and grief during these past few turbulent years. For ...
April 18, 1946 – August 25, 2022 A Life Celebrated SS Bir Singh Khalsa was born April 18, 1946, in Chicago, IL, and died August 25, 2022, in Albuquerque, NM. He graduated from Brother Rice College in Davenport, Iowa. He taught 4th grade in Chic ...
June 4, 1954 – August 15, 2022 by SS Gurujot Kaur Khalsa, Leesburg VA 2022 (Third Quarter) Jai Singh was a dear brother and friend, a true Sibling of Destiny. I had the wonderful privilege of working together with Jai Singh over the past 25 yea ...
by SS Har Tirath Kaur Khalsa, Luján, Argentina 2022 (Third Quarter) As I look at this world in crisis, I see it from the viewpoint of someone who lives in a country that is continually in crisis—Argentina. I would like to share this viewpoint with yo ...
by SS Guru Darshan Kaur Khalsa, Puebla, Mexico 2022 (Third Quarter) Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh! Sat Nam Dear Sangat, I’m happy to share with you my inspiration and love of the Guru and the teachings that have given me strength in t ...
by SS Sat Tara Kaur Khalsa, Boulder CO 2022 (Third Quarter) Many years ago, I “accidentally” put together a consortium of international aid organizations. It started with a lunch date for two women whom I wanted to introduce to each other, and it eve ...
by SS Guru Jivan Kaur, Melbourne Australia 2022 (Third Quarter) Sat Nam, dear brothers and sisters, We have all found the last two and a bit years—challenging, shall we say. The uncertainty, the fear; for some illness, for others the loss of income a ...
by SS Atma Chanan Kaur Khalsa, Ph.D., Mendocino CA 2022 (Third Quarter) A month ago, as I was driving away from the Española ashram towards California, I reflected on having taken my recent Minister vows. After two difficult years of a global pandemi ...
There is an SSSC election occurring this year, with 8 seats up for re-election. 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. On ...
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 an ...
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 t ...
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 ...
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 com ...
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 opportu ...
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 authorit ...
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 d ...
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 Mi ...
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 t ...
Throughout 2022, as we look towards the future of the Sikh Dharma Ministry, what does the “present” look like in the face of so much change in the world, in our Dharma, and in our personal lives? We know these are incredibly sensitive and ...
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 ...
May 12, 1948 – December 1, 2021 Sardarni Sahiba Siri Ram Kaur Khalsa was a teacher, a mother, and a healer. She was a trained Montessori teacher and had her own school in Los Angeles, combining yogic teachings with her Montessori training. She ...
by SS Rupinder Kaur Khalsa, Ottawa Canada 2022 (First Quarter) The question I hear the most from new Minister candidates who approach me is: “What is the difference between serving as a Sikh Dharma International Minister and just keeping on serving a ...
by SS Siri Hari Hari Singh Khalsa, Anchorage AK 2022 (First Quarter) Overall a core value, or what I would call a useful skillset, which I rely upon, is tolerance—the capacity for and the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practice ...
by SS Shabad Kaur Khalsa, Evanston IL 2022 (First Quarter) What Gorgeous Thing by Mary Oliver I do not know what gorgeous thing the bluebird keeps saying, his voice easing out of his throat, beak, body into the pink air of the early morning. I like i ...
by SS Dharma Kaur Khalsa, Millis MA 2022 (First Quarter) With the inspiration of the Sikh Gurus and my own family heritage, I am moved to serve the sangat in many ways—as a wife and mother, and in particular with the service of healthy food for the c ...
by SS Kulwant Singh Khalsa, West Midlands UK 2022 (First Quarter) “Come and join together, O my Siblings of Destiny; dispel your sense of duality and let yourselves be lovingly absorbed in the Lord. Let yourselves be joined to the Name of the Lord; b ...
Annual Sikh Dharma Minister credential renewal notices have been sent out in early February. This is an exam year. Be sure to complete your renewal early this year! Our electronic Minister Renewal System facilitates annual Minister credential renewal ...
Dear Ministers, What do we need to hold firm to? What needs to change? What unites us? What divides us? What are our shared values? These are questions that are critical for us, as Ministers, to explore, so that we may remain relevant and responsive ...
Throughout 2022, as we look towards the future of the Sikh Dharma Ministry, our quarterly newsletter will be exploring what unites us and what we hold sacred. What can help to foster unity? What will allow us to remain relevant and responsive to the ...
10/21/1949 – 8/11/2021 by SS Haridass Singh Khalsa, Oak Grove, OR 2021 Fourth Quarter Dr. Guru Sandesh Singh Khalsa died unexpectedly on August 11, 2021, at his home in Lake Oswego, OR. He was 71. He was a devoted Sikh and took his Sikh Dharma ...
Being a Sikh Dharma Minister gives me a greater sense of identity that is both empowering and solid. It is a constant reminder that there is nothing between God and me and that for the rest of my life I will have an inner Self striving to serve God a ...
From a very young age, I had a deep restlessness. I was constantly searching for answers about the Self; the origins of life; God; the relationships between human beings; the relationship between life and death; nothingness. These questions led me to ...
Being a Sikh Dharma Minister is, first of all, a confirmation for me that I am committed to my Guru, the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, and to my Panth, the Khalsa Panth. I dedicate all my abilities and capacities during this lifetime in service to both. Se ...
To be a Sikh Dharma Minister has different meanings in different realms of action: At a personal level, as a Sikh Dharma Minister, I can experience and understand my own human life reflected through the crystallization of an understanding and conscio ...
To be a Sikh Dharma Minister is upgrading and solidifying my relationship to the Siri Guru Granth Sahib and the Gurus. My personal experience is not personal anymore as I am investing it into the collective space of sharing in the service of the Sang ...
Spiritual Maturity is the path in which we move from individual consciousness to universal consciousness, passing through collective consciousness—unavoidably. There is no shortcut in which we do not consider that we live in society, seeing the other ...
I decided to become a Minister of Sikh Dharma because I felt that taking that step is the way that suits me to become a better sevadar of the Guru, to honor the name which was given to me, and to honor my destiny. Then, what does it actually mean to ...
Being a Minister of Sikh Dharma is, for me, a vow to be a lighthouse. It is an affirmation of my role as a constant sevadar who, whether through my presence or my actions, works to uplift the people, environments, and situations I come across. The ti ...
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh! Being a Minister of Sikh Dharma is a tremendous blessing and honor and calls for a strong commitment. Moreover, it is a blessing from the Guru—a gift that the soul can receive only because God Himself ha ...
On September 11, 2021, new Sikh Dharma Minister SS Sukhdev Kaur Khalsa was ordained in a virtual/in-person vow ceremony. The vows were administered via Zoom by Secretary of Religion SS Dr. Sat Kaur Khalsa (assisted by Executive Assistant SS Sarb Nam ...
“From a solid and conscious foundation, expansion takes place.” This line is from one of the affirmations I do daily as part of my morning practice. It refers to the Ministry of Sikh Dharma. 2021 marks the 50th year of our Ministry. We do have a soli ...
With this fourth and final issue of our 2021 newsletter, we begin to move from honoring our past. Throughout this year, we explored the past 50 years of service as Sikh Dharma Ministers (from 1971 through 2021) in our first three quarterly newsletter ...
September 10, 1945 – July 15, 2021 by MSS Daya Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM 2021 (Third Quarter) Many of us 3HOers had known each other for a decade or more before we met Avtar Hari Singh. He’d already grown a business and built a career and bough ...
by SS Dr. Sat Kaur Khalsa, Secretary of Religion 2021 (Third Quarter) It started with a phone call from Satsimran Kaur in early January 2004. She told me that the Siri Singh Sahib’s health was failing and it was time to start preparing for his passin ...
by SS Sarb Nam Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM 2021 (Third Quarter) In early June 2004, after completing a nine-month Journey into the Heart of Sikh Dharma course, I received a phone call from the Secretary of Religion informing me that the Siri Singh Sahib ...
by SS Har Simran Kaur Khalsa, Los Angeles CA 2021 (Third Quarter) Guru Ram Das Ashram in Los Angeles is located in a diverse, affluent, peaceful neighborhood that, in 2006, was rocked by gang violence. Across the street from the gurdwara, Robertson R ...
by SS Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix AZ 2021 (Third Quarter) The attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001 had left our sangat on edge. Images of Osama Bin Laden, with beard and white turban, played over and over a ...
by SS Sat Jivan Singh Khalsa, New York NY 2021 (Third Quarter) SS Sat Jivan Singh was in New York on September 11, 2001. He shared with us his experience of attending an interfaith memorial service on October 11, 2001. He also shared some reminiscenc ...
The Office of the Secretary of Religion of Sikh Dharma International offers congratulations to two newly ordained Sikh Dharma International Ministers, who took their Minister vows in August 2021. Wahe Guru ji ka Khalsa! Wahe Guru ji ki Fateh! Singh ...
As I sat down to write this column a song came into my head—The Times They Are A-Changin’—written by Bob Dylan in 1963. The first stanza says: Come gather ’round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it t ...
The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Sikh Dharma International Ministry. As we contemplate the future, it is also worthwhile to review our past. Our previous two issues looked back at the decades spanning the 1970s through ...
Dec 10, 1948 – April 5, 2021 A Sikh and student of Yogi Bhajan, Sant Singh Sahib Guru Dev Singh was born in Puebla, Mexico in 1948. He felt the call to study the indigenous traditions of his country, which had started to spread and become popul ...
by SS Shiva Singh Khalsa, Chicago IL 2021 (Second Quarter) In 1992, we were informed of the planned Parliament of the World’s Religions (CPWR) event to take place in 1993 in Chicago. This event ultimately welcomed 7,000 people of all faiths, in ...
by SS Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM (as told to Articles Editor SS Sangeet Kaur Khalsa) 2021 (Second Quarter) SS Sangeet Kaur: Shanti Shanti Kaur, please share with us how you came to make the first recordings of the Guru’s Banis in Engl ...
by SS Tarn Taran Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM (as told to/edited by SS Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa) Spring (Second Quarter) Shanti Shanti Kaur: In this issue of the Sikh Dharma Ministry newsletter, we’re reflecting on the evolution of our commun ...
by SS Mahan Rishi Singh Khalsa, Princeton Junction NJ 2021 (Second Quarter) As I reflect on the decades of the 1980s and ‘90s, I observe a shift in the collective energy in the United States and possibly the world. In the 1960s and ‘70s, many young p ...
by SS Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM 2021 (Second Quarter) As I sit in my post-pandemic awareness and think about the decade of the 1980s, it feels like a million miles away…and just like yesterday. For me, and for many in the Sikh Dharma Ministry, ...
Sikh Dharma International (SD) is expecting to put forth a program proposal for the 2021 World’s Parliament of Religions, according to SDI COO MSS Kirtan Singh Khalsa. This is an opportunity for joining together with other religions to discuss ...
We are currently witnessing and experiencing a great many changes in our global communities. There is a need to step back, re-evaluate, and re-structure where appropriate, and sustain what is essential. We are still very much in the grieving process. ...
The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Sikh Dharma International Ministry. As we contemplate the future, we also choose to review our past. In this issue, we explore the tremendous changes that occurred during the 1980s and ’ ...
by SS Krishna Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM 2021 (First Quarter) There was a time when Greed Capitalism was stood upside down, on its head, in a very practical way during the dark, socially-conflicted times of the late 1960s and 1970s. This was when Yogi ...
by MSS Krishna Kaur Khalsa, Los Angeles CA 2021 (First Quarter) My first experience with Sikh Dharma came in February 1971. I traveled with the Siri Singh Sahib on his very first return trip to India, after he had been living in the United States for ...
by SS Mata Mandir Singh Khalsa, MT 2021 (First Quarter) “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”—Lao Tzu My spiritual journey began in Maine’s woods, where I grew up. I was the son of a farmer who taught me how to grow thin ...
by SS Sarb Jit Kaur Khalsa, Ram Das Puri NM 2021 (First Quarter) Editor’s Note: When I invited Sarb Jit Kaur, one of the earliest pioneers in our Dharma, to tell her story, she initially declined, due to her responsibilities as the Aquarian Tra ...
by SS Siri Ved Kaur, Coarsegold CA 2021 (First Quarter) In early 1971, when Yogi Bhajan returned from the first India Yatra with 88 students, he brought back enough copies of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib (8-volume sets with English translation) for eve ...
by MSS Guruka Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM 2021 (First Quarter) Reprinted with permission of the author from Our True Tales website. I guess you could classify me as an “old timer” in 3HO. I first began to discover who I really was in the 19 ...
Congratulations and Wahe Guru to Sardarni Sahiba Hari Bhajan Kaur Khalsa of Espanola, NM, on her recent ordination as a Sikh Dharma International Minister. She was able to take her Minister vows virtually via Zoom at her home gurdwara surrounded by f ...
This year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the Sikh Dharma International Ministry. It is true that 2020 impacted us on many fronts: the pandemic, politics, our Dharma, racial injustice, financial challenges, and much loss. We are still very much in ...
The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Sikh Dharma International Ministry. We are witnessing a time of great change both in the world and in our Dharma. As we contemplate the future, it is essential in this process that we al ...
July 20, 1947 – September 11, 2020 Sardarni Sahiba Ram Das Kaur (nee Lois Katz/aka Rami Katz) served as the Secretary of Religion for Sikh Dharma International through the 1970s and 1980s. She inspired a generation of Khalsa men and wome ...
March 25, 1952 – October 1, 2020 by SS Pritpal Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM Winter 2020 I first met Sada Simran Singh as we both tried to enjoy our bowls of un-spiced boiled wheatberries (a weekly routine in the Pomona ashram) for breakfast ...
by MSS Nirvair Singh Khalsa, Tesuque NM Winter 2020 On a daily basis, I walk in our neighborhood. I walk on dirt roads for 45 minutes to an hour. There is virtually no traffic and just an occasional neighbor with whom to smile, wave, or exchange a fe ...
by SS Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Winter 2020 Sometime in the mid-1970s, the Siri Singh Sahib defined “understanding” as “standing under.” Now, perhaps more than ever, we are called to go within, to become still, to resonate and to ca ...
by SS Hari Charn Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Winter 2020 I am with you. I hear you. I am here for you. These very simple words—I am with you. I hear you. I am here for you—are words from the heart for these times. As Ministers it is a critical time to o ...
by SS Siri Akal Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM Winter 2020 “What’s so funny?” my wife Hari asked, looking up from her book. “I just got an e-mail inviting me to contribute to the next Sikh Dharma Ministry Newsletter,” I replied. “And that’s funny because… ...
In this time of quarantine, the Secretary of Religion wanted to ensure that individuals seeking to become ordained Sikh Dharma Ministers would have the ability to take their Ministerial vows in a timely fashion. Traditionally, Sikh Dharma Ministers t ...
In the previous three issues of this column, I have written about qualities of Guru Ram Das (true listening, neutrality, and the ability to hold polarities), the six stages of change, and the grieving process, along with an assessment tool for unders ...
Throughout this year we have been exploring the qualities of Guru Ram Das and the Neutral/Meditative Mind and how these qualities are fundamental to our ability to serve one and all as Ministers and leaders in the Aquarian Age. The theme for the Wint ...
by SS Gurujodha Singh Khalsa, Bakersfield CA Fall 2020 What does it mean to be a Sikh Dharma Minister in the age of Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter? In examining the physical pandemic of COVID-19 and the consciousness affliction known as racism and p ...
by SS Sangeet Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix AZ Fall 2020 Of all the mantras and chants I have discovered, practiced, and loved over many decades, undoubtedly my number one choice is the Guru Ram Das Chant. Second only to the Mul Mantra, it is my go-to in time ...
by SS Siri-Gian Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Fall 2020 I am known as the founder of Soul Answer Healing and Training. This is the story of an experience when I was most challenged. I had to learn through my own pain, so Soul had to heal me! Soul is so si ...
by SS Sat Tara Kaur Khalsa, Boulder CO Fall 2020 “At the time of the Buddha, there were countless religious and spiritual teachers, each advocating a different spiritual path and practice, and each claiming their teachings were the best and the most ...
by SS Har Simran Kaur Khalsa, Los Angeles CA Fall 2020 When Yoga West closed its physical space due to the pandemic, I was giddy with delight. For decades, I had kicked myself out of bed and dragged myself to group sadhana, regardless of how late I h ...
by SS Harbhajan Kaur Khalsa, Millis MA Fall 2020 There was a time when I could not have imagined that big business would be given legal precedence over the rights of citizens or that the prophesied “war over water” would ever come to the ...
In this time of quarantine, the Secretary of Religion wanted to ensure that individuals seeking to become ordained Sikh Dharma Ministers would have the ability to take their Ministerial vows in a timely fashion. With the advent of online meeting spac ...
Our community has been hit by a virtual tidal wave. We have been confronted and shaken to our very core. We have been forced to look at disturbing information and accusations, and yes, all of this in the middle of a global pandemic. Whether you belie ...
Throughout this year we have been exploring the qualities of Guru Ram Das and the Neutral/Meditative Mind and how these qualities are fundamental to our ability to serve one and all as Ministers and leaders in the Aquarian Age. The theme for this Fal ...
SS Atma Kaur Khalsa, Newport News VA Summer 2020 Sat Nam. I feel that Aquarian Leadership is about healing and unity. It’s the time now to work together, with circles of leadership in which we deeply respect each person’s path and journey of life and ...
by SS Hari Charn Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Summer 2020 Years ago I wrote an article for this newsletter entitled the Ministry of Cookies; in many ways, this is a follow-up to that article. My life’s intentions come down to this: to reach out with an o ...
by MSS Guruka Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM Summer 2020 What is Aquarian leadership? The forces that are elevating the consciousness of this entire planet are increasing logarithmically. In the last 2,000 years the entire planet has never been subjected ...
by SS Sat Jagat Singh Khalsa, Brooklyn NY Summer 2020 It is the challenge and blessing of the Ram Das Puri Kitchen to consciously prepare simple, delicious and nutritious food for more than 2,000 people for eight days. This is made possible because o ...
by SS Dr. Gurusangat Kaur Khalsa, Belo Horizonte Brazil Summer 2020 Berlin can be very damp in summers and the year 1992 brought us an unusually warm July. This particular afternoon was hot and humid. My dear friend Audre Lorde was coming to see me a ...
During this global crisis, we are all experiencing the unexpected effects of the pandemic. Recently, the Office of the Secretary of Religion produced a training module entitled “Trauma-Informed Seva for Sikh Dharma Ministers in Crisis and Disaster.” ...
We are in a gigantic change process in our world at large with the pandemic, in our Dharma with the allegations, and within ourselves as we attempt to deal with such upheaval in our lives. I have struggled with what I might be able to write in order ...
In 2020, we are exploring the theme of “Standing Under Those We Serve” through the lens of Guru Ram Das and the Neutral/Meditative Mind. The theme for the Summer 2020 issue is Meeting the Challenge of Moving Into Aquarian Leadership. We invited Sikh ...
by SS Mahan Rishi Singh Khalsa, Yardley PA Spring 2020 The four pillars of support and service in the Age of Enlightened Leadership are Love, Devotion, Surrender, and Non-Attachment. A leader is blessed with a vision, the power to live it, the skill ...
by SS Siri Krishna Kaur Khalsa, Medway MA Spring 2020 What a beautiful theme…Standing Under Those We Serve. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to reflect and write on this topic. The qualities of Guru Ram Das ji that are foremost in my mind are ...
by SS Angad Kaur Khalsa, New York NY Spring 2020 We learn from stories of Guru Ram Das that he served God in all His manifestations. His service was unconditional. His love was unconditional. Guru Ram Das teaches us to understand God by serving God i ...
by SS Guru Simran Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Spring 2020 “Standing Under Those We Serve” perfectly captures the true spirit of all our Gurus as well as Siri Singh Sahib’s teaching, “If we can’t see God in all, then we can’t see God at all.” ...
by SS Pritpal Singh Khalsa, 2019 Winter Solstice Ministers’ Gathering Facilitator The sun was shining and the tropical warmth of Central Florida created a welcoming atmosphere at the 2019 Sikh Dharma Ministers’ Gathering at Winter Solstic ...
We are living in very challenging times, both in our Dharma and in the world. What are the core values we need to maintain and strengthen in order to be better able to serve, in the midst of the chaos? How do we foster the qualities of Guru Ram Das i ...
In 2020, we are exploring the theme of “Standing Under Those We Serve.” For the Spring issue, we are also exploring the qualities of Guru Ram Das and the Neutral/Meditative Mind in relationship to manifesting our destiny as leaders in th ...
January 5, 1940 – October 11, 2019 SS Sat Nam Kaur was a long-time student of the Siri Singh Sahib. She was ordained as a Sikh Dharma Minister in 1981 and served the sangat in Mexico for many decades. This loving tribute was written by Sat Tara ...
by SS Simran Singh Khalsa, Santa Fe NM Winter 2019 Our Gurus were at the forefront of combating religious repression, and it was indeed Guru Tegh Bahadur’s sacrifice that guaranteed India’s religious freedom. I’ve spent some time looking at the issue ...
by SS Amar Atma Singh Khalsa, Phoenix AZ Winter 2019 Recently, I embarked on a practice exploring how often death and its associated message came up in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. As I read through our beloved Guru Ji, I found there were often too ma ...
by SS Satya Kaur Corfield, Espanola NM (with Davinder Singh and Harisimran Kaur) Winter 2019 Editor’s Note: The values of a Sikh Dharma Minister are beautifully reflected in the next generation as illustrated in the following article. This is t ...
by SS Shiva Singh Khalsa, Chicago IL Winter 2019 Being a history buff, I was interested to watch the new documentary, Woodstock: Three Days that Defined a Generation, about the 1969 festival of peace, cooperation, and friendship. What was missing fro ...
by SS Sham Kaur Khalsa, La Paz, Bolivia Winter 2019 The world we live in is a world of high polarization, of constant changes that require a high level of resilience. Humanity faces great challenges and the risk of extinction. The scientific communit ...
As part of the Sikh Dharma International yatra to India celebrating the 550th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak, a multi-language volume of Japji Sahib was presented at the Golden Temple. The volume represents the devoted efforts of peopl ...
Someone recently asked me the following question: “Where does the Ministry fit in the Dharma?” I replied, “It is the leadership body the Siri Singh Sahib established for the Dharma.” Not everyone is destined to be a Sikh Dharma Minister. However, for ...
Our 2019 theme explores the aspects of the Third Body/Positive Mind (as embodied by Guru Amar Das) in service to elevating the Soul. In this Winter issue, we explore the idea of Making a Difference Through Service and Leadership. Specifically, we ask ...
by SS Siri Chand Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM Fall 2019 These are very interesting times we live in. It is quite evident; I don’t think I even need to write any examples to justify this claim. We are experiencing the great consciousness shift that the S ...
by SS Guru Darshan Kaur Khalsa, Puebla, Mexico Fall 2019 Having found a Dharmic path of life has given my soul unspeakable satisfaction. Every morning I know that during the ambrosial hours I can take the hand of God, being confident that everything ...
by SS Pritpal Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Fall 2019 This past weekend was typical for me. I was traveling to teach in a Level One Aquarian Teacher program. What wasn’t typical were the circumstances of my travel. I was flying from Albuquerque to Chicago ...
by SS Harsimranjeet Singh Khalsa, Ottawa, ON, Canada Fall 2019 We have taken birth into the Iron Age (Kali Yuga), and its inherent nature is one of turmoil, tragedy, and duality. This is the darkest age, where our emotions and instinctive animal natu ...
Congratulations and Wahe Guru to five new Sikh Dharma Ministers who took their vows during the summer of 2019. Four Minister candidates who took their vows at the end of the June 2019 3HO Summer Solstice Sadhana are SS Siri Chand Singh (Espano ...
We had a very special Ministers’ Gathering at this year’s Summer Solstice. In the spirit of celebrating the 550th birthday of our beloved Guru Nanak Dev Ji, we held an experiential workshop for Sikh Dharma Ministers entitled “The Sensitivity of ...
Our Fall Newsletter explores the topic of Sustaining Hope During Challenging Times. We asked our Sikh Dharma Ministers to reflect on how they align with their Soul during difficulties and challenges and to share ways they draw on the gifts of our Dha ...
Aug 5, 1946 – May 13, 2019 by SS Jivan Joti Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Summer 2019 SS Jai Hari Kaur Khalsa left her earthly body Monday, May 13, 2019 at 4:00 pm in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was born August 5, 1946 in Portland, Oregon. She ...
by SS GuruJivan Kaur Khalsa, Melbourne, Australia Summer 2019 So many times over the years I have tried to organize a trip to India to bow at the Golden Temple. It has been on my bucket list for close to 50 years now. Finally, it happened for me this ...
by SS DukhNiwaran Kaur Khalsa, Chicago IL Summer 2019 At this year’s Baisakhi celebration in Los Angeles, I had the profound honor of meeting with Dr. Roop Singh, Secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parandhak Committee (SGPC). Members of the Dharmic ...
by SS Kirti Kaur Khalsa, Tucson AZ Summer 2019 Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa! Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh! I have always had an affinity for my elders. I grew up in a multi-generational environment where elders were greatly respected and valued; they loved me and ...
by SS Meher Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix AZ Summer 2019 Several months ago, I took out the folder of the letters the Siri Singh Sahib sent me over the years. I had not read them in a long time and was surprised to read in one of the letters that he had reque ...
by SS Dr. Sham Rang Singh Khalsa, Millis MA Summer 2019 Ashrams, probably like all spiritual communities, attract a diverse lot. Over the decades of living in an ashram community, we have often seen individuals causing problems and requiring much tim ...
by SS Sat Sansar Singh Khalsa, Santiago, Chile Summer 2019 Becoming a Sikh Dharma Minister has been a long path of learning, practice, and growth for me. Guru Amar Das has been a central inspiration for my journey on this road, and his teaching of eq ...
SS DukhNiwaran Kaur of Chicago, IL, received a “Spirit of Baisakhi” award at the 2019 Los Angeles Baisakhi Gurdwara on April 14, 2019 on behalf of the Sikh Community of Southern California for her “dedicated service to the Si ...
As part of our theme for this issue, we are focusing on building community, creating inclusiveness, and living in the Company of the Holy—the Sadh Sangat. How timely is the announcement by the Siri Singh Sahib Corporation (SSSC) regarding expanding t ...
The theme for our Summer 2019 newsletter is Connection. In this issue, we address the topics of building community and inclusiveness. Guru Amar Das is our shining example; he was a visionary who built communities of equality, carrying Guru Nanak’s te ...
Quotes about the bani of Guru Amar Das by the Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji “Bani is Guru, Guru is Bani and all nectars are contained in it. If there is a nectar inside, then outside shall be with nectars. Every sector of ...
by SS Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa Michaud, Espanola NM Spring 2019 Wisdom comes to us as a gift. We can only find it when humility brings us to the state of surrender. When we surrender, we become zero. And this zeroing out creates a vacuum for something ...
by SS Hari Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Spring 2019 “Oh my Soul, I am in bliss, for I have seen the True Guru.”—Guru Amar Das, Anand Sahib In the early morning, part of my sadhana is going outside to marvel at the stars, moon, and planets. Each time I s ...
by SS GuruSangat Kaur Khalsa, Great Falls VA Spring 2019 Guru Amar Das began his spiritual journey as a prosperous, generous landowner who had no Guru. He spent years praying at the Ganges, but because he had no Guru, holy men would not accept his of ...
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 positivit ...
(reported by SS Sat Purkh Kaur Khalsa, Winter Solstice Gathering facilitator) On December 18, 2018 a group of Sikh Dharma Ministers attending the 3HO Winter Solstice celebration gathered together in the Sikh Dharma International tent. It was our annu ...
Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh! As the Minister e-newsletter team pondered the theme for 2019 and the four issues that will comprise this year’s publications, we developed a theme statement: The current reality of the world—with its pe ...
As Sikh Dharma Ministers, we are vital partners in addressing the challenges that present themselves in our own lives, in our families, in our Dharma, in our communities, and in our world. We are asking Sikh Dharma Ministers to share how they draw on ...
MSS Hari Singh Bird-Khalsa February 27, 1939 – November 16, 2018 by SS Jot Singh Khalsa, Mills MA Winter 2018 MSS Hari Singh Bird Khalsa was a quintessential saint-soldier. Having the good fortune to be one of Yogi Bhajan’s very early st ...
SS Varnjeet Kaur Khalsa February 1, 1955 – October 30, 2018 by SS Nam Kaur Khalsa, Santa Barbara CA Winter 2018 Our dear sister Varnjeet Kaur Khalsa took her last breath and returned to her Divine home on October 30, 2018. She was best known fo ...
SS Dr. Harijot Singh Khalsa January 22, 1934 – October 24, 2018 by SS Dr. Kartar Singh Khalsa, DOM, Santa Fe NM Winter 2018 Dr. Harijot Singh Khalsa was an amazing human being. He was a master healer, acupuncturist, yogi, and innovator in the f ...
by SS Christ Singh Khalsa Winter 2018 Obey When I think of the word obey, I think of duty. Or as our teacher taught us, the concept of “keep up.” Since it seems that I’ve always been a “lighting rod” for helping other people work out their karma, my ...
by SS Sat Purkh Kaur Khalsa, Belton TX Winter 2018 Of all the many tools the Siri Singh Sahib delivered to his students, perhaps the most subtle and most powerful was Shabd Guru. As we begin to vibrate these sounds, we refine our own minds, so that w ...
by SS Sat Jagat Singh Khalsa, Brooklyn NY Winter 2018 I have had two unique experiences while serving at the Golden Temple that have helped me to excel with the Guru. First, I took a rag and started polishing the walls in the stairways inside Hariman ...
by SS Sangeet Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix AZ Winter 2018 The Guru has made my life richer, deeper and more valuable than anyone could ever have imagined possible. This spring, the Guru carried me through the end of my life-destiny and helped me to restart a ...
Excelling with the Guru 2018 Winter Solstice Ministers’ Gathering SDI Academy Tent (3HO Winter Solstice) Tuesday, December 18, 2018 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Facilitated by SS Sat Purkh Kaur Khalsa Join with Sikh Dharma Ministers as we experience the powe ...
It seems to me that no matter where we are living in the world at this time, we are being bombarded with psychological scare tactics, trauma, chaos, and upheaval. Information on a global level is at our fingertips. Social media demands instant respo ...
Throughout 2018, we are exploring the topic of Shabd Guru through the Siri Singh Sahib’s teachings of Obey, Serve, Love, Excel. For the Winter 2018 issue, we are exploring the theme of Excelling with the Guru. The teachings of “Obey, Serve, Love” pre ...
by SS GuruKirin Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Fall 2018 There is a saying that God is always working in our best interest to serve us and we just need to connect with this energy to deliver the goals or prayer we are seeking. Throughout my life, I’ve expl ...
By SS Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, Kansas City MO Fall 2018 My first visit to India—after adopting the Sikh faith—was in 1980. We went to visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Upon my arrival at the Harimander Sahib, the Guru determined that I was in des ...
by SS Bibi Bhani Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix AZ Fall 2018 In 1970, I was finishing my first year at Antioch College in Columbia, Maryland. I had been playing music with a man I met there and we’d performed at some local coffee houses. That summer he went to ...
by SS Gian Kaur Khalsa, Guadalajara, Mexico Fall 2018 Beloved Sadh Sangat, I feel honored to speak about this ultimate experience of Guru’s Love, although to describe the indescribable subtlety of this profound love is a challenge. I experience it li ...
By Guru’s Grace, four new Sikh Dharma International Minister candidates took their vows in the first half of 2018. In April 2018, Secretary of Religion SS Dr. Sat Kaur administered Minster vows to Sat Sansar Singh from Santiago, Chile, during t ...
Fifteen minutes. That was the window of time we had been given to set up a powerful and transformational lecture video of the Siri Singh Sahib to watch during our 2018 Summer Solstice Ministers’ Gathering. We had never attempted to present a video at ...
Throughout 2018, we are exploring the topic of Shabd Guru through the Siri Singh Sahib’s teachings of Obey, Serve, Love, Excel. For the Fall 2018 issue we explore The Touch of Guru’s Love. We invited Sikh Dharma Ministers to respond to the ques ...
As a gift to the Sikh Dharma Ministers attending the 2018 3HO Summer Solstice Sikh Dharma Ministers’ Gathering on June 17, 2018, we shared this lecture and kriya taught by the Siri Singh Sahib on April 7, 1987 (courtesy The Yogi Bhajan Library ...
by SS Siri Bandhu Kaur Khalsa, Ottowa, Ontario, Canada Summer 2018 The day was overcast and overly cold, when the phone rang. “Auntiji, can you do me a favour?” Hmmm, now who was this fine young voice I didn’t recognize, and how could Auntiji possibl ...
by SS EkOngKar Singh Khalsa, Albany CA Summer 2018 Although I have and am very grateful to have a relationship with Shabd Guru, I have no words to express how that has developed or how it is sustained—except to say that, after a very long journey, by ...
by SS Sat Avtar Kaur, Los Angeles CA Summer 2018 Having the blessing of serving the Guru at Summer Solstice gives me the gift of remembering to trust in God and Guru’s plan. Doing this blessed seva has allowed me to know that everything will be taken ...
by SS Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix AZ Summer 2018 Many years ago, when the Siri Singh Sahib was attending Gurdwara during a visit to Phoenix, he looked straight at me and said, “The clock has stopped.” I admit that I had noticed that it had stopped ...
by SS Suraj Kaur Khalsa, Pasadena CA Summer 2018 I learned how to be devoted by observing the Siri Singh Sahib’s unwavering devotion to the Guru. While I was serving my spiritual teacher, I was actually serving the Guru! At age 17, I had found my way ...
by MSS Hari Dharam Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Summer 2018 Many years ago, the Siri Singh Sahib looked into my eyes, and my heart was pierced with love for a master. I found my path and became a Sikh at that moment. During my first few years on the Sikh ...
The Office of the Secretary of Religion has sent out annual Sikh Dharma Minister renewal notices for the Baisakhi 2018 renewal. This is an Exam year. If you are an ordained Sikh Dharma Minister and you have not received your ren ...
A Minister recently said to me: “The Ministry is our sovereignty.” This comment went deeply into my being. What does sovereignty really mean? The dictionary defines it as “the state or quality of being sovereign.” Okay, so what does sovereign mean? I ...
Throughout 2018 we are exploring the topic of Shabd Guru through the concepts shared by the Siri Singh Sahib of Obey, Serve, Love, Excel. For our Summer issue, we are exploring Devotion to the Guru. We asked Sikh Dharma Ministers to share their thoug ...
by SS Ram Krishan Singh Khalsa, Buenos Aires, Argentina Spring 2018 It is a great honor for me to announce that on February 15, 2018, Sikh Dharma of Argentina was formally recognized as an official religion in our country for the first time in histor ...
We asked Sikh Dharma Ministers to reflect on the question: “What does it mean to bow to the Siri Guru Granth Sahib?” Here are a few thoughtful replies: An Act of Devotion SS Sada Sat Simran Singh Khalsa, Santa Fe NM Bowing one’s hea ...
by SS Siri Pritam Kaur Khalsa, Yuba City CA Spring 2018 In each of our lives, we are told, challenges must come. It’s a universal law. Otherwise, no forward movement is generated. It is said that we all have “squares” in life that have to be conquere ...
by SS Satkirin Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Spring 2018 The Shabd Guru—I love this topic! It is so dear to my heart and so relevant in my personal and teaching life. It’s amazing to reflect on Guru Nanak, who never actually had a human Guru. In his day, ...
by SS Siri Atma Singh Khalsa, Santa Fe NM Spring 2018 In Sikh Dharma, we surrender ourselves to the Guru. Our Guru is Siri Guru Granth Sahib, the physical embodiment of the Light of Guru Nanak and the collected writings of several Sikh Gurus and vari ...
The Office of the Secretary of Religion has sent out annual Sikh Dharma Minister renewal notices for the Baisakhi 2018 renewal. This is an exam year. If you are an ordained Sikh Dharma Minister and you have not received your renewal reminder, or h ...
At this time, it seems that there is so much upset, confusion, chaos, turbulence, upheaval, and change all around us. It is frankly a little mind-boggling. Whether it is on a personal, community, national, environmental, or global level, there are ma ...
Throughout 2018, our newsletter articles will reflect on the Shabd Guru. The Siri Singh Sahib said: “My personal identity bows to the Shabd Guru. It’s a very simple human thing. I bow so that my words bring light to me and to my surroundings.” (Novem ...
by The Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji (July 14, 2002 – Espanola NM) 2017 Winter Solstice Ministers’ Gift from the Office of the Secretary of Religion Wahe Guru ji ka Khalsa! Wahe Guru ji ki Fateh! Every day is v ...
Khalsa-ji MSS Sada Sat Singh Khalsa October 10, 1950 – November 12, 2017 by SS Dharm Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM Winter 2017 My dear friend and spirit brother Sada Sat Singh has passed into the light. We both served Yogi Bhajan for many years in ...
by SS Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Winter 2017 Have you heard this story? When Guru Gobind Singh was 16 years old, he received an invitation from Medni Parkash, the ruler of the Nahan State, to select any place in the kingdom to settle ...
by SS Siri Bhrosa Kaur Khalsa, Anandpur Sahib India Winter 2017 My personal approach to reading the banis has always been a very practical one. I feel that reading the banis in the vernacular (in English or whatever your native tongue) and pondering ...
by SS Dr. Kirpal Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM Winter 2017 Jaap Sahib is Guru Gobind Singh’s Bani (sacred hymn) that uplifts the soul, gives the experience of infinity and expands the radiance of the human psyche. It is Gurbani, the Guru’s hymn, and rec ...
by SS Prabhu Prakash Kaur Khalsa, on the road USA Winter 2017 Like my mother before me, I’ve been a singer all my life. While still in the womb, I absorbed my mother’s joy of devotional singing and the love she projected through her voice. I can’t re ...
by SS Kartar Singh Khalsa, Sterling VA Winter 2017 Let me be clear—I don’t currently read my banis every day, although I did so as a daily practice for many years. So let me speak honestly and openly about the topic of resistance. Three times the Sir ...
SDI Academy Tent (3HO Winter Solstice) Monday, December 18, 2017 11:00 am – 12:45 pm Under the umbrella of the Shabad Guru, we are focusing on a deeper understanding of the Mul Mantra. The Siri Singh Sahib says that the key to understanding the entir ...
A Minister came to me and said she was having great difficulty answering the first question on the 2016 Minister’s Exam (“Write an essay on Japji”). She asked if she could respond to the question with an artistic rendering. I gave her permission to d ...
Throughout 2017, we explore the example of the Tenth Master and the Radiant Body through the Four Pillars of Bana, Bani, Simran, and Seva. For the Winter issue, we invited Sikh Dharma Ministers to reflect on the concept of Bani—and the relationship o ...
SS Guru Dass Singh Khalsa February 4, 1954 – June 17, 2017 by SS Guruganesha Singh Khalsa, Herndon VA Fall 2017 Singh Sahib Guru Dass Singh, my beloved brother and fellow Minister in Divine, was a total gift from Guru Ram Das ji. I met him in January ...
by SS Satya Kaur Corfield, Espanola NM Fall 2017 Simran—the constant remembrance of God—is the one aspect of Sikh Dharma that resonates above almost all else for me. Having two “10”s in my numerology has always given me a connection to Guru Gobind S ...
by SS Guru Prem Singh Khalsa, Los Angeles, CA Fall 2017 I experienced a unique relationship in my practice of Naam Simran under the guidance of the Siri Singh Sahib. It began in 1981, when he asked a favor of me that would take the next seven years t ...
by SS Mata Mandir Singh Khalsa, San Francisco CA Fall 2017 Simran is often translated as “remembrance,” which, to me, doesn’t explain the word. Other people say simran is repeating a mantra. I understand repeating a mantra as japa, which means “to re ...
by SS Jot Singh Khalsa, Millis MA Fall 2017 It has been 45 years since I embarked on this sacred path of Kundalini Yoga and Sikh Dharma. Along the way there have been many blessings that have helped me understand the concept of sacredness, and to beg ...
by SS Prabhu Nam Kaur Khalsa, San Leandro CA Fall 2017 Simran is remembering of, or meditation on God’s Name. It is also prayer. “Simran” is the noun form of “simar,” which means to remember, to hold in remembrance, to meditate on. The Gurmukhi word ...
By Guru’s Grace, four new Sikh Dharma Ministers took their ordination vows in June 2017. SS Hari Bhagat Singh from Brazil, took his vows on June 4, 2017 in the gurdwara at Belo Horizonte in Brazil, administered by SS GuruSangat Kaur Khalsa. Ne ...
Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh! I would like to extend a huge “thank you” to all Ministers who responded to our recent Sikh Dharma Minister Enrichment Survey. The average response rate to many surveys is often very small. Of the total ...
Throughout 2017, we explore the example of the Tenth Master and the Radiant Body through the Four Pillars of Bana, Bani, Seva, and Simran. For the Fall issue, we invited Sikh Dharma Ministers to reflect on the concept of Simran—the constant remembran ...
by SS Sat Bachan Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Summer 2017 “Your reliability will give people the courage to trust you. Their trust will give you the power to carry a situation. A leader carries and serves people. Learn to lead as a ‘seva;’ p ...
by SS Mata Mandir Kaur Khalsa, Herndon VA Summer 2017 “Seva is a conscious and deliberate service to benefit another person even at your cost; and remember, whosoever does seva, it is one to a hundred that God comes through.”—The Siri Singh Sahib ( ...
by SS Har Nal Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Summer 2017 Real seva comes from the heart: “Out of love you give selflessly to those who ask and those who don’t ask. When you are a giver, then your faculty and God’s faculty become the same. That is divinity. ...
by SS Guru Nam Singh and SS Sat Jivan Kaur Khalsa, McAllen TX Summer 2017 In the early 1980s, my wife SS Sat Jivan Kaur was facing a deep depression. Two prestigious doctors made the diagnosis and both agreed that it was imperative that she take str ...
by SS Arjan Singh Dhillon and SS Arjan Kaur Khalsa, Mexico City, Mexico Summer 2017 A common proverb in India is “The seva brings meva.” Meva means fruit or benefit. In Sikh Dharma, the concept of seva implies giving to the Infinite beyond personal i ...
by SS Sangeeta Kaur Khalsa, Yuba City CA Summer 2017 “Seva is a win/win, the total source of victory. The moment you serve with heart and head, and without grinding any axe, you win the person forever. You deliver another person facing difficu ...
by SS Ram Dass Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM Summer 2017 Once my noble daughter asked me who was in the picture on the wall in her room. I told her it was Guru Ram Das. She said, “Yes, but who is the person behind him waving the Chauri Sahib?” And I said ...
SDI Academy Tent Sunday, June 18 from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. This gathering is for ordained Sikh Dharma International Ministers only. The global environment is reactive in this time and space and requires our awareness, preparedness, and responsive ...
The theme of our Summer issue is seva. We invited Sikh Dharma Ministers to reflect on the concept of seva as taught by the Sikh Gurus and exemplified by the Tenth Master (Radiant Body). Please enjoy these wonderful articles by Sikh Dharma Ministers. ...
Exploring the Poetry of the Tenth Master by Solstice Gathering Facilitator SS Satwant Singh Khalsa, Herndon VA Though small in number, the Ministers’ Gathering at Winter Solstice 2016 was mighty in Spirit. This year’s theme was “Creativi ...
by SS Arjan Singh Dhillon, Mexico City, Mexico Spring 2017 Bana and Bani are twin words, derived from the root word “BAN.” The expression “BAN” is generally interpreted as “habit, character or behavior of a person or a d ...
by SS Sada Sat Simran Singh Khalsa, Santa Fe NM Spring 2017 It is now 2017. Things have evolved and continue to evolve minute by minute. We are so modern that we have to update every morning to keep up with the times. One news outlet isn’t enou ...
by SS Kulwant Singh Khalsa, Walsall UK Spring 2017 This year marks the 350th anniversary of the birth of our beloved Tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. He was born in 1666 as Gobind Rai, and spent most of his childhood in the town of Patna (Bihar-In ...
by SS Japa Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Spring 2017 [Bana] was the foundation stone laid for the beginning of the most beautiful consciousness, the Khalsa. Dress has a very unique power in it. It gives you confirmation in relation to the world around you ...
by SS Sangeet Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Spring 2017 There have been two events, among many, that confirmed without question that it has been my destiny for lifetimes to live as Khalsa. One came the very first day I wore bana in public. I had always be ...
by SS Sarb Sarang Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Spring 2017 The first sewing assignment the Siri Singh Sahib gave me was to make an outfit for his doctor’s daughter, using a piece of Guatemalan fabric. When he saw it, he asked, “Why aren’t you wealthy, wo ...
by SS DukhNiwaran Kaur Khalsa, Chicago, IL Spring 2017 Celebrating the 350th Anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh’s birth, I reflect on the radiance he embodies. As the Father of the Khalsa, the warrior, Guru and poet, Guru Gobind Singh bowed to the ever ...
The year 2017 embodies the energies of Guru Gobind Singh and the Radiant Body. The overarching theme of our four e-newsletters reflects these energies. When the Radiant Body is strong it gives spiritual royalty, creativity, nobility, courage, and exc ...
Throughout 2017, we will explore the example of the Tenth Master and the Radiant Body through the Four Pillars of Bana, Bani, Seva, and Simran. For the Spring 2017 issue, we asked Sikh Dharma Ministers to reflect on the concept of Bana as exemplified ...
As we complete 2016, we offer this small token of appreciation to our Sikh Dharma Ministers. Please enjoy this gift booklet of inspirational quotes from the Siri Singh Sahib and Sikh Dharma Ministers from around the world on Subtle Body Living. We en ...
Singh Sahib Dr. Narayan Singh Khalsa (Michael J. Lincoln) December 2, 1933 – October 15, 2016 by SS Dr. Sat Kaur Khalsa, Secretary of Religion A dear, heart-centered brilliant soul has left his physical body. Dr. Michael J. Lincol ...
by SS GuruSurya Kaur Khalsa, Brooklyn NY When our son Hari Simran Singh was 10 years old, a few weeks before he was to leave for his first year at school in India, I told him that I intended to pray for him every day he was away. We were walking toge ...
by SS Jai Hari Kaur Khalsa, Santa Fe NM Winter 2016 “True realization of the actual nature of the material world, its perishable, transitory and illusory aspects, best dawns on a person in suffering.”—Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, Ninth Sikh Guru In Ja ...
by SS Har Simran Kaur Khalsa, Los Angeles CA Winter 2016 For some, it was love at first sight. Or rather, first sound. The first time they heard Japji, some devotees were enraptured. I was not one of those. With my strong intellectual background, I w ...
by SS Meher Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix AZ Winter 2016 “When I say patience pays, that’s what it is. In absolute patience you always shall believe, you always shall see, you always shall realize the Word of the Guru comes handy to you. Man cannot live ...
by SS Sarb Nam Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Winter 2016 When you think about Sikh Dharma, subtlety may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Our royal lineage inspires us to dress regally in our bana and turbans, crowned with jeweled pins, carrying ...
by SS GuruKirin Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Winter 2016 “If in subtlety you become very refined and in activity you become very subtle, you are very near to your soul because there is a direct relationship between the Subtle Body and the spiritual body. ...
Congratulations and Wahe Guru to Singh Sahib Sada Sat Simran Singh Khalsa from Santa Fe, NM, who took his Sikh Dharma Minister vows at the Opening Gurdwara of the Fall 2016 International Khalsa Council meetings on September 21, 2016. Ma ...
Do you remember how often the Siri Singh Sahib would emphasize the importance of our songs? Over and over he would have us sing both English and Gurmukhi versions of songs, uplifting our hearts and souls and inspiring us in the process. He said, “Jus ...
Throughout 2016, our Ministry newsletter is focused on the Subtle Body. We invited Sikh Dharma Ministers to reflect on how we impact the world through our Subtle Bodies. Especially, how do we use the Subtle Body to support us in situations of challen ...
by Sant SS Guru Dev Singh Khalsa, Rome, Italy Fall 2016 How do we experience the Subtle Body? It is experienced through awareness. Unfortunately, 99.9% of the people are not aware, or not aware enough to recognize their experience. So we meditate and ...
by SS Hargopal Kaur Khalsa, Los Angeles CA Fall 2016 Sometimes, in meeting a person, the exterior gruffness or roughness can be off-putting. At the same time, the Siri Singh Sahib always said, “If you can’t see God in all, you can’t see God at all.” ...
by SS Dr. Kartar Singh Khalsa DOM, Santa Fe NM Fall 2016 As we go through the evolutionary process of consciousness, our souls develop the capacity to experience life more thoroughly through the Subtle Body. The Subtle Body—being the container for th ...
Congratulations and blessings to SS DukhNiwaran Kaur Khalsa of Chicago, IL, and SS Ram Krishan Singh Khalsa of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Both individuals took their Sikh Dharma Minister vows at the 2016 Summer Solstice Sadhana in New Mexico on June 25 ...
“The Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Yogiji is coming!” Do you remember what it was like when the Siri Singh Sahib would visit our communities? There was much preparation, cleaning, repairing of things that might have been neglected for a ...
Throughout 2016, our Ministry newsletter is focused on the Subtle Body. We invited Sikh Dharma Ministers to reflect on how we impact the world through our Subtle Bodies. Especially, how do we use the Subtle Body to support us in situations of challen ...
by SS Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Summer 2016 In the month of Vaisakh we celebrate the birth of the 9th Sikh Guru—Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib. His life is an epic story of bravery and fearlessness, devotion and meditation, and ultimately the sacrifice ...
by SS Dev Suroop Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Summer 2016 Over the past several weeks, I’ve been reflecting on the Subtle Body in relation to my actions as a Sikh Dharma Minister. I first pondered on how I actively minister, since I rarely perform minist ...
by SS Gurutej Singh Khalsa, Singapore Summer 2016 This creation is one of absolute perfection and within that perfection exists the miraculous human incarnation. Since time immemorial, human beings have been trying to understand the perfection, myste ...
by SS Gurudev Singh Khalsa, Austin TX Summer 2016 The ability to experience our physical body has served us well throughout our long history of evolution, and has been instrumental to our survival. It tells the story of what we can see, touch and fee ...
by SS Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix AZ Summer 2016 The poetry of the Gurus is exquisite, embodying the divine in material form. To bring this subtlety into earthly form, the Gurus were able to serve as God’s channels, letting the divine flow through ...
The Office of the Secretary of Religion announces our NEW! online Minister Renewal System to facilitate annual Minister credential renewals through a secure online portal. You can review and update your Minister record, submit your rene ...
Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh! It has been a year since I first wrote to you about the inception of the Regional Minister Coordinator (RMC) program. The following is an update: The RMCs have met as a virtual group four times. We are d ...
Throughout 2016, our Ministry newsletter is focused on the Subtle Body. We invited Sikh Dharma Ministers to reflect on how we impact the world through our Subtle Bodies. Especially, how do we use the Subtle Body to support us in situations of challen ...
by SS Sat Siri Singh Khalsa, UK Spring 2016 There is a shabad by Guru Teg Bahadur in Siri Guru Granth Sahib that might have inspired Yogi Bhajan when he gave us “The Definition of a Yogi” in the 3HO Code of Excellence. This shabad describes a state o ...
by MSS Nirvair Singh Khalsa, Santa Fe NM Spring 2016 Do you want to come into relationship with your Subtle Body? The Siri Singh Sahib spoke about the Subtle Body in many lectures. A quick search in The Yogi Bhajan Library of Teachings ® yielded 184 ...
by SS Siri Narayan Kaur Fuda, Buffalo NY Spring 2016 Yogi Bhajan presented us with the concept of the Ten Light Bodies of Consciousness, each of which represents an aspect of our Self. Through considering various components of each of these Bodies, o ...
by SS Krishna Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM Spring 2016 As you may know, chrysalis is the transmutation process by which a voraciously hungry caterpillar that devours every green leaf in sight is transformed into a gracefully flying, spiritually symbolic ...
by SS Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Spring 2016 It is a common understanding in most spiritual traditions that human beings exist as more than a physical body. The writer C.S. Lewis made this distinction when he said, “We are a soul; we ...
by SS Chioneso Kulwant Kaur Khalsa, Birmingham UK Spring 2016 The interplay of the Subtle Body in our lives is deep and all encompassing. When functioning well, it enables us to be aware at a level that so many aspire to but find difficulty achieving ...
by SS Dr. Japa Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Spring 2016 As a child learning my numbers from 1 to 10, I remember that each number had a frequency or vibration to it and I assigned a personality to each one. The number 9, which I now know as the Subtle Bod ...
by SS Dr. Santokh Singh Khalsa, Altadena CA Spring 2016 When I teach classes about the Ten Bodies, I can sum up the nature of each body in a short phrase: Radiant Body = your radiance or glow. Pranic Body = your energy. Arc Line = the projection of y ...
Congratulations and blessings to SS Kewal Kaur Khalsa (Los Angeles, CA), who took her Sikh Dharma Minister vows at Winter Solstice Sadhana in Florida in December 2015. May God and Guru guide her service on this path as a Minister of the Divine. Wah ...
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh! Each year in the late summer or early fall, the Ministry Newsletter team meets to plan the overarching theme for the next year’s quarterly newsletters, as well as the specific focus for each issue. In t ...
The Sikh Dharma Ministry Newsletter debuted in July 2001 as a vehicle for enhancing Minister communication and as a source of information about and for Sikh Dharma Ministers. Secretary of Religion SS Dr. Sat Kaur Khalsa noted in 2001 that “the succes ...
As a gift to the Sikh Dharma Ministers (Winter 2015), we offered this edited Gurdwara lecture by the Siri Singh Sahib. Enjoy his inspiration words about saying in the spirit of “keeping up” or Chardhi Kalaa. ...
Our 2015 Ministry newsletter focuses on our Global Sangats and Service. We have a rich, diverse body of stories to inspire, uplift and inform about our global Ministry. Please enjoy this special issue about service programs led by Sikh Dharma Ministe ...
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh! The Ministry is flowering. Its roots are strong, its stem is reaching upwards and the flower is blooming. As I reflect on the articles in the last three volumes of our 2015 e-newsletter—and now this volu ...
Sikh Dharma teachings and values are reaching the four corners of the globe. The year 2015 embodies the vibration of the Eighth Master, Guru Harkrishan. In 2015, we have been exploring the theme of “Service and Compassion.” We invited Sikh Dharma Min ...
Gratitude and joy were constant and faithful companions during my recent visit to the 2015 Parliament of World Religions that took place in Salt Lake City, Utah, from October 15 – 19. The gratitude and joy that filled me was for the remembered ...
South Africa is now 20 years into democracy—not even a generation. The 3HO presence here started with the blessing and directive of the Siri Singh Sahib in the mid-1980s. Since then, the GINI index (universal indicator of disparity between wealthy an ...
New York is a culturally diverse place colored with an amazing collection of very alive cultural centers and religious communities. My husband and I live in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where it is an odd church that has not been converted to a condominium ...
After helping a dear friend through the dying process, I realized that helping others in this way was my calling. I knew I needed to learn many more skills to be able to provide ministry to those I didn’t know. By the Grace of God and Gu ...
Our 2015 Ministry newsletter focuses on our Global Sangats and Service. We have a rich, diverse body of stories to inspire, uplift and inform about our global Ministry. Please enjoy this special issue about service programs in Asia and Australia. Thi ...
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh! We had a very special Ministers’ gathering at Summer Solstice 2015. Our intent was to set an energetic frequency for the future of the Ministry. SS Sevak Singh from Phoenix, Arizona, gave us a wonderful ...
Sikh Dharma teachings and values are reaching the four corners of the globe. The year 2015 embodies the vibration of the Eighth Master, Guru Harkrishan. Join us in 2015 for our theme of “Service and Compassion” as we invite Sikh Dharma Ministers and ...
Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh! When technology works for us, it is an incredible thing. Hopefully, it can work for you in this newsletter! At the April 2015 Khalsa Council meetings, I gave a presentation on the Ministry (see video bel ...
Sikh Dharma teachings and values are reaching the four corners of the globe. The year 2015 embodies the vibration of the Eighth Master, Guru Harkrishan. Join us in 2015 for our theme of “Service and Compassion” as we invite Sikh Dharma Ministers and ...
In life we all search for happiness. We might not even comprehend what a state of happiness really is. We taste it at times for short moments and this makes us keep looking for it and live our lives pursuing that thing we call happiness. In this sea ...
by SS Krishna Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM Spring 2015 The Ardas admonishes us to meditate on Guru Harkrishan and it promises us that if we do so “all sickness and sufferings will depart.” From a Raj Yoga perspective, we can consider that Guru Harkrisha ...
by SS Gurujodha Singh Khalsa, Mexico City Spring 2015 It is interesting that the numerology of this year (2015) brings together the number 8 and the number 5. Beyond the fact that Guru Harkrishan as the Eight Sikh Guru embodies the virtues of the Pra ...
“What is the purpose of life? To elevate all, big or small.” —The Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji Our dear sister, Sardarni Sahiba Hari Krishan Kaur Khalsa, New Mexico, left her body on March 11 to begin her So ...
Our 2015 Ministry newsletter focuses on our Global Sangats and Service. We have a rich, diverse body of stories to inspire, uplift and inform about our global Ministry. Please enjoy this special issue from South America, Central America, and Mexico. ...
There is a passage in the Ardas that strikes me deeply: “…but never gave up their faith and determination to live according to Sikh Dharma, with all their hair, to the last breath. Meditate, O pure ones…” Our Sikh history is full of examples of extr ...
Sikh Dharma teachings and values are reaching the four corners of the globe. The year 2015 embodies the vibration of the Eighth Master, Guru Harkrishan. Join us in 2015 for our theme of “Service and Compassion” as we invite Sikh Dharma Mi ...
by SS Gurubachan Kaur and SS Gurubachan Singh Khalsa, Albuquerque NM Winter 2014 Our children are a gift from God. They choose us as their parents and we have the job to nurture, protect, guide and love them. They do not belong to us. As their first ...
by SS Siri Vias Singh and Siri Chand Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Winter 2014 “Give our children fearless minds so they may see the world through the Guru’s eyes.”—Song of the Khalsa This is our prayer for our children’s future, that they will be f ...
by SS Manjit Kaur and SS Sat Want Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM Winter 2014 “Create dependable children, not dependent children. Give your children the basic values to face their own tomorrows, not be blinded by yours. Make them proper perso ...
by SS Sat Daya Singh, Los Angeles CA Winter 2014 In the months before and after conception, most soon-to-be parents read books and study teachings on how to raise children. They often think: “My parents did so-and-so negative thing to me. I wou ...
by Bhai Sahiba Dr. Bibi Inderjit Kaur Khalsa Winter 2014 “Immersed in family life, the Lord’s humble servant ever remains detached and reflects upon the essence of spiritual wisdom.”—Guru Amar Das Sahib Ji (Siri Guru Granth Sahib, p ...
Your voice counts. Yes, it really does. As your Secretary of Religion, I have said over and over again that I look to our Ministers to help create the future of our Ministry and our Dharma. I am not in favor of top-down administration—rather, a more ...
The year 2014 embodies the vibration of the Seventh Master, Guru Har Rai. This year, our newsletter explores the topic of Guru Har Rai: Teacher of Compassion. The topic of the November issue is Nurturing our Children – Seeding the Future. Guru Har Ra ...
by SS Siri Gian Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Fall 2014 “The axe cuts the sandal tree, yet the sandal perfumes the axe.”—Guru Har Rai Ji This is Guru Har Rai’s explanation of why he helped save the life of Shah Jihan’s son with the Guru’s spec ...
by SS Guru Simran Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Fall 2014 For the last several years I have been organizing the “Food 4 Kids” program here in Espanola. This program provides food to local children who do not get sufficient, or even any, food to eat on the ...
by SS SatSangeet Kaur Khalsa, Espanola, NM Fall 2014 In late July 2013, I heard the news that Rajinder Kaur from Taos had been diagnosed and had surgery for ovarian cancer. This came as a surprise, as I had seen her in June and she looked fine. Her h ...
by SS Sarb Sarang Kaur Khalsa, Espanola, NM Fall 2014 When Nav Jiwan Kaur moved into our apartment, my inner voice said “You’re supposed to help her die.” “How?” I asked. “I don’t even know her.” As we ...
by Bhai Sahiba Dr. Bibi Inderjit Kaur Khalsa Fall 2014 The God-conscious being is always unstained, like the sun, which gives its comfort and warmth to all. The God-conscious being looks upon all alike, like the wind, which blows equally upon the kin ...
What a special Minister’s Gathering we had at Summer Solstice 2014! These gatherings were created to help build a sense of community among the Ministers, to offer tools for our Ministers and to support each other with our unique contributions. As Sec ...
The year 2014 embodies the vibration of the Seventh Master, Guru Har Rai. The seventh body, the Auric body, carries the qualities of compassion, kindness, elevation of the self and others, as exemplified by Guru Har Rai. For the Fall 2014 issue, we a ...
by SS Dr. Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, Medway MA Summer 2014 Scientific research on compassion and the role of meditation practices in enhancing it is now becoming a rigorous and acceptable field of inquiry within neuroscience. Feature articles on compassio ...
by SS Hari Har Singh Burmeister, Hamburg, Germany Summer 2014 Compassion starts with ourselves. As simple as this may sound, I have often found myself engaged in old inner beliefs of “I have to”, “I should not”, mixed with subtle nuances of shame and ...
by Bhai Sahiba Dr. Bibi Inderjit Kaur Khalsa Summer 2014 Guru Har Rai Ji gave us the great gift of showing us how to understand through compassion (ahimsa). It is easy to react emotionally to life’s challenges, rather than with self-mastery and ...
by SS Dr. Kartar Singh Khalsa, Santa Fe NM Summer 2014 In these difficult and challenging times it is important to remind ourselves of the tools we have been blessed to receive from the Siri Singh Sahib, our spiritual leader and teacher. One of the A ...
by SS Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Summer 2014 “The only beautiful thing that makes you human is compassion. Think about vengeance, lies, truth, God, greatness, think of anything. If you take compassion out of it, everything becomes bi ...
by SS Sarb Nam Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Summer 2014 “The Age of Aquarius is about taking the pot of water (Aquarius) and nurturing the whole universe; becoming human in equal concept of service and then becoming angelic, kind and compass ...
The definition of Ministering is expanding. That was the theme for our Minister presentation at the April 2014 meetings of the Khalsa Council. When you say Minister (which is what the Siri Singh Sahib named us), we who came from a Judeo-Christian bac ...
The year 2014 embodies the vibration of the Seventh Master, Guru Har Rai. The seventh body, the Auric body, carries the qualities of compassion, kindness, elevation of the self and others, as exemplified by Guru Har Rai. The Siri Singh Sahib said: ...
by SS Sham Kaur Khalsa, La Paz, Bolivia Spring 2014 The capacity of human beings to feel compassion is nowadays a requirement to navigate the ocean of life on earth. Some may call it an emotion or a virtue. But I feel that compassion is an absolute r ...
by SS GuruJivan Kaur Khalsa, Victoria, Australia Spring 2014 Guru Har Rai is the seventh Master in Sikh Dharma. He was the grandson of Guru Hargobind. He is known as the “tender-hearted” Guru. He was born in Kiratpur, India. His father wa ...
by SS Krishna Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM Spring 2014 I have a deep appreciation for Guru Har Rai as a primary role model of human compassion. I also have a qualitative, causal understanding of myself through the Tantric Numerology system that we were ...
by SS Kulwant Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM and Los Angeles CA Spring 2014 I used to think that life should be mutual; but when I looked around what I saw was not mutual, at least not as I was defining it, and so I felt my universe was out of kilter. I th ...
by SS Chioneso Kulwant Kaur Khalsa, Birmingham UK Spring 2014 In a world increasingly beset by strife, conflict, and the cries of the cruelly displaced, the values of compassion and its benevolent effects shine forth like a luminescent beacon on this ...
by Bhai Sahiba Dr. Bibi Inderjit Kaur Khalsa Spring 2014 Guru Har Rai Ji exhibited the most sublime nature of divine compassion and pure sensory awareness to his physical and spiritual environments. We can learn much from his life about how we may ri ...
What does it mean to be a Sikh Dharma Minister? Perhaps your soul incarnated during the lifetime of Guru Amar Das Ji, when the Sikh Ministry began in the mid-1500s. Unfortunately, over time the system became corrupt and Guru Gobind Singh put a stop t ...
The year 2014 embodies the vibration of the Seventh Master, Guru Har Rai. The Seventh Body, known as the Auric body, carries the qualities of compassion, kindness, elevation of the self and others, as exemplified by Guru Har Rai. In 2014, our newslet ...
Sardarni Sahiba Holy Kaur Khalsa Feb. 26, 1957 – Sept. 26, 2013 The Sikh Dharma Ministry sends its blessings and prayers to the family of Sardarni Sahiba Holy Kaur Khalsa. She was the example of a graceful, noble Khalsa woman. She excelled a ...
by SS Deva Kaur Khalsa, Coral Springs FL Winter 2013 Bowing to another person often does not work well, due to human shortcomings, but bowing to an infinite, undying teacher—the Siri Guru Granth Sahib—can prevent the malady of spiritual ego. But even ...
by SS Sat Siri Singh Khalsa, Southall UK Winter 2013 The 200 years of Guru Nanak’s light living in a human being is the story of the awakening, expansion, containment, completion, and integration of the purest possible Divine Inspiration. The r ...
by Mukhia Jethadar SS Amrit Singh Khalsa, Espanola NM Winter 2013 I am a Sikh Dharma Minister I am radiant in the Name, Har Har I am the sword of Guru Gobind Singh that cuts through all obstacles I am Jai Te Gang, the arc of the sword, brighter than ...
by SS Siri Hari Hari Singh Khalsa, Anchorage AK Winter 2013 In thinking about our direction and projection into the future, I remember the Siri Singh Sahib’s response to one of my Gemini-induced questions about the many job tangents I was pursuing. “ ...
by SS Har Simran Kaur Khalsa, Los Angeles CA Winter 2013 Truth is higher than everything; but higher still is truthful living.— Guru Nanak, Siri Guru Granth Sahib, p. 62. No words of Guru Hargobind are in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, not because he ha ...
by Bhai Sahiba Dr. Bibi Inderjit Kaur Khalsa Winter 2013 First erected by Guru Hargobind Ji, the name of the Akal Takhat means the Eternal Throne of the Timeless One. The Akal Takhat exists beyond time and space, so in actuality it cannot be destroye ...
I am struck by what Dickens said in A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the se ...
The theme for our 2013 quarterly Sikh Dharma Ministers’ newsletters is “Guru Hargobind: Transforming Sikh Dharma.” For this issue, we look at the quality of Integration. How do we integrate psyche and soul? Our destiny and its deliv ...
by SS Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix, AZ From the earliest days of his ministry, Guru Nanak’s approach to spreading his God-given message was very simple. Accompanied by his minstrel Mardana, he walked from village to village throughout much of India ...
by SS Siri Ved Kaur Khalsa, Bakersfield CA Fall 2013 Finding the quiet center can take many years. Guru Hargobind’s example as the master of the Sixth Body offers an inspiration of how to find that “stillness” in the midst of life ...
by SS Sat Hari Singh Khalsa, Hamburg, Germany Fall 2013 Whenever the Siri Singh Sahib came to Hamburg in the 1990s he would ask me to accompany him to special antique stores to shop for old weapons. We always came home with some old kirpans and sword ...
by SS Gurujodha Singh Khalsa, Bakersfield CA I just returned from events at the Oak Creek Gurdwara commemorating the one-year anniversary of the shootings which killed six worshippers in the Gurdwara on August 5, 2012. It was my third trip to Oak Cre ...
by Bhai Sahiba Dr. Bibi Inderjit Kaur Khalsa Fall 2013 What is the significance of a woman’s Arc Line? It is a woman’s Arc Line that gives her the strength to remain in the radiance of her dignity and nobility, even during the most dire tests and tri ...
by SS Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix AZ Fall 2013 The Sixth Body, the Arc Line, is characterized as the Person at Prayer and according to Tantric Numerology as taught by Yogi Bhajan represents the balance between the physical and cosmic realms as embo ...
by SS Har Darshan Kaur Khalsa, Chapel Hill NC Fall 2013 The Sixth Body or Arc Line, connected to our beloved Guru Hargobind Ji, helps us to “hold our space”—the space of prayer and of protection. To create the foundation of a prayerful mind, the gift ...
by SS Sewa Singh Khalsa, Seattle WA Fall 2013 Although the days of Guru Hargobind Singh Ji’s life must have been filled with unimaginable stress and difficulty, the results of his ability to keep up continue to live on. The battles of his time, invol ...
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