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 to stay neutral and come from a place of non-judgement. Where there is judgement there is Ego and by definition where there is the self there is no self-less service (Seva). Recently when I’ve been trying to serve and bring communities together, I’ve been really tested with some (seemingly) extreme views. There are those who have walked away from the
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Ek Ong Kar Sat Gur Prasaad
Making the Planet Whole through Interfaith Work
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 the U.S. 1993 Government Act that guarantees that local laws abide by the first amendment of the Constitution—our basic right to free speech and religious freedom. When passing this bill, former U.S. president Bill Clinton cancelled the firing of two Native American counselors from a rehabilitation clinic after they had used Peyote in a religious ceremony. Such
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Building Relationships at the Annual Los Angeles Baisakhi Kirtan Darbar
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 Angeles. I had just become a Minister earlier that year and was also appointed by him as one of several Bhai Sahibs in Training under Bhai Sahiba Bibi Inderjit Kaur. The responsibilities of the Secretary of the Gurdwara were broad and deep. They included: administering and overseeing the daily functions of the
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Common Grace
by SS Shiva Singh Khalsa & SS Shabad Kaur Khalsa, Evanston, Illinois 2024 (Third Quarter) When the Catholic Church decided to open dialogue with other Christian traditions, it was called ecumenical dialogue. When they decided it was a good idea to talk to the other Abrahamic faiths—Judaism and Islam—it was called interfaith. When the Parliament of the World’s Religions met in 1893 in Chicago it opened the gate to interreligious dialogue where everyone spoke to everyone. For us as Sikhs this should sound very familiar! Guru Nanak exemplified a life of interreligious dialogue. It is part of a Sikh minister’s
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“Experience Interfaith” in Phoenix, Arizona
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 as part of a Faith Fair. They addressed unusual questions and shared information about their different spiritual paths – Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Scientology, Jewish, Bahai, Jain etc. In the middle of the courtyard, our team members tied colorful turbans. The mood was quite jovial. Following the ‘Faith Fair,’ participants gathered in small groups in the Langar Hall for Conversation Circles, where each person
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Interreligious Dialogue from a Sikh Perspective: Lessons from Bolivia
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 in Bolivia, where I joined as a Sikh Minister with representatives from various religious traditions to promote peace and mutual understanding. The interreligious dialogue in Bolivia brings together Catholics, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Zen Buddhists, Lutherans, Bahá’ís, and Sikhs. Although our Sikh community is relatively small in Bolivia, we share our commitment to equality and justice in this diverse forum.
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Minister News & Notes (2024 Third Quarter)
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 Hacienda de Guru Ram Das in Espanola, New Mexico on June 15. Avtar Kaur was ordained during Gurdwara at the European Yoga Festival 2024 on August 10 at Chateau de Jambville near Paris, France. Bachitar Kaur’s ordination will take place in a Virtual Vows ceremony held during Karam Kriya Festival in Sintra, Portugal on August 24. These new Sikh Dharma Ministers
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Secretary of Religion Column (2024 Third Quarter)
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 Gatherings offered once again at winter and summer solstices and the European Yoga Festival—and perhaps at other festivals as our Ministry grows. A third is through Regional Minister Coordinators in-person or virtual meetings with Ministers in their geographic areas. In this issue, I am pleased to share some moments from the recent Minister’s Gathering at summer solstice, New Mexico, 2024. It was
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#93 – 2024 Newsletter (Third Quarter)
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 across our Ministry. In February, we focused on Sikh Dharma Ministers doing extraordinary service in conflict zones around the world. Our May issue highlighted the efforts of Sikh Dharma Ministers engaged in two meaningful areas of service—education/youth programs and food seva. Our August issue features the seva of Sikh Dharma Ministers engaged in promoting interfaith harmony and religious freedom around the
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