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 Mercury in retrograde. There can be a wide variety of interpretations for any given shabd or hukam. Personal history, life events, knowledge, circumstances, experience, etc. etc. may contribute to how an individual receives the messages from the Universe. I certainly know that my experience is unique to me. Nevertheless, I felt guided to share it with you. 

As I would read the shabd each morning after Japji, I felt it penetrate more and more deeply into my psyche. Here is my line by-line journey: “Raag Sorat’h, The Word of Devotee Ravi Das Ji: One Universal Creator God.” I was reminded that all things come from God to serve the entire Universe. That concept in and of itself boggled my mind. “By the Grace of the True Guru: When I am in my ego, then You are not with me.” As Guru takes me from darkness to light, coming from my limited little self I am in my ego. “Now that You are with me, there is no egotism within me.” When I am connected to Self, light prevails and I am guided, protected, and uplifted. “The wind may raise up huge waves in the vast ocean, but they are just water in water.” So often when I first hear disturbing news or confront some crisis, it feels overwhelming, gigantic, hard. There is a distortion in my perception. Yet if I breathe, listen to my inner guidance, trust, and believe that everything happens for a reason, the news or crisis becomes more manageable and workable. I do believe everything is purposeful even if I may not fully understand its meaning until I leave this body! 

“Oh Lord, what can I say about such an illusion?” This line reminded me that my perception may be wrong or interpreted incorrectly through my senses. I do trust my intuition, but that is a little different. That part of me is directly connected to my Self rather than my personality. There are many layers to most things. Where I focus determines how much of the whole picture I embrace. It’s easy to miss some of those layers. “Things are not as they seem. Pause.”  I stopped dead in my tracks every day when I got to this line. At times I found myself questioning, then what is real? At other times it brought me a sense of hope, curiosity, even wonderment. Then Ravi Das Ji gives examples: “It is like the king who falls asleep upon his throne, and dreams that he is a beggar.” Maintaining a sense of my true Self is a constant battle with my limited self. Perhaps that is why Guru says over and over to chant the Nam and all will be taken care of. “His kingdom is intact, but separated from it, he suffers in sorrow. Such is my own condition.” Yes, when I lose sight of who I really am, it is indeed painful. More examples: “Like the story of the rope mistaken for a snake, the mystery has now been explained to me.” This mystery is concrete. With courage, I can examine what I was perceiving as a snake only to find it was a rope. However, I have found that there are many other mysteries that are less simple to understand.

“Like the many bracelets, which I mistakenly thought were gold; now, I do not say what I said then.” Isn’t that the truth! When I have an expectation, I set myself up to be disillusioned, disappointed, even let down. Although I’d like to be able to blame someone else—instead, I attempt to take responsibility for my own thinking. “The One Lord is pervading the many forms; He enjoys Himself in all hearts.” Each day as I got to this line, I found myself letting go of any judgement I might be harboring. “Says Ravi Das, the Lord is nearer than our own hands and feet.” This line constantly reminded me that God and me, me and God are One. And if all of this wasn’t enough—the last line had me bow to the will of God: “Whatever will be, will be.”

Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh!

Humbly,

SS Dr. Sat-Kaur Khalsa
Secretary of Religion

THE SECRETARY OF RELIGION

SS Dr. Sat Kaur Khalsa has served as Secretary of Religion since 1991 and was ordained as a Sikh Dharma Minister in 1975. As Secretary of Religion, Dr. Sat Kaur oversees and is ultimately responsible for the delivery of the functions of this Office. Dr. Sat Kaur is a long-time member of the International Khalsa Council and the Khalsa Council Executive Committee. She maintains a full-time Telehealth Psychotherapy and counseling private practice, specializing in relationships. She predominately works with adults (individuals and couples) to support their personal and spiritual growth. She is a certified Kundalini Yoga teacher, a facilitator of White Tantric Yoga®, and a published author.