Dear Sikh Dharma International Ministers,

First, I would like to thank all of you who participated in the 40-day recitation of Re Man. The collective vibration of our Ministry is a powerful and critical force in these times. Personally, by Guru’s grace, I have continued in this daily practice and plan to do so until our next 40-day Shabad Guru practice begins in 2027. I invite you to do the same. Since this year is about manifesting our Radiant Body, owning our position as Sikh Dharma International Ministers, and drawing on the courage of Guru Gobind Singh, I thought any help we can get would be great! 

With the recent decision by the Siri Singh Sahib Corporation Board, regarding the electorate for board members, there is a spotlight on the Ministry. It is essential that we remember what a Sikh Dharma Minister is. Consequently, I want to share with you a reminder of qualities an SDI Minister needs to embody.  

In 1971, when the Siri Singh Sahib was given this title, he was charged with creating a Sikh Dharma Ministry in the West. Being who he was, he could see if it was a person’s destiny to be a Sikh Dharma Minister. He started telling some individuals that they were now Ministers. However, unlike the profile of a typical minister, he ordained students from a whole cross-section of our global sangat: householders, professionals, businesspeople, parents, healers, teachers, sevadars, Granthi(s), and yogis, to name a few. Each person had unique God-given gifts that were, collectively, needed to serve our sangats and communities. The touchstone for our Ministry was and is: seva. 

Because our Ministry is the electorate at this time, it is extremely important that the consciousness of our present Ministers, and those who are being drawn to become Sikh Dharma Ministers, is elevated. Key qualities include humility, commitment to the Guru and to the Sadh Sangat, spiritual maturity, all held to the touchstone of seva.

These are high ideals to aspire to, and it is the caliber necessary to fulfill this destiny. Here is a list of some of the qualities that we look for in a Minister Candidate. How many of them do you embody in your seva? They can serve as a touchstone to aspire to, ever deepening your service as an SDI Minister. This is an incomplete list yet a wonderful reminder of what we can strive for, manifest and deliver. Our sangat needs conscious leaders. The Ministry can serve as that source.  These qualities are a part of the New Minister Application letter of recommendation question #3, www.sdministry.org.

• Dharmic Qualities (relationship with Guru, Sangat and the Siri Singh Sahib; committed to Sikh Dharma International values and practices; lives as a Khalsa on a daily basis; surrenders to the Guru’s will; devotion to the path of Sikh Dharma; commitment to the Sikh lifestyle as reflected through their communication, dress, service, and meditative mind through Bani, Bana, Seva and Simran)
• Leadership Qualities (capacity for selfless service and sacrifice, effective and conscious communication, spiritual maturity, strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, maintains a daily spiritual practice, ability to inspire and motivate others)
• Professional Qualities (interfaith work, knowledge of Sikh history, foreign languages, experience or training in counseling/mediation/conflict resolution, public affairs, ability to embrace and learn from constructive criticism, capacity to work well with others and build strong relationships) 
• Meditative Qualities (inner silence/Shuniya, meditative mind, neutrality, reverence, embodies sacredness)
• Personal Qualities (compassionate, noble, radiant, loving, kind, respectful, graceful)
• Character Qualities (humble, self-contained, patient, spirit of Chardi Kala)

Since the Siri Singh Sahib is no longer in body to see this destiny in someone, it has been suggested to me that we develop some kind of mentorship program for those who want to learn first-hand, what it is to be a Sikh Dharma Minister. As a result, we are in the very early stages of developing such a program for the future.

The Office of the Secretary of Religion welcomes participation from Sikh Dharma International Ministers in creating this program. If you are interested in helping our Office to develop this mentoring program, please contact Guruamrit Kaur at: [email protected]. We will certainly keep you abreast of this as it unfolds. 

To all SDI Ministers, who are selflessly serving with their unique God-given gifts, may God and Guru continue to guide you, uplift you and support you in your seva and the fulfillment of your destiny this lifetime. 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.