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 the Soul Body.” This beautiful journey of self-reflection and compassion was brought to us by Guru Nanak and delivered by Mukhia Singh Sahib Nirvair Singh Khalsa. It was a rare treat to have MSS Nirvair Singh share his wisdom and expertise with this gathering of Ministers.
(For those of you who were unable to attend, we filmed the Gathering so that you can partake of this gift if you so choose.)
MSS Nirvair Singh began by sharing information from Siri Singh Sahib’s teachings about the Mangala Charan mantra. The direct quote from the Siri Singh Sahib’s lecture from October 16, 1973, in Los Angeles, follows:
“Now listen. When you chant it, this is how it happens: Aad Guray Nameh – the Infinite stands on the left side of you; that is the heart side. Jugaad Guray Nameh – the Lord of time stands behind you, so time supports you. Sat Guray Nameh – the truth of the now stands on your right side; it means your actions stand approved. Siri Guru Devay Nameh – the great Infinite Guru stands before you.
“So what is going to go wrong with you? Just imagine what a powerful mantra it is. If you properly maneuver your mind and channelize the energy and see this is how it is happening around you and you sit in the center of it and then chant this mantra in the light of the way it is sung… This mantra was the first mantra when Guru Arjan started writing Sukhmani, the lagoon of the peace, the giver of the Infinite peace. This was the first mantra he chanted.
“Whenever you will chant it you will be guarded from all four projections of your personality. Just think in that light, your guiding star becomes the infinite transparent Guru. The Infinite stands on your left side, the time Guru stands on the back of you and the righteousness stands on the right side of you and in front is that one who is the one with all One. Is there anything more a man wants? So when you vibrate mantra in this way in a very negative mood, the progress of the path shall be protected by the path and that is what we are talking about tonight: Aad Guray Nameh, Jugad Guray Nameh, Sat Guray Nameh, Siri Guru Devay Nameh.”
Elevating the Consciousness
There were many kernels of wisdom shared. MSS Nirvair Singh helped us to move our energy with a pranayama kriya (Meditation Series for Rasa) to wake up the brain and take the fatigue out of the body. We then went through an interesting exercise of coming up with our identities and then negating them!
Nirvair Singh also shared several quotes from SS Hargopal Kaur’s new book, “Your Own Infinity.” It’s a lovely compilation of Siri Singh Sahib’s teachings on ways to connect with that exalted, elevated state of consciousness.
Did you ever come up with a definition of Soul? We did this, individually and then with a partner. Next was a modified Sat Kriya and stories about Guru Nanak Dev Ji. We identified the qualities and virtues of Guru Nanak and reflected on why they might be important to us.
We ended this uplifting journey with the Mul Mantra. Although nothing beats being in the energy of the group and experientially partaking of the journey, we did want as many of you as possible to have the opportunity to benefit from this workshop. So please enjoy the Gathering video!
In case you haven’t heard, Sikh Dharma International is co-sponsoring with 3HO a Yatra to India from November 5th to the 17th. There is additional information about this yatra on the SDI website.
May we be guided and uplifted by the qualities Guru Nanak embodied and may we live from our highest Self. Wahe Guru!
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 psychotherapy private practice in Santa Monica, California and Santa Fe, New Mexico, counseling individuals, couples, and families to support their personal and spiritual growth. She is a certified Kundalini Yoga teacher, a facilitator of White Tantric Yoga®, and a published author.