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 that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’
Despite the fact that this song was written in 1963, it seems timeless—for things do keep changing. Of course, change is ultimately necessary for growth and evolution. Certainly, that is true for our Dharma.
In our third-quarter newsletter, we continue to reflect on our evolving history, as we recount significant events that impacted us during the first two decades of the New Millennium. Indeed, the times were a-changin’! This will be the final issue in which we reflect on our past before we begin the process of creating our future.
We experienced the trauma and horror of 9/11, and the killing of innocent Sikhs in hate crimes, borne out of the mistrust following the terrorist attacks. (Unfortunately, due to what is happening in Afghanistan today, we are likely to re-experience some of this again.)
As Ministers, we were there to witness and to serve during these times. We also experienced the Siri Singh Sahib leaving his body. Again, Ministers were called upon to serve the sangat and to help with the grieving process.
At the same time, Ministers rose to more fully take up the mantle of leadership. Our organizational structure changed, evolved, and shifted significantly. We faced a lawsuit to reclaim our leadership. These were challenging times.
Through it all, the Guru and our seva will guide us and bless us with light and love. May we ever hold those touchstones as our uniting force, bringing us together as one.
Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh!
About the Author
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.