by SS Gurujodha Singh Khalsa, Bakersfield CA Fall 2020 What does it mean to be a Sikh Dharma Minister in the age of Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter? In examining the physical pandemic of COVID-19 and the consciousness affliction known as racism and prejudice in the world, what is the role of the Sikh Dharma Minister? Are we here only to perform weddings and officiate at funerals? Are we strictly consigned to taking hukams and passing out prasad? Yes and no. We must perform each of the aforementioned ministerial functions with grace and dignity. Additionally, it is my view that
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Archives for Community
Standing for Righteousness and Humanity
Facing the Unknown
by SS Harbhajan Kaur Khalsa, Millis MA Fall 2020 There was a time when I could not have imagined that big business would be given legal precedence over the rights of citizens or that the prophesied “war over water” would ever come to the United States. But neither is a stretch of the imagination now. Change and challenge are non-stop. June of 2020 began with the pandemic taking a back seat to the global protest, “Black Lives Matter.” And July has brought protests in response to not being able to protest without a militarized response. It is not only difficult
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Duwara Consciousness
by SS Satya Kaur Corfield, Espanola NM (with Davinder Singh and Harisimran Kaur) Winter 2019 Editor’s Note: The values of a Sikh Dharma Minister are beautifully reflected in the next generation as illustrated in the following article. This is the story of SS Satya Kaur’s youngest, Harisimran Kaur and her husband Davinder Singh, who are making a difference by serving the homeless of San Diego.” David, a young gay man, arrived at Aero Drive Safe Parking Lot in San Diego quite destitute. He had just escaped sex trafficking a month prior, and had since been living on a diet of
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The Gifts of Shared Commitment
by SS DukhNiwaran Kaur Khalsa, Chicago IL Summer 2019 At this year’s Baisakhi celebration in Los Angeles, I had the profound honor of meeting with Dr. Roop Singh, Secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parandhak Committee (SGPC). Members of the Dharmic Office of Public Affairs, the International Khalsa Council’s LGBTQ+ Task Force, and representatives of the Los Angeles Guru Ram Das Ashram gathered for this discussion about LGBTQ+ issues in Sikhi. Our meeting was an informal and cozy breakfast held at the Bhai Sahiba Bibi Inderjit Kaur’s home, hosted by her children SS Kulbir Singh and SS Kamaljit Kaur in her
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Valuing and Preparing
by SS Kirti Kaur Khalsa, Tucson AZ Summer 2019 Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa! Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh! I have always had an affinity for my elders. I grew up in a multi-generational environment where elders were greatly respected and valued; they loved me and I loved them. This flowed effortlessly into my work with Dr. Dharma Singh and the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation. (The Siri Singh Sahib arranged it, so, of course, it would flow effortlessly, right?) Because of this, in the past 26 years I have learned a great deal about aging, memory, health, family dynamics
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Building and Serving Community
by SS Meher Kaur Khalsa, Phoenix AZ Summer 2019 Several months ago, I took out the folder of the letters the Siri Singh Sahib sent me over the years. I had not read them in a long time and was surprised to read in one of the letters that he had requested that I report to him on what was going on in the Phoenix community. I mentioned this to a friend of mine the other evening and she reminded me that years ago the Siri Singh Sahib had designated her and me as the secretaries of the Phoenix ashram.
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Fostering Group Consciousness: An Inside Job
by SS Dr. Sham Rang Singh Khalsa, Millis MA Summer 2019 Ashrams, probably like all spiritual communities, attract a diverse lot. Over the decades of living in an ashram community, we have often seen individuals causing problems and requiring much time and attention. A response often appears as an effort to try to remove the person causing the problem, but the Siri Singh Sahib consistently urged us to remain open and welcoming to all. Group consciousness has parallels with individual consciousness. As individuals, if we try to purge the shadows from our psyche, that very resistance can bring more energy
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#72 Summer 2019 Newsletter
The theme for our Summer 2019 newsletter is Connection. In this issue, we address the topics of building community and inclusiveness. Guru Amar Das is our shining example; he was a visionary who built communities of equality, carrying Guru Nanak’s teachings far and wide. We asked Sikh Dharma Ministers to reflect on the question: “In your life and in your work as a Sikh Dharma Minister, how do you foster inclusiveness in your community, living in the Company of the Holy?” “In the Siri Guru Granth Sahib it says: ‘In the company of the holy, you will find God. In
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Raising the Nishan Sahib
by SS Siri Bandhu Kaur Khalsa, Ottowa, Ontario, Canada Summer 2018 The day was overcast and overly cold, when the phone rang. “Auntiji, can you do me a favour?” Hmmm, now who was this fine young voice I didn’t recognize, and how could Auntiji possibly say “no” to this? “What can I do for you?” “Would you be able to do seva as a member of an all-women Panj Piaray to raise the Nishan Sahib at the Ottawa City Hall on Sunday, April 1st at 9:30 am?” “Of course,” I said. “That’s wonderful,” said the voice. “What do we wear?”
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Sikh Dharma Recognized in Argentina
by SS Ram Krishan Singh Khalsa, Buenos Aires, Argentina Spring 2018 It is a great honor for me to announce that on February 15, 2018, Sikh Dharma of Argentina was formally recognized as an official religion in our country for the first time in history. In 2012, I began to develop a relationship with the Guru through the teachings received from Kundalini Yoga and its instructors and also in my relationships with the Punjabi residents in Argentina who held occasional Gurdwaras at Casa de Luz, the home of Pritam Baghauti Kaur. In this way, I observed, not the distances and differences,
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