The theme for our 2013 quarterly Sikh Dharma Ministers’ newsletters is “Guru Hargobind: Transforming Sikh Dharma.” In the book “Heroes, Saints & Yogis” by MSS Shakti Parwha Kaur Khalsa and MSS Guruka Singh Khalsa, Guru Hargobind is remembered as the Guru who “turned saints into soldiers, while remaining a man of God.” For the Fall 2013 issue we look at the essence of the Sixth Body: Man at Prayer, the source of which is absolute stillness and absolute silence. All actions arise from stillness; all words arise from silence. In Siri Singh Sahib Ji’s words, “In stillness lies the sound which is the creative existence of
Read More
Archives for Gurus
#49 Fall 2013 Newsletter
Living Lighthouse
by SS Nihal Singh Khalsa, Santiago Chile Summer 2013 After the death of Guru Arjan, the Sikh community went through a profound change. During the previous 100 years, they had developed a deep meditative tradition founded in peace and tolerance. However, after the sacrifice of his father Guru Arjan, the Sixth Guru recognized the need for the community to be able to defend itself. This started the martial practice of the Sikhs. Guru Hargobind became a powerful warrior and trained the Sikhs to fight, but would only defend, never attack. They never took the property of others. They never used
Read More
The Land of Miri Piri
by SS Sada Bahar Kaur Khalsa, San Leandro CA Summer 2013 The energy of Guru Nanak passed through all of the Gurus and—while each one brings special qualities or essences into our lives—I think of a few of them more often than others. I feel the presence of Guru Nanak every morning while reading Japji and it was his Mul Mantra that led me to Sikhi. Guru Ram Das was my Teacher’s Guru and by extension mine as well. My deepest meditations have been dipping over and over in his holy water with my heart thrown open in bliss. I
Read More
The Soul of Sacrifice
by SS Amar Atma Singh Khalsa, Phoenix AZ Summer 2013 In January of 2009 I made my second trip to Amritsar. The sights, sounds, and senses of the Harimander Sahib called my heart and the blessings of its darshan was offered. My heart pounded with excitement as I arrived. The gold, the sarovar, the shimmery reflection, the kirtan, the coolness of the marble, and my head at the Parkarma formed an absolutely priceless experience. As I let myself be washed by the energy, my eyes drifted over the panorama of the Darbar. Hands folded, my eyes drifted and arrived at
Read More
A Living Birthright
by SS Gurvinderpal Singh Chaudry, Espanola NM Summer 2013 Sri Guru Hargobind Maharaj was the only child of Arjan Mal, Dhan Sri Guru Arjan Dev, grandson of Sri Guru Ram Daas Ji. To prepare for conceiving Guru Hargobind, his mother Mata Ganga, the wife of Guru Arjan Dev, went barefoot and in deepest humility to Baba Buddha Ji. He told her she would be blessed with a son. Baba Buddha Ji told her that her son (Guru Hargobind) would some day smash/destroy the egos of those on the battlefield, much like how Baba Buddha Ji ripped open a red onion to
Read More
#48 Summer 2013 Newsletter
The theme for our 2013 quarterly Sikh Dharma Ministers’ newsletters is “Guru Hargobind: Transforming Sikh Dharma.” In the book “Heroes, Saints & Yogis” by MSS Shakti Parwha Kaur Khalsa and MSS Guruka Singh Khalsa, Guru Hargobind is remembered as the Guru who “turned saints into soldiers, while remaining a man of God.” For the Summer 2013 issue, we look at the Mastery of the Sixth Body and the qualities of Guru Hargobind, including integrity, mastery of the Word, walking the talk, activating a protective shield, and being in a constant state of prayer. In this issue, we requested our newest Ministers to share on this topic.
Read More
Path of Sant Sipahi
by SS Guru Kirn Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Spring 2013 The insanity and darkness prevalent at this time and age reminds me how important it is for every Shakti to pursue self-defense and/or martial arts. Feeling battered emotionally from the recent massacre in Connecticut, and outraged by the horrific gang rapes in India, I’ve been thinking on how to approach the subject of the role of women and martial arts in relation to the Sant Sipahi, the warrior-saint. It has not been easy to find stories of Sikh women, especially in the times of the Gurus, having much to do
Read More
Way of the Spiritual Warrior
by SS Gurujodha Singh Khalsa, Bakersfield CA Spring 2013 The Spiritual Warrior is dedicated to the Divine through whom all things are created and to all creation. The Spiritual Warrior is attuned to the reality that: “All things come from God and all things go to God.” As we make the transition from the Piscean to the Aquarian Age, we are entering into a new millennium. Change is mandatory. The fundamental truth is that there is One Creator who created this entire creation and we are creatures within that creation. The reality is that we are all one as a
Read More
Master of Piety and Power
by SS SatSundri Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Spring 2013 Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa. Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh. I pondered the thought of writing about Guru Hargobind Ji, his life and lessons to us, and then took a Saturday and spread my resources around me, including Macauliffe’s history of the Sikhs, as well as Bhai Gurdas Ji’s Vaars, Bhai Nand Lal Ji’s ecstatic poetry and the Siri Singh Sahib Ji’s lectures. By the end of a day of immersing myself in dates, events, imagination, relationships, poetry and Gurbani, I was completely elevated, with my sixth center swirling from research. Guru
Read More
#47 Spring 2013 Newsletter
The theme for our 2013 quarterly Sikh Dharma Ministers’ newsletters is “Guru Hargobind: Transforming Sikh Dharma.” In the book “Heroes, Saints & Yogis” by MSS Shakti Parwha Kaur Khalsa and MSS Guruka Singh Khalsa, Guru Hargobind is remembered as the Guru who “turned saints into soldiers, while remaining a man of God.” In our Spring 2013 issue, we are exploring various aspects of Guru Hargobind’s contributions, including the concepts of Sant Sipahi, Miri Piri and the administration of Sikh Dharma. We asked our Ministers to relate stories of Siri Singh Sahib Ji’s teachings on the role of women and martial arts, gurdwara security, and our relationship to the
Read More