Dear Ministers, Throughout my many years of counseling, I have always shared with clients that everything that happens is purposeful. Yes, even those events that one might call “atrocities.” I certainly have experienced these in my own life many times over. In the midst of the challenge, it is hard to make sense of it, let alone grasp its purpose. However, oftentimes in hindsight the purpose becomes crystal clear, and the growth that comes from having navigated the challenge will have helped one to expand in consciousness, awareness, and strength of character. The “never-ending election” is finally over. Some sangat
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Archives for Secretary of Religion Column
Secretary of Religion Column (2023 Third Quarter)
Secretary of Religion Column (2023 Second Quarter)
Dear Ministers, It’s spring in the Northern Hemisphere—a time of renewal. After the winter season, plants begin a new cycle. Some push up from the ground and manifest into flowers; the barren trees bud and produce new leaves. It’s as if the earth is re-awakening. Yet at the same time, in the Southern Hemisphere it is fall—the precursor to winter. Polarities. Yes, even the cycles of the seasons have simultaneous polarities on planet Earth. Is it any wonder that polarization is so readily experienced in our lives? I’m reminded of the ‘far-reaching’ goal the Ministry newsletter team has aspired to
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Secretary of Religion Column (2023 First Quarter)
Dear Ministers, Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh! We have been launched into the year 2023, ready or not. Indeed, we face many challenges in our Dharmic community. At the same time, the energy is changing. The other day I was reading an on-line astrological report by Philip Sedgwick (February, 3rd, Sky Scraping!) and was quite moved by something he shared: “Saturn dives into Pisces on March 7th. …Reset your humanity. Be concerned about the plight of others. Be concerned about the planet. Commit to every cause where you can expend a thorough increment of time
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Secretary of Religion Column (2022 Fourth Quarter)
Dear Ministers, It’s hard for me to fathom that we are already in November! Here in the United States, it’s easy to think about the national holiday of Thanksgiving. I was curious to find out what other countries celebrate the harvest or Thanksgiving. I knew Canada did, but I was surprised to learn that Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Grenada, Japan, Liberia, Saint Lucia, the United Kingdom and Brazil also had celebrations —but not necessarily on the same day. Historically, it began as a day to give thanks for the blessings of the harvest and of the preceding year. Americans
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Secretary of Religion Column (2022 Third Quarter)
Dear Ministers, Recently I watched an interview between historian and demographer Neil Howe and Tony Robbins. The discussion centered around cycles in human history, with reference to the book The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy, by Neil Howe and William Strauss. I felt like I got the CliffsNotes version of the authors’ key concept that these cycles are inevitable and predictable, and have shaped and impacted our lives for generations. Although the book was written in 1997, much of what was detailed in it has come to pass with startling accuracy. I was struck by how much of it could
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Secretary of Religion Column (2022 Second Quarter)
Dear Ministers, After having written my own responses to this year’s Minister renewal exam—yes, I too have to do the exam!—I read the first 60-plus responses that were received at the beginning of the renewal period. (And I look forward to reading those that have come in since.) I am both heartened and concerned. To those who took the time to contemplate the questions, and then responded honestly and thoughtfully, I thank you. To those who barely reflected at all, I missed your meditative mind. To those who wrote reactionary, critical responses, so be it. Truly, our Ministry includes many
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Secretary of Religion Column (2022 First Quarter)
Dear Ministers, What do we need to hold firm to? What needs to change? What unites us? What divides us? What are our shared values? These are questions that are critical for us, as Ministers, to explore, so that we may remain relevant and responsive to the demands of these times. What is keeping us from moving forward? Perhaps one factor is the growing polarization that is showing up in many of our communities around the world. When “holding a position” takes precedence over sharing one’s particular point of view, we end up in a power struggle—an “us and them” environment
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Secretary of Religion Column (2021 Fourth Qtr.)
“From a solid and conscious foundation, expansion takes place.” This line is from one of the affirmations I do daily as part of my morning practice. It refers to the Ministry of Sikh Dharma. 2021 marks the 50th year of our Ministry. We do have a solid base and history to grow from. Yet for many of us, this is also a painful time. There is tremendous polarization within our Ministry as well as our community—and, for that matter, the world. In seeking a more in-depth understanding of this, I turned to some of Patanjali’s concepts as described in The Aquarian
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A Time of Transitioning
by SS Dr. Sat Kaur Khalsa, Secretary of Religion 2021 (Third Quarter) It started with a phone call from Satsimran Kaur in early January 2004. She told me that the Siri Singh Sahib’s health was failing and it was time to start preparing for his passing. Tears rolled down my cheeks. Yes, I knew this was inevitable at some point. I just wasn’t quite prepared for it to be real yet. She explained that a small group (called the “transition team”) had started to meet. The group was asking for Ministers to serve the sangat at the time of his
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Secretary of Religion Column (Third Quarter 2021)
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
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