As part of our theme for this issue, we are focusing on building community, creating inclusiveness, and living in the Company of the Holy—the Sadh Sangat. How timely is the announcement by the Siri Singh Sahib Corporation (SSSC) regarding expanding the electorate! Letter to Ministers from the SSSC (new Electorate Procedure) This new procedure is an attempt to include some of our long-standing sangat members who are also impacted by the SSSC’s decisions. As Ministers, we play a vital role in this new voter approval process. Consequently, I want to give you some history and background as to how this
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Archives for Secretary of Religion Column
Secretary of Religion Column (Summer 2019)
Secretary of Religion Column (Spring 2019)
Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh! As the Minister e-newsletter team pondered the theme for 2019 and the four issues that will comprise this year’s publications, we developed a theme statement: The current reality of the world—with its perpetuation of negativity—requires the power of the Soul to infuse its light into the Mind. When we are in alignment with the essence of the Soul, we are capable of sustaining our positive mind. This is critical for the manifestation of the Aquarian Age. Practically, what does this mean? It means drawing on the gifts of our lifestyle,
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Secretary of Religion Column (Winter 2018)
It seems to me that no matter where we are living in the world at this time, we are being bombarded with psychological scare tactics, trauma, chaos, and upheaval. Information on a global level is at our fingertips. Social media demands instant responses and the pace of life is ever and ever faster. While we are reacting to this sensory overload, we are distracted from what is happening right under our noses—our rights are being stripped away; our environment is being polluted; the use of excessive money is manipulating political outcomes. People are spinning, off-center and disillusioned. Yes, these times
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Secretary of Religion Column (Fall 2018)
Fifteen minutes. That was the window of time we had been given to set up a powerful and transformational lecture video of the Siri Singh Sahib to watch during our 2018 Summer Solstice Ministers’ Gathering. We had never attempted to present a video at our previous Solstice Gatherings, especially at Ram Das Puri, which is a remote site in the Jemez Mountains of Northern New Mexico. The total time allotted for our event was 1 hour 30 minutes. The video we were planning to show lasted 1 hour 15 minutes. Because another class was scheduled after our event, we knew
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Secretary of Religion Column (Summer 2018)
A Minister recently said to me: “The Ministry is our sovereignty.” This comment went deeply into my being. What does sovereignty really mean? The dictionary defines it as “the state or quality of being sovereign.” Okay, so what does sovereign mean? In the list of definitions, three seem to be applicable to our Ministry: “independent of all others; excellent; outstanding.” These reflect qualities that are necessary for Ministers and that Ministers aspire to live by. For those of us who were blessed this lifetime to know the Siri Singh Sahib on the physical plane, we also know that he stretched
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Secretary of Religion Column (Spring 2018)
At this time, it seems that there is so much upset, confusion, chaos, turbulence, upheaval, and change all around us. It is frankly a little mind-boggling. Whether it is on a personal, community, national, environmental, or global level, there are many influences that can pull us off balance. The Siri Singh Sahib warned us of these times. He said that people would look to us for answers. They would stop us in the streets demanding help. They would hire us to meditate in the middle of a factory, in order for it to continue to be productive. We would be
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Secretary of Religion Column (Winter 2017)
A Minister came to me and said she was having great difficulty answering the first question on the 2016 Minister’s Exam (“Write an essay on Japji”). She asked if she could respond to the question with an artistic rendering. I gave her permission to do so. An artistic rendering—I was curious to see what this Minister would manifest from her unique God-given talents. When SS Guru Kiren Kaur Khalsa (wife of Dharm Singh) from Espanola, New Mexico very humbly gave me this painting and scroll at the end of Gurdwara a few weeks ago, I sat down on the floor
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Secretary of Religion Column (Fall 2017)
Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh! I would like to extend a huge “thank you” to all Ministers who responded to our recent Sikh Dharma Minister Enrichment Survey. The average response rate to many surveys is often very small. Of the total number of recipients of our Minister survey, we had over 100 responses (representing over 30% of our Active Minister base). That is terrific! It is very helpful information. Also, for those of you who offered additional comments, your input enhanced our interpretation of the results. I am very grateful to all who participated. Our
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Secretary of Religion Column (Summer 2017)
It was past three o’clock in the afternoon. I was still sitting in the Baisakhi 2017 Gurdwara created at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The space had been transformed into a magnificent and sacred gurdwara in honor of our Siri Guru Granth Sahib and Guru Gobind Singh’s 350th birth anniversary. Wherever I looked, I could see SS Seva Kaur’s design artistry at work. The celebration had begun at Guru Ram Das Ashram in West L.A. in the Amrit Vela. By the afternoon, the crowd had swelled to nearly 15,000. Many had already gone down the escalator to wait in the
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Secretary of Religion Column (Spring 2017)
The year 2017 embodies the energies of Guru Gobind Singh and the Radiant Body. The overarching theme of our four e-newsletters reflects these energies. When the Radiant Body is strong it gives spiritual royalty, creativity, nobility, courage, and excellence. With what is currently happening in the world, it is critical to strengthen one’s Radiant Body. There is so much negativity, anger, hate, division, and polarization present, we need that buffer to shine light on the darkness. For years, the Siri Singh Sahib told us to be the lighthouses. Clearly, that brightness is needed at this moment in time. In the
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