At a Ministers’ gathering in 1993, we went through a strategic planning process for the Ministry. The mission statement that resulted was: “To selflessly serve and uplift humanity and to perpetuate Sikh Dharma in the spirit of Cherdi Kala.” This Office has used these words as a touchstone ever since. At a Summer Solstice Ministers’ gathering a few years ago, we developed an affirmation for Ministers to say daily: “Sikh Dharma Ministers, working in unity and purity to serve humanity.” I am a firm believer in positive affirmations and visualizations, such as those found in inspirational books on prosperity (e.g.
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Archives for Secretary of Religion Column
Secretary of Religion Column (Spring 2010)
Secretary of Religion Column (Winter 2009)
It was the first morning of the Khalsa Council 2009 Fall meetings. As part of our initial process, we met in our check-in groups. I sat next to Kirtan Singh from Los Angeles. Before we started, his cell phone rang. I heard him say, “Oh, I am so sorry to hear it.” I knew before he said the words that Guru Simran Kaur (14 years old) from Los Angeles had left her body. Tears started to make their way down my cheeks. The group wanted to know if I was okay. Kirtan Singh shared the news with them and then
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Secretary of Religion Column (Fall 2009)
Our Sikh Dharma Minister Gatherings at Summer and Winter Solstices and the European Yoga Festival bring us together to connect, elevate and expand as Ministers. We consciously do not call them Minister meetings, even though we do convene. To most of us, the word “meeting” implies going through an agenda and attending to business. The Sikh Dharma Minister Gatherings are intended as a collective experience, out of which comes a renewed relationship each Minister has with his or her own identity as a Minister. This Summer Solstice 2009 gathering was no exception. After tuning in, Shanti Shanti Kaur, our Assistant
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Secretary of Religion Column (Summer 2009)
Many years ago, when I first got into the Dharma, I thought that people on a spiritual path would not be plagued by the same issues I found in my counseling practice with the general public. How naïve was I? Over time I found that the Dharma was really a cross-section of humanity, dealing with all the same issues people had in the general public. However, there iss one big difference—we have the Guru as a touchstone and a lifestyle to uplift us. How blessed we have been all these years with a living teacher who was intent on giving
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Secretary of Religion Column (Winter 2008)
This is a time of change. It is a transition into a brave new world. We have been preparing for this time our whole lives. Our souls were guided to this path, one that embodies a technology for now and for the future. I am seeing a whole new aspect of teaching for the Ministry, a more organized and formalized way of delivering the teachings of Sikh Dharma shared by our beloved teacher. I believe we are in the very early stages of thought regarding the development of this area, yet it seems to be unfolding. The Sikh Dharma Board,
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