by SS Sukhdev Kaur Khalsa, Raasiku, Estonia 2024 (First Quarter) I’m sitting by the window at our MPA campus. The winter fog has draped the whole of Punjab, bringing a deep calm into the surroundings. Nevertheless, as we celebrate Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday, the air is charged with the vibrant energy of students doing Pantra—the rhythmic recitation of Jaap Sahib—and the captivating tales of the Guru’s extraordinary life. It’s a testament to the enduring spirit of Miri Piri that, despite only a few months since the school’s reopening, the flame of enthusiasm burns brighter than ever. In this moment of
Read More
Archives for Seva
Nurturing the Radiant Spirit: A Reflection on the Young Saints at MPA
Ministering in Chile in This Time and Space
by SS Sat Sansar Singh Khalsa, Santiago, Chile 2024 (First Quarter) What does the word ‘Minister’ mean to you? Being a Minister is for me an identity that is shared with a lineage of women and men who through the ages have been an inspiration, through the testimony of their lives. To live the life of a Sikh includes actively supporting one’s community in this way of life. That identity manifests in many ways for me—in deep internal aspects and in actions in the sphere in which I participate. Externally it means for me to stand as a lighthouse, ever
Read More
Minister in the Spotlight: SS Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa
by SS Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Espanola, New Mexico 2024 (First Quarter) Where There is Courage, There is Happiness Soon after I became a Kundalini Yoga teacher in December 1971, I had the sensation that there was an unseen sangat—a not yet identified community—that I am to serve. When I became a Sikh Dharma Minister a year and a half later, the same sensation filled me. I called upon the Guru to bring me to this unseen sangat, so that we would be known to each another. Over the decades, the Guru has brought me into several communities: in
Read More
Overcoming Isolation through Seva and Sangat Engagement During COVID
by SS Guru Darshan Kaur Khalsa, Puebla, Mexico 2022 (Third Quarter) Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh! Sat Nam Dear Sangat, I’m happy to share with you my inspiration and love of the Guru and the teachings that have given me strength in these changing and challenging times. I enjoy sharing with you a little bit of my earthly human life. My motto is: Those who learn and work as a team multiply the benefits of what they teach individually and more easily fulfill their mission, understanding the power that we are ONE. How have I,
Read More
Drawing Inspiration from Bhai Khanayia Ji
by SS Harsimrren Kaur Khalsa, Birmingham, United Kingdom 2022 (Second Quarter) Bhai Khanayia Ji was one of those gentle souls who exist ‘behind the scenes’; but his actions would cause tidal waves in our collective psyche for generations to come. He was part of the sangat during Guru Tegh Bahadur’s time through Guru Gobind Singh’s time on earth. Bhai Khanayia Ji had something profound to share with us. Guru Gobind Singh Ji was fighting to protect Anandpur Sahib. The supply chain into Punjab had been disrupted by the Moghuls in order to try and stifle the Sikhs. Food and water
Read More
Simran and Seva for Unity
by SS Dharma Kaur Khalsa, Millis MA 2022 (First Quarter) With the inspiration of the Sikh Gurus and my own family heritage, I am moved to serve the sangat in many ways—as a wife and mother, and in particular with the service of healthy food for the community near and far. In the summer of 2020, we started a food relief program called Guru Nanak’s Community Kitchen here in Millis, Massachusetts. Our core values of sharing and giving with love and kindness to all mean a great deal to me and to all those who have supported our food program.
Read More
Understanding Through Compassion
by SS Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM Winter 2020 Sometime in the mid-1970s, the Siri Singh Sahib defined “understanding” as “standing under.” Now, perhaps more than ever, we are called to go within, to become still, to resonate and to calibrate with what this means. How does “standing under those we serve” affect our words, actions, and relationships in daily life? Like many of you, since the beginning of 2020 I have been hearing from individuals looking for an assurance that I think as they do. It can be about whether to wear a mask or not, or
Read More
Standing Under Those We Serve
by SS Siri Krishna Kaur Khalsa, Medway MA Spring 2020 What a beautiful theme…Standing Under Those We Serve. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to reflect and write on this topic. The qualities of Guru Ram Das ji that are foremost in my mind are humility, kindness towards everyone, compassion, supreme devotion and the spirit of service. All of these unique virtues are integral to manifesting our destiny as leaders in the Aquarian Age. The Siri Singh Sahib Ji said: “Keep coming through. Life is useless unless it can give confidence to others.” I have taken these words to
Read More
Trauma-Informed Seva in Crisis and Disaster
In our 2017 Minister Enrichment Survey, one of the top responses by Sikh Dharma Ministers was to receive training about Trauma-Informed Seva in Crisis and Disaster. In this video presentation, you will learn tools and techniques to prepare you for trauma-informed seva (service). This module also guides you to practice these skills with a partner. We hope you find our video helpful to you in your service as a Minister of Sikh Dharma International. If you have comments or feedback, please email us at [email protected]. Please download and print this Practice Guide (PDF) . Pause the video when instructed
Read More
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
Read More