| Newsletter of the Sikh Dharma Ministry Sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Religion |
| In these times of crisis, with our world literally changing before us, I think about our Sikh Dharma Ministry and how effective this group can be. I often describe the Ministry as a rich, diversified body of resources who provide leadership in many ways. However, we have a problem. In order to mobilize the resources of these individuals and the Ministry as a whole, Ministers first need to meet locally with each other. They need to identify themselves, share their unique gifts, develop a working relationship with one another, set-up lines of communication, and establish a resource bank both within the local Ministry and in their local communities. The most effective way to accomplish this is for one or more Minister to take on the responsibility for initiating a local Ministry meeting. Whether this group meets bi-monthly, monthly, or even quarterly, magic happens when we come together to know and support each other. From that foundation, the local Ministers are better prepared to respond to crisis both within their Sangats and within their communities. It is true that we have Ministers who are the only one in their locale. However, it’s not inconceivable that those solo Ministers can connect with other Ministers in their state, region, or continent. In today’s world of instant communication and shrinking boundaries, it is possible to feel the support of other Ministers. If you have been waiting for a call to act, I’m calling you now. Please meet as a local community, or connect with others if you are the only Minister in a particular location. We need this grass roots networking now, so that the Ministry can answer the call of a fast changing world. If you self-identify from your heart to take on the responsibility of inviting Ministers in your area to meet, please know that personnel from this office will extend as much support to you as possible. Let us know who you are, where you are from, and how to reach you. You can e-mail us through this site, or call me at (505) 986-1876. May God ever bless you and keep you in His light and love. Humbly, SS Dr. Sat-Kaur Khalsa, Secretary of Religion |
| By SS Sat Jivan Singh Khalsa, New York, New York The tragedy of September 11 was a turning point in my life as a minister of Sikh Dharma. In my wildest dreams I could not have envisioned how my ministry would change in the face of a crisis of the magnitude of 9/11. I became aware of the power of the technology of Sikh Dharma in a way that I could not have previously imagined. What follows are some of the things that I learned from the tragedy. Make yourself be calm. The first thing that I found necessary was for me to become calmer as the situation became more confusing. In a time of crisis it is absolutely imperative for a minister to find within himself or herself that center, that place of peace, that focus that comes from meditation on the Nam. The lives of all those who look to us are literally dependent on us staying calm and collected in the face of disaster. As the world becomes more chaotic, we must become peaceful. Literally in direct proportion to the chaos around us, we must find peace within and spread it. Make yourself accessible. Let people know that you are available. Your yoga center, Gurdwara or home should be a place that they know they can come during or after a disaster. No one should have to be alone in a tragedy. People need access to other people. Here in NYC we let it be known that the yoga center/Gurdwara was open anytime anyone needed a place to meditate or just be with people. I let it be known that anyone could stay with us so they need not be alone. The evening of 9/11 over 80% of the people I asked said they spent the night with someone else. We had people stay with us in our home. Make accommodations for your people. Let people talk. As people process the tragedy they need to talk. And we just need to listen. Talking about the events has a healing effect and we ministers must be there to hear what our people have to say. We need to have healing ears. Let people talk. Use your intuition but don’t think that you have to have the answers. You just need to have patience and let them get it out. Have sessions for meditation and talking. It can be helpful to run sessions for groups of people, similar to yoga classes but more informal where people have the opportunity to meditate and then open up. We had an evening where we meditated for a short time, chanted a little, then just let people break into groups so they could open up and say what they wanted. No discussion, no judgments, no comments, just a forum where people could open up and let it out. Share our technology. People had sleep pattern disruption following 9/11. It broke down almost evenly between those who couldn’t sleep and those who found themselves sleeping more. In our evening yoga classes we worked people harder, trying to physically wear them out to help restore their normal sleep patterns. We lengthened the deep relaxation. We concentrated on meditations that assisted them in dealing with trauma, pain, suffering, release of anger and general relief from the symptoms that follow a disaster. Immediately after the event, we began each yoga class with a meditation and ended with one. Reach out to religious and community resources before tragedy happens. Make contacts now with political leaders, interfaith groups and law enforcement personnel. Do not wait until tragedy befalls your community. Nothing beats having the names and phone numbers of personal contacts to whom you can reach out when the time comes. Find a source of release for yourself. Don’t forget that the helpers need help too. While I wondered how I could possibly leave New York in what I considered the midst of crisis, it was absolutely essential for me to finally get away to Khalsa Council after over a month of ministering and giving to others. I did not know just how much had built up within me until I left for the airport for Khalsa Council. I started sobbing in the car and did not stop until I was able to share the experience with the ministers on the Council. The love and support of my fellow ministers healed me. We need an outlet for our grief and pain, too. Don’t overlook yourself. The tragedy of September 11 was an opportunity to put the teachings of the Gurus into effect. And they worked superbly! I am eternally grateful to God and Guru for giving me the strength to keep up in the test of the times. And I am honored to have been able to serve the community here in New York City in this time of great need. As we pray for the best, we prepare for the worst. It is my hope that my experience can help others be prepared should the occasion ever arise. |
Early in 2001, we noticed some signs of what the Siri Singh Sahib describes as "cold depression" among our local sangat: less participation in sangat gatherings such as birthdays, and 120th day celebrations; not reading as often in the Akhand Path, reduction in group sadhana attendance, and less participation in maintenance of our ashram. In response to this, we invited a small group of ministers to meet regularly with the intention to develop ways to raise the spirit of our community. Sat Kaur Khalsa, one of our local ministers-in-training (as distinguished from SS Dr. Sat Kaur Khalsa, the Secretary of Religion), is acting as our chairperson. Cherdi Kala is the antidote to Cold Depression. Therefore, our goal is to help each person awaken from the inside out, to return to the basics, to reconnect with what originally attracted them to this path; to make change for the long term. Therefore, we decided not to focus on getting people to do things. Instead, we came together with a desire to tap into the natural yearning each sangat member has to serve. To accomplish this, we first needed to raise the spirit and strengthen the identity of the 75 Sikh Dharma Ministers in New Mexico. Following are some of the ways we have begun to do this. Form Partnerships for Outreach Partnership with Local Leaders: Our local Ministers want to expand our outreach and become involved with the greater community where we live. In late summer, the Rio Arriba County Community Health Educator, Millie Gross (who also happens to be Shanti Shanti Kaur's younger sister) brought to our attention that local leaders want to get to know the Sikh Community better, to partner with us to find solutions to the challenges we face in our mutual Espanola community. The Ministers decided to host a luncheon for agency directors, clergy, and service providers to get better acquainted and to become aware of community needs and volunteer opportunities. The luncheon held on October 30th was an enormous success both for our further integration into the community, and in raising the spirit and strengthening the identity of the ministers. Our guests were deeply touched by our hospitality, warmth and willingness to serve. Individual Ministers continue to deepen the relationships started that day. Shanti Shanti Kaur has a new movie friend, the director of a local teen service agency, and a new lunch buddy, the grant writer for the 14 health care clinics of Northern New Mexico. Sat Kaur is volunteering at the local Red Cross. Other ministers now serve on the Women, Infant, Child Council, the lunch buddy program at our local elementary schools and other volunteer positions. Partnership with the Sangat: From this base, we've opened volunteer opportunities to the whole sangat via the local sangat newsletter. We now have a monthly "community calendar" where events and volunteer opportunities of local agencies are listed and a "community column" so those who volunteer can share their experiences. In addition, the list of organizations and their focus of service was sent to each member of the sangat. Partnership with the Community Development Office: New Mexico Ministers called upon the resources from the Community Development office to host our outreach luncheon. This teamwork is what made the luncheon so successful. Each Sikh Dharma Minister has a partner in the International Sikh Dharma Community Development Office. Sardarni Sahiba Siri Simran Kaur, director of Community Development, and Sardarni Sahiba Kulwant Kaur, are there to assist you and your sangat with training, support, resource materials, and Open Space facilitation for your community. Siri Simran Kaur says, "The values of the Ministry and Community Development are closely aligned and the lines between these two entities often merge, so with the clear intention to support each other and maximize our efforts we have entered into a partnership. The Ministy and Community Development will be collaborating at every opportunity on specific projects and events, and we will be sure to keep you updated on the avenues of participation." Consistency and Follow Through A key concern of the ministers is that we finish each project and maintain what we start. Follow through is important for a successful outcome, and essential in building trust among the Ministers and the sangat. Our chairperson, Sat Kaur, keeps us focused. Cherdi Kala as a Leadership Model The original core group of ministers we invited to start this process early in 2001 has grown considerably. We believe this is because we remember our original purpose is to raise spirit, to invoke Cherdi Kala. What makes this work for us is that each Minister is doing what they have a passion for and defining the form and time they want to commit. At its essence, action and follow through are based in each Minister's natural desire to serve. If that is not awakened, then someone else takes up the task, or it becomes evident that the task is not to be attempted right now. "Power is not in the person; power is in the collective spirit...That takes commitment, a decision. Decide to expand the frontiers, to reach where you have not reached before, to serve those you have not served. Decide for yourself, 'Where expansion itself ends, I will go beyond that to fulfill the desire of my own soul." Yogi Bhajan, April 26, 2001 |
| When Shakespeare wrote, "A rose would smell as sweet by any other name" he was half joking. The words we choose in our communication make a world of difference - no less so when we are translating concepts and experiences from another language. Shakespeare, himself, the great master of English prose and verse, could not have believed otherwise. When Sardar Manmohan Singh translated the whole Siri Guru Granth Sahib into English he did us a huge service. That work took him all of 12 long years, from 1948 to 1960. Since Manmohan Singh, others have also contributed various translations - some more flowery, others more literal. Singh Sahib Sant Singh Khalsa's is closest to the American English used by most of us today. Gratitude is due to all the translators who have worked through the years to help us grasp the Guru's original meaning. Considering its imperfections as the first effort of interpretation, it’s a wonder that Manmohan Singh Ji's dear original work is still called on at Solstices and many Ashrams. Basically, it is used because it is readily available and most of the prose are reasonably clear. Moreover, it would take a considerable investment of time and money to put Dr. Sant Singh's more polished translation, which is currently available on a CD-rom and at Sikhnet.com, into a usable book format. In the hope of making the best possible use of the Manmohan Singh translation, I have compiled a list of various oddball vocabulary from his text, along with substitute words that are more accurate or, in my opinion, simply more poetic. For example, where a word like "mumper" will detract from the spirit of the text, a simple word like "beggar" might serve better. The "courier of death" evokes images of some satanic Federal Express truck pulling out from the gates of hell. We might better say the "angel of death" and sound more in sync with the Guru's original meaning. The sensitive use of fitting words and phrases is, I believe, especially important when the whole sangat may be hanging on every word that is being said, as during the reading of a Hukam. A heaping helping of "myrmidons," and "reverduring hobgoblins" can create more confusion than enlightenment among listeners who have entrusted us with conveying to them the message of the Guru. This is no less true when the sangat is very young. Simple, easy words and phrases should be adopted to speak to the minds and |
| "adamantine shutters" bajar kapat - stiff doors; "anchoret" (1) tapeesar - master of ordeals; "anchoret" (2) udaasee - detached yogi; "apostate" manmukh - egocentric; "archard of poison" vis kee vaaRee - field of poisonous plants; "austerity" taap - spiritual ordeal; psychic heat; "azadirachta" nim - neem tree; "benediction" kirpaa/dayaa - kindness; "bombax hemptaphylum" simbal/simmal - kapok tree; "calcareous" kalar - barren; "calumniator" nindak - slanderer; "calumny" nind - slander; "cavil" hujati - gripe; "central trachea" sushman - sushmana; "collyrium" kajar/kaajar/anjan - kohl; eye shadow; "colotropis procera" ak - poisonous cactus; "corn" ann - grain; food; "countenance" mukh - face; "courier of death" jam - angel of death; "crore" kror - ten million (10,000,000); "diploment" sootak - impurity; "eight watches" aaT pehar - all the day; "eighteen loads of vegetation" bhaar aTHaaraa - all plant life; the plant kingdom; "Elysian tree" paarjaat - mythical wish-fulfilling tree; "equipoise" sahaj - natural ease; "fakir" fakeer - Moslem ascetic; "fiat" hukam - cosmic order; divine command; "ficus religiousa" peep - fig tree; "firmament" ambar - sky; "ghari" gharee - 24 minutes; "gnosis" giaan - wisdom; "God's elixir" har ras - experience of God-consciousness; "Guruwards" gurmukh - devotee of the Guru; "hobgoblin" bhoot - vengeful spirit; "lac/lakh" lakh - hundred thousand (100,000); "mammon" mayaa - the beguiling world of temporary things and emotions; "maulvi" mullaa - Moslem priest; "maund" man/maN - "100 pounds;" (Actually, the weight of a maund varied from place to place); "milch cow" kaam dhayn - mythical wish-fulfilling cow; "mullah" mullaa - Moslem priest; "mumper" jaachak - beggar; "myrmidon" azrayl (from Islam)/jam (from Hindu dharm) - angel of death; "nectar" amrit - the consciousness of deathlessness; something that gives the consciousness of deathlessness; "ordure" bisTaa - excrement; "philosopher's stone" paaras - mythical stone with the power to change something worthless into something valuable; "portal" dvaar - door; gate; opening; "prop" adhaar/Tayk - support; "propitiate" (1) bhaavai - please (God); become pleasing to (God); "propitiate" (2) pateejai - trust (God); "puranas" puraaN - books of Hindu myths and legends; "qazi" kaazee - Moslem judge and scholar; "quern" peesan - grindstone; "reversed penance" urdh tap - difficult sadhana done with the body upside down; "salver" thaal - offering plate; "sanctified" oojal - radiant; "sans" binaa - without; "self-mortification" sanjam - self-discipline; "shaikh" shaykh - Moslem leader; "shampoo" mali - massage; "shastras" shaastar - books of Hindu law; "skirt" (1) anchal - hem; "skirt" (2) cholaa - robe; "soul" man - mind; heart; consciousness; "supernatural power" sidhee - yogic power; "supplication" bayntee - request; prayer; "taciturnist" monee - one who keeps a vow of silence; "tranquilize" seetal - to soothe; "viands" binjan - foods; "viaticum" tosaa - traveling allowance; "windpipe" nalee - energy meridian of the body; |
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January, 2002 Table of Contents: |
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A Message from the Secretary |
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| "Community in Crisis" |
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In Times Of Crisis By S.S. Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa On September 15, 2001, Balbir Singh Sodhi, a member of the Guru Nanak Dwara sangat, was shot to death at his gas station in Mesa, Arizona. Since no money was taken, the murder was perceived as a hate crime. Frank Roque had shot the gentle Sikh because to him Balbir Singh's turban and beard made him look like Osama bin Laden. No amount of preparation can prepare a sangat for a shock like this. This article gives some guidelines as to what can be done in advance of, in the middle of, and after such an event. We all received a wake-up call on September 11th. Now, the Guru is asking us to share Sikh Dharma with the world. Laying the Foundation: Establish contacts - Work with the interfaith community and establish connections with the media and public officials before you need them. Organize community leaders - Form a working relationship within the leadership body so that it can work as a team when a crisis occurs. Have in place a community contact list, workplace list etc. and a phone tree so that information can be disseminated quickly. Educate the public - The more we inform the public of who we are, the less suspect we will be because people will know us already. Offering programs at schools and disseminating informational material at any appropriate venue is very valuable. Fielding the Crisis: Secure the immediate situation - The safety of our community is our first priority. Work with local law enforcement officials and the experts in our own extended community, such as Akal Security, to determine what extra protection is needed. This will go a long way toward making people feel secure. Attend to individuals in need - In the case where a particular person or family has been targeted, it is essential for sangat members to show their support directly to those affected. This may take the form of interfacing with public officials for those who don't speak English well, going to people's houses for langar after someone has died, reading in Akhand Paths, and going to funerals. When the situation affects the community more generally, we can act as counselors on a personal level and provide experiences for people to connect with the Guru and share their pain with each other as a group, such as organizing a special Gurdwara with a focus on healing after the event. Prepare members to deliver a simple message - An avalanche of media attention often follows a crisis. As soon as possible, brief sangat members on how to deliver an appropriate response to the media. When there is a consistent, clear, and simple positive message, it will put the community in a positive light in the public eye and will elicit sympathy rather than suspicion. Designate spokespeople to deal with the media - In general, it is more effective to have an informed core of spokespeople to deal with the media. This core can work together to satisfy the overwhelming volume of requests from the media, as well as shape the message that is being presented. Develop a means for tracking activities and contacts - Again, things happen very fast. An organized tracking system for contacts and activities is an invaluable reference and makes the experience manageable rather than overwhelming. Ask for help - Many communities are unprepared to deal with a severe crisis. Ask for help from the Office of Communications and International Secretariat. Also, call upon elected officials to help you. That is what they are paid for. Keep the sangat informed and involved - A communication gap may come about when some people are highly involved in the situation and others are not. Take the time in the middle of the crisis to have a family meeting or pass out an update to keep members informed. Ask for volunteer assistance where needed. Invariably, the crisis affects every member of the community in one way or another. Set up a means for receiving public support - People are often moved to help and the most common way is through financial donations. Setting up a bank account, especially for the purpose of receiving donations, is critical. If it can be administered under a non-profit account, people will be able to take the donation as a charitable deduction. Document the course of events - Gather people's stories and keep a written and pictorial record of the crisis. It is history in the making. In retrospect, it will have been a highpoint in the life of the community, as well as an opportunity for tremendous growth and learning. Plan a unique event - A public program or memorial often evolves from a crisis. This can be a great opportunity for healing for your own community and the public at large. It is also a major avenue for education. It should reflect the unique qualities of the community affected as well as offer a forum for the common statement of compassion and grief and the will to overcome adversity. Provide opportunities for connection with the Guru - The Guru is our source of inspiration and is the most comforting influence in times of stress. A special Gurdwara, away from the pressure of the media, can be a time for the sangat to gain strength and perspective. Sharing the Experience: Continue relationships - Continue the contact work started before the crisis. Follow up with a 'Thank You' to every party that helped you through it. Make up a cumulative contact list of all media and public officials for future reference. Share the story with others - Our stories are one of our greatest teaching tools. When you share the story with other people, you will open their hearts. This will go a long way toward dispelling differences. Collect the records - Gather together all fliers, news clippings, photographs, letters etc. into a form that can be shared with the community and given to those who participated in the event in a meaningful way. It will give people a sense that they have accomplished something of lasting importance and that they have made a difference. Interface with other groups - If the problem is experienced across the nation or the world, groups will form to address the issue. Having a local representative involved will bring the collective solution to the community. Support others who are in need - During the time that we were facing the crisis of Balbir Singh's murder, a Mormon church in Mesa was burned down, twice. We stood side by side with the Mormons and other interfaith members to show that we were all together in the fight against prejudice, racism, and evil. Only by extending outward can we serve in the way that the Guru meant us to, as one with the human family. |
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The Power of Partnership By Sardarni Sahiba Hari Charn Kaur and Sardarni Sahiba Shanti Shanti Kaur of Espanola, NM |
| hearts of the audience. The Guru himself was a master of language and communication. We would do well to facilitate that flow of understanding with simple, easily understood terms and phrases. |
| "A Rose By Any Other Name"
Remedies For Manmohan Singh's Classic Translation by SS Guru Fatha Singh Khalsa, Canada |
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Click here to see the upcoming Bridgeline Courses in the Ministry Enhancement Series. The Ministry Exams from 1984-2000 are now posted at the Ministry Newsletter homepage. If you've fallen behind in the renewal process, click here to find out how your life has suddenly become easier! |
| WELCOME NEW MINISTERS! SS Shabd Saroop Singh Khalsa, Quebec, Canada SS Sat Jit Kaur Khalsa, Quebec, Canada SS Jai Hari Kaur Khalsa, Mexico City, Mexico |
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| When I reflect back, my ministerial mission began to gel about seven years ago. It was about that time that all of my years of musical training finally began to come together. I'd been a frustrated musician for many years; waiting for the right combination of factors to realize the satisfaction that I knew lay within music but was unable to access. At that time I began the exploration into the nuance, subtlety and the transformative power of chanting, kirtan and Naad Yoga. This was a very personal journey into 'making my life work'. I found that the more I immersed myself in all things related to sound, the more balanced and successful my life became in all arenas - marriage, personal and work. I have also been blessed with periodic, personal and direct feedback from the Siri Singh Sahib about kirtan, chanting and sound. This teaching and confirmation has come to me in different forms -- as a passing word or comment, or during a squirmy session in front of a Master's Touch class, where I might be the appointed 'example' for the teaching that day. Over time, I finally admitted to myself that the Siri Singh Sahib was giving me a very clear message - I had developed a unique understanding of the yoga of sound. All of this, coupled with my own passion for Naad, led me to realize that sound has everything to do with the realization of my life's purpose and, certainly, my ministerial mission. I 'locked in' that this is what I must teach and share with others. Ministering through sound has manifested for me in many ways and continues to evolve. I have come to realize that chanting and playing kirtan are really service to the community. Certainly I benefit in infinite and unimaginable ways, but, first and foremost, kirtan is seva. Therefore, a significant part of my role as a minister is to regularly serve the community by playing kirtan in Gurdwara, playing for weddings, setting the space for teaching by chanting before the Siri Singh Sahib's classes, and playing music for the children's program. An important thread through all of this is the necessity to 'keep up' despite the full range of insecurities and ego trips I may move through. Ultimately, I have to get myself out of the way and simply serve - and keep on serving. I minister through recording music as well. Some years ago, the Siri Singh Sahib directed me to record seven mantras and a shabad. I asked him to provide meditations for each of the mantras and we released them with diagrams and instructions about how to meditate using the music. This catapulted my work into a whole new direction. Now the mission is extended to people who may never meet me or any other yoga teacher. They will now have yogic techniques readily available to them, and will have the Guru's words brought to their hearts. More recently, my ministerial statement has manifested in a revival of teaching. Prior to moving to Espanola, I taught yoga classes often. Once I moved here, however, I simply stopped teaching. With the demands of my work, I felt I didn't have the time. I also believed that the market in Espanola was limited and already saturated with teachers. I was mistaken. About four years ago, I began leading Community Chanting programs in different cities. There was no existing format or example for these programs. I simply decided that any teaching of Yogi Bhajan was 'fair game' - therefore the programs have grown to combine chanting, celestial communication, healing circles, Kundalini Yoga kriyas...whatever technique engages the participants. For the most part, the people who come are not Kundalini Yoga students. Rather, they come from other traditions and walks of life to celebrate community and enrich their lives. A big surprise came for me last year when the Siri Singh Sahib left for India for six weeks and, before leaving, instructed me to teach in his place. He assigned the topic "The Conscious CEO", the conscious communication aspect of Naad Yoga. Through the process of fulfilling this assignment, I recognized how I minister through my work at Akal Security. I experienced how everyday communication in the business environment can uplift difficult situations or tear them apart. This helped to clarify my work as the foundation and testing ground for the application of the teachings. My responsibility in my work is to minister to others and, actually, to minister to the work itself. This works best when I keep myself out of the way, serve the excellence of others and reflect it back to them, and, as much as possible, facilitate every situation to its excellence. This year the Siri Singh Sahib instructed that a different person in the community teach each week while he is away in India. My assignment is to coordinate these classes. By doing so, I find myself actively ministering by facilitating others to expand their experience of teaching. In the end, I've come to discover that this is what I am...a minister in every aspect of my life. With infinite blessings to all... Sardarni Sahiba Dev Suroop Kaur Khalsa |
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Minister of the Month Sardarni Sahiba Dev Suroop Kaur Khalsa |
