Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji
Addresses Sikh Congregations
Gurdwara Lecture, September 16, 2001
Wahe Guru ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru ji ki Fateh!
These are the days of calamities. This is just the beginning, and these calamities will extend themselves. It will address our businesses, our economics, our family life, our way of life, and even the way we think. It’s a really hard time for America, and America has no choice but to react. But, on the other hand, the enemy needs only a day or an hour of the day, and that is all. It will be the responsibility of the American Sikhs to inform as much as they can, and to inform the Indian Sikhs to go through these collective rules whenever these things happen: Let’s not go alone, particularly at night. If there is an emergency make a headquarters like ashrams. We are an ashram, and we stick to our spiritual activities together. It is called following the lane, so these people--there are people who are angry, there is no doubt about it--they may not get a chance to attack. Don’t give them a chance to attack. Fly the American flag at the same time as our standard (Sikh Dharma) flag flies, so that people should know that we are Americans also.
It is a situation which is not confronting us, but one which has come on us. There’s no running away from it. And the fact is: Whatever your thoughts are, if America does not at this time show that it is a superpower, then it’s not going to be superpower. It has been said that the last time America attacked Afghanistan and Russia attacked Afghanistan, then it got split into many states. Actually Russia got rid of the Islamic states to free itself because they were in the majority. So things can be twisted, information can be twisted, a lot of rumors can be twisted, gossip can be twisted. So it is the time for everybody to get on the Internet and send a message of peace, tranquility, respect, grace, who the Sikhs are. Internet is being read all over and very well.
And the feeling at this moment is that it is a long haul; let’s say 25 years, something like that. It’s not just that it is going to finish tomorrow. The stars are not in favor, that is true. But collective effort is one thing, which can change the ultimate end of disaster. I know you have to go two or three hours early now to the airport. It is a long line, a long hassle, and we cannot check our stuff at the curb, but it will curb our movements; it will put us through things. But we Americans can go through it. Our policy from birth to the end is that “we have got to make it.” If you really want to know America, this is what America is. And that’s why the American Sikhs are very clear on the issue--we have got to make it. But at this moment, American Sikhs must carry the Indian Sikhs with them. They may be shy to come because of the language, because of their original custom, but you should now go to them. This is a time to be together, and if there’s a virtue in you, you must carry with your virtue all the people you can carry. Get out, touch people, help them. Let them understand how to act, so that we can avoid any incident or coincident or whatever we call it. Guru is with us and Guru shall protect us that we know. But let’s act in His Name