“It is a Good Camp. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Siri Singh Sahib ji 7/2000
The Siri Singh Sahib once said that God flows with the innocent; God forgives the innocent. He told us that we have to be innocent through and through, simple through and through, and real through and through. Our reality is that we are in the Name of God. This summer at Khalsa Youth Camp, Ram Das Puri (NM), every child’s innocence glowed brightly.
This unique and outstanding camp, for girls and boys ages 3-12, develops the values and identity that build a storehouse of confidence for children to experience when we’re not around or when times get tough. We are giving them a foundation upon which Leaders for the Aquarian Age are built. This summer involved many challenging, expanding, and fun activities that ran through each child’s day. The morning practice of yoga, chanting, and meditation under the blue expansive skies of New Mexico set each innocent soul free to be themselves. Our staff included teachers, parents, and teenagers who dedicated four weeks of their summer to work with our children to build a better tomorrow.
Working at KYC is learning how to become a more effective guide. During the summer, a young guide said to me, “What could be a more rewarding summer experience than knowing you are becoming better able to raise children that are confident, assertive, appreciative, loving, respectful, and generous? Imagine a world where every child grew up to become an adult with these qualities.” I told her that the Siri Singh Sahib’s vision of the future is to help create such a world and that her work at this camp is supporting this vision.
During the last week of camp, we all had a very enjoyable visit to the Hanuman Temple in Taos. We listened to stories of Hanuman and their Guru, Neem Karoli Baba, and chanted healing mantras. Afterwards the children were playing outside, and one of the residents commented on how carefree and innocent our children were. He felt blessed to be in the room while they were chanting God’s Name.
After the children gave a wonderful presentation of the camp’s daily activities to the Siri Singh Sahib and guests from KWTC and the Espanola Ashram, we all sat at the master’s feet and chanted the healing mantra, Ra Ma Da Sa, Sa Say So Hung for about 7 minutes. The next day, Siri Bhrosa Kaur (L.A.), came up to camp to say goodbye for the summer. She shared the Siri Singh Sahib’s comments to her and the other healers who meet with him daily, that the children’s meditation was so healing that he wished they did not stop. Their innocence was felt deeply.
It was our privilege to witness the unfolding of the inner self in each child, allowing its beauty to shine forth in the world.
The Khalsa Youth Camp 2000 summer presentation video can be ordered from GTE, Box 13, Shady Lane, Espanola, NM, 87532.