Focus on Sikh Dharma in a Changed World
Khalsa Council Fall Meetings
October 4-6, 2001
Espanola, New Mexico
The International Khalsa Council of Sikh Dharma convened their fall session from October 4-6, 2001 in Espanola, New Mexico. The current two-year agenda topic, “Positioning, Media, and Funding the Future” took on new meaning when America suffered brutal terrorist attacks on September 11th. There were 130 attendees from the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, and Europe.
The meetings brought into focus how our lives have changed since September 11th and how the changed world has affected the focus of Sikh Dharma. The three-day session included hearing personal perspectives on 9-11 and its aftermath, creating agendas that address issues of current concern, fund raising for an Office of Communications and Strategic Affairs to serve as a clearinghouse for information about Sikh Dharma and ways in which we can serve the global community, and holding training sessions.
New York - A War Zone
“New York is like a war zone,” reported SS Sat Jivan Singh Khalsa (New York) on the first day of Council meetings. “America’s big brother was felled to his knees, but he got up again.” Sat Jivan Singh and Dyal Singh described how the New York sangat was affected, but chose to serve by teaching yoga classes and meditation, holding prayer rallies in Central Park, and feeding people. “We wore our bana proudly,” Sat Jivan said, “even in the midst of attacks on Sikhs.”
Opening the Space
On the second day Khalsa Council addressed a number of agenda topics, generated by the members, including networking our 3HO and yoga student communities, getting out the teachings, creating a Sikh Dharma informational booklet, feeding people, involving youth, and leveraging the power of the global network and Sikhnet to reach out and teach about Sikhs. Groups formed around the agenda topics, which will continue meeting via e-mail and telephone bridge lines during the year.
Being the Media
The Siri Singh Sahib addressed the Khalsa Council each day, emphasizing the need to reach out and “be the media” of education about Sikhs. He described the death of Balbir Singh Sodhi (the Sikh man killed in Phoenix in a hate-crime after September 11th) as a “sacrifice” in the lineage of Guru Ram Das. Mr. Sodhi’s parents and brother visited the Khalsa Council meeting on the second day, and there was a moving and touching tribute to his death.
Positioning and Media
Our messages have become very important and are in the spotlight because of what Sikhs have been dealing with since September 11th. Members of the Khalsa Council brought newspaper clippings and articles and posted them on bulletin boards in the meeting hall. From New York to Los Angeles, Calgary to New Mexico, most press coverage showed the Sikhs in a positive light.
The Siri Singh Sahib told the Council, “Media is not only what is in the newspapers. Media is what you believe, what you say, to your brothers, to your sisters, to your neighbors. We are not very careful about media. If there is no news, create news, and create good news. Go to people who can spread those words, or spread it yourselves. Or write a letter to yourself. Say a few good lines to yourself.”
Our message to the media during these difficult times is simple and clear: 1) Sikhs are a religious people of peace, and 2) The Sikh religion is universal and we respect all religions. By communicating these short messages, we can help the media give an accurate profile of Sikhism.
Daya Singh Khalsa led an informative training session on how to deal with the press. Other Council members provided training on a variety of topics, including transformation and grieving (Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa), dealing with public officials (Mukta Kaur Khalsa, Daya Singh Khalsa) and reaching out to yoga students (Sat Jivan Singh Khalsa, Dr. Gurucharan Singh Khalsa).
Sikh Dharma Has Roots
The Siri Singh Sahib claimed that he is “extremely happy.” He stated that “[Sikh] Dharma has established itself; it now has roots. Out of these roots there will be many shoots. Out of these shoots, there will be many fruits.”
The October Khalsa Council session was presided over by Chairman, Guru Singh Khalsa, who reminded members that the critical work of the Khalsa Council continues throughout the year. The Council was adjourned at the end of the three-day session with great commitment to the tasks before it.
The next Khalsa Council meetings will be in Los Angeles in April. If you would like information on how to be an Observer, please email [email protected] or fax 505-753-5982