 European Khalsa Council  |
European Khalsa Council
The 1994 Khalsa Council meetings were held in Amsterdam on February 11, 12 and 13. This was the first meeting at which SS Kartar Kaur Khalsa of London presided as chairperson. Like the International Khalsa Council in the U.S. it was a beginning of a two year period to focus on the topic of "Living and Spreading the Teachings." Approximately 30 members attended the meetings representing the European Sangat.
The meetings began at 3 p.m. on Friday and started with Gurdwara and with the entire body participating in a check-in, which was called a tune-in. In this process members of the council were able to express what was happening in their lives and to tune-into others who they haven’t seen in seen in awhile or don’t know; so they can effectively work together on a common goal. Preceding the Tune-in there were updates on the Yoga Festival, Land Project and Teacher’s Training.
After dinner, the council broke into small random groups to discuss first: a)How do I at this moment live and spread the teachings? b)What does it mean and how can I manifest in my life? then second: a)What can I do and what resources do I need to help me spread the Teachings more effectively and to make my personal experience of teachings richer? b)What do I want to develop? These small groups generated a tremendous number of ideas that fell fell into numerous categories. From these categories, four major topics were created which became the focus for the Strategic Action Teams or S.A.T.’s..
On Saturday morning the members of the council decided on which of these four action teams they wanted to work. The assigned task of each team was to formulate a mission statement, and what specific strategies to implement over the next two years. Each team also decided what resources they needed and they prioritized the strategies they had formulated. Since all of the S.A.T.’s are actively seeking members of the sangat who can help with their objectives they also mapped out presentations and activities for the July Yoga Festival.
There were breaks in the work of the SAT groups interspersed in the meetings and at which time the entire body focused on Community Administrative Systems, Fund Development and the expansion and interrelation of Sikh Dharma businesses.
The Strategic Action Teams for the European Khalsa Council and their mission statements are:
Community Development SAT
To build a healthy, happy, holy world in serving the Word.
Gurunam Kaur, Holland - Guru Shabad Singh, Italy - Guru Sewak Kaur, UK - Ina Reese, Germany - Karta Singh, France - Sadhu Singh, Italy - Mata Mandir Singh, Holland - Sat Atma Kaur, Holland - Sat Kartar Kaur, Germany.
Generating Funds and Business SAT
To support and stimulate the development of individual and dharmic prosperity.
Guru Hans Kaur, France - Sardar Singh, Norway - Sat Hari Singh, Germany - Tarn Taran Kaur, Germany
Networking, Communication, Publishing & Archives SAT
The mission statement of the Product, Profile, Promotion (P.P.P.) Network is to make accessible to all of humanity the teachings of Sikh Dharma, 3HO lifestyle and Kundalini Yoga as embodied in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib as taught by Yogi Bhajan.
Ajit Kaur, France - Guru Jagat Singh, Holland - Guru Roop Kaur, USA - Seva Kaur, Norway.
Teaching and Teachings Systems SAT
To share the art of living: Healthy, Happy and Holy.
Guru Darshan Singh, France - Guru Dass Kaur, Spain - Guru Dharam Singh, UK - Guru Jagat Kaur, France - Hari Jiwan Kaur, Holland - Satya Kaur, UK - Satya Singh, Germany - Soorya Kaur, USA.
Almost every sangat member in Europe teaches regularly therefore the topic of Living and Spreading the Teachings is very meaningful to the Leadership body of the European community. The issues which face the community are: How do we consistently access the teachings and make it available in all of the various languages? How are the 3HO teachings being presented so they can be integrated into everyone’s life? What are those steps for integration? How to develop the funding for all these activities; taking into consideration that we function as one body representing members from different countries with various legal avenues?
The overall tone of the meetings was very creative and cozy. If you would like to get involved in any way with any of the Strategic Action teams, please don’t hesitate to offer your support.