Once again the Khalsa Council met in Los Angeles for the Baisakhi 2001 meetings, April 10 - 12. There is nothing more inspiring than to look across the meeting room of the Khalsa Council - a sea of white bana, conscious beings, radiant faces and an incredible assembly of the leaders of Sikh Dharma. These three days were dedicated to discussion on the agenda, “Community Leadership, Human Development and Personal Relationships; Support Programs for Khalsa Families.” The Siri Singh Sahib addressed the Khalsa Council each day, challenging the mind and uplifting the spirit. The brilliance of such a majestic group of people impacted everyone who attended, and affected the entire sangat of Sikh Dharma through the strength of their prayer and meditation.
Organizational Changes. The Government section was given a new name by the Siri Singh Sahib - “Sarkar-e-Khalsa.” It was divided into two parts, the Cabinet and the Secretariat. He added three new sections to the Khalsa Council: The Central Section, the Financial Section, and the New Millennium Generation Section. This enhancement of the Khalsa Council structure will bring real benefits to the body as a whole, allowing two dynamic and important segments of our Government Section to consolidate and focus their strengths and identity. The younger members of the sangat are a critical part of the Khalsa Council, and the New Millennium Generation section will give them a setting in which to stretch their wings and have their voice heard. The fresh perspective they bring will yield new direction for the Council. Certainly, any growth and future projects will require a sound and effective financial strategy. Other sections of the Khalsa Council remain unchanged: The House, the Bhai Sahiba Section, the Council
of Nominees, the Youth Section, and the Observers.
Secretary General of the Khalsa Council, MSS Sardarni Guru Amrit Kaur, presented gifts as the Mukhia Singh Sahibs were honored and installed into the new Central and Financial Sections. They have diligently served the Khalsa Council and were honored as pioneers of the Aquarian Age. They are: MSS Daya Singh Khalsa, MSS Guruchander Singh Khalsa, MSS Guru Singh Khalsa, MSS Gurudhan Singh Khalsa, MSS Guruneel Singh Khalsa, MSS Hari Nam Singh Khalsa, MSS Livtar Singh Khalsa, MSS Sada Sat Singh Khalsa, MSS Sat Santokh Singh Khalsa, MSS Nirvair Singh Khalsa, MSS Gurucharan Singh Khalsa and MSS Tarn Taran Singh Khalsa.
Two new members were honored by the Siri Singh Sahib with the title “Mukhia” to recognize their service to Sikh Dharma and the Panth as a whole. They are Mukhia Singh Sahib Nirvair Singh Khalsa of Anchorage, Alaska - a dedicated teacher and author of Kundalini Yoga and the Sikh lifestyle, and Mukhia Sardarni Sahiba Gururaj Kaur Khalsa - a brilliant teacher and leader of the Sikh community in Vancouver, Canada.
Electing the New Chairperson
As we prepare for a new agenda and new cycle with the Khalsa Council, appreciation was shown to the outgoing Chairperson, MSS Nirvair Singh Khalsa, and a new Chairperson was elected. This year, the election took a different turn. The Siri Singh Sahib has always told us that historically the etiquette of Sikh government has always been selection not election. In other words, it is not the best campaigner who should hold the seat of government, but rather the wisest and most worthy person who is best suited to carry the responsibility. However in modern times, within a democratic society, this modality has become more and more difficult to construct.
To begin the process of selecting a new Chairperson, the Siri Singh Sahib bypassed all the electoral procedures and asked any members of the Council who wanted to be Chairperson to stand up. Instead of being elected, the applicants had to search their own hearts and decide if they were willing and able to carry the duties of the position. In other words, they had to nominate themselves. This took a lot of humility, courage and self-confidence. SS Guru Sangat Kaur Khalsa was the first to stand up, followed by MSS Guru Singh Khalsa, MSS Avtar Hari Singh Khalsa, and S.S.Guru Kirn Kaur Khalsa. The Siri Singh Sahib then told the four nominees to talk amongst themselves, and decide who would be the next Chairperson. Within a very short period of time, the group emerged with a unanimous decision - MSS Guru Singh Khalsa would be the next Khalsa Council Chairperson.
New Agenda: “Media, Positioning; Funding the Future.”
These meetings concluded the agenda topic on “Community Development” and introduced the new agenda, “Media and Positioning; Funding the Future.” To prepare the Council for this topic, there was a presentation of how we are currently positioning ourselves internationally, and what we are doing as a sangat to reach out to the World Community. Presentations on Khalsa Women’s Training Camp and Peace Prayer Day displayed how our summer events are reaching people through personal contact, a fantastic new website, and media advertising. Gurudhan Singh and Sada Sat Singh gave a presentation on how the businesses, such as Yogi Tea and Golden Temple, are expanding and using their venue to get yogic, meditation, and Shabd Guru technology out to the world. Avtar Hari Singh gave a strong presentation on the Dasvandh website and the new opportunities in fund raising. Siri Ram Kaur presented the fantastic new publication, Aquarian Times, and how well it is being received in the spiritual and new-age community. The
meetings ended on a very elevated note, and it was with open hearts that the final Ardas was recited.
The October meetings in Espanola promise to be informative, engaging and exciting. Anyone who would like to participate as an Observer should contact S.S. Dr. Sat Kirpal Kaur Khalsa at
505-747-8928
or [email protected].