Stories by ashram members that share their knowledge and experiences in the ashram.
After 26 years in Espanola, and 18 years at Guru Ram Das Puri, I am being invited to a new place, new experience, new adventures, infusion of Khalsa into a new town. Although I have not participated actively in community life for some time, there have been many connections and shared moments, spanning decades and continents and generations.
For quite some time, I have been disturbed by some attitudes about and treatment of members of the LGBTQ+ community within our Sikh Dharma. Many of our devoted siblings have felt forced out because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. They felt that they did not belong. They were less. This greatly distressed me. I would like to think that we are truly the people of tolerance, acceptance and love…welcoming all who love the Guru and want to be with us. I am glad to see that our attitudes and policies are changing at our yogic events and even in our training curriculums and manuals. Still there is a lot of misunderstanding and yes even prejudice of this population of our Dharma.
From the Rio Grande Sun
By Jacob O Mulliken, SUN Staff Writer
Every Thursday during the school year, beginning at 11:30 a.m., volunteers gather at the Hacienda de Guru Ram Das in Sombrillo to prepare 535 bags of food for children attending various Española School District sites, as well as surrounding pueblo day schools, that may not otherwise eat during the weekends, said Guru Simran Kaur Khalsa, head of Food 4 Kids New Mexico.
In the last article, reading a slot in the Akhand Path was likened to planting a seed of inexhaustible wealth each time we sign up. The wealth of the Naam is inexhaustible and our efforts towards maintaining our Akhand Path are like the seeds of that wealth which we keep planting. The harvest of course belongs to the whole Sangat, but the blessing of our individual experience, especially as we’re reading, could be considered the sprouting point of that wealth by the Guru’s grace. This month I wished to share some of my experiences while reading my monthly 2 A.M. slot and other “easier” slots.
By Ongkar Kaur Khalsa
Hari Singh passed from this earthly plane at his home in the amrit vela (early morning) of November 16, 2018.
He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to a "mixed race" family and over the course of his life, became a staunch champion of diversity. He had a great love and respect for the military and while still in high school, enrolled in the Marine Corps Reserves, where he served for 6 years.
By Prabhu Singh Khalsa
The legacy garden has embarked upon a journey of becoming a productive organic farm. Productive in the ways of produce, income, jobs, teaching, and serving. Growing along with the organic produce will be opportunity, prosperity, goodwill for the community, knowledge, self-reliance, and food security. In-line with being organic and sustainable, the garden will use the latest technologies of organic gardening, including hydroponics, vertical growing, and photovoltaic power for the greenhouse. Expected results include 12 months of high density crop yields, reduced water usage, simplified pest control, and minimal weed control.
By Prabhu Singh Khalsa
Pyaray Sadh Sangat Ji,
If we were to try and count the blessings of being at Hacienda de Guru Ram Das, we would reach the same conclusion taught to us by our beloved Guru when contemplating the virtues of God, the limit of our blessings could not be reached or counted. However, if we were to highlight some of the sources of these blessings, especially the events or activities that we share in together, some things that might come to forefront of our minds include our Gurdwara program, Sadhana, Langar, Seva, and a certain unbroken thread of divinity that holds together the energetic field of our entire ashram - our beloved Akhand Path
About five years ago, I was able to come down from Albuquerque to help serve again as I had for many years before.
The day before, as I was driving in to help with Thursday prep, I became excited as I saw the walkers along the highway, beginning their pilgrimage even from as far away as Albuquerque and Algodones.
Leah and John York are looking to support the community through the production of local, healthy foods and teaching participants in the Seva Sadhana program and community about their connection to health and nutrition through conscious connection to the land and growing their own food. Leah has planned a rotating organic crop cycle that should provide fresh fruit and vegetables throughout all seasons, utilizing vegetarian based composting methods to create vital healthy living soil and plants.
By SS Sangeet Kaur Khalsa, Espanola
After the tragic events of 1984 Siri Singh Sahib ji instructed us to hold a wish-and-dish Gurdwara every 6th of the month and to sing the Narayan shabd. He said that “when we’ll perfect (the shabd), Akal Takht will appear by its own force.” In those early days, when Siri Singh Sahib ji gave a command it was (relatively!) easy for me to obey and serve, without questioning.
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Food-for-Kids is a volunteer program coordinated by Guru Simran Kaur that serves hungry children in and around the Española, New Mexico area. Read more >
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