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Sangat stories

Stories by ashram members that share their knowledge and experiences in the ashram.

Flexibility Provides Great Opportunities

By Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa

Post WW2, the TV show “Leave it to Beaver” did more to influence how the perfect American family is supposed to live. For good or otherwise, the show’s impact was big. Families living under this umbrella of hope, this veil of reality, this shield of protection, still widely exist.

Religions, lifestyles, philosophies, you name it, profess to be the best guide in living a life like “Leave it to Beaver.” TV has made this dream a reality, at least so in our perception. Marketing and/or projection can do that. 

Guru Ram Das Ji – The Lord of Miracles

By Shanti Kaur

Guru Ram Das (1534–1581) is the fourth Guru of the Sikhs and the founder of the nectar tank and holy city of Amritsar. The beautiful Siri Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, stands today as a testament to the love of Guru Ram Das.

Guru Ram Das was born in Lahore in 1534 to Haridas and Devi Anup Devi. They named him Jetha, meaning the firstborn. His mother died while he was still very young, and his father struggled to care for him while earning a living. Knowing that his own health was failing, Hari Das taught the boy to support himself by selling cooked wheatberries in the marketplace.

Path to Neutrality

by Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa

Once upon a time there lived a king. Not just any old king, no. This was a real king born of centuries of decedent kings. This king was the continuation of a great dynasty. He thought that he was the king of kings. Why not? No one would dare challenge him. He carried many great armies along with him. He could do whatever he wanted without accountability, judgement, or suppression.

Gur Prasad—By the Grace of the Guru

By Shanti Kaur

In the Sikh tradition, Gur Prasad is at the core of our existence. It is the word in the Mool Mantra before the command Jap, the root teaching with which Guru Nanak Dev Ji begins Japji Sahib and the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. The mantra teaches us that the Formless One is the Creator, without fear or enmity, timeless, unborn, and self-existent. Then comes Gur Prasad—by the Guru’s grace. It tells us that the Divine Reality described by the Mool Mantra cannot be grasped by intellect alone. It is known through grace, through the light and wisdom of the Guru.

Getting Better Is Best

By Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa

What follows is a parable inspired by the legends of old Hollywood. It is not presented as a historical event. It is a story about grace—how one man displayed it and another man discovered it.

Many years ago, a respected actor received the Academy Award for Best Director. He had spent decades in Hollywood, first becoming famous for playing men who were strong, silent, and seemingly indestructible. Now, rather late in his career, the Academy was honoring him for what he had accomplished behind the camera.

Guru Guru Wahe Guru, Guru Ram Das Guru

By Shanti Kaur

The mantra Guru Guru Wahe Guru, Guru Ram Das Guru came to Yogi Bhajan through an experience of prayer and spiritual challenge. Unlike many mantras drawn directly from Gurbani, this mantra came to us as a revealed mantra: a sacred sound current received by Yogi Bhajan in meditation. This mantra is an important part of our community, a channel for protection, healing, and connection to Guru Ram Das.

July 2026 Numerology Forecast

By Nam Hari Kaur

We are now shifting into a softer moment, allowing us to establish a renewed sense of balance.

The ease and flow of July’s number 7 is within reach, and catching it for all it’s worth is your way to a new beginning. Seven is the domain of the Water Element, so all activities that are near, upon, or soaking in water will allow you to rest and rejuvenate. Camping for a few days by a lake or mountain stream will bless your electro-magnetic field with a clarity that few other activities can accomplish. The keynote theme of July is, “Rest, Relax, Rejuvenate.”

The Miracle Before the Miracle

By Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa

Half a century ago, a young lady emerged from the hills of Appalachia. She came with a guitar in one hand and a big voice in the other. Through talent, perseverance, and grace, she became one of the most beloved entertainers in the world. We all know her. Her name is Dolly Parton.

The Sovereign Throne of Guru Hargobind Sahib: The Dawn of Miri Piri

By Shanti Kaur

The year 1606 marked a major change in Sikh history. This was when the 5th Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, was executed by order of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. His martyrdom devastated the Sangat. Until then, Sikhs had been a peaceful community focused on devotion, equality, and service. Guru Arjan Dev's sacrifice showed that protecting truth and dignity would need both faith and strength. In this difficult time, the 11-year-old Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji became the next Guru and introduced the important idea of Miri Piri, which transformed Sikh identity.

I Found God in Beverly Hills

Beyond Rome and Unto Infinity
By Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa

The spiritual path is far more dangerous than most people realize. Not dangerous in some theatrical sense, not because darkness hides behind meditation or prayer, but because a real spiritual path eventually removes the luxury of blaming someone else.

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