Executive Director ReportSat Nam,
The Siri Singh Sahib Corporation deals with a myriad of issues that face a rapidly expanding organization dedicated to the promotion of the teachings of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan and Sikh Dharma. The SSSC has huge responsibilities as it must provide both the spiritual and temporal leadership over the Siri Singh Sahib’s legacy. On the spiritual level, it must set the direction for the organization and on the temporal side it deals with the administrative issues that come with oversight over the numerous nonprofits and for-profit organizations that the Siri Singh Sahib left behind to benefit humanity. One important responsibility the SSSC has is to ensure that the Boards of the organizations for which it has responsibility are populated by people with the appropriate skills. We plan to solicit qualified individuals to build a database of potential talent to fill these important roles overseeing KIIT and the non-profits. Please watch for notice of this in the future. We encourage you to apply.
0 Comments
2019 SDI Yatra There are milestones in Sikh history that should be celebrated with unbridled joy and gratitude. This fall is one of those times, the 550th anniversary of the birth of the great Guru Nanak Dev ji. Guru Nanak Dev is the source of it all, provoking in each of us the awakening of transcendent energy that we now call our spiritual path. It was Guru Nanak Dev ji and his encounter with Akal Purkh in the waters of the Kali Bein that shook India from her spiritual slumber and began a revolution of consciousness that is still vibrating today. Sikh Dharma and 3HO International are joining together in a sacred yatra to India to join the sangat in the celebrations. November 5th to November 16th, 2019, we will immerse ourselves in the tribute and love of Guru Nanak Dev ji. The Light of Guru Nanak Yatra will start in New Delhi; travel together to Anandpur Sahib to study the Japji Sahib at Dashmesh Sadan and see the historic Gurdwaras at that blessed spot; travel to Sultanpur Lodhi, where Guru Nanak Dev ji found his liberation in the Kali Bein river, and join the multitude of sangat in celebration; and continue on to Amritsar for a few days of sight, sip, and dip at the beautiful Siri Harmandir Sahib before returning to New Delhi. Don’t miss this opportunity to fill your heart with inspiration and to celebrate your commitment to the path of Nanak. This is not a tourist experience, but a spiritual journey of those of higher consciousness. This is our time, and I look forward to sharing it with you. Jo to prem khelan ka chaao, sir dhar eej galee meri aao. It maarag pair dhareejai, sir eejay kaan na keejai. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Siri Guru Granth Sahib, page 1412 If you want to play this game of love, then step onto my path with your head in your hands.
Once you set out on this path, give your head and disregard the opinion of others. To read more about the SDI Yatra, read past experiences or even participate in the 2019 Yatra please click on the following link: www.lightofgurunanak.com Legacy Gardens |
| Peace Prayer Day, our annual celebration of Peace, held during Summer Solstice at Ram Das Puri was again a special time. Each year, we gather to do yoga, meditate, chant, perform the Sacred Healing Walk, watch various performances, and pray for peace. One of the highlights each year is the guest speaker, someone we honor with the Siri Singh Sahib Award for Social Justice. This year’s honoree, Christian Picciolini, as did previous recipients, had a very inspiring message. | |
Yogi Tea Grand Opening
by SS Viriam Singh
Yogi Tea Cakes served during opening. Yogi Tea was host to local officials, visiting guests and board members from around the world, local and non-local Sangat members and company employees and their families on Saturday August 11th for the gala public opening of the new Yogi tea manufacturing plant in Eugene Oregon.
In a family friendly meet and greet that started at 11:00 am with fruit drinks, yogi tea (of course!), live music, and ice cream about 250 guests watched Yogi Tea Company CEO, Giancarlo Marcaccini, and employee’s children cut the ribbon to open the new plant. SS Nirvair Kaur offered a prayer written by the Siri Singh Sahib to bless the occasion.
A world cuisine buffet was served in the new Yogi Tea conference and dining hall while guests continued to mingle. Giancarlo Marcaccini gave the opening speech, emphasizing the values that Yogi Tea was founded on and continues to live by. Parampal Singh, operations manager, talked about the process involved in creating the new building, from vision to art work and plant machinery. He also thanked the many people involved in bringing the new tea factory into being. Lastly, Sat Bir Singh, director of world communications and outreach, directed guests to sign up for tours of the new plant.
The tour was the most impressive part of the activities for me. Although internal pictures of the plant were not allowed, the size of the facility is amazing. The site is 13.3 acres, which is hard to imagine. It is the largest new commercial build in Eugene in the last 10 years. The building is 190,754 square feet, equal to over 4 football fields. Over 7,500 plants are installed, there are 45 exterior and 97 interior doors in the facility and over 2,400 gallons of paint was used in decoration. Seva Kaur (LA) and Sat Hari Kaur(Eugene) were the principle interior artists. Two of the eye-catching motifs used in the artwork are enlarged Yogi tea bag sayings by the Siri Singh Sahib, which tastefully offer inspiring spiritual and lifestyle affirmations, and large mandalas which adorn many of the larger wall spaces. Each room is named after a spice used in production of the tea. The building is in the process of being gold LEED certified and will be the only tea production facility in the world to be so designated.
In a family friendly meet and greet that started at 11:00 am with fruit drinks, yogi tea (of course!), live music, and ice cream about 250 guests watched Yogi Tea Company CEO, Giancarlo Marcaccini, and employee’s children cut the ribbon to open the new plant. SS Nirvair Kaur offered a prayer written by the Siri Singh Sahib to bless the occasion.
A world cuisine buffet was served in the new Yogi Tea conference and dining hall while guests continued to mingle. Giancarlo Marcaccini gave the opening speech, emphasizing the values that Yogi Tea was founded on and continues to live by. Parampal Singh, operations manager, talked about the process involved in creating the new building, from vision to art work and plant machinery. He also thanked the many people involved in bringing the new tea factory into being. Lastly, Sat Bir Singh, director of world communications and outreach, directed guests to sign up for tours of the new plant.
The tour was the most impressive part of the activities for me. Although internal pictures of the plant were not allowed, the size of the facility is amazing. The site is 13.3 acres, which is hard to imagine. It is the largest new commercial build in Eugene in the last 10 years. The building is 190,754 square feet, equal to over 4 football fields. Over 7,500 plants are installed, there are 45 exterior and 97 interior doors in the facility and over 2,400 gallons of paint was used in decoration. Seva Kaur (LA) and Sat Hari Kaur(Eugene) were the principle interior artists. Two of the eye-catching motifs used in the artwork are enlarged Yogi tea bag sayings by the Siri Singh Sahib, which tastefully offer inspiring spiritual and lifestyle affirmations, and large mandalas which adorn many of the larger wall spaces. Each room is named after a spice used in production of the tea. The building is in the process of being gold LEED certified and will be the only tea production facility in the world to be so designated.
2018 German Yoga Festival
by Gurutej Singh
After 17 hours in transit, I landed at the Hamburg airport. Sat Hari Singh was waiting for me and we had a snack at the airport, then began the trek to Boisenberg where Sat Hari Singh lives and has the Aquarian Academy. He needed to stop at the printer to give some directions regarding printing to be done for the German Yoga Festival, then we set out on the lovely drive through the German countryside to Boisenberg.
We went to the village center of Boisenberg where we met up with Sat Hari Singh’s wife, Guru Dev Kaur, his daughter Hari Jiwan Kaur, and several students who would prove to be integral to the running of the Yoga Festival. After ice cream and tea, I got settled in at Guru Ram Das Ashram which is run by Siri Kartar Kaur, who was very hospitable and a delightful person as well as an amazing chef.
On Saturday I joined Sat Hari Singh and his family and students for lunch. They asked me to tell them stories about the lives of the Gurus as well as talk about Japji. That evening there was a yoga class and gong meditations that was deeply relaxing.
On Sunday, Tarn Taran Singh arrived and spent the day in Boisenberg. Siri Kartar Kaur took us to her garden where she grows fruit and berries that she makes in to jam. We had another wonderful lunch with everyone, then had dessert in the village center at a sidewalk cafe.
We went to the village center of Boisenberg where we met up with Sat Hari Singh’s wife, Guru Dev Kaur, his daughter Hari Jiwan Kaur, and several students who would prove to be integral to the running of the Yoga Festival. After ice cream and tea, I got settled in at Guru Ram Das Ashram which is run by Siri Kartar Kaur, who was very hospitable and a delightful person as well as an amazing chef.
On Saturday I joined Sat Hari Singh and his family and students for lunch. They asked me to tell them stories about the lives of the Gurus as well as talk about Japji. That evening there was a yoga class and gong meditations that was deeply relaxing.
On Sunday, Tarn Taran Singh arrived and spent the day in Boisenberg. Siri Kartar Kaur took us to her garden where she grows fruit and berries that she makes in to jam. We had another wonderful lunch with everyone, then had dessert in the village center at a sidewalk cafe.
Executive Director's Report
April 2018
Sat Nam,
It has been some time since we reached out to the global Sangat through the vehicle of this newsletter. As you can see we have a new format for our newsletter and we have launched a public Siri Singh Sahib Corporation website.
With the recent formation of an SSSC Sangat Communications committee, we expect to communicate more regularly with our global Sangat.
The Siri Singh Sahib created a vast organization of for profit and non-profit corporations whose reach touched people around the globe. The responsibility to oversee that organization lies with the Siri Singh Sahib Corporation in partnership with the boards and employees of the various organizations the Siri Singh Sahib founded. The growth of Kundalini Yoga and Sikh Dharma is phenomenal, and we are just at the beginning of this expansion. It seems, wherever you go in the world, you are likely to have someone come up to you and say Sat Nam. The energy of the various local, national and international events (yoga festivals, Solstices, Baisakhi Day, Sat Nam Fests) is increasing and we are all privileged to be in the forefront of this change in human consciousness.
It has been some time since we reached out to the global Sangat through the vehicle of this newsletter. As you can see we have a new format for our newsletter and we have launched a public Siri Singh Sahib Corporation website.
With the recent formation of an SSSC Sangat Communications committee, we expect to communicate more regularly with our global Sangat.
The Siri Singh Sahib created a vast organization of for profit and non-profit corporations whose reach touched people around the globe. The responsibility to oversee that organization lies with the Siri Singh Sahib Corporation in partnership with the boards and employees of the various organizations the Siri Singh Sahib founded. The growth of Kundalini Yoga and Sikh Dharma is phenomenal, and we are just at the beginning of this expansion. It seems, wherever you go in the world, you are likely to have someone come up to you and say Sat Nam. The energy of the various local, national and international events (yoga festivals, Solstices, Baisakhi Day, Sat Nam Fests) is increasing and we are all privileged to be in the forefront of this change in human consciousness.
Golden Temple with Dr. Harjot Kaur Singh
by. SS. Harjot Kaur Singh
In March of 2016, while meditating at the Golden Temple, I received a phone call from the Prime Minister’s office. Given that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was recently elected along with 17 Sikh MP’s, there was going to be a large celebration for Vaisakhi on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada. I was requested to sing Kirtan and do the Ardas for the Diwan. I was honored and felt very grateful to the Guru that I had been asked to participate in such an important day for Sikhs in Canada. When I contemplated the Shabad that I would sing that day, I realized that the specific tune had come to me unexpectedly one Sunday evening after teaching yoga class several years prior. Jetlagged and just 2 days after arriving back from India, I found myself on a flight to the Canadian capital.
The following day, I briefly met the tabla player. We only had enough time to sing 2 lines of the Shabad acapella while he practiced the tabla taal on the MP’s office desk.
The Akhand Paath had already started on Parliament Hill and the Bhog and celebration of Khalsa Day program was to be on April 11th. Although Akhand Paaths had been done yearly for Vaisakhi since Sikh MPs had been elected, this year was special given the scope of the celebration of Khalsa Day. Gurdwara Presidents from across Canada were invited to attend, and the entire program was being broadcast live by the media to India and worldwide. It was a very special program and I could feel the excitement, and the pressure building. To me, it seemed like the vision of the Siri Singh Sahib ji of Sikhs being integrated within mainstream Canadian Society was coming to fruition for Canadian Sikhs.
The following day, I briefly met the tabla player. We only had enough time to sing 2 lines of the Shabad acapella while he practiced the tabla taal on the MP’s office desk.
The Akhand Paath had already started on Parliament Hill and the Bhog and celebration of Khalsa Day program was to be on April 11th. Although Akhand Paaths had been done yearly for Vaisakhi since Sikh MPs had been elected, this year was special given the scope of the celebration of Khalsa Day. Gurdwara Presidents from across Canada were invited to attend, and the entire program was being broadcast live by the media to India and worldwide. It was a very special program and I could feel the excitement, and the pressure building. To me, it seemed like the vision of the Siri Singh Sahib ji of Sikhs being integrated within mainstream Canadian Society was coming to fruition for Canadian Sikhs.
RSS Feed