My Sikh Sense
Hari Singh BIrd Khalsa
Where's the love?
Sat Nam. It has been reported that the Sensitivity Summit motion was summarily rejected as an agenda item at the recent September, 2015, Sikh Dharma International, Khalsa Council meetings in Espanola, NM.
It is my understanding that the supporters of the motion met the protocol established by the Khalsa Council for bringing this motion to the floor for consideration, but the Secretary General chose not to proceed. Our question is why? What is the problem with providing time for debate on the motion?
It took almost two years from inception to bring this motion to the floor, which would have the Khalsa Council sit with the Sadh Sangat including those people of color within the community for the purpose of promoting dialogue (example) regarding issues of diversity, including religion, gender and race.
The wording is as follows: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Khalsa Council of Sikh Dharma shall convene a biannual 'Sensitivity Summit' to include 'Light on Diversity' conversations with people of color in joint session with the Siblings of Destiny (Sadh Sangat).
In other words, the motion proposes that immediately prior to Sikh Dharma International, 3HO teachers and trainers, and other community members convening their biannual meeting, we shall sit together and have a conversation, a dialogue, which includes people of color (see example) and other marginalized members of the community. Simply stated, it's an opportunity for us to listen and learn, and to monitor our success at practicing pluralism as taught by Guru Nanak, i.e., it's an opportunity for a much-needed exercise in personal and social introspection.
Motions are usually presented for the purpose of discussion, including their appropriate venue. Detractors of the Sensitivity Summit have suggested that the Khalsa Council is not an "appropriate forum" for a summit. My question: What is an appropriate forum? See A Matter of Optics. See What's Wrong With These Pictures?
"Any organization that fails to maintain open communication and dialogue with
its constituency is at risk of dysfunction, loss of credibility, and irrelevancy."
NOTE: This motion does not propose that the summit be convened during the Khalsa Council meeting, but a day earlier between council members and the greater community. Also keep in mind that the summit could occur whenever the Council determines. The summit would be a 'town hall meeting' for lack of a better expression.
Questions: How many Khalsa Council initiatives and-or motions have been passed or even made in the past 40 years? Other than convene meetings and receive and deliver financial reports and requests for funding, what does the Khalsa Council do?
Here's why you should support the Sensitivity Summit:
a) How many White American Sikh families can you identify in the 50 years since Siri Singh Sahib began his mission?
b) How many Black American Sikh families can you identify in these 50 years? (There's only one.)
c) How can Sikh Dharma International not discuss this disparity, along with other diversity issues?
d) How long can Sikh Dharma International fail to hear the voices of people of color and those of other marginalized members as to their perception of Sikhs whereby Guru Nanak's message and 3HO's Healthy, Happy, Holy technology are made manifest?
BTW: There's been some unfriendly and off-the-record push back regarding my attempts and the efforts of ACT to encourage Sikh Dharma International to address diversity issues in-house, as well as within the greater community. For example, it's been suggested that MySikhSense.com be removed. Instead of engaging in open dialogue, the attitude of detractors is to dismiss, deny, delay, defer, and deflect.
"Question: Are we looking at the issue of diversity through
white eyes or through colored eyes? Think about it."
Something is not right with this rejection of the Sensitivity Summit motion, especially in the eyes of people of color, the optics being that the meaning of Guru Nanak's message of inclusion and his practice of pluralism is being subverted. Where is the love?
If you support more dialogue on the issues of diversity and pluralism within 3HO/Sikh Dharma (see example), add your name to the list of Sensitivity Summit supporters here.
In service and humility,
Mukhia Jethadar Sat Hanuman Singh Khalsa,
Bhai Sahib Satpal Singh Khalsa,
Mukhia Singh Sahib Hari Singh Bird Khalsa --
Click here to add your thoughts. Read me first.
I have been blessed with the life experience of
colored eyes as well as white eyes. While most folks
see diversity issues through either white eyes or colored
eyes, I see the issues through both. -- Hari Singh Bird
First you have to master yourself and then you will become teachers.
Teacher is very open, a public park where anybody can walk in; so teacher
has to be very clean. Your conduct has to be crystal clear and you have to be
absolutely transparent. Only then can you be a teacher. -- Yogi Bhajan
More Sikh Sense
As humanity moves into the Age of Space, how will we resonate with Grays and
Greens
when we can't relate to Blacks, Browns and Whites? -- Hari Singh Bird
My Sikh Sense
Hari Singh BIrd Khalsa
A matter of optics.
"It’s not the life that matters,
it’s
the courage that you bring to it." Yogi Bhajan
Sat Nam. Please join the signataries below for the purpose of encouraging the Khalsa Council to allow a duly qualified motion for a Sensitivity Summit to proceed to debate. (See details.) Failure to implement this motion creates a negative impression and an inaccurate image of Sikh Dharma among many people of color, which is inconsistent with the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev. See Optics.
The wording of the motion follows: "THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Khalsa Council of Sikh Dharma shall convene a biannual 'Sensitivity Summit' to include 'Light on Diversity' conversations with people of color in joint session with the Siblings of Destiny (Sadh Sangat)." See the complete motion as presented to the Khalsa Council here.
We, the undersigned, petition and pray that by Guru's grace the recent action to dismiss without debate the Sensitivity Summit motion will be reversed whereby the Khalsa Council, acting on behalf of Sikh Dharma International with the Siblings of Destiny in attendance, will demonstrate to the international community of color Sikh Dharma's commitment to diversity and inclusion at the next Khalsa Council meeting in 2016.
Step up, sign up, show up for diversity.
Sat Hanuman Singh Khalsa, Troutdale, OR
RamDas Singh Khalsa, Albuquerque, NM
Sande Shuman, Knoxville, TN
Siri Narayan Kaur, Buffalo, NY
Darshan Singh, Boulder, CO
Amrit Kaur Khalsa, Troutdale, OR
Sat-Avtar Kaur, Kirkland, WA
Himmat Kaur, Boulder, CO
Christ-Singh Khalsa, Austin, TX
Siri Bandhu Kaur Khalsa, Ottawa, CA
Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa, Espanola, NM
Harimandir Singh Khalsa, Ottawa, CA
Tejinder Kaur Khalsa, Espanola, NM
Aftab Singh Khalsa, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Gurumeet Kaur Khalsa, Espanola, NM
Satpal Singh Khalsa, Beverly Hills, CA
Vince (Henry) Melito, Lavillita, NM
Gurukarm Kaur Khalsa, Millis, MA
Sat Mohine Kaur Khalsa, Espanola, NM
Dharam Singh, Millis, MA
Awtar Singh Khalsa, Espanola, NM
Sirichand Singh Khalsa, Espanola, NM
Walter Presley, Ocala, FL
Ram Dhan Singh Khalsa, Grand Junction, CO
Satpavan Kaur Khalsa, Eugene, OR
Hari Kaur Bird Khalsa, Winter Park, FL
Hari Singh Bird Khalsa, Winter Park, FL
Your support can make a difference. Click here to add your Name, City and State to this petition or call 855-410-2700 for more information.
NOTE: Feedback from a few individuals indicates they feel constrained to support this effort. Think of the thousands of souls who felt constrained when their time came to step up. Think especially of the Five Beloved Ones who overcame their constraints.
"It's difficult to get a person to understand something
when their paycheck depends on their not understanding."
POINTS TO PONDER
"Liberation is not that from this Earth you will go to God's
kingdom. The kingdom of God is where you are, and liberation
here is when you are a carefree and frank being. -- Yogi Bhajan
"A holy man is one who sees a sinner and a saint alike. Saints
are those who have the greatest compassion; a human being on the
path of righteousness who has compassion is a saint. -- Yogi Bhajan
"Nobody is complete. Everybody has a cavity. One may have a complete personality,
but still have a throbbing heart, which doesn't rest. If you can reach this always-
moving heart, you can move anybody. Whenever you start going head to head you
are creating a clash because it is the habit of the head to clash. If somebody is all in
his head, get to the heart. If somebody is all in his head and you get to the head,
then you are playing a game. If you can't play it, then you will blow it." -- Yogi Bhajan
"Watch your heart and watch your head in relation to others. If the heart gets stuck,
the head will get stuck automatically. When somebody pounces on your heart,
use your head. When somebody pounces on your head, see the heart. Then
you can always balance out your life. It is a practical way of living. This is reality.
If you want to think about everything with the head, you won't make it. Everything is
not the head and everything is not the heart. Passion and compassion, advantage
and sacrifice. These are the interrelated facets of human action." -- Yogi Bhajan
"Exclusion breeds intolerance. Intolerance breeds tribalism. Tribalism
breeds racism. Racism is contrary to Guru Nanak's message. Inclusion
begets tolerance. Tolerance begets diversity. Diversity begets pluralism.
Pluralism is the essence of Guru Nanak's message to humanity." -- Hari Singh Bird
First Teachers Are Women
My Sikh Sense
Hari Singh BIrd Khalsa
Where's The Love?
A challenge to all ministers of Sikh Dharma International.
Sat Nam. The name of everyone that resonates with Guru Nanak's message, especially the name of every minister of Sikh Dharma International (319 ministers at last count), should appear on the above list of supporters of the Sensitivity Summit motion, which reads:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Khalsa Council of Sikh Dharma shall convene a biannual 'Sensitivity Summit' to include 'Light on Diversity' conversations with people of color in joint session with the Siblings of Destiny (Sadh Sangat).
In other words, the motion proposes that immediately prior to Sikh Dharma International, 3HO teachers and trainers, and other community members convening their biannual meeting, we shall sit together and have a conversation, a dialogue, which includes people of color and other marginalized members of the community. Simply stated, it's an opportunity for us to listen and learn, and to monitor our success at practicing pluralism as taught by Guru Nanak, i.e., it's an opportunity for a much-needed exercise in personal and social introspection.
"How can any organization monitor member attitudes toward diversity issues
including race, if it does not know the demographics of its organization? A
common requirement amongst governmental agencies is to regularly inquire
of ethnic and marginalized members as to their perceptions and grievances."
In my view, the absence of such a large number of Sikh ministers' names on the above list indicates the presence and the extent of tribalism that exists within the ranks of Sikh Dharma International. See Case of Classic Tribalism. Watch Tribalism For Those Who Dare.
Question: If the Khalsa Council can't provide a forum in which to sit down twice a year with the Sadh Sangat for conversations regarding issues of diversity, including religion, gender and race, who can?
Please register your support for this effort. Click here to add your Name, your City and State to our list of supporters.
"Truth is the highest path. Higher still is truthful living." Guru Nanak Dev
"You're not going to solve the problem if it's not being talked about."
President Barack Obama on race, December 19, 2014.
My Sikh Sense
Hari Singh BIrd Khalsa
Act without fear.
Act without anger.
Sat Nam. The following commentary is my reply to a friend's request for me along with ACT to stop pushing for diversity and inclusion within Sikh Dharma and the international community.
Sat Nam, my friend!
Thank you for your candor! However, your repeated use of the word "anger" to describe my statements and those of the ACT group are a projection of a flawed perception.
As a person of color and mixed heritage and having been marginalized while growing up, I fail to see the anger of which you speak.
And you seem to be unaware of the true aegis of the Sensitivity Summit motion. The reality is that I was asked to formulate a motion, dealing with the subject of diversity within Sikh community, by a Khalsa Council member, whereupon I assembled a small diverse group, which became known as ACT, which in turn developed the Sensitivity Summit motion for presentation to the Khalsa Council. The resultant motion says:
"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Khalsa Council of Sikh Dharma shall convene a biannual 'Sensitivity Summit' to include 'Light on Diversity' conversations with people of color in joint session with the Siblings of Destiny."
This motion simply proposes that when 3HO teachers and trainers, Sikh Dharma ministers, and other community members convene for their biannual meetings, they shall sit down to have a joint conversation, a dialogue, which will include people of color and other marginalized members of the community. Simply stated, it's an opportunity (see example) to monitor success or failure at practicing the pluralism taught by Guru Nanak, i.e., an exercise in group introspection. That's it! (See A Matter of Optics. See Case of Classic Tribalism. See What's Wrong With These Pictures?)
You wrote, "Why would Khalsa Council be asked to solve a problem they really don’t have the capacity to solve? Why this constant barrage of requests to do something?"
Why not? What does the Khalsa Council do if it does not lead, advise and direct? Are you, like many others, reluctant to expose the tribalism existent within 3HO/Sikh Dharma? Tribalism is the main social issue that Guru Nanak opposed over 500 years ago. Tribalism breeds racism.
According to the Siri Singh Sahib, it is 3HO that will lead humanity forward with the technology of Kundalini Yoga. Sikh Dharma will lead humanity forward with the teachings Guru Nanak. How can this happen if we are unable to sit down and talk with each other?
The Secretary General reportedly claimed that a summit is not an appropriate forum for the Khalsa Council. Well then, what is?
The purpose of the Sensitivity Summit is not to create a sense of guilt, but to open our hearts to tolerance, inclusion, justice, compassion, empathy, forgiveness, and love through the spoken Word, through Naam, through dialogue (see example).
Detractors call for action, not rhetoric. My first action? Let's get rid of fear and anger, nirbhaur, nirvair. Second, let's sit together and have direct and open dialogue on issues of diversity, including religion, gender and race. Let's have conversations instead of confrontations, a Sensitivity Summit.
What's wrong with these pictures?
A matter of monochromatic optics. Where's the diversity?
Where's the love?
"Exclusion breeds intolerance. Intolerance breeds tribalism.
Tribalism breeds racism. Racism is contrary to Guru Nanak's message.
Inclusion begets tolerance. Tolerance begets diversity. Diversity begets
pluralism. Pluralism is the essence of Guru Nanak's message to humanity."
"99% of the issues facing humanity today can be resolved with dialogue.
If we fail to maintain open communication and dialogue we are at risk of
increased dysfunction, increased conflicts, and inevitable irrelevance."
Here to serve,
MSSHari Singh Bird Khalsa
"Question: Are you looking at the issue of diversity through
white eyes or through colored eyes? Think about it."
"Discourse about racism is not meant to stir up feelings of guilt.
Discourse is meant to drive people to action against injustice.
Question is, are we mature enough to sit down and discuss
issues of diversity, including religion, gender and race?"
More MySikhSense.com
Pages And Points To Ponder
Why Don't Sikh Women Tie Turban? Desmond Tutu's Plea To Israel.
See The Homeless Banned And Jailed In 'Christian' America.
See Let's Have 'The Race Conversation' For Real, This Time.
See More Diversity Dialogues. See Institutionalized Racism.
See Required Reading. See Recommended Reading.
See Why Are White Tantra Yoga Classes So 'White'?
See Islamic Extremism vs Christian Extremism.
See A Native American's Thanksgiving Rebuke.
See What White People Need To Know.
See Americans Need To Pay Attention.
See What's Wrong With This Picture?
See A Case Of Unjust Enrichment.
See A Classic Case of Tribalism.
See What Tribalism Looks Like.
See Guidelines For Facilitators.
See For The People Of Color.
See What Is White Privilege?
See KRI Needs To Go To Jail.
See Jon Stewart On Racism.
See The Ubuntu Philosophy.
See TheMahanTantric.com.
See Example of Tribalism.
See ACT For Diversity.
See Comments Con.
See Comments Pro.
See Obama 43 To 1.
See My Main Point.
See Turbanators.
See Sikhs Shine.
See Sikh Tribes.
See Definitions.
See Questions.
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