Motion For Consideration by the
Khalsa Council of Sikh Dharma International

Proposed by ACT
Akal Committee Thirteen

"Through Nanak may God's Name be forever exalted
and may all people prosper by God's grace."

Jaano Jot Na Puucho, Jaati Aagai Jaat Na Hai
"Recognize the Divine light within all, and do not consider social class or
status; there are no classes or castes, hereafter." Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Guru Nanak Dev 1469-1539
First Master of Sikh Dharma

THE MOTION

WHEREAS Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded Sikh Dharma as an inclusive pathway of service whereby ALL people may prosper by God's grace;

AND WHEREAS 'ALL' people refers to an intrinsic diversity, inclusive of all the people of planet Earth without distinction as to race, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, culture, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social or economic status, political, psychological, philosophical persuasion or any other Earthly distinction;

AND WHEREAS Guru Nanak Dev Ji's mission requires Sikh Dharma to serve according to the Siri Guru Granth Sahib's teachings that requires Sikhs to maintain and to teach a keen appreciation for the God-given and unique assets of each individual, in honor of the diversity of ALL people;

AND WHEREAS Sikhs may encounter challenges arising from inadequate sensitivity whilst serving, teaching, and interacting with people that represent the cultures, races, ideas, beliefs, lifestyles, religions, orientations, demographics, and customs that differ from those of their upbringing or current Sikh communities;

AND WHEREAS improving cross cultural communication skills is essential to the vitality, strength, and maintenance of our society, and giving voice to people of color (see note 1) in our 3HO and Sikh Dharma community of teachers, students, practitioners, and friends around the globe to present their unique perspective, shall provide a treasure of sometimes unheard voices, so that we may all expand and more fully understand important issues with a broader perspective;

AND WHEREAS the Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji called upon us to follow the direction of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib in that ALL people are creatures of the One Creator, Ek Ong Kar, and therefore deserve all honor and respect by virtue of their having been created by the One Creator;

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.

SPONSOR:
Singh Sahib Siri Chand Singh Khalsa

SIGNATORIES:
Singh Sahib Mukhia Jethadar Amrit Singh Khalsa
Singh Sahib Sada Sat Simran Singh Khalsa
Singh Sahib Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa
Singh Sahib Jot Singh Khalsa
Singh Sahib Gurvinderpal Singh Chaudhry
Singh Sahib Siri Chand Singh Khalsa

NOTES

.) In 2013, the population of African Americans, including those of more than one race, was estimated at 45 million, making up 15.2% of the total U.S. population. Source. This means organizations should represent 15 African Americans out of 100, on average.

.) Click here for a .pdf file of this Sensitivity Summit Motion for consideration by the Khalsa Council at the Fall 2015 session. (NOTE: Motion Failed To Make 2015 Agenda.)

.) "The Khalsa Council embodies the sovereign, spiritual, status of the Sikhs. In action it is the parliament of the Sarkar e Khalsa. It is the leadership. It is a body that lives in the divinity, nobility, and grace of God. What comes through the Khalsa Council is simply projective kindness, compassion, divinity, nobility, and grace. It is the very embodiment of the grace, radiance, lifestyle and projection of Guru Gobind Singh." The Siri Singh Sahib Harbhahan Singh Khalsa Yogiji Dec 28, 1991

Diversity is our heritage.
We must live it going forward.

Black Elk, Lakota Medicine Man
"Peace comes within the Souls of Men
when they realize their Oneness with the Universe.
When they realize it is really everywhere. It is within each of us."

Sat Nam. What follows is a response to a directive received by ACT (Akal Committee Thirteen) to provide documentation** that fulfills the required protocols for presenting a Motion for consideration by the Khalsa Council of Sikh Dharma.

To the Khalsa Council of Sikh Dharma:

Sat Nam. Akal Committee Thirteen is of the one mind that our best and only course of action going forward is to acknowledge the current and almost spontaneous worldwide trend to address the twin issues of Equality, i.e., Diversity Sensitivity, and Social Justice.

In the most recent monthly Rotary Magazine, 75% of the issue is about people of color, especially African, and African-descendant people, many of whom are Rotarians themselves. It's a first... so overboard that it appears the publisher has suddenly awakened to this worldwide trend.

And in the same time frame, we see Sikh (Punjabi) organizations opening up in their dialogue with other religions and peoples (see example), and an outpouring of connections to African and African-descendant peoples. It's astonishing. It's a paradigm shift. It's a new Age.

And so, it's with a sense of urgency that our Dharma needs to get on board with this global trend...needs to be a leader of this trend. Reflecting on all that the Guru’s have proclaimed about equality and inclusion, Sikhs are the natural and appropriate organization to rise to the occasion. It's Sikh Dharma's destiny.

Khalsa Council must understand that time and change is of the essence. Khalsa Council needs to rise to the occasion, now. But first, our leaders need to clean their own house, i.e., the majority of our legacy family is older and 'colorless', i.e., senior and White, many with histories, experiences and mind set that may not take kindly to 'coloreds', i.e., non-Whites – try as they might. So, the situation is tantamount to the Kundalini Yoga teacher needing to first experience a kriya before teaching it. ("Teach what you know. Don't teach what you don't know." Yogi Bhajan)

3HO/Sikh Dharma has its issues with Diversity Sensitivity, i.e., multicultural competency, along with just about every other worldwide organization. It’s part of an evolutionary and revolutionary learning curve. We need to understand going forward that Sikhs must rise to this occasion, this opportunity, or be left behind. The Siri Singh Sahib invested too much effort and sacrifice. We must move forward with the Guru's and Yogi Bhajan's teachings. We have to become 10 times greater. According to the Master, we must become Masters in order to maintain the Golden Chain, unbroken. Diversity, Inclusion, Equality for All is our frontier. We own it. And we need to step right up to the Diversity Sensitivity line and go beyond. Read on.

**Supportive Documentation
In order to address the following questions.

. What problem(s) does this Motion address?

A growing number of issues have emerged around racial and cultural ignorance, including the shooting at Oak Creek, Wisconsin; the shooting and protests in Ferguson, Missouri; the shooting in Mesa, Arizona of Balbir Singh Sodhi following 9-11, as well as a myriad of related issues around cultural and racial ignorance and discrimination. Sikhs remain largely unknown in the mainstream population.

In February of 2009 and again in August 2014, the Attorney General of the United States asserted: "Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial, we have always been—and we, I believe, continue to be—in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards." Eric Holder, Attorney General of the United States

This statement highlights the fact that many issues remain unresolved. This is a sentiment that is shared worldwide.

. What solutions are proposed? Provide relevant background info/available research to support the motion and provide relevant context.

Create a model for courage, healing, change and leadership by convening a biannual Sensitivity Summit to include Light on Diversity conversations, in joint session with Siblings of Destiny. This Sensitivity Summit would be best served by inviting outside expertise to help facilitate a one-day event to take place on the day before the Khalsa Council convenes its Baisakhi and Fall biannual meetings. Valuing diversity and improving cross cultural communication skills are essential to the vitality, strength, and maintenance of our society.

Our Sikh faith was founded in interfaith and intercultural dialog. The Siri Guru Granth Sahib shines as a beacon of pluralistic wisdom and knowledge, as its contributors came from Sikh, Hindu, Sufi, Muslim, and many other backgrounds.

"The Lord is within all and can be seen outside as well;
there is none other." Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, pg. 599

Similar successful events have been initiated by some Indian Sikh communities. Cross cultural sensitivity training will better enable our Sikh Dharma Ministers to effectively integrate our services and leadership in mainstream populations, reach out to underserved minority populations, and better enable Kundalini Yoga teachers to effectively teach cross culturally, including underserved populations who are hungry for the teachings of Kundalini Yoga.

The model that we create could be developed by drawing from elements of previous event models that have been used successfully, for example:

1) Embrace Diversity Event held in Arizona as a memorial in commemoration of Balbir Singh Sodhi;

2) The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in post-apartheid South Africa;

3) The Office of Multicultural Affairs of many universities offer leadership training events to proactively address diversity issues and opportunities;

4) Sikhnet.com has sponsored and promoted many events and videos that elevate cultural awareness and understanding;

5) The National Conversation on Race initiative of President Bill Clinton proffered to: "Help educate the nation... and recruit and encourage leadership at all levels to help bridge cultural and racial divides; To find, develop and implement solutions in critical areas."

"...the world looks to us to show that it is possible to live and advance together across {our cultural} differences...Building one America is our most important mission...money cannot buy it. Power cannot compel it. Technology cannot create it. It can only come from the human spirit." President Clinton, February 4, 1997

Efforts to develop cross cultural competence comprise an awareness of one's own cultural worldview, knowledge of different cultural practices and world views, understanding one's own upbringing toward cultural differences, and learning cross-cultural interaction and communication skills. Developing these skills results in an ability to understand and effectively interact with people across cultures. It is a process of learning about and becoming allies with people from other cultures, and thereby broadening our own knowledge and understanding, as well as our ability to participate in multicultural processes. The key element to becoming more culturally competent is understanding and respect for the ways that others live and organize the world and an openness to learn from them.

As followers of the Guru's teachings, we look upon all with the single eye of equality, for each and every heart contains the Divine Light. More than 500 years ago, these ideas began a revolution in India that influenced and contributed greatly to the human psyche. Now, we are called upon to do the same in our world today. Working together to celebrate our differences and shared values, within our communities, we can become a living example and model to the world, for the common good of all people. Let our community service, Guruka Langar, education, pluralism, human rights, our processes and procedures, in every way be a model to honor the Divine Light within every being. Let us expand upon our cherished and noble traditions by creating this Sensitivity Summit to claim victory over the ignorance and discrimination that are the root of injustices that plague our world.

. Who is responsible for implementation?

The Khalsa Council will authorize a Sensitivity Summit Committee to develop the format and structure of the Sensitivity Summit, protocols and budget, responsible parties, and financial resources for the event, for approval by the Khalsa Council and Siri Singh Sahib Corp. The Sensitivity Summit Committee shall include members of the Khalsa Council and up to 50 percent membership from Siblings of Destiny.

. What is the projected time line for implementation?

The Sensitivity Summit Committee will report to the Khalsa Council at the Baisakhi 2015 Khalsa Council meetings with the plan for implementation. The first Sensitivity Summit is targeted to be held one day prior to the April 2016 Khalsa Council meetings.

. Who and/or what is affected and/or impacted by the Motion?

There are many groups and populations who may potentially benefit and be positively impacted by the implementation of this motion.

(a) As Sikh Dharma Ministers and Kundalini Yoga teachers we will gain important cross cultural skills to enable us to better serve and lead in mainstream and other diverse cultural populations.

(b) Developing cross cultural sensitivity training would enhance our current KRI Level 1 Aquarian Teacher program as something every Kundalini Yoga teacher may learn.

(c) Creating a certification program would provide a platform to enable Kundalini Yoga Teachers, Sikh Dharma Ministers to teach cross cultural sensitivity training to governments, businesses, and educational institutions.

(d) Improved integration of diverse cultures within our 3HO and Sikh Dharma communities would
positively impact their participation and growth with us, as well as their ability to reach out to others in their communities.

(e) Cross cultural sensitivity training would better enable our Kundalini Yoga Teachers and Sikh Dharma Ministers to reach underserved populations, including Indian Sikh communities (according to Sikhnet polls, a large percentage of whom are asking for yoga training) as well as other diverse communities with unique cultures, including caregivers and first responder communities, victims of addiction, prison populations, victims of domestic violence and victims of human trafficking, and many others.

Making multicultural processes work is essential to our success as a 21st-century society. Our communities, our nation, and our world face complex social, political, economic, and interpersonal challenges. Diverse experience, complex approaches, and critical thinking are tremendous assets that we can develop as we learn how to value the experience and understanding that other cultures possess. Valuing diversity is essential to the vitality, strength, and maintenance of our society. More than a personal preference, this is not something we can choose not to do. It is vital that we draw on the rich and multifaceted experience of all peoples in our own communities and our world if we are to survive and thrive in the 21st-century.

. What are the anticipated costs?

Costs for a one-day event include facility rental, food, compensation for a sensitivity and cross-cultural training team, training materials, and publication of the event.

. How will the costs be covered? Identify responsible parties; propose a budget and outline the method of accountability.

The costs for a one-day event may be offset by charging a nominal fee for the event. We defer to the Sensitivity Summit Committee to propose a budget, identify funding resources, responsible parties and the method of accountability.

. Provide the subcommitte report (if applicable).

The Sensitivity Summit Committee report is targeted for submission at the Baisakhi 2015 Khalsa Council meetings.

"From today onward we will neither live with each other or
at each other, but honestly, before God and Guru we will
live for each other." Sikh Dharma Minister's Vows

"Khalsa Council embodies the sovereign, spiritual, status of the Sikhs.
In action it is the parliament of the Sarkar e Khalsa. It is the leadership.
It is a body that lives in the divinity, nobility, and grace of God. What
comes through the Khalsa Council is simply projective kindness,
compassion, divinity, nobility, and grace. It is the very embodiment
of grace, radiance, lifestyle and projection of Guru Gobind Singh."
Siri Singh Sahib Harbhahan Singh Khalsa Yogiji -- Dec 28, 1991

"People of color who remain silent enable White people to remain culturally
illiterate. It is incumbent on those who know to teach those who do not know.
Bottom line is that the 3HO/Sikh Dharma community must hear from people of
color, i.e., people of African, Asian, Native American, etc., descent, as to their
perception of the organization, as it is, today. Given the history of human nature,
Sikh Dharma can avoid creeping into exclusivity by monitoring the perceptions of
People of Color. Sikh Dharma is an inclusive as opposed to an exclusive path.
As Sikhs we need to practice what we teach." MSS Hari Singh Bird Khalsa

NOTE: Cultural Competence comprises four components: (a) Awareness of one's own cultural worldview, (b) Attitude towards cultural differences, (c) Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews, and (d) Cross-cultural skills. Developing cultural competence results in an ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures. More.

Sat Nam. MySikhSense.com is sponsored by ACT, Akal Committee Thirteen, whose mission is to reach out and bring to the fore 'issues of color', especially among those who tend to be marginalized, i.e., people of color and others, whom it is hoped will inform the 3HO and Sikh Dharma community and beyond of their vision of the necessity for change, inclusion, compassion, and growth in our human relations going forward in order to facilitate the shift in global consciousness from instability and discord to balance, cooperation and enduring peace.

Diversity Dialogues

"You can't understand anything from a distance.
You have to get close." Bryan Stevenson

To this end it is important that we hear concerns and suggestions, especially from people of polor, so we can better implement the teachings when it comes to serving and interacting with people that represent ideas, beliefs, lifestyles, races, religions, orientations and customs that differ from our own. See Recommended reading. See Required reading. See More.