Sat Nam Dear Family,

Someone asked me recently, “How do you judge where this Dharma is going and if leadership is doing a good job?” Innocence is great. This question was from a new student who was spending forty days in our Sadhana Seva Program. She asked a question that most would consider terribly provocative. I didn’t; I loved it!

“First of all, let me say that it’s not my business to judge anything. Analysis maybe (no emotion involved), but even analysis doesn’t always get the desired results. It’s my job to serve and teach. That doesn’t mean that I don’t see what’s going on, or work to change it (this is analysis), it just means that it’s God’s call as to what happens. I’ll just enjoy the ride. No sense in getting into something that you have no control over. It’s a waste of time, especially if you know that everything will come out right in the long run. I’ll just keep working to attune analysis with our teachings and work for that.”

“Yes, but what about leadership and the direction of this organization?”

I loved it. I thought, wow, she’s pushy, focused and drills down!” That’s really good, so I’ll give here an inside look at this Dharma.

“This Dharma, Sikh Dharma, is headed in the direction of Guru Ram Das’ will. No one can change that. We have no control over that. What we do have control over is whether or not we help Guru Ram Das in this duty, or we don’t? How do we make sure that we help?”

“Yes, how?” She whispered.

"There are many opinions, but just one truth. We have been blessed, at least, that’s how I see it. We have a living teaching, we have a true teacher, we have a blessed Guru, and we have God as our mentor, as our direction. Following any of these blessings, or all of them, assures that we’re helping Guru Ram Das. That’s easy to say, but in actuality, it’s challenging. Habitual insecurities pop up and deflect our focus.”

I continued realizing that her focus will really help her along any path, and hopefully, it’s the right path. She deserved to hear where her focus could best be utilized.

“Now, to leadership. The way leadership helps Guru ji is by being an example of sincere practice in living the teachings, the teacher, the Guru, and/or God. It’s easier with the teachings because the teachings give the student an easier way to understand God. The teacher is a helper, a tool, a blessed one.”

“Leadership leads by example through the sincere and daily practice of following the teachings more and more. True leadership realizes that it’s not about them, it’s about serving Him, the Guru, the way He wants to be served. The operative words being, ‘the way He wants.’ ”

“The way He wants is found in the teachings. The kicker is that the teachings cover many levels. It’s not always just about the obvious, it’s mostly about the subtlety of life which is understood through the teachings. The teachings bring the subtlety of Guru ji to our awareness. The teachings are a tremendous shortcut to elevation.”

“So, how is our leadership doing?”

"I can’t answer that directly. Who can’t do better? The question isn’t ‘how is our leadership doing, rather, what must our leadership do to guarantee our direction is a help to Guru ji? Now, that’s a tricky question. Since you asked, I’ll answer. The Office of the Chief of Protocol is responsible for assuring that the teachings remain our direction. That’s why, in his Infinite wisdom, our beloved teacher set up this office independent of any other. Sovereign and self-governing, this office is responsible only to our teacher and our Guru. That’s the job of this office. That’s the training of this office. That’s the duty of this office. That’s my duty.”

“That’s a lot of responsibility on you, isn’t it?”

“Not really, I’ve been well trained for it. I’ve been blessed to see our teacher in action. By that I mean that I saw him live the teachings. I’ve not only heard, I’ve not only read, I’ve seen our teachings lived. This is my training. Now, will others, especially leadership, accept that? Some will, others, not so much. That’s not my problem. My duty is to remind us of what leadership protocol has been established. It’s not my protocol, it’s the Protocol of this Dharma. It’s directly handed down by God, to his representative Guru ji, to his interpreter the Siri Singh Sahib, to his officer the Office of the Chief of Protocol.”

“What good is it if no one listens?”

She asks really good questions.

“It doesn’t matter, dear. Someday it will happen. I pray that it’s sooner rather than later, that way we help Guru ji out now. However, that’s His call. Our worthiness tilts Guru’s divine will in His and our favor. The more obedient we are to the teachings as presented through the Office of the Chief of Protocol, the more Guru trusts us to carry His true message through His blessing of increased prosperity. This is the true state of this Dharma, Sikh Dharma.”

“So, everything’s O.K.?”

“Yes, everything is O.K. Everything’s just the way God wants it; everything’s just the way it’s supposed to be.”

“Anything I can do to help?”

“I’m glad you asked. Yes, you can act as if you are the leader of this Dharma by living the teachings more each day.”

“I’m new. I don’t see myself as a leader.”

“What do you have to say about it if God calls?”

“Oh, I get it,” she said. “I’m going to help our Guru. Thank you so much.” Stay tuned,

In the Humility of Service and Gratitude,
MSS Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa
Chief of Protocol
Sangat Representative