“Sikhism and mental health,” “Sikhism and mental illness,” “Can Gurbani cure mental illness?” and “Shabad for anxiety, depression, fear” – these are some of the most commonly searched terms that our users are looking for online during these times.

Bearing this in mind, in March 2023, we created a library of resources of our beautiful teachings, including Shabad Guru and meditations, which can help with feelings of anxiety, depression, and overwhelm during these times of challenge on the planet.

While these resources do not offer a cure for mental illness, we hope they can bring some relief to those who are dealing with these types of feelings.

VIEW OUR FULL LIBRARY OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

DISCLAIMER: Anyone who is suffering from anxiety, depression or mental illness is encouraged to consult their physician for an appropriate treatment plan.

Throughout the year, we gathered as a Global Sangat, reciting Gurbani together, creating a space of love and devotion.

The participants represented a diverse international Sangat.  Leaders and attendees tuned in from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Central Africa, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Finland, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Togo, Turkey, UK, Uraguay and USA.  It was a blessing sharing these uplifting experiences with our Global Sangat! Wahe Guru!

These events would not have been possible without the devotion and dedication of numerous Sevadars from our Worldwide Community.  Thank you to all the Sevadars, chanting leaders and recitation leaders who participated and helped make this Global Sangat experience possible.

In 2023, these are the online chanting events SDI hosted to create a beautiful vibration of connecting to Sangat and Guru:

International Women’s Day

SDI hosted a Global Sangat gathering on Zoom to celebrate International Women’s Day with 24 hours of continuous chanting of the shabad “Bhand Jammeeai” by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Guru Ram Das Ji’s Birthday

The Global Sangat gathered for 24 hours of chanting Dhan Dhan Ram Das Gur to celebrate the birthday of Guru Ram Das Ji.  This included livestreaming the 2.5-hour special sadhanas from the Chinese, German, Chilean and HGRD Sangats.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Birthday

On November 26, 2023, SDI will host a 12-hour chanting of the first Pauree of Japji Sahib to celebrate the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.  Find out more and register to attend here.

Our next Global Sangat chanting event will be reciting Chatr Chakr Vartee (which removed fear, anxiety and depression and brings victory) in January 2024 for the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.  Stay tuned for more information coming soon!

$6,000 of Grants Provided

Feeding people is important to us as part of our Sikh heritage.  Every Sikh Gurdwara serves a hot meal to anyone who attends.  Sikhs around the globe make it a priority to feed people regularly.  Through the support of your contributions, in 2023 SDI was able to provide $6,000 in Grants to Sikh Organizations who regularly feed people in need.   

Here’s a list of the organizations who received grants:

• Caring Coalition AZ food kitchen – $1000
• 5 Sikh Seva Truck – $1500
• DV network Free Meals on Wheels – $500
• DV network Fresh Meals for Families Turkiye and Syria – $500
• Fundacion Social Amar Das (Amar Das Foundation) Chile – $2000
• Khalsa Peace Corps Share a meal program – $500

TESTIMONIALS

In this testimonial, Sat Kaur from Caring Coalition, one of our 2023 grant recipients, shares the impact of the SDI Sikhs Feed People grants over the last several years:

READ THEIR STORY

In this video, Abaidev Kaur from Amar Das Foundation in Chile, one of our 2023 grant recipients, describes how important these grants are to them being able to complete their mission of feeding people in need:

Supporting the Annual Vaisakhi Kirtan Darbar

Since 1985 the Los Angeles Guru Ram Das Sadh Sangat along with Sikh Dharma International has hosted a joint Southern California Gurdwara Vaisakhi program.

For the first time since 2019, the annual Sikh Community of Southern California Vaisakhi Celebration was held in-person at the Los Angeles Convention Center on April 2, 2023.

The event was a ten-and-a-half-hour program of inspirational Gurbani Kirtan celebrating the advent of the Khalsa and legacy of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

Hundreds of sevadars (volunteers) came together to make the day festive, fun and nourishing with Guru’s Langar served throughout the day. The program consisted of a Kirtan Darbar (a day of sacred and spirited musical held in the royal court of Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Guru of Sikhs) and a Nagar Kirtan (a traveling Kirtan parade with Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji) encompassing a two-mile route in downtown L. A. This year, more than 40 Ragi Jathas (groups) and Children’s Jathas played in the Kirtan Darbar, representing more than 25 Gurudwaras spread across a broad range of California. Ragis from Fresno in central California to Orange County, in the south and West Los Angeles to Indio in the east traveled hundreds of miles to be a part of sharing with the sadh sangat the joy and spirit of Baisakhi.

SDI provided support for the 2023 Baisakhi Celebration by providing day-of technical support on Facebook and YouTube, including livestream set up and social media commentary monitoring and response.

Watch full coverage of this event provided by Chardikla Time TV North America!

Here are the 2023 highlights for the Office of the Secretary of Religion:

• Facilitating the application, ordination and onboarding of new Ministers to our global Minister body, representing North America and diverse regions throughout Europe.
• Developing additional educational resources and training, utilizing the input provided by Ministers in this area from Khalsa Council meetings on potential topics.
• Developing a survey to circulate to Ministers to determine their training priorities.
• Developing plans for the production of an educational video about the Sikh Dharma Ministry.
• Supporting connection and information-sharing among the Regional Minister Coordinators (RMCs) through several RMC team meetings held throughout the year.
• Contributing to inter and intra-organizational leadership efforts, including the Information & Communication Commission; the Khalsa Council Executive Committee; International Khalsa Council meetings; and the Executive Committee of Panth Khalsa.
• Supporting Ministers in their annual credentialing renewal, including generation of Minister ID cards as well as extending much support and assistance to individual Ministers.
• Publishing the quarterly Sikh Dharma Ministry Newsletter, highlighting news about Minister activities around the world and showcasing the voices and views of our diverse Minister body to provide insight and inspiration to our global Ministry. The theme for the 2023 newsletter series was collective efficacy, and working together across differences to create meaningful change in our communities.

• Managing the Sikh Dharma Ministry website and online Minister Directory.

• Budgeting for the Office; accounting and financial reporting to SDI.

• Strategic planning and visioning for the future of the Sikh Dharma Ministry.
• Providing administrative support for International Khalsa Council meetings.
• Creating and circulating our year-end Winter Solstice gift, to appreciate the contribution of each Minister.

Dasvandh is the Sacred Practice of Giving One Tenth of One’s Earnings to Higher Cause

What is Dasvandh?

Dasvandh, which literally means “tenth part”, is the tithing practice of contributing a portion of your earnings in the name of your Guru or spiritual source.  The principle of Dasvandh is that if you give to the Infinite, Infinity, in turn, will give back to you. It is a spiritual practice through which you build trust in the ability of the Infinite to respond to the flow of love and energy that you give. This energy then expands ten-fold and flows back to you in abundance.  Sikhs began bringing offerings during the time of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak (1469-1539), the founder of the Sikh Path. Guru Nanak promoted the concept and virtue of Dasvandh in his bani. He said,

ਘਾਲਿ ਖਾਇ ਕਿਛੁ ਹਥਹੁ ਦੇਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਰਾਹੁ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਸੇਇ ॥੧॥
ghaal khaa-ay kichh hathahu day-ay. naanak raahu pachhaaneh say-ay. (1)
One who works for what he eats and gives some of what he has – O Nanak, he knows the Path. (1)

LEARN MORE ABOUT DASVANDH

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