Conference 2013

Abstract The essential corpus of the Sikh Scripture — AdiGranth – was compiledin 1604, and in 1708 installed as the Guru Granth.  What is it and what is it not?  How did it speak to Sikhs then and how does it today? These questions determine the relevance of its message to our lives today. Guru…

Abstract Science and religion have often been at loggerheads, as illustrated by the persecution of Galileo for declaring that the earth moved around the sun, or the current controversies over evolution and stem cell research. Surrounded by technology, and information about scientific advances, there is a lot of skepticism about the teachings of religion that…

Abstract Sikh Gurus clearly wanted the human beings to live a house holder’s life. They wanted us to fulfill our life’s duties, enjoy Waheguru’s blessings and be always in tune with the Supreme Being. While many religions of the time considered a house holder’s life to be a distraction from Waheguru, the Sikh Gurus gave…

Abstract We are seeing a breakdown in communication in the world today. This is highly ironic because we live in an information age in which technology has created hyper connectivity. Everyone is “hooked up” at all times and yet there is very little real communication happening. All spiritual traditions recognize the power of communication. Words…

Abstract Is there a tradition of reconciliation and non-violent forms of struggle within the Guru Granth Sahib and within Sikh history and institutions?  While the martial tradition has played an important role in Sikh history, are we over-emphasizing this in our contemporary communities, institutions, and identity?  In this regard, what does the Guru Granth Sahib…

Abstract Towards what kind of life did Guru Nanak call his Sikhs?  And what kinds of lives should we live today?  Drawing from Guru Nanak’s bani, this paper argues that justice-oriented ethics must be at the fore of Sikh-American thought.  In this post-9/11 and post-Oak Creek era, we cannot miss the opportunity to build Sikh values into…

Abstract We will look at Guru Nanak’s Words in Sidh Gosht: “shabad guru surat dhun chela”, and discuss the concept of Shabad as Guru. Video of Presentation   Author Bio Jarnail Singh, Journalist (Writer) was born in Delhi in 1973. After a master’s degree in Political Science from PGDAV college, he completed a diploma in journalism from the YMCA…

Abstract As masters of our own destiny, does hard work, luck, and timing determine our fate or is our fate pre-written and pre-destined? Or does a pre-written destiny guide us towards the hard work and good deeds that will allow us to fulfill our purpose?  The Guru Granth Sahib has several references to a pre-written…

Abstract Extreme income inequality is a fundamental global socio-economic problem of today’s world, amply existent in the local Silicon Valley society, including the Sikh community. Over 500 years ago, witnessing acute socio-economic inequalities, Guru Nanak sang songs addressing the ills of and solutions to these inequalities. In this presentation I propose that Gurbani is a…

Abstract The Guru Granth Sahib is a unique religious text that is radically modern. Effacing fearful religious divisions and insecurities, its language of love broadens our mind with a plurality of concepts, ideologies, and literary styles. In fact, the exquisitely artistic transcendent bani, makes us seriously question our modern-day assumptions, and promotes inter-religious understanding in…