Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh
Dear Sadh Sangat Ji,
We are saddened by the violence in Afghanistan, and grateful for those who have recently been rescued. Let us pray together for everyone still in danger and those fleeing for their lives, that they may be safely evacuated and find refuge. And then, let our prayers take action in whatever way we can – there are organizations like Khalsa Aid and United Sikhs as well as UNICEF Afghanistan that are doing on the ground work to aid in protection, providing resources, and rescue efforts to those in danger.
In addition, we call on our communities to be vigilant and exercise caution due to the potential for backlash against Sikhs. "After 9/11, the American public’s false conflation of images of the Taliban (often with beards and headcoverings) and the Sikh articles of faith had severe consequences for our community... Now, with Afghanistan and the Taliban once again the focus of the national conversation and political tensions remaining high across our nation, it is important to be prepared for the potential risk of this kind of backlash (Sikh Coalition)."
In a recent article published on SikhNet, Sukmandir Kaur shares some suggestions for Gurbani in times of crisis and offers Shabads for protection, healing and peace along with a meditation. You'll find those here in her article Bringing Clarity to the Afghanistan Crisis and What it Means for Sikhs.
In Oneness,
Gurumustuk ~ CEO SikhNet
