I wil be speaking this Saturday at Gobind Sadan in a ceremony to remember the burning of its old temple 20 years ago and the love and community was fostered through forgiveness. Gobind Sadan is one of the top places listed in my book Sacred Sites in North Star Country: Places in Greater New York State (PA,OH,NJ,CT,MA,VT,ONT) That Changed the World
“Gathering Around the Light”
A Celebration at Gobind Sadan, USA – “God’s House without Walls”
“Everyone is part of my community, I see no one as an “other.” Guru Nanak Dev ji
Saturday, November 13
4-8 p.m. followed by a community meal
Gobind Sadan, USA
134 Graves Rd
Central Square, NY 13036
With the blessings of Baba Virsa Singh ji, Gobind Sadan’s beloved founder and preceptor
November marks the 20th anniversary of the post 9-11 arson attack on Gobind Sadan, USA. It was the first “hate-inspired” attack on a place of worship following Sept 11. Unfortunately, such misguided attacks, and those on people considered “others,” continue today. But based on the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, we responded with a powerful prayer and statement of forgiveness from Baba Virsa Singh ji.
We witnessed 2 great miracles as the Light triumphed over the darkness:
In the midst of the blaze, the Holy Scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, did not burn.
And the power of forgiveness overcame the hatred, healed, and transformed the lives of those involved, and rebuilt a community of love.
The program will focus on what we can learn from Gobind Sadan’s model and how we can educate our youth to prevent such actions in the future.
4 p.m. The meditation center will be open
4:30- 6:00 Program “Building a World without Walls: Bringing Peace within Ourselves and the World”
Ralph Singh will moderate a panel discussion on the transformative power of GS’s forgiveness and the need for cross-cultural education to prevent future acts followed by Respondents
Break – Tea with Snacks
6:45 – Sacred Music and Meditation
8 p.m. Langar - Community Meal
The panel will include
ATF Senior Special Agent Henry Meyer who served as the lead federal investigator
is excited to return and celebrate with us has stated that the level of forgiveness and healing shared by the community relative to this event has had a significant impact on his personal life and career n what he believes is one of the most successful examples of healing and community transformation following a hate crime.
Cassie Hudson, the young arsonist who has transformed her life with the support of our forgiveness. She is now a successful travel nurse and parent. She has sent a letter in advance in case she is not able to be physically or virtually present.
Don Todd – fmr. Ass’t DA on the case – sharing how our position of forgiveness significantly reduced the sentencing of what would have been the first example of the Governor’s newly enacted hate-crime act.
Mark Lichtenstein, the former President of the Mexico, NY School Board (the arsonists were graduates) who so wanted to take responsibility for the kids’ actions that he accepted an invitation to travel to India with Ralph Singh to learn and offer his forgiveness to Gobind Sadan
A full list will be furnished as part of the program
Respondents will include:
Area educational and community leaders and members of the various area community groups who were active in the early rebuilding efforts will join the Gobind Sadan community and be recognized.
So as Sikhs are called on to “Recognize everyone as one human race,” we gather to celebrate the Light that brings us all together.
At a time when our country and the world is deeply divided, let us gather and celebrate our shared values and commitment to making a better world for future generations.
Thank you for helping us build a house and a world without walls
For more information - ralph@gobindsadan.org
COVID safety protocols will be followed, including asking everyone to wear a mask. According to the Sikh tradition, we also ask that people remove their shoes and cover their heads.
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