Inspiration & Approach

We believe the values and principles that were revealed to the Ten Nānaks are worth conserving. And as educators, we believe the most effective solutions are consistent with those principles and values. We believe that principles have consequences, but that those principles must be promoted with determination. So, we need to constantly develop innovative ways to share our ideas to draw solutions to contemporary problems (both intra and extra Sikh community) from the ideas, principles and traditions that make Sikhs and Sikhī great. We need to generate solutions consistent with our beliefs and impart them first to the Sikh populations. Then, share them with community organizations, governing bodies, human rights and social justice forums, human development institutions, the news media and others. These solutions must be built on our culture’s spiritual, economic, political and social heritage to produce a safer, stronger, freer, more prosperous Sikh Nation. And a world community free from mental, spiritual, and physical slavery.

We strive to interpret Gurmat. The term gurmat is often used to describe the Gurū’s way, literally the wisdom of the Gurū. Gurmat is the confluence of bānī, tvārīkh and rahit, i.e., scriptural directives, historical precedents, and code of ethics. The bānī celebrates Gurū Granth Sāhib as the epitome of Sikh heritage that embraces only those parts of the universal cultures that have the potentialities to be generous, sublime and impartial, and admits no hegemonic intrusion that may disturb the flow of its spiritual creativity. The tvārīkh comprises of those traditions that cherish the prophet-genius of the Gurū, the one who takes an individual from ignorance to enlightenment. It also borrows insights from the lives of the Sikhs raised by the Gurū. The rahit encompasses the wholeness of life and then raises its myriad forms to a level of transcendental purity. It is unimpaired freedom of person and soul where the paradoxical segments of life (e.g., war and peace) find a level of naturalness. Additionally, we use the synergy of other faiths, traditions, thoughts, and philosophies that further the drive to realize the divine potential within each individual as long as they do not contradict the Gurmat traditions.

We believe the earnest pursuit of this institutional mission can have a strong effect on the course of higher awareness. We attempt to provide platform for intensive dialogue in a stimulating setting where a commitment to excellence is expected and the full realization of human potential is pursued. They include a wide variety of experiences, making their own contribution toward the balanced development. Such a preparation will be capable of meeting challenge and change in family life, social relationships, civic duty, and service to humanity.