A Personal Profile
I was born on January 22, 1935 in Wazirabad, Gujrawala District, in what was then India and is now West Pakistan. My father was Bhai Sahib Kartar Singh Uppal and my mother was Sardarni Rawal Kaur Uppal. Both of my parents were descended from historical Sikh families. My mother traces her lineage directly to Guru Nanak. (See Bibiji's great, great uncle, Hari Singh Nalwa. )
My father's family is descended from Bhai Sahib Abnasha Singh, a Sikh saint during the time when Maharajaha Ranjit Singh was a child.
As such, when I was bestowed with the title of Bhai Sahiba of the Western Hemisphere by my husband, the Siri Singh Sahib, and the Khalsa Council of Sikh Dharma lnternational, I understood the importance and the responsibilities of this position. Mool Mantra The Mool (Mul) Mantra is a simple and very brief composition, which yet encompasses the entire theology of the Sikh faith, simultaneously complex and simple, universal and individual, it has religious, social, political, scientific, logical, theological, martial and eternal implications for our human existence. It brings truly humanitarian and global concepts describing the power of the Supreme Being for all to understand and appreciate and experience in living reality. Guru Nanak made this proclamation: There is One Creator of the creation, One divine spirit moves throughout creation. True is the Divine Name of the Creator, personified in every being, without fear, without anger, deathless and unborn, the divine One is self-illumined and self-realized by Guru's Grace. True in the beginning, true throughout all the ages, true even now, and always and forever this is true, says Nanak. Both Mool and Mantra come from Sanskrit. Mool (Mul) means root or source, primordial, base, foundation, or origin. Mantra means sound current, chant, vibration, or frequency. Hence, the recitation of the Mool Mantra provides us with constant access to the infinite flow of divine spirit, which is our core and our origin. When we vibrate the Mool Mantra, the sound current awakens in our consciousness that experience of one primordial spirit moving throughout all creation and enables us to live in harmony with our divine essence. That is why the Siri Singh Sahib said that the Mool Mantra is a "Fate Killer. It removes the fate and changes the destiny to complete prosperity." Living in harmony with our spiritual essence, we rise above fate or karma and fulfill our highest destiny; and the infinite resources of the divine universal spirit cover our every need. Just as the roots of a tree provide the anchor or base for a tree to grow strong and tall, the Mool Mantra gives us our own base or foundation in life. Even as the fragrance is present within the flower and the light of the sun in its colors, the essence of the Divine is summarized in the Mool Mantra. As the opening composition of Siri Guru Granth Sahib, the Mool Mantra encapsulates the entire essence of the Divine message from the Creator, and thus it is in the heart of every Sikh and represents the core of Sikh thought. Being the base or mool of the entire Sikh theology, the remainder of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is an elaboration or expansion of the statements in the Mool Mantra. There are a total of thirteen statements in the Mool Mantra. The first eight statements describe the qualities of the Supreme Being -- qualities also present within our own being-and the ninth tells us that the dispeller of darkness, "Gur" grants us the blessing of realization of these gifts. Ik Ong Kaar - One Creative Spirit throughout Creation Sat Naam - Omniscient Truth is God's Name, My Identity Kartaa Purakh - Omnipresent Doer personified in every being Nirbhao - Without fear Nirvair - Without anger Akaal Moorat - Deathless Ajoonee - Unborn Saibhang - Omnipotent, self-generating, self-illumined Gurprasaad - Darkness is dispelled to grant the blessing of these gifts Aad Sach - True in the beginning Jugaad Sach - True through all ages Habee Sach - True in the present Nanak Hosee Bhee Sach - Nanak says the indestructible Truth shall forever be The last four statements of the Mool Mantra affirm that these truths are eternal and ever present and indestructible throughout all time, deathless, unlimited, and forever. Just as the full Mool Mantra is inscribed at the entrance to the Golden Temple, and it was recited in this way for hundreds of years, as guided by the Sampardahs-established by Guru Gobind Singh Ji to prevent confusion in matters of Rehat (Rehat Maryada or Code of Conduct) and understanding Gurubani -- we hold to this sacred tradition when we chant the Mool Mantra, with the inclusion of Aad Sach, Jugad Sach, Haybee Sach, Nanak Hosee Bhee Sach. While there are some who omit the last four lines when reciting the Mool Mantra, we uphold the standard of the Sampardahs and Bhai Gurdas Ji in this matter, whose Vaars (verses) were called the "Key" to understanding the Siri Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Arjan Dev Ji. In Vaar 39 Bhai Gurdas Ji gives an explanation of the complete Mool Mantra, concluding with Nanak Hosee Bhee Sach. Congratulations to the 2018 Los Angeles, California, March 19, 2018 -- Panth Rattan Bhai Sahiba Bibiji Inderjit Kaur Khalsa, Phd., has been awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for 2018. The awards are presented each year in the U.S. on historic Ellis Island to a select group of individuals whose accomplishments in their field and inspired service to our nation are cause for celebration. The Ellis Island Honors Society is particularly proud that since its founding in 1986, the Medal has been officially recognized by both Houses of Congress as one of our nation's most prestigious awards. The Ellis Island Medal of Honor embodies the spirit of America in the celebration of patriotism, tolerance, brotherhood and diversity and those individuals to be honored who have lived their lives in service of these values. Dr. Bibiji Khalsa is recognized among those individuals, who have made it their mission to share with those less fortunate their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents and selfless generosity; all while maintaining the traditions of their ethnic heritage as they uphold the ideals and spirit of America. As always, the Ellis Island Honors Society remains dedicated to the maintenance and restoration of our greatest symbol of our immigrant history, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Since the Medal was founded, distinguished and diverse Americans have been honored, including Presidents Ronald Reagan and William J. Clinton, as well as five other Presidents of the United States. Past Medalists also include Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Nobel Prize laureates Elie Wiesel and Dr. Bert Sakmann, the Honorable Madeline Albright, Muhammad Ali, Rosa Parks, Sen. John McCain, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Lee Iacocca, just to name a few. A complete list of former Medalists can be found on our website www.EIHonors.org. On Saturday, May 12, 2018 a ceremony will be held on Ellis Island, honoring Dr. Bibiji Khalsa, along with the other recipients of the 2018 Ellis Island Medal of Honor. For additional information about the Ellis Island Medal of Honor visit www.EIHonors.org. See Complete List of 2018 Ellis Island Medal of Honor Medalists. Pages, Photos, And Points To Ponder Bhai Sahiba Bibiji's 'Sikh Awards' 2017 Bhai Sahiba Bibiji Wins Ellis Island Medal of Honor Bhai Sahiba Bibiji's 'Jewels of The Punjab Award' 2017 Bhai Sahiba's April, 2003 Letter To SGPC On The Role of Women
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