Here’s an awesome opportunity for all you forward-thinking and open-minded Sikhs out there. Attend an interfaith conference at the expense of the World Sikh Council! I would absolutely love to do this. Right now, I’m tied up by some entrepreneurial opportunities that conflict with the dates of this program, but it’s really incredible and hopefully, one day, my career will be stable enough that I can go to these conferences as a Sikh representative. In college, I absolutely loved interfaith dialogue because I believe that it’s part of the Sikh faith. “Interfaith Dialogue is Itself Spiritual Practice,” said an extremely wise person (whose name I forget) at an interfaith conference I attended in Washington DC in 2001. That is a beautiful quote, and I think it holds true for Sikhi. Guru Nanak was the master of interfaith dialogue–he talked and debated everybody under the sun, and developed an awesome faith as a result of those discussions. I challenge all Sikhs to get out there and engaged in interfaith dialogue–go in with an open mind, and go in expecting to learn something from your fellow man, and you will be rewarded. Details on the World Sikh Council program after the jump.

Sikh Community Update:
WSC-AR Invites Sikh Young Adults for Scholarships to Attend
Interfaith Conferences

The World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) invites Sikh young
adults (aged 18 to 35) from across the United States of America to
apply for the following scholarships available in Summer of 2007 to
attend interfaith conferences and training opportunities:

1. Interfaith Academy for Emerging Religious Leaders: The Interfaith
Academy, organized by Religions for Peace - USA, will be held June
13-27, 2007 at St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, KS. WSC-AR
will be nominating up to TWO Sikh young adults for attending the
conference. If selected to attend the Interfaith Academy, WSC-AR will
cover reasonable travel costs for attending the conference, while
food, housing, local transportation, excursion, curriculum, and
supporting materials for the two week academy will be covered by a
generous grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. Details on the Academy
can be obtained at http://www.rfpusa.org/interfaithacademy/.

2. 2007 North American Interfaith Network (NAIN) Connect Conference:
The conference titled “Embracing Freedom: Past, Present, and Future”
will be held July 12-17, 2007 at Richmond, VA. WSC-AR is considering
nominating ONE Sikh young adults for a Sikh scholarship being offered
by NAIN. If the nominated applicant is selected by NAIN for the Sikh
scholarship, NAIN will contribute up to $300 towards the lodging and
travel for attending the conference and WSC-AR will contribute the
remainder amount for a total not to exceed $600. Details on the
conference can obtained at http://www.nain.org/.

WSC-AR is a member of Religions for Peace - USA and North American
Interfaith Network. The Interfaith Committee of WSC-AR works with
both these national interfaith organizations.

In order to be considered for WSC-AR to nominate you as a Sikh young
adult (aged 18 to 35) for the above scholarships, please contact the
WSC-AR’s Interfaith Committee at <interfaith@worldsikhcouncil.org>
with your contact information and a statement of interest by the
deadline of May 12, 2007.

Please circulate this e-mail to interested Sikh young adults in the
United States.

World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR)
P.O. Box 3635
Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
Phone: 972-684-4638
Fax: 972-684-3709
Email: interfaith@worldsikhcouncil.org
Website: http://www.worldsikhcouncil.org