Sikhism - Sikh Dharma International

What is Sikh Dharma International?

For more than 35 years Sikh Dharma International (SDI) has been a recognized non-profit 501c(3) religious organization in the United States and an effective vehicle for spreading the teachings of the Sikh Gurus in every direction of the globe. It is a California registered non-profit 501c(3) organization that serves the needs of the global Sikhsangat (community).  There are many affiliates of the organization around the US.  And many communities around the world that we serve.

The headquarters for Sikh Dharma International is located in the beautiful Espanola Valley in northern New Mexico, at Guru Ram Das Ashram (Hacienda de Guru Ram Das - http://www.espanolaashram.com) with an additional office in Los Angeles.  On these pages you will learn much about our organization, staff, and projects.  As a global organization, we serve the Sikh Dharma International Family all around the world. 

The Sikh religion began in India a little over 530 years ago and since then Sikhs from the Punjab region of India, who make up less than 2 percent of the population of India, have migrated throughout Europe, the Americas, and Asia, numbering about 28 million worldwide. In the early seventies, Yogi Bhajan, who would later be know as Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji began to teach in the United States. Through his inspiration, insight and example many Westerners began adopting the Sikh way of life, attracted by the spiritual practices of Sikh Dharma and its egalitarian teachings that respect all religions. Sikhs do not convert people.  Sikh populations everywhere participate enthusiastically in outreach activities and contribute to their surrounding communities. The Sikh teachings encourage people to live their lives in service to others, but not as beggars or in poverty. Instead they believe in creating abundance, peace, and prosperity throughout the earth, to serve humanity, and to build interfaith dialogue and cooperation, as well.

Part of the primary mission of Sikh Dharma International is to preserve, organize and continue to share the teachings of the Sikh Gurus as described by the late Siri Singh Sahib in his unique style.  His way of talking and teaching about the path of the Sikh has, for the first time in history, made the Sikh faith accessible to people from every background, language, and culture of the world.

With utmost gratitude to God and Guru, those of us serving the Global Community Sangat through this work at Sikh Dharma International, feel it a special privilege to be a part of this Legacy. Wahe Guru!