The WEMM: An elegant bouquet of faith communities

A pleasant sunny day of December 2017 is permanently placed in my memory. In the early afternoon, I was taking a brisk walk with my son near Ferns Park, when Pastor Larry Love, alighted from his bicycle and after brief introductions, invited us to join The Woodland Ecumenical and Multifaith Ministries (WEMM), an interfaith organization established in Woodland. And thus started our journey to enjoy company of the blessed Holy Personalities of Woodland, while representing our Sikh Faith.

The WEMM Council readily approved our request for membership in the January 2018 meeting. Attending this meeting with different faiths filled myself with a blissful thought of the flowers of The Almighty blossoming in pleasing colors, but emanating the same fragrance of Love and Reverence.

And the continued attendance in monthly council meetings enlightens me with the feeling that how we human beings, separated from the Almighty, born in different faiths and beliefs, are making a concerted effort to be in tune with the Almighty again, through the WEMM platform.

Open discussions and confessions in the meetings, reminds me of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Guru Nanak took four long journeys from Punjab during 15001524 AD, with his Muslim companion Bhai Mardana and Hindu companion Bhai Bala, towards North, South, East and West directions, visiting nine countries and encompassing more than 17,000 miles. During these journeys, Guru Nanak had open discussions and dialogues about the real message of The Almighty, with the holy persons of different faiths including Muslims, Budhists, Hindu Sanyaysis, Yogis. These spiritual dialogues and discussions are included in form of verses in the Holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib, a scripture revered by Sikhs as everlasting and eternal Guru. Sri Guru Granth Sahib is composed of original verses of Six Sikh Gurus as well as seventeen Hindu and Muslim Saints of that time.

During one such journey, Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana, visited the City of Multan, now in Pakistan. Multan was known as the city of the spiritual guides (known as Peers) practicing Islamic Faith.

On hearing the Guru Nanak’s visit, one of the most revered Peer, named as Peer Dastgir along with his disciples, met Guru Nanak at the outskirts of the Multan City. Peer Dastgir offered a bowl of milk, filled up to the brim, to Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak gently placed a jasmine flower on the milk. The flower floated on the milk surface and did not cause any spill. The disciples of Peer Dastgir were confused about what kind of dialogue happened between two spiritual guides and questioned the Peer. The Peer explained that the bowl full of milk symbolized to Guru Nanak that already there are so many Peers in Multan and there is no place for Guru Nanak in this City. But Guru Nanak responded that his presence will not disturb the existence of Peers in Multan, but there is always a room in the world for more goodness and spiritual wisdom.

So, this is what I feel that the WEMM members are like jasmine flowers, always optimistic to spread more wisdom with open hearts to cultivate the diverse faiths in the Woodland community.

The WEMM always eagerly acts to serve the poor, oppressed and needy, which gives me an opportunity to share a percentage of my earnings and practice one of the Principles of Sikh Faith of sharing and giving, recognizing all souls as one and the same, filled with One supreme light.

So on and so forth, I feel that all of us at The WEMM are blessed to be a part of the holy platform, which strengthens the spiritual journey of each one of us to reunite with the Almighty, while practicing our diverse faiths.

Guru Gobind Singh, The Tenth Sikh Guru, explained this in his verse below:

Just as millions of sparks are created from the fire, yet they merge in the same fire!

Just as dust storm creates so many dirt particles, yet they merge in the same dirt!!

Just as hundreds of wave forms are created on sea, yet they are still part of water!!!

Similarly all the living and non-living created from the One Lord, will merge in the same Lord !!!!

At the end, I would earnestly request the holy persons of all the faiths in our city, which are still not become a part of the WEMM, to join us at the earliest. Thereby adding intensity to this fragrance of Love and Reverence.

May Almighty keep our WEMM blessed forever!