Saanjh - The Bay Area Sikh Retreat

Saanjh – meaning ‘partnering, sharing, connecting’ in Punjabi, is the annual Bay Area Sikh retreat. This year, Saanjh will be held from Aug 27th - Aug 30th at the Monte Toyon campsite near Santa Cruz, CA. We seek to provide a platform where Sikhs can gather to connect with the Guru and the sangat to inspire each other and reinvigorate their commitment to Sikhi.

The retreat features interactive workshops and discussions that explore topics such as the Sikh's relationship with the Guru, Sikh identity and culture, visiting our recent and past history and Sikh politics. We utilize an interdisciplinary approach featuring spiritual, philosophical, cultural, historical, political, and activist angles to explore these diverse topics. There will also be plenty of free time to bond as well as connect with fellow participants and different sports, games and fun activities to engage us.

Our hope is to challenge participants to help them gain a broader and more nuanced understanding of Sikhi while inspiring activism. In addition to discussions, participants will be immersed in the richness of the Guru's diwan. There is a full diwan every morning and every evening with nitnem and kirtan, in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Participants will learn how to translate and interpret shabads, understand gurbani vocabulary, do ‘Parkash seva’,The Saanjh Tree take ‘Hukam’, do ‘Ardas’, and make ‘Deg’. The aim of Saanjh is not only to provide information and insight on Sikhi, but create an intimate environment where we can imbue ourselves and others with love for the Guru. All this in the setting of a beautiful redwood forest, minutes from the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Cruz beach line. For a motivating, stimulating, and moving experience, come join us in Saanjh.

 

Schedule updated

The final Saanjh 2009 schedule has been updated, click on over to review it.
 

Developing a Panthic Vision Towards 2084

2009 marks 25 years since the Indian State's attack on Darbar Sahib, an event that precipitated a decade of instability and suffering for the Sikh community in Punjab and created an even larger Diaspora around the world.  25 years later, Sikhs still are without justice and continue to remember Operation Bluestar, Nov 84 pogroms, Operation Woodrose, and the myriad of other direct and indirect attacks on Sikhs.  Join us as we look towards 2084 and work to create a vision for the community that will help us take control of our collective destiny.

Our Inspiration

"The Khalsa is a newcomer, fresh from the eternity into the world. The eyes of the Khalsa glow with the vision of the Invisible... When he or she runs, it is in trance. On the bed of thorns, he lies on roses. Outside is immaterial; it is the aim of life that matters... The Khalsa looks at the world from a supreme height, blessing all, helping all, loving all, with his beautiful looks from the inner self of all life."
- Professor Puran Singh

Saanjh 2008 Memories


On Self Knowledge
Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights.
But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge.
You would know in words that which you have always known in thought.
You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams.
And it is well you should.

-'The Prophet' by Khalil Gibran.