Inspiration is hard to come by, but at Saanjh it is almost a guarantee. I have been a participant in the retreat for two years and both times I was inspired and re-inspired to improve myself and my community. Through Saanjh, I now better understand my relationship with the Guru and what it means to be a Sikh – physically, socially, and spiritually.

I was worried I’d be one of the older ones, in my late thirties, and not sure how the ‘kids’ would react. Saanjh surprisingly managed to create a non-judgmental environment for all…the young college students and professionals younger and older than me, looking to re-connect with the energy of the Sikh dream. The organizers put in immense hard work to make this meaningful and inspirational. I went home motivated and am working on a Saanjh seva project now.

Going to Saanjh helped push me forward in my spiritual journey. I loved it there. We got a chance to learn so much more about ourselves … I found myself challenged to look inward, and confronted some of my own assumptions about our faith. I reached new depths of self- awareness. One of the keys of the retreat was the sangat. Meeting so many other young Sikhs from across the country filled me with joy. I also felt humbled by how much seva they performed in their own lives and at the retreat. Speaking with them armed me with tools for further self-development. Another aspect of the retreat I loved was the balance between spiritual exploration and social justice. I came away with more tools to improve my day-to-day life. We also found ways to make a difference in the lives of others by working to assist and connect with farmers in Punjab. The retreat was also hella fun. We played different games, organized and unorganized. Some of the best memories came from discussions with the sangat there. Overall, Saanjh was an amazing experience that definitely contributed to who I am today.

I loved taking a step back and thinking about the role Sikhi plays in my life and in my goals for my future. For me, it wasn’t just looking at what Gurbani says, which we did and which is crucial, but it was thinking about how Sikhi really is a way of life and a mindset. I do my paath and I explore Gurbani on a regular basis but it was priceless to be in the physical environment of the site while almost being able to look at my life and my goals from out of my body. Saanjh was a life-changing experience for me.

I had an amazing weekend at Saanjh East Coast with incredible individuals. It was very inspirational. I’ve learned so much and realized that we have so much more to accomplish. Throughout history, we have faced many obstacles. Those obstacles have continued to strengthen us. Now is our time to unite and turn our dream of a flourishing, colorful, and thriving Punjab, into a reality. To keep in touch with the Saanjh Community, I decided to participate in one of the projects. I chose to be part of the “Living Our History 1984 Project”. The reason why I chose this particular project was because of what I learned in Saanjh. The community has faced many hardships in our history, and we have survived a lot, for example in 1984. I wasn’t present at that time, but I want to hear from those who were. It’s very important to preserve and learn from our past.