Exploring Spirituality

Biography

Ralph Singh
1736 Route 5 East
Elbridge, NY 13060
Home  315-689-9511
Mobile 315-440-1242
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www.exploringspirituality.org

Author, Teacher, Community Builder

Current Community Involvement

• Gobind Sadan—Adopted Sikhism under Baba Virsa Singh ji’s tutelage as his first foreign disciple while living and working at Gobind Sadan in India from 1971 to 1976. Presently serves as Director of Publications and Public Relations, and was Babaji’s translator for international gatherings and his representative at major conferences, including the Millennium Peace Summit.
• Gobind Sadan, USA (interfaith retreat and meditation center)—Founding President, advisor and spokesperson
• Gobind Sadan Community Services—Founder and President
• North American Interfaith Network— Chair, Interfaith Education Committee; Lifetime honorary board member. One of first members
• Program on Analysis and Resolution of Conflict (Maxwell School of Citizenship and International Affairs, Syracuse University)—Advisory Board
• Interfaith Works of Central New York—Council of Religious Leaders and former 15 yr board member
• Lectures and writes on the importance of values and spirituality in modern society

• Represents the teachings of the Sikh Gurus to national and international audiences from the Smithsonian Institution to local interfaith dialogue groups

Past Community Involvement

• City County Human Rights Commission, Syracuse and Onondaga County—Chair
• United Nations Association of Central New York—President
• United Nations Association of USA—National Council Member
• Member Central New York Education Consortium Schools of Character Project
• Lions Club—Coordinator of Drug Awareness program for City/County Middle Schools
• Coordinator of Celebrate Together—a program aimed at breaking down barriers between the disabled and able-bodied communities recognized as a “Thousand Point of Light” by the Bush (sr.) administration
• Developed community meals—transformed soup kitchens into “community meals” to bring people together

• Manlius Pebble Hill School, Dewitt, NY—Chaplain; Instructor of “Exploring Spirituality”—a framework for character education and teaching ethics to our children. (Adult education versions offered through school and local religious bodies)

Education

• The Gunnery—Washington, CT
• University of Rochester—BA History, Japanese Area Studies

• Lifelong study/practice of prayer and meditation and spiritual traditions

Professional

• Author and Translator – “A Path to Follow, A Life to Lead,” Sterling

• Retired after 25 years as a Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, and Chartered Family Business Specialist working with individuals and companies large and small.

Personal

Elbridge, New York since 1978
Married—Joginder Kaur, 36 plus years
2 sons—Chetan and Tegbir, Daughter-in-law Sukhpreet, and 1 granddaughter -Budhivali

Text version

Ralph Singh likes to be known as an ordinary person who continues to have extraordinary life experiences: from the powerful vision that drew him from New York to the feet of one of the world's greatest spiritual leaders, His Holiness Baba Virsa Singh, in India at the age of 22, where he became Babaji's first foreign devotee, to his involvement in the community building efforts surrounding the post 9-11 arson attack on his spiritual community, Gobind Sadan, USA, north of Syracuse, NY. Over the last 38 years Ralph has devoted his time to forging community and working to find ways to define civil society. He has worked in education developing and teaching a course called "Exploring Spirituality", helped design and name the "Schools of Character" project for the Central NY Education Consortium; in the community he has coordinated programs aimed at breaking down barriers between the disabled and able-bodied communities, served as Chair of the City County Human Rights Commission, and, together with his wife Joginder, transformed "soup-kitchens" into "community meals" to break down class barriers and helped to develop community based farmers' markets.

 Following the 1984 attack on the Golden Temple, he organized a consortium of International Human Rights Groups to draw attention to the plight of the Sikh community in India, and earlier had helped pioneer education programs for Sikh youth in America. Through the United Nations Association, Ralph helped establish the CNY MUN at S.U. and served on the National Council of UNA-USA under Elliot Richardson's leadership.He developed and coordinated drug awareness programs for local schools. Known for his efforts in building interfaith relations, he help launch and served as Vice-chair of the North American Interfaith Network. He still serves on the advisory board of the Maxwell School's Program on Analysis and Resolution of Conflict.

He was the founding President of Gobind Sadan, USA, and currently serves as President of Gobind Sadan Community Services, and as Director of Publications and Public Relations for the Gobind Sadan Institute and Society for Interfaith Understanding.

As long as Babaji was on this earth, Ralph served as His translator in international gatherings and as his representative at major conferences including the Millennium Peace Summit. He has lectured and written on the importance of values and spirituality in modern society, and has represented the teachings of the Sikh Gurus to national and international audiences from the Smithsonian Institution to local interfaith dialogues. He is a graduate of The Gunnery, received his degree in Japanese Area Studies from the University of Rochester, and maintains a lifelong study/practice of prayer and meditation and spiritual traditions.