|
 Doctor
exemplified his teachings by his own transformed and beautifully
lived life. He was a fountainhead of energy and wisdom;
a teacher after which we need no other teacher.
On
October 3, 1892 he was born into a Sikh community
of the state of Punjab, India. He was educated at Khalsa
College, Amritsar, and nurtured in the best tradition of
the Sikh religion, the Spiritual Science founded by Guru
Nanak in the fifteenth century.
As
a youth, Dr. Thind sought companionship and spiritual guidance
from the pundits of his community. He also sought to learn
the philosophies and religions of the world.
Upon
reading the works of Emerson, Whitman, and Thoreau, he became
inspired to travel to America to fulfill his destiny as
a Spiritual Teacher.
 With
the encouragement of an understanding father, he left India,
stayed briefly in Manila, and within days before his twentieth
birthday, arrived in Seattle, Washington on July 4, 1913.
Throughout
his time away, Dr. Thind never forgot his debt to his motherland.
India at that time was under strict and often oppressive
British rule.
In
the years to follow he served as a pioneer for India's Independence
and helped many East Indians gain their American citizenship
- a title he was denied until 1936.
In
1918, he served in the United States Army during World War
I, being one of the few East Indians to do so at the time.
His successful military career led to an Honorable Discharge
on December 18, 1918.
For
52 years, Dr. Thind lectured throughout the United States.
He possessed a sharp wit and direct manner of speaking,
inspiring an audience of an estimated five-million. Thousands
were initiated as disciples into the Inner Life and the
discovery of the power of the Holy NAM.
"No
dogmas, no creeds, no limitations, no secret keys, no mystical
fuss, no exotic formulas; we put order in your kingdom of
chaos," was the words underlining his printed programs
of lectures.
In
honor of his legacy, his alma mater Khalsa College of Amritsar,
India offers a "Dr. Bhagat Singh
Thind Scholarship Fund", which aids students in need
of financial assistance.
Acknowledgment
from his wife, Vivian
"He was a man of indomitable will, invincible spirit,
and unshakable faith. A knower of God, who lived the life
of truth and Divine Purpose giving these principles first
place above all else in his life.
 In
March of 1940 we married, and although his lecture
tours separated us much of the time, we wrote to each other
daily.
He
was my Guru in every way: A noble husband, he was a devoted
father to our son and daughter, and a respectful loving
son-in-law to my parents, whose home has always been with
us.
When,
without warning, (for he was in excellent health) he left
us at 4:15 pm, September 15, 1967. Our loss seemed
inconsolable. We discovered gratefully, however, that his
very teachings had prepared us well for that loss.
It
is in the same spirit of gratitude for our beloved Teacher
that we will continue to publish and republish all of Doctor's
books, manuscripts, and teachings in perpetuity.
We
know his completed writings will live on and on as a spiritual
guide - to his devoted disciples, and for those who are
ready to free themselves of conditioned orthodox religious
thinking.
His
writings are for all who yearn for fellowship with the Author
of their Being, instead of looking for him externally."
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Time
Line of the life of Dr. Thind
| October
3, 1892: Dr. Thind was born in the Village of Taragarh,
near Jandiala Guru, District Amritsar, Punjab, India
1912:
Graduated Khalsa College with Honors
July
1912: Departs Calcutta. Arrives in Philippines
(stays for 9 months)
July 4, 1913: Arrives in Seattle, WA
1914-1918:
Stays at Hindoo Alley (Gadar Movement)
1915-16: Earned Ph.D.
Jan 17,1917: Petitioned for Citizenship US District
Court, Oregon
July 22,1918: Enlisted to US Army in Clatsop
County, Oregon at Camp Lewis, Washington Company #2
development Battalion #1, 166th Depot Brigade
July
22,1918: Petitioned for Citizenship US District
Court, Washington
Dec 9,1918: Granted US Citizenship
DEC 13,1918: US Citizenship canceled. Given Certification
of Cancellation by INS
DEC 18,1918: Honorably discharged from US Army
1918-1922: Employed at Charles Kingsley, Western
Oregon Lumber Co at Linnton, Oregon
May 6,1919: Petitioned for Citizenship at
US District Court of Oregon.
Oct 19,1919: US District Court in Oregon rules
favorably for Dr. Thind's citizenship
Jan,
1920: Interviewed by Portland ̉JournalÓ stating
he was forced to come to USA for his education, being
unable ̉to secure an education at home because of
the severe restrictions on IndiansÓ
Nov 18,1920: Granted citizenship by the US District
Court of Oregon.
Oct
17,1921: 9th District Court sent case to US Supreme
Court for decision
Feb 19,1923: US Supreme Court rescinded citizenship
on grounds that Dr. Thind was not a white person within
the meaning of Section 2169, Revised Statues.
1925:
Wrote "Divine Wisdom, Volume 1"
May
30,1926 - August 31, 1926: Lectured at Chicago
Daily News
Jun 26,1926: INS sent Certification of Cancellation
or citizenship
Sept
12 - Oct 11,,1926 : Lectures in Milwaukee
Nov 7- DEC 9, 1926: Lectures in St.Louis, MO
DEC 19, 1926-Feb 18, 1927: Lectures in Detroit,
MI
Feb 27 -April 13, 1927: Lectures in Cleveland,OH
April 24-May 24, 1927: Lectures in Pittsburgh,
PA
June 5 - July 20, 1927: Lectures in Philadelphia,
PA
July 31,1927 - Jan 8, 1928: Lectures in New
York City
Jan 29-March 15, 1928: Lectures in Cincinnati,OH
March
25-April, 1928: Lectures in Chicago, IL
May 13 - June 14, 1928: Lectures in St. Louis,
MO
June 24 - Aug 5, 1928: Lectures in Buffalo,
NY
Aug 19 - Sept, 22, 1928: Lectures in Boston,
MA
Oct 7 - Nov 10, 1928: Lectures in Detroit,
MI
Nov 18 - DEC 21, 1928: Lectures in Toledo,
OH
Jan 6 - Feb 20, 1929: Lectures in Cleveland,
OH
Mar 3 - April 17, 1929: Lectures in Pittsburgh,
PA
April 28 - June 12, 1929: Lectures in Washington
DC
June 30 - Aug 1, 1929: Lectures in Milwaukee,
WI
Sept 1 - Oct 16, 1929: Lectures in Chicago,
IL
Nov 3 - DEC, 18, 1929: Lectures in St. Louis,
MO
1928:
Wrote "Divine Wisdom, Volume 2" Based
on seven lectures at the Pythian Temple, New York
City
1930:
Wrote House of Happiness. Based on lecture
lesson given in 1927 (New York City)
Jan
19 - Mar 11, 1930: Lectures in Los Angeles, CA
Mar 23 - June 14, 1930: Lectures in San Francisco,
CA
June 15 - July 14, 1930: Lectures in Philadelphia,
PA
Sept 27 - Nov 26, 1930: Lectures in New York
City
1935:
Resides in New York City and teaches True Religion
and Metaphysics.
Jun
24,1935: US Congress enacted a statute that allows
US Citizen for US Veteran ̉AliensÓ previously disallowed.
Sept
27, 1935: Dr. Thind filed Petition 250957 for
citizenship
Mar 2, 1936: Granted Citizenship by US District
Court
1937: Ordained Minister
1937:
Resides in Richmond, VA
March
16,1940: Dr. Thind marries Vivian Davies in Colligwood
Presbyterian Church, Toledo, OH
June
,1963: Dr. Thind visited India for the first time
since he left his beloved country 51 years earlier
in 1912. Dr. Thind and his wife Vivian were honored
in Delhi and in Punjab. Prime Minister Pandit Nehur
and the President Dr. Radha Krishna had especially
invited Dr. Thind and had numerous meetings with him
and his family. He was also invited to deliver special
lectures on Metaphysics in several universities including
Delhi University and the Punjab University, where
he spoke to vass audiences on "What America Means
to Me".
Sept
15,1967: Dr. Thind passes at 4:15 pm in Los Angeles,
Ca
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