Simran Jeet Singh

An inspiring approach to a happier, more fulfilling life through Sikh teachings on love and service. As a boy growing up in South Texas, Simran Jeet Singh and his brothers confronted racism daily: at school, in their neighborhood, playing sports, and later in college and beyond. Despite the prejudice and hate he faced, this self-described “turban-wearing, brown-skinned, beard-loving Sikh” refused to give in to negativity. Instead, Singh delved deep into the Sikh teachings that he grew up with and embraced the lessons to seek the good in every person and situation and to find positive ways to direct his energy. These Sikh tenets of love and service to others have empowered him to forge a life of connection and a commitment to justice that have made him a national figure in the areas of equity, inclusion, and social justice. The Light We Give lays out how we can learn to integrate ethical living to achieve personal happiness and a happier life. It speaks to those who are inspired to take on positive change but don’t know where to begin. To those who crave the chance to be empathetic but are afraid of looking vulnerable. To those who seek the courage to confront hatred with love and compassion. Singh reaches beyond his comfort zone to practice this deeper form of living and explores how everyone can learn the insights and skills that have kept him engaged and led him to commit to activism without becoming consumed by anger, self-pity, or burnout. Part memoir, part spiritual journey, The Light We Give is a transformative book of hope that shows how each of us can turn away from fear and uncertainty and move toward renewal and positive change.

How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life

The Light We Give

Lizzy Jensen

I had the opportunity to ask a few of the massacre survivors how they were able to find happiness in the midst of such pain, and their responses were consistent. They all pointed to the idea of ik oankar: “Everythinf is divine," the survivors would say. "Of course we're in pain. But how could we be unhappy when God lives in our pain, too? Everything in life is beautiful, even the hard parts." 

My minister friend went on, however, to offer an opinion that didn’t feel so resonant. He explained that our differences don't matter and that we all essentially the same. I'd heard this refrain frequently over the years in various settings, from interfaith gatherings and racial justice workshops to diversity trainings and classes on inclusion, and it never sat quite right with me. Such statements rub me the wrong way because they oversimplity the reality of our experiences and overlook the complexity of our shared humanity. To me, our differences do matter and we're not all the same…When someone dismisses our differences by saying, “we’re all the same,” they signal that they don’t care about us. If they cared, they wouldn’t overlook aspects of our identities that we cherish and consider significant. They might say they care about diversity, but what they really care about is sameness.

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