The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-07-29 06:21:37
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Simran Jeet Singh
- ISBN：0593087976
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
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。
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。
Reviews
Jennifer Baratta
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Thank you Simran Jeet Singh for writing and narrating this book。
❀ Susan G
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There is much wisdom in this book - learning about the racism faced by Sikh individuals， the caring and service， and the ways of seeing the good in others intertwined with stories about the authors experience growing up and later becoming a parent in the USA。 There are many helpful insights about goal planning， values， kindness and connection embedded in this book which share a perspective of servant leadership。
P
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A wonderful， inspiring， but ultimately practical guide to applying the principles of Sikhism （or "Sikhi"） to your life。 Singh masterfully weaves his experience growing up as an 'orthodox' Sikh with the various teachings of Sikhi that can be utilized to improve your own life。This is nothing more than that。 It is not a call to join Sikhism。 It is not a pity party。What it is， however， is a beautiful rendition of how one can improve his/her own life using some fairly simple methods and techniques。I A wonderful， inspiring， but ultimately practical guide to applying the principles of Sikhism （or "Sikhi"） to your life。 Singh masterfully weaves his experience growing up as an 'orthodox' Sikh with the various teachings of Sikhi that can be utilized to improve your own life。This is nothing more than that。 It is not a call to join Sikhism。 It is not a pity party。What it is， however， is a beautiful rendition of how one can improve his/her own life using some fairly simple methods and techniques。I love this read and highly recommend it to any and all。 10/10。 。。。more
John J Clements
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A quick entry into the tradition of SikhA very relatable memoir that gently introduces the reader to the wisdom of Sikhism。 A story for our day。 Thanks。
Andre
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Preface: I listened to the audiobook of this book。I really wanted to enjoy this book but unfortunately it fell flat to me for a two reasons。First is the fact that the book is heavily autobiographical。 The first section of the book exclusively focuses on key experiences of the author and his Sikh identity。 Throughout the book the author interweaves autobiographical elements and how they relate to the key takeaways。 This is alluded to in the blurb about the book but I don't think it really added a Preface: I listened to the audiobook of this book。I really wanted to enjoy this book but unfortunately it fell flat to me for a two reasons。First is the fact that the book is heavily autobiographical。 The first section of the book exclusively focuses on key experiences of the author and his Sikh identity。 Throughout the book the author interweaves autobiographical elements and how they relate to the key takeaways。 This is alluded to in the blurb about the book but I don't think it really added anything to the book and one wouldn't know it based on the title。 Second is the takeaways。 I was hoping this book would detail several threads through history of ideas that are important to Sikhs。 Instead， the main takeaways are to have love and compassion for others。 This felt like a big letdown given this is basically what almost every major world religion （on paper at least） counts as its big overarching themes。 I ultimately left the book not really having any unique insight into Sikh beliefs which was my whole purpose for reading this book as someone not as familiar with the faith。 。。。more
Nidhi Shrivastava
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✨✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨✨Thank you @sikhprof and @riverhead for the advanced copy of In Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life （releases on July 19！！） Simran Jeet Singh’s memoir is hard-hitting， moving， and thought-provoking begins with this powerful opening line: “I was eleven the first someone called me a terrorist。” These lines unfortunately are so familiar。 As a woman of color and immigrant， these post 9/11 observations felt all too familiar as I breezed through Singh’s insightful m ✨✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨✨Thank you @sikhprof and @riverhead for the advanced copy of In Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life （releases on July 19！！） Simran Jeet Singh’s memoir is hard-hitting， moving， and thought-provoking begins with this powerful opening line: “I was eleven the first someone called me a terrorist。” These lines unfortunately are so familiar。 As a woman of color and immigrant， these post 9/11 observations felt all too familiar as I breezed through Singh’s insightful memoir。 When we had moved to the United States from Singapore in February 2001， our lives were going to change in September that year。 Like Singh， my brother was called derogatory names but I saw firsthand when one of my best friends who is also a practicing Sikh like Singh but wears a dastaar “a woman’s turban） was also called Osama Bin Laden。 Based in Texas， Singh shares with his readers the racism he faced growing up。 However， like other memorialist like Eva Edgar （who wrote The Choice）， Singh turns to spiritual learning of Sikhism to understand his roots and in many ways to celebrate them。 Furthermore， as a scholar of 1947 Partition， I felt connected to Singh as he shared his grandparent’s difficult journey from Western Punjab （now Pakistan） to Rohtak in India （Ms Marvel and Dr Who have both covered the Partition recently）。 Singh’s memoir， thus， reveals the complex and nuanced world we inhabit in which contemporary and historical events continue to impact and shape our present。 Singh’s memoir， I should also emphasize， is not didactic。 Rather， it is an invitation to those unfamiliar to gain an insight into his life as a Sikh man navigating thriving in the post-9/11 United States that forces him to turn to spirituality to thrive in difficult circumstances shaped with often unspeakable traumas。 Spirituality and religion are another aspect that Singh highlights in his memoir。 In fact， when Singh states “To this point in my life， I had dismissed religion…as a vestige of my ancestral village， a way of life that was outdated and out of touch。” Indeed， growing up in the diaspora like Singh， this narrative felt like I was reading words that had been brought up repeatedly in South Asian diaspora communities - the feeling of being mistaken for one religion over other - for facing prejudice because of the religion/identity they hold。 For me， the title of his book stands out the most - that while we face hate and negativity， we hold the light within ourselves to find meaning in our lives。 We need not return prejudice and judgement with more prejudice。 Rather， offer acceptance and forgiveness to those who are ignorant， or prejudicial。 I cannot recommend this memoir more to anyone who wants to learn more about Sikh history and culture。 I have always felt welcomed at Sikh gurudwaras and hope to go to Amritsar someday to visit the Golden Temple in India。 QQOTD ⁉️: Singh’s memoir speaks to turning to spirituality to forgive unimaginable and difficult circumstances。 Growing up， we all have felt similar emotions and sentiments。 Do you forgive those who have wronged you？ How do you deal with difficult and toxic circumstances？ AOTD: I confess I think my mom was more forgiving than I am。 While like Singh， I turned to spirituality during challenging times。 I tend to be distant from those who have wronged me after giving countless chances， if things don’t change - I tend to walk away from the relationship。 My mom used to not be happy with this aspect of me。 😆#TheLightWeGive #SimranJeetSingh #Riverhead# #bookstagram #instabook #bookphotography #bookporn #igbooks #ilovereading #bookhaul #bookhoarder #bookaddiction #bookstoread #whattoread #fortheloveofbooks #bookblogging #bookpics #weekendreads #bookrecs 。。。more
Tejvir
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The man who wrote this book doesn’t represent or uphold any Sikh values yet wants to preach to others about Sikhi。 He wants Sikhi to change to cater to him and his views rather than the other way around， like its supposed to be。 Not worth buying。 Don’t waste your time reading the words of a treacherous hypocrite。
Adrienne
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The Light We Give is an inspiring gift -- exactly the book I needed to read！ I highly recommend it。
Jennifer Murray
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This was an incredibly inspiring read。 I really loved the overall message of the practice of love and social justice。 It was simultaneously convicting and comforting。 The writing style is super easy to read， even if a little meandering at times。 Definitely recommend！
Pam Mooney
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I loved this life perspective on religion， racism， and caring within families。 I believe I learned alot about Sikh and those who practice。 This is a welcome addition to any library and an enjoyable read。
Scott Haraburda
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