by Simran Jeet Singh, Senior Fellow, Sikh Coalition
Guru Nanak taught us that we each embody the divine light and that life is a precious gift. He also taught us that spiritual attainment is meaningless if we do not use our progress to help others.
The tradition of seva remains strong among Sikhs 500 years later, and it’s something that continues to sustain us. Giving to others – Vand Chhakna – is at the core of who we are.
Honoring our collective divinity meant to uplift all of humanity (Sarbatt da bhalla). And what we learn from our gurus is that we must stand up for our own dignity as well as the dignity of others. This is how our gurus lived their lives, and it’s how we aspire to live ours as well.