by SS Harinder Kaur Khalsa, Eugene OR
Spring 2011
How do I relate to this change of the age? I accept. Acceptance is the key word for me, for being able to observe all the changes that go on around me without being affected by it. Acceptance of the fact that all is arising from the One, is sustained by the One and goes back to the One. And that One is non-separate from me.
Ek Ong Kar. That is the only truth. I am that One. Sat Nam. The One is both the material and intelligent cause of all. Karta Purkh. When the feeling of separation from the One is overcome by the light of the knowledge, all fear dissolves. Nirbhao.
When the fear dissolves, there comes the understanding that one is free of desires which, when not met, give rise to anger. Nirvair. This truth is eternal. Akal Murat. Ajoonee. It is the source of light itself. One sees it effortlessly when one surrenders the heart to see the truth of oneself. Saibhang. This understanding comes to me all by the grace of Guru. Gurprasad.
I repeat. Jap.
When I anchor myself in this truth which never changes through any perceived time frame, I am stable, unshakable. Emotions come, thoughts come and they go. I am here. Aad sach, jugaad sach, hai bhee sach, Nanak hosee bhee sach.
And I study. I have realized the true meaning of being a Sikh for myself. A student. Several years ago I prayed to Guru to send me a teacher. My prayers came true in the form of a Vedanta teacher, Sadhvi Chaitanya. I have been studying the shabad with her for the last five years.
She is highly capable of unfolding the wisdom of both the Upanishads and the Guru Granth Sahib. Through this study I am able to see all as One, understand that the separation between me and the so-called other is only an illusion. I can clearly see that the other person is “I.” I bow knowing that there is no greater gift I could have received from the Guru.
About the Author
SS Harinder Kaur is an ordained Sikh Dharma Minister. Harinder Khalsa has been teaching Italian at the University of Oregon since 1993 where she started as a graduate teaching fellow. Her passion lies in keeping language learning fun, interesting and meaningful for all generations of students through research in pedagogy and advancements in technology. Harinder is the 2015 recipient of the Thomas F. Herman Award for Excellence in Pedagogy.