SS Simran Kaur Khalsa, Los Angeles CA
Summer 2010

---

Simra-o simar simar sukh paava-o||
Meditate, meditate, meditate in remembrance of Him, and find peace.

Prabh kai simaran ridhh sidhh no nidhh ||
In the remembrance of God are wealth, miraculous spiritual powers and the nine treasures.

prabh kai simaran giaan dhhiaan thath budhh ||
In the remembrance of God are knowledge, meditation and the essence of wisdom.— from Sukhmani Sahib by Guru Arjun Devji

Several years ago, while I was assisting Hari Kaur at the Master’s Touch, students asked Gurucharan Singh questions about the meaning of the Sikh spiritual names. I was in the back of the hall getting papers together, passing information to students, and moving around the Langar Hall.

Gurucharan Singh pointed to me as he was talking to the students, and said something like this: “Do you see Simran Kaur there? Do you see how she glides over the floor, barely touching it? Her name means being in the constant remembrance of God. Her soul is reaching to the heavens.”

I remember this incident quite well, as it surprised me. I thought to myself that there was a lesson being given to me.

Ever since I was a child, my heartfelt goal was to experience a sensation of wholeness, consisting of both balance and strength. Connecting to the Dharma accelerated my journey of self-discovery, expressly for the purpose of uniting with the full spectrum of my Divine essence more easily.

I remember feeling that my first three years of living amidst the Dharma felt as if I had received the equivalent of 30 years of valuable information.

A Spiritual Name

I was given the name Simran Kaur Khalsa practically from the start. At first, I did not quite connect or understand my name. Then, during my trips as a Sunshine Oils representative, I would meet people who told me how much they liked the name Simran Kaur.

I remember one lady telling me that names that start with “s” are very soothing. That offered some insight about my name. I would also meet Indian Sikhs who responded almost with awe when I mentioned my name. They taught me that there was something quite special about this spiritual name.

At Guru Ram Das Ashram, I was already enjoying the Shabad Guru, whose vibrations awakened dormant aspects of my soul. At first, meditating on the Shabads, and then finally being able to chant along with everyone, awakened pure bliss within me.

The Shabad Guru brought me to the Lotus Feet of the True Guru and taught me the power of the word. Japji Sahib was also another powerful soul awakener. I knew that even though I did not understand what I was saying, I was receiving teachings on the inner plane.

No doubt this inner learning continues to this date. I still, however, love to listen to Mata Mandir Singh’s Japji Sahib chanted in English, so that I may allow the conscious part of my mind and soul to grasp its meaning and teachings.

I realized that I allowed my name to vibrationally awaken me so that I could understand the meaning of it more deeply. I had learned from the Siri Singh Sahib that prayer was extremely powerful.

As I continued the practice of letting my name vibrate in my aura, I experienced my unspoken prayers vibrating in my field/aura as a meditation. And then, I experienced the prayers being realized.

So there I was, experiencing “Simran.”

I’ve learned that through chanting the Naam, through Kundalini yoga, through Sat Nam Rasayan, and through my healing practice, being in a state of Simran is being able to connect with and experience the all that is, in this very moment.

This lets me connect with all that comprises this earth plane, and the vast Cosmic Energy that surrounds us. I have learned that I need to practice dwelling in the Sacred Space that is Simran.

I have learned to pay attention; to be in a constant state of awareness (to the best of my ability), knowing in every moment that I am awake, that the infinite knowledge will be given to me to learn something new, and to go deeper into my own awakening of the infinite being that I am.

I am to do this not only for myself but for the benefit of all those that I encounter on this beautiful journey called Life.

A Minister’s Prayer

My prayer is:

May I continue to understand and deepen my experience of living in a constant remembrance of God, living in Simran;

So that the Infinite Cosmic Knowledge continues to be revealed, understood, and experienced by my infinite self;

So that I may continue to receive the understanding that everything and everyone I experience is God;

So that I may continue to learn that all the ups and downs, all the struggles, all my current challenges, all my so-called lacks, and all that I may call “evil'” are just illusions, God’s play, and the Universe’s games to gently guide me to live my life in a state of Love;

So that I may continue to learn how to let go;

So that I may continue to learn how to live in a state of equanimity;

That I may be granted the gift of living in each moment, experiencing my Infinite Self.

About the Author

SS Simran Kaur Khalsa is an ordained Sikh Dharma Minister. She has been representing the Sikh Community and Guru Ram Das Ashram Community in Los Angeles since 2001, serving as outreach person and a Sikh representative on many interfaith councils in Los Angeles County.