by SS Har Simran Kaur Khalsa, Los Angeles CA
Winter 2013
Truth is higher than everything; but higher still is truthful living.— Guru Nanak, Siri Guru Granth Sahib, p. 62.
No words of Guru Hargobind are in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, not because he had no truths to share, or because he was ignorant of the teachings of the Gurus who came before him. He often responded to a question by applying the words of his predecessor Gurus to perfectly address the situation at hand in the most exalting way. Guru Hargobind’s way of bringing light was through his example of truthful living.
Guru Hargobind held the two swords Miri and Piri, showing us that we are to wield both infinite spiritual wisdom and finite physical action, with equal excellence and grace. The two need to be balanced and integrated. Wisdom that does not lead to action is impotence and hypocrisy.
Action that is not guided by wisdom is lower than animal behavior. The structure of a well-integrated human being is the body and mind serving the soul.
As spiritual beings having a human experience, we are called on to put our money where our mouth is, to practice what we preach. To live a life of fulfillment, we must not only know our destiny; we must deliver it. Guru Hargobind established the right and the righteousness of a spiritual person to protect him or herself and to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
The Self-Sensory Human
Guru Hargobind’s life exemplifies the Self-Sensory Human, as described by the Siri Singh Sahib: “The Age of Aquarius will be the age of experience, where only people of experience will be liked, respected, worshipped, talked to and understood.”
All of the Gurus were people of experience. Guru Hargobind significantly expanded the “real-ness” of Sikh Dharma by openly confronting corruption and treachery while never indulging in vengeance.
This everyday practical wisdom is what drew me into Sikh Dharma. The Dharma works. Day by day and moment by moment, I experience the healing, empowering, exalting effects of the practices of Aquarian Sadhana, of bana, bani, simran and seva, the words and sounds of the Shabd Guru, and my identity as a daughter of Guru Gobind Singh.
My background before meeting the Dharma was pretty intellectual. It was hard at first for me to read Japji in English because I could not find a logical thread to follow. I could not deny or resist its power, and thus I found wholeness and inner peace as the medicine of the Naam did its work on me.
Now I am grateful to bring the light of the Guru with me and share it wherever I go. In my three main occupations, coordinating the Peace Picnic, serving as Executive Secretary in the Los Angeles Sangat, and taking the steps to apply into the Aquarian Trainer Academy, and in a myriad of seemingly chance experiences, it is my privilege to walk with my Siblings of Destiny in service to humankind.
About the Author
SS Har Simran Kaur Khalsa is an ordained Sikh Dharma Minister. She has lived for many years in the Los Angeles sangat, where she serves as the Executive Secretary to Guru Ram Das Ashram Los Angeles. She also personally served the Siri Singh Sahib’s household for many years. She is a Kundalini Yoga teacher.