Episode 8: Dr. Simran Jeet Singh

Dr. Simran Jeet Singh is the Executive Director of the Religion & Society Program at the Aspen Institute and he is the author of the book, The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life, published by Riverhead Books in 2022.

Dr. Singh is an internationally recognized scholar and human rights activist, teacher, children’s author, and a columnist with hundreds of thousands of followers across social media.

In his latest book, The Light We Give, he invites readers to embrace the lessons he’s learned as a self-proclaimed “brown-skinned, turban-wearing, beard-loving, sports-playing dude trying to survive in modern America.” He talks about the wisdom he gained from being a practicing Sikh who’s trying to find common ground with others and brings a fresh perspective to how we can cultivate empathy and fight racism.

Dr. Singh was born and raised in Texas, and is the son of Indian immigrants. He graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, then attended Harvard Divinity School and got his PhD at Columbia University. Throughout those years, Dr. Singh has confronted racism, bullying, and ethnic slurs. Yet instead of growing bitter or angry, he drew from Sikh teachings to seek out the good in every situation and find positive ways to direct his energy. What started as a matter of survival has become a calling.

Dr. Singh currently lives in New York City and is married with two children. He balances his professional life with a love of sports and is a huge San Antonio Spurs fan.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Intro
02:30 – Growing up in San Antonio
07:54 – Experiencing Racism at a Young Age
12:14 – Humor as a Disarming Tool
18:08 – The Basics of Sikh Faith
28:18 – Capitalism Under Sikh Faith
33:40 – Using Love to Fight Hate
39:30 – Getting into the Balanced State of Mind
43:13 – Navigating Fatherhood
52:26 – Creating Conversations with Children about Racial Injustice
59:19 – Enjoying Parenthood and Maintaining Partnership with Spouse
1:05:33 – Mental Health Check-Ups
1:10:31 – Top 3 Healthiest Habits
1:12:08 – Top 3 Healthy Vices
1:13:56 – Achieving Sahaj – The State of Equilibrium
1:17:24 – Top 3 Recommended Books
1:19:03 – Outro

Transcript for this Episode