Guru Nanak was a sixteenth-century reformer and the founder of Sikhism. He was the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. He was born in Talwandi, near Lahore, during a time of political and religious discord and disharmony. Right from an early age, he displayed a deep knowledge of divine subjects and spirituality. He challenged ritualism and shows of piety and attacked the citadels of the caste system. He taught that the core tenets of living a good life were helping those less fortunate, making an honest living and meditating on the name of the Lord so as to overcome human weaknesses. He travelled extensively—from Mecca to the Himalayas to central India—with his faithful disciple Mardana, teaching about love, one God and Truth and oneness with the Lord. He propagated the philosophy of salvation through meditation and rejected all forms of idolatry. His travels have been chronicled in the Janamsakhis, written decades after his death. His teachings have been immortalized in the form of 974 verses that form part of the holy text of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib. Translated and edited by Navkirat Sodhi, the aphorisms in ‘The Light in All is One’ contain some of Guru Nanak’s greatest teachings. These wise lessons about living a fulfilling life are timeless and universal.
About the Author
Navkirat Sodhi writes on existential love, travel and art. She collaborates with artists in the disciplines of fashion, music, photography and film to expand the spirit of verse. Her work has appeared in journals and magazines including Poetry at Sangam, GQ India, Condé Nast Traveller, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, M, Indian Literature, Prairie Schooner and Equinox, among others. Navkirat has been invited to perform at several festivals and events such as Poetry With Prakriti, Chennai (2017), International Writers Festival, Korea (2014), and Hyderabad Literary Festival (2011) to name a few. Her published works of poetry include If and I April 2010) and Un (July 2007).
