Commit to non-discrimination against anyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or religion, recognizing that everyone has the same inherent light within them based on the Sikh principle of Ik Onkar.
Learn to deeply feel the interconnection within the world and all humanity, as this understanding naturally engenders a profound feeling of love.
Allow feelings of connection and love to blossom outwards, prompting you to show up for people, especially those suffering, by actively engaging in service and justice.
Don’t just accumulate knowledge; actively put it into practice to advance your own life and serve others, transforming mere knowledge into true wisdom.
Publicly affirm your values and moral aspirations through visible actions (e.g., attire, pledges, symbols) to ingrain good habits and hold yourself accountable to them.
Practice Chardikala, or everlasting optimism, by acknowledging the reality of pain and challenges while consciously seeking and noticing the goodness and hope present in your surroundings.
Even in the face of bleak or difficult events, actively search for and acknowledge things to be grateful for, as this can help you find hope and shift your perspective.
Strive to move beyond binary judgments of good and bad, owning the pain of difficult experiences while simultaneously seeing the goodness in all of it, to live with equanimity and taste the ‘sweetness of life’.
Practice radical oneness by seeing the inherent humanity in all people, including friends, strangers, and even those who treat you with anger or ugliness, rather than reflecting their negativity.
Regularly reflect on the gap between how you aspire to live and your actual daily behaviors, acknowledging your imperfections and committing to align your actions with your values.
Actively try to notice your own prejudices and biases about other people, especially those who are visibly religious, to become aware of and address them.