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Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, as a companion for today.
This is neither a scholarly study of the first Sikh Guru, nor a biography of him. It is a lived conversation—a philosophical inquiry, devotional journal, and spiritual memoir braided with the voice of a mystic whose words have accompanied me through illness, uncertainty, awe, and surrender. Kamla Kapur writes as if from the hush of solitude, or after quiet hours listening to kirtan. She approaches Guru Nanak not as a distant figure of the past but as a luminous presence who walks beside her.
Each chapter is an entry into some aspect of Nanak’s wisdom: the nature of death, the illusion of control, call to stillness, necessity of surrender, and the sweetness of the Name. Insights and explorations combine with the thread of longing of a Sikh devotee. Rooted in both Sikh scripture and practice, A Guide to Awakening with Guru Nanak is meant for a reader seeking a path through the fog of modern life who is open to fresh understanding.
“Kamla Kapur accomplishes something rare here. She makes the ineffable accessible. With luminous prose and a poet’s intuition, she translates Guru Nanak’s timeless teachings into language that resonates with the modern heart. Each reflection feels like an act of remembrance—an invitation to return to stillness, compassion, and wonder. This is not just a book to read; it’s one to live with, to revisit when the world feels fragmented, and to remember who we are beneath the noise.” —Adam Krell, documentary filmmaker, Guru Nanak: The Founder of Sikhism—Life and Legacy
“A radiant and deeply compassionate guide to living with love, humility, and grace. Kapur brings the timeless wisdom of Guru Nanak to life with exquisite storytelling and a poet’s heart. Her words remind us that awakening isn’t reserved for mystics—it’s available to each of us, in the everyday acts of kindness and awareness that make life sacred. This beautiful book is a treasure for anyone on the path of the heart.” —Arielle Ford, author of The Soulmate Secret
“This book invites readers to encounter Guru Nanak’s message of oneness, compassion, and humility in a way that feels both timeless and urgently relevant.” —Dr. Pashaura Singh, Distinguished Professor and Saini Chair in Sikh and Punjabi Studies, University of California, Riverside
“Kamla Kapur weaves poetry, reflection, and wisdom in a way that uplifts the spirit and reminds us that love, humility, and service are at the core of spiritual life. This is a heartfelt offering that brings the light of Guru Nanak’s message into our contemporary world. It will touch hearts and awaken many to the eternal relevance of Guru Nanak’s vision.” —Dr. Rajwant Singh, founder and president, EcoSikh; chair, Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE), Washington, DC
“Kamla K. Kapur presents Guru Nanak’s teachings in an accessible form for a modern audience.” —Roopinder Singh, journalist and author of Guru Nanak: His Life and Teachings
“Even though I came to this book knowing little about Sikhism, I found myself guided, comforted, and inspired on every page. This is not only a book about a tradition—it is a book about being human, about walking through suffering and joy with courage, humility, and grace. It is a guide for living that will enrich seekers of every denomination.” —Carol Orsborn, author of Spiritual Aging
“This is a work of rare beauty. With a poet’s heart and a seeker’s humility, Kamla Kapur brings Guru Nanak’s timeless wisdom to life in Awakening with Nanak. Each reflection invites us to live with greater consciousness and compassion, reminding us that the divine moves through the everyday.” —Sonia Dhami, trustee, The Sikh Foundation
“If you’re going through a daunting challenge and looking for the courage to face what must be faced and come out the other side with a fuller, clearer and more peaceful heart, A Guide to Awakening with Guru Nanak is a must read.” —Ken Druck, PhD, author of How We Go On
“I came to Awakening with Nanak as someone who has grown up in the U.S. beside this tradition more than fully inside it, carrying the faith in fragments. Kamla K. Kapur’s book quietly gathered those fragments together. She writes not as a scholar or a saint but as an honest pilgrim, someone who forgets, who suffers, who argues with the Guru and finds him waiting on the other side of the argument. For those of us navigating a Sikh identity in modern Western lives, this book is a rare and generous gift. It does not demand perfection. It asks only that we listen more closely.” —Kiran Kiki Kapany, managing trustee, The Sikh Foundation
Kamla K. Kapur is a 16th descendant of Guru Nanak. She has published ten books on Rumi, Sikh scripture, Sufi poetry, mythology, and contemplative traditions. She is the author of The Singing Guru, Rumi’s Tales from the Silk Road, Classic Sufi Tales, and other works exploring spiritual and mythic traditions. She holds a master’s degree in literature from Kent State University and taught literature and mythology at Grossmont College. Her short stories, poems, and plays have appeared in prestigious American and Indian journals. She lives in California with her husband, author Payson Stevens. She lives in Del Mar, CA.