Jasleen Kaur

Research Associate

Jasleen Kaur is a Research Associate at the Sikh Research Institute. She has received a Religious Studies B.A./M.A. from the University of Virginia, focusing on South Asian Religions through the lens of literature and poetry.

She is one of the commentators and transcreators of The Guru Granth Sahib Project. She is passionate about projects that create comfortable spaces for community members of all ages and backgrounds to engage in dialogue and learn from one another. She also loves singing in her free time, whether on stage with her friends or alone in her kitchen.

She hopes to go back to school to pursue a Ph.D. in either religious ethnography or history and fulfill her dream of teaching and learning from others.

Jasleen Kaur resides with her family in the United States.

Videos

Thursday
,
15
December
2022

Explore Bhagat Ramanand

The Guru Granth Sahib Project is pleased to launch the annotation of one Sabad by Bhagat Ramanand under Rag Basant. Rag Basant is a season-specific rag (musical mode) that evokes the spring season's joy, excitement, and cheerfulness.

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Thursday
,
17
November
2022

Explore Maru Kaphi

The Guru Granth Sahib Project is pleased to launch the annotation of three Sabads of 'Maru Kaphi' by Guru Nanak Sahib in Rag Maru Kaphi. Maru is a rag (musical mode) that evokes feelings of enthusiasm and zeal.

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Tuesday
,
16
August
2022

Explore Ramkali Ki Var

The Guru Granth Sahib Project is pleased to launch the annotation of Ramkali Ki Var by Rai Balvand and Sata Dum.

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Thursday
,
21
July
2022

Explore Salok Sahaskriti

The Guru Granth Sahib Project is pleased to launch the annotation of four saloks (couplets) of Salok Sahaskriti by Guru Nanak Sahib.

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Wednesday
,
22
June
2022

What is Guru? | The Guru: Connecting with 1-Light

Who is Guru? What is the need for a Guru? What role does a Guru play in one's personal life? Jasleen Kaur explores what Guru means in the Guru Granth Sahib, Sikh history, and tradition.

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Thursday
,
16
June
2022

Explore Mahala 5 Gatha

The Guru Granth Sahib Project is pleased to launch the annotation of Twenty-four saloks (couplets) by Guru Arjan Sahib.

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Podcasts

Tuesday
,
22
February
2022

Beadbi: Distortions, Transgressions, Responses

Join Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur as they discuss the larger Sikh context around beadbi as a political problem in need of a political solution. What is beadbi ? How has it been dealt with historically? What are its Panthic and legal understandings? How does it relate to the reverence Sikhs collectively show to the Guru Granth Sahib? And how, given recent cases in the news, can we understand individual and collective responses given the current realities on the ground?

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Friday
,
11
February
2022

Dan: Sikhi & Giving

Join us in conversation with Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur as we try to understand Dan from a Gurmat (Guru’s Way) perspective, as inferred from Bani (wisdom), Tavarikh (history), and Rahit (lifestyle). 

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Monday
,
11
October
2021

Exploring Death in Salok Mahala 9

Death is a thing we all must do. But we are deeply afraid of it. In classically religious Sikh and non-Sikh understandings, and even in non-religious understandings, death is personified as an aggressive thing that snatches us away, drags us...

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Thursday
,
5
August
2021

The Political-Spiritual Being

Listen as Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur explore Miri-Piri from a Gurmat (Guru’s Way) perspective, as inferred from Bani (wisdom), Tavarikh (history), and Rahit (lifestyle). Event moderated by Manvinder Kaur.

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Thursday
,
13
May
2021

Reflecting on Time, One Becomes the Willing-Servant

Jasleen Kaur reflects on the play of past, present, and future, the play of creation, and the importance of Remembrance.

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Saturday
,
10
April
2021

Countdown to Vaisakhi 2021: Jasleen Kaur

Jasleen Kaur, Researcher at Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI) shares her reflection on Vaisakhi.

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Articles

Wednesday
,
8
May
2019

How Can Bithal Exist There?

Jasleen Kaur reflects on a Sabad by Bhagat Namdev to help her through some questions she has had during Mental Health Awareness Month: how can the Divine exist in places or situations that we feel are devoid of the One?

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Sunday
,
1
September
2019

Who is good, Who is bad?

In SikhRI’s new monthly blog series, Sabads previously transcreated for the Sabad of the Week podcast will be revisited, with the offering of an individual understanding and perspective on the application of the Sabad’s message in daily life.

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Monday
,
4
May
2020

Whatever will be, will be (Part 2)

In SikhRI’s new monthly blog series, Sabads previously transcreated for the Sabad of the Week podcast will be revisited, with the offering of an individual understanding and perspective on the application of the Sabad’s message in daily life.

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Presenting at Upcoming Events

Sat
,
Nov 8

Sikhi & Death: A Gurmat-Based Understanding

This webinar invites you to pause and reflect: What does Sikhi actually say about death? How are we meant to face it, understand it, and live in its awareness?

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