Satpal Singh and his spiritual journey in guiding others through Nanak Naam

I was raised in a devout Sikh household, so faith was always a part of the equation. But it wasn’t until I met a meditation teacher at 21 that I began to truly explore its depth. Through his guidance, I discovered the power of observing my own thoughts and became immersed in Sikh wisdom, reading extensively and developing a deep personal connection with the teachings. This eventually led me to share what I had learned at gurdwaras and youth camps, driven by the conviction that such wisdom belongs to everyone. Even during my daily commute to my IT job, I would find myself reflecting on the struggles of those around me and how these teachings could support them. That desire to bridge ancient wisdom with modern lives inspired me to begin creating YouTube videos and hosting local classes. At first, I saw it only as a passion, until someone challenged me to consider it as a calling. Despite professional success in IT, it was clear that my true path lay in pursuing work of deeper meaning. These insights were too valuable to keep to myself.

If you look at modern psychology, mental wellness is often defined as the healthy navigation of a full spectrum of emotions, such as anger, desire, sadness, happiness, worries, attachments, and so on. These fluctuations are generally regarded as normal. From the Sikh perspective, however, such a state would be seen as a symptom of poor mental health, the mark of an untrained mind governed by ego. This person is primed for mental health issues. In Sikh teachings, mental wellness is about inner peace. Wellness is found in detachment, patience, and acceptance—qualities that anchor the individual regardless of external circumstances. In this light, religion itself is understood as a means to guide the mind toward that deeper state of peace. For me, the core root of all faiths is spirituality. Without it, religion becomes little more than habit and heritage. I’m trying to show people that, whatever religion or background you come from, even if you’re an atheist, spirituality is nothing more than giving you a sense of connection with your true self, the people around you, with nature, and life as a whole. Spirituality transcends boundaries, and it offers a sense of alignment with oneself.

I believe that Sikh wisdom profoundly reshaped my mind; it taught me how to navigate the inevitable challenges in life. Personally, it allowed me to embrace both joy and hardships as blessings, which enabled me to change my own mental narrative from that of a victim to that of a victor. I was no longer a victim in the various scenarios of life. It also changed the way I interacted with my loved ones. One of the biggest lessons learned is that everything in life is temporary, and that really changed how I viewed my relationships, allowing me to cherish the people around me, knowing in the back of my mind that things aren’t going to last. Ultimately, Sikh wisdom has taught me to live with ease in the face of uncertainty, grounded in the understanding that life can change in an instant. And that’s the beauty of it.

In the early days of creating content and receiving positive feedback online, I would get personal messages sent. I distinctly remember the very first time I received a message from someone who was struggling with life after a breakup. So much so, this person was suicidal. He said, “I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for your content.” I realised that the work I was doing was actually saving lives.

I’m really thankful for the opportunity to present at the Dragonfly Summit in Bangkok. I want to bring the ancient teachings of oneness, recognising your true self, and dropping the ego. I want to present those to people in a way that’s not just theoretical, but actually tangible. More often than not, today’s content is materialism wrapped up in spiritual language. I want to provide a different aspect of how I understand spirituality and what I’ve studied in ancient texts. I want to make those core teachings relevant, as the deeper spiritual truths need to be practical, enabling people to apply these teachings to their daily lives. Additionally, I will be running a meditation class at the summit, so that people can fully experience the session on a deeply personal level.

To me, Sikh teachings aren’t confined to Sikhs or Punjabis. This timeless wisdom is for everyone—human truths that have stood the test of time. What I’ve observed, both in India and across the diaspora, is that while many have achieved remarkable success professionally and personally, emotional struggles remain common. Guru Nanak’s insight was simple yet profound: “To conquer the mind is to conquer the world.” External triumphs, no matter how significant, mean little if we remain unsettled within. These teachings offer a pathway to inner success, protecting us from challenges that we observe in the younger generation, such as identity crises. After you are equipped with this wisdom, you learn how to properly navigate your thoughts and better understand your mind. I always encourage people to not just take their cultural traditions with them, but also take the underlying wisdom at their core, which is where the real benefits lie.

It’s clear to see that many go searching for something beyond their religious traditions. Unfortunately, more often than not, they search in all the wrong places. I have teenage kids of my own, and there is a single statement I constantly remind them of: trends come and go, but this ancient wisdom has remained for thousands of years and will remain for years to come. There is nothing wrong with career progression or building wealth, but chasing money and fame is not where the real, deep-rooted happiness comes from. The key to happiness comes from spiritual traditions that are within you; you’ve just got to find the human wisdom through the layers of myths and legends that have been perpetuated in the media.

One of the byproducts of the work I do is speaking to hundreds of people, if not thousands, around the world. I certainly receive messages daily, and sometimes I read really harrowing stories of what people are actually going through. I’ve noticed that over time, I’ve managed to engage with them without letting their issues overwhelm me. I’ve had to internalise and try to understand the cause and effects of each interaction. Gradually, I learned to access these connections and subsequently let go of the work once I’ve disengaged; I am then able to recharge by revisiting the daily teachings. My aim has always been to make this wisdom accessible, practical, and easy to consume. The exchange is not one-sided; I benefit just as much from the process. Whether it’s through scripture, podcasts, or videos, I seek constant reminders of higher wisdom. And I’m honest with people about this, I need these teachings as much as anyone else. I’m not a saint nor a guru, but simply someone whose life has been transformed by these insights and who now wishes to share them so others may benefit too. One of the most powerful reminders I offer is the importance of vigilance in choosing who we allow to influence us. These “influencers” ultimately influence how you think. So, who are you actively choosing to follow? The music you listen to, social media banter, and the celebrities you follow, all of it. You are allowing them to influence you and the decisions you make. For me, there are no better influencers than the spiritual masters and the gurus of the past—the voices that continue to guide with timeless wisdom.

I find that people tend to turn to spirituality only when something goes wrong in their lives. I want to try and encourage as many people as possible to make a habit of learning this wisdom on a daily basis. We are very fortunate that we come from an extremely rich culture of wellness; the entire world seems to be chasing wisdom from India and its holistic approaches. It really provides a richness and a fulfilment in life.