Profound inner wisdom for courageous action—from the author of See No Stranger and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project, a “prophetic voice of our generation” (America Ferrera)
How do we find the wisdom to envision a new world and the courage to fight for it?
How do we survive seemingly apocalyptic times?
In a world on fire, how do we find love and joy?
We are not the first to ask these questions—in fact, seeking answers to them forged one of the world's great wisdom traditions. In a time riven by caste, conquest, and cruelty, Sikhs blazed the path of the sant sipahi, the sage warrior. The sage radiates love and Oneness; the warrior activates that ethical power to fight for humanity. These energies empowered the first Sikhs to survive near-annihilation in South Asia nearly half a millennium ago. The sage warrior is the essential archetype for our time of turmoil—one we can all embody to cultivate our souls and transform the world.
Valarie Kaur combines the epic, immersive story of her Sikh ancestors—centering the stories of the women who worked to map the path of the sage warrior—with the chronicle of a personal journey: her pilgrimage with her young children to the Panjab, India, where the stories unfolded, an occasionally comic adventure woven with sublime moments of connection and insight. Each chapter offers a lesson that emerges from the stories—from practicing pleasure to metabolizing grief to choosing courage.
Sage Warrior shimmers with wisdom: Every story is accompanied by meditations, illuminating new ways of seeing and being. This journey is for anyone—from any faith tradition or spiritual practice or none at all—who hungers for a better world and is ready to discover the depth of their own power.
This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF that contains an illustrated map of Punjab, an ancestral tree, a family photo, a glossary, and acknowledgments from the printed book.
Download and start listening now!
"A wondrous pilgrimage to the Sikh world! This rich literary, visual, aural magnet pulls us: we travel with the author and her family to her sacred sites and meet historic figures—with their mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, nieces, and comrades who have been neglected in history. We actively participate in momentous Sikh events; we see, we hear, we smell, we taste, we feel. All along, the activist Valerie trains us to be sensuously alive, morally awake—the goal of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion himself. Through a stunning, imaginative interweaving of the past with the present, history with imagination, Punjab with California, we are led to the all-inclusive divine One within. This is a transformative text, a must for our dangerously divided and polarized times."
— Nikky-Guninder Kaur, Sikh scholar and author of The First Sikh: The Life and Legacy of Guru Nanak
Valarie Kaur has never been afraid of wrestling with the biggest questions facing humanity—and in this wise and vivid book, she faces unflinchingly our biggest question of all: how do we live within a changing and collapsing world? How do can our minds and bodies and hearts endure an apocalypse? Drawing upon ancient wisdom while also looking deep within herself (and toward the infinite) Kaur pulls courage from the flames of reality, and calls us all toward sovereignty, sacredness, and love. This is the book we need, and Kaur is a sacred wayfinder.
— Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, LoveValarie Kaur is our prophetic voice calling us to reimagine what faith, compassion, and joy must be for our civic village to thrive.
— Senior Pastor, Trinity United Church of ChristThis is a transformative text, a must for our dangerously divided and polarized times.
— Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh, Sikh scholar and author of The First Sikh: The Life and Legacy of Guru NanakIn reclaiming the stories of women throughout Sikh history, Valarie Kaur breathes new life into us all, restoring the true birthright of the human family: to live as wisdom keepers and champions of justice . . .
— Mirabai Starr, author of Wild Mercy and Caravan of No DespairA beautiful, hopeful, heartfelt treasure of a book. Sage Warrior will enrich your soul, grow your knowledge-base and inspire your activism. If you want to achieve progressive ideals while bridging divides, this is the book for you.
— Eboo Patel, founder of Interfaith America and author of We Need to Build: Field Notes for a Diverse DemocracyDrawing upon ancient wisdom while also looking deep within herself (and toward the infinite), Kaur pulls courage from the flames of reality, and calls us all toward sovereignty, sacredness, and love. This is the book we need, and Kaur is a sacred wayfinder.
— Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, LoveThrough a stunning, imaginative interweaving of the past with the present, history with imagination, Punjab with California, we are led to the all-inclusive divine One within. This is a transformative text, a must for our dangerously divided and polarized times.
— Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh, Sikh scholar and author of The First Sikh: The Life and Legacy of Guru NanakA beautiful, hopeful, heartfelt treasure of a book, Sage Warrior will enrich your soul, grow your knowledge base and inspire your activism. If you want to achieve progressive ideals while bridging divides, this is the book for you.
— Eboo Patel, founder of Interfaith America and author of We Need to Build: Field Notes for Diverse DemocracyValarie Kaur is a profound voice in the current wildness, urging us onward out of the darkness, towards love and peace, goodness and thus, freedom.
— Anne Lamott, author of Bird by Bird and Help Thanks WowIn reclaiming the stories of women in Sikh history, Valarie Kaur breathes new life into us all, restoring the true birthright of the human family: to live as wisdom keepers and champions of justice, to honor the gift of spirit rooted in our own bodies, intimate relationships, and communities, and to take our place in the circle of interbeing to which we belong. This book is a homecoming.
— Mirabai Starr, author of Wild Mercy and Caravan of No DespairIf you’re one of the growing number of people who wake up every day feeling that we’re in deep trouble . . . ecologically, economically, and politically . . . then you know how much we need wisdom and courage in these times. Drawing deep and beautiful resources from her Sikh tradition, Valarie Kaur offers just what we need to grow and thrive and make a difference in our unravelling world. Imagine there was a college major in being a good human being. And then imagine you could wrap up that education between two covers . . . that’s what you get in Sage Warrior.
— Brian D. McLaren, author of Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling ApartValarie Kaur is an intergenerational fire carrier. Sage Warrior offers the embers of ancient wisdom that bring alive her deep Sikh tradition in ways that shape character and courage for the living of our most daunting days. Open any page. You will find insight and light for whatever challenge you face today. In these toxic times, Valarie has truly given us a living library.
— John Paul LederachValarie Kaur is a profound voice in the current wildness, urging us onward out of the darkness, toward love and peace, goodness and thus, freedom.
— Anne Lamott, author of Bird by Bird and Help, Thanks, WowIn reclaiming the stories of women throughout Sikh history, Valarie Kaur breathes new life into us all, restoring the true birthright of the human family: to live as wisdom keepers and champions of justice, to honor the gift of spirit rooted in our own bodies, intimate relationships, and communities, and to take our place in the circle of interbeing to which we belong. This book is a homecoming.
— Mirabai Starr, author of Wild Mercy and Caravan of No DespairIf you’re one of the growing number of people who wake up every day feeling that we’re in deep trouble—ecologically, economically, and politically—then you know how much we need wisdom and courage in these times. Drawing deep and beautiful resources from her Sikh tradition, Valarie Kaur offers just what we need to grow and thrive and make a difference in our unraveling world. Imagine there was a college major in being a good human being. And then imagine you could wrap up that education between two covers—that’s what you get in Sage Warrior.
— Brian D. McLaren, author of Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling ApartValarie Kaur is an intergenerational fire carrier. Sage Warrior offers the embers of ancient wisdom that bring alive her deep Sikh tradition in ways that shape character and courage for the living of our most daunting days. Open any page. You will find insight and light for whatever challenge you face today. In these toxic times, Kaur has truly given us a living library.
— John Paul Lederach, professor emeritus at the University of Notre DameValarie Kaur is a leading light of love and compassion at a time when the world needs it most. Her voice is essential.
— Isabel Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of The Warmth of Other Suns and Caste: The Origins of Our DiscontentsWhen prophets speak the village should listen, and when the village is in need, prophets shall arise. Valarie Kaur is our prophetic voice calling us to reimagine what faith, compassion, and joy must be for our civic village to thrive.
— Senior Pastor, Trinity United Church of ChristSage Warrior is radical, mystical nutritional juice for transforming a world on fire. Drink up!
— V (formerly Eve Ensler), The Vagina MonologuesIn reclaiming the stories of women throughout Sikh history, Valarie Kaur breathes new life into us all, restoring the true birthright of the human family: to live as wisdom keepers and champions of justice, to honor the gift of spirit rooted in our own bodies, intimate relationships . . . This book is a homecoming.
— Mirabai Starr, author of Wild Mercy and Caravan of No DespairDrawing deep and beautiful resources from her Sikh tradition, Valarie Kaur offers just what we need to grow and thrive and make a difference in our unraveling world.
— Brian D. McLaren, author of Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling ApartIn these toxic times, Kaur has truly given us a living library.
— John Paul Lederach, professor emeritus at the University of Notre DameIn Sage Warrior she reaches deep into her life of revolutionary love to share the stream of Sikhism from which she draws insight, guidance, and resilience.
— Parker J. Palmer, author of Let Your Life Speak, Healing the Heart of Democracy, and On the Brink of EverythingValarie Kaur is a balm-maker. She churns potions to heal and inspire. Hers is a voice of Revolutionary Love—a voice of resistance and resilience, a sovereign voice . . .
— Bhai Baldeep Singh, acclaimed educator, musician, and revivalist of Sikh wisdom and music traditionsIn these toxic times, Kaur has truly given us a living library.
— John Paul Lederach, professor emeritus at the University of Notre DameSage Warrior is radical, mystical nutritional juice for transforming a world on fire. Drink up!
— V (formerly Eve Ensler), The Vagina MonologuesA beautiful, hopeful, heartfelt treasure of a book, Sage Warrior will enrich your soul, grow your knowledge base and inspire your activism. If you want to achieve progressive ideals while bridging divides, this is the book for you.
— Eboo Patel, founder of Interfaith America and author of We Need to Build: Field Notes for Diverse DemocracySage Warrior is far more than a book—it’s a sacred invitation. Valarie Kaur's courageous exploration of ancestral wisdom combined with her insights are exactly what the world is craving right now.
— Brené Brown, PhD, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Atlas of the HeartValarie Kaur is a leading light of love and compassion at a time when the world needs it most. Her voice is essential.
— Isabel Wilkerson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of CasteKaur pulls courage from the flames of reality, and calls us all toward sovereignty, sacredness, and love. This is the book we need, and Kaur is a sacred wayfinder.
— Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, LoveSage Warrior is a brilliant gem. It is an inspiring healing odyssey and practical guide to unlock our courage, drawing from the deep wisdom and faith of women in the Sikh tradition.
— Michelle Alexander, New York Times bestselling author of The New Jim CrowWhen prophets speak, the village should listen, and when the village is in need, prophets shall arise. Valarie Kaur is our prophetic voice calling us to reimagine what faith, compassion, and joy must be for our civic village to thrive.
— Reverend Otis Moss III, faith leader and author of Dancing in the DarknessIf you want to achieve progressive ideals while bridging divides, this is the book for you.
— Eboo Patel, founder of Interfaith America and author of We Need to Build: Field Notes for Diverse DemocracySage Warrior is far more than a book—it’s a sacred invitation. Valarie Kaur’s courageous exploration of ancestral wisdom combined with her insights are exactly what the world is craving right now.
— Brené Brown, PhD, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Atlas of the HeartBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!