Is Salvation Possible In This Life ?

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

A SIKH'S ROAD TO SALVATION (Free from countless cycles of death and Re-Birth)

The principal belief of Sikhism is faith in waheguru—represented using the sacred symbol of ik ōaṅkār, the Universal God. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. A key distinctive feature of Sikhism is a non-anthropomorphic concept of God, to the extent that one can interpret God as the Universe itself.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/31084-is-salvation-possible-in-this-life.html

Nanak's teachings are founded not on a final destination of heaven or hell, but on a spiritual union with God which results in salvation.The chief obstacles to the attainment of salvation are social conflicts and an attachment to worldly pursuits(MAYA), which commit men and women to an endless cycle of birth—a concept known as reincarnation.
Māyā—defined as illusion or "unreality"—is one of the core deviations from the pursuit of God and salvation: people are distracted from devotion by worldly attractions which give only illusive satisfaction. However, Nanak emphasised māyā as not a reference to the unreality of the world, but of its values. In Sikhism, the influences of ego, anger, greed, attachment, and lust—known as the Five Evils—are believed to be particularly pernicious. The fate of people vulnerable to the Five Evils is separation from God, and the situation may be remedied only after intensive and relentless devotion.
Nśabad (the divine Word) to emphasise the totality of the revelation. Nanak designated the word guru (meaning teacher) as the voice of God and the source and guide for knowledge and salvation.Salvation can be reached only through rigorous and disciplined devotion to God. Nanak distinctly emphasised the irrelevance of outward observations such as rites, pilgrimages, or asceticism. He stressed that devotion must take place through the heart, with the spirit and the soul.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=31084
A key practice to be pursued is nām: remembrance of the divine Name. The verbal repetition of the name of God or a sacred syllable is an established practice in religious traditions in India, but Nanak's interpretation emphasized inward, personal observance. Nanak's ideal is the total exposure of one's being to the divine Name and a total conforming to Dharma or the "Divine Order". Nanak described the result of the disciplined application of nām simraṇ as a "growing towards and into God" through a gradual process of five stages. The last of these is sac khaṇḍ (The Realm of Truth)—the final union of the spirit with God.[16]
Nanak stressed now kirat karō: that a Sikh should balance work, worship, and charity, and should defend the rights of all creatures, and in particular, fellow human beings. They are encouraged to have a chaṛdī kalā, or optimistic, view of life. Sikh teachings also stress the concept of sharing—vaṇḍ chakkō—through the distribution of free food at Sikh gurdwaras (laṅgar), giving charitable donations, and working for the good of the community and others (sēvā).

source:
The main Goal of a Sikh in life should be(and must be) to be free from cycle of death and rebirth. I want to know does we have a shot at being free, it may be a hard and disciplined path to follow, but do we have a sure shot in this life?
I know karma from previous births are taken into account too. I was recently listening to karm katha by Baba Hari Singh Ji (randhawe wale) and babaji says that "rehat as prescribed by the Guru, to be maintained by a Sikh is a tough task. If One can maintain 5k's, read nitnem, s/he will be reborn to a Sikh family in next life"
Now this is depressing in a certain way, i mean isn't the path to salvation measured in the devotion of a Sikh rather than the amount of gurbani s/he reads. I have heard it from better gursikhs than me that waheguru chanted 'once' with all the love and devotion is equal to or even 'better' than chanting it thousand of times without any heart or devotion given to it.
I have heard about sakhis of some people who were freed from this cycle only by the fact that their soul was pure and innocent.

Guru nanak dev ji asks us to search for God within our hearts and souls rather than to search it via going onto pilgrimages. Master asks us to dwell upon naam and understand the meaning from within.
It has been clearly stated that Salvation can be reached only through rigorous and disciplined devotion to God. No doubts about this.
But I don't agree with the fact that by it will surely take many lives to be free of this cycle. According to me, and I maybe wrong, it depends from a person to person, on his/her devotion and love and the desire to know the truth.
The essence of Sikh teaching is summed up by Nanak in these words: "Realisation of Truth is higher than all else. Higher still is truthful living".

I just want to know the opinion of intelligent members of SPN.

bhul Chuk Maaf.

GURFATEH.

 
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Banmeetsingh99 ji,

Guru Fateh.

I have no idea where you got this from that Salvation is part of Sikhi. It is not.

Salvation is only needed where love is absent. Sikhi is all about love.

"Salvation" was concocted by the dogmatic religions which prescribe to Hell and Heaven which Sikhi does not. It is a bait used as a fear tactic to lasso the people and keep them under the power of fear.

Sikhi is a pragmatic way of life not a dogmatic religion. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, our only Guru gives us the tools how to breed goodness within so that we can share that with others.

Sikhi teaches us to become the flowers of the Gurmat garden so that we can emit the scent in all directions sans bias.

Tejwant Singh

Sat Sri Akal Tejwant singh ji,

I know sikhism doesn't believe in the concept of hell and heaven, and it is mentioned in the post. :Nanak's teachings are founded not on a final destination of heaven or hell, but on a spiritual union with God which results in salvation
But Sikhism does believe in rebirth and death, and the main objective of a sikh is to be free of this cycle. The closest word that can be used in the context here is salvation. though it is not the proper word but the closest when used within context of Sikhism.

Banmeet Singh ji,

Guru Fateh.

Thanks for the response.

You write:

I beg to differ with you on both of your claims.

As Ik Ong Kaar is omnipresent, there can not be any disunion to begin with. Ik Ong Kaar is not an entity, nor a deity. Guru Nanak explains that very well on the offset in the Moolmanter. There are many interpretations of it that are posted in this forum. Please go through them and share your Gurmat wisdom with us about them.

Sikhi does acknowledge this belief in people which is part and parcel of Hinduism and as you know it is tough to get rid of the beliefs which are meaningless and Sri Guru Granth Sahib,our only Guru gives us the glimpse into many of these nonsensical meaningless beliefs in both Hinduism and the Semitic religions,mainly Islam.

In every Shabad one studies in the 1429 pages of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, our only Guru, which mentions about the rebirths, it also mentions that if one follows Satguru- Ik Ong Kaar, then one can have enough tools to get rid of this belief.

After all, reincarnation is nothing but a belief deeply imbeded in the religions. Some offer it as Hell and Heaven and others offer it as different species. The fact remains that no one has come back to tell us about it.

Hence, your assumption or claim about reincarnation in Sikhi is incorrect.

Regards

Tejwant Singh

Respected Tejwant Singh ji,

Reincarnation, also called transmigration of soul, is the rebirth in another body (after physical death), of a person's Soul or spirit into the new body. Its occurrence is a central tenet of Sikhism, other religions, as well as various other philosophies.
The Sikhs believe that the Soul has to transmigrate from one body to another as part of an evolution process of the Soul. This evolution of the Soul will eventually results in a union with God upon the proper purification of the spirit. If one does not perform righteous deeds, ones soul will continue to cycle in reincarnation forever. A being who has performed good deeds and actions in their lives is transmigrated to a better and higher life form in the next life until the soul of the being becomes Godlike. From a human life form, if one performs the proper functions of a Gurmukh, the person can achieve salvation with God. One must cleanse the soul by reciting Naam, by remembrance of Waheguru and by following the path of Gurmat.


Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Page 4
But when the intellect is stained and polluted by sin,
it can only be cleansed by the Love of Naam.
Virtue and vice do not come by mere words;
actions repeated, over and over again, are engraved on the soul.
You shall harvest what you plant.
O Nanak, by God’s Command, we come and go in reincarnation. 20

The view on incarnation does not appear correct.a sikh aims at being a 'mukta',not rolling in reincarnation.while human form may be the result of past action,the aim for future is to become free from avagaman.being a mukta is the highest achievement for a sikh.reincarnation is clearly a brahmanical idea is rejected by sikhism. To forget Waheguru or for follow your primal instincts is to regress in your spiritual evolution. Intellect and mental agility is not a passport to spiritual heaven. Gurbani explains the consequences of deviating from the righteous path:

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Page 19
Some are very knowledgeable,
but if they do not know the Guru, then what is the use of their lives?
The blind have forgotten Naam.
The self-willed manmukhs are in utter darkness.
Their comings and goings in reincarnation do not end;
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=31084
through death and rebirth, they are wasting away. 3

Gurbani tells us that the key to the door of salvation is in the hands of the Master, remember the hundred of gifts that He has given us. Remember that it is only due to Waheguru that we have this life as a human beings with this wonderful and miraculous body and mind. God has created the air that we breath; the foods that we eat; the Sun that sustains us; the Earth that is our support. We owe a huge debt to nature and the master Creator. Bani asks us to recite the Shabad and let light enter into our minds:
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=31084


Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Page 124
Without the Shabad, there is only darkness within.
The genuine article is not found, and the cycle of reincarnation does not end.
The key is in the hands of the True Guru; no one else can open this door.
By perfect destiny, He is met. 7

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Page 251
This soul has lived in many wombs.
Enticed by sweet attachment, it has been trapped in reincarnation.
This Maya has subjugated beings through the three qualities.
Maya has infused attachment to itself in each and every heart.
O friend, tell me some way,
by which I may swim across this treacherous ocean of Maya.
The Lord showers His Mercy, and leads us to join the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation.
O Nanak, Maya does not even come near. 7

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Page 306
Those who meditate on You, O True Lord - they are very rare.
Those who worship and adore the One Lord in their conscious minds
- through their generosity, countless millions are fed.
All meditate on You, but they alone are accepted, who are pleasing to their Lord and Master.
Those who eat and dress without serving the True Guru die; after death,
those wretched lepers are consigned to reincarnation.
In His Sublime Presence, they talk sweetly, but behind His back, they exude poison from their mouths.
The evil-minded are consigned to separation from the Lord. 11


Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Page 524
Enduring pleasure and pain, drowned in the great ocean of doubt, you shall wander in numerous reincarnations.
You have lost the jewel of human birth by forgetting God; when will you have such an opportunity again? 3
You turn on the wheel of reincarnation, like an ox at the oil-press; the night of your life passes away without salvation.
Says Kabeer, without the Name of the Lord, you shall pound your head, and regret and repent. 4-1

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Page 537
False is the love of the many emotional attachments,
which suck the mortal into the whirlpool of reincarnation. 2
All are travellers, who have gathered under the world-tree,
and are bound by their many bonds. 3
Eternal is the Company of the Holy,
where the Kirtan of the Lord`s Praises are sung.
Nanak seeks this Sanctuary. 4-1

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Page 900
Slandering others, you are totally ruined; because of your past actions, you shall be consigned to the womb of reincarnation.
Your past actions will not just go away; the most horrible Messenger of Death shall seize you. 2.
You tell lies, and do not practice what you preach. Your desires are not satisfied - what a shame.
You have contracted an incurable disease; slandering the Saints, your body is wasting away; you are utterly ruined. 3

I think the belief of reincarnation are very true. how else would one explain the concept of karma and joys and suffering ? For if reincarnation is not true one can do any Karma without any fear from being judged because no matter what he'll never be born again ?

Regards.

banmeetsingh1990 ji

May i just take a little bit of forum members' time and space to clarify what the disagreement may be about. What you have written in this paragraph is an accurate, complete and concise summary of Vedantic thought regarding reincarnation, in the times of Guru Nanak and even today.

But it is important to point something out. Earliest of the Hindu texts or vedas, did not subscribe to this view. The earliest version of the Bhagata Veda did not. As Hinduism evolved these ideas were put forward. Often scribes would add this idea to the earliest documents.

Now within the dharmic faiths of Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism we see this idea of reincarnation and even transmigration put forward. But even Tibetan Buddhists, who subscribe to it, will also say no one knows for certain.

Sikhism, also a dharmic faith, is not of one mind on this view of reincarnation. And it is also very likely that Bhagat Kabir, in his banee, was saying something very different. The problem arises from the fact that some readings focus on one part of the shabad and not the others. For example, in this quotation from Sri Guru Granth Sahib:

This soul has lived in many wombs.
Enticed by sweet attachment, it has been trapped in reincarnation.
This Maya has subjugated beings through the three qualities.
Maya has infused attachment to itself in each and every heart.
O friend, tell me some way,
by which I may swim across this treacherous ocean of Maya.
The Lord showers His Mercy, and leads us to join the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation.

If you focus on the verses in bold, you come to the conclusion that our Gurus believed in reincarnation.

Now a different way to look at it.

This soul has lived in many wombs.
Enticed by sweet attachment, it has been trapped in reincarnation.
This Maya has subjugated beings through the three qualities.
Maya has infused attachment to itself in each and every heart.
O friend, tell me some way,
by which I may swim across this treacherous ocean of Maya.
The Lord showers His Mercy, and leads us to join the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation.

In the second view, the emphasis and/or conclusion you may draw is different. The other way of seeing this is that reincarnation itself is an "entanglement" of Maya "mental illusion" and there is a way to swim across that ocean of treacherous thinking and shake oneself free of its residue.

I am not taking sides on this point as I have not made up my mind. However, in almost every shabad where the subject of reincarnation is mentioned, there the eternal truth of Naam opposes and transcends the idea the truth of reincarnation.

So we tend to see it one of two ways.

1. Union with the Creator is the alternative to reincarnation. Therefore we must act in ways to end reincarnation.

2. Or, union with the Creator is the truth of the soul's existence and maya has caused us to forget that we are already liberated, and thus we suffer and cause others to suffer.

The disease of reincarnation, as Guru Nanak put it in one of the sakhis, could very well be Guru's diagnosis of a widespread spiritual, social and mental illness that resulted in rituals and superstitions and mass suffering as Hinduism evolved. With the idea of caste being the ugliest manifestation of that illness, since humans had to be content to die and be reborn through layers and layers of caste until they reached the stage of the Brahmin. At that point they could injure the basic decency of all other human beings and feel blessed in doing it. And they did.

Sat Sri Akal Narayanjot ji,
Your last post has shed light on looking at the concept of reincarnation from a different perspective in Sikhism.
I am not as knowledgeable as other members in this forum so I seek guidance.


2. Or, union with the Creator is the truth of the soul's existence and maya has caused us to forget that we are already liberated, and thus we suffer and cause others to suffer.

If the above be accepted as true that we already are free, liberated of our previous karma, how can we explain poverty,natural calamities,child labor, illness, the death of a new born child etc..
I mean if the reason for our suffering is not our karma from our previous lives than why are some us suffering while others are at peace ? Surely God is not biased ?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=31084
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=31084

Isn't it true that what goes around comes back around in one way(life) or another ?
If reincarnation is not true and we are already free and liberated we have free will to become one with God ( by ending 5 evils) or to live a materialistic life,
And if we choose the second option and we whether consciously or unconsciously make people suffer, isn't there no justice by the universe ?
if re-incarnation is not true, people can get away by doing bad karma, for neither they'll be born again nor will they be sent to hell ?

I humbly seek guidance from knowledgeable.

Regards
Banmeet Singh.

banmeetsingh1990 ji

First of all, thank you but my explanation is only a poor expression of how I understand these points of view.

I will try to tackle your question to the best of my ability.

This is my understanding. Deviations from the path of righteousness or dharma, creates evil in all its forms, and this comes from attachment to maya. In other words, mistaking the veil of illusion as truth, we stray into karmas (deeds) that are influenced by ego and the 5 evils. And we need to think of karmas as being both cause and effect. Our deeds are set into motion by the deeds of others, and our own past deeds (to include decisions and choices) all come from our attachments.

Think of Bhopal as an example of my point. Attachments and choices of all the players in that tragic story had effects on the lives of innocents. AND their own moral and spiritual states were likewise polluted by their acts.

According to a traditional understanding of karma and reincarnation, The victims did something in a past life to earn their ghastly suffering. The evil-doers based on something in their past lives are working out their karma as well. The result is a monstrosity. A moral failure of society in both India and the US, not to mention the corporate sector and legal systems of both countries. In this scenario, the traditional understanding of karma, all kinds of evil impulses can run amok. There is no escape from it. And everyone has to cycle through it or reach mukhti somewhere along the way through mantras, pujas, rituals, sacrifices, renunciation and penance.

Now I put that traditional view in a different color to make a point. This is, according to some, exactly what Guru Nanak was challenging. Could it be that Guru Nanak was saying this? If you just keep depending on reincarnation to clear the filth of past lives from your soul, then you have a long wait and a needless one. And could he not have also been saying, There will be no end to the evil that humans can invent? Why do you believe that mantras, pujas, rituals, sacrifices, renunciation and penance, and a little bit of luck thrown in, in the form of Gurprasad, will liberate you? Or so you believe. Even if you reincarnate, the suffering of others caused by your karams will still continue for many years to come.

So where is the morality in that? Were our Gurus saying, One can give all that thinking up. A bad choice made 10 years ago can have a noxious effect on our own souls and the lives of others today. You can cross the treacherous world ocean sooner rather than later, and in this lifetime. How? By understanding that you are already One with the Divine. It makes reincarnation irrelevant. Maya is seen for what it is. There is no need to reincarnate in order to mend the harm done by karmas from past lives. Accept Gurprasad and start mending the harm we have done to others because it is the right thing to do, and not because of our selfish fears of death and rebirth.

Respected Narayanjot ji,
I am very confused about significance of karma and reincarnation/mukti in Sikhism.
If the concept of reincarnation is false and is but attachment to maya itself, how about karma ?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=31084
if one does good deeds (karma) and the other does bad karma, doesn't these karma come back in some form or another back to that person. This way universe justifies every deed done.

If one can get away with doing bad karma and inflicting others with suffering, where is the justice to those who have suffered ?
Isn't it correct to assume that if I make someone suffer, i will also suffer in one way or another, Similarly isn't it correct to assume that if I have tried to cleanse my soul of five evils and have done some good deeds , shouldn't those good deeds come back to me ?

How can people who have killed innocents in 1984 Sikh riots, will never be served what they truly deserve by this universe- which in itself is perfect ? (It has been created by the hukam of God)
How come a child suffer if he has no dues from his previous lives ? How come small children who can barely walk are infected by diseases such as HIV ?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=31084
If there is no karma then isn't it true to assume that the world that we live in is imperfect form of God because there is no justice done ?
Does our previous lives count for nothing ? what about the fact that a person goes through 84,00,000 reincarnations ?

In the end this was my million dollar question all along : how can one find eternal happiness in this life ? The kind when we are in true union with God (if we are in union right now and can't see that then how can we realize that we are one with god ?) Is this 'salvation/mukti' possible in this very life ?
If yes, then how ?

This is really confusing and I am clearly perplexed. I need some guidance.


Regards.

Here are a few quotes from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji on salvation:-

Page 33 ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰੈ ਤਾ ਉਧਰੈ ਪਾਏ ਮੋਖ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥
Sabaḏ marai ṯā uḏẖrai pā▫e mokẖ ḏu▫ār.
If one dies through the Shabad,
then salvation is obtained, and one finds the Door of Liberation.

Page 67 ਨਾਮਾ ਛੀਬਾ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਜਲਾਹਾ ਪੂਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਈ ॥
Nāmā cẖẖībā Kabīr jolāhā pūre gur ṯe gaṯ pā▫ī.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=31084
Naam Dayv the printer, and Kabeer the weaver,
obtained salvation through the Perfect Guru.

Page 82 ਮੈ ਧਰ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਧਾਰੁ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੈ ਤੇ ਗਤਿ ਮਤਿ ॥
Mai ḏẖar nām aḏẖār hai har nāmai ṯe gaṯ maṯ.
The Naam is my Support and Sustenance.
From the Lord's Name, I obtain salvation and understanding.

Page 98 ਦੀਨ ਦਇਆਲ ਗੋਪਾਲ ਗੋਬਿੰਦਾ ਹਰਿ ਧਿਆਵਹੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਾਤੀ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=31084
Ḏīn ḏa▫i▫āl gopāl gobinḏā har ḏẖi▫āvahu gurmukẖ gāṯī jī▫o. ||1||
Merciful to the meek, Sustainer of the World,
Lord of the Universe-meditating on the Lord,
the Gurmukhs find salvation. ||1||

Page 114 ਪੂਰੈ ਗੁਰਿ ਪਾਈਐ ਮੋਖ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥
Pūrai gur pā▫ī▫ai mokẖ ḏu▫ār.
Through the Perfect Guru, the gate of salvation is found.