Sikhi And Afterlife

[CanadianSingh]

Look, I am a Sikh, and I am just a tiny bit nervous of Death. I know it will be a long time till I leave this wonderful planet. But, I am just wondering about us Sikhi's believing about Heaven and Hell. Do we believe Heaven and Hell. I also believe in reincarnation as I believe we do a life, and death cycle, and we need to achieve liberation, but when we achieve liberation, what will happen to us after that?

[FriendlyStranger]

I don't think we as Sikhs should worry about the afterlife or even concern ourselves with liberation. Our primary purpose should be loving Akal Purakh.

ਸੁਰਗ ਬਾਸੁ ਨ ਬਾਛੀਐ ਡਰੀਐ ਨ ਨਰਕਿ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥

Surag bās na bācẖẖī▫ai darī▫ai na narak nivās.

Don't wish for a home in heaven, and don't be afraid to live in hell.

ਹੋਨਾ ਹੈ ਸੋ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ ਮਨਹਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ਆਸ ॥੧॥

Honā hai so ho▫ī hai manėh na kījai ās. ||1||

Whatever will be will be, so don't get your hopes up in your mind. ||1||

ਰਮਈਆ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਈਐ ॥

Rama▫ī▫ā gun gā▫ī▫ai.

Sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord,

ਜਾ ਤੇ ਪਾਈਐ ਪਰਮ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Jā ṯe pā▫ī▫ai param niḏẖān. ||1|| rahā▫o.

from whom the most excellent treasure is obtained. ||1||Pause||

[Balkaar]

Good post by FriendlyStranger.

When we Jap Naam and perform Seva, we shouldn't do it in the expectation that it will spare us from eternal damnation, or secure us eternal rapture. This will obviously become harder when we fixate ourselves on matters of death and the rewards/punishments thereafter. It is also makes the things we do dishonest, Seva and Bhagti undertaken out of fear or aspiration instead of love count for nothing.

Lest I be accused of dodging the original question, there are realms which would fit under the umbrella terms of nark and swarag, yes, but they aren't places of permanence as the Christian and Muslim faiths affirm.

[Quantavius]

Good post by FriendlyStranger.

When we Jap Naam and perform Seva, we shouldn't do it in the expectation that it will spare us from eternal damnation, or secure us eternal rapture. This will obviously become harder when we fixate ourselves on matters of death and the rewards/punishments thereafter. It is also makes the things we do dishonest, Seva and Bhagti undertaken out of fear or aspiration instead of love count for nothing.

Lest I be accused of dodging the original question, there are realms which would fit under the umbrella terms of nark and swarag, yes, but they aren't places of permanence as the Christian and Muslim faiths affirm.

Kinda agree with you mostly but doesn't our bani say to Naam Jaap to avoid being reincarnated to other beings and then finally again to human form and to be liberated from this life cycle?

[Balkaar]

Kinda agree with you mostly but doesn't our bani say to Naam Jaap to avoid being reincarnated to other beings and then finally again to human form and to be liberated from this life cycle?

True Naam Jaap is contemplative. It isn't quite the same as mouthing the Gurmantar like an automaton as your mind wanders elsewhere. It is extremely difficult to empty one's mind of all but the Naam and contemplate it.

But yes, you're right, contemplation of Naam and Shabad will liberate a soul from the cycle of transmigration.

Satguru jinee na seviyo shabad na keeto vichaar

Antar giaan na aayo mirtak hai sansaar

Lakh chauraasee fir paaiaa mar jamai hoay khuaar

[scali]

This is just one example of a Near death experience. All experiences are unique and based on ones belief but do have a common themes are unity(oneness), peace, happiness .......life is eternal there is no death. Death is an illusion.

[scali]

Another atheist interesting NDE

[CanadianSingh]

Thanks guys, for the anwsers. I read them, and they were excellent. So, pretty in Sikhism it means that Heaven and Hell is a temperate place, and that we are waiting to get reborn again. But why do Muslims and Christains think that Heaven and Hell is forever?

[Balkaar]

Thanks guys, for the anwsers. I read them, and they were excellent. So, pretty in Sikhism it means that Heaven and Hell is a temperate place, and that we are waiting to get reborn again. But why do Muslims and Christains think that Heaven and Hell is forever?

The idea of a permanent abode in either Heaven or Hell appeals to human sadism, and to human sentimentality. People want to believe that a monstrous human being, a serial killer of a child molester, or an enemy, is being tortured forever, it appeals to their malice and their sense of righteousness. People also want to believe that they will be able to spend an eternity in heaven together with their loved ones. It's comforting. Temporary hells and heavens would not satisfy these emotions, they would not have been welcome additions to the sales pitches of Islam and Christianity.

The truth is more complex, and not so reassuring. Whatever the case, their ideas make little sense.

- The notion of eternal punishment in hell can never sit comfortably alongside a belief in a God who is not utterly evil.

- Christians and Muslims believe that each human being has only one life, and therefore only one opportunity to earn their salvation. But what happens if a baby is born only to die a couple of hours later? Where does it's soul go? Does it go to Heaven? That seems unprecedented considering the baby did no good deeds which would entitle it to a seat at the table of the Lord. Does it go to Hell forever? That would be unspeakably cruel. The only way to escape this quandary and to reconcile it with the notion of a God who is even slightly benevolent, is to posit the idea that the baby can be reborn, that it will get another chance.

[Bundha]

The only certainty in life is death.