Hi everyone, I’m new to the forum and new to Sikhism. I have questions about sin and forgiveness.
I was reading a bit of the Guru Granth Sahib online and trying to get a feel for it. I saw this:
Page 1152:
ਨਿੰਦਕ ਕਾ ਕਹਿਆ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਮਾਨੈ ॥ निंदक का कहिआ कोइ न मानै ॥ Ninḏak kā kahi▫ā ko▫e na mānai. No one believes what the slanderer says.
ਨਿੰਦਕ ਝੂਠੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਪਛੁਤਾਨੇ ॥ निंदक झूठु बोलि पछुताने ॥ Ninḏak jẖūṯẖ bol pacẖẖuṯāne. The slanderer tells lies, and later regrets and repents.
ਹਾਥ ਪਛੋਰਹਿ ਸਿਰੁ ਧਰਨਿ ਲਗਾਹਿ ॥ हाथ पछोरहि सिरु धरनि लगाहि ॥ Hāth pacẖẖorėh sir ḏẖaran lagāhi. He wrings his hands, and hits his head against the ground.
ਨਿੰਦਕ ਕਉ ਦਈ ਛੋਡੈ ਨਾਹਿ ॥੨॥ निंदक कउ दई छोडै नाहि ॥२॥ Ninḏak ka▫o ḏa▫ī cẖẖodai nāhi. ||2|| The Lord does not forgive the slanderer. ||2||
When I saw this I did a search for the word “slander” and there were many other harsh statements towards slanderers, particularly those who slander saints. To me, the above sounds like you’re not forgiven even if you repent? I looked at SikhiWiki and their page on “Ninda” and I still wasn’t sure what to think after reading it.
My first question is, is this sin (slander/slander of a saint) unforgivable, even without repentance?
My 2nd question is, is ANY sin in Sikhism unforgivable, even if you repent?