Incentive To Be Religious?

[SunSingh]

Gurfateh SunSingh,

Thanks for your straight forward response! I too have thought of this, but I think that logically the concept is not complete. Your answer would be logically perfect for me if one could remember the pains of being in chaurasi

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[Guest goodness]

Gurfateh all,

I am lost, so I turn to the sangat and ask for help. I have a few questions raising in my mind... I hope you can assist.

I have been actively trying to settle my mind on why one must be religious and follow the path to the one true creator. Amidst this, I started thinking what is the incentive to be religious? This lead me to contemplate the wonders of akalpurakh and creation itself. Obviously it is not my place to comprehend the ways of akalpurakh but I am usually able to satisfy my curiosity. As far as I know, in the beginning only the primodial void existed and then at the will of the akalpurakh the universe was created. Similarly, with his will everything will immerse into the void again. I then thought:

-what's the point of being religious or not religious in that case? If our soul is the essence of the almighty himself then it will be absorbed into the almighty, irrespective of whether we are good or evil....?

If existence is ceased then the light of god will re-immerse within him. Why? because our souls are (as far as I know and have read / been told) a part of god, ageless and pure. However, I am further astounded by this.... If our souls are a part of (or the essence of) the almighty - then that means they are totally pure, uncorrupted and unchangeable... so we must assume that the soul or light of god CANNOT be altered or influenced by any maya.

- if this is the case, what gives us our nature? - I have assumed our true identity is within our soul - but the more I think about it, It can't be - the soul must surely be a generic vessel there must be another 'layer' on top which defines an entity.

- when we cross over into reincarnation - this must mean that I (the entity) must cross over as well as the soul? - how else would the concept of reincarnation and karma function?

I am well and truly confused and looking to re-affirm my faith. I look forward to your replies, but please, if you do not understand the questions, please do not slander or post useless comments as that will not really help me or anyone else in my situation. All I would like to find is an answer which helps me to retain my faith in sikhi and keep to my rehat.

Gurfateh!

God looks kindly upon goodness and frowns upon evil. So theres your incentive. Anyway who actually wants to be evil, evil is described as filth in gurbani so if your evil you're basically dirty.