What was the initial reason for humans being caught in the cycle of reincarnation

[TejS]

Why is it that we have been placed in this cycle first of all? Was there a fall from grace similar to the Abrahamic religions? I'm curious to know if this is addressed within Sikhi?

[Kira]

As far as I know the whole "initial" reason shouldn't exist in the first place, everything is Akaal and this is just a manifestation of his play, the whole "first sin" would only work if we as a creation were separate from the creator, but at the core we're not separate from Akaal . 

[MokhamSingh]

4 hours ago, TejS said:

Why is it that we have been placed in this cycle first of all? Was there a fall from grace similar to the Abrahamic religions? I'm curious to know if this is addressed within Sikhi?

Khalsa Ji,

There are numerous references in Gurbani, which tell us about falling under the influence of maya.

21st Astpadhi of SriSukhmani, also explains why the creator created the creation...

 

Ang 1080...SGGS...

[MokhamSingh]

We gave in to temptation somewhere along the line. We have to reap what we sowed...

[singh598]

The Gurbani quote's above are out of context and therefore invalid.

Sukhmani Sahib say the world and reincarnation is a Maya play created by God only few who realize the road to God is within realize there is no incarnation. Shabad is the vehicle.  Rehat, good character, religions and virtuous actions are the 4 tires.  Nitnem is the accalerator and sins the brake pedal.  The handbrake is being bemukh from Amrit

[harsharan000]

Brother TejS,

indeed it is a beautiful question you have brought forward, though all the members above have given their valid answers , anyhow I would also like to share a bit from the wisdom of SGGS, which in my opinion answers the question in your post.

Why are we here? That, only He can answer to our satisfaction, when we reach to Him, but for meanwhile, we are here caught in the cycle of transmigration, and we ought to find our way out.

 

ਭਜਹੁ ਗਦ਼ਬਿੰਦ ਭੂਲਿ ਮਤ ਜਾਹੁ ॥

Bhajahu Guobindh Bhool Math Jaahu

ਮਾਨਸ ਜਨਮ ਕਾ ਏਹੀ ਲਾਹੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Maanas Janam Kaa Eaehee Laahu ||

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਜਰਾ ਰੋਗੁ ਨਹੀ ਆਇਆ ॥

Jab Lag Jaraa Rog Nehee Aaeiaa

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਕਾਲਿ ਗ੍ਰਸੀ ਨਹੀ ਕਾਇਆ ॥

Jab Lag Kaal Grasee Nehee Kaaeiaa ||

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਬਿਕਲ ਭਈ ਨਹੀ ਬਾਨੀ ॥

Jab Lag Bikal Bhee Nehee Baanee ||

ਭਜਿ ਲੇਹਿ ਰੇ ਮਨ ਸਾਰਿਗਪਾਨੀ ॥੨॥

Bhaj Laehi Rae Man Saarigapaanee ||2||

ਅਬ ਨ ਭਜਸਿ ਭਜਸਿ ਕਬ ਭਾਈ ॥

Ab N Bhajas Bhajas Kab Bhaaee ||

ਆਵੈ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਭਜਿਆ ਜਾਈ ॥

Aavai Anth N Bhajiaa Jaaee ||

ਜੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਕਰਹਿ ਸੋਈ ਅਬ ਸਾਰੁ ॥

Jo Kishh Karehi Soee Ab Saar

ਫਿਰਿ ਪਛੁਤਾਹੁ ਨ ਪਾਵਹੁ ਪਾਰੁ ॥੩॥

Fir Pashhuthaahu N Paavahu Paar |

ਸੋ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਜੋ ਲਾਇਆ ਸੇਵ ॥

So Saevak Jo Laaeiaa Saev

ਤਿਨ ਹੀ ਪਾਏ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਦੇਵ ॥

Thin Hee Paaeae Niranjan Dhaev

ਗੁਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਤਾ ਕੇ ਖੁਲ੍ਹ੍ਹੇ ਕਪਾਟ ॥

Gur Mil Thaa Kae Khulhae Kapaatt ||

ਬਹੁਰਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਜੋਨੀ ਬਾਟ ॥੪॥

Bahur N Aavai Jonee Baatt ||4||

 

Sree Kabeer Jee, right from the first verse above, tells us about our purpose of being born as humans, other thing is, we waste it foolishly.

Then in the last verse, he also, gives us clear instructions of how to get out of this maha maya bhavsagar.

He says, devotedly meditate upon Him, and you shall  never ever have to come into reincarnation.

 

Dhan Guru Arjun Dev Maharaj, also says:

ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਗਰਭਿ ਨ ਬਸੈ

Prabh Ka Simran, garb na baseh

ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਦੂਖੁ ਜਮੁ ਨਸੈ ॥

Prabh Kai Simaran Dhookh Jam Nasai

ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਕਾਲੁ ਪਰਹਰੈ ॥

Prabh Kai Simaran Kaal Pareharai ||

 

In these His three verses above from Sukhmani Sahib, He guarantees us, that if one meditates on Him, death, reincarnation and the very Kal, shall be defeated, and we shall get rid of them.

Stay blessed.

Sat Sree Akal.

 

[TejS]

Thank you everyone for your answers. I can understand that our goal is to contemplate on escaping this cyclical bondage, however I can't help but know why in the first place?

I did some research, as well as taking into consideration everyone's wonderful answers, and what I found out is that there are conflicting views on reincarnation. The earliest Dharmic text, the Rgveda (written in the Greater Punjab) has no mention of reincarnation, and instead mentions afterlife as passing on to the elements after being "consumed by Agni". The concept of incarnation comes later during the Gangetic Vedic culture (Uttar Pradesh) where the Mahabharata mentions it in explicit detail. 

Based on a few Sanatani journals and answers I read, its mentioned that when the soul is attached to God, it still has freedom, and therefore is an extension of the Creator. However, at times, due to this freedom, some souls contemplate an independence from the Creator, which can only be possible in a material world. And therefore, they get trapped in this moment of contemplation for multiple reincarnations, until they can yank themselves back by meditation (naam jaap or tapas). Now this premise has a few flaws, as to the concept of independence of souls while being a part of God. If they are independent, how exactly are the souls then a part of God? Perhaps, the union with God allows for independence, who knows? Take it for what you will. 

[InderjitS]

On 09/03/2018 at 11:45 PM, harsharan000 said:

ਭਜਹੁ ਗਦ਼ਬਿੰਦ ਭੂਲਿ ਮਤ ਜਾਹੁ ॥

Correction - ਭਜਹੁ ਗੋੁਬਿੰਦ ਭੂਲਿ ਮਤ ਜਾਹੁ ॥

[MisterrSingh]

I'm fascinated by the karmic debt theory. The idea that we have to pay off our karams to people  over the course of lifetimes, is an intriguing idea. I also wonder why our memories are wiped before each birth. Well, I kind of suspect it's done so that we can begin with a clean slate each time, so that we aren't unequivocally aware of any mistakes or paaps that we may have committed previously (which would then weigh on our conscience and seriously mess with our heads), but as I mentioned in another thread I believe any serious psychological hangups or problems that plague us in our current lifetime originate from previous experiences, so in that respect the memory wipe works on a basic level as long as we don't get serious about scratching the mental itch, as it were, but the underlying issues don't disappear just because we aren't consciously aware of the true reasons for why we are the way we are. Sometimes it seems to me as if we're almost toyed with. We're kind of on the back-foot from the very beginning. Is too much expected of us?

[TejS]

2 hours ago, MisterrSingh said:

I'm fascinated by the karmic debt theory. The idea that we have to pay off our karams to people  over the course of lifetimes, is an intriguing idea. I also wonder why our memories are wiped before each birth. Well, I kind of suspect it's done so that we can begin with a clean slate each time, so that we aren't unequivocally aware of any mistakes or paaps that we may have committed previously (which would then weigh on our conscience and seriously mess with our heads), but as I mentioned in another thread I believe any serious psychological hangups or problems that plague us in our current lifetime originate from previous experiences, so in that respect the memory wipe works on a basic level as long as we don't get serious about scratching the mental itch, as it were, but the underlying issues don't disappear just because we aren't consciously aware of the true reasons for why we are the way we are. Sometimes it seems to me as if we're almost toyed with. We're kind of on the back-foot from the very beginning. Is too much expected of us?

See with the karmic debt theory, I thought that we all, humanity collectively, made a mistake and thus were subjected to this cycle of lifetimes, however as @Kira wonderfully reminded me, that would only be possible if we were separate from God, which according to Gurbani, we aren't. So I thought the Sanatani concept of distracted souls living in the material world was interesting, however that raises the issue of being a separate entity to God once again.

I just think that there has to be a reason for which we've been subjected to this cycle. And I personally think that if we were aware of that reason or our past mistakes, we would act more fruitfully towards repentance through our lifetimes.