According to Satguru Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Human mind reincarnates and goes through spiritual births and deaths many times a day. We can also acquire the traits of animals in reincarnations and act like animals in this life. This happens because we forget about God within us and are not in control of the vices we contain in our mind. We will explore this concept by contemplating the following Shabads. Thousands of years old thought we believed about reincarnation after our physical death does not hold according to Sikh philosophy.
There are few types of deaths. We know the physical death when we leave this world after our life journey “pawne meh pawan smaiaa, Jyoti meh joyt ral jaya. Maati maati hoee eak”. (Raag Ramkali M5 p885). No dead has ever come back to tell us about the afterlife.
The other death is spiritual death and reincarnation which occurs many times a day and night while we are living. This can be mitigated by replacing the vices we accumulate with the virtues of Waheguru.
There is another metamorphic death while living by a Gurmukh with higher spiritual stage full of Godly virtues. Gurbani call him/her Jiwan mukat.“ਜੀਵਨ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਸੋ ਆਖੀਐ ਮਰਿ ਜੀਵੈ ਮਰੀਐ” ll Jiwan mukat so aakhia mar jeevai mariae.
Gurbani believes in karma, we must face the consequences of our good or bad deeds in this life while we are living. Please go over the entire Shabads to understand reincarnation.
ਆਖਾ ਜੀਵਾ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਮਰ ਜਾਉ l
Aakha Jeeva visraia mar jao
I am alive when I remember Waheguru within me and live with the virtues of Waheguru. I die when I do not.
(spiritual death)
Sodar Guru Nanak Dev Ji p9
ਜਬ ਕਛੁ ਨ ਸੀਓ ਤਬ ਕਿਆ ਕਰਤਾ ਕਵਨ ਕਰਮ ਕਰਿ ਆਇਆ ।।
ਅਪਨਾ ਖੇਲੁ ਆਪਿ ਕਰਿ ਦੇਖੈ ਠਾਕੁਰਿ ਰਚਨੁ ਰਚਾਇਆ।।
Jab kash na cio tab kia karta kavan karam kar aia
Apna Khel aap kar dekhai thakur rachan rachaia
When there was nothing what deed was done by the species to come into this world.
Waheguru did his own drama (maya) and created everything we see including species.
Raag Soohee M5 p748
ਆਵਾ ਗਉਣੁ ਬਜਾਰੀਆ ਬਾਜਾਰੁ ਜਿਨੀ ਰਚਾਇਆ।।
Avaa gaaon bazaria bazaar jinni rachaia
This created business opportunities for clergy to sell ideas of reincarnation. Many customs rituals came along to get to heaven or salvation after this life.
Raag Malaar M 1 p1290
ਕਬੀਰ ਮਾਨਸ ਜਨਮੁ ਦੁਲੰਭੁ ਹੈ ਹੋਇ ਨ ਬਾਰੈ ਬਾਰ।।
Kabeer manas janam dulumb hai hoiaa n baraai baar
Kabeer ji is saying that human body is precious, it does not come again and again.
Kabeer Ji p1366
ਇਹੀ ਤੇਰਾ ਅਉਸਰੁ ਇਹ ਤੇਰੀ ਬਾਰ।।
Ehi tera aousar eh teri baar
This is your chance, and this is your time to immaculate Waheguru to get rid of vices.
Raag Bhairon Bhagat Kabeer ji p1159
ਬਹੁਰ ਹਮ ਕਾਹੇ ਆਵਹਿ ਗੇ।।
Bahur ham kahe avaai gay
Why should I come back to the world again! To come and go is according to Waheguru’s Hukum but I shall merge with him/her before my physical death.
Raag Maru Bhagat Kabeer Ji p1104
ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਲੋਭ ਮੋਹ ਮੂਠੇ ਸਦਾ ਆਵਾ ਗਵਣ।।
Kaam kroadh lobh moh muuthei sada Avaa gavan
Cheaters like Lust, anger, greed, emotional attachment are creators of reincarnation forever. Adopting virtues can eradicate this.
Raag Gujri M 5 p502
ਭਰਮੁ ਭੇਦ ਭਉ ਕਬਹੁ ਨ ਛੂਟਸਿ ਆਵਤ ਜਾਤ ਨ ਜਾਨੀll
Bharm bhed bhao kabuh na shutis aavat jaat na janee
Doubt, separation and fear helps to create reincarnation.
Adopting virtues can eradicate.
Raag Bhairon M1 p1127
ਆਵਣੁ ਜਾਣਾ ਜੰਮਣੁ ਮਰਣਾ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਪਤਿ ਗਵਾਈ।।
Aawan Jana jaman marna manmukh pat gvaae
The self-mind- oriented people who are not with Waheguru lose their honor, go through spiritual birth and death, reincarnate in vices while living without peace.
Siree Raag M3 p31
ਜੰਮਣ ਮਰਣਿ ਨ ਚੂਕਈ ਫਿਰ ਫਿਰ ਆਵੈ ਜਾਇ।।
Jaman marn na chuckie phir phir avaai jaae
Jaman marn na chuckie houmai vitch dukh paaie
Reincarnation will not cease while living because of the influence of maya until virtues are adopted.
Reincarnation will not stop while living because of the influence of ego until virtues are adopted.
Sri Raag M3 p68
ਨਾਮ ਵਿਹੂਣੇ ਭਰਮਸਹਿ ਆਵਹਿ ਜਾਵਹਿ ਨੀਤ।।
Naam vihuane bharmse avahi javai neet
Those who does not live with the qualities of Waheguru reincarnate every day with falsehood.
Raag Maru M4 p1087
ਆਵੈ ਜਾਇ ਭਵਾਈਐ ਬਹੁ ਜੋਨੀ ਨਚਾll
Avaai jai bhavaiaa buh Joni nacha
Those who have forgotten Waheguru and are attached to maya, they reincarnate countless times while living.
Raag Maru M5 p1099
ਮਰਿ ਮਰਿ ਜੰਮਹਿ ਠਉਰ ਨ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਗਵਾਈ ll
Mar mar jameh thaur na paweh birtha janam gvaae
They reincarnate, have no peace and waste their lives uselessly.
Raag Bhairon M3 p1130
ਦੁਖ ਵਿਚਿ ਜੰਮੈ ਦੁਖ ਮਰੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਰਤ ਵਿਹਾਇ ll
Dukh wich jamai dukh mariaa houmai karat vihaiaa
They reincarnate in sorrow and deal others in ego.
Raag Rakali M3 p947
ਜਮਿ ਜਮਿ ਮਰੈ ਮਰੈ ਫਿਰ ਜੰਮੈ ll
Jam jam marae marae phir jamae
By taking possession of others, worldly greed and committing sins we will incarnate again and again.
Raag Maru M5 p1019
ਭ੍ਮਿ ਭ੍ਮਿ ਜੋਨੀ ਫਿਰਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਆਇਆ ll
Bharm Bharm Joni fir fir Aaeia
With lust and rath we will be wandering in reincarnation again and again
Raag Maru M3 p1049
ਗੁਰ ਮੰਤ੍ ਹੀਣਸ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਧ੍ਰਿਗੰਤ ਜਨਮ ਭ੍ਸਟਣਹ।।
ਕੂਕਰਹ ਸੂਕਰਹ ਗਰਧਭਹ ਕਾਕਹ ਸਰਪਨਹ ਤੁਲਿ ਖਲਹ ।।
Gur mantr heenis jo praanee dhirgant janam bharastneh
Kookrah sookrah gardhabeh kaakeh sarapneh tul khaleh
Those who do not abide teachings of the Guru their life is contaminated (hollow)they are living like a dog, a pig, a donkey, a crow, a snake.
Sloak Sehiskirti M 5 p1356
ਫਿਰੰਤ ਜੋਨਿ ਅਨੇਕ ਜਠਰਾਗਨਿ ਨਹ ਸਿਮਰੰਤ ਮਲੀਣ ਬੁਧ੍ਹੰ ।।
Phirant joan aneik jathragan neh simrant maleen budhhang
Those who do not remember Waheguru, their mind is filthy and reincarnate many times in this life.
Sloak Sehiskirti M 5 p1355
ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਹਰ ਸੰਤ ਮਿਲਾਇਆ।। ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੈ ਹਰ ਰਸੁ ਮੁਖਿ ਪਾਇਆ।।
ਭਾਗਹੀਨ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਨਹੀ ਪਾਇਆ ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਗਰਭ ਜੂਨੀ ਨਿਤਿ ਪਉਦਾ ਜੀਉ।।
Vadbhagi har Sant mlaya. Gur purai har ras mukh paaia.
Bhaagheen Satgur nahi paaia manmukh garbh Junee nit ponuda jeo
With great good fortune Waheguru led me to meet his saint. The True Guru has bestowed me with divine nectar. The unfortunate ones did not find the perfect Guru, those manmukhs reincarnate day and night.
Raag Majh M4 p95
Author: Sadhu Singh Rikhiraj