- If reincarnation applies in this life only (mind reincarnates) then why are some people born with disabilities? Why are some people poor or rich? Why do some people come into this world already spiritual enlightened, whilst others have to do a lot more Naam japna, seva etc? Why do some people have bad events happen to them, whilst others have fruitious lives? A friend told me if Gurbani tells us these are the results of our actions from previous lives. If our lives are spent in a single lifetime, shouldn’t everyone have an equal starting point?
If there is no reincarnation in the afterlife …
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Guru Nanak Sahib has laid more emphasis on the present reforms. One should not fall into delusions and superstitions because of the past and the future. Nobody can know what is going to happen after death. It is a common saying that a bullet from a gun, an arrow from a command, and words from a mouth cannot come back. That is to say, we cannot change the past. But, we can be alert in the present. What happens in the future depends on our deeds and the Hukam of Akal Purakh. If we do good deeds, then one day we will get the rewards.
ਪਉੜੀ ॥ ਜਿਤੁ ਸੇਵਿਐ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਸੋ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸਦਾ ਸਮੑਾਲੀਐ ॥ ਜਿਤੁ ਕੀਤਾ ਪਾਈਐ ਆਪਣਾ ਸਾ ਘਾਲ ਬੁਰੀ ਕਿਉ ਘਾਲੀਐ ॥ ਮੰਦਾ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਕੀਚਈ ਦੇ ਲੰਮੀ ਨਦਰਿ ਨਿਹਾਲੀਐ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਨਾਲਿ ਨ ਹਾਰੀਐ ਤੇਵੇਹਾ ਪਾਸਾ ਢਾਲੀਐ ॥ ਕਿਛੁ ਲਾਹੇ ਉਪਰਿ ਘਾਲੀਐ ॥੨੧॥ (੪੭੪)
No where it is mentioned in Gurbani that reincarnation applies to the life or body. Both mingle with the creator or His creation according to His Hukam. The becoming of poor or rich, born with disabilities, spiritual enlightment, bad events happening in life, fruitful life, etc, all depends upon our each and every action at physical and mental level and results are decided according to His Hukam (Laws of nature framed by Akal Purkh).
This process starts right from the time of conception. The child may be male or female depends on the statistical laws of nature that applies to the sperms which are in millions. The base of the health of the child starts with the mind of the body of the parents at that time. The habits of the people are different in various countries, because that depends upon the people, their education and surrounding environment. The parents and society nurtures the child for his body and mind. Each person is born with his own ego (ਹਉਮੈ). The combination of all these decides the future of each and everyone. Each person gets education from unlimited number of sources which modulates his thinking process and actions.
ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੧ ॥ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਇਆ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਗਇਆ ॥ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਜੰਮਿਆ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਮੁਆ ॥ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਦਿਤਾ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਲਇਆ ॥ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਖਟਿਆ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਗਇਆ ॥ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਸਚਿਆਰੁ ਕੂੜਿਆਰੁ ॥ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਪਾਪ ਪੁੰਨ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਨਰਕਿ ਸੁਰਗਿ ਅਵਤਾਰੁ ॥ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਹਸੈ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਰੋਵੈ ॥ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਭਰੀਐ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਧੋਵੈ ॥ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਜਾਤੀ ਜਿਨਸੀ ਖੋਵੈ ॥ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਸਿਆਣਾ ॥ ਮੋਖ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਕੀ ਸਾਰ ਨ ਜਾਣਾ ॥ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਮਾਇਆ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਛਾਇਆ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਜੰਤ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਬੂਝੈ ਤਾ ਦਰੁ ਸੂਝੈ ॥ ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਹੂਣਾ ਕਥਿ ਕਥਿ ਲੂਝੈ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੀ ਲਿਖੀਐ ਲੇਖੁ ॥ ਜੇਹਾ ਵੇਖਹਿ ਤੇਹਾ ਵੇਖੁ ॥੧॥ {ਪੰਨਾ ੪੬੬}
If we want to improve our life, then we have to know the Hukam of Akal Purkh, get the true education which modulates our mind and body. This all will be possible if we study, understand and follow the Gurbani written in Guru Granth Sahib.
GURBANI does not believe in reincarnation period. Rich and poor are creation of the society, corporate greed. Sickness, disabilities are part of life drama, every thing happen according to divine system, laws of nature.
Sat Sri Akal hkandola, I have been informed by other sikh sources that Gurbani very clearly mentions physical reincarnation.
They observed the answer provided by Sikh Wisdom and said it is an incorrect interpretation:
This is what I was informed earlier:
AAVAN JANA JAMUN MARNA MANMUKH PAT GVAAEE II ANK 31 The self-minded people who are not living with the virtues of the Creator lose their honor, go through spriritual births and deaths, reincarnate with vices in this life.They can also equire traits of animals.
^ Implying spiritual and not physical death.
I was later informed:
The 885 ang shabad is about physical death, there is no distinction made for the spiritual death and daily reincarnations of the mind. Gurbani mentions karams done in previous lives as well.
8.4 million reincarnation cycle mentioned again and again in Gurbani? In Gurbani it also says
ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਭਏ ਕੀਟ ਪਤੰਗਾ ॥
In so many incarnations, you were a worm and an insect;
ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਗਜ ਮੀਨ ਕੁਰੰਗਾ ॥
in so many incarnations, you were an elephant, a fish and a deer.
ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਪੰਖੀ ਸਰਪ ਹੋਇਓ ॥
In so many incarnations, you were a bird and a snake.
ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਹੈਵਰ ਬ੍ਰਿਖ ਜੋਇਓ ॥੧॥
In so many incarnations, you were yoked as an ox and a horse. ||1||
ਮਿਲੁ ਜਗਦੀਸ ਮਿਲਨ ਕੀ ਬਰੀਆ ॥
Meet the Lord of the Universe – now is the time to meet Him.
ਚਿਰੰਕਾਲ ਇਹ ਦੇਹ ਸੰਜਰੀਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
After so very long, this human body was fashioned for you. ||1||Pause||
In summary, it is impossible to draw the conclusion that Gurbani provides specificity to “spiritual death” of the mind. In addition, you cannot experience 8.4millin reincarnations of the mind, scientifically impossible.
I also ask myself why do we have karmic debt or burden? Gurbani talks about Naam washing away millions of sins. Where did they come from, if not from previous lives? If we are born without sins/karmic debt, then why are babies/infants/young children spiritually enlightened? Why doesn’t everyone have a clean slate and start from the same position? Spiritual reincarnation makes no sense and all other Sikhi sources I have engaged with have told me Gurbani explicitly is refereeing to physical death and no other meaning can be derived.