Is it true in Sikhi that humans are not born with sin but are viewed as divine beings with the potential to transcend the cycle of rebirth?

Respected Ash Kapoor ji,
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh!

In response to your question, the undersigned wants to say that, as per teachings of Guru Granth Sahib, a child is born with a clean slate and doesn’t bring a baggage with him.

Further, the undersigned wants to bring to your kind notice that most of the Gurbani, in Guru Granth Sahib, addresses the mind, because the mind is the manager of one’s life. The mind gets into the cycle of reincarnation, when it gets stuck into the material world. To make it clear the undersigned is just quoting two pangtis of a Shabad of Bhagat Namdev ji at Panna 693 of Guru Granth Sahib:-

ਇਹ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਤੇ ਤਬ ਹੀ ਛੂਟਉ ਜਉ ਮਾਇਆ ਨਹ ਲਪਟਾਵਉ ॥ ਮਾਇਆ ਨਾਮੁ ਗਰਭ ਜੋਨਿ ਕਾ ਤਿਹ ਤਜਿ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਪਾਵਉ ॥੩॥ (ਪੰਨਾ 693)

ਅਰਥ: ਇਸ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਦੇ ਬੰਧਨਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਮੇਰੀ ਤਦੋਂ ਹੀ ਖ਼ਲਾਸੀ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ ਜੇ ਮੈਂ ਮਾਇਆ ਦੇ ਮੋਹ ਵਿਚ ਨਾ ਫਸਾਂ; ਮਾਇਆ (ਦਾ ਮੋਹ) ਹੀ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਦੇ ਗੇੜ ਵਿਚ ਪੈਣ ਦਾ ਮੂਲ ਹੈ, ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਤਿਆਗ ਕੇ ਹੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦਾ ਦੀਦਾਰ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।੩।

Therefore, the cycle of reincarnation does not come with the child but is a later development, during the present life.

Professor Sahib Singh, after giving interpretation of all the Shabads, included in Guru Granth Sahib, has given a Gurmat Sidhant, ‘Kiv Kude Tute Pal’ (ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ), in which under the heading ‘Deeds and their Effects’ (ਕਰਮ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ), by giving the example of a village child, have given his views about effects of deeds of a person, on one’s mind. He has written:-

“Whatever deeds a person does, during present life (after birth), the results of these deeds become part of consciousness of one’s mind. According to him, mind is nothing but accumulation of good and bad deeds and their invisible images in the mind. These invisible images are not only witness of the deeds done, in the present life, but also keep on motivating the person to do similar deeds.

Since the universe came into being or will continue to exist, as per rules of the nature, the psychological makeup of the human mind has been and will remain the same, as per these rules. However, this psychological makeup of the mind can change, as per special rules, and continues to change. What happens is that a fight between, accumulated good and bad deeds, continues to take place in one’s mind and the stronger side makes all out efforts to suppress the weaker side. Therefore, it depends on the person, whether the good deeds or bad deeds part gets strengthened, because of further deeds done.

The Guru, however, with his teachings (ਉਪਦੇਸ਼), helps a person to become one with Akalpurakh and as the person moves further in this direction, the good deeds become stronger and the bad deeds slowly and steadily become weaker and finally get erased. This is what is called controlling the urges, as also the ego in the mind, by becoming one with Akalpurakh and Shabad Guru, who are spiritually embodiment of each other.”

From the above discussion it becomes clear that a child doesn’t bring any baggage with him but the baggage is formed in the present life i.e. life after birth. Whatever invisible images, because of good and bad deeds, are formed in a person’s mind run the life of the person. In other words, the person reaps whatever he sows. However, this makeup can be changed with the help of teachings of Guru Granth Sahib.

Hope it helps. If you have any further questions, please do ask. If you find any deficiencies, please point out the same, for improvement in future.

Regards,
Your Brother