ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਮੁਹੁ ਫੇਰੇ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਜੋਨਿ ਭਵਾਈਐ ॥
Gur Thae Muhu Faerae Thinh Jon Bhavaaeeai ||
If he turns his face away from the Guru. He shall wander in reincarnation. ang 832
Did Guru Nanak dev Ji know about recincarnation many years ago?
What else is mentioned in SGGS about this?
Chaurasi Lakh Joon.
In Gurbani Guru Sehban have extensively used metaphor, parables, language and accepted beliefs of the time to illustrate their spiritual philosophy. It is a serious mistake to take these to be teachings of Gurbani. The essence of their messages can only be understood when each Shabad is taken in its totality, with emphasis on Rahao, where they’ve presented their interpretation of the metaphor or parable or accepted belief of the time. Chaurasi Lakh Joon concept has appeared many times in the context of SGGS but it is used as metaphor. The existence of 8.4 Million species and the journey of the soul through each species is Vedantic thought. I believe it was people’s mind projection to justify reincarnation. Jainism for example gives totally different numbers. Science believes there could be one billion to one trillion species. About two hundred species go extinct every day and new are discovered. Guru Sehban’s message is that rather than be concerned about traversing 8.4 million different lives, we should be concerned about breaking from God and falling into multiple different life forms within this life. When Gurbani says BIN SIMRAN JO JIWAN BALNA SARAP JAISE ARJAEE OR JINA SATGUR PURAKH NA SAWIO SABAD NA KITO WICHAR OAI MANAS JOON NA AKHIAN PASHOO DHOR GAWAR meaning those who are ignorant of truth, reality and are living life of vices, evil thoughts are in fact animals in human skin. Guruji here is using metaphor to emphasize that we are animals in our actions and behaviour. Guruji is not condemning animals here. Animals by nature do not have ability to realize and live divine life. Only human possesses this wisdom.
On page 176 (SGGS) Guru Arjun sahib uses same metaphor in the whole shabad, KAEE JANAM BHAAI KEET PATANGA. One line is KAEE JANAM SAIL GIR KARIAA . Literal meaning is that for many lives you lived as MOUNTAIN ROCKS. Now is MOUNTAIN ROCK A JUN OR LIFE? Metaphorically Guruji is saying we are living life as stone hearted ( PATHAR DIL) humans full of hatred and anger toward others. Rest of shabad is about how to rise above this undesirable behaviour, realize meaning and purpose of life. My friends quoting these shabads and continuing to hold superstitious beliefs are falling into the trap of not appreciating the true message of Gurbani. When I read best selling books on spirituality by English writers I’m amazed that we already have access to all that they teach because it is all written in SGGSJI. These scholars have sold millions of books and have millions of followers. But we Sikhs have not been able to access the treasure of wisdom available to us in Gurbani and have not risen above superstitious beliefs.Chaurasi Lakh Joon.
This is an interesting quote.
We would get a clear answer if we substitute the following standard meanings :
Gur = Gurbani
Joni = this life or joon itself
Bhawahiye = wandering or ਭਟਕਣਾ
So the clear meaning turns out to be :
If one turns away from the teachings of the Gurbani, one would remain wandering in the life.
।।ਇਕਨਾ ਹੁਕਮੀ ਬਖਸੀਸ ਇਕਿ ਹੁਕਮੀ ਸਦਾ ਭਵਾਈਅਹਿ।।
ਜਪੁ ਬਾਣੀ
।।ਜਿਨ ਕੈ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਏਕੰਕਾਰੁ*।। ਸਰਬ ਗੁਣੀ ਸਾਚਾ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ।।
ਮ॰1, 905
।।ਕੇਤੀਆ ਦੂਖ ਭੂਖ ਸਦ ਮਾਰ।।
ਜਪੁ ਬਾਣੀ
* ੴ = ਏਕੰਕਾਰੁ and not commonly pronounced ਇਕਓਅੰਕਾਰ????
Let’s understand the reincarnation as explained in Gurbani. In Most Shabds in Gurbani Guru Ji are talking about Spirutual death and Spiritual reincarnation in this life we are living now not in afterlife, most of us are misunderstanding
AAKHA JEEVA WISRAE MAR JAO II ANK 9
I am alive when I realize Waheguru within me, live with the virutes of Waheguru and I die when I do not.
MAR MAR JAMEH THAUR NA PAWEH BIRTHA JANAM GAWAEE II ANK 1130
They reincarnate, have no peace and waste their lives uselessly, Not after physical death but in this life now
This wandering is spiritual death and reincarnation in this life. This can changed by obtaining virtues (NAAM)