Why does the weight of guilt weigh so heavily on our hearts and minds, causing us to question our actions and fill us with a sense of regret?
Why does the weight of guilt weigh so heavily on our hearts and minds, causing us to question our actions and fill us with a sense of regret?
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Respected Brother/Sister,
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh!
In response to your question the undersigned wants to say that Sikhism is a modern and practical religion and doesn’t put any kind of undue stress on its followers.
The Guru teaches us in the words of Kabir ji:-
ਬੰਦੇ ਖੋਜੁ ਦਿਲ ਹਰ ਰੋਜ ਨਾ ਫਿਰੁ ਪਰੇਸਾਨੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥ ਇਹ ਜੁ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਸਿਹਰੁ ਮੇਲਾ ਦਸਤਗੀਰੀ ਨਾਹਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ (ਪੰਨਾ 727)
ਅਰਥ: ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਆਪਣੇ ਹੀ) ਦਿਲ ਨੂੰ ਹਰ ਵੇਲੇ ਖੋਜ, (ਬਹਿਸ ਮੁਬਾਹਸੇ ਦੀ) ਘਬਰਾਹਟ ਵਿਚ ਨਾਹ ਭਟਕ। ਇਹ ਜਗਤ ਇਕ ਜਾਦੂ ਜਿਹਾ ਹੈ, ਇਕ ਤਮਾਸ਼ਾ ਜਿਹਾ ਹੈ, (ਇਸ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਇਸ ਵਿਅਰਥ ਵਾਦ-ਵਿਵਾਦ ਦੀ ਰਾਹੀਂ) ਹੱਥ-ਪੱਲੇ ਪੈਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਕੋਈ ਸ਼ੈ ਨਹੀਂ।੧।ਰਹਾਉ।
Kabir ji is guiding us to look within, every moment of life, instead of getting into arguments with others and consider this visible world as a jugglery/magic from which nothing is going to remain with us permanently.
The Sikh is required to imbibe the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib and develop qualities in him so that he remains one with Akalpurakh and Guru, who are embodiment of each other.
A Sikh is required to get rid of falsehood (ਕੂੜ) and become a truthful person (ਸਚਿਆਰ), a quality which will enable him to remain one with Akalpurakh/Guru. Once he achieves that then he will live a disciplined life, will be watchful of his deeds all throughout his life because Karam Khand is the door to Sachkhand (37th Pauri of Jap Bani).
When one starts looking within and changing one’s life for the better, then he/she will take steps to get rid of vices and will achieve emancipation/salvation in this life itself. Once a person changes his life, as per teachings of Guru Granth Sahib, then there is no scope for feeling guilty, for one’s actions and regretting for the same.
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
When we are corrupt and guilty, then our internal troubles are very high. Only solution is to follow the Shabad Guru.
ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੩ ॥ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਕਪਟੁ ਸਦਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਹੈ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ॥ ਦੁਖ ਵਿਚਿ ਕਾਰ ਕਮਾਵਣੀ ਦੁਖੁ ਵਰਤੈ ਦੁਖੁ ਆਗੈ ॥ ਕਰਮੀ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਭੇਟੀਐ ਤਾ ਸਚਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੈ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਹਜੇ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ਅੰਦਰਹੁ ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਭਉ ਭਾਗੈ ॥੧॥ (੮੫੧)
An egoistic person always remains unhappy internally.
“ਸਾਕਤ ਹਰਿ ਰਸ ਸਾਦੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਕੰਡਾ ਹੇ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਜਿਉ ਚਲਹਿ ਚੁਭੈ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਜਮਕਾਲੁ ਸਹਹਿ ਸਿਰਿ ਡੰਡਾ ਹੇ ॥੨॥” (੧੩)
Only solution is to understand and follow the Hukam of Akal Purkh with the help of true Gurbani written in Guru Granth Sahib.
ਸ੍ਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੩ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਰੋਗੁ ਨ ਤੁਟਈ ਹਉਮੈ ਪੀੜ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਮਨਿ ਵਸੈ ਨਾਮੇ ਰਹੈ ਸਮਾਇ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਈਐ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਇ ॥ ੧ ॥ (੩੬)
In my perspective, guilt is a feedback mechanism developed by nature to keep check on our actions and lead us on a correct path of life.