Sikh Beliefs

Q: What happens after death?

A: Sikhs are very strong in their belief of reincarnation. All animals including humans
have soul and our soul goes through different life forms until we purify it to become
One with God. Just like one changes clothes, our soul changes life forms. This very fact
has been narrated by God through Sikh Gurus. Nobody has seen what happens after
death, so it is very hard for someone to understand happens after death. Sikh Gurus
are in communion with God and they tell us that our soul has been separated from God
and its dignity remains in merging back with God.
Think of God as an ocean and our soul as a droplet of water. The water droplet is
separated from the ocean. The droplets come on land in the form of rain. We are like
those rain droplets; we have been separated from God and have been born in this
world. The dignity of the rain droplet lies in merging back in the ocean. Just like those
rain droplets the main purpose of our souls is to merge back with God, to be One with
Him. Our soul suffers from pain of birth and death and this pain can be ended by
attaining salvation, merging in God. Gurus are like rivers, if the rain droplets follow the
river, they can reach the ocean. So, if we follow our Gurus, we can meet God. Once a
soul merges in God, it achieves salvation, gets rid of birth and death and all the
suffering of this world. That soul becomes one with God.
How do we know we are reborn? We take birth and we do die. Sikhism does believe in
the existence of heaven and hell, however, heaven and hell are created to reward and
punish, one will then take birth again until one merges in God. According to some
religion, the soul either goes to heaven or hell after death and stays there. So, how are
people and other animals being born on this Earth? Is God creating new souls? If He is
then no matter how big is heaven or hell it is going to be filled. If you consider a lake as
heaven and think of drops of water being added to it as souls, then no matter how big
the lake is, if no drops of water is leaving the lake, it is going to be filled some time in
future. Our souls just ending in heaven or hell after death and God creating new soul
doesnt make sense.
If you look at our environment, there is a perfect cycle that goes on everywhere. Water
evaporates from the ocean, travels on the land and mingles back with the ocean. There
is a perfect cycle that goes in our environment which keeps it healthy. Sikh Gurus wrote
in the scriptures what God narrated to them. According to the scriptures, there are 8.4
million species and your soul goes through them all. "Those who do not serve the true
Guru, and do not contemplate on the Shabad (Word of God). They cannot comprehend
spiritual wisdom; they are like dead bodies in the world. They go through the cycle of
8.4 million reincarnations, and they are ruined through death and rebirth" (Guru Granth
Sahib Ji, 88). According to the Sikh scriptures, the human form is the closet form to
God and the best opportunity for a human being attain salvation and merge back with
God. After death our soul does not die or stays either in heaven or hell. Sikh Gurus said
that nothing dies, nothing is born, everything is ever present, and it just changes
forms. That is a higher philosophy. Its like standing in front of a wardrobe, you pick up
a dress and wear it and then you discard it. You wear another one. Youre just changing

one form into another one. Actually, your soul is never born and never dies. Your soul is
a part of God and hence lives forever.
However death is defined as the end of the time spent by a soul in one species and
birth is defined as soul entering in another species. The ones, who do not meditate on
God, will never be able to attain salvation and continue to live in the cycle of birth and
death. "The ignorant and oblivious do not serve the true Guru, how will they find
salvation? They die only to be reborn over and over again. They continue to be struck
down at the door of death" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 115).
What happens after death? Two things can happen after death. First, if you meditate on
God and purify your soul by getting rid lust, anger, greed, attachment, and ego, you
merge back with God and your cycle of life and death is gone forever. The other one is
that if you do not worship God and realize Him, you will be reincarnated. If you were on
the right path to God but did not purify your soul within the lifetime you had on the
Earth, you will be given more chances in human form to become closer and closer to
God. If you have not made any effort to love God and purify your soul, you will end up
wandering through the 8.4 million species.
"When the body is filled with ego and selfishness, the cycle of birth and death does not
end" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 126). "As long as the tongue does not chant the Name of
God, the person continues coming and going in reincarnation, crying out in pain" (Guru
Granth Sahib Ji, 325). "The blind have forgotten the Name of God. The self-willed
people are in utter darkness. Their comings and goings in reincarnation do not end;
through death and rebirth, they are wasting away" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 19). No one
can say which form do you take after death and how many species you have to go
through after death. God decides that for you and it is based on how well you live your
life.
What determines the escape? The Guru says that only escape from the cycle of death
and rebirth is by being an absolute good human being, you must always remember and
meditating on God. Our soul after being separated from God has become impure. We
have to make it pure enough through meditation so that God can merge us back in
Him.
"Those who meditate on God attain salvation. For them, the cycle of birth and death is
eliminated" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 11). While awake, eating, studying, remember God.
Like you remember someone you love and care for and you just cannot forget your love
and your thoughts are fixed on your beloved. Likewise, remember God in your heart
and surely God will guide you and help you and you can escape the cycle of death and
death. "Those who meditate single-mindedly on the Name of God, and contemplate the
teachings of the Guru. Their faces are forever radiant in the Kingdom of God" (Guru
Granth Sahib Ji, 28).
Content Management Powered by CuteNews

FAQ > Sikh Beliefs

Q: What is the purpose of life?

A: The purpose of life is to purify yourself, meditate on God and eventually become one
with God.
God is the greatest spirit of all and our soul is a part of God. Our soul has been
separated from God and its dignity remains in merging back with God. The purpose of
this life is to become one with God, to merge in the One whom we originated from. Our
Guru tells us, "This human body has been given to you. This is your chance to meet
God. All other works are of no use. Join the holy congregation and meditate on the
Name of God" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 12).
The goal is to break away from the cycle of birth and death and attain salvation by
being one with God. Our soul has been separated from God filled of many impurities
such as lust, anger, greed, attachment to materialistic things, and ego. We are to purify
our soul so that we can become one with God. We can do so by living an honest and
humble lifestyle and meditating on God.
In addition, "The blind have forgotten the Name of God. The self-willed people are in
utter darkness. Their comings and goings in reincarnation do not end; through death
and rebirth, they are wasting away" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 19). Furthermore, "Those
who meditate single-mindedly on the Name of God, and contemplate the teachings of
the Guru. Their faces are forever radiant in the Kingdom of God" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji,
28). The ones who do not meditate on God keep going through the cycle of birth and
death while the one who meditate on God and love Him become radiant in His Kingdom.

http://www.realsikhism.com/index.php?
subaction=showfull&id=1248309055&ucat=7

FAQ > General

Q: What kind of lifestyle do Sikhs have?
A: Sikh Gurus preached that you do not have to lead a life of seclusion, go on
renunciation, fast, or go to pilgrimages in order to please God. You can be one with God
while living a family life and carrying-on day to day tasks. Sikh Gurus themselves had
children, lead a family life and showed everyone how it can be done.
There are two aspects to meet God. First: Spiritual, Love God and Meditate on Him.
Salvation can only be attained by meditating on God. Second: Warrior, Protect
yourselves and others right for freedom of religion and freedom of choice. Fight against
oppression.
In order to keep Sikhs focused in life, Sikhs Gurus gave Sikhs a lifestyle. If one follows
this lifestyle, one is less likely to deviate from his/her path since the lifestyle constantly
reminds a Sikhs of his spiritual and moral values.

Sikh Gurus preached to keep God in your heart and mind for each and every possible
second. Share with other and stand up for the truth. Do not be oppressed or oppress
anyone.
Some key points of Sikh lifestyle:
1. Keep God in mind all the time.
2. Pray in the morning and evening.
3. Wear five Ks (five articles of faith)
4. Get rid of five vices: lust, anger, greed, emotional attachment, and ego.
5. Keep diet simple and vegetarian.
6. Live a simple life, be honest, and do not lie, cheat or steal.
7. Have a monogamous marriage between a man and a woman.
8. Not to cut hair and live the way God made us.
9. Not to drink smoke or do drugs.
10.Not to fast, perform ritual or go on pilgrimages.
11.Not to believe in superstitions.
12.Not to harm your body to please God.
13.Share with others.
14.Help the less fortunate.
15.Protect the weak and the oppressed.
The daily prayer reminds Sikhs to meditate on God and love him. Love his creation and
treat everyone equally. The five articles of faith keeps a Sikh in focus. Kara (Bracelets)
reminds a Sikhs not to cheat steal or lie. Everyday, the five articles of faith reminds a
Sikh of his/her duties and clear distinction between right and wrong. Getting rid of five
vices makes a Sikh humble and down to Earth. Monogamous marriage helps a Sikh to
live and dedicate his life to once partner and accompany each other to reach God.
Staying away from smoking, drinking, and drugs protects a Sikhs from wasting time
and energy. It also helps keep Sikhs focused. Not believing in superstitions,
pilgrimages, or rituals also protects Sikhs form spend time on ritual that are fruitless.
There is nothing else equal to worshiping and meditating on God. Helping other keeps
the Sikhs and rest of humanity united from achieving a common . Protecting the weak

and oppressed grantees freedom to everyone regardless of their religion, ethnicity,

color, class, or gender.
While practicing, the Sikh lifestyle helps one overcomes temptations and desires. Sikh
lifestyle helps one to make right decisions in life.

Related Information

What are the Sikh beliefs?

What is the purpose of life?

Five Vices We Should Overcome

Quotations > Materialistic Things and Wealth

O mortal, why are you so proud of small things? With a few pounds of grain and
a few coins in your pocket, you are totally puffed up with pride. Even if you control a
hundred villages with great pomp and ceremony. Even if you have an income of
hundreds of thousands of dollars. The power you exert will last for only a few days, just
like the green leaves of the forest. No one has brought this wealth with them, and no
one will take it with him when he dies. Emperors, even greater than Raawan, passed
away in an instant. The Lord's devotees are steady and stable forever; they worship
Him, adore Him, and chant the Lord's Name. Those who are mercifully blessed by God
are given the chance to join the company of holy. Mother, father, spouse, children and
wealth will not go along with you in the end. Kabeer says, meditate on God. Your life is
uselessly wasting away (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1251).

One who is not touched by pleasure, pain, greed, emotional attachment and
egotistical pride. Nanak says, listen mind: he is the very image of God. One who is
beyond praise and slander, and looks upon gold and iron alike. Nanak says, listen mind:
know that such a person attains salvation. One who is not affected by pleasure or pain,
and looks upon friend and enemy alike. Nanak says, listen mind: know that such a
person attains salvation (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1427).

Nanak says, you will die one day, so why do you bother to collect wealth and
property? (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 24).

Maya has spread out her net, and in it, maya has placed the bait. The bird of
desire is caught and cannot escape, O my mother. One who does not know the Lord
who created him, comes and goes in reincarnation over and over again (Guru Granth
Sahib Ji, 50).

You will have to abandon the materialistic things you have collected. These
entanglements will be of no use to you. You are in love with the things that will not go
along with you. You think these things are your friends but in fact these are your
enemies. In such confusion, the world has gone astray. The foolish mortal wastes this

precious human life. He does not like to see Truth and righteousness. He is attached to
falsehood and deception; they seem sweet to him. He loves gifts, but he forgets the
Giver. The wretched creature does not even think of death. He cries to possess other
people?s things. He forfeits all the merits of his good deeds and religion. He does not
understand the Lord's Command and continues going through birth and death. He sins
and then regrets afterwards (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 676).

The mortal does not realize that death is laughing and hovering over his head.
Entangled in conflict, pleasure and egotism, he does not even think of death. So serve
your true Guru; why wander around miserable and unfortunate? You gaze upon the
transitory beautiful safflower, but why do you get attached to it? You commit sins again
and again and keep gathering wealth to spend. But your dust shall mix with dust; you
will arise and depart naked (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 809).