By Harbans Singh Kandola | Opinion |
A member of our group asked me to briefly explain Gurbani view of after life. (See the comment section here).
Let me begin by saying that Gurbani completely refutes this concocted belief system. Organized religions for thousand years have misled and deprived humanity of inner peace, happiness, harmony and universal brotherhood by enforcing such fake stories. Interestingly the story of after life has been presented in such a precise and detailed manner to make it completely believable. It is important to note that even though Guru Nanak used the words and language of the time, he gave totally new meaning. It is serious mistake to take the use of pre Nanak language to be spirituality of Guru Nanak.
After life story goes like this. After physical death, the body is burned and the last rites are performed by special priest, at specific time, reading specific mantras. Then the soul is dragged by soldiers of death (Yamdoots) and is sent on 365 days journey to Dargah, the Court of Dhranraj to face judgement. Based on your deeds in this life you are sent to hell, heaven or reincarnate as dog, cat and what not. Over the past thousand years billions have died but nobody has ever come back to tell the story of what happens.
Here are the views of Gurbani. On page 75, Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS), Guru Nanak first refutes the after-life story.
Chuthai Pehre Wanjaria Mitra, Lawi Aya Khet.
Ja Jum Pakar Chalaya Wanjaria Mitra Kise Na Miliya Bhet.
ਚਉਥੈ ਪਹਰੈ ਰੈਣਿ ਕੈ ਵਣਜਾਰਿਆ ਮਿਤ੍ਰਾ ਲਾਵੀ ਆਇਆ ਖੇਤੁ ॥
ਜਾ ਜਮਿ ਪਕੜਿ ਚਲਾਇਆ ਵਣਜਾਰਿਆ ਮਿਤ੍ਰਾ ਕਿਸੈ ਨ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਭੇਤੁ ॥
Guru says according to after life story, after physical death the soldiers of death drag the soul to Dharamraj for judgement. GURU says Kise Na Miliya Bhet (ਕਿਸੈ ਨ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਭੇਤੁ) meaning nobody knows what happens after death. Then Guru says Bhet Chet Har Kise Milio (ਭੇਤੁ ਚੇਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਿਸੈ ਨ ਮਿਲਿਓ) meaning everything happens according to WILL OF GOD, HUKM that cannot be explained. I therefore refute this fake, concocted story.
GURU AMARDAS JI on page 648 of SGGS further refutes this belief system.
Ik Dajhe Ik Dabiye Ikna Kute Khahe.
Ik Panee Wich Oostihe Ik Bhee Phir Hassan Pahe.
Nanak Ev Na Japaee Kithai Jaye Samahe.
ਇਕ ਦਝਹਿ ਇਕ ਦਬੀਅਹਿ ਇਕਨਾ ਕੁਤੇ ਖਾਹਿ ॥
ਇਕਿ ਪਾਣੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਉਸਟੀਅਹਿ ਇਕਿ ਭੀ ਫਿਰਿ ਹਸਣਿ ਪਾਹਿ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਏਵ ਨ ਜਾਪਈ ਕਿਥੈ ਜਾਇ ਸਮਾਹਿ ॥੨॥
Guru says after physical death people follow different processes to dispose of body for its after-life salvation. Some burn, some bury, some leave for animals to eat, some throw in the water and others leave in deep well. All these processes are done for the soul. Nanak says by following all these processes nobody knows what happens to the soul. Gurbani therefore completely refutes this fake story.
SEE ALSO: Dr Harbans S Kandola on Religion & Life Part 1
On page 940 Guru Nanak offers his views. When Yogis asked Guru Nanak, Kahan Te Awe, Kahan Eh Jawe, Kahan Eh Rahe Samaee (ਕਹਾ ਤੇ ਆਵੈ ਕਹਾ ਇਹੁ ਜਾਵੈ ਕਹਾ ਇਹੁ ਰਹੈ ਸਮਾਈ) meaning where does the soul come from, where does it goes after death. Guru says Hukme Awe, Hukme Jawe, Hukme Rahe Samae (ਹੁਕਮੇ ਆਵੈ ਹੁਕਮੇ ਜਾਵੈ ਹੁਕਮੇ ਰਹੈ ਸਮਾਈ) meaning the soul, life energy originates and ends according to hukm, will of God, life comes into being and leaves this world according to will of God, not according to after life beliefs, the fake human created story.
On page 885 of the SGGS, GURU ARJUN JI clearly states views of Gurbani on this subject.
Pawne Mahe Pawan Samaya
ਪਵਨੈ ਮਹਿ ਪਵਨੁ ਸਮਾਇਆ
Guru says we all breath oxygen to live. After physical death air merges with air. Matee Matee Hoee Ek (ਮਾਟੀ ਮਾਟੀ ਹੋਈ ਏਕ). The physical elements, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, calcium, phosphorus and other minor elements merge with physical elements. Jotee Mahe Joyt Ral Jaya (ਜੋਤੀ ਮਹਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਰਲਿ ਜਾਇਆ), the life force, life energy merges with universal life energy. Guru further says, Kaho Nanak Gur Bharam Chukaya. Na Koee Mare Na Awe Jaya (ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਿ ਭਰਮੁ ਚੁਕਾਇਆ ॥ ਨਾ ਕੋਈ ਮਰੈ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਜਾਇਆ). Guru says I am very clear that universal life energy never dies. The after- life story is fake and concocted.
My daughter said that she has heard after life story in many gurdwaras. Unfortunately, we have brought back after life fake story that Guru Nakak discarded. Not only this we have brought back everything NANAK rejected and discarded. It is important to understand that Gurbani does not dwell on what happens in the after life and asks us to focus instead on the present, here and now, realize eternal life while living. Shabad Maroh Phir Jeewho Sad Hee (ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰਹੁ ਫਿਰਿ ਜੀਵਹੁ ਸਦ ਹੀ ਤਾ ਫਿਰਿ ਮਰਣੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ). GURU ask us to internalize GURBANI wisdom, implement in daily lives to overcome ego, live life blissfully illuminated with divine wisdom, virtues.
Harbans Singh Kandola. Born in Ludhiana, Punjab, he read Ph.D. in Agriculture from Punjab Agriculture University in 1972. He moved to Canada in 1973 and retired as a senior bank manager in 2005. He reads Gurbani passionately to understand its spiritual message and how it matters in his daily life. He poured over Prof Sahib Singh’s ‘Sri Guru Granth Sahib Darpan’ (SGGS translation) over five years, preparing for himself a complete set of notes. In the past two decades, Harbans has engaged in Gurbani discussion on radio and television (go here and here), as well as newspapers and the Sikh Bulletin. He believes that we now have the literature reflecting the true and real message of Gurbani which has to be presented to Sikhs and non-Sikhs. This article is from his unpublished book ‘Renaissance of Sikhi’.
* This is the opinion of the writer, organisation or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Asia Samachar.
RELATED STORY:
Misinterpretation of Gurbani: Wadda Hoa Dunidaar(Asia Samachar, 25 Sept 2022)
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbWMEWubrk0
I’ll just leave this 50 years of research on continuity of consciousness here.
School of Medicine University of Virginia USA.
Velay people need to do more research before writing such articles.
🙂
With due respect, some of the interpretation here defy logic and lack context whatsoever.
example:
the ‘ਕਿਸੈ ਨ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਭੇਤੁ’ (no one has found/knows the secret) refers to ‘ਜਾ ਜਮਿ ਪਕੜਿ ਚਲਾਇਆ’ (ਜਾ = ਜਦੋਂ) i.e. no one knows WHEN will the ‘jumh’ come and get you.
The Guru is using metaphors and imagery to describe what happens ‘at the time of and after death’, NOT saying ‘nobody knows what happens..’ as claimed by the author (granted, the idea of ‘nobody knows’ is expressed/implied in other shabds.. but we must interpret according to the context and tone/intent of the shabd).
Additionally,
ਧਰਮ ਰਾਇ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਕੀਆ ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਸੇਵਕ ਨੇੜਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥ (SGGS 555)
‘Dharam raj’ exists WITHIN the Hukam of God, not necessarily a ‘fake human-created story’ as the author derides.
Does this mean that our Gurus ENDORSED the age-old chains-around-the neck, jumhdhoot stories? no one should claim to know for sure one way or the other. What is more important is understanding these references for what they are, to have an appreciation for the language and poetry in the SGGS and ultimately develop a deeply personal and spiritual connection with the Shabd.
“A member of our group asked me to briefly explain Gurbani view of after life. (See the comment section here.)”
The hyperlink “here” doesn’t work ji. Please make the correction for the readers’ benefit. Thanks ji.
TQ Harbans Singh Ji for this well explained article with quotes from Gurbani. Hopefully the many nay sayers, an affliction of the misinterpretation of Gurbani by the babadoms etc, will appreciate and walk the path already laid out by Guru Nanak Sahib Ji.
Comments are closed.