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Summary of Question:	Can We Get Liberation In This Life Time
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Thursday, 8/28/2003 8:05 AM MDT

W J K K W J K Fateh!

Khalsa Ji I want to know that our gurus meditated through life times over and over again, can we get out of the cycle (birth and death)or do we have to do what they did. If you look at it a child is busy becoming a teenager and then mariage and then he or she has children by the time they are done all there duties they are 45 to 50 years of age and considering avereage human life 85 years, so then they only have 30 to 35 years to work with, can it be enough life for them to get liberation or salvation. I know a sikh does recite some gurbani ever day.

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REPLY
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Sat SIri Akaal. Sikhi is unique in that it tells us we can be householders and be liberated. All but one of the 10 Gurus did this: they had wives and children. Guru Tegh Bahadur was married long before he was recognized as 9th Guru. During that time he meditated: 27 years it was before he was granted Guruship.
Guru Nanak says "Remembering the True Lord in meditation, one is enlightened. Then, in the midst of Maya, he remains detached. Such is the Glory of the True Guru; in the midst of children and spouses, they attain emancipation." (Dhanasaree, M. 1, ang 661)
4th Guru tells us this: "The relatives, friends and siblings of the world that you see, O my mind, all meet with you for their own purposes. And that day, when their self-interests are not served, on that day, they shall not come near you. O my mind, serve your Lord, day and night; He shall help you in good times and bad. || 3 || Why place your faith in anyone, O my mind, who cannot come to your rescue at the last instant? Chant the Lord's Mantra, take the Guru's Teachings, and meditate on Him. In the end, the Lord saves those who love Him in their consciousness. Servant Nanak speaks: night and day, chant the Lord's Name, O Saints; this is the only true hope for emancipation. || 4 || 2 ||" (Gond, ang 860)
Japji tells us in the 4th pauri that to know God one arises in the Amritvela and meditates on God. This is the daily practice of the Gursikh. This is how one achieves what Guru Sahib tells us in these shabds above. It means that one makes their practice the foundation of the day, and as much as possible, includes ones spouse and children in the daily practice. This builds the practice into children at an early age. This is how it is done. It takes commitment and discipline, period. Such discipline needs to be attempted daily, and the seed will grow. Those who put marriage and work first are, in the end, making excuses. Guru Sahib tells us here that the person who remembers the Lord in devotion will be liberated. Whether it takes 3 years or 90, it can be done. But one cannot assume "Oh, I'll do that when I retire" and have 30 years in retirement to achieve liberation. Because, one could die in an instant, and then that life is wasted. The amount of time each person needs for this task cannot be measured by us. That is why Guru Sahib says do it all the time (with every breath) because WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE.
Guru ang sang,
-DKK