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Summary of Question:	Judgement Or Predestined ?
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Saturday, 3/24/2001 6:10 PM MDT

WJKKWJKF

i wanted to know how Sikhi views life after death
I know concepts of heaven hell Etc are very christian/islamic/judaic
and that Sikhs believe that remembering Waheguru is " heaven" and not remembering is" hell."
However whilst reading Gurbani you come across concepts such as Dharam Raj
and judgement -- can this be explained by the fact these shabads were written by Muslim Bhagats ? or does Sikhi believe in a day of judgement ?
Also In the saloks of M 9 Guru Tegh Bahadur reference is made to "everything Being is in guru ji s hands "
isnt this like predestination everything is planned by guruji before hand humans have no control over it.
Isnt that against the concept of Karma ie humans are responsible for their actions?
Ive always seen Sikhi as very Pragmatic not in the least fatalistic --- Guru Ji has given us this Beautiful body it is up to us to make the "Most " of it ie. "Mil Sadh sangat baj keval nam to cross the " Ocean" and meet waheguru.

I know that the Japji sahib tells us of the "stages to reach Sach kand but there are also r eferences to Hindu / muslim concepts of paradise /hell--- are these just "metaphors or Imagery ?

Basically I just wanted a simple plain English explanation of reaching guru ji's charan kamal/ sach kand, in other words I know that if a Sikh doesnt realize His/her potential they are reborn but if they acheive mukti "salvation" what happens >> is there a jugdement day / is it karma or predestination/"
is there a Narak/hell ?
what about ghosts and the occult ? does Sikhi acknowledge such things
many so called sants make a living out of Exorcising Bhoot prets in India also there are many myths about those who take their own lives being doomed to become ghosts >> a lot of this is people believing punjabi stories instead of following Guruji But could you shed some light on the matter ?

I know ive asked for quite a lot but I hope you can answer my questions

Thankyou for your
time and consideration

Gur Fateh.

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Reply
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Greetings to you in the Name of God the light of every soul and in the Name of Guru the life of every Sikh.

You have presented a very long and detailed inquiry. The answer, however, is very short and simple.

The Guru guides us to live in and excell in our human experience of the presant. The Guru gives allegories and mythologies from other systems to exemplify the simplicity of our lifestyle.

This is the "Kal jug". In this age, the wicked prosper and the righteous are made to suffer. The "table" of truth is being supported by only one leg. This is the age where "kirtan is King". Chanting the "Shabd" is the only way to liberation in this life. We do not look for liberation after death. We look to live in the positive and neutral mind of this life as an excellant human. Our guide and fulfillment is personified in the Guru. We need not worry about the past or the future. What is important to us, is how we live this life. If we live as devotees of our Guru, and we keep up trying....we have no concern for karma, or past lives or future lives.

God bless you. SKKK