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Summary of Question:	Gurbani: Ancestors Saved By Devotion To Naam?
Category:	Gurbani
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 1/01/2002 7:10 PM MST

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH!!!!

I was just wondering, I don't have the exact quote or page number but I remember reading somewhere in gurbani, and it said something about "when a soul becomes one with God, his entire ancestory is saved". This has confused me, because I thought the path to Waheguru was an INDIVIDUAL journey and it's all depending on the karma of this life and your past life or lives.. All depending on each seperate soul/person, not the people who they are brought together with IN LIFE...

Also, isn't it true that these family relationships (mother, father, brother, sister, etc.) aren't even real? I mean these people don't really "belong" to you, and they can't really be yours, since they're *Waheguru's property?* (sorry i love that term).. Anyways, why would gurbani say that when someone is very spiritual and goes to SachKhand, their ancestory is saved?

I've probably just gotten confused with the idea of it, but it seems weird to me. Maybe they mean that when someone attains waheguru after death, all the people they LOVED in their last life are blessed too? Or at some point have the chance to become closer to God by discovering Sikhi (or any other religion they fall in love with) ????

Please clarify & tell me what the meaning is behind this idea.

Thank-You very much, God Bless

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH!!!!

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REPLY
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
You are correct. There are numerous references in Siri Guru Granth to this concept. You'll find it in Japji, pauri 15: "One who obeys the Lord's Hukum uplifts and liberates his family and relations" (Mannai parvarai saadhaar). So the true devotee who sincerely and consistently meditates on the Naam liberates his or her ancestors (from the rounds of births & deaths). I have always understood this to mean one's family ancestors, but it could very well mean more as you suggest. I have never heard it explained. Does it really matter? The journey of a Gursikh is indeed individual, as you describe. Isn't it enough to know that your own devoted, individual service and devotion to the Naam can have the effect of liberating more than your own soul, whoever they may be?

Yes, all our relations are 'waheguru's property'. While they are real insofar as we are involved with them and have responsibilities in any family relationship, they are not the Be-All and End-All. This is what Guru means by saying they are not real. Guru means that putting all one's energy into one's family status and wealth and whether or not there are sons, etc etc is false. Guru means that the idea of trying to buy security through family is false. The only security is the Naam. Entanglements of ego create karma. Guru didn't say be celibate and have no family. Guru said don't attach to family as the only purpose in life. The true purpose in life is to meditate on the Naam. ANd with this as the purpose and the base, all other things fall into place, including family. The only attachment of ego should be the attachment to the Naam.

Don't get caught up in the mental meanings. Go for experience. Meditate on the Naam yourself, daily and for a while, and over time you will clearly see how Guru instructs you and guides your life.
Guru ang sang,
-DKK