The Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) indicates life after death. In other words, death or destruction of one's physical body is not the end. I fact, in a way it's the beginning. The Gurbani talks of this world and the next: "Lok-Paralok" (lok prlok), "Halat-Palat" (hlqu plqu), "Aithai-Outhai" (AYQY EQY), "Itt-Outt" (ieq auq), "Pevakarrai-Saahurarrai" (pyvkVY swhurVY), "Aagai-Paashai" (AwgY pwCY), "Eehaa-Aagai" (eIhw AwgY), "Ehu-Ohu" (eyhu Ehu), "Eet-Oot" (eIq aUq), "Ouravaar-Paar" (aurvwru pwru), "Payeeai-Saahurai" (pyeIAY swhurY), "Deen Duneeaa" (dIn dunIAw), "Aaraa-Paar" (Awrw pwru), and so on. The SGGS also explains as to how one can lose both — this world and the next — and how one can attain proper understanding (Sojhee) of them, thereby, embellish (Savaaranaa) them. The present is a product of the past. The Karma performed in the present provides the blueprint for the next world (future). Thus, the future is never a continuum of the past — it's remolded under the pressure of one's conduct here in this world.

• sMjogI AwieAw ikrqu kmwieAw krxI kwr krweI: Sanjogee aayaa kirt kamaaiaa karnee kaar karaaee: By the good fortune of good deeds done in the past, you have come, and now you perform actions to determine your future (sggs 75).
• hlqu plqu dovY gey inq BuKw kUky iqhwieAw:Halat palat dovai gaye nit bhukhaa kooke tihaaiaa: He (the Manmukh) loses both this world and the next; he cries out continually, in hunger and thirst (sggs 306).
• ieh lok suKIey prlok suhyly: Ih lok sukheeeye paralok suhele: He (humble being committed to God's Name) is at peace in this world, and happy in the next (sggs 292).
• bfBwgI qy jn jg mwih ]sdw sdw hir ky gun gwih ]rwm nwm jo krih bIcwr ]sy DnvMq gnI sMswr ]min qin muiK bolih hir muKI ]sdw sdw jwnhu qy suKI] eyko eyku eyku pCwnY ]ieq auq kI Ehu soJI jwnY: Badabhaagee te jan jag maahi...: Very fortunate are those humble beings in this world, who ever sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. Those who dwell upon the Lord's Name, are the most wealthy and prosperous in the world. Those who speak of the Supreme Lord in thought, word and deed know that they are peaceful and happy, forever and ever. One who recognizes the (only) One Lord (in everything), understands this world and the next (sggs 281).
• koeI gwvY ko suxY koeI krY bIcwru ]ko aupdysY ko idRVY iqs kw hoie auDwru ]iklibK kwtY hoie inrmlw jnm jnm mlu jwie ]hliq pliq muKu aUjlw nhpohY iqsu mwie: Koee gaavai ko sunai koee karai beechaar...: whosoever sing (Glorious Praises of the Lord), whosoever listen (about the Lord or His Sifat-Salaah), and some contemplate (the Lord) ; some preach (others to praise the Lord), and himself implant the Lord's Name within; he is saved (from Bikaars, the negative propensities of the mind or sinful mistakes). His sinful mistakes are erased, and he becomes pure; the filth of his countless incarnations is washed away. In this world, his face remains radiant (because) he remains untouched by Maya. Also in the next world his face remains radiant (sggs 300).
  

First, the SGGS analyses our conditioning that causes the most of us lose all: both this world and the next. It's one's Manmukhtaa, Mayaic-consciousness, foolishness, self-centeredness, faulty Knowledge, incorrect perception, Naamlessness, hypocrisy, corrupt conduct or frog-philosophy. A frog who lives all his life in a well knows nothing about the existence of the land or world outside the well. The Frog always thinks in terms relative to the well. Because of his limited faculties, experience, logic, and the power of speculation, he has no capacity to think otherwise. Similarly, as indicated in the SGGS, the man with his corrupt mind and contaminated senses (Haume- or ego-mind: Kaam, Krodh, Lobh etc.) is unable to know this world or the next.

• kUpu BirE jYsy dwidrw kCu dysu ibdysu n bUJ ]AYsy myrw mnu ibiKAw ibmoihAw kCu Awrw pwru n sUJ: Koop bhario jaise daadiraa kashu des bides na boojh. Aise meraa man bikhiaa bimohiaa kashu aaraa paar na soojh: The frog in the deep well knows nothing of its own country or other lands; just so, my mind, infatuated with corruption, understands nothing about this world or the next (sggs 346).
• nwnk nwvhu GuiQAw hlqu plqu sBu jwie: Nanak naavahu ghuthiaa halat palat sabh jaai: O Nanak, those who forsake the Name, lose everything in this world and the next (sggs 648).
• Dwqur bwjI plic rhy nw aurvwru n pwru: Dhaatur baajee palach rehe naa ouravaar na paar: Engrossed in this transitory drama, (Manmukhs) are of no avail in either this world or the next (sggs 29).
• nw iqsu eyhu n Ehu hY Avguix iPir pCuqwih: Naa tis ehu na ohu hai avagun fir pashutaahi: One will not have this world or the next; committing sinful mistakes, one comes to regret and repent in the end (sggs 934).
• kwmix kwim n AwveI KotI AvgixAwir ]nw suKu pyeIAY swhurY JUiT jlI vykwir: Kaaman kaam na aavayee khotee avaganiaar. Naa sukh payeeai saahurai jhooth jalee vekaar: The soul-bride (Jeevaatmaan) is of no use at all, if she is evil and without virtue. she burns in falsehood, and does not find peace in this world or the next; (sggs 56).
• pwKMf pwKMf kir kir Brmy loBu pwKMfu jig buirAwry ]hliq pliq duKdweI hovih jmkwlu KVw isir mwry: paakhand paakhand kar kar bharamae lobh paakhand jag buriaarae. halath palath dhukhadhaaee hovehi jamakaal kharraa sir maarae: Practicing hypocrisy (Dhaarmik Paakhand) and deception, people wander around in confusion. Greed and hypocrisy are evils in this world. In this world and the next, they are miserable; (because of Greed and hypocrisy) the Messenger of Death (fear of death) keeps killing (individuals) the spiritual or Aatamic death (sggs 981).

The SGGS also teaches us as to how one can attain proper understanding (Sojhee) and embellish (Savaaranaa) both this world and the next. Pointers given in the SGGS include affirming Guru (to love or to affirm the Guru is to follow the Guru's words: Gur-Shabad), Naam-Simran (meditation), keeping Holy Company (Sangat of the Gurmukhs, Saints, Mahaatamaans, etc.), awakening spiritual Wisdom within (Brahm Giaan), having clear understanding that One Lord is the only Support here and hereafter, eradicating ego (Haume), giving up Manmukhtaa and becoming the Gurmukh, and so on.

• siqguru isK kw hlqu plqu svwrY: Satgur sikh kaa halat palat savaarai: The Satguru arranges this world and the next for His Sikh (sggs 286).
• hliq pliq muKu aUjlw nh pohY iqsu mwie: Halat palat mukh oojalaa nah pohai tis maai: In this world and the next, their (those who implant the Name within) aces shall be radiant; they shall not be touched by Maya (sggs 300).
• Enw hliq pliq muK aujly Eie hir drgh scI pYnwey: Ounaa halat palat mukh oujale oui har daragah sachee painaaye: Their (Sikhs of the Guru) faces are radiant in this world and the next; in the Court of the Lord, they are robed with honor (sggs 302).
• siqgur syqI gxq ij rKY hlqu plqu sBu iqs kw gieAw: Satgur setee ganat ji rakhai halat palat sabh tis kaa gaeiaa: One who enters into a reckoning relationship with the Satguru loses everything, this world and the next (sggs 307).
• ijin guru goipAw Awpxw iqsu Taur n Twau ]hlqu plqu dovY gey drgh nwhI Qwau: Jin gur gopiaa aapanaa tis thour na thaaou. Halat palat dovai gaye daragah naahee thaaou: Those who hide or disown (or do not affirm) their Guru will have no place of rest. They lose both this world and the next; they have no place in the Court of the Lord (sggs 314).
• hlqu plqu duie lyhu svwir ]rwm nwmu AMqir auir Dwir: Halat palat dui lehu savaar. Raam naam antar our dhaar: Embellish both this world and the next; enshrine the Lord's Name deep within your heart (sggs 293).
• hliq suKu pliq suKu inq suKu ismrno nwmu goibMd kw sdw lIjY: Halat sukh palat sukh nit sukh simarano naam gobind kaa sadaa leejai: Peace in this world, peace in the next world and peace forever, remembering Him in meditation. (So) chant forever the Name of the Lord (sggs 683).
• pyvkVY hir jip suhylI ivic swhurVY KrI sohMdI: Pevakarrai har jap suhelee vich saahurarrai kharee sohandee: She (Jeeva) who meditates is happy in this world of her father's home, and in the next world of her Husband Lord, and she will be very beautiful (sggs 78).
• nwnk eIhw suKu AwgY muK aUjl sMig sMqn kY pweIAY: Naanak eehaa sukh aagai mukh oojal sang santan kai paaeeai: O Nanak, in the Society of the Saints, you will obtain peace in this world, and in the next world, your face will be radiant and bright (sggs 700).
• eIhw suKu AwgY muK aUjl jn kw sMgu vfBwgI pweIAY: Eehaa sukh aagai mukh oojal jan kaa sang vaddabhaagee paaeeai: One finds peace in this world, and one's face is radiant in the next world, by associating with the humble Saints, through great good fortune (sggs 610).
• aupijAw qqu igAwnu swhurY pyeIAY ieku hir bil rwm jIau: Oupajiaa tatu giaan saahurai paeeeai ik har bal raam jeeou: (the one who ever meditates God) The essence of spiritual Wisdom wells up within him; (then he realizes) the One Lord pervades in this world, and the next. (I am) a sacrifice to the Lord (sggs 778).
• surqI suriq rlweIAY eyqu ]qnu kir qulhw lµGih jyqu ]AMqir Bwih iqsY qU rKu ]Aihinis dIvw blY AQku ]1]AYsw dIvw nIir qrwie ]ijqu dIvY sB soJI pwie ]1] rhwau ]hCI imtI soJI hoie ]qw kw kIAw mwnY soie ]krxI qy kir ckhu Fwil ]AYQY EQY inbhI nwil ]2]Awpy ndir kry jw soie ]gurmuiK ivrlw bUJY koie: surathee surath ralaaeeai eaeth....: et...: Focus your consciousness on the Lord. Make your body a raft, to cross over (dreadful world-ocen). Deep within is the fire (Divine Light); keep it in check. Thus, day and night, that lamp will burn unceasingly within you. ||1|| Float such a lamp upon the water; this lamp will bring total understanding. ||1||Pause||. This understanding is good clay; a lamp made of such clay is acceptable to the Lord. So shape this lamp on the wheel of good actions. In this world and in the next, this lamp will be with you. ||2|| With His Grace, as the Gurmukh, a rare one may understand Him (sggs 878).
• isv kI purI bsY buiD swru]qh qum@ imil kY krhu ibcwru]eIq aUq kI soJI prY]kaunu krm myrw kir kir mrY]1]inj pd aUpir lwgo iDAwnu]rwjw rwm nwmu morw bRhm igAwnu]1]rhwau]mUl duAwrY bMiDAw bMDu: Siv kee puree basai budhi saar...: O Yogi, the people of sublime understanding dwell in the Realm of Pure Divine Consciousness, "Siv Kee Puree", within. By reaching there, you also reflect on the Divine Name. Thus, you will understand this world and the next. Deeds done in attachment are of no avail. Those who dwell in the Divine City within do not do such deeds. I focus my meditation on my inner Self, deep within. The Divine Name is my Spiritual Wisdom. I have secured my worldly mind at the Divine Door (so that Maya cannot sway me) within (sggs 1159).
• dIn dunIAw qyrI tyk: Deen duneeaa teree tek: In this world and the next, I have Your Support (sggs 1147).
• eyko eyku eyku pCwnY ]ieq auq kI Ehu soJI jwnY ]nwm sMig ijs kw mnu mwinAw ]nwnk iqnih inrMjnu jwinAw: Eko ek ek pashaanai...: One who recognizes the One and only Lord as One, understands this world and the next. One whose mind accepts the Company of the Naam, the Name of the Lord, O Nanak, knows the Immaculate Lord (sggs 281).
• mnmuK krm kmwvxy haumY jlY jlwie: Manmukh karam kamaavane haumai jalai jalaai: The self-willed Manmukhs perform Karma (in Manmukh consciousness), and burn themselves in ego (sggs 68).
• mnmuiK KoieAw gurmuiK lwDw: Manmukh khoiaa gurnukhi laadhaa: Manmukh (one in matrial consciousness) loses; Gurmukh (Self-realized person) gains (sggs 939).

Over the years, the author received e-mails from some individuals suggesting that the SGGS has no reference to Karma, Maya, reincarnation etc.! We reading the same SGGS! Apparently, to justify one's own life dictated by Bikaars (Kaam, Krodh, Lobh etc.) or falsehood, some suggest that the SGGS does not talk about Karma, Maya, reincarnation, and so on. When an ostrich finds himself in an imminent danger, he foolishly sticks his head in sand, hoping that sticking his head in sand will save his life! But it will not. Similarly, many of us stick our conditioned mind in the sand of "Bikaars", and hope that this act will save us!

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

Updated on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:21 AM (PST)

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