As taught in the Gurbani of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS), the hell is not somewhere up there in the sky. But, it is within everybody. Here and Now.
According to the Gurbani, attachment (i.e. Bikaar) and doubt (Bharam, misapprehension, confusion etc.) constitute the horrible hell. And many (‘ਘਣੋ’-numerous, gross, large number) of us in this world who are sunk (drowned, absorbed-‘ਬੂਡਤ’) in this horrible hell (‘ਮਹਾ ਨਰਕ’) of attachment and doubt (‘ਮੋਹ ਭਰਮ’ are its dwellers (ਵਾਸੀ):
- ਮੋਹ ਭਰਮ ਬੂਡਤ ਘਣੋ ਮਹਾ ਨਰਕ ਮਹਿ ਵਾਸ ॥ : Many are drowned in attachment (i.e. Bikaar) and doubt; this is dwelling in the most horrible hell (of suffering, Here and Now). (sggs 297).
Perversions or faults of the false ego-sense or Haumai are numerous — lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, and their countless variations such as slander, selfishness, falsehood, and so on.
Since attachment and doubt are the faults of the false ego-sense or Haumai, the hint here is towards the egotism (Haumai) being the horrible hell. The Gurbani:
- ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਨਰਕਿ ਸੁਰਗਿ ਅਵਤਾਰੁ ॥ : In Haumai one experiences hell and heaven (comforts and pain etc.). (sggs 466).
One thing seems to be pretty clear: the meaning of hell (or heaven) many of us often hear from our respective Pujaaree or priest class (Bhais, Pundits, Maulvis, Paadrees, Rabbis, and so on) is not the real meaning of these terms! The Gurbani asserts that the Gurmukhs (Enlightened beings…) have rejected both hell and heaven (ਰਦ ਕੀਤੇ, ਖੰਡਨ ਕੀਤੇ, annulled, rescinded…). Having said that, only the Manmukhs-Saakat-Mayadhaaree (Unenlightened beings) believe them being somewhere in the sky after death as concocted by their respective crafty Pujaaree claas.
- ਕਵਨੁ ਨਰਕੁ ਕਿਆ ਸੁਰਗੁ ਬਿਚਾਰਾ ਸੰਤਨ ਦੋਊ ਰਾਦੇ ॥ ਹਮ ਕਾਹੂ ਕੀ ਕਾਣਿ ਨ ਕਢਤੇ ਅਪਨੇ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੇ ॥੫॥ : What is the concern with the discourse on ‘hell’ and ‘heaven’ — both of which are rubbished by the Seekers of God Realization. By the blessings of Enlightenment from the Guru (Giaan–Wisdom), I have no concern with either. ॥5॥ (sggs 969).
- ਇਕਿ ਖੜੇ ਰਸਾਤਲਿ ਕਰਿ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਗਾਵਾਰਾ ॥ : (sggs 1081).
In a nutshell – as asserted by the SGGS – the hell is the Manmukh lifestyle, the Saakat lifestyle, the Mayaic lifestyle (ਮਾਇਕੀ ਜੀਵਨ), the life dictated by the conditioned mind, the life devoid of the Naam (Giyan-Wisdom/Virtues…), the life dictated by ignorance (ਅਗਿਆਨਤਾ), the life lived in fear, and so on.
- ਕਵਨੁ ਕਵਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਪਤਰਿਆ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਰੀ ਪਰਤੀਤਿ ॥ ਮਹਾ ਮੋਹਨੀ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਨਰਕ ਕੀ ਰੀਤਿ ॥੧॥ : (O Mayaic mind!) By placing trust (reliance…) in you, who is not deceived. You are enticed (bewitched) by the great enticer (Maya) – this is the way to a hellish existence! ||1|| (sggs 815).
- ਮਨੂਆ ਡੋਲੈ ਨਰਕੇ ਪਾਈ ॥ : (Sans of Naam) the mind wavers and endures hellish existence (here and now). (sggs 906).
- ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਨ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਰਕਿ ਪਾਹਿ ॥ : Sans of remembrance of the Divine (Virtues), mortals endure hellish existence (here and now). (sggs 1192).
- ਪ੍ਰੇਤ ਪਿੰਜਰ ਮਹਿ ਦੂਖ ਘਨੇਰੇ ॥ ਨਰਕਿ ਪਚਹਿ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਅੰਧੇਰੇ ॥ : (The ignorant beings are like) ghost. (For them, their body is like) ghost-cage and suffer all sorts of afflictions. (Thus these) spiritually blind ignorant beings putrefy in hellish existence (Here and Now). (sggs 1029).
- ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਨਰਕ ਨਿਵਾਸੀ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਆਤਮ ਜਾਪੈ ॥ : Slandering others, (a Manmukh) knows within his soul that he is living a hellish life. (sggs 1013).
- ਜਿਸ ਕੈ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਰਾਜ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੁ ॥ ਸੋ ਨਰਕਪਾਤੀ ਹੋਵਤ ਸੁਆਨੁ ॥ : One who has the pride of ‘Raj‘ within (to rule, control or, dominate others etc.), (he is a dog and) that dog becomes vested in hellish existence (Here and Now). (sggs 278).
- ਹੇ ਕਾਮੰ ਨਰਕ ਬਿਸ੍ਰਾਮੰ ਬਹੁ ਜੋਨੀ ਭ੍ਰਮਾਵਣਹ ॥ : O lust (i.e. Bikaar), you push the indulgent into hell (hellish existence, you make them wander into countless (mind’s behavioral) forms or sufferings. (sggs 1358).
Hence, according to the Gurbani, to avoid the hellish life or existence is staying connected with one’s Mool (Source, Original Nature or, Jot Saroop) within, live a daily life of Virtues, and so on.
- ਸਾਧ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਨਰਕ ਪਰਹਰੈ ॥ : By persuading the mind to associate with the Saadh within (Gurmukh, Bhagat, Daas, Jan, Wisdom etc.), hellish existence is eliminated. (sggs 272).
- ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਬਚਨਿ ਨਰਕਿ ਨ ਪਵੈ ॥ : With the blessing of Guru’s teachings (Upadesh, Wisdom) man does not fall into hellish existence. (sggs 177).
- ਗਲੀ ਭਿਸਤਿ ਨ ਜਾਈਐ ਛੁਟੈ ਸਚੁ ਕਮਾਇ ॥ : Mere talk does not lead to heaven; liberation (from vices/Bikaar) lies in God realization.(sggs 141).
In a nutshell, the Gurbani urges us to make the efforts (Shabad-Vichaar…), and switch from the Manmukh-lifestyle to the Gurmukh-Lifestyle.
- ਜਿਤਨੇ ਨਰਕ ਸੇ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਭੋਗੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਲੇਪੁ ਨ ਮਾਸਾ ਹੇ ॥੧੨॥ : The Manmukh undergoes hellish existence (i.e. sufferings); the Gurmukh is not even touched by them. ||12|| (sggs 1073).
- ਉਦਮੁ ਕਰਤ ਹੋਵੈ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਨਾਚੈ ਆਪੁ ਨਿਵਾਰੇ ॥ … ਐਸੀ ਨਿਰਤਿ ਨਰਕ ਨਿਵਾਰੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਗੈ ॥੪॥੪॥੪੩॥: (sggs 381).
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