Purpose of Human Birth

At some point in life the question ‘What’s the purpose of life?’ crosses the mind of every human being. Plenty of scientists, philosophers, and theologians have spent their lifetime finding an answer to this question and have written about it. In this regard, there are the views of Semitic or Abrahamic religions, the eastern religions, the science, philosophers, and so on.

If you visit any Gurudwara these days and listen to the preaching therein, you will find a strange cocktail of these various views being preached by most of the Sikhs and Sikh Pujaaree (clergy) groups and preachers believing in reincarnation or transmigration, heaven and hell up there in the sky, Sach Khand up there in the sky, Jum Doot-Dharma Raj-Chitr Gupt, physical death, and so on. However, an independent and objective study of the SGGS reveals that the SGGS critiques, rejects and debunks these views.

However, a true Sikh (learner, student) of the the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) considers only the View (teaching, counsel, Upadesh) as enunciated in the SGGS. Otherwise we will be doing injustice to the Sikh Gurus who so painstakingly preserved their original Message in the SGGS.

In short, the Sikh view of life’s purpose is similar to the View of the science. A true scientific spirit has no place for superstitions, rituals (Karamkaand), casteism (Jaat Paat), inequality, injustice, hostility, social hierarchy, and so on. Also, a true scientific spirit has no place for baseless claims or concocted stories by the self-serving clergy about the earth, the sun, the moon and the stars, and so on. Baabaa Nanak explained they were all suspended in space, always moving on their natural course and that the eclipses were nothing but natural shadows on the face of the sun and the moon. The life of Baabaa Nanak was a forceful protest against narrowness of all kinds, the hallmark of his scientific spirit.

Cocoon of falsehood

The purpose of life is to break out of the cocoon of falsehood and realize the Truth or Creator Within HERE AND NOW.

As counseled by the Gurbani in SGGS, although our mind’s True Nature is Jot Saroop, but on account of its attachment to Maya —wordily temptations and their corrupting influences — it now has become like a split grain or seed (fragmented, divided, ਦਲੀ ਹੋਈ ਦਾਲ ਵਾਂਗ ਦੋ ਫਾੜ)!

• ਬੀਉ ਬੀਜਿ ਪਤਿ ਲੈ ਗਏ ਅਬ ਕਿਉ ਉਗਵੈ ਦਾਲਿ ॥ ਜੇ ਇਕੁ ਹੋਇ ਤ ਉਗਵੈ ਰੁਤੀ ਹੂ ਰੁਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥: Those who planted the seed (of Divine Naam) within have departed with honor; (but) those whose mind is split in duality (fragmented-ਦਾਲ ਵਾਂਗ ਦੋ-ਫਾੜ), how can the seed (of Naam: Wisdom /Virtues) sprout in their mind?The seed sprouts only if the seed is whole (undivided-Saabat…) and if the season is proper (the seed of Naam will sprout only if the mind is not split in duality: Unfragmented, Whole-Saabat…). (sggs 468).

This split, division, or fragmentation is the result of our love for Maya (the principle of plurality…). Although Maya and Brahma are blended with everything, but, on account of our attachment or fascination for Maya, our mind either ignores or overrules what our Budhi (intellect) tells it.

• ਮਾਇਆ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਰਮੈ ਸਭ ਸੰਗ ॥: Maya and Brahm are blended with everything. (sggs 343).

The Gurbani teaches us that we cannot link back to our Mool (Jot Saroop), unless and until we become One again (Whole, Total, Undivided, Unconditioned, ਸਾਬਤ…), here and now. In other word, all conditioning, fragmentation, divisions, duality etc. must vanish and only One must remain.

• ਯਾ ਜੁਗ ਮਹਿ ਏਕਹਿ ਕਉ ਆਇਆ ॥ ਜਨਮਤ ਮੋਹਿਓ ਮੋਹਨੀ ਮਾਇਆ ॥: (Man) is born in this life only to become ONE (with Prabh, Mool, etc. – through Naam…). (But) ever since (man’s) birth, (he) has been enticed and deceived by Maya. (sggs 251).
• ਏਕੁ ਰਹਿਆ ਤਾ ਏਕੁ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ ॥੨॥: (When only) One (Truth) remains, then the One (Lord) is revealed (to him). ||2|| (sggs 886).
• ਏਕ ਜੋਤਿ ਏਕੋ ਮਨਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਸਭ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਇਕੁ ਕੀਜੈ ॥: The One, the Jot (Light…) of the One, abides within my mind; the One Brahm is seen in all. (sggs 1325).
• ਇਉ ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮਨ ਤੂੰ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਅਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥੫॥ : This is what Nanak says: O my mind, you are ‘Jot Saroop’ — the embodiment of the Divine Light (Creator), recognize your own Mool (ORIGIN). ||5|| (sggs 441).

The process to break open the cocoon of falsehood

As taught by the Gurbani what’s the Process (Way, ਵਿਧਿ…) for becoming One again? According to the Gurbani, the Process is becoming the Gurmukh or ‘Sachiaaraa’. The Gurmat (Giaan or Wisdom, Upadesh or Way of the SGGS) counsels this human life is the opportunity given to all of us to become ONE again (‘ਸਾਬਤ ਸੂਰਤਿ’). To become ONE again is to become ‘SACHIAARAA‘ – God-Realized being, here and now!

• ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥: How then can I become God-Realized being within (‘Sachiaaraa‘)? How can I remove the obstacle of my non-realized state within? O Nanak! (The way to realize Creator within is to) remain within the confines of His Hukam (the System or Law of Nature…) and abide in Sahaj , as (Creator and His Hukam) is contained with us. ||1|| (sggs 1).
• ਏਕੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਤਾ ॥: A person who By becomes the Gurmukh, realizes the One ‘Niranjan‘ (without defects, Universal Energy etc.). (sggs 223).
• ਜਿਨਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਜਾਤਾ ਤਿਨਿ ਏਕੁ ਪਛਾਤਾ ॥: Who knows (ਪਛਾਣ…) the Satiguru (True Wisdom-ਸੱਚਾ ਗਿਆਨ) Realizes the One. (sggs 1070).

To become ‘Sachiaaraa’ is = ‘Hukam Rajaaee chalanaa‘ (‘ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ)! This declaration of ‘Hukam Rajaaee chalanaa‘ (‘ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ‘) is the Core of Baabaa Nanak Spirituality. Hence it’s the Central concept of Sikhi and the summary of entire SGGS.

In other words one must live to the end in Undivided Consciousness (‘ਸਾਬਤ ਸੂਰਤਿ’). To yet put it otherwise, one must transcend the body-consciousness (animal consciousness…), duality (two-ness, Mayaic consciousness…), and so on.

In short, Internalization of the Message of the Shabad is the State of Mind which is characterized by Wisdom, Enlightenment, bravery, Goodness, Virtues, truthfulness, fearlessness, blissfulness (Anand), piety, Joyfulness, positivity, Happiness, balanced and poised life, living dead, Jot Saroop or Mool-Abidance etc.

Thus, the Realization of the Mental State ‘Sachiaaraa’ or Gurmukhs-Hood is not a social status or a title, it is a question of Mool-Abidance.

• ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਵਸੀਅਲੇ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣਿ ਰਹੈ ॥: Internalization of the spiritual Message of the Shabad (the Gurmukh-Hood State of Mind) enables its Essence to be Rooted (Mool) within the mind permanently. (sggs 945).
• ਗੁਣ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕਿਰਤਾਰਥੁ ਸੋਭਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਈ ॥ (sggs 445).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕੋਈ ਸਚੁ ਕਮਾਵੈ ॥ (sggs 1344).
• ਜੀਵਨ ਮੁਕਤੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕੋ ਹੋਈ ॥ (sggs 232).

All Gurus and Bhagats have practically demonstrated to the entire world that this can be and must be done, Here and Now — harmonize life with the Hukam (System-Rule-Law of Nature/Universe).

Off course, this will require commandment towards this target of life. And to meet this ultimate purpose of life, the Gurbani asks us to keep aimed at the target with the sword or arrow of Gur-Giaan or Wisdom.

Current life is the only opportunity

Our current life is the only opportunity we get and we need to make the most of it.

• ਭਈ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਮਾਨੁਖ ਦੇਹੁਰੀਆ ॥ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਮਿਲਣ ਕੀ ਇਹ ਤੇਰੀ ਬਰੀਆ ॥ ਅਵਰਿ ਕਾਜ ਤੇਰੈ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਕਾਮ ॥ ਮਿਲੁ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਭਜੁ ਕੇਵਲ ਨਾਮ ॥੧॥: (O Human being!) You have been blessed with a human body. This is your only opportunity to unite with the Creator. Other worldly deeds (e.g. Karamkaand, rituals, formalities, concocted concepts etc.) are of no use to you in realizing God. Therefore join the holy congregation (i.e. Satsangee Jan, seekers) and lovingly remember the divine Naam (Virtues / Wisdom). ||1|| (sggs 12).

In a nutshell, the Gurbani in SGGS teaches us that NOBODY can do it for anybody else. In other words, It can NOT be made an order, or given to somebody as a readymade package, or blown into somebody’s ears, or spit into somebody’s mouth etc.

• ਆਪਣ ਹਥੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਕਾਜੁ ਸਵਾਰੀਐ ॥੨੦॥: (So long there is breath — Praan) with own hands (with self-efforts, ਉੱਦਮ ਕਰ ਕੇ: Shabad-Vichaar …), resolve your own affair yourself. ||20|| (sggs 474).
• ਆਪਣਾ ਕਾਰਜੁ ਆਪਿ ਸਵਾਰੇ ਹੋਰਨਿ ਕਾਰਜੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਜਿਤੁ ਕਾਰਜਿ ਸਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਦਇਆ ਧਰਮੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬੂਝੈ ਕੋਈ ॥੩॥: (One) resolves his own affair himself (i.e. the ultimate Purpose of life of God Realization); anyone else cannot do this work (for him). Only a rare Guru’s follower (Gurmukh-Hood Mindset) understands that his Realization of God requires the virtues like Godly Contentment, Compassion and Dharma. ||3|| (sggs 351).

Having said that, the Guru’s Shabad teaches us to live a noble life
according to the Hukam and teachings of Guru. Those who don’t
are spiritually and morally dead. They are worse than animals.

• ਕਰਿੂਤਿ ਪਸੂ ਕੀ ਮਾਨਸ ਜਾਤਿ ॥ : Although; human in name or creed, but actions are that of animalistic nature. (sggs 267).
• ਦੁਲਭ ਦੇਹ ਪਾਈ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ॥ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਜਪਹਿ ਤੇ ਆਤਮ ਘਾਤੀ ॥੧॥ ਮਰਿ ਨ ਜਾਹੀ ਜਿਨਾ ਬਿਸਰਤ ਰਾਮ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਹੂਨ ਜੀਵਨ ਕਉਨ ਕਾਮ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਖਾਤ ਪੀਤ ਖੇਲਤ ਹਸਤ ਬਿਸਥਾਰ ॥ ਕਵਨ ਅਰਥ ਮਿਰਤਕ ਸੀਗਾਰ ॥੨॥ ਜੋ ਨ ਸੁਨਹਿ ਜਸੁ ਪਰਮਾਨੰਦਾ ॥ ਪਸੁ ਪੰਖੀ ਤ੍ਰਿਗਦ ਜੋਨਿ ਤੇ ਮੰਦਾ ॥੩॥ : Human body is unique and it is good fortune to obtain it. Those who do not realize Naam (Wisdom / Virtues) are committing suicide (fall prey to spiritual death). ||1|| Those who forget God’s Naam might as well die. A life bereft of Naam is of no use. ||1||Pause|| (Those bereft of Naam – spiritually dead) may pass their life gratifying their senses with plenty of objects of eating, drinking, playing and enjoyment. (These sense objects do not provide lasting satisfaction. They are akin to) adornment of a dead body, which is of no use. ||2|| Human beings who do not listen to – and emulate –  the divine Virtues are worse than animals, birds and creeping creatures. ||3|| (sggs 188).