HEAVEN & HELL
HEAVEN and HELL are imagined worlds. Heaven is regarded as state of living in pleasure and bliss; and, hell is regarded as a state of pain and suffering.
According to religious belief when one dies, in accordance to his/her deeds, he/she is assigned abode either in heaven or in hell.
According to the Sikh philosophy, there is no heaven or hell beyond this world; heaven and hell are right here, in this world and in one’s life.
Life of godliness (following path of God) is heaven and an evil life (living in ego and away from the Supreme Love) is hell; and, all this exists on this earth and in this very life.
In Gurbaani, the terms heaven (Swarg/Baikuntth/Bahishat/Jannat) and hell (Narak or Jahannum) have been frequently used because it was popular vocabulary, familiar to the people of the day.
These references are contextual, relative and metaphoric and not conceptual. Sikhism does not believe in re-birth, hence this birth is not because of Karma (past deeds), rather it is Karam (Graceful Blessing) of God (karami avai kappra, nadri mokh duar. {Here, Karam is Persian term meaning Grace like Nadar i.e. Blessing) and not the Karma of Sanskrit}.
None knows where the paradise is,
But everyone says that he knows.
Kabir says: whom to tell this?
The paradise is in the congregation of saints. (Guru Granth Sahib, p.325)
Let us not desire for paradise, and not fear from living in hell,
Whatever has to happen, it will happen, build no hope in mind.
(Guru Granth Sahib, p.337)
The salvation and paradise are in the congregation of saints.
The men of God are blessed with the abode of God (in their heart).
(Guru Granth Sahib, p.682)
Heaven is the place where men of God abide. (Guru Granth Sahib, p.742)
The paradise is where Your (i.e. God’s) praise is sung.
(Guru Granth Sahib, p.749)
Everyone wants to go to heaven
Knowing not where heaven is.
Some people do not know even their self;
Yet they talk of heaven.
Till your mind hopes for heaven
You can‘t have place at His feet.
Kabir says: What to say now?
The heaven is in the congregation of saints (i.e. men of God).
(Guru Granth Sahib, p.1161)
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)