Predestination and Karma in Sikhism Divine Will or

Predestination and Karma in Sikhism: Divine Will or Human Effort?

Predestination • Fundamental to Sikh belief is that ultimate escape from samsara is responsibility of God rather than the individual. • Nadar is the “Grace of God”. Sight or vision of God. • The Grace of God is conceived of as the gift of God to mankind. Guru Nanak lays great stress on his teachings about Grace in his hymns, and as Kohli points out: • “Jiva takes its birth in the world on account of karmas, but the final liberation is attained only through the grace of God. ” • (Kohli, S. S. (1976) Outlines of Sikh Thought, Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, p. 49) • Supremacy of God in all respects

Since Guru Nanak greatly emphasized bhakti, it seems inevitable that the Supremacy of God would be shown as being paramount in each individual’s quest for liberation. Guru Nanak highlighted continuously that without Nadar, the individual’s efforts are to no avail: “Thinking avails not, howso hard one thinks; Nor silence avails, howsoever one shrinks Into oneself. . . His Will Inborn in us, ingrained, Thou follow. (Thus is Truth attained). ” (AG 1) •

• Sikhism teaches that God has power to override all systems – including the law of karma. • Human not puppet – must work towards salvation, otherwise why the golden opportunity? • Freewill • Manmukh to Gurmukh is own efforts • Human birth is a chance • No guarantee of mukti at end of this life for gurmukh, only God knows. • God is not unjust • In mul mantar, God is Gurpurshad – through Grace can God be known

• Hukam and Nadar are connected. • Each being, according to Sikhism is predestined according to the Will (Hukam) of God. Release from samsara ultimately dependent on the Grace (Nadar) of God. Individual efforts only so far • The true gurmukh lives in total submission to the Hukam. This is clarified on p 636 of the GGS: In the Lord’s Will does one come into the world; in His Will, one passes out of it. In the Lord’s Will is the Egocentric driven along, and suffers sorrow (at the Yama’s abode). In the Lord’s Will is the word Realised, and one is Robed at the Lord’s Court. (AG 636). • Some individuals remain manmukh because they remain in the ignorant state – choose to be governed by their haumai rather than love for God. • Nadar (Grace) through the life of the householder

Karma (karam) • Law of karma is still very operative. Guru Nanak accepted this important concept of his Hindu upbringing. • Not karma ultimately but in accordance with Nadar and Hukam – Guru Nanak devout bhakta. • Guru Nanak himself defines the law of karma as: “As one does, so is one rewarded: As one sows, so also one reaps. ” (AG 662) • Thomas clearly draws out the significance of Hukam in Guru Nanak’s teachings. He states that in asserting God’s Sovereignty, Nanak implies that the law of karma is subject to the Hukam: “It is not always clear in other Indian religions exactly what God’s role is in relation to karma. In Guru Nanak, the combination of the sovereignty of God and the personal aspect of God means that the bad effects of karma as well as the good are as a result of the will of God. ” (Thomas, T. (1988) The Religion of the Sikhs - Units 8 -9, Open University Press, p. 28. )

• If mukti not obtained, karma will decide condition of rebirth. Hukam will decide when the birth is human from other species. • No monism in Sikhism – released soul will live in bliss alongside the Divine, no “absorption” into the Divine. • Mukti not dependent on caste – Guru Nanak taught it was for all. Hence his rejection of ritualism and the sacred thread. • Love of God enables Grace to be obtained, hence bhakti is a central feature of Sikhism.

The five khands – “Realms of existence” • The paradox over whether it is God or freewill/human effort that decides mukti is explained through the pac khanda, or 5 realms of existence • These are the transition of the individual from manmukh to gurmukh. • Each stage is evolutionary • Involve both freewill and the Grace (Nadar) of God. • 1. DHARAM KHAND - initial Nadar (maybe human birth if not already), individual given opporunity to realize God • 2. GIAN KHAND – next stage of evolution is for indivdual to accept the Nadar through overcoming the haumai

• 3. SARAM KHAND – realm of effort. Since haumai lost in (2), now is the chance to work towards salvation through one’s own efforts. Live in total harmony with God’s Grace. • 4. KARAM KHAND – realm of Grace. Must wait now for the Grace of God, not always guaranteed in accordance with the Hukam (Will). • 5. SACH KHAND – realm of truth. Ultimate goal for a Sikh to reach this realm. This is where the liberating grace from samsara is given. Therefore, mukti for the soul. • Realms 1 -3 = Freewill/human effort • Realms 4 & 5 = Hukam/Nadar • Gurus help others achieve mukti, human preceptors, can’t give mukti.

activity • Prepare a summary of why Sikhs view samsara as an entrapment for the soul. • How does Sikh religious philosophy enable the individual to seek release through mukti. • Who is ultimately responsible for mukti – God or the indivudual? Explain your answer through a summary of both Sikh and your own opinions.