Life Lessons To Ponder

[Archived_Member16]

LIFE LESSONS TO PONDER:


There was a blind girl who hated herself because of her blindness. Not only did she hate herself but she hated everyone else, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend. One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything, including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, "now that you can see the world, will you marry me?" The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him. Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her that simply said. "Just take care of my eyes dear."

• This is how the human brain changes when our status changes. Only a few remember what life was like before and even fewer remember who to thank for always being there even when times were painfully unbearable.
• Today before you think of saying an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.
• Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
• Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to God for a companion.
  
• Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.
  
• Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.
  
• Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.
  
• Before whining about the distance you drive - Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
  
• And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.
  
• But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker.
  
• And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and thank God you're alive and still around.
  
• Life is a gift, Live it, Enjoy it, Celebrate it, And fulfill it.

- from a friend

 

[Taranjeet singh]

"Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven."[quoted from the above inspirational message]

Thanks!! for such a nice message. Does sikhism really believe in the Hindu's philosophy of Hell and heaven.? Kindly advise. shall be grateful.

 

[Archived_Member16]

source: Dr. Gobind Singh Mansukhani - "INTRODUCTION TO SIKHISM"

Is there a hell or heaven?

Man is judged according to his actions. If he has done evil deeds, he goes into lower forms of life; if he has done noble deeds, he gets a human life again. The idea of hell and heaven is a mere hypothesis. The picture of hell as a place of varied and terrible tortures is symbolic:

"There is a stream of fire from which comes poisnous flames.
There is none else there except the self.
The waves of the ocean of fire are aflame.
And the sinners are burning in them."
[SIZE=-1](A.G. p 1026)[/SIZE]
​

Shaikh Farid tells us that hell is a burning lake resounding with terrible cries. It may be added that the result of a sinful life is its adverse effect on character from which ultimately comes suffering and torment. In short, to be in hell is to be out of the presence of God.


Similarly there is no actual place called heaven. Sikhism does not regard the winning of a place in heaven as a worthy object. The old Indian concept of heaven is of a beautiful place providing all sorts of comforts and luxuries. The devotee is neither afraid of hell nor anxious to go to heaven. In a way, hell and heaven are conditions of mind. The virtuous man is happy and contented, as if he is living in heaven.

The concept of hell and heaven is just a rough illustration for clarifying the doctrine of Karma. Hell and heaven refer to evil or good stages of life repectively and they can be lived here and now in our earthly existence. According to Guru Arjan, "Whereever the praises of God are sung, there verily is heaven." Likewise, the society of the wicked is a hell. The condition of an average man is described thus: "Like birds that flock in the evening on a tree, flutter with pleasure and pain, scan the skies morning and evening, wandering everywhere, driven by hunger. So the soul of man wanders and suffers on earth." The worldly man eats, enjoys and sleeps, unmindful of the higher things of life. He is free, and perhaps, may choose wrongly.

 

[spnadmin]

"The concept of hell and heaven is just a rough illustration for clarifying the doctrine of Karma. Hell and heaven refer to evil or good stages of life repectively and they can be lived here and now in our earthly existence. According to Guru Arjan, "Whereever the praises of God are sung, there verily is heaven." Likewise, the society of the wicked is a hell. The condition of an average man is described thus: "Like birds that flock in the evening on a tree, flutter with pleasure and pain, scan the skies morning and evening, wandering everywhere, driven by hunger. So the soul of man wanders and suffers on earth." The worldly man eats, enjoys and sleeps, unmindful of the higher things of life. He is free, and perhaps, may choose wrongly"

This makes sense if one has ever felt one's soul wandering in pain on the face of the earth and realized it, then decided that it did not have to be like that.