Respected Tejwant Ji
Forgive me for the late response, weekends are a complete retreat for me, whenever possible.
You can ask almost anyone about controversial topics and they’ll be happy to give you an opinion, backed of course, by arguments and facts. Moreover, anyone can take a stand, and almost everyone can argue their viewpoint, but not all come with an open mind. Largely because their views and opinions are deep rooted in some philosophical or a particular system of belief. Our system however, is founded on the freedom of everything within the confines of spiritual, temporal system and regulated by sober conscience, which is underpinned by a set of hard-core values. We act on our instincts, whereas, sizeable population do so on instruction and prescription. I believe that we are obligated to strive for something more subtle, more meaningful and completely harmonious. And, in that we ought to carefully examine all sides of an issue, listen attentively to the arguments being made, and to come to a true understanding of how different people see the issues and what it means to them. Then, and only then, can we form an educated position and lead boldly in that direction, all the while demonstrating empathy for those with opposing views.
Attending to the subject matter at hand, reincarnation, I'll reiterate...at Gyani Ji's remarks above:
"...gur ghar, from an ideological perspective, treated reincarnation [note, not birth] as an ailment and nam simran a remedy, for how otherwise or from what must Nanak come to the rescue of humankind ? Yes, reincarnation it is from which Nanak must rescue the separated soul and reunite with the omnipotent, thus ending reincarnation. However one may view reincarnation or word it differently, but it indeed be, impossible to understand and interpret the moral base and development of Sikhism without accepting its validity. The reason arguably is quite simple, the deep n profound faith element it inspired and the abiding influence exercised amongst the people at the time denotes reincarnation indispensable.
Do I need to say more ? No !
We must never forget that people do not act and make choices in a vacuum. The factors influencing their choices can be understood, and these influences lie at two levels. The first level is that of the values and beliefs they have learnt through socialisation. What is socialisation ? It is the process by which we acquire the culture of the society into which we are born [at Nanak's time it was predominantly Hindu with a touch of Islam] What is culture ? It is the learned behaviour in any particular society, that includes for example, ideas [Hindu n Islam] techniques, practices, habits, which are passed on by one generation to another - in a sense, a social heritage. Also, a set of solutions to problems that, in the course of time, our predecessors have met and solved. In this manner of speaking, not only is Gurbani literature, the foundation of Sikh religion, but also the social heritage of today's Sikh generation.
The second level is practical constraints, that is, social engineering. In both levels, knowledge and understanding of the "society" at the times of the gurus and the banikars is fundamental. The then society was instrumental in giving birth to Sikhism. Reincarnation was for the people of Nanak's times what redemption and resurrection is for modern day Christians. Any attempts to interpret Gurbani in its absence would fall flat on its face rendering it inaccurate. It's like giving meaning to "married-bachelor" and asking, "what's north of North Pole ?"
Just as the story of science can never be told without the moments of revelation of Copernicus, Darwin and Einstein, so too the story of Nanak's Sikhism will remain incomplete without the theory of reincarnation.
I write with a jovial pen full of serene fluid on a tender leaf, try and repay me likewise.
Goodnight n Godbless
PS - I think reincarnation has been mullered beyond death, I'd like to leave with your permission ! Thank you
