Role and purpose of humanity
Many Sikhs believe that WaheguruSikhs believe in one God called Waheguru which means ‘Wonderful Lord’ or ‘Wonderful Teacher’. lives inside everyone like a reflection in a mirror or fragrance within a flower
. Through a long series of reincarnationThe religious belief that existence is a cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth, and that the soul survives physical death and is reborn in a new body., possibly through up to 8,400,000 forms of life, they will be purifyTo make ritually clean. and be able to return to Waheguru.
The belief is that:
- each reincarnation as human or animal is temporary
- only humans can decide between right and wrong
For this reason, many Sikhs see their human life as the only time when the cycle of death and rebirthThe belief that some part of a person (perhaps their energy) passes into a new life form after death. can be broken. The escape from the cycle of death and rebirth is known as muktiThe freeing of the soul from rebirth/salvation/liberation..
Sikhism teaches the idea of karma/kammaActions, and the consequences of actions. An important concept in Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. or 'intentional action'. This means that Sikhs hope to achieve:
- good meritA beneficial influence built up through wholesome and skillful actions (karma), capable of affecting a person's future experience in this life and the next., and hope to avoid punishment - through good action and by living a good life and keeping God in their minds
- a good rebirth to improve their chances of re-uniting with God
Many Sikhs believe God unites with those he is pleased with. When they have been united with Waheguru, the cycle of birth and death ends, suffering ends and the whole cycle is broken.