Q: How did we come into existence?
A: Sikhism recognizes God as the creator of this Universe and
the entire life. “He established the Earth, the sky and the air,
the water of the oceans, fire and food. He created the Moon, the
stars and the Sun, night and day and mountains; He blessed the
trees with flowers and fruits. He created the demigods, human
beings and the seven oceans; He established the three worlds (life
in water, on land and in the air)” (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1399).
“He created the Sun and the Moon; night and day, they move
according to His Will” (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 580).
Guru Granth Sahib Ji explains what existed before God’s creation
and how He created everything. “For endless ages, there was only
utter darkness. There was no Earth or sky; there was only His
Command. There was no day or night, no Moon or Sun; God sat in
primal and profound meditative position. There were no sources of
speech or food, no air or water. There was no creation or
destruction, no birth or death. There were no continents, regions,
seven oceans, rivers or flowing water. There were no heavenly
realms, Earth or nether regions of the underworld. There was no
destruction or time. There was no hell or heaven, no birth or
death, no cycle of reincarnation. There was no Brahma, Vishnu or
Shiva. No one was seen, except the One Lord. There was no female or
male, no social class or caste to be born into; no one experienced
pain or pleasure. There were no people of celibacy or charity; no
one lived in the forests. There were no saints or seekers of living
in peace. There were no yogis, no wandering pilgrims, no religious
robes; no one called himself the master. There was no chanting or
meditation, no self-discipline, fasting or worship. No one spoke or
talked in duality. He Himself created and rejoiced; He Himself
valued everything. There was no purification, no self-restraint, no
rosary beads. There were no Gopis, no Krishna, no cows or cowherds.
There were no tantras, no mantras and no hypocrisy; no one played
the flute. There was no karma, no dharma, no buzzing fly of Maya.
Social class and birth were not seen with any eyes. There was no
emotional attachment, no death inscribed upon the forehead; no one
meditated on anything. There was no slander, no seed, no soul and
no life. There was no Gorakh and no Maachhindra. There was no
spiritual wisdom or meditation, no ancestry or creation, no
reckoning of accounts. There were no castes or social classes, no
religious robes, no Brahmin or Kh’shaatriya. There were no
demi-gods or temples, no cows or Gaayatri prayer. There were no
burnt offerings, no ceremonial feasts, no cleansing rituals at
sacred shrines of pilgrimage; no one worshipped in adoration. There
were no Muslims, there was no Qazi. There was no Shaykh, or
pilgrims to Mecca. There was no king and no worldly egotism; no one
spoke of himself. There was no love or devotion, no Shiva, no
energy or matter. There were no friends or companions, no semen or
blood. He Himself has been the banker, and He Himself has been the
merchant. There were no Vedas, Korans or Bibles, no Simritees or
Shaastras. There was no recitation of the Puraanas, no sunrise or
sunset. The Unfathomable Lord Himself was the speaker and the
preacher; the unseen Lord Himself saw everything. When He so
willed, He created the world. Without any supporting power, He
sustained the Universe. He created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; He
fostered enticement and attachment to Maya. Rare is the person who
listens to the word of the Guru’s Shabad. He created the creation,
and watches over it; His command is over all. He formed the
planets, solar systems, nether regions and brought what was hidden
to manifestation. No one knows His limits. This understanding comes
from the perfect Guru. O Nanak, those who are attuned to the Truth
are wonderstruck; singing His glorious praises, they are filled
with wonder” (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1035).
Unlike many Christian denominations, Sikhism does not believe
that the Earth was created 6000 years ago. Sikhism tells us that
the Universe and the Earth has been going on for billions of years.
God created the entire Universe including the Earth and the entire
creation has been evolving since. “Many millions are the fields of
creation and galaxies. Many millions are the skies and solar
systems. Many millions are divine incarnations. He has unfolded
Himself in so many ways. He has expanded His expansion of creation
many times. Forever and ever, He is the One, the One Universal
Creator. Many millions are created in various forms. From God they
emanate, and into God they merge once again. His limits are not
known to anyone. O Nanak, God exists by Himself.” (Guru Granth
Sahib Ji, 276). Sikhism further tells us that this is not the only
time God has created the Universe; He has done it many times over
and over again.
“The director (God) stages the play, playing many characters
(life forms) in different costumes (bodies); but when the play ends
(world ends), He takes off the costumes, and then He is one, and
only one. How many forms and images appeared and disappeared? Where
have they gone? Where did they come from?” (Guru Granth Sahib Ji,
736). “When the Creator projects Himself, He creates many planets,
living beings and life forms. When He draws His creation within
Himself, all living beings merge in Him” (Benti Chaupai Sahib,
Pauree 13). When he creates the creation, he creates the galaxies,
stars, planets, living organisms and when he disintegrates His
creation, all living creatures merge back in Him.
Related Information
Science and Sikhism
Gurbani Quotes on Universe
http://realsikhism.com/index.php?subaction=show…
