Sikhs see heaven and hell as states of mind. Sikhs believe in reincarnation, the idea that each soul goes through multiple lives. However, Sikhs believe that once a soul attaches to the Vastness of God, instead of to the petty interests of the world, that soul will not reincarnate but will return directly home to God upon “Death.” In that case, the cycle of reincarnation ends. The realization that the soul is always united with God anyway is the usual precursor to this happy ending. 

Do Sikhs believe in heaven and in hell?

In the Sikh view, it is right in front of us, every day. Sikhs believe that if you love God, you are in heaven. If you forget God, you are in hell.

~This information was originally shared in the books Sikh Spiritual Practice: The Sound Way to God (2010) by Siri Kirpal Kaur Khalsa and Living Reality (1994) by Bibiji Inderjit Kaur Khalsa.

Note: additional information on Sikh Dharma beliefs and the afterlife will be covered in Sikh Dharma 201.