The Danger of Prayer

Sometimes, prayer (Ardaas) instead of bringing benefit, can actually cause harm. While Waheguru is merciful and forgiving, He is also perfectly just and fair. This combination being both merciful and just is essential for our spiritual growth. If Waheguru were only merciful and not just, or only just and not merciful, it would be nearly impossible for a soul to escape the traps of worldly illusion (Maya) and reach Him.

A Gursikh who is unaware of this divine nature of Waheguru often makes misguided prayers, which can lead to personal harm. For example, when a Gursikh prays: "O True King, I am full of mistakes and sins. Please forgive all my past misdeeds," and then believes that mere prayer alone has erased all sins this shows a lack of understanding of Waheguru’s just nature. Waheguru does not forgive sins just because someone prayed. If He did, He would not be just.

Repentance alone is not enough to have one’s faults forgiven. A Gursikh must provide clear and practical evidence of sincere repentance proof that shows the regret is genuine and heartfelt.

The true proof of repentance is reform. One must resolve never to commit that same mistake again. When one avoids repeating the wrong and stays away from bad actions, that becomes the actual proof presented at the feet of Waheguru. Only when a Gursikh combines their Ardaas with real effort and reform, does Waheguru grant forgiveness because such forgiveness is aligned with divine justice.

Justice is not meant to punish, but to reform. It only punishes so the wrongdoer may improve. But if the person has already reformed and proves their sincerity, then justice no longer requires punishment instead, it supports forgiveness.

Even in worldly courts, if a judge believes the accused is genuinely sorry and won’t repeat the offense, the punishment is often minimized. That minimal punishment is only given because a human judge cannot fully see into the heart. Waheguru, however, is all-knowing and sees the truth inside. If He is convinced the repentance is genuine and that the person will not sin again, He forgives immediately.

That’s why reform is essential for forgiveness. Where there is reform, forgiveness surely follows. Where there is no reform, verbal prayers, offering karah prashad, or visiting holy places seeking forgiveness these are all meaningless. Because without practical proof of sincerity, these acts are hollow.

In any religion, country, or community where it becomes common practice to seek forgiveness for past sins through mere verbal prayers, forgiveness never truly settles there. Such societies never make moral progress. Instead, these shallow practices promote hypocrisy. They encourage people to sin boldly, thinking they can just “get forgiven” again later. Such prayers become a license to sin and are actually harmful enemies in disguise.

When someone begins to believe that their wrongdoings can be washed away simply by offering Karah Prashad and having a Granthi do Ardaas, their sinful desires hide behind this easy method and push them to commit more sin, thinking they can just repeat the process later. But in Gurmat, only forgiveness that results in reform has value. Forgiveness without change has no place.

That’s why Gursikhs pray daily:

Forgive our past errors, O Lord, and guide us on the right path ahead. – Ang 624

The True Guru cuts the bonds of the Sikh; the Sikh of the Guru departs from wickedness.  Ang 286 SGGS

 

Some Gursikhs say: We can’t do anything on our own. Only Waheguru’s grace can help us overcome sin.” Yet these same people commit sins and then go to the Gurdwara to pray for forgiveness. Doing this daily leads to no hatred for the sin, no inner fight against weakness, and no courage to improve.

Some even cite Gurbani lines like:

O Lord, protect me! I can do nothing. Grant me Your Name through Your grace.   Ang 675 SGGS

What is there to wash in this clay body?   This is the state of man.       Ang 882 SGGS

But they forget that the ones who uttered these verses lived lives of intense effort, discipline, and moral strength. Sinful thoughts did not even approach them—they lived lives of spiritual warriors.

These verses were not meant to encourage compromise with evil. They were spoken to remove ego from the hearts of strong, disciplined Gursikhs. A true Gursikh lives by the Guru’s wisdom, striving to conquer low desires and mental weaknesses. In the end, with the Guru’s help, they achieve victory over the mind—but they attribute that victory not to themselves, but to Waheguru’s grace.

The Guru Granth Sahib advises us to overcome inner weakness with divine wisdom, remembrance of God’s Name, courage, and firm resolve:

Make the effort, O my soul; through labor, you shall enjoy peace. Ang 522

“Meditate on God, and all worries will depart.” Ang 522

Those who continue sinful actions while following their mind and think that bathing at pilgrimage sites or praying in temples or Gurdwaras will cleanse their sins are directly addressed in Guru Granth Sahib:

They commit sins under the control of the five passions, and think bathing at pilgrimages will cleanse them.  Ang 1348 SGGS

But then they commit the same sins again without fear, and are bound and taken to the house of death.  Ang 1348 SGGS

Even sincere Gursikhs, despite hating their weaknesses and sincerely trying to overcome them, may occasionally fall. In such cases, Waheguru (or His divine law) often hides their wrongdoing from the world but places deep regret and pain in their hearts. Whether harsh or gentle correction is applied depends on the sincerity and strength of that Gursikh.

If a Gursikh loses in their internal battle despite trying, their mistake is not exposed to the world. But if they ignore the inner warning and continue sinning, then their errors are revealed publicly, or they are corrected through suffering, illness, or even death.

Khalsa is the one who constantly fights a righteous battle.  Dasam Bani

Blessed is the one who keeps God on their lips while waging war within.

According to this teaching, a true Gursikh is always at war with low desires and weak tendencies. They see victory over sin as their divine right. Winning this inner war is itself a form of divine forgiveness.

From the book Ardaas Shakti by Raghbir Singh 'Bir', 

translated and respectfully adapted by 

Arvinder Singh, UK