In Sikhi, the question of free will is not a mere philosophical curiosity but a lived reality that shapes how we navigate existence. Do we, as Sikhs, possess free will? Gurbani offers a profound answer: we have free will – the freedom to intend – but not free action. The power to manifest our intentions in the physical world belongs solely to Kartaar – the one and only Doer. This delicate balance invites us to reflect deeply on our role and responsibilities in the cosmic order, guided by the truth of Gurbani.

The Nature of Will

At the core of Gurmat thought lies the recognition that all action flows from Kartaar. Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji establishes this truth with clarity:

ਕਰਨ ਕਰਾਵਨ ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਤੁਮ ਹੀ ਤੁਮ ਸਮਰਥ ਨਾਹੀ ਅਨ ਹੋਰੀ ॥
“You alone create and cause everything to happen; no other is capable but You.”

This Pangti affirms that the ability to do, to enact, rests entirely with Kartar. Our will – the inner spark of intention – is ours to wield, but its manifestation depends on His command. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji echoes this in Sri Jap Ji Sahib:

ਹੁਕਮੈ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਹੁਕਮ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
“Everyone is subject to His Command; no one is beyond His Command.”

We are free to conceive, to aspire, to choose, yet the bridge from thought to reality is built by Vaheguru’s Hukam. This distinction – free will without free action – reveals our dependence on the Karta (Doer), while being endowed with a distinct, conscious inner agency.

Responsibility Amid Divine Bondage to Hukam

If Vaheguru is the ultimate doer, what becomes of human responsibility? Sikhi does not absolve us of accountability. Our free will, though limited to the mind, carries weight because Vaheguru, in His infinite grace, manifests both our virtuous and destructive desires according to His Bhana (divine will). We cannot shrug off negative actions with the excuse that “Vaheguru does everything,” for the seed of intention is ours to plant. As Guru Arjan Dev Ji teaches:

ਆਪਣ ਹਥੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਕਾਜੁ ਸਵਾਰੀਐ ॥
“With your own hands, resolve your own affairs.”

This verse urges us to take ownership of our choices. At first glance, this Pangti might seem to contradict the idea that we cannot act independently. Yet, when viewed through the lens of Hukam, it becomes clear: it is the act of aligning our will with Gurmat that is our call to action. Vaheguru may manifest the outcome, but the choice to cultivate Gurmat or Manmat intentions lies with us. Thus, the gift of free will demands ownership of our inner landscape.

The paradox lies here: we are responsible for our will, even as its fruition rests beyond our control.

Gratitude for Good, Humility for Faults

When our good intentions bear fruit, it is not a triumph of our own making but a reflection of Vaheguru’s boundless mercy. Sri Guru Ram Das Ji describes this divine generosity:

ਇਛਾ ਪੂਰਕੁ ਸਰਬ ਸੁਖਦਾਤਾ ਹਰਿ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਵਸਿ ਹੈ ਕਾਮਧੇਨਾ ॥
“He fulfills all desires and bestows all happiness; the wish-fulfilling cow is under His command.”

Vaheguru, the fulfiller of desires, allows our noble aspirations to take form. When we perform acts in alignment with Gurmat, such as Bhagti and Seva, we must celebrate them as manifestations of His grace, not as our as own accomplishments. This calls for a mindset of gratitude – acknowledging that even our capacity for good actions is a divine gift.

Yet, this gratitude must be tempered with humility. When we stumble, we must own our missteps, for the will to err was ours. The Gurmat path demands this dual awareness: thanking Vaheguru for every virtuous deed He enables while accepting responsibility for the flaws we cultivate. As per Gurbani:

ਦੋਸੁ ਨ ਦੀਜੈ ਕਾਹੂ ਲੋਗ ॥ ਜੋ ਕਮਾਵਨੁ ਸੋਈ ਭੋਗ ॥
“Don’t blame others, O people; as you plant, so shall you harvest.”

Effort Within the Hukam

Living this paradox requires effort – an udam – that aligns us with the divine will. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji says:

ਉਦਮੁ ਕਰਉ ਕਰਾਵਹੁ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਪੇਖਤ ਸਾਧੂ ਸੰਗਿ ॥
“I make the effort, and You cause it to happen, O Lord, in the company of the holy.”

This Pangti perfectly encapsulates the Sikh approach to free will. Our effort lies in our mind, but the outcome lies with Vaheguru. Effort is not futile; it is the bridge between our freedom and His grace.

Living Within the Paradox

Sikhi’s vision of free will is a call to live consciously within a sacred tension. We are free to will, yet bound by Hukam. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji reminds us:

ਹੁਕਮੀ ਹੋਵਨਿ ਆਕਾਰ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਕਹਿਆ ਜਾਈ ॥
“By His Command, creations are created; His Command cannot be described.”

To walk this path is to surrender ego while embracing responsibility – to act with purpose while surrendering to Vaheguru’s Hukam. Our will is a spark within His infinite flame, a trust we must wield with care. In gratitude for the good He manifests through us, and in humility for the faults we own, we find the essence of Gurmat: a life of intention, surrender, and humbleness.

Written By: Musäfr