User talk:Harisingh/SGGS on meat sept 2006

The term SGGS is short for Sri Guru Granth Sahib which is regarded as the final, current and perpetual Guru, Spiritual teacher, Master or Prophet of the Sikhs. Sikhism is regarded as the fifth largest organised religion in the world and is a faith that was formalised in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh. A Sikh by definition must accept the teachings of the SGGS to continue to be called a Sikh. The teachings of this holy Granth has many clear messages for the believer of this faith. The issue of whether a practising Sikh should kill and eat meat is one such issue. This article is intended to list only the teachings available on this issue from the Sikh holy scripture, Guru Granth Sahib and Varan Bhai Gurdas. The various personal views have been stated on the page: Sikh Diet

For a Sikh, Gurbani is the ultimate and supreme spiritual and moral guide for his or her actions and motivations in everything that they do. "Those Sikhs who hear and obey the Guru - all their desires depart" (SGGS page 726). No Hukamnama (Order, pronouncement or edict) by anyone else can move the Guru's Sikh away from this stand. Gurbani offers clear guidance on this issue. There is no reason to rely on other or further advice by any other third party. The following quotes from Varan Bhai Gurdas and Sri Guru Granth Sahib give the Sikhs clear and concise direction on what a Sikh should eat and other aspect of this facet of human life.

Bhai Gurdas ji was the first scribe of the Adi Granth who was responsible for the writing of the first compilation of the Holy Granth. While Guru Arjan Dev ji dictated the Bani, Bhai Sahib put the words to paper. He probably spent many years in gathering and then scribing the words of Gurbani. He is recognised as the first Scholar of Sikhism and his own writings, called the Varan Bhai Gurdas were called by Guru Arjan Dev "the Key to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib". The Varan offer some clear guidance on this subject to the Sikh.

Despite this article, it should be very clear to all Sikhs that whether one eats meat or not, this is only a small aspect of a life of a Sikh. Our Gurus have allocated most of the 1430 pages of Gurbani on other issues and perhaps only about 5 pages have been dedicated directly to this topic. So undue importance should not be given to this matter and the Sikhs should not engage in any undue prolonged argument of this matter. It is clear from history that Sikhs of both type have existed and no prejudices should exist in the Panth. Our Guru's have placed more emphasis on and given greater importance to Naam Simran – remembering the Lord with every breath; Kirit Karni – honest living within His Hukam; and Wand kay Shako - Sharing, Nishkam Sewa and Dedicated community service.

Shabads referring to "Eat a Simple Diet"
This is a Shabad of Guru Angad which tells the Sikh and other to eat a simple diet of grain and water so that the negative bonds to the materialistic world can be broken. Do not commit sins and live a life of truthfulness and subject to spiritual wisdom. Move away from ego which is a serious trap for most people. On the previous page 466, the Guru says, "Ego is a chronic disease". Only by subduing these negative desires and meditating on the "Lord's Name" can one gain the wisdom to overcome these obstacles to ones spiritual progress.

Shabads with the word "Kill"
This is a Shabad (Hymn) by the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev. The Shabad begins with the line: "The Lord infused His Light into the dust, and created the world, the universe. The sky, the earth, the trees, and the water - all are the Creation of the Lord. (1)" The Almighty Lord by his power created the world, universe, sky, earth, trees and water. But Guru Arjan says that all these things that we see with our eyes will perish. Because of neglect and greed, the world eats "dead carcasses" – If one does not control one's greed, then they will be seized by the Lord and thrown into the tortures of hell and no one will be able to help you. So do the right thing and remember the Lord and perform the right deeds.

Other Shabads connected with Meat

 * English translation by Bhai Manmohan Singh

Fools Argue about Meat & Flesh
This is the only Shabad (hymn) that is quoted by the exponents advocating meat eating in Sikhism that is generally quoted to support their view. In this Shabad the section "…fools argue about flesh and meat" is very prominent in their minds. However the full line as quoted in the holy scripture is: "The fools argue about flesh and meat, but they know nothing about meditation and spiritual wisdom." Most spiritually aware Sikhs are of the view that before you start arguing about meat and flesh (which both come for animals) make sure you know something about mediation and spirituality. So, it appears that what the holy scriptures are advocating here is the fact that before a devotee can argue about what is meat and what is flesh, they need to make sure that they have attained spiritual wisdom otherwise it is suggested that they do not argue about these things. The following is a quote from SGGS page 1289:

Varan Bhai Gurdas ji - Key to SGGS
The following Shabads are from the Varan by Bhai Gurdas ji, whose Bani is referred to as the "Key" to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib:

"ਪਉੜੀ 17 (ਬਕਰੀ) ਸੀਹ ਪਜੂਤੀ ਬਕਰੀ ਮਰਦੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੜ ਹੜ ਹਸੀ॥ ਸੀਹੁ ਪੁਛੈ ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਹੋਇ ਇਤੁ ਅਉਸਰਿ ਕਿਤੁ ਰਹਸਿ ਰਹਸੀ॥ ਬਿਨਉ ਕਰੇਂਦੀ ਬਕਰੀ ਪੁਤ੍ਰ ਅਸਾਡੇ ਕੀਚਨਿ ਖਸੀ॥ ਅਕ ਧਤੂਰਾ ਖਾਧਿਆਂ ਕੁਹਿ ਕੁਹਿ ਖਲ ਉਖਲਿ ਵਿਣਸੀ॥ ਮਾਸੁ ਖਾਨਿ ਗਲ ਵਢਿ ਕੈ ਹਾਲੁ ਤਿਨਾੜਾ ਕਉਣੁ ਹੋਵਸੀ॥ ਗਰਬੁ ਗਰੀਬੀ ਦੇਹ ਖੇਹ ਖਾਜੁ ਅਖਾਜੁ ਅਕਾਜੁ ਕਰਸੀ॥ ਜਗਿ ਆਇਆ ਸਭ ਕੋਇ ਮਰਸੀ

seeh pajoothee bakaree maradhee hoee harr harr hasee. seehu pushhai visamaadh hoe eith aousar kith rehas rehasee. bino karae(n)adhee bakaree puthr asaaddae keechan khasee. ak dhhathooraa khaadhhiaaa(n) kuhi kuhi khal oukhal vinasee. maas khaan gal vadt kai haal thinaarraa koun hovasee. garab gareebee dhaeh khaeh khaaj akhaaj akaaj karasee. jag aaeiaa sabh koe marasee.

(She Goat)

Lion catches a goat; As the goat is dying, it begins to laugh. In awe the lion asks, why are you laughing? Humbly the goat says: Our sons are destroyed (castrated). We only eat wild plants and suffer being slayed & skinned alive. Those who cut our throats and eat our flesh, what will be their plight? Proud and arrogant their bodies are a waste; inedible and fruitless. All who come to the world will eventually die."

- Vaar 25 Pauri 17

"ਪਉੜੀ 21 ( ਨਿਗੁਰਾ ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਵਸ ਵਿਚ ਨਹੀ ਆ ਸਕਦਾ ) ਕੁਹੈ ਕਸਾਈ ਬਕਰੀ ਲਾਇ ਲੂਣ ਸੀਖ ਮਾਸੁ ਪਰੋਆ॥ ਹਸਿ ਹਸਿ ਬੋਲੇ ਕੁਹੀਂਦੀ ਖਾਧੇ ਅਕਿ ਹਾਲੁ ਇਹੁ ਹੋਆ॥ ਮਾਸ ਖਾਨਿ ਗਲਿ ਛੁਰੀ ਦੇ ਹਾਲੁ ਤਿਨਾੜਾ ਕਉਣੁ ਅਲੋਆ॥ ਜੀਭੈ ਹੰਦਾ ਫੇੜਿਆ ਖਉ ਦੰਦਾਂ ਮੁਹੁ ਭੰਨਿ ਵਿਗੋਆ॥ ਪਰ ਤਨ ਪਰ ਧਨ ਨਿੰਦ ਕਰਿ ਹੋਇ ਦੁਜੀਭਾ ਬਿਸੀਅਰੁ ਭੋਆ॥ ਵਸਿ ਆਵੈ ਗੁਰੁਮੰਤ ਸਪੁ ਨਿਗੁਰਾ ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਸੁਣੈ ਨ ਸੋਆ॥ ਵੇਖਿ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਅਗੈ ਟੋਆ

kuhai kasaaee bakaree laae loon seekh maas paroaa. has has bolae kuhee(n)adhee khaadhhae ak haal eihu hoaa. maas khaan gal shhuree dhae haal thinaarraa koun aloaa. jeebhai ha(n)dhaa faerriaa kho dha(n)dhaa(n) muhu bha(n)n vigoaa. par than par dhhan ni(n)dh kar hoe dhujeebhaa biseear bhoaa. vas aavai guruma(n)th sap niguraa manamukh sunai n soaa. vaekh n chalai agai ttoaa.

Pauri 21 (Man having no Guru is uncontrollable)

The butcher slaughters the goat; salts the meat and strings it on a skewer. While being killed the goat laughingly says: I have come to this condition for grazing only coarse leaves of arid wild plants. What will be the plight of those who cutting the throat with a knife eat the flesh of animals? The perverted taste of the tongue is harmful for the teeth and damages the mouth. The one who eyes another’s wealth or body or slanders becomes a poisonous Amphisbaena. This snake is controlled by the Guru's mantra but the Guru-less manmukh never listens to this glorious mantra. The Manmukh blindly moves ahead, never realizing the approaching deep pit ahead!

(note: Amphisbaena is a mythical serpent having a head at each end of its body.)"

- Vaar 37 Pauri 21

Also See

 * Vegetarianism and religion
 * Ethics of eating meat
 * Vegetarianism