Guru Granth Sahib on meat: Difference between revisions
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They burn away the bonds of the world, and eat a simple diet of grain and water.}} | They burn away the bonds of the world, and eat a simple diet of grain and water.}} | ||
== Fools | == Fools quarrel about Meat and Flesh== | ||
* '''See full Shabad [[SGGS page 1289|here]]''' | * '''See full Shabad [[SGGS page 1289|here]]''' | ||
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farh kar lokaaN no dikhlaavahi gi-aan Dhi-aan nahee soojhai. naanak anDhay si-o ki-aa kahee-ai kahai na kahi-aa boojhai. <br><br> | farh kar lokaaN no dikhlaavahi gi-aan Dhi-aan nahee soojhai. naanak anDhay si-o ki-aa kahee-ai kahai na kahi-aa boojhai. <br><br> | ||
'''The fools argue about flesh and meat''', but they know nothing about meditation and spiritual wisdom. What is called meat, and what is called green vegetables? What leads to sin? It was the habit of the gods to kill | '''The fools argue about flesh and meat''', but they know nothing about meditation and spiritual wisdom. What is called meat, and what is called green vegetables? What leads to sin? <br> | ||
It was the habit of the gods to kill rhinoceros, and make a feast of the burnt offering. Those who renounce meat, and hold their noses when sitting near it, devour men at night. <br> | |||
They practice hypocrisy, and make a show before other people, but they do not understand anything about meditation or spiritual wisdom. O Nanak, what can be said to the blind people? They cannot answer, or even understand what is said.}} | |||
==Varan Bhai Gurdas ji - Key to [[SGGS]]== | ==Varan Bhai Gurdas ji - Key to [[SGGS]]== |
Revision as of 22:32, 25 March 2012
This article is based entirely on the views expressed by the Sikh Gurus in Gurbani – and does not rely on any outside views. Guru's message is clear and unambiguous and anyone who understands Gurmukhi will be able to come to their own conclusion.
Gurbani i.e. writings within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (or SGGS) are the most important spiritual guidance for a Sikh as the Bani is regarded as the Guru or ultimate "Spiritual teacher" for the Sikh. ("Bani guru, guru hai bani vich bani amrit saaray."… "Bani is Guru, and Guru is the Bani. Within Bani, all Ambrosial Nectars are found." sggs p982)
To be a Sikh is to regard the SGGS as ones primary spiritual guide. The message within the Guru Granth Sahib is the universal and moral guide for all of humanity and in particular for all Sikhs. No Hukamnama (order, directive or decree) by anyone other than the Sikh Guru can move the Guru's Sikh away from this stand ("Hukam rajaa-ee chalnaa naanak likhi-aa naal.." …. " O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will". sggs p1).
Gurbani offers clear guidance on this important issue. 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 or not eat and other aspect of this important facet of a person's spiritual and moral life.
Background
Bhai Gurdas Ji was the first scribe of the Adi Granth. He was responsible for writing the first compilation of the Holy Granth. While Guru Arjan Dev ji dictated the Bani, Bhai Sahib put the words to paper. 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 also offer clear secondary guidance on this subject to the Sikh as well.
Despite this article outlining the fact that eating meat is not in strict compliance with the principles of Sikhism, it should be very clear to all that whether one eats meat or not, is only one aspect of the life of a Sikh. So no greater importance should be given to this issue at the expense of the many other issues which are of equal importance to a Sikh. It is not an issue where one should engage in heated argument - Read Gurbani and make your own decision on this matter.
This topic is very emotive and many Sikhs who cannot read or understand the original Gurmukhi text are unable to understand the Guru's clear message and will use their own Manmat (entrenched personal stand) or views of other academics to propagate their own views or views of other who have not relied on the Guru's word. When deciding on this subject or any other issue about Dharam (righteous living), a Sikh should rely only on Gurbani and disregard views of others. ("Saṯgur kī banī sat sat kar jĝnhu gursikhahu har kartĝ ĝp muhhu kadhĝė." … "O GurSikhs, know that the Bani, is true, absolutely true. The Creator Lord Himself causes the Guru to chant it." sggs p308 )
Shabads from Guru Granth Sahib
This section below lists shabads directly from Guru Granth Sahib which have a connection with meat and related matters. They are further sub-divided into sub-sections for easy of reference:
Shabads with the word "Kill"
The following shabads have the word kill in the translation:
Shabad page 723
SGGS Page 723 Full Shabad |
ਬੰਦੇ ਚਸਮ ਦੀਦੰ ਫਨਾਇ ॥ ਦਨਂ”ੀਆ ਮਰਦਾਰ ਖਰਦਨੀ ਗਾਫਲ ਹਵਾਇ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ banday chasam deedaN fanaa-ay. O human being, whatever you can see with your eyes, shall perish. |
Shabad page 1103
SGGS Page 1103 Full Shabad |
ਜੀਅ ਬਧਹ ਸ ਧਰਮ ਕਰਿ ਥਾਪਹ ਅਧਰਮ ਕਹਹ ਕਤ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਮਨਿਵਰ ਕਰਿ ਥਾਪਹ ਕਾ ਕਉ ਕਹਹ ਕਸਾਈ ॥੨॥
jee-a baDhahu so Dharam kar thaapahu aDhram kahhu kat bhaa-ee. You kill living beings, and call it a righteous action. |
Shabad page 1128
SGGS Page 1128 Full Shabad |
ਸੋ ਜਾਗੈ ਜੋ ਤਤ ਬੀਚਾਰੈ ॥ ਆਪਿ ਮਰੈ ਅਵਰਾ ਨਹ ਮਾਰੈ ॥੩॥ so jaagai jo tat beechaarai. One who contemplates the essence of reality remains awake and aware. |
Shabad page 1350
SGGS Page 1350 Full Shabad |
ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਕਹਹ ਮਤ ਝੂਠੇ ਝੂਠਾ ਜੋ ਨ ਬਿਚਾਰੈ ॥ ਜਉ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਝਕ ਖਦਾਇ ਕਹਤ ਹਉ ਤਉ ਕਿਉ ਮਰਗੀ ਮਾਰੈ ॥੧॥ bayd katayb kahhu mat jhoothay jhoothaa jo na bichaarai. Do not say that the Vedas, the Bible and the Koran are false. |
- See SGGS 1350 for detailed breakdown of the Shabad
Shabad page 1375
SGGS Page 1375 Full Shabad |
ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀਅ ਜ ਮਾਰਹਿ ਜੋਰ ਕਰਿ ਕਹਤੇ ਹਹਿ ਜ ਹਲਾਲ ॥ ਦਫਤਰ ਦਈ ਜਬ ਕਾਢਿ ਹੈ ਹੋਇਗਾ ਕਉਨ ਹਵਾਲ ॥੧੯੯॥ kabeer jee-a jo maareh jor kar kahtay heh jo halaal. Kabeer, they oppress living beings and kill them, and call it proper. |
Other Shabads connected with Meat
Shabad Page 15
SGGS Page 15 Full Shabad |
ਰਸ ਸਇਨਾ ਰਸ ਰਪਾ ਕਾਮਣਿ ਰਸ ਪਰਮਲ ਕੀ ਵਾਸ ॥ ਰਸ ਘੋੜੇ ਰਸ ਸੇਜਾ ਮੰਦਰ ਰਸ ਮੀਠਾ ਰਸ ਮਾਸ ॥ ras su-inaa ras rupaa kaaman ras parmal kee vaas. The pleasure of gold, pleasure of silvers and damsels, pleasure of fragrance of sandal, |
- English translation by Bhai Manmohan Singh
Shabad Page 139
SGGS Page 139 Full Shabad |
ਕੂੜ ਬੋਲਿ ਮਰਦਾਰ ਖਾਇ ॥ ਅਵਰੀ ਨੋ ਸਮਝਾਵਣਿ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਮਠਾ ਆਪਿ ਮਹਾਝ ਸਾਥੈ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਝਸਾ ਆਗੂ ਜਾਪੈ ॥੧॥ |
Shabad Page 141
SGGS Page 141 Full Shabad |
ਹਕ ਪਰਾਇਆ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਉਸ ਸੂਅਰ ਉਸ ਗਾਇ ॥ ਗਰ ਪੀਰ ਹਾਮਾ ਤਾ ਭਰੇ ਜਾ ਮਰਦਾਰ ਨ ਖਾਇ ॥ ਗਲੀ ਭਿਸਤਿ ਨ ਜਾਈਝ ਛਟੈ ਸਚ ਕਮਾਇ ॥ ਮਾਰਣ ਪਾਹਿ ਹਰਾਮ ਮਹਿ ਹੋਇ ਹਲਾਲ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥ hak paraa-i-aa naankaa us soo-ar us gaa-ay. gur peer haamaa taa bharay jaa murdaar na khaa-ay.
|
Shabad Page 483
SGGS Page 483 Full Shabad |
ਰੋਜਾ ਧਰੈ ਮਨਾਵੈ ਅਲਹ ਸਆਦਤਿ ਜੀਅ ਸੰਘਾਰੈ ॥ ਆਪਾ ਦੇਖਿ ਅਵਰ ਨਹੀ ਦੇਖੈ ਕਾਹੇ ਕਉ ਝਖ ਮਾਰੈ ॥੧॥ You keep your fasts to please Allah, while you murder other beings for pleasure. |
Shabad Page 1242
SGGS Page 1242 Full Shabad |
ਕਲਿ ਹੋਈ ਕਤੇ ਮਹੀ ਖਾਜ ਹੋਆ ਮਰਦਾਰ ॥ ਕੂੜ ਬੋਲਿ ਬੋਲਿ ਭਉਕਣਾ ਚੂਕਾ ਧਰਮ ਬੀਚਾਰ ॥ kal ho-ee kutay muhee khaaj ho-aa murdaar. koorh bol bol bha-ukanaa chookaa Dharam beechaar. In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, people have faces like dogs; they eat rotting carcasses for food. |
Shabad Page 1374
SGGS Page 1374 Full Shabad |
ਕਬੀਰ ਜੋਰੀ ਕੀਝ ਜਲਮ ਹੈ ਕਹਤਾ ਨਾਉ ਹਲਾਲ ॥ ਦਫਤਰਿ ਲੇਖਾ ਮਾਂਗੀਝ ਤਬ ਹੋਇਗੋ ਕਉਨ ਹਵਾਲ ॥੧੮੭॥ ਕਬੀਰ ਖੂਬ ਖਾਨਾ ਖੀਚਰੀ ਜਾ ਮਹਿ ਅੰਮਰਿਤ ਲੋਨ ॥ ਹੇਰਾ ਰੋਟੀ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਗਲਾ ਕਟਾਵੈ ਕਉਨ ॥੧੮੮॥ Kabīr jorī kī▫e julam hai kahṯĝ nĝ▫o halĝl. Ḏafṯar lekẖĝ mĝʼngī▫ai ṯab ho▫igo ka▫un havĝl. (187) Kabeer, to use force is tyranny, even if you call it legal. |
Shabads in connection with fish
SGGS Page 1377 Full Shabad |
ਕਬੀਰ ਭਾਂਗ ਮਾਛਲੀ ਸਰਾ ਪਾਨਿ ਜੋ ਜੋ ਪਰਾਨੀ ਖਾਂਹਿ ॥ kabeer bhaaNg maachhulee suraa paan jo jo paraanee khaaNhi. Kabeer, those mortals who consume marijuana, fish and wine |
Shabads referring to "Eat a Simple Diet"
SGGS Page 467 Full Shabad |
ਓਨਹਹੀ ਮੰਦੈ ਪੈਰ ਨ ਰਖਿਓ ਕਰਿ ਸਕਰਿਤ ਧਰਮ ਕਮਾਇਆ ॥ ਓਨਹਹੀ ਦਨੀਆ ਤੋੜੇ ਬੰਧਨਾ ਅੰਨ ਪਾਣੀ ਥੋੜਾ ਖਾਇਆ ॥ onHee mandai pair na rakhi-o kar sukarit Dharam kamaa-i-aa. They do not place their feet in sin, but do good deeds and live righteously in Dharma. |
Fools quarrel about Meat and Flesh
- See full Shabad here
SGGS Page 1289 Full Shabad |
ਮਃ ੧ ॥ मः १ ॥ mehlaa 1. First Mehl: ਮਾਸ ਮਾਸ ਕਰਿ ਮੂਰਖ ਝਗੜੇ ਗਿਆਨ ਧਿਆਨ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਣੈ ॥ ਕਉਣ ਮਾਸ ਕਉਣ ਸਾਗ ਕਹਾਵੈ ਕਿਸ ਮਹਿ ਪਾਪ ਸਮਾਣੇ ॥ maas maas kar moorakh jhagrhay gi-aan Dhi-aan nahee jaanai. ka-un maas ka-un saag kahaavai kis meh paap samaanay. The fools argue about flesh and meat, but they know nothing about meditation and spiritual wisdom. What is called meat, and what is called green vegetables? What leads to sin? |
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:
Vaar 25 Pauri 17
ਪਉੜੀ 17 (ਬਕਰੀ) ਸੀਹ ਪਜੂਤੀ ਬਕਰੀ ਮਰਦੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੜ ਹੜ ਹਸੀ॥ ਸੀਹ ਪਛੈ ਵਿਸਮਾਦ ਹੋਇ ਇਤ ਅਉਸਰਿ ਕਿਤ ਰਹਸਿ ਰਹਸੀ॥ Pauri 17 (She Goat) Pauri 17 (She Goat) Lion catches a goat; As the goat is dying, it begins to laugh.
In awe the lion asks, why are you laughing? |
Vaar 25 Pauri 17 |
Vaar 31 Pauri 9
ਪਉੜੀ 9 ( ਪੂਤਨਾ ) ਜੇ ਕਰਿ ਉਧਰੀ ਪੂਤਨਾ ਵਿਹ ਪੀਆਲਣ ਕੰਮ ਨ ਚੰਗਾ । ਗਨਿਕਾ ਉਧਰੀ ਆਖੀਝ ਪਰ ਘਰਿ ਜਾਇ ਨ ਲਈਝ ਪੰਗਾ । Pauri 9 (Putana)
|
Vaar 31 Pauri 9 |
Vaar 37 Pauri 21
ਪਉੜੀ 21 ( ਨਿਗਰਾ ਮਨਮਖ ਵਸ ਵਿਚ ਨਹੀ ਆ ਸਕਦਾ ) ਕਹੈ ਕਸਾਈ ਬਕਰੀ ਲਾਇ ਲੂਣ ਸੀਖ ਮਾਸ ਪਰੋਆ॥
ਹਸਿ ਹਸਿ ਬੋਲੇ ਕਹੀਂਦੀ ਖਾਧੇ ਅਕਿ ਹਾਲ ਇਹ ਹੋਆ॥ Pauri 21 (One having no Guru is uncontrollable) kuhai kasaaee bakaree laae loon seekh maas paroaa.
has has bolae kuhee(n)adhee khaadhhae ak haal eihu hoaa. Pauri 21 (One having no Guru is uncontrollable) The butcher slaughters the goat; salts the meat and strings it on a skewer. (note: Amphisbaena is a mythical serpent having a head at each end of its body.) |
Vaar 37 Pauri 21 |
Kabir On Meat Issue
ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਕਹਹ ਮਤ ਝੂਠੇ ਝੂਠਾ ਜੋ ਨ ਬਿਚਾਰੈ ॥ ਜਉ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਝਕ ਖਦਾਇ ਕਹਤ ਹਉ ਤਉ ਕਿਉ ਮਰਗੀ ਮਾਰੈ ॥੧॥
Do not say that the Vedas, the Bible and the Koran are false. Those who do not contemplate them are false. You say that the One Lord is in all, so why do you kill chickens? ||1||
ਮਲਾਂ ਕਹਹ ਨਿਆਉ ਖਦਾਈ ॥ ਤੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਭਰਮ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
O Mullah, tell me: is this God's Justice? The doubts of your mind have not been dispelled. ||1||Pause||
ਪਕਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਆਨਿਆ ਦੇਹ ਬਿਨਾਸੀ ਮਾਟੀ ਕਉ ਬਿਸਮਿਲਿ ਕੀਆ ॥ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪ ਅਨਾਹਤ ਲਾਗੀ ਕਹ ਹਲਾਲ ਕਿਆ ਕੀਆ ॥੨॥
You seize a living creature, and then bring it home and kill its body; you have killed only the clay. The light of the soul passes into another form. So tell me, what have you killed? ||2||
ਕਿਆ ਉਜੂ ਪਾਕ ਕੀਆ ਮਹ ਧੋਇਆ ਕਿਆ ਮਸੀਤਿ ਸਿਰ ਲਾਇਆ ॥ ਜਉ ਦਿਲ ਮਹਿ ਕਪਟ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗਜਾਰਹ ਕਿਆ ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਇਆ ॥੩॥
And what good are your purifications? Why do you bother to wash your face? And why do you bother to bow your head in the mosque? Your heart is full of hypocrisy; what good are your prayers or your pilgrimage to Mecca? ||3||
ਤੂੰ ਨਾਪਾਕ ਪਾਕ ਨਹੀ ਸੂਝਿਆ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਮਰਮ ਨ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥ ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਭਿਸਤਿ ਤੇ ਚੂਕਾ ਦੋਜਕ ਸਿਉ ਮਨ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥੪॥੪॥
You are impure; you do not understand the Pure Lord. You do not know His Mystery. Says Kabeer, you have missed out on paradise; your mind is set on hell. ||4||4||
Also See
- SGGS 1350
- Kuthha
- Vegetarianism
- Vegetarianism Other Views
- Guru Granth Sahib against cruelty
- Do not give pain to others
- Cruelty and food
External links
Video
- Taksal view on Meat Part 1 of 2 (in Punjabi), Taksal view on Meat Part 2 of 2 (in Punjabi)
- SIKHI AND MEAT-IS IT ALLOWED? Gruesome video - exercise discretion (NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED)
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