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Re: Meat Question - Gurbani: A fool argues about mean or not-meat
Posted by Preet Mohan S Ahluwalia Send Email to Author on Wednesday, 3/13/2002 9:28 AM MDT

To All:

Gurbani also calls a person who unnecessrily quarrels about meat a fool.

"A fool, without knowing the truth, unnecessarily quarrels about eating meat or not eating meat. Who knows what is meat and what is vegetarian food? Further, who can say where does the sin lie, in eating meat or in eating vegetarian food? (SGGS: p.1289)

There is an article Meat Eating and Rehat Maryada by an amritdhari Sikh S Gurbaksh Singh. He has analyzed both the answers whether meat eating is allowed or disallowed and has provide references from SGGS.

In the article he writes: Milk is the changed form of the blood of a cow. Is it meat or not? We cannot decide we can only argue about it. Those who are vegetarian and drink milk give 101 arguments to justify drinking milk, but the fact remains that milk is a changed form of cow's blood, red cells are seived out and fat is added to it.

In conclusion he write: The purpose of this article is to explain, in the light of Gurbani, the correctness of the injuntion of the Rehit Maryada, prohibiting only kutha meat (animals slaughtered in the Muslim way) and not saying anything about the other meat. The author does not eat meat, nor even eggs, but feels hurt when some Sikh preachers declare that meat eating (actually a non-issue) is cardinal sin by misinterpreting the meaning of Gurbani. This creates an unnecessary and undesirable bitterness among Sikhs...

So, this is where things stand. Finally, the Akal Takhat has laid this issue to rest. There is nothing wrong in eating meat.

The AKJ writes on this issue: http://www.akj.org/literature/rehat/epilogue.php

KUTHHA

It has been stated by the critics that the edict in the Sikh Code of Conduct regarding meat eating is: Thou SHALT NOT EAT KOSHER MEAT.  It is absolutely incorrect. The edict also does not make it obligatory to eat Jhatka meat, since it does not say 'THOU SHALT EAT JHATKA". The actual wording is "THOU SHALT NOT EAT KUTHHA". The controversy started over the interpretation of the word Kuthha. Even if for the sake of argument, it is assumed that the word Kuthha does really refer to Halaal meat, refraining from all types of meat cannot at all be considered as going against this edict because it automatically excludes eating of Halaal meat.

Basically, they are saying, that since it is NOT specifically written that "thou shalt eat jhatka" it does not mean that jhatka meat can be eaten. Well nowhere in Gurbani has it been writen that "thou shalt brush your teeth every morning." Do AKJ people brush their teeth. If they do, why? Are they going against Gurbani by doing something not asked of them. What about flossing? Does that have a mention, huh. This is why Gurbani says don't argue with fools.

PS wrote that besides AKJ other Sikh organizations also have a different rehat. He asks aren't they a part of the panth. It is quite well accepted that fools seldom differ.

Regarding different rehats i have already posted my views. And, on vegetarian diet too.

Rehat - Closing Arguments

http://sikhnet.com/sikhnet/discussion.nsf/3d8d6eacce83bad8872564280070c2b3/1d997f76d1ce0e70872569e90070c895!OpenDocument&Highlight=0

Re: What is Giving Our Life to The Guru

http://sikhnet.com/sikhnet/discussion.nsf/3d8d6eacce83bad8872564280070c2b3/6e06b184e29bd2b987256a5000567718!OpenDocument&Highlight=0

Re: vegetarianism

http://sikhnet.com/sikhnet/discussion.nsf/3d8d6eacce83bad8872564280070c2b3/9cdca1659e8ed451872569ef0054c2f3!OpenDocument&Highlight=0

Since we are talking about foolishness that divides a community here is another example.The followers of Banda Singh Bahadur called Bandais distinguished themselves from the Tat Khalsa by wearing crimson colored shirts and greeting each other by saying Fateh Darshan. The usual Khalsa greeting being Waheguruji ka Khalsa. In 1720 they went to Amritsar to celebate Divali at Harmandir Sahib. On the other hand followers of Baba Binod Singh (Tat Khalsa) also went to the city. Both groups wanted to take charge of the celebrations. Somehow a confrontation was avoided.

The report of this incident was sent to Guru Gobind Singh's [widowed] wife Mata Sundri in Delhi asking for help to settle this dispute of the correct Sikh greeting. Bhai Mani Singh was sent to Harmandir Sahib as a Jathedar and he helped resolve this problem It was finally decided to use the greeting Waheguruji ka Khalsa. The Bandais accepted the decision and gave up their own distinct rituals and identity.

Learn fom your history.

regards



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