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Sikh And You Will Find: The Vegetarian Diet, Sikh Gurus and Scriptures, A Collection of Passages
Some have suggested that the Sikh Scriptures are not very clear on vegetarianism, the need to strictly adhere to a vegetarian diet for spiritual and ethical reasons. Not so. Let's have a look! There are numerous vegetarian passages preserved in the Sikh Scriptures (Adi Granth, Shri Guru Granth Sahib) and related Sikh texts -- quotes from Guru Nanak, Kabir, Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Gobind Singh and others. I've also included quotes from Bhai Gurdaas Ji, also a Persian historian and scholar of comparative religion who wrote about Guru Nanak and the early Sikhs -- how the original disciples were all vegetarians, and a couple of later Sikh sources documenting vegetarianism in the Sikh world after the time of the Tenth Sikh Guru: Guru Gobind Singh.
Vegetarian Diet, Guru Nanak and the Sikh Gurus:
“The merit of pilgrimages to the sixty-eight holy places, and that of other virtues besides, do not equal having compassion for other living beings.” (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, pg 136) “Do not cause pain to any creature, Go back to your Home with honour.” (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, pg 322) “Keep your heart content and cherish compassion for all beings; this way alone can your holy vow be fulfilled” (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, pg 299) Nanak abstained from animal food and enjoined against cruelty to animals: "Having prohibited his disciples to drink wine and eat pork, he (Nanak) himself abstained from eating flesh and ordered not to hurt any living being." (Mohsin Fani, Persian historian, DABISTAN-E-MAZAHIB) "Numberless degraded persons keep on eating filthy things (Some saints call meat and alcohol the filth)." (Guru Nanak, Jap Ji) “Countless are the cutthroats who trade in violence. Countless are sinners who keep on sinning. Countless are liars, wandering lost in their lies. Countless are the impious who live on unwholesome food." (Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 4) "You kill living beings, and call it a righteous action. Tell me, brother, what would you call an unrighteous action? You call yourself the excellent sage; then whom would you call a butcher?" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1103). "Kabeer says, the dinner of beans and rice is excellent when flavored with salt. Who would cut throats to have meat with his bread?" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1374) "Kabeer: for those who consume marijuana, fish and wine, no matter what pilgrimages, fasts and rituals they follow, they will all be consigned to hell". (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1377). “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?” (Kabir, Guru Granth Sahib, 1350) “Telling lies, they eat dead bodies. And yet, they go out to teach others. They are deceived, and they deceive their companions. O Nanak, such are the leaders of men. (Shri Guru Granth, 139)
"One who does not steal, commit adultery, slander anyone, gamble, eat meat or drink wine will be liberated in this very life (i.e. Jeewan Mukt)". (Guru Gobind Singh, 10th Sikh Guru, Sudharam Marag Granth —Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s “Updesh” to Bhai Daya Singh ji which is mentioned in “Sudharam Marag Granth”, and also found written in some old handwritten volumes of Sri Guru Granth Sahib): http://www.info-sikh.com/PageM1.html “His Disciples, Soaked in The Bliss of Nam, gave up opium, hashish, poppy, liquor and various other intoxicants. They would not eat meat. They would not steal. They foreswore adultery and deception. They Practised Saintliness.” (Sri Guru Panth Parkash): http://namdhari.faithweb.com/panthparkash.htm
Vegetarian Diet and the Sikh Gurus:
"Living by neglect and greed, the world eats dead carcasses. Like a goblin or a beast, they kill and eat the forbidden carcasses of meat. Control your urges, or else you will be thrown into the tortures of hell." (Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 723). Bhai Gurdaas Ji said: "They eat meat by cutting throats, what will their own condition be?" (Vaar 24, Pauree 17) "To take what rightfully belongs to another, is like a Muslim eating pork, or a Hindu eating beef. Our Guru, our Spiritual Guide, stands by us if we do not eat those carcasses. By mere talk, people do not earn Liberation. Salvation only comes from the practice of truth. By adding spices to forbidden foods, they are not made acceptable. O Nanak, from false talk, only falsehood is obtained.” (Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 141)
Like Satguru Kabir, Sant Ravi Das was very aggressive in his condemnation of eating meat. Selections from the Amrit Bani Granth of Sant Ravi Das, a text also respected by Sikhs:
"O man! Renounce these evils. Gambling, eating meat, drinking liquor, going to a prostitute, violence and theft are all sinful deeds, which will take you to hell. The life of the man is auspicious which he gets according to his virtuous deeds. Ravidass says, after consideration, the life of a man is going waste without reciting the name of God." "By killing an animal how can you achieve the God? Why not this fact has been taught to you by the Pirs, Prophet of God, and other religious men, says Ravidass? [183]" "Those people who eat meat of cow, goat etc., daily in their meals, Ravidass says, they may perform prayer day and night, but they cannot achieve the heaven. [184]" "After slaughtering the head of an animal, the foolish people describe it legitimate because it is permitted in their religion. Ravidass says, if they have to cut their own heads like this, only then they will realise the pain. [185]" "The man who kills an animal for his food or livelihood, Ravidass says, he has to undergo horrible punishment in the court of God. [186]" "One should not kill any living being because every creature is equal to Creator. Ravidass says, he cannot get liberation from such sinful deeds by giving millions of cows in alms. [187]" "Ravidass says, who eats meat and fish for the taste of his tongue, one day he will get punishment for this sinful act and he will have to get his head cut for killing innocent animals. [188]" "Ravidass says, O man! You should not kill animal because the God is fully absorbed in every creature. Everybody has the same soul. There is no other soul except God in the world. [189]" "One, who eats meat of animals, has to get his neck cut. Ravidass says, such a person will go to hell. [190]" "A man, who is not kind and merciful, eats meat of animals, such a person will go to hell, verily says Ravidass. [191]" "The people who butcher animals and eat their meat, have become dead creatures, says Ravidass after full consideration. [192]"
From Another Translation of the Amrit Bani of Sant Ravidass:
"Ravidass moondah kaat kar moorakh kahat halal! Gala katavahu aapna tou ka hoyihi haal!! 185!! Satguru Ravidass Ji articulates that “A foolish person designates slow cutting of throat of an animal as halal meat. Let him severe his own throat slowly the same way and experience the pangs of suffering." "Ravidass jo aapan het hi par koon maran jaie! Malak ke dar jai kari bhogahi kari sajaie!! 186!! Satguru Ravidass Ji says that “If anyone kills an animal for his use; then he has to suffer grave punishment on reaching the court of God." "Prani badh nahin kijiyahi jivah Brahm samaan! Ravidass paap nanh shootayie karor gouan kari daan!! 187!! Satguru Ravidass Ji explains that “Human beings should never kill any animal because component of God is uniformly manifest as Atman in all living beings. One, who resorts to killing of animals, can never succeed in atonement of his sins even if he may donate millions of cows in alms." "Ravidass jibhya swad bas jou maans mashrian khaye! Nahak jeev maaran badal aapan sees kataye!! 188!! Satguru Ravidass Ji preaches his pious sermon that “Those, who eat meat or fish for the sake of satisfying taste of their tongues, will have to undergo severe punishment for killing animals without any fault and their own heads will get severed one day." "Ravidass jeev mat marahin ik sahib sabh manhi! Sabh manhi eko Atma doosrah kou nanhi!! 189!! Satguru Ravidass Ji states that “Human beings should never kill any animal as only same one God is manifest in all living creatures. As such there is but one Atman manifest in every one and there is no second Atman anywhere." "Mansahari - Narak Adhikari Vegetarian life style Apnah geev kataihin jo maans praya khanye! Ravidass maans jau khat haen te nar narkahi janye!! 190!! Satguru Ravidass Ji preaches human beings to lead a vegetarian life. Those who eat meat ultimately lose their own necks and go to hell."
Vegetarian Diet and more from the Sikh Scriptures:
"You kill living beings, and call it a righteous action. Tell me, brother, what would you call an unrighteous action? You call yourself the excellent sage; then whom would you call a butcher?" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1103). “You keep your fasts to please Allah, while you murder other beings for pleasure. You look after your own interests, and so not see the interests of others. What good is your word? O Qazi, the One Lord is within you, but you do not think or contemplation on Him. You do not care for others, you are mad about religion, this is why your life is wasting away." (Kabir, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 483): http://www.realsikhism.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1248309400&ucat=7
Also See: Cruelty and Food Sikh Discussion:
Also See: Even More Shri Guru Granth Vegetarian Passages — Adi Granth on Meat:
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur (1670–1716)
“On 3rd September 1708, Guru Gobind Singh Ji administered the vows and Amrit (blessed necter) to Madho Das, a Hindu Sadhu or ascetic, and gave him a new name, Banda Singh. At the same time, he gave Banda Singh a Nagara (war drum), Nishan Sahib (banner) and five arrows from his own quiver as symbols of Authority. Banda Singh was also accompanied by five Sikhs to assist him to build up his forces so as to repel the tyranny of the Mughal Empire.” — http://sikhcoin.blogspot.com/2013/05/baba-banda-singh-bahadur-1670-1716-and.html
Hukamnama (edict or order) to the Sikhs of Jaunpur by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on 12th December 1710. “Ek Ongkar Fateh Darshan. Sri sache sahib ji ka hokum hai sarbat Khalsa Jaunpur ka Guru rekhega, guru japna janam savraega, tusi sri akal purakh ji ka khalsa ho, panj hathear banh ke hukam dekhdiya darshan awna. Khalsae di rahet rahena, bhang, tumakoo, hafeem, posthe, dharoo, amal koyee na hi khana, mas masheli paeaj na hi khana, chori jari nahi karni, asa satjug vertaeya hae aap vech pyar karna, mera hukam hae jo khalsae di rahet rahega tesdi Guru bahori kareaga. Methi Poh 12 samvat pahela satrathes.”
English Translation of the Hukamnama Shown Above
“Ek Ongkar Fateh Darshan. By the order of the true king, all the Khalsa of Jaunpur will be protected by Guru ji, Pray to the Guru for he will improve your life. You are God’s Khalsa, wear the five weapons and on being ordered, present yourself. You must obey the principals of the Khalsa. You are not to consume hemp, tobacco, opium, poppy seeds or alcoholic drinks. You are not to eat meat, fish and onions. You must not steal. We usher in a new era, Satjug — the Age of Truth. Love one another. This is my order, those who should live according to the principals of the Khalsa will be protected by God. Dated 12 Poh samvat pahela 1 (= 12 December 1710)” — http://sikhcoin.blogspot.com/2013/05/baba-banda-singh-bahadur-1670-1716-and.html
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