Path of the Masters: Sant Mat - Santmat, Radhasoami - Radha Soami, Satsang, Inner Light and Sound Meditation: Surat Shabd Yoga, Audible Life Stream, Quan Yin Method, Spiritual Science, Spirituality, Kabir, Maharshi Mehi, Kirpal Singh, Gnosticism, Third Eye, Out Of Body Experiences, Near-Death Experiences, Inner Space, the Kingdom of the Heavens Within, Mystic Poetry, Vegetarian Vegan, Ahimsa, Love, and God. The term "Sant Mat" was coined by Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras during the 19th Century.
Saints, Masters, Sant Satgurus and mystics are not ‘owned’ by any particular religions, are not the sectarian ‘property’ of anyone’s institution or organization. Rather, enlightened Masters come to offer Divine wisdom and spirituality for the benefit of all humanity. “Ik Ongkar. Sat Naam.” — There is one God. Truth is His Name.” (Guru Nanak) The Path is one and the Supreme Soul is one. As Maharshi Mehi says so well:
“In different times and different places saints appear and their followers name their religion according to the sage or saint who propounded that tradition. The appearance of differences can be attributed to time, place, and language. This gives rise to various labels for the common views held by all religions. Likewise, due to excessively zealous followers, these seeming differences are often amplified. When all sectarianism and the temporal and linguistic aspects are removed, the basic principles of all the saints are in accord and the voices of the saints are in harmony.”
Inter-Faith Prayer: Let me resolve to become truly human!
“Let me resolve to become truly human!
If I become truly human it will be pleasing to God.
Whether I am Buddhist, Jain, Muslim, Hindu or Christian,
We should embrace one another just as brothers and sisters.
We are like the different stars shining in the same sky.
How beautiful they look as they keep on twinkling.
We are all like the different flowers in the same garden.
How beautiful they look as they keep on blooming.
The one temple contains lights of various kinds.
How beautiful they look as they produce their various lights.
The Gita, Puran, Vedas, Guru Granth and Koran,
Are the scriptures of humankind, which we should read with love.”
— Kabir Bhajan Amritam, published by the Kabir Association of Canada
“Be not imprisoned in the jail of ’I’ and ‘me’. He who hath transcended self, he verily hath attained to the Highest. He hath become Perfect. Such a one knows no difference between the Hindu, the Muslim, the Sikh, the Christian, the Jew, the Buddhist or the Zoroastrian, for God is the Lord of all and in all shines the one picture Divine; we are worshippers of the same Lord. The One is within thee, outside thee, in me, in him and in every place. That One alone doeth speak in all.” (Kirpal Singh)
A History-based Middle Ground of Sikh Vegetarian History
In the Beas publication about the life and teachings of Guru Nanak there is cited a passage from a Muslim historian saying that 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)
"The Dabestan-e Mazaheb (Persian: دبستان مذاهب) 'school of religions' is a Persian language work that examines and compares Abrahamic, Dharmic and other religions of the mid-17th century South Asia and the Middle East." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabestan-e_Mazaheb
Usually authorship of this book is attributed to Mohsin Fani, a scholar of comparative religion and who also was friends with the Sixth Sikh Guru Guru Hargobind. "Born around 1615 in Iran, Mohsin Fani was once migrated to India, for the study of the religions there, in the time of the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib with whom he had friendly relationships." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohsin_Fani
I found several volumes and translations of the Dabestan-e Mazaheb online including English editions. The one at Scribd seems fairly complete and nicer than some of the others so I downloaded it.
It does contain the passage that's found in the RSSB book about the teachings of Guru Nanak
https://scienceofthesoul.org/books-EN-007-0.html but it's far more informative to cite the whole paragraph of material where the quote is found, bringing greater clarity to the question of vegetarianism and Sikhism from this early source that predates many texts that mainstream Sikhs rely upon. The English translation of this old edition is not ideal but clear enough. I've bracketed in the correct spellings of the various Sikh Gurus.
"Nanac [Guru Nanak] had a great number of disciples. He professed the unity of God, which is called the law of Muhammed, and believed the metempsychosis, or transmigration of the soul from one body to another. Having prohibited his disciples wine and to eat pork, he himself abstained from eating flesh and ordered not to hurt any living being. After him, this precept was neglected by his followers; but Arjun mal [Guru Arjan Dev], one of the substitutes of his faith [successors of Nanak], as soon as he found that it was wrong, renewed the prohibition to eat flesh, and said, 'This has not been approved by Nanac [Nanak].' Afterward, Hargovind [Guru Hargobind, 6th Sikh Guru], son of Arjunmal [Guru Arjan Dev, 5th Sikh Guru], eat flesh, and went to hunt, and his followers imitated his example." (THE DABISTAN OR SCHOOL OF MANNERS, TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL PERSIAN BY DAVID SHEA AND ANTHONY TROVER, page 285, section on the Nanak sect, 1901 edition)
The short passage from the above as quoted by Janak Raj Puri in the Beas publication does make for a good proof-text for the vegetarianism of Guru Nanak and his immediate disciples, but as we can see from the context of the whole paragraph, with this wider field of vision things aren't looking so good for Sikh vegetarianism after the time of Guru Nanak.
The Fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev rediscovered? this lost? prohibition about eating flesh once taught by Guru Nanak and revives the precept of vegetarianism during his day. But then, soon enough, it fell by the wayside again with even Arjan's own son Hargobind eating meat and going on hunting trips.
So the above-quoted short passage from the Dabistan-e-Mazahib about the vegetarianism of Guru Nanak initially sounded quite good in support of vegetarianism, but a wider view of the whole text portrays vegetarianism as being forgotten by Sikh Gurus number Two, Three, and Four. Guru Five brings vegetarianism back. And I should also include Guru Arjan Dev's Adi Granth scribe Bhai Gurdaas, as his collection of poetry verses or vaars called Vaaran Bhai Gurdas, also affirms vegetarianism. Bhai Gurdaas Ji said: "They eat meat by cutting throats, what will their own condition be?" (Vaar 24, Pauree 17)
And then, according to the very same Dabistan-e-Mazahib by Mohsin Fani, Arjan's own son Hargobind, Sikh Guru Number Six, ate meat, went on hunting trips, thus presenting the latter Sikh gurus as meat-eating sat gurus. No more mandated* vegetarianism in the sangats of the Sikhs after the time of the Fifth Sikh Guru and his scribe Bhai Gurdaas.
* Not a precept all disciples must follow.
For a One Hundred Percent Vegetarian Version of Sikh History We Have the Namdharis
Now what's presented above represents a kind of middle path or middle ground on the question of vegetarianism and Sikhism. There is the smaller Sikh sub-sect called the Namdhari's that, in their timeline or version of reality, present all Ten Sikh Gurus as being staunch and adamant vegetarians, including Guru Gobind Singh. For instance in alternative Namdhari texts this is attributed to Guru Gobind Singh:
"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): https://web.archive.org/web/20180329213659/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
If one reads those alternative Namdhari scriptures and histories, according to them there were no meat-eating satgurus going on hunting trips after all. That would be the one hundred percent vegetarian version of Sikh history.
Meet the Meat-Eating Satgurus Going on Hunting Trips, A Carnivorous Version of Sikh History
If one wishes to customize their personal version of Sikh history in the pro-meat direction, this is easily accomplished as well, with many supporting scriptures at hand and much pro-meat lore about each of the Ten Sikh Gurus, even with a critical critique of Mohsin Fani's Dabistan-e-Mazahib, AND yet another Granth attributed to Guru Gobind Singh. This one's called the Sarbloh Granth or Sarabloh Granth, "a voluminous scripture, composed of more than 6,500 poetic stanzas. It is traditionally attributed as being the work of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarbloh_Granth
"The Dabistan-i-Mazahib, from which I have culled and translated the account of the Nanak-panthis, the followers of Guru Nanak, is generally acknowledged to be the work of Shaikh Mohsin Fani." (from the Introduction)
"I have been strictly literal in my rendering, with the result that not unoften the diction and idiom of the English language had to be sacrificed to keep it as near the original as possible. For this I crave the readers’ indulgence. I have given my explanations of the doubtful points in footnotes, and, although some of them have grown disproportionately lengthy, I hope the discussions therein will not be found wholly uninteresting." (page 198)
He quotes the Dabistan-i-Mazahib and adds some footnotes/commentary:
"'Holding wine and pork unlawful, he abstained from animal food 6 and enjoined against cruelty to animals. After his death meat-eating became common among his disciples. And when Arjan Mai, who is one of the prophetic order of Nanak, found that evil, he prohibited people from meat-eating and said: “This practice is not in accordance with the wishes of Nanak.” 7 Eventually Hargobind, son of Arjan Mai, ate meat and hunted, and most of his disciples followed his practice.'
[footnote] 6. "Here Mohsin-Fani or his informant seems to have erred. There is nothing in the teachings of Guru Nanak to condemn the use of animal food. On the other hand we find him cooking a deer, which a disciple had presented to him at Kurukshetar during his visit to that place. When the Brahmans expressed their horror at his cooking of flesh on the occasion of a Solar Eclipse..."
[footnote] 7. "There is no such sentence traceable in the sayings of Guru Arjan in the Guru Granth Sahib."
Dr. Ganda Singh is correct that the Adi Granth doesn't contain that passage from Guru Arjan Dev. Mohsin-Fani didn't say it was from the Granth. Mohsin-Fani was friends with Hargobind, the Sixth Sikh Guru and son of Guru Arjan Dev. In other words he was there, was a contemporary, was not just relying upon the Granth. It would be absolutely wonderful to know the source for that particular citation. Indeed! Indeed!
In his footnote # 6 Dr. Ganda Singh then goes on to quote a few standard Granth verses that are often used to call into question the legitimacy of vegetarianism. The same passages are used over and over and can be found here -- see key word search of "meat" in this topical edition of the Granth: https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.1918/page/n263/mode/2up?q=meat
Dr. Ganda Singh mentions a story about Guru Nanak cooking a deer but doesn't actually share with the reader where he found this. No citation is given, just a mention of the story followed by the standard verses from the Granth used to bolster the position of mainstream Sikhism in opposition to vegetarianism. However, I am acquainted with that particular deer meat story, where it's located!
It's interesting to notice that Dr. Ganda Singh here has attempted to refute the vegetarianism of Guru Nanak as recorded in a mid-17th century history book by the Persian scholar Mohsin Fani, a contemporary and friend of the Sixth Sikh Guru, by calling upon a hagiographical collection of apocryphal verses composed at a later date long after the time of the Tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh mainly used by the Nihang sect. (Usually historians give more weight to earlier texts over later ones, and neutral ones over self-serving sectarian ones.) This collection of stories about the Sikh Gurus, including about Guru Nanak eating deer meat, are attributed to Gobind Singh in a collection of writings known as the Sarbloh Granth. Most don't believe the Sarbloh Granth to really represent the compositions of Gobind Singh. "It is traditionally attributed as being the work of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru. Scholars, on the other hand, attribute the work to after the Guru's death, being authored by an unknown poet. The work is mostly revered by the Nihang sect." -- Sarbloh Granth: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarbloh_Granth
"The Sarbloh Granth is a text associated with Guru Gobind Singh - which has not been translated into English. This website holds the only repository of translations of the Sarbloh Granth."
Guru Nanak As Meat-Eating Satguru? Guru Nanak and Meat
"When Guru Nanak visited Kurukshetra he cooked deer meat which attracted the attention of the local Pandits who questioned the Guru's actions. In a reply the Guru mentioned that this is the Dharam of a warrior, to which the Pandits replied:
"The Pandit then said, "Warriors always have weapons with them, you have adorned the garb of an ascetic. Without weapons how can I recognize you as a warrior?"
"Guru Nanak said, "I do have weapons with me - the recitation of the name of the Creator Kartar is my sharp sword. The large bow that I have is the True Congregation Satsangat.
"The practice of controlling the senses are the numerous arrows, and I use all of them to quickly kill the Deer-like-mind. In the fire like awareness of Braham the All-pervasive I cook this meat in an offering hom*. This is forever my mindset.
* as in homage
"Gurpratap Suraj Prakash Granth 1843, author: the Great Poet Santokh Singh
For those desirous of customizing their Sikh history in a pro-meat direction, the Sarbloh Granth and other related writings of the Nihang sect will not disappoint. Do a few key word searches of "meat" at the Manglacharan Sarbloh Granth website and you'll find lots of stories about all ten Sikh gurus being meat-eating satgurus.
Final Thoughts, My Conclusions About This Particular Hall of Mirrors History
Out of all these versions of Sikh history the Namdhari one seems the most pleasant. Being vegan, my personal preference or confirmation bias would be to have all ten Sikh gurus portrayed as lacto-vegetarians if not "level five vegans" (Simpson's reference). Unfortunately, the claims of the Namdharis fall short. An ethereal, visionary or ghostly apparition of Gobind Singh in the year 1812 appointing Balak Singh as the 11th Guru is a rather strange fictitious tale, making the Namdharis not exactly a reliable go-to source on matters of Sikh history.
Guru Gobind Singh would have been one hundred and forty six years old in the year 1812. A Wiki Entry for Guru Balak Singh, Founder of the Namdhari Sikh Sect:
"Namdhari Sikhs believe he was the successor of Guru Gobind Singh, a stance that differs them from mainstream Sikhism. According to Namdharis, Guru Gobind Singh did not die from the wounds inflicted by the assassination attempt on his life in 1708, but instead lived-on as a recluse under the pseudonym of "Ajapal Singh", passing on the guruship to Balak Singh before his death. Namdharis believe Guru Gobind Singh lived to the ripe-old age of 146 when he died in the year 1812, long enough to be contemporary with Namdhari Guru Balak Singh and pass on the Guruship to him."
The extra-meatiness and sword collecting of the Nihangs seem to represent a later, much different version of Sikhism attempting to rewrite Sikh history, to remake it after their own image, doctrines, dogmas, and diet.
Mainstream orthodox Sikhism's deliberate ignoring of pro-vegetarian passages that are to be found in the Adi Granth, also in the Vaaran Bhai Gurdas, and references by historians such as Shaikh Mohsin Fani, have a familiar religious ring. If one needs to turn a blind eye, to be in denial or ignore something, that something is probably worth exploring.
See, Sikh And You Will Find: The Vegetarian Diet, Sikh Gurus and Scriptures, A Collection of Passages:
I do suspect the 'middle path' account of Shaikh Mohsin Fani, author of the Dabestan-e Mazaheb (Dabistan-i-Mazahib) is likely to be closest to the truth on the question of vegetarian ethics and Sikhism.
The latter five Sikh gurus seem quite distant and different from the earlier Five, and from Sant tradition generally, which requires adherence to a vegetarian diet and a meditation practice that includes Surat Shabd Yoga. The execution of Guru Arjan Dev in 1606 brought to an end the lineage of Sikh gurus that were Sants, as some have already suggested. I believe they are correct and now have joined their ranks as sharing that point of view myself. With the death of Guru Arjan Dev, from that point forward we get "meat-eating satgurus" who "went on hunting trips". And the poetry of the Dasam Granth and other later collections of spiritual poetry are for the most part not compatible with, or of the same vibe, depth or spirit as, that of the compositions of anyone we would conceive of as a Sant such as Paltu Sahib, Dariya Sahib, Tulsi Sahib, Charan Das, Sahjo Bai, Guru Nanak, etc... (Most Sikhs also don't put the Dasam Granth on the same level as the Adi Granth.)
One can even read the writings of Sant Dariya of Bihar as expressing criticisms of Sikhism:
"Likewise, when the beheaded goat is brought to your house,
Your children are all excited with joy.
You give little pieces to your children
And eat away the rest of the meat yourself."
"As long as the discipline of the Sound Current is preserved unadulterated, The line of succession will truly continue. But when it is mixed with outer rituals and display of external garbs, My Sound Current will part company. My divine essence will depart And souls will go into the mouth of Kal."
"External garbs"...like the Khalsa dress code: baggy shorts, a sword, a wooden comb, an iron bracelet, and unshorn hair?
It was so nice to find in English the old history of the Sikhs according to Mohsin Fani. What he was saying about Nanak and Guru Arjan Dev being the main enforcers of vegetarianism, mandating vegetarianism as a universal precept for all Sikhs, perfectly aligns with the contents of the Adi Granth. Years ago I compiled a collection of vegetarian verses of the Granth. Those also happen to be from Guru Nanak and Arjan Dev! Also there's one from Arjan's scribe Bhai Gurdaas (in his collection of verses known as the Bhai Gurdas Vaaran), and the Granth has pro-veg verses from Kabir.
Perhaps one of those other guru lineages branching off one of the earlier Sikh gurus fared better at preserving the teachings of Guru Nanak. Hard to say. That might be good to explore, if there's any substantial information about those other sects available, such as the Nanak Panthis.
Note: The account in the Dabistan-i-Mazahib states: "After him [Nanak], this precept was neglected by his followers; but Arjun mal [Guru Arjan Dev], one of the substitutes of his faith [successors of Nanak], as soon as he found that it was wrong, renewed the prohibition to eat flesh, and said, 'This has not been approved by Nanac [Nanak].'" And history repeats. Others in Sikhism would do the same and adopt a vegetarian diet. There's always been a minority of Sikhs who have been vegetarian. No doubt much more could be said; more texts from various Sikh sects could be cited. Vegetarianism @ Sikh Wiki: https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Vegetarianism
Video: The Wise Guru Nanak: Passage from Sarbloh Granth:
Spirituality of the Sikh Scriptures of India (Adi Granth, Gurbani, Guru Granth, Satgurus) - Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcast
Essential Key Teachings According to the Satgurus in the Sikh Scriptures, the Guru Granth
1) Living Masters Having Living Disciples - The Need For The Living Satguru and For Initiation Into the Meditation Practice
"There can be no jnana (true knowledge) without meeting a Master-soul, nor meditation without a first-hand experience." (Guru Arjan Dev, Bhairon M5)
“Meet a Satguru and take his initiation. Surrender thine all and peep within.” (Guru Nanak, Gauri M1)
"Prays Nanak, But for Society of the Saints, the whole world is false." (Gopal Singh translation)
"In the Guru-given Gnosis is contained the wealth of the Lord’s Name, and the Lord’s Name, the Guru imprints in the man’s mind." (Manmohan Singh translation)
“In utter darkness, the Master’s Word (Guru-Mantra) shines forth into Light. In the company of the Master, all are rescued and saved.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Gond M5)
“The Master has given me the perfect Word or Mantra.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Bhairon M5)
2) Surat Shabd Yoga, in Meditation Hearing the Unstruck Melody of the Sound Current (Anhad Shabd, Naam, Nada According to the Sikh Scriptures)
Living Masters have always initiated their disciples into meditation practice (Naam Dhan), and this includes the practice of hearing the Anhad Shabd (Unstruck Celestial Melody) within one’s self during meditation practice. "The Unstruck Melody that one seeks to hear, hear it thou in the instruction of the Guru's." (Sri Rag M. 1)
"Within me rings the Unstruck Melody of the Lord’s flute, yea, He in whose presence one's mind is attuned to the Sound of the Inner Music." (Sri Rag, Kabir)
"At the (tenth) door rings the Unstruck Melody. The Lord echoes thus in every heart." (Vadhans M. 5)
3) Non-Violence (Ahimsa) in Thought, Word, and Deeds Including Following a Non-violent Vegetarian Diet in the Adi Granth and Other Texts
Shri Guru Nanak Dev 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 Scholar of Comparative Religion, Author of the, DABISTAN-E-MAZAHIB)
"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)
"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)
"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." (Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 141)
Spirituality of the Sikh Scriptures of India (Adi Granth, Gurbani, Guru Granth, Satgurus) - Listen and/or Download @:
Guru Nanak and the Sikh Scriptures - Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts
As we get initiated into Shabd Naam by a Living Satguru, the purpose of our life is fulfilled. Reuniting with God is our reason to be here: "It was for the sake of the God-conscious beings that our True Lord created this earth, and began this play of death and birth". (Sikh Scriptures, Guru Granth -- Adi Granth)
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During this human existence we have an opportunity to experience God. As we experience communing with God's love during meditation -- Surat Shabd Yoga -- we can rise above body-consciousness and explore Inner Space, the Kingdom of the Heavens that are within us. The drop of soul merges back into the Ocean of Love. Swami Santsevi Ji Maharaj: "We travel back from the realm of Darkness to the realm of Light, from the Light to Divine Sound, and from the realm of Sound to the Soundless State."
The Mind is Filled with the Divine Music of the Spheres
"The Lord placed the soul in the body's cave,
And the breath held the Music of Life.
He made each body with nine gates, (1)
With the Tenth Gate (2); remaining well hid.
And the Tenth Door was opened to him
Who truly loved the Guru's wisdom.
And there lives the Lord in His myriad forms,
as well as the nine treasures of the Name.
His limit cannot be found.
"Says Nanak, the Lord placed the soul in the
body's cave and the breath held the Music of Life.
"Listen to this Song of Bliss, you blessed ones,
And all your heart's longings shall be fulfilled.
You will reach the Transcendent Lord, and
your sorrows will depart.
All afflictions and sorrows are destroyed
at the Sound of the True Word,
And my friends, the saints were in ecstasy when
the perfect Guru revealed it.
Those who speak and those who listen are pure,
And they see the All-pervading Lord everywhere.
Nanak prays: Attaching to the feet of the Guru,
The mind is filled with the Divine Music of the Spheres."
-- Guru Amar Das, from Anand Sahib
_____
Notes:
(1) "nine gates": The nine visible orifices of the body.
(2) "The Tenth Gate": The Tenth, or Hidden, Gate of the body: The Third Eye, in essence, is the Portal to inner realms. The Upanishads describe a human being as a city with ten gates. Nine gates (eyes, nostrils, ears, mouth, urethra, anus) lead to the outside world. The Tenth Gate, the Third Eye, opens onto inner worlds: the whole spectrum of levels of consciousness.
God is the Ocean of Love.
Jai Sat Naam, Jai Guru, Radhasoami, Satya Raam, In Divine Love, Light and Sound, Peace Be to You,
PODCAST: Three Central Teachings of the Sikh Gurus -- Sant Mat Satsang Podcast -- Spiritual Awakening Radio
PODCAST (1-16-2020): Three Central Teachings According to the Sikh Gurus: 1) The Living Master, 2) Meditation of the Anhad Shabd/Sound Current, and, Vegetarian Ahimsa -- Spiritual Awakening Radio With James Bean @ Youtube:
The Satguru: The Book (Granth) says to not worship books (Granths, Scriptures). Rather, the Sikh Gurus proclaim the need for Living Masters (Satgurus) to show their disciples that God is within their own body.
“The whole world is in the throes of attachment and infatuation. A rare devotee of the Master escapes from the mighty maze of mind and matter. This infatuation keeps in perpetual motion the wheel of life, and it takes one time and again into the grip of Kal.” (Guru Nanak, Asa MI)
“Meet a Satguru and take his initiation. Surrender thine all and peep within.” (Guru Nanak, Gauri M1)
“Live ye in the haven of a Sadh, and leave all thy wisdom and knowledge. Let the Master’s Instructions (Guru Deeksha) abide in thy heart. This, O Nanak! may happen through the Writ of the Lord.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Gauri M5)
The Anhad Shabd, the Sound Current: Such is the power of illusion or maya making souls deaf to the true teachings of the Sant Satgurus, that some think that the “Sound Current” mentioned by the Ten Sikh Gurus is only listening to the sound of outer music or hymns being sung. Living Masters have always initiated their disciples into meditation practice, and this includes the practice of hearing the Anhad Shabd (Unstruck Celestial Melody) within one’s self during meditation practice.
"Seated in my higher mind, I live in communion with God and within me rings ever the Unstruck Music (of Bliss)." (Sri Rag Var, Shloka M. 3)
Vegetarian Ahimsa: 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. 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 and a Persian historian and scholar of comparative religion who long ago wrote about Guru Nanak and the early Sikhs — how the original disciples were all vegetarians.
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 Scholar of Comparative Religion, Author of the, DABISTAN-E-MAZAHIB)
Vegetarian passages from the Adi Granth (Guru Granth, Shri Guru Granth Sahib), Mohsin Fani's, Dabistan-e-Mazahib, Sudharam Marag Granth, and the Proclamation or Hukamnama to the Sikhs of Jaunpur by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur -- Sant Mat Radhasoami Books, The E Library: Sikh Vegetarian Section:https://SantMatRadhasoami.Blogspot.com/2019/01/sikh-and-you-will-find-vegetarian-diet.html
Sikh Scriptures: Guru Nanak, Sikh Gurus, Adi Granth, Bhai Gurdas Vaaran, Janamsakhis, Dasam Granth -- Online E Books Relating to Guru Nanak, The Ten Sikh Gurus, Guru Granth, Bhai Gurdas Vaaran, Janamsakhis, Dasam Granth, Bhai Sahib Bhai Nand Lal's Kalaam-e-Goya, and Other Texts -- Sant Mat Radhasoami Books, The E Library: Sikh Section:https://SantMatRadhasoami.Blogspot.com/2019/01/sikh-scriptures-sant-mat-radhasoami.html
* Questions? Seeking information on how to be initiated into the meditation practice (Inner Light and Sound of God), or trying to locate a satsang meetup in your area of the world? Email me here: James (at) SpiritualAwakeningRadio (dot) com
In Divine Love, Light and Sound, Jai Sat Naam, Jai Guru, Satya Raam, Radhasoami, Bandagi Saheb, Peace Be to You,
James
Spiritual Awakening Radio
God is the Ocean of Love, and Souls are Drops from this Ocean.
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