Previous

Next

Ask a Question

Summary of Question:	Misinformation
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 11/28/2001 3:45 AM MST

Vaaheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa !!! Vaaheguroo Jee Kee Fateh !!!

Dear Khalsa Jee,

I myself am a vegetarian amritdhari sikh, but I do not agree with your comments. I think you are misinforming the youth.

HSD, in a reply to a recent "meat" posting, said "The Guruji had his principles, he knew what was right and what was wrong. In the same way, just because the only thing you have to eat meat does NOT mean that you can break your principles, or more importantly, break what he Guruji has said."

This is SO wrong. First of all Guruji never said anything about eating meat, and second of all you can't compare converting to Islam to eating meat. You can't compare those two actions.

If you are on a camping trip and you run out of food - and you are far away from wilderness, YOU WILL DIE if you don't eat an animal.

So you hunt; and when you hunt you are honestly earning your meal.

I am a vegetarian, but if I was dying without food in the forest I would not be brahministic and ritualistic. Converting to Islam has nothing to do with it.

Please don't misinform the youth.

Please let me know your thoughts on this.

******
REPLY
******

Sat Sri Akal,

Thank you for responding. It is true that the first nine Gurus did not mention *specifically* about eating meat, and indeed Guru Gobind Singh Ji mentioned that eating halal meat is wrong (possibly implying that eating other meat is not wrong) and also that He allowed some of His soldiers ate meat.

However, I think that these episodes were under different circumstances (there was a war going on for one thing) and strong soldiers were needed to protect other Sikhs and Hindus.

I think that instead of focusing on one little point about what Guru Gobind Singh Ji said about halal meat or about letting his soldiers eat meat, we should look at the spirit of the nine previous Gurus and see that vegetarianism was the preferred/espoused method of life.

In addition, there are references in Sri Guru Granth Sahib (like in Japji Sahib) where unnecessary killing is condemned. You can search for these in this forum. I also believe that hunting is not earning an honest living. I don't think that we can say "Well, Guru Gobind Singh Ji hunted", as we are not at the level of attainment that He was, and we don't know exactly what was going on in his mind.

Converting to Islam may have nothing to do with eating meat, but I think that the youth need to see how much the Gurujis sacrificed so that they can put little things like keeping a beard into perspective. Many youth, especially in the Western world, are confused about keeping their hair, meat among other things and I think that showing them examples of the ultimate sacrifice the Gurus made of giving up their lives shows that the little problems they face can easily be solved.

The little problems they face are big problems in their life, so I think it is best if they can learn that there are much bigger problems in life and that if you have a solid understanding of Sikhi, you will be able to conquer all the problems life throws at you.

These are my thoughts on the issue. Sometimes I think that there needs to be tough love with the youth because I see so many young boys and girls cutting their hair, and losing their Sikh identity.

Thank you for your input.

Gur Fateh,
HSD