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Summary of Question:	Thank you for your time and sincere dedication to the runing this forum
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Thursday, 11/11/1999 5:01 AM MST

Fateh Ji

Q1
I am a western sikh who finds it difficult to understand the various dialects of punjabi, old hindi, bhasha at the gurdawara. I feel readings books in English helps me to learn alot about our graceful religion. But i always find comparisons and conflicting views about Gurbani and its translation, for example one person will say who can eat meat (quoting Gurbani and the other saying you can eat meat again qouting Gurbani. Like "Maas Maas Kar Morakh Jagrey Ghian Dhian Neehan Janey"-especially thias interpretation gives conflicting views and it becomes suspect in what the real meaning is.

Q2
Although the Gurus did not condemn or agree to eating meat. In the Japji Sahib: Guru Nanak saya Asank gal vad hathi kamar hei, Asank pappi pap kar jar ha. What is the meaning of this and how does this relate to my question.

Q3
I know the SGPC is at forefront of our religion and everything is govered through them. Found in the 1920's they reiterated the rahit maryada and gave discipline on how a sikh should live. But they introduced some negative aspects too, for example dam dam taksal started by Dashmesh pita himself has the full reading of reharas sahib which contains Patshahi Dasvhei Bani, this is not found in the SGPC giudelines, why is this please explain.

Thank-you for having the time to answer these questions

Dalvinder Dail

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Reply
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You have brought up an interesting issue. Gurbani takes us towards a more compassionate yet unattached lifestyle, thus keeping us from being tarnished by the rigidity of extreme sets of beliefs that lead us to judge and condemn others. Therefore, even though Gurbani may be propagating a viewpoint, it also is forewarning you that you shouldn't look down and fight with others who don't live up to those principles. Rather, an attitude of caring compassion that wishes for "sarbhat da bhala" or prosperity for everybody permeates throughout the Guru's teachings. So any paradoxical quotes from Gurbani should not be surprising because they stem from the limitless expanse of love that the Gurus have for all creatures of God.
From this you can probably defer that although I am a vegetarian and firmly believe that that is the lifestyle that the Guru's believed in (which is why meat is never served in langar), I do not judge or condemn those who do eat meat because that is a choice that they are making for themselves.
The line that you quoted from Japji means that "there exist infinite number of people who cut the throats of others and thus become murderers and an infinite number of sinners commit sin"

Regarding your question about Rehras, it is part of Rehat Maryada that was set up by several representatives from the Sikh Community who got together in the 1920s.They agreed on a basic Rehat that every Amritdhari should follow. But this should not stop anyone from reading the complete Rehras or doing things that go beyond the requirements of the basic Rehat.

I hope this helps.

MSB