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Summary of Question:	Can A Person Do Paath In The English Version?
Category:	Gurbani
Date Posted:	Friday, 7/26/2002 10:04 PM MDT

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji ki Fateh

I believe that a person of any caste or creed can become a sikh by taking amrit. It does not necessarily mean he can read and speak gurmukhi but may do nitnem from an english version 'gutka'. Is this accepted ?
Secondly, eating meat is prohibited for sikhs? Can they still eat by rpoducts of meat - like cheese made out of rennet, and those numbered codes which is not understood by most people. Is there a code crack down which can be followed by a strict vegetarian who wants to abstain from meat by products?
Please be kind enough to answer these for my satisfaction
Gurfateh

(REPLY) Sat Nam. Yes, banis may be read in English (or any other language into which they have been translated.) I would urge you to learn Gurumukhi if at all possible, because of the ideal experience of speaking the words just as the Gurus spoke them, but if you cannot, then certainly you can read them in English. Khalsa means "pure" and so therefore we do not eat meat, nor meat products. Each person follows as strictly as he or she is able. As for the bar codes, if you are determined to know all the ingredients in a product, you can usually contact the manufacturer and find out. (For instance, Jello is non-vegetarian!) Blessings, SP