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Summary of Question:	Drinking And Waheguru
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Thursday, 6/03/2004 5:39 PM MDT

Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh

I just read a question response explaining the meaning behind the word "sin". From memory the general gist of the meaning was that a sin is something that takes over the mind and prevents you from being closer to God. Moving on, alcohol is considered in many religions (Sikhism included) to be sin. I am an 18 year old male who used to drink but gave up to be more commited to my religion (Sikhism). Since I have been sober I think about God and waheguru A LOT. But on occasions something will disturb me or temporarily take away my attention. I never used to get so drunk that I didn't know what I was doing, or I didn't get drunk and start hitting on girls. Instead the funniest thing used to happen, something that I cannot explain. When I had had something to drink, all I could think about was God and how much I loved him and how much I loved my religion, my way of life (I forget everything I thanked him about - it was a lot!). Now, technically a "sin" assisted me in thinking about God. I know that it wasn't alcohol that made me remember God but I felt so much love for God that it made me think about this issue. I hear so much about religion and ways of life from different sources (parents, siblings, internet, Sikhism books), that sometimes I get confused. What do you make of this, ji?

Thank you for your time!

SAT SRI AKAL

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Alcohol alters the mind and its potential. Alcohol takes away one's ability to focus and function at its highest level of effeciency. Meditation develops the mind to function at its greatest potential. The mind is either our friend or our foe; it is either our master or our slave. Meditation enable us to develop our mind where it serves us...it gives us discipline...it gives us self-determination. Meditation connects us to our soul and gives us an experience of oneness. The ecstacy experienced through meditation doesn't compare to the experience through drinking alcohol. Alcohol deadens your senses and awareness...meditation heightens them. Alcohol takes away choice...meditation develops choice. You choose. It is your choice. What kind of a quality of life do you want to have? Blessings. GTKK

SECOND REPLY

You may believe that because you had euphoric experiences, thinking about God and Wahe Guru while your mind was affected by alcohol, that perhaps the alcohol is not such a bad thing. In the prayers and banis of Guru Nanak, he insisted that the euphoria he experienced from meditation on Nam was millions of times greater than any alcohol or drugs, and that his longing to be united with his Creator could never be satiated by the strongest of drugs. I was once like you, experimenting with artificial substances, and now having long ago committed to keeping my mind clear of them, I strongly suspect and submit to you that your giving credit to the alcohol for your thoughts about God is misplaced. Your Creator is not dependant on any drug. That is the great lie to get you to choose drugs. But you will only experience this when over the drugs, you choose yourself. Sat Nam. God bless you. -GMK