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| Summary of Question: | Meat |
| Category: | General Sikhism |
| Date Posted: | Sunday, 4/25/1999 6:30 PM MDT |
Mehirbaani
Ik Singh
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Here is the explanation from the Khalsa guidelines manual
7. Sikhs do not eat meat, fish, poultry or eggs. "Maas machee nayray naahee aavanaa." Explanation: Sikhs do not eat or take into the body anything which
is harmful or will have ill effects upon the body or mind. Meat is a stimulant of the gross passions of the mind and body, and is harmful physically as well.
Along with the karmic consequences of killing other animals unnecessarily, a Sikh does not take another's life so s/he may live.
Meat is harmful on every level, physical, mental, and spiritual. Apart from the health problems it causes, you are killing a soul in the process of evolving through the incarnations to human. Once a soul reaches an incarnation beyond a plant form, it starts having an ego to decide how to live. An animal, even low on the evolution scale, has to decide to turn left or right, when and where to sleep, etc. The decision process begins the development of ego. This developed ego is what you are eating, taking on the karma of the creature. If you want to take on endless extra karma besides your own, and make your life an endless hassle, feel free to eat it.
It will stimulate the lower nature, making it very hard or impossible to live in a meditative, spiritual mindset. If you want constant confusion and unhappiness, then chow down on the dead animals.
You are free to do what you want. This choice is a matter of your own personal happiness and destiny. The Guru's (and many spiritual teachers of all faiths) gave the advice for your benefit, not just to make arbitrary rules.
As Siri Singh Sahib says, "If you want to meet God, you can't eat the meat".
Meat (04/25/1999)