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In Sikhism, only vegetarian food is served in the Gurdwara, but Sikhs are not totally found to be meat-free. Only Meat killed by ritual acts like halal is banned for a Sikh, although there is debate and it is up to an individual to read the SGGS for themselves to decide the exact meaning of the word 'kuttha' which to some means 'halal' or 'meat', although once baptized by taking Amrit, some groups of Sikhs (Damdami Taksal, Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Namdharis, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha), and Amritdharis believe that a Sikh should be totally meat free

Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the holiest book of the Sikhs states: Template:Quoter

On the views that eating meat would be eating flesh, the scripture states: Template:Quoter

Sikhism is a liberal, tolerant faith that acknowledges personal liberty and the crucial proponent of human nature, free will . As such, Sikh philosophy and Scriptures are not didactic in nature, for Sikhism offers spiritual, ethical and moral guidance to a fulfilling way of life rather than a tightly-construed and strict religious discipline. As a result, it is the subject of much debate as to whether Sikhs are prohibited by the Sikh Code of Conduct, the Rehat Maryada, from eating meat. The consensus is however, Sikhs are bound to avoid meat that is killed in a ritualistic manner e.g. Halal, Kosher etc.

Within the Gurdwara, the Guru ka Langar (Guru's community kitchen) serves purely vegetarian food, freshly prepared from all natural ingredients for all people, at all times. The reason for serving vegetarian food is that the Langar is open to all. Since many faiths and people have varying taboos on what to eat and how meat should be prepared etc, and since Sikhs accept these restrictions and accommodate people no matter their faith or culture, the safest option thought by the Sikh Gurus was to adopt vegetarian food for Langar.

Sikhism argues that the soul can possibly undergo millions of transformations as various forms of life before ultimately becoming human. These life forms could be a rock, vegetation or animal. Sikhism does not see a difference between mineral, vegetation and animal. The only distinction made is that between these (mineral, vegetation and animal), and human.

The first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev Ji said it was a pointless argument to debate the merits of either not eating or eating meat in the context of religion, as maintaining a strict diet does not make one blessed or elevate one to a superior status, spiritually or otherwise, over another. Being a member of a religion incorporates not merely one's dietary customs but the entire way in which they govern their lifestyle. He advocated a lifestyle consisting of honest, hard work and humility Kirat Karni, focus and remembrance of God Naam Japna and compassion for all of humanity and God's creation all around Vaṇḍ chakkō, with these 3 key principles taking far greater precedence over one's mere dietary habits.

• Gurdwara Protocols
• Diet and Spirituality in Gurbani
• Origin of the word 'Langar'
• Vegetarian Protocols in Langar

SGGS Page 1103 ਜੀਅ ਬਧਹੁ ਸੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਕਰਿ ਥਾਪਹੁ ਅਧਰਮੁ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਤ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਮੁਨਿਵਰ ਕਰਿ ਥਾਪਹੁ ਕਾ ਕਉ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਸਾਈ ॥੨॥

jee-a baDhahu so Dharam kar thaapahu aDhram kahhu kat bhaa-ee. aapas ka-o munivar kar thaapahu kaa ka-o kahhu kasaa-ee. ((2))

You kill living beings, and call it a righteous action. Tell me, brother, what would you call an unrighteous action? You call yourself the most excellent sage; then who would you call a butcher? ((2))

SGGS Page 1128 ਸੋ ਜਾਗੈ ਜੋ ਤਤੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੈ ॥ ਆਪਿ ਮਰੈ ਅਵਰਾ ਨਹ ਮਾਰੈ ॥੩॥

so jaagai jo tat beechaarai. aap marai avraa nah maarai. ((3))

One who contemplates the essence of reality remains awake and aware. He kills his self-conceit, and does not kill anyone else. ((3))

ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਕਹਹੁ ਮਤ ਝੂਠੇ ਝੂਠਾ ਜੋ ਨ ਬਿਚਾਰੈ ॥

ਜਉ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਏਕੁ ਖੁਦਾਇ ਕਹਤ ਹਉ ਤਉ ਕਿਉ ਮੁਰਗੀ ਮਾਰੈ ॥੧॥

bayd katayb kahhu mat jhoothay jhoothaa jo na bichaarai. ja-o sabh meh ayk khudaa-ay kahat ha-o ta-o ki-o murgee maarai. ((1))

Do not say that the Vedas, the Bible and the Koran are false. Those who do not contemplate them are false. You say that the One Lord is in all, so why do you kill chickens? ((1))

SGGS Page 1375 ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀਅ ਜੁ ਮਾਰਹਿ ਜੋਰੁ ਕਰਿ ਕਹਤੇ ਹਹਿ ਜੁ ਹਲਾਲੁ ॥ ਦਫਤਰੁ ਦਈ ਜਬ ਕਾਢਿ ਹੈ ਹੋਇਗਾ ਕਉਨੁ ਹਵਾਲੁ ॥੧੯੯॥

kabeer jee-a jo maareh jor kar kahtay heh jo halaal. daftar da-ee jab kaadh hai ho-igaa ka-un havaal. ((199))

Kabeer, they oppress living beings and kill them, and call it proper. When the Lord calls for their account, what will their condition be? ((199))

SGGS Page 141 ਹਕੁ ਪਰਾਇਆ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਉਸੁ ਸੂਅਰ ਉਸੁ ਗਾਇ ॥ ਗੁਰੁ ਪੀਰੁ ਹਾਮਾ ਤਾ ਭਰੇ ਜਾ ਮੁਰਦਾਰੁ ਨ ਖਾਇ ॥ ਗਲੀ ਭਿਸਤਿ ਨ ਜਾਈਐ ਛੁਟੈ ਸਚੁ ਕਮਾਇ ॥ ਮਾਰਣ ਪਾਹਿ ਹਰਾਮ ਮਹਿ ਹੋਇ ਹਲਾਲੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਗਲੀ ਕੂੜੀਈ ਕੂੜੋ ਪਲੈ ਪਾਇ ॥੨॥

hak paraa-i-aa naankaa us soo-ar us gaa-ay. gur peer haamaa taa bharay jaa murdaar na khaa-ay. galee bhisat na jaa-ee-ai chhutai sach kamaa-ay. maaran paahi haraam meh ho-ay halaal na jaa-ay. naanak galee koorhee-ee koorho palai paa-ay. ॥2॥

   To take what rightfully belongs to another, is like a Muslim eating pork, or a Hindu eating beef.
   Our Guru, our Spiritual Guide, stands by us, if we do not eat those carcasses.
   By mere talk, people do not earn passage to Heaven. Salvation comes only from the practice of Truth.
   By adding spices to forbidden foods, they are not made acceptable.
   O Nanak, from false talk, only falsehood is obtained. ॥2॥ 

SGGS Page 1377

ਕਬੀਰ ਭਾਂਗ ਮਾਛੁਲੀ ਸੁਰਾ ਪਾਨਿ ਜੋ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਾਨੀ ਖਾਂਹਿ ॥ kabeer bhaaNg maachhulee suraa paan jo jo paraanee khaaNhi. Kabeer, those mortals who consume marijuana, fish and wine

ਤੀਰਥ ਬਰਤ ਨੇਮ ਕੀਏ ਤੇ ਸਭੈ ਰਸਾਤਲਿ ਜਾਂਹਿ ॥੨੩੩॥ tirath barat naym kee-ay tay sabhai rasaatal jaaNhi. ॥233॥ - no matter what pilgrimages, fasts and rituals they follow, they will all go to hell. ॥233॥

WAARAAN BHAI GURDAAS JI

ਪਉੜੀ 17 (ਬਕਰੀ)

ਸੀਹ ਪਜੂਤੀ ਬਕਰੀ ਮਰਦੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੜ ਹੜ ਹਸੀ॥ ਸੀਹੁ ਪੁਛੈ ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਹੋਇ ਇਤੁ ਅਉਸਰਿ ਕਿਤੁ ਰਹਸਿ ਰਹਸੀ॥ ਬਿਨਉ ਕਰੇਂਦੀ ਬਕਰੀ ਪੁਤ੍ਰ ਅਸਾਡੇ ਕੀਚਨਿ ਖਸੀ॥ ਅਕ ਧਤੂਰਾ ਖਾਧਿਆਂ ਕੁਹਿ ਕੁਹਿ ਖਲ ਉਖਲਿ ਵਿਣਸੀ॥ ਮਾਸੁ ਖਾਨਿ ਗਲ ਵਢਿ ਕੈ ਹਾਲੁ ਤਿਨਾੜਾ ਕਉਣੁ ਹੋਵਸੀ॥ ਗਰਬੁ ਗਰੀਬੀ ਦੇਹ ਖੇਹ ਖਾਜੁ ਅਖਾਜੁ ਅਕਾਜੁ ਕਰਸੀ॥ ਜਗਿ ਆਇਆ ਸਭ ਕੋਇ ਮਰਸੀ

seeh pajoothee bakaree maradhee hoee harr harr hasee. seehu pushhai visamaadh hoe eith aousar kith rehas rehasee. bino karae(n)adhee bakaree puthr asaaddae keechan khasee. ak dhhathooraa khaadhhiaaa(n) kuhi kuhi khal oukhal vinasee. maas khaan gal vadt kai haal thinaarraa koun hovasee. garab gareebee dhaeh khaeh khaaj akhaaj akaaj karasee. jag aaeiaa sabh koe marasee.

(She Goat)

Lion catches a goat; As the goat is dying, it begins to laugh. In awe the lion asks, why are you laughing? Humbly the goat says: Our sons are destroyed (castrated). We only eat wild plants and suffer being slayed & skinned alive. Those who cut our throats and eat our flesh, what will be their plight? Proud and arrogant their bodies are a waste; inedible and fruitless. All who come to the world will eventually die.

ਪਉੜੀ 21 ( ਨਿਗੁਰਾ ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਵਸ ਵਿਚ ਨਹੀ ਆ ਸਕਦਾ )

ਕੁਹੈ ਕਸਾਈ ਬਕਰੀ ਲਾਇ ਲੂਣ ਸੀਖ ਮਾਸੁ ਪਰੋਆ॥ ਹਸਿ ਹਸਿ ਬੋਲੇ ਕੁਹੀਂਦੀ ਖਾਧੇ ਅਕਿ ਹਾਲੁ ਇਹੁ ਹੋਆ॥ ਮਾਸ ਖਾਨਿ ਗਲਿ ਛੁਰੀ ਦੇ ਹਾਲੁ ਤਿਨਾੜਾ ਕਉਣੁ ਅਲੋਆ॥ ਜੀਭੈ ਹੰਦਾ ਫੇੜਿਆ ਖਉ ਦੰਦਾਂ ਮੁਹੁ ਭੰਨਿ ਵਿਗੋਆ॥ ਪਰ ਤਨ ਪਰ ਧਨ ਨਿੰਦ ਕਰਿ ਹੋਇ ਦੁਜੀਭਾ ਬਿਸੀਅਰੁ ਭੋਆ॥ ਵਸਿ ਆਵੈ ਗੁਰੁਮੰਤ ਸਪੁ ਨਿਗੁਰਾ ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਸੁਣੈ ਨ ਸੋਆ॥ ਵੇਖਿ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਅਗੈ ਟੋਆ

kuhai kasaaee bakaree laae loon seekh maas paroaa. has has bolae kuhee(n)adhee khaadhhae ak haal eihu hoaa. maas khaan gal shhuree dhae haal thinaarraa koun aloaa. jeebhai ha(n)dhaa faerriaa kho dha(n)dhaa(n) muhu bha(n)n vigoaa. par than par dhhan ni(n)dh kar hoe dhujeebhaa biseear bhoaa. vas aavai guruma(n)th sap niguraa manamukh sunai n soaa. vaekh n chalai agai ttoaa.

Pauri 21 (Man having no Guru is uncontrollable)

The butcher slaughters the goat; salts the meat and strings it on a skewer. While being killed the goat laughingly says: I have come to this condition for grazing only coarse leaves of arid wild plants. What will be the plight of those who cutting the throat with a knife eat the flesh of animals? The perverted taste of the tongue is harmful for the teeth and damages the mouth. The one who eyes another’s wealth or body or slanders becomes a poisonous Amphisbaena. This snake is controlled by the Guru's mantra but the Guru-less manmukh never listens to this glorious mantra. The Manmukh blindly moves ahead, never realizing the approaching deep pit ahead!

See also

• Diet and Spirituality in Gurbani

References

1. "Sikh Identity: An Exploration of Groups Among Sikhs" by Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, pg. 51, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd, 2005, ISBN 0754652025
2. http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=787&english=t&id=33605#l33605 Page 787 Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji
3. "Sikhism, A Complete Introduction" by Dr. H.S. Singha & Satwant Kaur Hemkunt, Hemkunt Press, New Delhi, 1994, ISBN 81-7010-245-6
4. http://www.sikhs.org/meat_au.htm Misconceptions About Eating Meat - Comments of Sikh Scholars by Sandeep Singh Brar]
5. Faithandfood Fact Files - Sikhism
6. http://www.sikhworld.co.uk/page4.html
7. Page 176 Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji
8. Page 1289 Sri GuruGranth Sahib Ji

• Sikhism