12-Jul-2004, 13:01 PM
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 | | | | Enrolled: Jun 11th, 2004 Location: India Age: 67
Posts: 577
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Liked 321 Times in 128 Posts
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| Dear Khalsa Jee (Ideal Singh), In my posting, I had talked about meat and drinking. I had presented to all of our members the rational that I had to support what I have said. I have read again and again what I have posted; there is no mention about smoking. I could not understand your observation (as stated in your posting) that as per my analysis little smoking should not be bad for Sikhs. I had never said that. You have raised two issues one about smoking and other about Sikh Rehat Marayada. In this posting I express my views on both. First I take up the issue of smoking. Guru Sahib had asked we Sikhs to refrain from consuming/using tobacco in any form. He was fully right. It is injurious to physical and mental health. The nicotine that is present in the tobacco gets passed the blood barrier between the brain and the capillary supplying nutrients that the brain needs to synthesise various neurotransmitters and other chemicals that are essential for its proper operation. There are receptors in the brain that seek this nicotine that gets into the brain. Nicotine when attached to these receptors in the brain gives a high feeling to the individual who smokes or chews tobacco. This feeling of elation in the normal course is given by the other neurotransmitters that are natural part of brain chemistry. Nicotine washes away these natural neurotransmitters making the individual depended on continuous supply of nicotine from outside the brain system. Not only this, as a result of nicotine in the brain the number of receptors keep on increasing making the individual smoke/ chew more and more of tobacco. Tobacco is identified as a contributor toward the possibility of cancer. Sikhism believes in living a life in harmony with nature. Tobacco is not an ingredient that is part of our natural diet. It is an addictive substance, which does only harm to the individual. One cannot compare it with alcohol, which in moderate quantity helps in promoting health; this I have elaborated in my earlier posting. Guru Sahib was fully right to forbid Sikhs from coming into contact with tobacco in any form. It was a right directive and today science supports it; that is why I say Sikh Religion is a modern religion. With this I close on smoking.Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/127-sri-guru-granth-sahib-jee-home.htmlReference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=127 Sikh Rehat Marayada is needed, but has to be a dynamic document, which should be updated periodically based on new scientific knowledge without harming its basic intention or the intent that created this code. Intoxication is not acceptable in Sikh Religion; it does not go well with the concept of Saint-Soldier. Saint has to be in full control on the functioning of brain and Solder is not fit for the task if she/he has lost control of her/his mental faculties. Alcohol in moderate quantities does not affect the mental faculties, and within this limit it should be allowed. With Love and Respect for all. Amarpal  |