Alcohol and it's presence within Sikh families

MKAUR1981 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-Mar-2007, 17:45 PM

WJKK WJKF

"One man offers wine and another pours it himself;
It makes him crazy and senseless and devoid of all reason.
Then one cannot distinguish between one's own and another's and is cursed by God.
Drinking it, one forsakes one's Master and is punished at the Lord's Court.
Yes, drink not this vicious wine, under any circumstances."
(Guru Amardas, Guru Granth Sahib Pg 554)

"The body is the pitcher, selfhood the wine;
And society is of craving and outgoing of the mind.
Yes, Desire is drinking bowl brimming over with falsehood;
And Yama is the bar-man.
Drinking such a wine, who can earn anything but vice and sin?"
(pg 553)

As we all know alcohol is forbidden in Sikhism, yet I am confused as to why so many "Sikhs" drink it. When did it all start, how did it become such a big part of our social lifes? I'm not talking about it in general terms, but particularly in Sikh families.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/15066-alcohol-its-presence-within-sikh-families.html

I myself have battled with the demon and my dad drank to excess and my grandad enjoyed a few drinks at night (called it his "pegg"). So alcohol was always present in my house, hence I thought it was normal. Any social event you go to whether it is a wedding, Akhand Path it is always followed by a party with alcohol.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15066

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J.A.T.T · #2 (**permalink**) 05-Mar-2007, 19:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MKAUR1981

WJKK WJKF

"One man offers wine and another pours it himself;
It makes him crazy and senseless and devoid of all reason.
Then one cannot distinguish between one's own and another's and is cursed by God.
Drinking it, one forsakes one's Master and is punished at the Lord's Court.
Yes, drink not this vicious wine, under any circumstances."
(Guru Amardas, Guru Granth Sahib Pg 554)

"The body is the pitcher, selfhood the wine;
And society is of craving and outgoing of the mind.
Yes, Desire is drinking bowl brimming over with falsehood;
And Yama is the bar-man.
Drinking such a wine, who can earn anything but vice and sin?"
(pg 553)

As we all know alcohol is forbidden in Sikhism, yet I am confused as to why so many "Sikhs" drink it. When did it all start, how did it become such a big part of our social lifes? I'm not talking about it in general terms, but particularly in Sikh families.

I myself have battled with the demon and my dad drank to excess and my grandad enjoyed a few drinks at night (called it his "pegg"). So alcohol was always present in my house, hence I thought it was normal. Any social event you go to whether it is a wedding, Akhand Path it is always followed by a party with alcohol.

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It may have to do with the Punjabi culture.

Most "Sikhs" I have come across in the past can't tell the difference between Punjabi culture & Sikhi. They think it is the same thing.

MKAUR1981 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-Mar-2007, 19:32 PM

WJKK WJKF

When you say Punjabi culture do you mean those from Punjab?

I see many Sikhs drinking and they're not from Punjab.

J.A.T.T · #4 (**permalink**) 05-Mar-2007, 19:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MKAUR1981

WJKK WJKF

When you say Punjabi culture do you mean those from Punjab?

I see many Sikhs drinking and they're not from Punjab.

I mean any Sikh who is Punjabi.