Can Sikhs Eat Beef?

Originally Posted by Harjas Kaur Khalsa

In the Sikh Kingdom, cow slaughter was punishable as a crime. It was part of British colonialism which brought halal butchers and beef into Punjab. And this was resisted with Cow Protection movement of both Hindus and Sikhs.

Why?

These arguments are based on certain assumptions. The asumptions are that the cow is just an animal. Killing of an animal is fine, like it is a nothing. A cow is nothing to be superstitious about. So by not being superstitious, people demean a cow to something less than life? By not being superstitious we no longer believe in spiritual principles? This mental trick makes a cow into a commodity to be used and destroyed at human whim. A butcher can recite prayers of blessing (halal) over the slaughtered cow and render it spiritually fit for consumption. And the only element which is wrong here is the Muslim prayers, and not the hypocrisy of blessing in the name of God the killing of an innocent creature for selfishness and greed?


Gurbani describes the cow as a loving mother. Not an object worthy of indifferent slaughter to appease the lusts of our taste.

Originally Posted by Harjas Kaur Khalsa

Originally Posted by Harjas Kaur Khalsa

Originally Posted by Harjas Kaur Khalsa

Originally Posted by Harjas Kaur Khalsa

Originally Posted by Harjas Kaur Khalsa

Originally Posted by Harjas Kaur Khalsa

Originally Posted by Harjas Kaur Khalsa

Originally Posted by Harjas Kaur Khalsa

Originally Posted by Harjas Kaur Khalsa

Originally Posted by Harjas Kaur Khalsa

Yes! But the discussion is about cows in particular. Animal slaughter is morally troubling. Vegetarianism is a spiritually disciplined way to live your life...and eating meat is not.


You did not watch the videos of slaughterhouses? You did not hear the animals screaming? Could you possibly make the comparision between a cow and a potato? There are higher and lower forms of life. Eating a cabbage does not spill blood or elicit fear and screaming from a sentient being. If something you eat is bleeding and has to suffer pain and be killed to satisfy your lust for certain taste, you can imagine the karmic consequences of such actions.

Even Gurbani describes that certain animals, such as tiger were designed to be meat-eating. Human beings can eat both vegetarian and meat diets. But look at the health differences between them. The discussion revolves around "what is acceptable to Sikh religion." You have free choice. But don't blindly wrap this animal cruelty and slaughter in a neat hamburger package and say it is perfectly consistent with a spiritual teaching, because it clearly is not.


At some point, we have to be accountable for our actions. It's no sewa to society to promote sick, contaminated foods. We need to make better, dharmically healthier choices than these. It's sad that in the name of Sikh religion, people don't defend human health or even kindness to animals. But rather defend their own denials and evil actions that torment living beings.

Originally Posted by randip singh

Most of what you are talking about has been tackled here, and Bani you have stated above has been rebutted and shown to be mistranslated, misquoted or misrepresented. There is only ONE reference directly to meat in Bani, the rest are spurious:

Page 1289 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

mehlaa 1.
maas maas kar moorakh jhagrhay gi-aan Dhi-aan nahee jaanai.
ka-un maas ka-un saag kahaavai kis meh paap samaanay.
gaiNdaa maar hom jag kee-ay dayviti-aa kee baanay.
maas chhod bais nak pakrheh raatee maanas khaanay.
farh kar lokaaN no dikhlaavahi gi-aan Dhi-aan nahee soojhai.
naanak anDhay si-o ki-aa kahee-ai kahai na kahi-aa boojhai.
anDhaa so-ay je anDh kamaavai tis ridai se lochan naahee.
maat pitaa kee rakat nipannay machhee maas na khaaNhee.

First Mehl:
The fools argue about flesh and meat, but they know nothing about meditation and spiritual wisdom.
What is called meat, and what is called green vegetables? What leads to sin?
It was the habit of the gods to kill the rhinoceros, and make a feast of the burnt offering.
Those who renounce meat, and hold their noses when sitting near it, devour men at night.
They practice hypocrisy, and make a show before other people, but they do not understand anything about meditation or spiritual wisdom.
O Nanak, what can be said to the blind people? They cannot answer, or even understand what is said.
They alone are blind, who act blindly. They have no eyes in their hearts.
They are produced from the blood of their mothers and fathers, but they do not eat fish or meat.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji

There is nothing special in Bani about a cow,. This is a hangover from Vaishnavism (and Hinduism in general).

http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/essays...ver-flesh.html

There

Suffice to say I find your arguments inconsistent and I cannot reconcile the so called cruelty to animals with cruelty to plants:

Page 143 of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

mehlaa 1.
vaykh je mithaa kati-aa kat kut baDhaa paa-ay.
khundhaa andar rakh kai dayn so mal sajaa-ay.
ras kas tatar paa-ee-ai tapai tai villaa-ay.
bhee so fog samaalee-ai dichai ag jaalaa-ay.
naanak mithai patree-ai vaykhhu lokaa aa-ay.

First Mehl:
Look, and see how the sugar-cane is cut down. After cutting away its branches, its feet are bound together into bundles,
and then, it is placed between the wooden rollers and crushed.
What punishment is inflicted upon it! Its juice is extracted and placed in the cauldron; as it is heated, it groans and cries out.
And then, the crushed cane is collected and burnt in the fire below.
Nanak: come, people, and see how the sweet sugar-cane is treated!
Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji


Sikhism places no such emphasis on a particular diet for spirituality. It is a matter for individual conscience.

Originally Posted by namjap

ਸਚੀ ਕਾਰੈ ਸਚੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਪਲੈ ਪਾਇ ॥
sachee kaarai sach milai guramath palai paae ||
By true actions, the True Lord is met, and the Guru's Teachings are found.

ਸੋ ਨਰੁ ਜੰਮੈ ਨਾ ਮਰੈ ਨਾ ਆਵੈ ਨਾ ਜਾਇ ॥
so nar janmai naa marai naa aavai naa jaae ||
Then, they are not subject to birth and death; they do not come and go in reincarnation.


ਨਾਨਕ ਦਰਿ ਪਰਧਾਨੁ ਸੋ ਦਰਗਹਿ ਪੈਧਾ ਜਾਇ ॥੪॥੧੪॥
naanak dhar paradhhaan so dharagehi paidhhaa jaae ||4||14||
O Nanak, they are respected at the Lord's Gate; they are robed in honor in the Court of the Lord.

So what is true action ?
Answer found in Sidh Gost.
http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sidh-g...sleration.html

Happy Hunting!!

Originally Posted by ekmusafir_ajnabi

Full agreement here.




Total disagreement here. The answer to this post is in the second half of the first verse.

maas maas kar moorakh jhagrhay gi-aan Dhi-aan nahee jaanai.
The fools argue about flesh and meat, but they know nothing about meditation and spiritual wisdom.

Who are the people being considered fools here , "those who know nothing about Gi-aan and Dhi-aan.

So in order to fully understand what Guru Nanak Dev ji is saying here one needs a deep understanding of Gi-aan - Spiritual knowledge and Dhi-aan - Meditation.

Perhaps our thread supporting very senior moderator would like to give an in-depth analysis to explain his forum what is meant by the above terms and since he is also a "Historian" if he take the trouble of giving the forum an account of the events/life style prior to the birth of Guru Nanak Dev ji so that we can fully understand his justification for the above two translations in the context of the Philosophy of Guru Nanak Dev ji. What is Gi-aan and Dhi-aan as per Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Kindly explain in detail.(please adhere to the rules of your own forum) and no wishy washey answers please.

If the case history of Guru Nanak cooking meat in Korokshetar (where this shabad was first delivered) at the Largest Hindu Festival, is used by some to justify that he has authorised eating meat (i.e. killing innocent animals for food) then could the author also on the same lines explain whether Guru Nanak's visit to Mecca disguised as a Muslim be taken as an acceptance of the values of Islam on the standing of meat eating.


Explain the origin and need for sikhism.?



The feeling is mutual here. We hope you too will provide consistent arguments.

Your constructive and well supported answer would be very much appreciated.

Look forward to a mature response.

ekmusafir_ajnabi