Sikhism On Alcohol

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SSA,
This thread was created on June 2009, one year has passed but still no comments or replies,why ? Why no one like to express his /her views on this matter. This matter is very serious specially for sikhs. Yes gurbani has ordered us to stay away from alcohal.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-videos/25509-sikhism-on-alcohol.html
Roopsidhu

What can one say? Sikhs are specifically prohibited from smoking and consuming alcohol. While the first is more or less adhered to, the second is observed more in its breach!
I have not been able to understand this. All leading functionaries of most of the Gurudwaras are heavy, public and proud drinkers! Punjab leads in consumption of alcohol in India and also grosses the highest excise collection on alcohol!
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25509
At parties and get togethers, when people express surprise on my refusing hard drinks my Sikh "friends" feel embarrassed and explain it off by calling me a "South Indian Sardar" or a "Idli Dosa sardar"! "You see he was brought up in Bangalore"!
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25509
I do not have any explanation as to why Sikhs are such heavy drinkers inspite of Sikhi being specifically against cosumption of alcohol.

Harbans ji,

Guru Fateh.

We have had many weddings in our family in the USA and Canada but never served a drop of alcohol in any of the functions which were quite a few. A couple of times when they were held at a private club or a restaurant where alcohol was available, we made them close their bars during our functions.

There was a reception party I went to last week. Both the boy and girl are amritdharis even the parents too and I was shocked to see the open bar. It shows nothing but their own insecurity, it seems.

Tejwant Singh

SSA,
First of all its very pleasing to see some scholers writinf their valuable views. Its very unfotunate that the alcohol consumption has been attached to sardarji name. We have spoiled our reputation to the extent that many other people thinks that sikhs are allowed to consume alcohol religiously. To correct that reputation first of all we have to flood the media with the truth that gurbani teaches us to stay away from not only alcohol but tobbacco and other intoxicant also. This way we will be able to guide our people and also let others know that what sikhism is all about.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25509
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25509
roopsidhu

Tejwant ji,

You may be right.
I think the Sikhs picked up the habit from the "Burra Sahibs" that is the British. The British recruited Sikhs in large numbers to serve in their armed forces. I think they just copied their Colonels and Generals and started imagining themselves as connoisseurs of good things!
From there the culture must have percolated into the civilian population of Sikhs also.

We have misl in 18th century bhangi misl whose members were addicted to Bhang.So sikhs use to intoxicate themself even in 18th century

Bhangian di Misal

And what about the Nihags openly making bhang at many Sikh religious congregations?
I have been seeing it outside Gurudwara Dukhniwaran Sahib at Patiala for as long as I can remember.

Kanwardeep Singh ji and Jasbir Singh ji,

Guru Fateh.

Yes,the above are the the unfortunate facts and bad examples to the young Sikhs. By using Bhang as a gateway, they can move on to heroine and other dangerous addictive drugs.

The pathetic part of all this is that our culture is seeped into traditions. We have not been able to break the shackles of wrong traditions and move forward from them as Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, our only Guru gives us the tools to.That is why, even the Tankha handed by the Panj Piyaaras for any "kureheit"- 'wrongdoing according to the panth',- someone may have committed is do so many Japjis , Sukhmanis etc etc. In other words keep on parroting Gurbani rather than understanding it so that we learn the tools to put it into practice.

We have to find ways to eradicate this bhang, alcohol and other drugs culture through education otherwise we will remain tribal minded no matter how many Akhand Paaths, Sehaj Paaths, Japjis Sukhmanis, Dukhbhajanjis we do all our lives.

It is not an easy task nor is there a quick fix but rather than gold plating our Gurdwaras and making them places of idol worshiping, we should spend our money and efforts in this direction.

We fail to understand and grasp the beautiful vision and Guide given to us by our Gurus in the form of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to get rid of the tribal mentality so that we can evolve ourselves as better human beings.

Tejwant Singh