Bibek Rehat and Universality of Sikhi

Khalsa Jee

Someone was talking to Daas about Bibek. They seemed ignorant of Gurmat Rehat however felt passionately that keeping any sort of Bibek (Amritdhari Bibek or Sarbloh Bibek) was anti-Sikhi and was a "threat to Sikhi" which needed to be "stamped out". They didn't realise that Daas tries to keep Bibek Rehat.

This person said that any Amritdhari refusing to eat Degh from Gurdwara or eat Langar at Gurdwara is doing negative Parchaar and is dangering the future of Sikhi. It was painful to hear the vichaar but it was pointless arguing as the person seemed stuck in their views and very passionate. I spoke very little and just stressed that causing distress and pain to others is not Gurmat, however if someone follows Rehat and doesn't impose, belittle or force others and at the same time keeps humility and sincerity in observing Rehat, I don't see why one should criticise them.

However, I think it would be useful for Gursikhs to reflect on answers on the following questions which could help people who genuinely interested why Gursikhs keep Rehat (Apologies if these questions have been answered before).

Q: If Guru Jee condemned the Brahmins from not eating from the lower castes, then isn't Amritdharis refusing to eat from non-Amritdharis and keep separate dishes Brahmanism?

Q: Sikhi is based on universalism and being open to all. How is refusing Langar at the Gurdwara and not eating Degh at Gurdwara promoting universal Sikhi?

Q: If your family members are not smokers and respect Sikhi and kept sucham, then why refuse their food and hurt their feelings? Isn't this pushing people away from Sikhi?



Waheguru.

Q1- Bibek diet is completely different then Bahman diet. Khalsa has no caste, and does roti beti da sanjh with fellow Gursikhs
regardless of caste. How can we eat from Non- Gursikh when Guru Sahib has given us the Hukum not to eat from Niguras and those veymukhs who have committed Bajjar Kurehits?

Q2- A Gursikh will never refuse "Guru Ka Langar" but he will never accept Milgobhi langar prepared by non Gursikhs. Guru Ka Langar means Langar of the Guru. In seva there is no difference between Guru Sahib and his Sikh thus only practicing Gursikhs can prepare Guru Ka Langar

Q3- When taking birth in house of Guru Nanak Sahib ones family is Khalsa. One should not hurt the feelings of
others when refusing their food. If asked they should explain politely why they cannot eat their food.

If a friend asked a Gursikh to drink alcohol and would be upset if they did not drink alcohol should we then drink the alcohol?

1. the person in question has so kindly pointed out that fact and what about the thuks and guru granth sahib jee which specifically stat to not eat from nigura, people nowadays won't think twice before eating out, they won't think, what if this is made along side meet, or what if the person preparing it just had a smoke a nd didn't bother washing his hand or just came off break and was eating meat.

2. It isn't guru jee's langar if it isn't prepared in sarbloh simple as that, in puratan times everything was prepared in sabrloh and it was also the head granthi's responsibility to ensure the person doing dheg thee savaa was a rehitii singh who kept all rehit.

3. If we have taken birth in the family of Khalsa then shouldn't we be doing what the head of the family tells us to do, which is keep bibek thee rehit and not eat from niguraas?

Guru Ka Daas
Binodh Singh

Quote
Sukhdeep Singh
Bibek diet is completely different then Bahman diet. Khalsa has no caste, and does roti beti da sanjh with fellow Gursikhs
regardless of caste. How can we eat from Non- Gursikh when Guru Sahib has given us the Hukum not to eat from Niguras and those veymukhs who have committed Bajjar Kurehits?

I'm really very sorry.. Im a big Moorakh.. but i just want to know that if Khalsa doesnt have any caste then why are we amritdhaarees being divided into so many groups in the name of Bibek (Food)... Are you terming the other amritdhaarees as "Niguras" and "Bajjar Kurehtees" too...??? I mean.. I know soo many singhs and their families (who do not belong to the jatha) but are very much into Gursikhi (Reading lots of Gurbaani and doing lots of Seva at the GuruGhars) but have no idea about food bibek... I feel really bad when we just term everyone else as Niguras and Bajjar Kurehtees..

If we just start terming everyone else as Nigurey and Bajjar Kurehtees how can we live up to Guroo Nanak Dev Jees Bachans..

ਨਾਕੋਬੈਰੀਨਹੀਬਿਗਾਨਾਸਗਲਸੰਗਿਹਮਕਉਬਣਿਆਈ ||੧||

What if the person who has made degh at the Guroodwaara Sahib has a better jeevan then most of us...??? Would we still decline the degh made by him...??? Or we would just come to the conclusion that the person is a bajjar kurehtee and a nigura...??? Who are we to judge anyone..?? Have we judged ourselves yet...??

Im a big moorakh... Kindly forgive me if I said something wrong...

Vaaheguroojeekaakhalsaa Vaaheguroojeekeefatehh..!!

1. Unlike bhramis every human being has the oppurtunity to become khalsa by taking khanda bata di amrit so comparing it to sikhi is invalid anyone who takes khanda bata amrit should ideally follow all rehats (even though difficult if one can not follow at least respect those who follow certain rehat weather is bibek, bana, bani etc)

2.Yes Sikhi is open for all but tto define a sikh is something as "pritam rehat ye jaan KHANDEH KI PHUL CHAKEH", in regards in taking degh or langar if you go to majority of gurdwareh you'll see bibia and men talking amoungst each other, gurbani clearly states "langar chaleh GURU SHABAD har toth n avee kateeai" all those gursikhs who refuse degh or langar are only following rehat not doing it out of spite but on terms of rehat. Guru ka langar can only be made by Guru ka sikh where gurbani/naam is recited
lµgir dauliq vMfIAY rsu AMimRqu KIir iGAwlI ]
la(n)gar dhoulath va(n)ddeeai ras a(n)mrith kheer ghiaalee ||
She distributes the bounty of the Guru's Langar; the kheer - the rice pudding and ghee, is like sweet ambrosia.

3.Hurting someones feelings is not just a negative image of Guru sahib, just think what would Guru sahib do himself instead of being served be the server, prepare the food for all, pour out the food for others and you'll naturally with them over as they will be inspired to be a Guru ka sikh

In general a lot of sikhs might be against you but keep rehat and if someone wants to talk to you about bibek in general by all means be polite and shower lots of pyar to that person as they will naturally be inspired by you, and build more pyar for Guru sahib and rehat.

just my humble opinion vaheguroo vaheguroo vahegurooo

Vaaheguroo jee kaa khalsaa Vaaheguroo jee kee fatehh..!!

Dassandas- jeeo 100% spot on.

Manvir Singh - important points indeed- and valaid questions.and these have been discussed in the AKJ forum - tapoban forum for the past 20 odd years and now a fresh start on this forum. If Gurmat Bibek's such as Sukhdeep Singh call all other sikhs _even amritdharis " MILGOBHANS " than Bhai Sukhdeep Singh you need to ask yourself was it out prem you turned to Gurmat Bibek or was it because of people calling you such names??

Dassan Dass Jeeo,


The word " Sikh" or " Gursikh" is not a mere title ; instead, being referred to as a
Gursikh is a honor. Guru Sahib has used words Gursikh, Gurmukh, Bhagat for those who follow the
teachings of Gurmat. While those who are outside of Gurmat are referred to as Nigura, Tankhiya, Manmukh, Nigura,
Veymukh, patit , etc. Likewise we are told to keep company and eat from those that follow teachings of Gurmat, and
avoid those that dont follow Gurmat.

Take Darshan Singh for example. Should we just refer to him as Gursikh. No he is a patit. This terms is used
to inform Sangat to avoid eating and socializing with him untill he does pesh, and earns good standing in
the community again. If such Gurmat terminology was not used for individuals how on earth would sangat
be informed on who is since and practicing Sikh. Take a Gurdwara Sahibs for example they are managed
by Veymukhs, thus the beadbi is neverending. If there was a principle which stated only non-Kurehit Sikhs can
perform such seva then there would be no problems.

Do you understand
the consequences of changing our language for the sake of other peoples feelings? For example, if we start
to call everyone "Sikh" who is born in a Sikh background what would be the political consequences. Anybody would
then be able to vote for key political seats and decisions of the panth.
Even now there is much debate about who is a kesdhari. SOme people think if they trim their beard and drink they are kesdhari. Sikhi is a political, social, and economical faith we have to be careful when trying to change our language for modern reasons. Try to think of the bigger picture. In the old days there was no confusion between who was Sikh and who was a Nigura nowadays people are trying to loosen the term " Sikh" or "Gursikh" for modern reasons. If we dont define ourselves clearly then we will only allow people like the RSS to define who we are.

In regards to Gursikhs who dont follow Bibek Diet. Their status is quiet clear in GUrmat Maryada. I wont say what it is
as it might take offense to many, but those who practice Bibek diet are at liberty to avoid eating from those
who are complacent in following GUru Sahibs code of conduct.

These terms existed over 300 years ago and they will continue to be in vogue by those who follow the Rules and regulations of Gurmat Maryada. If we change the language of our maryada then we will be changing the maryada itself.We cant change Gurmat terminology because its offensive by Hardeghi Chamchay. Next we will say it was wrong for Guru Nanak Sahib not to eat from Malik Bhago and refer to him as a chor.

Individual rehat for every individual depends on the Guru sahib's kirpa that each individual has. For some trying to obey and follow every hukam of Guru sahib is the rehat. Others measure it by the minimum common printed rehat maryada and its individual interpretations. Thus trying to suggest that those singhs who follow Sarabloh bibek rehat and avoid eating with other amritdharis who do not follow such rehat are 'kattar' or 'fanatics' as a lot of people start labelling Gursikhs these days is not correct.

On the other hand there are numerous examples of Singhs who tend to outwardly follow sarabloh bibek rehat, but their actions do not match their rehat. Daas remember some Singh posting on a gurmat forum that when they went to some Bibeki singhs family the bibis in the home were watching soap teleserial. Daas believes its the bad karams of such individuals who after getting the most blessed daat or gursikh rehat do not cash it for the naam kamai and bhagti. Its not the fault with the rehat itself

Kabeer saachaa satgur kiaa karai jo sikhaa meh chook, andhhe aek na laagee jio baans bajaaeeai fook||

One another very critical and important example that daas wishes to bring to the attention of forum members is the concept of Guru ka langar. A number of articles have already been written about what is guru ka langar. Let us assume for a second that the langar being prepared and served these days is Guru ka langar. Daas has come across at least 2-3 cases every year in our local Gurdwara sahib where someone was caught in the langar with a pack of cigerrete or tobacco in their pocket. We all know all Guru ghar's place big billboards informing everyone these items are prohibited. But who checks this? Imagine going to Sri Darbar Sahib or some other historical gurdwara sahib like Bangla Sahib in Delhi where hundreds and thousands attend each day. How can each individual be scanned? Upto last few years in these gurughars only Amritdhari singhs and bibis or employed sevadaars could do seva in the langar but now its free for all. We all are being fed by Narimaars/Kurimaars even without our knowledge because the modern Khalsa decided that Guru Sahib's 'Manas Ki Jaat Sabey Eke Pehchaanbo' philosophy in some way traslated as allowing everyone to do seva of cooking and distributing langar. Even the one's who follow the word to word of printed rehat maryada and suggest eating meat is fine as per this maryada can not ignore the fact that the same rehat maryada makes us 'Tankhaiya' for eating from hand of such person. Keeping sarabloh bibek rehat and only eating from hands of fellow singhs who keep the same looks like the only way these days to be Tyar bar Tyar and not a Tankhaia.