Meat?

(Forgive me if I say anything out of my own manmat.)Can anyone explain why meat is or isn't allowed? Especially since the Akal Takht Maryada describing the SGPC Maryada explicitly says only Khutha meat, (which they said is Halal). Also if it's bad why doesn't anyone stop the very place where Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave Gurgaddi to Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, (Hazur Sahib). (I honestly don't know, why nobody stops Nihangs at other Gurdwaras from doing it).

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

On the spiritual aspect, Bhai Raghbir SIngh Bir (who ate meat) commented on the impact of eating meat on spirituality:

(taken from post: [gurmatbibek.com] )

‘It is my personal view that excessive consumption of meat has evil effects and retards the spiritual progress. Its consumption should be reduced to the minimum. More liberal use should be made of milk, fruit and vegetables. I have, at times, eaten meat daily, and at other times, avoided it for a full year at a stretch, and have come to the conclusion that meat should be eaten sparingly, say, once or twice a week. Of course, those who do not eat meat at all, considering it unsuitable for spiritual growth are at liberty to do so as they choose.’ (Bandgi Nama – Communion with the Divine, page 194)

Though he does not admonish consumption of meat entirely, his comment is very important, as he, being a meat eater, comments directly on what the minimization of meat had on his spirituality. This statement provides two bits of information: That Bhai Raghbir Singh himself tried to curtail eating meat and saw gains in his spirituality and others he knew of did not eat meat at all due to negative spiritual impact.

I had a discussion with Bhai Bijla Singh, who posts on this forum occasionally and he has done some exhaustive research (though unpublished) on why we cannot imply that Kutha meat is the same as saying Halal. In summary, "Halal" has a complex set of rules as to what governs it to be halal (rules are different for domesticated vs. wild vs. seafood etc.) and for the Khalsa to define Kutha the same as Halal would be to bind the dietary constraints of the Khalsa to Islamic rules (basically, do the opposite they do when it comes to meat). Sikhi is an independent religion that stands on its own feet - it seems odd that such a progressive and independent religion would have to rely on another faith's definition to substantiate its own code of conduct.

ms514 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH
>
> On the spiritual aspect, Bhai Raghbir SIngh Bir
> (who ate meat) commented on the impact of eating
> meat on spirituality:
>
> (taken from post:
> [gurmatbibek.com]
> 5#msg-31055 )
>
> ‘It is my personal view that excessive
> consumption of meat has evil effects and retards
> the spiritual progress. Its consumption should be
> reduced to the minimum. More liberal use should be
> made of milk, fruit and vegetables. I have, at
> times, eaten meat daily, and at other times,
> avoided it for a full year at a stretch, and have
> come to the conclusion that meat should be eaten
> sparingly, say, once or twice a week. Of course,
> those who do not eat meat at all, considering it
> unsuitable for spiritual growth are at liberty to
> do so as they choose.’ (Bandgi Nama –
> Communion with the Divine, page 194)
>
> Though he does not admonish consumption of meat
> entirely, his comment is very important, as he,
> being a meat eater, comments directly on what the
> minimization of meat had on his spirituality.
> This statement provides two bits of information:
> That Bhai Raghbir Singh himself tried to curtail
> eating meat and saw gains in his spirituality and
> others he knew of did not eat meat at all due to
> negative spiritual impact.
>
> I had a discussion with Bhai Bijla Singh, who
> posts on this forum occasionally and he has done
> some exhaustive research (though unpublished) on
> why we cannot imply that Kutha meat is the same as
> saying Halal. In summary, "Halal" has a complex
> set of rules as to what governs it to be halal
> (rules are different for domesticated vs. wild vs.
> seafood etc.) and for the Khalsa to define Kutha
> the same as Halal would be to bind the dietary
> constraints of the Khalsa to Islamic rules
> (basically, do the opposite they do when it comes
> to meat). Sikhi is an independent religion that
> stands on its own feet - it seems odd that such a
> progressive and independent religion would have to
> rely on another faith's definition to substantiate
> its own code of conduct.

Thank you for the assistance; however, I don't understand why the current Akal Takht Maryada would say Kutha is Halal? (I am currently building my Rehat so I can take Amrit; however, I have a huge meat consumption at the current time).

Saying Sri Akal Takht wrote Kutha as Halal in SRM is not correct since Sri Akal Takht was never involved with SRM. Sikh organizations decided to come to a common platform in early 1900's and had many meetings to come up with a draft but some of the key organizations involved didn't agree. So the SRM was tabled until the next meeting of all organizations to sort out the remaining differences which never took place. That draft wasn't approved nor Sri Akal Takht or Jathedar was involved at that capacity is my understanding. That was then published as-is by SGPC many years later since it was the closest the organizations could get that time.

I wrote this information on Kutha sometime back for someone which might help.

[gurmatbibek.com]

It should be noted that the draft of the rehat maryada never translated kuttha to halal. All it said was kutha should not be eaten. Footnote in the Sikh rehat maryada that expands on the meaning on Kuttha as Halal is a recent addition which is a dubious step by SGPC to sneak in alterations without consulting the panth.

Is it alright to feed sick person meat, as part of one's work duties, being a amritdhari ji?
Bhul chuk muaf for being off topic

Harmeet Singh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Saying Sri Akal Takht wrote Kutha as Halal in SRM
> is not correct since Sri Akal Takht was never
> involved with SRM. Sikh organizations decided to
> come to a common platform in early 1900's and had
> many meetings to come up with a draft but some of
> the key organizations involved didn't agree. So
> the SRM was tabled until the next meeting of all
> organizations to sort out the remaining
> differences which never took place. That draft
> wasn't approved nor Sri Akal Takht or Jathedar was
> involved at that capacity is my understanding.
> That was then published as-is by SGPC many years
> later since it was the closest the organizations
> could get that time.
>
> I wrote this information on Kutha sometime back
> for someone which might help.
>
> [gurmatbibek.com]
> 9#msg-33829

Thank you for the info on what Khutha meat is; (it seems like it was mostly against killing in general, but wouldn't that contradict the Sant-Siphai concept and protected people from tyranny), I appreciate everyone's assistance on this particular Maryada, as I am still trying to learn.

Veerji, out of curiosity, how is killing a tied, innocent and weak animal help with Sipaahi part of Sant-Sipaahi?

The meaning of Sipaahi in itself is protector of the weak and killer of the dusht. Killing of lion who is risk to other humans would be fine the same way killing the humans targeting other humans would be fine. Protecting the weak and needy is a duty of a Sipaahi. That is why the police and army is also called Sipaahi as that is what their duty is supposed to be.

Harmeet Singh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Veerji, out of curiosity, how is killing a tied,
> innocent and weak animal help with Sipaahi part of
> Sant-Sipaahi?
>
> The meaning of Sipaahi in itself is protector of
> the weak and killer of the dusht. Killing of lion
> who is risk to other humans would be fine the same
> way killing the humans targeting other humans
> would be fine. Protecting the weak and needy is a
> duty of a Sipaahi. That is why the police and army
> is also called Sipaahi as that is what their duty
> is supposed to be.


Ok.