Do I Have a Right to Breathe Freely?

Today I was walking to my lecture. On the way I was dodging and weaving smokers! It’s awful. Everywhere I look someone was smoking. I thought to myself, “O Mind! Why are these people shoving paper in their mouth, and letting out this disgusting smell… and violating my breathing space?”

Our body is so sacred, its a gift from Waheguru. But we destroy it and discard it! From a beautiful temple, we pollute it so much that it ends up being like a graveyard (you can see what I mean when you look at the face of a heavy smoker - no offence to anyone!)

Guru Sahib says:

ਹਰਿ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਹਿਰ ਜੀਉ ਸਾਜਿਆ ਮੇਰੇ ਲਾਲ ਜੀਉ ਹਿਰ ਤਿਸੁ ਮਿਹ ਰਿਹਆ ਸਮਾਏ ਰਾਮ ॥
har mandar har jeeo saajiaa, mere laal jeeo, har tis mehi rehiaa sumaae raam.
The Dear Lord has fashioned the body as the temple of the Lord, O my dear beloveds; the Lord continues to dwell there.
(Ang 541, SGGS)

I wish the government bans smoking in public places. After hearing the news today it seems there is a glimmer of hope that smoking in plubic eating places (at least) will be shortly banned. Smoking is so inconsiderate that not only the person smoking dies and destroys their body-temple, but also those associated or standing near the person end up passive smoking and also become ill. For this reason, Guru Sahib was strict and said that a Sikh should not even touch tobacco. Gurbani says:

ਪਾਨ ਸੁਪਾਰੀ ਖਾਤੀਆ ਮੁਖਿ ਬੀੜੀਆ ਲਾਈਆ ॥
paan supaaree khaatee-aa, mukh beeRee-aa laa-ee-aa.
Those people who eat and chew "Paan" (nicotine betel nuts), and smoke tobacco (meaning that they those who in indulge in intoxicants),

ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਚੇਤਿਓ ਜਮਿ ਪਕੜਿ ਚਲਾਈਆ ॥੧੩॥
har har kade na cheti-o, jam pakaR chalaa-ee-aa. 13
and, do not contemplate or do simran of Waheguru - (the cycle of) Death will seize them and take them away (to become entangled in the cycle of reincarnation). 13

Chalo (O well), I eventually got on bus and arrived at university. After my lecture I met up with Tegpal Singh to give him the money from Sikh Society for the trip to Ice-Skating, which he is organising. My bag was full with oranges oranges (well they were Clementines) because it was buy one get one free at Sainsbury’s. So I bought two bags (considering my numerous eating-out experiences!!). I offered Tegpal Singh an orange and had one myself. I left university, and on the way I was peeling the orange. I was trying to be careful that my hands don’t touch the orange (well as much as I could help it) because didn’t have the opportunity to clean my hands anywhere.

I was walking down the Strand and peeling my orange. Eventually I bit a segment off the orange. It was very sweet and tasty. I took my next bite and ended up putting half an orange in my mouth. I was struggling to chew on the orange with my teeth. Just as I was about to chew on the orange, a man walked passed and breathed in my face! WAAHEGUROO!

It was disgusting. The man’s breath really badly smelt of Chicken & Mushroom pie (no offence to him). Ermm, someone may be thinking, “How does Manvir Singh know what Chicken & Mushroom pie smells like?” Do I sneakily eat Chicken & Mushroom pies when no-one’s looking? To put everyone’s heart to rest, don’t worry I’m a vegetarian. I know the smell from my school days when I used to eat Chicken & Mushroom pie with chips. Waheguru!

Back to the story. I felt queasy and overwhelmed by the smell. God knows how many chicken pies that man had eaten to have such a strong smell! I was munching the half orange piece in my mouth, but no I had lost the pleasure of tasting it. I was overrun by the smell of CHICKEN & MUSHROOM PIE. As I was walking back to halls, the smell just followed me. I felt sickened!

On the journey back I was thinking to myself, “Do I have a right to breathe freely?” Koyee Bandaa Chicken Mushroom pie khaah ke breathing space violate karee jaandaa, Koyee hor Tamaakoo peeh ke breathing space violate karee jaandaa (Someone is violating breathing space by eating Chicken & Mushroom pie, another person is violating breathing space by smoking tobacco). What's the world coming to hey :)