Faithless people arguing about Gurbani... (Part 2)

Continued... 

Gurbani is the the Word of God - it is the truth. As it comes from Akaal Purakh Gurbani is fact. We cannot argue that what Gurbani is saying is possibly not true. 

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਤਿ ਸਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਣਹੁ ਗੁਰਸਿਖਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਰਤਾ ਆਪਿ ਮੁਹਹੁ ਕਢਾਏ ||
"O GurSikhs! Know that Bani, the Word of the True Guru, is true, absolutely true. The Creator Lord Himself causes the Guru to chant it."
(Ang 308)

According to elder Gursikhs if people are challenging us about Gurbani and Sikhi, then that is an indication that we need to increase the amount of Paatth and Simran we do. Elder Gursikhs says that if we increase Baani and Simran in our lives, we create positive energy and vibrations which empower us and Manmukhs are less likely to be confrontational with that person.

My relative in USA, who has newly started on the Sikhi Path, said that he was bombarded with various questions by a group of faithless people (claiming to be 'Sikhs') for example, where is written to keep Kesh, you cannot drink alcohol, cannot eat meat etc. It is important to note that in Gurbani Guru jee does not say "you shall not steal"... "you shall not cut your hair"... as if it is like the Ten Commandments. Gurbani tells us the reality - the Truth. This is the reward of this action, and this is the punishment or consequence of this action. Gurbani gives us a clear principal to follow by which underlies the Rehat that we keep and instructed when we become Sikhs by taking Amrit from the Guru-roop Panj Pyaare in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee.

The problem is that they knew that he didn't have knowledge of Gurbani or be able quote any Gurbani as he was new to Sikhi. Keeping this in mind below are possible replies for a similar situation, along with a Gurbani based reply for reference:


Question 1: "Where is it written in Gurbani that drinking alcohol is forbidden?"

Answer: Where in Gurbani from Ang 1 to 1430 is it written that is okay for you to drink alcohol? Where did you receive permission to drink alcohol? In which Rehitnama or where in the writings of Bhai Gurdaas Jee, writings of Bhai Nand Laal (Singh) jee, or Dasam Bani has it given you permission to drink? If drinking is permissible then would you drink alcohol and go to the Gurdwara or visit Sri Harimandir Sahib? To doubt the Guru and break someone from following the Guru's Path is a great sin. One should tread and speak carefully because if we try to knowingly claim that Guru jee says something when he clearly doesn't then one will seriously repent!

ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਮਦੁ ਜੋ ਪੀਵਤੇ ਬਿਖਲੀ ਪਤਿ ਕਮਲੀ ||
ਰਾਮ ਰਸਾਇਣਿ ਜੋ ਰਤੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚ ਅਮਲੀ ||੪||੧੨||੧੧੪||

“The false-minded people who drink the alcohol are like the husbands of prostitutes (i.e. shameless and without self-dignity) and their thinking is stupid. O Nanak! But those who are imbued with the sublime essence of the Lord are intoxicated with the Truth.”

(Ang 399)

ਕਬੀਰ ਭਾਂਗ ਮਾਛੁਲੀ ਸੁਰਾ ਪਾਨਿ ਜੋ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਾਨੀ ਖਾਂਹਿ ||
ਤੀਰਥ ਬਰਤ ਨੇਮ ਕੀਏ ਤੇ ਸਭੈ ਰਸਾਤਲਿ ਜਾਂਹਿ ||੨੩੩||

“O Kabeer! Those mortals who consume marijuana (drugs), fish (meat) and wine (liquor) – no matter what pilgrimages, fasts and rituals they follow, they will all go to hell. ||233||

(Ang 1377)

For more shabads click on link


Question 2: "Where is it written in Gurbani that eating meat is forbidden?"
Where in Gurbani from Ang 1 to 1430 has Guru jee told you go and eat meat? If you cannot quote one line where Guru Jee says go and eat meat or eating meat is the food of his Sikhs then how can you attack the person who doesn't eat meat? If eating meat is okay then would you get a tray of eggs and a crane of dead carcasses of goats or chickens and present them to Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee like others offer milk or vegetarian food? If your food is not acceptable in Sri Harimandir Sahib then how is it is acceptable here? For me my body is Harimandir Sahib (the Temple of God), the world is Harimandir Sahib. Eating meat is unhealthy - I get protein and goodness from Daal (lentils) and Soya. One should tread and speak carefully because if we try to knowingly claim that Guru jee says something when he doesn't then one will have to repent and suffer.

ਬਾਬਾ ਹੋਰੁ ਖਾਣਾ ਖੁਸੀ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥
ਜਿਤੁ ਖਾਧੈ ਤਨੁ ਪੀੜੀਐ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਚਲਹਿ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
“O Baba! The pleasures of other foods are false by eating which is unhealthy for the body and negativity enters into the mind. ||1||Pause and reflect||”
(Ang 16)

ਕਬੀਰ ਖੂਬੁ ਖਾਨਾ ਖੀਚਰੀ ਜਾ ਮਹਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਲੋਨੁ ॥
ਹੇਰਾ ਰੋਟੀ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਗਲਾ ਕਟਾਵੈ ਕਉਨੁ ॥੧੮੮॥
“O Kabeer! (Despite the Mullah justifies eating meat with the excuse of sacrificing it to God,) the dinner of beans and rice is excellent, if it is (just) flavoured with salt. I am not ready to have my own throat cut to have meat with my bread? ||188||”
(SGGS – Ang 1374)

For more shabads click on link


Question 3: "Where is it written in Gurbani that we cannot cut our hair?"

Answer: Where in Gurbani from Ang 1 to 1430 did Guru jee give you permission to cut your hair? I was born with Kesh. Unless Guru jee tells me to cut it, I won't. Where did you receive permission to cut your hair? In which Rehitnama or where in the writings of Bhai Gurdaas Jee, writings of Bhai Nand Laal (Singh) jee, or Dasam Bani has it given you permission to cut your hair? From Guru Nanak Dev jee to Guru Gobind Singh jee, the Sikh Gurus maintained their Kesh and so did their followers. I would rather look like Guru Nanak-Guru Gobind Singh jee rather than look like Gandhi or a Bollywood actor.

ਨਾਪਾਕ ਪਾਕੁ ਕਰਿ ਹਦੂਰਿ ਹਦੀਸਾ ਸਾਬਤ ਸੂਰਤਿ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਸਿਰਾ ||੧੨||

"O person of God! Purify the mind what is impure (with bad thoughts) - this is the religious tradition through which you can experience the Lord’s Presence. (Abandoning circumcision, mutilation and deforming of the body etc) preserve a complete appearance with a turban on your head - this becomes the way to maintain respect and honour. ||12||”
(Ang 1084)

 

ਸੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਸਖਾ ਬੰਧਪੁ ਹੈ ਭਾਈ ਜਿ ਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਭਾਣੇ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਵੈ ||
ਆਪਣੈ ਭਾਣੈ ਜੋ ਚਲੈ ਭਾਈ ਵਿਛੁੜਿ ਚੋਟਾ ਖਾਵੈ ||
"They alone are a Sikh, a friend, a relative and a sibling, who walk in the Way of the Guru's Will. One who walks according to their own will, O Companions, suffers separation from the Lord, and shall be punished."
(Ang 601)
(Note: A Sikh follows what the Guru's showed and done themselves. As the Sikhs were Kesdhari, so are his Sikhs)

ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ||
ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ||੧||
How can one become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away (see we can know God)? O Nanak! Accept and live in the Hukam (Will) that is written inside of all. ||1||
(Ang 1)
(Note: When you cut your hair, your hair grows back on your face. So therefore, is the Will of God. Your nails on the other hand, they remain short if engage your hands in manual seva and manual labour. The nails snap off even if we didn't cut them. We cut our nails nowadays because most of us don't use our hands for labour intensive work however the nail we cut off is dead nail).

For more shabads click on link

To be continued...