Eaten Out Vs. Eating Home...

ਬਾਬਾ ਹੋਰੁ ਖਾਣਾ ਖੁਸੀ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥
ਜਿਤੁ ਖਾਧੈ ਤਨੁ ਪੀੜੀਐ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਚਲਹਿ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

“O Baba! The pleasures of other foods are false, by eating which, the body is ruined, and wickedness and corruption enters into the mind. ||1||Pause||”
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - Ang 16)

As Gursikhs how blessed are we that Guru Sahib has blessed us with with dietary code of conduct which helps one to remain spiritually, physically and mentally healthy. I am sure most people would agree that Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji would not eat fries at McDonalds, a vege burger at Burger King, or cheese and tomato pizza at Pizza Hut (or any non-Gurmat based Punjabi equivalent).
 

ਨਾਨਕ ਜਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਚੇਤਨੀ ਤਿਨ ਧਿਗੁ ਪੈਨਣੁ ਧਿਗੁ ਖਾਣੁ ॥੧॥

“O Nanak! Those who do not contemplate the Naam, the Name of the Lord – cursed are their clothes, and cursed is their food. ||1||”
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - Ang 646)  

The Guru made his Khalsa niaaraa (unique) - their dress, their character, their eating, their speech, and their thinking. Guru Ji elevated the consciousness of the Khalsa above the world, to join Infinity. The photo above just shows you the junk in food from the outside, but what about the people cooking such food if they smoke, take drugs, indulge in Kurehats (prohibitions), and void of Naam Simran?

 ਸੋ ਜਨੁ ਰਲਾਇਆ ਨਾ ਰਲੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਿਬੇਕ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥੨॥
"Those humble beings who are filled with 'Bibek-Beechaar' (divine wisdom and contemplation to analyse) - even though they intermingle with others (that are false or unrighteous), they remain distinct and do not conform. ||2||" (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - Ang 28)

 

Some things we can undoubtedly not avoid and have no control over, but I wonder how Guru Ji feels when his son or daughter chooses to eat at a restaurant or takeaway knowing the food is cooked by smokers and kurehiti's? Guru Gobind Singh Ji's own Neelaa horse did not step foot in a field because it had tobacco, but today, forget stepping into the area, we "choose" to eat food where we could easily avoid, in order to please our tongues at the price of turning our back on the Rehat that Gursikhs gave Shaheedi (martyrdom) for but never compromised.

 

ਜਾਕੀ ਰਹਿਤ ਨ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਗੁਰਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਨਹੀ ਚੀਤ ||
ਉਨਕਾ ਭੋਜਨ ਖਾਇਕੈ ਬਿਸਰਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੀਤ ||
“One who has no Rehit (discipline) and does not meditate on the Gurmantar (given by the Panj Pyaare when one receives khande-di-pahul); If you eat their food, you will loose the love for God.”
(Rehitnama Bhai Chaupa Singh)

 

For many years I sadly ate out after taking Amrit (McDonalds, Burger King, Subway, wedding parties... you name it☹). Knowing it is wrong for the Khalsa- the mind justifies "but so and so person eats out and has this..." I will be honest that I found fast food and food from restaurants, takeaways and parties tasty at the time, and sadly addictive. However, since Guru Ji blessed the understanding to eat home, eat spiritual, and eat healthy- I personally found that it helps to make you feel much more stronger in your conviction, more contented, more connected with the Khalsa, and also much more healthier (beats diet plans for slimming etc!).

 

For those who have ever eaten food prepared and served by Beloved Gursikhs who vibrate Simran, Gurbani and love for the Guru and His given Rehat... that food's enjoyment cannot be matched or beaten.

ਸੰਤਨ ਕਾ ਦਾਨਾ ਰੂਖਾ ਸੋ ਸਰਬ ਨਿਧਾਨ ||
ਗ੍ਰਿਹਿ ਸਾਕਤ ਛਤੀਹ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ਤੇ ਬਿਖੂ ਸਮਾਨ ||੨||
“The dry bread of the Gurmukh-Saints is equal to all treasures. The thirty-six tasty dishes of the faithless cynic are just like poison.”
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - Ang 811)