Gurmat view on intoxicants

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Wine, alcohol, recreational drugs (such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, PCP) and other intoxicants (such as inhalants, gases, aerosols, or solvents, glue, etc) used with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational or religious experience are condemned by the Sikh Gurus. Such users of drugs are wasting their lives on the planet by living in an illusionary state. The Guru supports the person who stays alert and aware, keeping themselves away from all types of intoxicants; Gurbani states in the Guru Granth Sahib that "Those who do not use intoxicants are true; they dwell in the Court of the Lord.(1)" (SGGS p 15)

While Gurbani refers of intoxicants in a wider sense, it clearly encompasses all types of mind-altering and mind-blowing stimulants including wine, alcohol, recreational drugs and other intoxicants but also the falsehood of Maya which is considered an intoxicant as well.


Drugs commonly considered capable of recreational use include alcohol and tobacco, and drugs within the scope of the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Psychopharmacologist Ronald K. Siegel refers to intoxication as the "fourth drive", arguing that the human instinct to seek mind-altering substances (psychoactive drugs) has so much force and persistence that it functions like the human desire to satisfy hunger, thirst and the need for shelter.[1]

Summary of Gurmat view

  • Gurmat is against "Paan Supari", or any intoxicant related to tobacco. Other religions are also against items related to tobacco.
  • While alcohol, poppy and other drugs have not been directly prohibited by Gurbani, as the Sikh gurus knew that these are also used for medicinal purposes, but guru sahib said excess in anything is bad and the truth is that using of excess alcohol, heroine, methamphetamine and other recreational drugs result in misery, suffering and untold numbers of deaths (drinking and driving for one). The costs of such behaviour to the family, community and society at large (in medical bills alone) daily give evidence to the wisdom of the Sikh Gurus in prohibiting the excess and useless, use of such intoxicants and mind altering drugs.

Gurbani

ਅਮਲ੝ ਗਲੋਲਾ ਕੂੜ ਕਾ ਦਿਤਾ ਦੇਵਣਹਾਰਿ ॥ ਮਤੀ ਮਰਣ੝ ਵਿਸਾਰਿਆ ਖ੝ਸੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਦਿਨ ਚਾਰਿ ॥ ਸਚ੝ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਸੋਫੀਆ ਰਾਖਣ ਕਉ ਦਰਵਾਰ੝ ॥੧॥
Amal galolĝ kūṛ kĝ ḝiṯĝ ḝevaṇhĝr. Maṯī maraṇ visĝri▫ĝ kẖusī kīṯī ḝin cẖĝr. Sacẖ mili▫ĝ ṯin sofī▫ĝ rĝkẖaṇ ka▫o ḝarvĝr.(1)
The Giver has given man intoxicating pill of falsehood.

Having been intoxicated therewith he has forgotten death and makes merry for four days.
The mortals, who are the non-users of intoxicants, obtain truthfulness to keep them in God's Court. (1)

(SGGS p15)        (English translation by Bhai Manmohan Singh)


ਦੇਵ ਸੰਸੈ ਗਾਂਠਿ ਨ ਛੂਟੈ ॥ ਕਾਮ ਕ੝ਰੋਧ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਦ ਮਤਸਰ ਇਨ ਪੰਚਹ੝ ਮਿਲਿ ਲੂਟੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Ḏev sansai gĝʼnṯẖ na cẖẖūtai. Kĝm kroḝẖ mĝ▫i▫ĝ maḝ maṯsar in pancẖahu mil lūte. (1) rahĝ▫o.
O Divine Lord, the knot of skepticism cannot be untied.

Sexual desire, anger, Maya, intoxication and jealousy - these five have combined to plunder the world.(1)(Pause)


ਕਾਮ ਕ੝ਰੋਧ ਲੋਭ ਮਦ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਮਿਟਿਆ ਅਭਿਮਾਨ ॥ ਝਸੇ ਸੰਤ ਭੇਟਹਿ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਨ ਕੈ ਸਦ ਕ੝ਰਬਾਨ ॥੨॥੩੯॥੫੨॥
Kĝm kroḝẖ lobẖ maḝ ninḝĝ sĝḝẖsang miti▫ĝ abẖimĝn. Aise sanṯ bẖetėh vadbẖĝgī Nĝnak ṯin kai saḝ kurbĝn.(2)(39)(52)
Sexual desire, anger, intoxication, egotism, slander and egotistical pride are eradicated in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.

By great good fortune, such Saints are met. Nanak is forever a sacrifice to them.(2)(39)(52)


ਅਲੀਅਲ ਗ੝ੰਜਾਤ ਅਲੀਅਲ ਗ੝ੰਜਾਤ ਹੇ ਮਕਰੰਦ ਰਸ ਬਾਸਨ ਮਾਤ ਹੇ ਪ੝ਰੀਤਿ ਕਮਲ ਬੰਧਾਵਤ ਆਪ ॥
Alī▫al guʼnjĝṯ alī▫al guʼnjĝṯ he makranḝ ras bĝsan mĝṯ he parīṯ kamal banḝẖĝvaṯ ĝp.
The bumble-bee is buzzing - the bumble-bee is buzzing, intoxicated with the honey,
the flavor and the fragrance; because of its love for the lotus, it entangles itself.

Gurbani relating to wine

ਇਕਤ੝ ਪਤਰਿ ਭਰਿ ਉਰਕਟ ਕ੝ਰਕਟ ਇਕਤ੝ ਪਤਰਿ ਭਰਿ ਪਾਨੀ ॥ ਆਸਿ ਪਾਸਿ ਪੰਚ ਜੋਗੀਆ ਬੈਠੇ ਬੀਚਿ ਨਕਟ ਦੇ ਰਾਨੀ ॥੧॥
Ikaṯ paṯar bẖar urkat kurkat ikaṯ paṯar bẖar pĝnī. Ās pĝs pancẖ jogī▫ĝ baiṯẖe bīcẖ nakat ḝe rĝnī.(1)
In one pot, they put a boiled chicken, and in the other pot, they put wine.

The five Yogis of the Tantric ritual sit there, and in their midst sits the noseless one, the shameless queen.(1)

Here the reference to the "five yogis" are the five evils and "noseless one" is Maya - illusionary world.


ਸ੝ਆਦ ਲ੝ਭਤ ਇੰਦ੝ਰੀ ਰਸ ਪ੝ਰੇਰਿਓ ਮਦ ਰਸ ਲੈਤ ਬਿਕਾਰਿਓ ਰੇ ॥ ਕਰਮ ਭਾਗ ਸੰਤਨ ਸੰਗਾਨੇ ਕਾਸਟ ਲੋਹ ਉਧਾਰਿਓ ਰੇ ॥੩॥
Su▫ĝḝ lubẖaṯ inḝrī ras pareri▫o maḝ ras laiṯ bikĝri▫o re. Karam bẖĝg sanṯan sangĝne kĝsat loh uḝẖĝri▫o re.(3)
Those who are deluded by sensual pleasures, who are tempted by sexual delights and enjoy wine are corrupt.

But those who, through destiny and good karma, join the Society of the Saints, float over the ocean, like iron attached to wood.(3)


ਤਕਹਿ ਨਾਰਿ ਪਰਾਈਆ ਲ੝ਕਿ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਠਾਣੀ ॥ ਸੰਨ੝ਹ੝ਹੀ ਦੇਨ੝ਹ੝ਹਿ ਵਿਖੰਮ ਥਾਇ ਮਿਠਾ ਮਦ੝ ਮਾਣੀ ॥ ਕਰਮੀ ਆਪੋ ਆਪਣੀ ਆਪੇ ਪਛ੝ਤਾਣੀ ॥ ਅਜਰਾਈਲ੝ ਫਰੇਸਤਾ ਤਿਲ ਪੀੜੇ ਘਾਣੀ ॥੨੭॥
Ŧakėh nĝr parĝ▫ī▫ĝ luk anḝar ṯẖĝṇī. Sanĥī ḝeniĥ vikẖamm thĝ▫e miṯẖĝ maḝ mĝṇī. Karmī ĝpo ĝpṇī ĝpe pacẖẖuṯĝṇī. Ajrĝ▫īl faresṯĝ ṯil pīṛe gẖĝṇī.(27)
They spy on other men's women, concealed in their hiding places.

They break into well-protected places, and revel in sweet wine. But they shall come to regret their actions - they create their own karma. Azraa-eel, the Angel of Death, shall crush them like sesame seeds in the oil-press.(27)


ਮਾਣਸ੝ ਭਰਿਆ ਆਣਿਆ ਮਾਣਸ੝ ਭਰਿਆ ਆਇ ॥ ਜਿਤ੝ ਪੀਤੈ ਮਤਿ ਦੂਰਿ ਹੋਇ ਬਰਲ੝ ਪਵੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਇ ॥

ਆਪਣਾ ਪਰਾਇਆ ਨ ਪਛਾਣਈ ਖਸਮਹ੝ ਧਕੇ ਖਾਇ ॥ ਜਿਤ੝ ਪੀਤੈ ਖਸਮ੝ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਦਰਗਹ ਮਿਲੈ ਸਜਾਇ ॥ ਝੂਠਾ ਮਦ੝ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਪੀਚਈ ਜੇ ਕਾ ਪਾਰਿ ਵਸਾਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਦਰੀ ਸਚ੝ ਮਦ੝ ਪਾਈਝ ਸਤਿਗ੝ਰ੝ ਮਿਲੈ ਜਿਸ੝ ਆਇ ॥ ਸਦਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕੈ ਰੰਗਿ ਰਹੈ ਮਹਲੀ ਪਾਵੈ ਥਾਉ ॥੧॥

Mĝṇas bẖari▫ĝ ĝṇi▫ĝ mĝṇas bẖari▫ĝ ĝ▫e. Jiṯ pīṯai maṯ ḝūr ho▫e baral pavai vicẖ ĝ▫e. Āpṇĝ parĝ▫i▫ĝ na pacẖẖĝṇ▫ī kẖasmahu ḝẖake kẖĝ▫e.

Jiṯ pīṯai kẖasam visrai ḝargėh milai sajĝ▫e. Jẖūṯẖĝ maḝ mūl na pīcẖ▫ī je kĝ pĝr vasĝ▫e. Nĝnak naḝrī sacẖ maḝ pĝ▫ī▫ai saṯgur milai jis ĝ▫e. Saḝĝ sĝhib kai rang rahai mahlī pĝvai thĝ▫o.(1)

One person brings a full bottle, and another fills his cup.

Drinking the wine, his intelligence departs, and madness enters his mind; he cannot distinguish between his own and others, and he is struck down by his Lord and Master. Drinking it, he forgets his Lord and Master, and he is punished in the Court of the Lord. Do not drink the false wine at all, if it is in your power. O Nanak, the True Guru comes and meets the mortal; by His Grace, one obtains the True Wine. He shall dwell forever in the Love of the Lord Master, and obtain a seat in the Mansion of His Presence.(1)


External links

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