Talk:Langar

Purpose of Vegetarian Diet in Langar

I have reverted the changes made by User:Lecturer as no detailed supporting reason has been given for this change. We need to discuss this issue before any change can be made on this point as I believe that it is fundamental to Sikhi principles.

I do not believe that the reason veggie-food is served in Langar is purely for the principle of "equality of all attendees".

If the reason for serving veg-food in Langar was only that it served the purpose of equally welcoming vegetarians into Langar then why is it served at wedding parties, where vegetarian also have to attend. Despite non-veg food being served at wedding parties in halls, vegetarians do attend these parties and do not generally complain and eat the food that suits them. So in practical terms, this reason cannot explain the reason why Guru ji appears to have served only vegetarian food in Langar.

Further, it is not very difficult to arrange equal but slightly separate areas for veg and non-veg eaters. It is common in some Gurdwaras to have different areas for men and women. So, I do not believe that this explanation is valid.

Further, no tuk (line) from Gurbani has been quoted to support this reasoning. Infact, Gurbani advices us the opposite � To eat simple, veggie food thus:

SGGS page 467: "They burn away the bonds of the world, and eat a simple diet of grain and water."

SGGS page 723: "The world eats dead carcasses, living by neglect and greed. ((Pause)) Like a goblin, or a beast, they kill and eat the forbidden carcasses of meat."

SGGS page 1103: "You kill living beings, and call it a righteous action. Tell me, brother, what would you call an unrighteous action?"

SGGS page 1128: "He kills his self-conceit, and does not kill anyone else. ((3))"

SGGS page 1306: "Even with only dry crusts of bread, and a hard floor on which to sleep, my life passes in peace and pleasure with my Beloved, O sisters. ((2)(3)(42))"

SGGS page 1350: "You say that the One Lord is in all, so why do you kill chickens?"

SGGS page 1350: "You seize a living creature, and then bring it home and kill its body; you have killed only the clay."

SGGS page 1369: "Kabeer, I will remain in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, even if I have only coarse bread to eat."

SGGS page 1375: "Kabeer, they oppress living beings and kill them, and call it proper."

SGGS page 1374: "Kabeer, the dinner of beans and rice is excellent, if it is flavored with salt. Who would cut his throat, to have meat with his bread? ((188))" --Hari Singh 13:53, 7 July 2006 (Central Daylight Time)

Reverting my corrections

I am new to this forum, but when I was reading about the Langaar, its was just surprising to me that the main reason for "open kitchen" was totally wrong.

A lot of people get their piousity mixed up with dogma. I am not going to battle your reversion, as I do not have the time, but here are my reasons.

1. I am not comparing Langar to functions as you are, I am not talking about having a menus of preferences. 2. If meat was served then then it would discriminate vegitarians, it could discriminate Muslims and all other faiths. 3. If meat was served and not Halal, only NON Muslims could eat it if not vegitarian. 4. It all gets too confusing. 5. The simplest and most basic form of common denominator is that Vegitarian food is served, as anyone can eat that without any restriction. 6. your suggestion of splitting the langaar into two would go again the first para of the article. "principle of equality between all people of the world regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed, age, gender or social status. In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of Langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community, inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind. " Not everyone could sit together.

People need to tackle debate from the larger persective and not from actions. Sikhs are able to eat meat, it is not forbidden, so your ascertion that due to the fact that it is strictly forbidden in our diet is misrepresentation. We are not allowed to eat Ritually killed food.

Any historical text that you chose to read and now and again references to the Khalsa eating meat. The biggest reference is when Guru Gobind Singh Ji whent to Hermit's place, Madhodas (known now as Bandha Bahadur Singh Ji), when he was not present he:

"Guru Gobind Singh went to his hermitage. Madhodas was away. The Guru ordered his disciples to kill a few goats of the Bairagi and cook meat there and then. The matter was reported to Bairagi. "

From: http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/warriors/banda.html

and this

"The Guru ordered his disciples to kill a few goats of the Bairagi and cook meat there and then. The matter was reported to Madho Das, who was enraged."

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banda_Bahadur

and please to open your eyes a bit more read this very interesting posting

http://www.sikh-history.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=000802

Also it is very common knowledge that the late Guru's used to go hunting too.

So the reason for Langaar is to be an "open Kitchen" open to all. How can you have an open kitchen if what you serve cannot be open to all? Hence Vegitarian food. NOT that is against Sikhi, which it is not.