VEGETARIANISM (& Meat eating)
Vegetarianism means, abstaining from every type of animal food from slaughtered animals, birds and fish; though some people don’t reckon eggs as non-vegetarian; whereas some regard even dairy products as non-vegetarian.
Sikhism is not for vegetarianism but a Sikh has no obligation to eat meat. A Sikh may not eat meat for any reason; but he/she must not renounce meat-eating simply on the plea of ‘non-killing of an animal’.
According to the Sikh philosophy, not only the birds and animals but also the plants (and even water) have life; hence meat and vegetables eating are the same for a Sikh.
All food is pious, because God has provided it for our sustenance.
There are several Sikhs who are vegetarians but the majority is non-vegetarians. Some Sikhs eat every type of meat except beef, whereas Sikhs in the western world eat beef more than goat meat. No animal or bird is sacred or polluted one in Sikhism.
Also see: Halaal.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)
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