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Summary of Question:	Re: Have I Broken My Rehat - Vegetarianism?
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Sunday, 4/11/2004 4:42 AM MDT

RE: Have I broken my Rehat (Discipline) because I ate meat?

Answer:
According to the Akaal Takht (the highest authority of the Sikh religion) - vegetarianism or non-vegetarism is not an issue for an Amritdhari (initiated Sikh).

Sikhs are forbidden from:
1/ Cutting or tampering with hair - this including the dying of hair of hair aswell
2/ Eating Halal (Kosher) Meat - which is killed and prepared according to Muslim rites
3/ Taking intoxicants - smoking, drinking, and drugs
4/ Having sex/ intimate relationship with another man or woman other than one's wife or husband

These 4 Kuraits (lapse in discipline) require the individual to retake Amrit and ask for forgiveness.

Many people have "personal" views on vegetarianism which they impose on all Sikhs.

However Sikhs should consult the opinion of the GURU GRANTH and GURU PANTH

The Khalsa has authority equal to the Guru... this was illustrated when the Khalsa (5 Singhs) gave Guru Gobind Singh Ji the hukham (order) to leave the fort of Chamkaur Sahib. Guru Ji accepted their decision respectfully.

Please remember Sikhi is "pragmatic"!

May the Guru guide you.

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reply
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Sat Siri Akaal. You're correct, per SGPC.

If the person who asked the original question took a vow during his/her baptism to not eat meat at all, then s/he has broken his/her vow. Frankly I don't know if this counts as a kurehit (which requires taking amrit over again), but there is some kind of lapse. If the person did NOT take such a vow during baptism, then there was no kurehit. Since the meat/vegetarian issue is a point of contention among many Sikhs, Amrit ceremonies in different communities reflect that. Some panj piarays include not eating meat in the Amrit ceremony, some only say no halal meat. Etc. etc.
As Sikh panth issues go, it is not, certainly, something that we should let divide us!
Guru ang sang,
-DKK