People who eat meat interpret this verse ਜੀਆ ਕਾ ਆਹਾਰੁ ਜੀਅ ਖਾਣਾ ਏਹੁ ਕਰੇਇ ॥ to mean that Guru Ji is telling us that the sustenance of life is through food, so there is no harm in killing living beings to eat meat. The meaning of this verse is not that the food of all living beings is other living beings. Here, the discussion is about the living beings residing in the ocean. Guru Ji is explaining, “Hey, don’t worry about sustenance; this worry belongs to the Almighty. 

Even the beings living in the ocean are provided sustenance by the Almighty. There are no shops or fields in the ocean, yet the Almighty has provided sustenance there. Look at the complete verse; there is absolutely no endorsement of eating meat in this verse. The concern of this verse is that Guru is stopping us from worrying, not telling us about eating meat. 

ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੨ ॥   
ਨਾਨਕ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਮਤਿ ਕਰਹੁ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਤਿਸ ਹੀ ਹੇਇ ॥ 
ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਜੰਤ ਉਪਾਇਅਨੁ ਤਿਨਾ ਭਿ ਰੋਜੀ ਦੇਇ ॥ 
ਓਥੈ ਹਟੁ ਨ ਚਲਈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਕਿਰਸ ਕਰੇਇ ॥ 
ਸਉਦਾ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਲਏ ਨ ਦੇਇ ॥ 
ਜੀਆ ਕਾ ਆਹਾਰੁ ਜੀਅ ਖਾਣਾ ਏਹੁ ਕਰੇਇ ॥ 
ਵਿਚਿ ਉਪਾਏ ਸਾਇਰਾ ਤਿਨਾ ਭਿ ਸਾਰ ਕਰੇਇ ॥ 
ਨਾਨਕ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਮਤ ਕਰਹੁ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਤਿਸ ਹੀ ਹੇਇ ॥੧॥ 
(Guru Granth Sahib ji- 955)

The difference between humans and animals is that humans have intellect and consciousness; they can think about what food is best for them and what is better for other living beings. 

Killing living beings and eating their meat is the work of the demons and the animals. For compassionate Gurmukhs, when they can survive with lentils, milk, and ghee, then why should living beings be killed and their meat eaten?  

People who eat meat argue that just as there is life in plants, there is also life in animals. If you can eat fruits and plants, then why can’t you eat animals? This argument is also given by many learned scholars, but why don’t they understand that there is a difference between plucking a plant and killing goats to eat? Science explains that there is life in both plants and animals. But it also tells us that animals have a nervous system through which they feel pain or pleasure, whereas plants do not have such a nervous system, so they do not feel pain like animals. Has anyone ever said that they killed wheat today, but on the other hand, it is said to kill or slaughter animals? 

You can go and see how pigs are slaughtered in a slaughterhouse, and then on the other hand, see wheat being harvested or any other crop being cut, you will understand the difference. Where pigs are slaughtered, such a painful cry is heard. If meat-eating brothers see that scene and listen, then 80% of them surely give up eating meat. Pigs, like humans, feel pain. They bleed like us, they scream, they struggle, they beg for mercy, tears well up in their eyes as if they’re pleading, “Don’t kill us, let us go.” 

If you see a human being pricked with a needle and then see the same happening to a cat, dog, or any other animal, you will realize that they feel pain just like humans. A cow feels joy and pain like a human mother for her calves. The difference is that humans have more intellect and wisdom, but the capacity to feel joy and pain is the same in both humans and animals. Watch how a fish struggles when taken out of water; now try holding your breath and you will feel the same struggle. When you know that it also feels pain like you, then how can you cause suffering to any living being?   

ਆਦਿ ਪੁਰਖ ਤੇ ਹੋਇ ਅਨਾਦਿ ॥
ਜਪੀਐ ਨਾਮੁ ਅੰਨ ਕੈ ਸਾਦਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
(Guru Granth Sahib ji- 873)
Guru Ji has given us the command to eat grains, while they have forbidden us from eating meat. Here the clear command is that grains come from the primal being, and one who chants the Naam after eating grains follows Guru Ji’s command.  

ਦੂਖੁ ਨ ਦੇਈ ਕਿਸੈ ਜੀਅ ਪਤਿ ਸਿਉ ਘਰਿ ਜਾਵਉ ॥ 
(Guru Granth Sahib ji- 322)
If you won’t cause pain to any being, you’ll return home with honor. If you want to go to the next world with respect, then don’t eat meat by causing pain to living beings. But it’s unfortunate that those who eat meat don’t even believe in the afterlife. 

Some people who eat meat argue that if it’s okay to kill insects with pesticides to protect crops, or to kill harmful germs with medicine, then it should be okay to kill animals for food. They think that if killing is necessary to protect human health or food, then it’s also fine for enjoying certain foods. 

However, it’s important to think about the reasons behind killing. Using medicine to stop diseases or pesticides to save crops is about keeping people safe and making sure we have enough food. This is about survival. On the other hand, killing animals just because we like the taste is about pleasure, which is different. 

Taking life for survival or safety is considered necessary, similar to how society imposes strict penalties on severe crimes to maintain public safety. For example, just as using antibiotics to eliminate life-threatening bacteria is justified to save a human life, so too is the application of pesticides considered necessary if it means preventing crop failure and potential famine.

In Sikhi, eating meat after killing animals is considered wrong for several reasons, despite claims that Guru Sahib hunted and therefore, it is permissible. Guru Sahib went hunting not for pleasure or meat, The primary purposes of their hunting were to protect people from dangerous animals and to grant spiritual liberation (mukti) to certain souls trapped in animal forms due to their past karmic actions. Guru Sahib’s actions were guided by divine insight and compassion, rather than a desire for pleasure or sustenance from meat.

Furthermore, None of the sources that say Guru Ji hunted animals mention that Guru Ji ate their meat as well. When someone says Guruji ate meat, he commits a sin of blaming Guru Ji of “Avar updese aap na kare”. Because Guru ji in their bani have prohibited clearly the eating of meat.