In our Panth today, there is a growing habit that can be concerning. Some Gursikhs feel it is acceptable to eat anything, from anywhere, and from anyone. While it may not seem harmful at first, this can have an impact on both one’s spiritual progress and the way Sikhi is seen by others.

When food is prepared in restaurants or by those who are not Gursikhs, even meals labeled as “vegetarian” often come with concerns. Most restaurant kitchens use the same stoves and utensils for both meat and vegetarian dishes. This means the food we eat may be cooked with traces of meat, eggs, or other animal products. Guru Sahib’s hukam is clear that eggs also fall in the category of meat. To fully avoid these issues, many Gursikhs follow dietary bibek, preparing their food themselves from scratch so their meals remain free from these impurities.

Kavi Santokh Singh in Sooraj Parkash Granth writes:

ਤਨਕ ਤਮਾਕੂ ਸੇਵੀਏ ਦੇਵ ਪਿੱਤ੍ਰ ਤਜਿ ਜਾਇ ॥
ਪਾਨੀ ਤਾਂ ਕੇ ਹਾਥ ਕਾ ਮਦਰਾ ਸਮ ਅਘ ਦਾਇ ॥ 22॥
ਮਦਰਾ ਦਹਿਤਾ ਸਪਤਿ ਕੁਲ ਭੰਗੁ ਦਹੈ ਤਨ ਏਕ ॥
ਸ਼ਤ ਕੁਲ ਦਹਿਤਾ ਜਗਤ ਜੂਠ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਦਹੈ ਅਨੇਕ ॥ 23॥

“Those that consume even a minuscule amount of tobacco are disowned in the afterlife by their ancestors, and drinking water from such a person is similar to drinking alcohol. By drinking alcohol, seven generations are destroyed. By consuming bhang (marijuana), the body is destroyed. The person who consumes tobacco destroys one hundred generations, and countless suffer due to gossip.”

If accepting water from a smoker is compared to drinking alcohol, one can only imagine the spiritual harm that comes from consuming food prepared by such individuals. Guru Sahib has listed Four Bujjar Kurehits, and none is greater or lesser than the others. Eating food from someone who commits any of these kurehits, whether it be smoking, eating meat, cutting hair, or committing adultery, is a serious matter for a Gursikh.

For those who are new to Sikhi, seeing Sikhs eat freely in restaurants can be confusing. It is important to remember that just because a practice is common does not make it right. We should reflect and ask ourselves if we are following the example of Gurmukhs such as Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh Ji, Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji, and Sant Attar Singh Ji, or if we are taking a path that weakens our jeevan.

Being careful about what we eat and where we eat is not about judging others. It is about protecting our own spiritual state and walking the path shown by Guru Sahib with love and discipline, even if it means being different from those around us.