Dear Shop keeper
First of all I thank you for your time taken to read this letter. This letter is intended to educate you in keeping the respect and honour of Sikhi high in correspondence to your work/business premises. Sikhi teaches a way of life that is pure and righteous. The eating of meat is clearly condemned in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The killing and cooking of innocent animals is seen as cruel and barbaric by Sikhs. In reality a person of the Sikh faith should avoid selling these carcasses to others as a way of earning. But that is another subject I am writing to you because I am appalled at the fact that some people have put the following Sikh symbols in their meat shops:
- Pictures of the Sikh Gurus
- Gurbani quotes (shabads) such as Ik-Onkaar
- Khandas the insignia of Khalsa army
This is total disrespect to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the Sikh nation as it portrays them in the wrong way.
The Pictures of the Gurus are meant for inspiration and act as a visual aid to remember the Sikh history. They are meant to be in books, Gurdwaras and the houses of Sikhs. To promote a business of sin is not a place for them.
Gurbani is meant for our salvation, it is not a fashion symbol. Gurbani is the Guru and the Guru is Gurbani there is no difference between the two. The Guru would not sit in a meat shop and promote butchers, so why do we put Gurbani stickers etc in our meat shops?
The Khanda represents the sacrifices made by the Khalsa army in defending truth and justice. It also represents deep spiritual meanings of the Sikh faith. It is outrageous that people are using it as a symbol of pride (proud of their business of vices)
This is a humble request from members of the Sikh Sangat that if any off the above disrespects (offences) are going on in your premises could you please remove the relevant items.
Thank you very much.
If ones clothes are stained with blood; the garment becomes polluted; those who consume blood in the form of flesh (meat) how can their conscious be pure? -Ang-140-Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
The world eats dead carcasses, living by neglect and greed like goblins; or a beast, they kill and eat forbidden carcasses of meat. So control your urges or else you will be seized by the lord and thrown into the torture of hell. -Ang-723-Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
One (a person who eats meat); keeps fast in order to please Allah, But (under the urges to taste meat) they kill innocent helpless animals. He keeps in view only his selfish motive in the forefront. He does not care for the feelings of pain and suffering of the poor animals through his ruthless acts of killing. What good is his word? -Ang-483-Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
The butcher slaughters the goat and its meat is salted and strung on a skewer. Laughingly, the goat says while being killed “I have come to this condition while grazing aak plants”. But what will be the plight (fate/situation) of those who cut the throat and then eat the flesh of an animal? - Var 37, Pauri 21-Bhai Gurdas Ji
Kabeer; to use force is tyranny, even if you call it legal. When your account is called for in the court of the lord; what will your condition be then? Kabeer; the dinner of beans & rice is excellent; if it is flavoured with salt. Who would cut their throat; to have meat with their bread?-1374-Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Kabeer, they oppress living Beings and kill them and call it proper. When the lord calls for their account; what will their condition be? Kabeer; it is tyranny to use force; the lord shall call you to account. When your account is called for; your face and mouth shall be beaten. -Ang-1375-Sri Guru Granth Ji