Roundtable
Alcohol
The Roundtable Open Forum XXIII: April 7 - 13
EDITOR
The Rules of the forum are posted here on the right, and need to be followed strictly by all participants.
The following is this week's (April 7 - 13) topic for discussion, which should focus on the questions posed therein:
ALCOHOL
1 Prestigious and independent addiction research institutions around the world tell us in no uncertain terms that it is not drugs or marjuana or anything else, but alcohol, which is the worst threat to society today.
2 Misuse of alcohol around the world, including the prosperous, educated and ‘civilized' West has reached epidemic proportions.
3 In this, the Sikh community, as in everything else - good and bad - has not lagged behind. Both anecdotal evidence and institutional reports tell us that alcohol abuse is probably the main reason behind Punjab's major problems today.
4 If we look around ourselves anywhere in the diaspora, we'll also find that many in our community have fallen into alcoholism and are wasting their lives away.
5 The problem is complicated within both the mainstream community and ours by the fact that societal institutions and government authorities have shown no interest in seriously curbing the misuse. Many factors are at play: the overwhelming influence of the corporate sector, and the obscene level of profits raked in by the alcohol industry, coupled with the addiction of governments themselves to the revenues generated from alcohol taxes, are but some of them - sometimes even resulting in a not too subtle complicity between the two sectors.
6 The best example is the campaign much lauded by one and all: "Don't Drink and Drive!" It doesn't discourage drinking. Instead, by advocating not to drive, it in effect actually encourages over-drinking. The concept of the ‘designated driver' has to be one of the best examples of creative marketing in modern times. You will note that there are no government ads advocating "Do Not Drink Alcohol - it can be harmful to your health!"
7 It is not as ambiguous for Sikhs. The Rehat Maryada and our Gurus' teachings prohibit the use of alcohol - not because there is anything wrong with it per se - it is the high, stupefying, addictive and debilitating potential its use carries that makes it dangerous.
8 Misuse of alcohol in the Sikh community emanates from two directions: the labour classes, the farmers, the soldiers, the uneducated and the unsophisticated, use it with the following excuses - 1) that it drowns frustrations; 2) it is a quick relief from difficult toil; and/or 3) it is the only entertainment within reach. The educated and the ‘sophisticated' use better sophistry - it is only for ‘social' reasons that they drink, they say; they can ‘handle' it; and it is the ‘modern' thing to do.
9 Overwhelming and increasing evidence points to the contrary - it is a growing blight on society today, effecting family life, mental health, careers ... in fact every facet of one's quality of life.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
- What are your thoughts about this issue?
- Do we in the Sikh community have an alcohol problem? Not just in Punjab, but here ... and everywhere?
- What do you personally feel about drinking alcohol? ‘Socially‘?
- How does Sikhi jive with alcohol intake? Is it okay for a Sikh to consume alcohol?
- What do you think about those who are strict vegetarians who drink alcohol?
- What do you think of amritdharis who imbibe?
- Should alcohol have a place in Sikh events - religious, social or secular - such as celebration of Vaisakhi, weddings, etc.?
Conversation about this article
1: Jasbir Kaur (New Jersey, U.S.A.), April 07, 2010, 11:09 AM.
I can understand the uneducated and the unlettered turning to drink - they know no better. But what I can't understand is why well-educated Sikhs and professionals turn to it - surely they have gone long past the need to "fit in". What status does looking like an idiot get you? ... can someone explain ... PLEASE!
2: Kartar Singh Bhalla (New Delhi, India), April 07, 2010, 11:21 AM.
Drinking alcohol is not a religious problem. If it is a problem, it transcends religions and communities. If it is a problem, it is a global problem. I have seen that in Punjab people drink in excess. I do not consider social drinking bad but drinking, if it is there, must be in moderation. One should not drive after drinking. Vegetarianism and drinking are not antithetical. There is no clash between the two. As I am not an amritdhari, I have no comments on drinking by amritdharis. I would not like drinking in religious functions or in gurdwaras. But social and community functions like weddings, vaisakhi celebration, birthday parties are insipid without a little drink. But, to repeat, drinking should be in moderation and drinking in excess is unacceptable, indecent, objectionable and unwise. I have given my views frankly. Please do not consider me a drunkard or an addict or bad. I am a very disciplined person in life.
3: Gurjender Singh (Maryland, U.S.A.), April 07, 2010, 11:52 AM.
This is unfortunate that in Sikh Rehat Maryada, scholars did not include clearly the ban of alcohol by clearly use of word "alcohol". They only use drugs and tobacco clearly. This is unfortunate as some Sikhs are using the excuse that alcohol is not prohibited for Sikhs.
4: Sandeep Singh Brar (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), April 07, 2010, 12:15 PM.
Alcohol is an integral part of the Punjabi culture and ethos. As such, I have no problem with alcohol being served at Punjabi cultural events such as Punjabi melas as alcohol is a central part of that system. In Sikhism, alcohol is strictly forbidden. Unlike issues such as religious vegetarianism which are open to personal interpretation, no such ambiguity exists concerning alcohol in either the Guru Granth Sahib or our Code of Conduct. Sikh Rehat Maryada, Section Four, Chapter X, Article XVI, paragraph (j) - A Sikh must not take hemp (cannabis), opium, liquor, tobacco .. in short any intoxicant. His only routine intake should be food. Whatever our individual weaknesses may be, we must work to improve ourselves, but what really saddens me is when I see public Sikh cultural events where alcohol is served. I've attended museum openings and cultural showcase events put on by Sikh organizations including one where a large number of gurdwaras were co-sponsors, where alcohol was served at the opening or gala. Have we lost all sense or respect and reverence for our religion? Are we supposed to follow and respect our religious beliefs only part time? When putting on any kind of public event where the word 'Sikh' is used, it's the duty of individuals and organizers to rise to the occasion as they have taken on the responsibility and duty of now representing the Sikh community and the Sikh religion. When they use the word 'Sikh' in their event, whether it's a sporting event, a cultural event or a museum exhibit opening, they automatically become accountable to making sure their event does not violate Sikh religious beliefs. I have never heard of a Jewish cultural event where non-kosher food was served. I have never heard of a Muslim cultural event where alcohol or pork was served. Are we so ashamed of our own religious beliefs or have such a inferiority complex and need to 'fit in' that we have to violate our own religious beliefs when putting on a Sikh event? That's truly sad if the answer is yes. Do you think that non-Jews attending a Jewish cultural event would be offended if non-kosher food was not served? Do you think non-Muslims attending a Muslim cultural event would be offended if alcohol or pork was not served? Do you think that non-Hindus attending a Hindu event would be offended if only vegetarian food was served? So why do you feel that non-Sikhs attended a Sikh cultural event would be offended if alcohol was not served? Non-Sikh westerners that I've met at cultural events are among the most sensitive and respectful people who go out of their way to understand and respect religious beliefs of others. It is not a problem of Sikh organizers of Sikh cultural events being pressured by non-Sikhs who will attend such an event, it's a case of Sikhs being so weak and lacking reverence for their own faith and so proud to drink alcohol that they see nothing wrong with it. Going a few hours without drinking at a Sikh cultural event would be uncivilized for them! That kind of attitude or behaviour in public is unacceptable.
5: Ajaib Singh (Jammu, J & K), April 07, 2010, 12:20 PM.
The Rehat Maryada couldn't be more clear: it prohibits "Using any narcotic drug or intoxicant ..." and expressly mentions, inter alia, 'wine' as an example. Now it is true that this prohibition is listed under the do's and dont's for amritdharis. But that doesn't let the rest of us off the hook. The ideals of the Khalsa are the ideals of every Sikh - that is, each Sikh is expected to aspire to them and, if and when ready, take Amrit. It certainly does not mean that as long as you can refrain from Amrit-paan, it's a free-for-all. Guys, there is no reason why you can't use your common sense. Moreover, if you don't have the strength, inclination or integrity to try and follow the ideals of Sikhi, that's okay, it's entirely your issue - but, for heaven's sake don't go into convoluted arguments and distortions, claiming that Sikhi allows or disallows something ... when you should know in your right mind that it is not true. You can win an argument anytime - but remember, you have to live with yourself. Don't live a life of lies. Drink yourself stupid every night if you wish, but don't mess around with Sikhi in your head. And do it at home or at other events or sites - don't get involved in Sikh public life, please, if you have an uncontrollable hankering for alcohol under any pretext whatsoever.
6: Harry (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), April 07, 2010, 1:04 PM.
But what's wrong with serving alcohol if you are getting non-Sikh guests? We don't want to appear backward, do we? We bring in important types to the Vaisakhi dinner in downtown Toronto every year. What will we say to them?
7: Jaswinder Singh (Iselin, New Jersey, U.S.A.), April 07, 2010, 2:31 PM.
Over the last year and for my entire life, I was taught like any Sikh kid (and now I am grown up with my own kids) that we are Sikhs, we should or should not do this and that. I always fought with Sikhs who have cut hair and they have their own reasons. I always asked myself why am I a Sikh and why do I want to be a Sikh? If I have stopped my education, then how an I be a Sikh of the Guru. Was'nt I supposed to keep learning? But learning what? Majority of the time, we Sikhs are fighting or debating the so-called rules and our own understanding of the same. Ask two Sikhs and they will explain something different. Ask a patit-Sikh and he will have a totally different view. Including his view on consumption of alcohol. It seems like we have drawn a line in the sand and determined who is a Sikh based on who crosses that line. The problem is that this line has been stretched by many of our Sikh brothers, false leaders, etc. Now that line is like a no-man's land (think of the Indo-Pak border). We have used our power of reasoning to convince ourselves that it is okay to do this and that as long as we do not do it in the 'extreme'. It is okay to drink alcohol, it is oky to beat up your wife, it is okay to cut your hair and it is okay ... for anything. After all, we are human beings. We tend to take the path of most convenience. The hard route was taken my our Gurus and the saint-soldiers who shaped our identity. We on the other hand are struggling and walking on a sword's edge, albeit the edge is wide and more accommodating now than ever before. Be a Sikh of the Guru for the Guru ... not for your own convenience. Ask yourself that let's suppose you are a top Leader or put yourself in the shoes of the Guru. A self-proclaimed Sikh comes to you and says I drink or I cut hair, is it okay? What will you answer. If you, being in the shoes of the Guru, would truly tell that person that no, that is not right, I need you to be a true and complete Sikh and NOT A BORDERLINE Sikh; then why do you give yourself the choice and lower the criteria for your own convenience? Don't be compliant, be complete. Cross the border and come to the Sikh Land. And when you are there, then there are NO questions on alcohol or hair or sewa or the sants or the sipahis ... You are there ... and not compliant anymore. You are a premium member ... not a borderline Sikh!
8: Harnam Singh (Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.), April 07, 2010, 4:53 PM.
It is painful to see our educated ones behave like pre-Independence Indians, continuing with the old inferiority complex. Why is it important to 'please' the 'gora' guests we bring to our functions by breaking our own rules? And why do we think that these Canadians and Americans HAVE TO HAVE alcohol when they come to our functions? What makes us think that they are blithering idiots who cannot last more than four hours without a drink? What makes us believe that they've never had a meal, public or otherwise, without the accompaniment of alcohol, and that they will drop to the ground in agony from alcohol withdrawal if they aren't served any one evening? When and how and from where did OUR 'educated' professionals acquire this wierd notion? And when they do this, they themselves have to imbibe the liquor to show that they are modern, civilzed, etc? These Sikhs must have a very low and distorted opinion of their fellow Canadians and Americans - where did they pick all of this up? I think we have a bunch of blithering idiots in our ranks, to be frank. Didn't someone write recently - that he had come to the conclusion that Sikhs do not deserve Sikhi. This simple issue alone has shown me the light - I agree with him! May the good lord help us all.
9: Mohan Singh (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), April 07, 2010, 7:14 PM.
Guru Amardas [GGS:554] - 'jit peetay mat door hoye ... 'One person brings a full bottle, and another comes to fill his cup. Drinking it, his intelligence departs, and madness enters his mind. He cannot distinguish between his own and others' - he is struck down by his Lord and Master. Drinking it, he forgets his Lord and Master, and he is punished in the Court of the Lord. Don't drink the false wine at all, if it is in your power. O Nanak, by His Grace, one obtains the true wine, when the True Guru comes and meets him. He shall dwell forever in the Love of the Lord and Master, and obtain a seat in the Mansion of His Presence." Here, 'true wine' is Naam Simran.
10: Parveen Kaur (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), April 07, 2010, 7:53 PM.
Yes, Harman Singh ji, I agree with you. The remnants of colonialsim are alive and well, unfortunately, especially amongst our so-called 'educated'. Smoking used to be a 'cool' concept until it was banned in public places. At some point in time, alcohol will also suffer the same fate. How can you call Sikhism backward when the Guruss were clearly far ahead of their times. Finally, the goras are catching on! It's about time! But when will our own catch on?
11: Gur Singh (Boston, U.S.A.), April 07, 2010, 9:34 PM.
I am absolutely impressed that alcohol has no health benefits. Corporate and industry funded 'studies' glorifying the importance of alcohol have made us believe about its purported role in preventing heart diseases. Sikh scientists and other scholars need to reopen and research these findings and come up with unbiased and independent studies.
12: Jagjot Singh (India), April 08, 2010, 2:34 AM.
I personally feel that alcohol is the single biggest menace in Sikh society, particularly in Punjab. We, the Sikhs, have become synonymous with consumption of hard drinks. I remember, during my childhood, when I used to say that nobody drinks in our family, people used to comment, "How is it possible that being a Sikh you don't drink?" The problem with our community is not only that they drink a lot, but they love to flaunt the fact that they are big alcohol consumers. I personally think it is a matter of shame and not pride. Moreover, I don't understand one thing. A Sikh smoking a cigarette is chastised but nobody minds boozing. It is clearly mentioned in the rehat maryada that consuming intoxicants is not permitted. An amritdhari consuming liqour - it is a sacrilege. I personally think that there is nothing macho about a person drinking. It only helps in making a person less of a man if you study the ill effects associated with it. There should be no alcohol in any of our social functions. After having such strong views against alcohol, I still believe that any kind of prohibtion or government ban is the solution. But in India, nobody listens to the government anyway. So the onus for eradication of this menace lies with each one of us in general, and more specifically with our religious institutions.
13: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), April 08, 2010, 7:57 AM.
I must have been ten when, one day, my elder sister asked me to run along and buy a box of match-sticks. There were a number of kiosks selling paans, biris and cigarettes not far from our house. I must have gone a good hour or so and had returned empty handed. 'Where is the box of match-sticks?' My reply was, 'Sorry, Bhenji, all the shops were selling cigarettes, so I couldn't go there.' I don't know how they managed to cook the meals that evening but they related that incident ad nauseam to all and sundry with great pride. I couldn't understand what the fuss was about. The rule was that shops selling cigarettes were out of bound for Sikhs. As an inquisitive child, I managed to buy a Kodak box camera and squandered my entire capital of Rs.6 and 12 annas, and soon became a roving camera man. I also persuaded the neighbouring 'Lat Studio' to teaching my how to develop and print the films by becoming an unpaid errand boy, sweeping floors, carrying water and delivering vegetables, milk, etc. and wiping the baby's nose. Soon, I was adept and virtually ran his developing and printing joint. Of course, I also developed a special unenviable standing among my peers. There was this stammering lout of a boy by the name of Mohan, who showed a keen interest to learn the intricacies of developing and printing. In those days, we had to concoct our own developing solution and for fixer, we had to use hypo crystals. He found his father's empty bottle of desi whisky that still had the label on it and he filled up with the brownish developer solution. That evening he made a slight mistake and left the bottle with the real stuff of desis. The old father, S.Gian Singh, after his hard day's toil, as was his wont, poured himself a generous double peg suitably mixed with soda. The first gulp tasted awfully different. He shouted 'Oi Mohan ey ke o-eay?' Mohan saw murder in his Bauji's eyes and blurted out the truth. He came running to my house, saying that Bauji had taken the developer by mistake. What should he do now? My wise advice was give him a peg of hypo fixer to complete the operation. Anyway, with a good thrashing, it was the end of Mohan's promising career as a photographer. The last I heard about him was that he had opened a bicycle repair shop in Ambala Cantt. soon after Partition in 1947. This was my first brush with 'desi' liquor. In 1957, when I got selected as a management trainee in the plantation sector, all the senior staff were whites. Their sole avocation seemed to be drinking that went on for hours. They invited me, hoping to initiate me to the club, but I told them it was against my religion to drink or smoke. I was mercifully let off by buying them a couple of rounds as a nominal punishment. The drinking appeared an essential part of planters' lives and you had to have a beer belly generously bulging over the belt, shorts hitched up and shirt only episodically inside. The hair had to be suitably tussled up. At the end of the tenth drink, you could hear the convoluted speech. We had one Harry Williams who stammered even without drinking and you can imagine his speech after the 10th drink. All we kept replying was 'Yes, Harry'. Reminded me of the Punjabi saying that she was 'kamli' and on the top of it drank bhang! Luckily, I was spared all that. But the fellow planters kept badgering me with all kinds of questions: 'Do you drink?' 'No?' 'What about smoking?' 'No, I don't smoke.' 'What about women?' And my clever answer was: 'No, they don't smoke either!' I had great fun and was more than a match in every department except drinking. If you want to find excuses for drinking, there are plenty. My young nephew was able to convince my sister that he drank only for medicinal purposes, and is still at it with the same treatment. Guru Nanak has clearly expressed himself in this shabad: 'Bababaa hor khananaa khusee khu-aar jit khaadhai tan peerhee-ai man meh chaleh vikaar' - 'Oh Baba, the pleasure of other foods are false/ Eating them the body is ruined and wickedness and corruption enters the mind' [GGS:16.14].
14: Inni Kaur (Fairfield, CT, U.S.A.), April 08, 2010, 9:05 AM.
To experience Divine Intoxication, one must be free of worldly intoxicants!
15: Guru Granth Sahib Academy (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), April 08, 2010, 8:36 PM.
For a discourse by Prof. Darshan Singh Khalsa on Amrit and the sub-topic: Amrit 8 - Kurehats (tabooed practices) vs. Intoxication (in light of the Guru Granth Sahib):http://www.ggsacademy.com/shabadvichar/gurmattopics/amrit
16: SSN (U.S.A.), April 09, 2010, 4:13 AM.
Sardar Sangat Singh ji: love reading your posts. Always interesting and the anecdotes are exquisitely done! I am a young Sikh and I am sorry to admit I am still grappling with this issue. I come from a family where, as far as I can remember, all members of the older generations drink or drank. Both sides of the family is proud of it! Oddly. Incredibly, many in the younger generation don't. And when I was in India, my routine alcohol was social. However, ever since coming to the U.S., I see that if you need to enjoy a party or have to be "one of them", you must drink. It's a way here, to warm up. If you don't drink, something is wrong with you. And it goes beyond normal consumption. The more you can take and hold the drink, the better. I believe this part of the deal has always been there. On the other hand, people become animals when they drink. They lose their self and act out their deepest evils or, in some cases, become their smoothest self. However, a couple of incidents have brought out why I hate people getting drunk. I have decided not to partake in this bon vivant anymore. I am not sure how long I will hold out; but where there is a will, there is a way.
17: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), April 09, 2010, 2:12 PM.
SSN ji: grateful for your kind words. Let me relate another story. In 1979, it was sort of a 'creme de la creme' kind of posting when I was transferred to an estate as the first Asian Manager to this plantation, and the only one to have the three crops: Rubber, Oil Palm and Tea, as well a Tea Factory. Being nearest to the Head Office in Kuala Lumpur, all the V.I.P. visitors were re-directed to my estate for a tour. Besides, my good wife, Upkar, had a reputation of providing excellent fare fit for royals. We even had the honour of His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Negri Sembilan for a visit and lunch once. Although I never drank anything stronger than a 7-Up, I had to stock a variety of expensive poisons. On one such occasion, our young and inquisitive daughter, Simran, walked up to me with her arms poised in an isosceles configuration. "Papa, can I have this drink too?" "Yes, dear indeed," I answered, and poured her about two fingers worth of Cognac. She took a gulp, thinking it was a sort of Cola and started spluttering and coughing like mad, turned red and chokingly blurted out: "Is this what these people drink? Then this is the hatest drink I have ever tasted!" Thus finished once for all the prospects of any drinking career for her. Today, Simran is a Cardiac Thoracic Anaesthetist and routinely knocks people out without relying on expensive or hard drinks. Sorry, SSN Ji, I could wax a bit more but would get into trouble with T. Sher Singh ji for waffling, when he is a master of biting economy with words.
18: Amandeep Singh (Paso Robles, California, U.S.A.), April 09, 2010, 2:40 PM.
One thing I think that has not been discussed yet is the concept of Punjabi male "bravado". In general, Punjabi males have this thought in their head that they are tough, hardcore and invincible. You add alcohol into the mix and this feeling gets even bigger. In mainstream Punjabi music, there is continued reference to drinking and being brave and strong. I feel that this concept of male bravado has deep roots in Punjabi culture and unfortunately is seen in all aspects of life including our issues with alcoholism, violence, gangs, etc.
19: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia), April 09, 2010, 8:03 PM.
Amandeep ji, you have hit the nail squarely on the head. I never ever watch any of the Punjabi networks save for some kirtan or katha by Giani Sant Singh Maskin. Soon after start the vulgar cretins frolicking around the waving yellow fields of sarson glorifying 'juttaan de puttar', polluting the beautiful fields, as if their whole existence depended on the 'botal'. They even smell on the celluloid screen. The other theme is usually singing off tune, pining for some non-descript mutiar that had resulted in some loss of sleep. [The muttiar, nowadays - more often than not - turns out to be an import from the West!] This calls for a full fledged article on this menace. Today's Punjab is taken over by the Biharis and the Sikhs are in a minority, while the youth are lying around in a stupor of self-glory, and waiting for a call to go to 'phoren' lands. S. Jodh Singh elsewhere - in a comment on "The Vultures Are at it Again" - has exhausted all synonyms to rightly describe them, but still wanting. This is the re-visit of the Dark Age that Guru Nanak so poignantly described in his shabad - 'Kal kati raje kasai-I dharma pankh kar udria-a' [GGS:145.10] - 'The Dark Age of KaliYug is the knife, and the kings are butchers. Righteousness has sprouted wings and flown away.' I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel. Do you?
20: Kartar Singh Bhalla (New Delhi, India), April 10, 2010, 1:48 AM.
I congratulate sikhchic.com for initiating a roundtable debate on alcohol. Out of 19 conversations on the subject, 18 are against alcohol. In other words, about 95% Sikhs should be against alcohol consumption. My perception was different. I stand corrected. Sikh Rehat Maryada (SRM) has been referred to prove that alcohol is a vice and should be avoided by Sikhs. Vice it is but this vice is prevalent since the dawn of history. It is there in all countries. Islamic countries have banned alcohol but it is consumed in these countries also, though surreptitiously. The Rehat Maryada lays down guidelines for Sikhs which all Sikhs should follow. A point arises whether a Sikh consuming alcohol and thus violating the Maryada can be deemed to be not a Sikh. There are many guidelines in the Maryada which all Sikhs do not follow. For example, guidelines like waking up at amrit vela and reciting four banis, taking amrit, adding Kaur to the names of female Sikhs are not followed by all Sikhs. Do all such Sikhs stand ostracized from Sikh fold? Kaam, krodh, lobh, moh and ahankaar are also vices so declared by Guru Sahiban. While these vices must be shunned, have all Sikhs shunned them? In conclusion, all such vices should be shunned by Sikhs but those who do not do so should continue to treated as Sikhs.
21: Harmeet Kaur (Gurgaon, India), April 10, 2010, 7:11 AM.
Kartar Singh ji: You are very perceptive in counting the responses, and separating them. The conclusion is obvious, knowing that a lot of people do imbibe alcohol - they do not have the conviction to back their choice. They know it's against Sikhi, but they are too weak to stand up to either correct it or defend it with something intelligent. [Or, they aren't sober enough to say something bright!] The maryada at no point suggests that if one fails in meeting its guidelines, you fail to be a Sikh. It gives you all the information you need. From there on, you're on your own - you can choose to improve your life, or you can continue to meander around aimlessly, or you can settle for a life in a ditch. Your arguments over all the transgressions and the questions you pose thereafter are nothing but 'chaturta'. If YOU yourself don't know the answers to the questions you pose at this late stage of your life, then I'm afraid no amount of help from anyone else is going to help you. All you seem to be doing is wasting your own time. Just apply a bit of common sense ... and you'll find your way home, trust me.
22: Pradeep Singh (Mathura, India), April 10, 2010, 3:55 PM.
I'd like to keep it simple. Somebody very rightly said that the first thing in the human personality that dissolves in alcohol is dignity and I absolutely hate the undignified me. So no drinking for me. Period!
23: Amrit Pal Singh (Gurgaon, India), April 11, 2010, 4:36 AM.
Any intoxication that a person is initiated into or used to is out of his or her inherent weak personality or weak parentage. Those who treat it as strictly taboo are inspiring role models. My elder brother - an amritdhari Indian army Colonel - is one of them. He recounted to my mother years ago how his first unit posting after passing out from Indian Military Academy came close to him leaving the Armed forces altogether. As they said, the young officers in the party wanted to initiate my brother into drinking, insisting that this was a regimental tradition - any new entry into his first posting drinks from a bowl alongwith other YOs. To be sure, he kept resisting, citing one reason or the other but when things came to a head, he declared - okay, I will drink provided my resignation from the forces is accepted simultaneously. Thankfully for him, his CO, a South Indian saw the ruckus, came to his rescue. He publicaly expressed happiness that my brother (a young man then) stood up for his principles and did not falter or budge! GuruFateh.
24: K. Singh (Boston, MA, U.S.A.), April 12, 2010, 11:31 AM.
I would like to ask one question: Does anyone know the reason that intoxicants such as tobacco and alcohol are prohibited? I am sure it is because they cause damage to your body and are addicting ...
25: Sanmeet Kaur (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), April 14, 2010, 8:14 AM.
It is heartening that not one Sikh could bring himself to write in support of alcohol. Even as the Guru accepts all our frailities, He is not ambiguous in His teachings. As works-in-progress, we can only seek His Grace - in ardaas, in seva, in kirtan, in the sat sangat. 'Pooraa saach pi-aalaa sehjay tiseh pee-aa-ay jaa ka-o nadar karay/' - "The Perfect Lord naturally gives the cup of Truth, to the one upon whom He casts His Glance of Grace." 'Amrit kaa vaapaaree hovai ki-aa mad chhoochhai bhaa-o Dharay. ||2||' - "One who trades in this Nectar - how could he ever love the wine of the world? ||2||" - [GGS:360]. When we have this grace, it wants us to be humble and grateful.
26: Hardev Kohli (Canada), April 24, 2010, 12:22 AM.
There is no point in being defensive. This problem is extensive and now the drugs have crept in in a big way. The educated and sophisticated drink quietly and the rest feel they have won bragging rights. As per Rehat, I believe it is the same, drugs or alcohol. When we say amritdharis - do we include the Nihangs?