Stubborn Mindedness – Cooking Own Separate Food – Gurbani Blog

Baabaa Nanak teaches to create a casteless society. However, the Sikh community being casteless is a great MYTH!

Although decried by the Gurmat of Guru Nanak (teaching of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS), casteism (Jaat Paat) is practiced at every level of the Sikh community.

The SGGS is the embodiment of the Gurmat principles by which a Sikh should live. It asserts that the True Nature of our mind is Jot Saroop, and a ‘Sikh‘ (lifelong learner, student) is casteless. However, the Sikh community being casteless is a great MYTH!

A closed minded, self centered, egoist section of the Sikh community is bent on destroying that image by creating caste system within this casteless society of humans.

Brahmins and other castes would look down upon, discriminate against, verbally abuse and Socially distance themselves from Shudras (so called untouchables). Owing to utter foolishness or ignorance, people follow this ‘untouchability’ system for centuries in order to maintain their outer purity.

For instance, if a Shudra should accidentally touch someone of a higher caste, such as a Brahmin, then that Brahmin would consider himself / herself contaminated, and extensive rites of purification would be necessary to remove the stain. How stupid!

Before and during the time of Baabaa Nanak’s Journey on this earth, Brahmins or Pundits in their stubborn mindedness and fanaticism would accept neither COOCKED FOOD nor water across caste lines.

All this PAKHAND has been critiqued, debunked, and rejected by Guru Nanak.

ਗਜ ਸਾਢੇ ਤੈ ਤੈ ਧੋਤੀਆ ਤਿਹਰੇ ਪਾਇਨਿ ਤਗ ॥ ਗਲੀ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਜਪਮਾਲੀਆ ਲੋਟੇ ਹਥਿ ਨਿਬਗ ॥ ਓਇ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਹਿ ਬਾਨਾਰਸਿ ਕੇ ਠਗ ॥੧॥ ਐਸੇ ਸੰਤ ਨ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਭਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਡਾਲਾ ਸਿਉ ਪੇਡਾ ਗਟਕਾਵਹਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਬਾਸਨ ਮਾਂਜਿ ਚਰਾਵਹਿ ਊਪਰਿ ਕਾਠੀ ਧੋਇ ਜਲਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਬਸੁਧਾ ਖੋਦਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਦੁਇ ਚੂਲ੍ਹ੍ਹੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਮਾਣਸ ਖਾਵਹਿ ॥੨॥ ਓਇ ਪਾਪੀ ਸਦਾ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਅਪਰਾਧੀ ਮੁਖਹੁ ਅਪਰਸ ਕਹਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੀ ਸਗਲ ਕੁਟੰਬ ਡੁਬਾਵਹਿ ॥੩॥ : (Freeloading/Pakhandi Sant/Sadh) they wear three and a half yard long loincloths, and triple-wound sacred threads. They wear rosaries around their necks, and glittering jugs in their hands. Just because of such religious paraphernalia they should not be called Sant of God — they are thugs of Baanaaras (i.e., religious conmen, cheats, robbers…). Fallen from human thinking, such pretentious so called Sant are not pleasing to me. Because, they rob their victims of not only their wealth, but also of their life which is like gulping down the entire tree instead of consuming just a branch. ||1||Pause|| They wash their pots and pans before putting them on the stove, and wash the wood before lighting it. (To show others how holy they are) they dig earth, and make two hearths – one for their use and he second for others to use. (But in their real life, they are so cruel) they rob their victims as if they devoured the whole person (i.e. exploit the gullible people and destroy their life). ||2|| Such sinners always keep roaming around (looking for more victims), but they call themselves “Aprass” (i.e. untouched by vices or any other person). They always live in arrogance and thus drown themselves (in vices) along with their family (i.e. those in their company also suffer for their deeds). ||3|| (sggs 476).

This inhuman practice even exists today! Furthermore, not only Brahmins and Pandits but other castes also practice such Pakhand to a certain extent, including Sikhs.

It seems like there is a new class of Sikhs as well: The Brahamins Sikhs who, for the sake of outer purity, also cook their own separate food! They don’t let anybody touch it or partake it.

Shattering this stupidity, Guru Nanak teaches:

ਕੇਸਰਿ ਕੁਸਮ ਮਿਰਗਮੈ ਹਰਣਾ ਸਰਬ ਸਰੀਰੀ ਚੜ੍ਹ੍ਹਣਾ ॥ ਚੰਦਨ ਭਗਤਾ ਜੋਤਿ ਇਨੇਹੀ ਸਰਬੇ ਪਰਮਲੁ ਕਰਣਾ ॥੨॥ ਘਿਅ ਪਟ ਭਾਂਡਾ ਕਹੈ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਐਸਾ ਭਗਤੁ ਵਰਨ ਮਹਿ ਹੋਇ ॥ : Saffron flowers, deer’s musk, and gold embellish and please all. Similarly O Lord, Your Bhagat (Das, Jan, Gurmukh…) spread their fragrance (Wisdom / Virtues) like sandalwood to all. No one ever calls the (expensive or richer items such as) silk and ‘Ghee‘ polluted (or whose hands have touched them). In the same manner, O God, Your Bhagat (Das, Jan, Gurmukh…) is immaculate, does not matter what caste he/she belongs to. (sggs 721).

Pretentiously cooking own, separate food

Afraid of being contaminated or polluted when touched by others (ਭਿੱਟ), these illiterate fanatics and Pakhnadee who call themselves GurSikhs, Baabaa, Brahm Giaanee, sant etc. will refuse to partake in the Langar (common kitchen) and will not eat with rest of the congregation. Instead, they cook their own separate food in pretentiousness, using their separate utensils and kitchens or hearths. Let sharing the food with others, they allow very selective people to enter their kitchen!

This practice is totally contrary to the Gurmat of the SGGS.

Apparently on account of selfishness, greed and ignorance these Sikhs have totally ignored the very basic principles of the Sikhi of Guru Nanak:

ਙੰਙਾ ਖਟੁ ਸਾਸਤ੍ਰ ਹੋਇ ਙਿਆਤਾ ॥ ਪੂਰਕੁ ਕੁੰਭਕ ਰੇਚਕ ਕਰਮਾਤਾ ॥ ਙਿਆਨ ਧਿਆਨ ਤੀਰਥ ਇਸਨਾਨੀ ॥ ਸੋਮਪਾਕ ਅਪਰਸ ਉਦਿਆਨੀ ॥ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਸੰਗਿ ਮਨਿ ਨਹੀ ਹੇਤਾ ॥ ਜੋ ਕਛੁ ਕੀਨੋ ਸੋਊ ਅਨੇਤਾ ॥ ਉਆ ਤੇ ਊਤਮੁ ਗਨਉ ਚੰਡਾਲਾ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਜਿਹ ਮਨਿ ਬਸਹਿ ਗੁਪਾਲਾ ॥੧੬॥: Through the letter ‘ਙੰਙਾ’, the SGGS gives us the lesson that one may have the knowledge of six Shastras (i.e. Saankh, Niyaaye, Visheshik, Mimaasa, JOG or Yoga and Vedant); one may practice Pranayaam actions of breathing in (‘ਪੂਰਕੁ’), holding the breath in (‘ਕੁੰਭਕ’), and breathing out (‘ਰੇਚਕ’); one may be engaging in religious debates, practicing meditations and bathing at many Teerath or pilgrimage places; (for the sake of external purity) who cooks his own food (‘ਸੋਮਪਾਕ’), doesn’t let anyone touch him nor touches anyone or anything (‘ਅਪਰਸ’) and may live in jungles (‘ਉਦਿਆਨੀ’) as hermit; but if such person does not have Love for Raam – Naam in his mind; then consider all his religious actions (described before) as useless or worthless. Even (a so called untouchable pariah or) lower caste person is better than that person. (253 sggs).
ਮਨਿ ਜੂਠੈ ਤਨਿ ਜੂਠਿ ਹੈ ਜਿਹਵਾ ਜੂਠੀ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਮੁਖਿ ਝੂਠੈ ਝੂਠੁ ਬੋਲਣਾ ਕਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਸੂਚਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਅਭ ਸਬਦ ਨ ਮਾਂਜੀਐ ਸਾਚੇ ਤੇ ਸਚੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ : If the mind is polluted, then the body is polluted, and the tongue is polluted as well (i.e., all senses become defiled with vices/Bikaars). With false mouths, people speak falsehood. They cannot be made pure (by external Karamkaand). Without the Holy Water of the Shabad, they are not cleansed. From the True One alone comes (this) Truth. (sggs 56).

These illiterate, anti-Gurmat, stubborn-minded Brahmin-Sikhs think the food or water get defiled by direct or indirect contact with other Sikhs they think are inferiors.

The foregoing Shabad calls these people worse than a so called untouchable pariah (‘ਚੰਡਾਲਾ’) or a so called lower caste person.

This is one of the burning example of a stubborn minded (ਮਨ ਹਠ) person’s display of his/her foolishness, ignorance, arrogance, false ego-sense (Haumai), anti-Gurmat conduct…

The Wisdom of the SGGS thunders that no one would be helped along with one’s nonsense rituals stemming from Mayaic consciousness (ਮਾਇਕੀ ਬੁੱਧੀ), mental concoctions, doubts (ਭਰਮ), superstitions, fear etc.

The Gurbani in SGGS debunks such useless practices because they will not help anybody become good human being or realize God.

It’s not that the Gurbani is only telling Brahmins or Pundits not to practice such stupidity, it is also telling the Sikhs as well!!!!!!!!!

If a Sikh does than why wouldn’t a Brahmin be helped along with his useless practices, or a Muslim or a Christian or a Yogi with his? How absurd! The fact of the matter is that the Gurbani’s instructions are for the good of all mankind; including Sikhs as well.

Yet, afraid of being contaminated, many self proclaimed sants and Baabaas (and their equally ignorant followers), fanatically cook their own food; using their separate utensils and kitchens!

Although they preach or attend the congregations at religious gatherings but refuse to eat food from the common kitchen (Langar), or share their own cooking with others.

Apparently, when it comes to God, Hukam or Spiritual matters such Manmukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree (Unenlightened) do not know the difference between the ear and the elbow, because he / she does not understand the real Message contained within the Guru Shabad!

ਉਦਮੁ ਕਰਿ ਲਾਗੇ ਬਹੁ ਭਾਤੀ ਬਿਚਰਹਿ ਅਨਿਕ ਸਾਸਤ੍ਰ ਬਹੁ ਖਟੂਆ ॥ ਭਸਮ ਲਗਾਇ ਤੀਰਥ ਬਹੁ ਭ੍ਰਮਤੇ ਸੂਖਮ ਦੇਹ ਬੰਧਹਿ ਬਹੁ ਜਟੂਆ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਭਜਨ ਸਗਲ ਦੁਖ ਪਾਵਤ ਜਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਬਢਾਇ ਸੂਤ ਕੇ ਹਟੂਆ ॥ ਪੂਜਾ ਚਕ੍ਰ ਕਰਤ ਸੋਮਪਾਕਾ ਅਨਿਕ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਥਾਟਹਿ ਕਰਿ ਥਟੂਆ ॥੨॥੧੧॥੨੦॥: People are engaged in many kinds of special efforts and greatly reflect on the six shastras. Smearing their bodies with ashes, many people roam around so called Teerath locations, make their body lean, and bind their hair into matted locks. Without Uniting with Mool within, all suffer in pain; just as a silkworm spins a cocoon with joy and then gets caught in it. Similarly these people get caught in the web of their own deeds, such as Poojaa, making ritual marks on their bodies, cooking their own food, and making many other pompous shows (Pakhand). ||2||11||20|| (sggs 1389).
ਅੰਦਰਹੁ ਝੂਠੇ ਪੈਜ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਫੈਲੁ ॥ Those who are false within, and (make themselves look) honorable on the outside, are very common in this world. (sggs 473).
ਵਿਣੁ ਸਚ ਸੋਚ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਭਾਈ ਸਾਚਾ ਅਗਮ ਧਣੀ ॥ : O brother! Without realizing the Truth, inner purity (ਆਤਮਕ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰਤਾ etc.) cannot be achieved; (sggs 608).

The Gurbani further enlightens us:

ਸਾਚ ਬਿਨਾ ਕਹ ਹੋਵਤ ਸੂਚਾ ॥: Without the Truth, how can anyone be pure? (sggs 269).
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਜੂਠਾ ਕਿਉ ਸੁਚਿ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਸਬਦੀ ਧੋਵੈ ਵਿਰਲਾ ਕੋਇ ॥: If (someone) is impure within, (he) cannot become pure (without washing the mind with Shabad). How rare is the person who washes (his mind) with the Shabad (Wisdom, Upadesh, Sikhiaa, Naam…). (sggs 1344).
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਤੇਈ ਨਰ ਸੂਚੇ ਸਾਚੀ ਪਰੀ ਬਿਚਾਰਾ ॥੪॥੧॥੭॥ : Says Kabeer, only those persons are pure (Soochae), who have attained true understanding about God. ||4||1||7|| (sggs 1195).

In ancient India the system of division was more scientific and was based on character and capability.

However, today, cast is decided by birth. The result is now a days people eat and drink like a Kshatriya (Khatris), live an work like a Vaishya, think and behave like a Shudra, but pretend to be a Brahmin or of high social status!

Hence according to the Wisdom of the SGGS, the real contaminated person is he /she who lacks Giyan-Wisdom.

The Gurbani compares such illiterate, corrupt, fools and depraved persons with animals as follows. Their minds are filthy and contaminated (filled with Bhangaar).

ਗੁਰ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਹੀਣਸ੍ਯ੍ਯ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਧ੍ਰਿਗੰਤ ਜਨਮ ਭ੍ਰਸਟਣਹ ॥ ਕੂਕਰਹ ਸੂਕਰਹ ਗਰਧਭਹ ਕਾਕਹ ਸਰਪਨਹ ਤੁਲਿ ਖਲਹ ॥੩੩॥: That mortal who lacks the Gur-mantra (Guru’s counsel, advice, Wisdom, Upadesh, ਸਲਾਹ), cursed and fallen (depraved, polluted…) is his life. That wicked person is a dog, a pig, a jackass, a crow, a snake (in this very life, here and now, not after death). ||33|| (1356).
ਸਾ ਜਾਤਿ ਸਾ ਪਤਿ ਹੈ ਜੇਹੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇ ॥: (Jaat Paat of a person) is as he acts (sggs 1330).
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਤਿ ਪਤਿ ਨਾਮੇ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥: In Naam is ‘Jaat Pat’ and honor of who has become the Gurmukh (sggs 230).

Ending Note

A person with the understanding and practice (ਅਮਲ) of Gurmat does not accept the concocted stories, rituals etc. of any Pandit, Mulan, Yogi, self-styleed Giyani or any Baabaa as Naam (divine Giyan-Wisdom…). He ventures to listen and purify his mind/soul with Gurmat Wisdom.

ਪੰਡਿਤ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਜੋ ਲਿਖਿ ਦੀਆ ॥ ਛਾਡਿ ਚਲੇ ਹਮ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਲੀਆ ॥੩॥ : ALL that the Pandit and Mullah Clergy have prescribed or presented to us, I have DISCARDED (while walking on the Path of Spirituality). I DISCARD IT ALL and have ACCEPTED NOTHING at all. ||3|| (sggs 1159).

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Pretentiously cooking own, separate food

Ending Note

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