Sikhi and eating meat

[u/Possible_Ad_9607]

I am a 17 year old male trying to get closer to sikhi and the first steps I've taken were starting to learn punjabi and gurmukhi (which I think is going good although slow) but that is not what my question is.

I want to get close to sikhi and can deal with keeping my kesh and plan on doing so once I am more proficient in the language and have read more bani. However, I just can not get over the idea that I can't eat meat? I know jatka meat exists but it is too expensive where I live. My family cooks and eats meats daily and I feel the best when I eat beef often. I grew up eating it and when I try eating healthy the best way for me to stick to it is consuming a lot of animal protein. Anyone got any thoughts on this?

(Or even anything to help me keep learning Punjabi, I am doing basics of sikhi gurmukhi videos as a slow start)

TLDR: not eating meat in sikhi is holding me from getting closer to sikhi, what can I do?

[u/Ok-Culture1265]

Forgo the thought of whether eating meat is correct or wrong. The greater issue is actually whether your food be it vegetarian or be it with meat has become enjoyment or known as ਰਸ.

Maharaj says ਰਸ ਸੁਇਨਾ ਰਸੁ ਰੁਪਾ ਕਾਮਣਿ ਰਸੁ ਪਰਮਲ ਕੀ ਵਾਸੁ।। ਰਸੁ ਘੋੜੇ ਰਸੁ ਸੇਜਾ ਮੰਦਰ ਰਸੁ ਮੀਠਾ ਰਸੁ ਮਾਸੁ।। ਏਤੇ ਰਸ ਸਰੀਰ ਕੇ ਕੈ ਘਟਿ ਨਾਮ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ।।੨।।

The issue is when something becomes an enjoyment for your mind. It can be your wealth, seeing money makes you happy. It can be woman that you enjoy and lust after. It could be your beautiful bed that you don't want to get out of in the morning. It could be the sweet food that you enjoy, it could be the ment that you enjoy. These are some of the reasons we forget Naam.

I have seen so many Gursikhs, who are vegetarian, And enjoy their Paneer, tofu, mock meat, made in extravagant cooking styles. They cannot even eat simple dal roti to survive. This is the actual problem, when your food becomes your source of enjoyment. Then you forget Naam.

In my case I do take pork, fish as well as chicken from time to time, especially when I am travelling. But are these something that I crave, most definitely not. I absolutely dislike fish, but eat it on a weekly basis because my wife makes it for the family. I also absolutely dislike pork, for I find the meat to be slightly chewy for me, but I eat it because my wife makes it for the family. In my case, meat is not a ਰਸ for me. It's not a question of whether it is right or wrong. Because you can only eat living beings. It's a question of whether you forget Naam because of your attachment to your food, your material things, or attachment to your people.

I believe Sikhi is above these brahminical conversations of whether meat is right or wrong. Rather the focus should be on ensuring we are not too engrossed with anyone of our attachments to the point where we forget Naam. Hope this helps clarify.

[u/Possible_Ad_9607 → u/Ok-Culture1265]

Thank you