Editing Vegetarianism (section)

===Sikhism===
{{Main|Diet in Sikhism}}
[[File:Langar.jpg|thumb|At the Sikh [[Langar (Sikhism)|langar]], all people eat a vegetarian meal as equals.]]
The tenets of [[Sikhism]] do not advocate a particular stance on either vegetarianism or the consumption of meat,<ref name = "SHP">{{cite web |url=http://www.sikhs.org/meat_au.htm |title=Sikhism Religion of the Sikh People |publisher=Sikhs.org |access-date=March 31, 2015 |archive-date=December 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228061910/http://www.sikhs.org/meat_au.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>I.J. Singh, ''Sikhs and Sikhism'', Manohar, Delhi {{ISBN|978-81-7304-058-0}}: "Throughout Sikh history, there have been movements or subsects of Sikhism which have espoused vegetarianism. I think there is no basis for such dogma or practice in Sikhism."</ref><ref>Surindar Singh Kohli, ''Guru Granth Sahib, An Analytical Study'', Singh Bros. Amritsar {{ISBN|81-7205-060-7}}: "The ideas of devotion and service in Vaishnavism have been accepted by Adi Granth, but the insistence of Vaishnavas on vegetarian diet has been rejected."</ref><ref name="hsp">Gopal Singh, ''History of the Sikh People'', World Sikh Univ. Press, Delhi, {{ISBN|978-81-7023-139-4}}: "Nowadays in the Community Kitchen attached to the Sikh temples, and called the Guru's Kitchen (or ''Guru-ka-langar''), meat dishes are not served at all. Maybe it is on account of its being, perhaps, expensive or not easy to keep for long. Or perhaps the Vaishnava tradition is too strong to be shaken off."</ref> but leave the decision of diet to the individual.<ref name="fool">Randip Singh, ''[http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/8828-fools-who-wrangle-over-flesh.html Fools Who Wrangle Over Flesh] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626010926/http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/8828-fools-who-wrangle-over-flesh.html |date=June 26, 2010 }}'', Sikh Philosophy Network, December 7, 2006. Retrieved January 15, 2010.</ref> The tenth guru, [[Guru Gobind Singh]], however, prohibited "Amritdhari" Sikhs, or those that follow the [[Sikh Rehat Maryada]] (the Official Sikh Code of Conduct)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sgpc.net/sikhism/sikh-dharma-manual.html |title=Sikh Reht Maryada, The Definition of Sikh, Sikh Conduct & Conventions, Sikh Religion Living, India |publisher=sgpc.net |access-date=August 29, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820234942/http://www.sgpc.net/sikhism/sikh-dharma-manual.html}}</ref> from eating [[Kutha meat]], or meat which has been obtained from animals which have been killed in a ritualistic way. This is understood to have been for the political reason of maintaining independence from the then-new Muslim hegemony, as Muslims largely adhere to the ritualistic [[halal]] diet.{{r|SHP|fool}}

"Amritdharis" that belong to some Sikh sects (e.g. [[Akhand Kirtani Jatha]], [[Damdami Taksal]], [[Namdhari]]<ref>Jane Srivastava, "[http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=1541 Vegetarianism and Meat-Eating in 8 Religions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614225808/http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=1541 |date=June 14, 2011 }}", ''[[Hinduism Today]]'', Spring 2007. Retrieved January 9, 2010.</ref> and Rarionwalay,<ref>Gyani Sher Singh, ''Philosophy of Sikhism'', Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar: "As a true Vaisnavite, Kabir remained a strict vegetarian. Kabir, far from defying Brahmanical tradition as to the eating of meat, would not permit so much as the plucking of a flower (G.G.S. p. 479), whereas Nanak deemed all such scruples to be superstitions."</ref> etc.) are vehemently against the consumption of meat and eggs (though they do consume and encourage the consumption of milk, butter and cheese).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sikhwomen.com/Community/Volunteer/langar.htm |title=Volunteer. Guru Ka Langar. Mata Khivi Made Langar a Reality |publisher=Sikhwomen.com |date=March 6, 2005 |access-date=March 31, 2015 |archive-date=May 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502042059/http://www.sikhwomen.com/Community/Volunteer/langar.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> This vegetarian stance has been traced back to the times of the [[British Raj]], with the advent of many new [[Vaishnava]] converts.<ref name="fool"/> In response to the varying views on diet throughout the Sikh population, [[Sikh Gurus]] have sought to clarify the Sikh view on diet, stressing their preference only for simplicity of diet. [[Guru Nanak]] said that over-consumption of food ([[Lobh]], Greed) involves a drain on the Earth's resources and thus on life.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sikhs.org/meat_gn.htm |title=Sikhism Home Page |publisher=Sikhs.org |access-date=August 9, 2009 |archive-date=June 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627192504/http://www.sikhs.org/meat_gn.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Prithi Pal |title=The History of Sikh Gurus|publisher=Lotus Press|location=New Delhi|year=2006|page=38|chapter=3 Guru Amar Das|isbn=978-81-8382-075-2|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EhGkVkhUuqoC}}</ref> Passages from the ''[[Guru Granth Sahib]]'' (the holy book of Sikhs, also known as the ''Adi Granth'') say that it is "foolish" to argue for the superiority of animal life, because though all life is related, only human life carries more importance: "Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. Who can define what is meat and what is not meat? Who knows where the sin lies, being a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian?"<ref name="fool"/> The Sikh [[Langar (Sikhism)|langar]], or free temple meal, is largely lacto-vegetarian, though this is understood to be a result of efforts to present a meal that is respectful of the diets of any person who would wish to dine, rather than out of dogma.{{r|hsp|fool}}