Taste of Transcendence: Feeding the Guru at Punjab's Golden Temple

Thousands of pilgrims outside the Golden Temple in Punjab, India (photo taken from andysworldjourneys.com)

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about overpopulation and food shortages. What comes up time and time again is the so-called “futility” of trying to feed the 7 Billion+ people that make up our global society. I’ve heard people say that it can’t be done and it’s useless to try, that it’s those people’s faults for producing more mouths to feed. People say that’s life. 

Mostly I hear it spoken of casually, abstractly, as though starvation were something to be accepted and tolerated, like say, losing the game or catching a cold. Sure it sucks, but again, that’s life, says the person with the fully stocked pantry.

Actually that’s not life. That’s death, the absence of life. And while death may be part of life, starvation most certainly shouldn’t be. But is it actually possible to feed every mouth on our planet?

I couldn’t say, but I do know that as long as there are human beings throwing food in the trash, suffering from obesity, and taking far more than needed for a comfortable existence, the “that’s life” excuse just doesn’t cut it.

Perhaps it’s time that as a society, we stop making excuses, stop arguing, and simply try to be better. 

A young sewadar helps with the clean up at the "Golden Langar" (photo taken from thebetterindia.com)

Some of us are already doing this, stepping up and taking action to make a difference wherever we can. But why not everyone? What’s stopping us? Is it that we don’t believe it’s possible, or that we are too lazy? Or is it simply that we just don’t know where to begin? 

For most of us, myself included, it’s the latter; when I begin to contemplate the world’s problems, I start to feel, well, depressed. Forget trying to make a difference, that’s just downright overwhelming. My mind sees all of the negative and never the positive. But what would happen, I wonder, if I could see change? Real, positive transformation actually happening? Could I change too?

One of four entrances at Golden Temple (Photo taken from wikipedia)

Located in the northwest region of India, in Punjab, there is a Golden Temple or Sri Harmandir Sahib (literally The abode of God). It is regarded as “the holiest Gurdwara of Sikhism” and within it, the spirit of transformation lies. The golden, jewel studded exterior is almost as breathtaking as what occurs on its interior where each and every day between 40 and 100 thousand people gather to share a meal known as Langar (common kitchen).

A volunteer serving daal to hungry pilgrims (photo taken from thebetterindia.com)

Langar is offered to all who enter, regardless of sex, race, religion, or any other distinction. It is free and as of recently, 100% organic. The vegetarian banquet is made up of nutritious grains, fruits, vegetables and pulses, as well as kindness, hard work, and self-sacrifice; all essential ingredients for the alchemy of Langar.

Photo taken from sikhiwiki.org

If it sounds impossible, it isn’t. Rather it’s the result of an organized community working towards the collective good. Think of a pack of lions (which the Sikhs often compare themselves to, hence the common last name Singh, meaning lion), while a single cat could never hope to catch a wildebeest, a group working together can take down the mammoth and feed the whole pride.

Just like a pride, the Sikh community has been able to work co-operatively in order to provide food for upwards of 100,000 hungry people per day, and that’s just one Gurdwara; all over the world, other, smaller temples follow this example. Unlike smaller temples, however, the “golden langar” remains open all day everyday to feed the massive influx of pilgrims. This is achieved only through dedicated “volunteers doing selfless service”. 

Sewadar stirring a huge vat of daal (photo taken from thebetterindia.com)

They are known as sewadars, and together, they complete all the preparation, cooking, and clean up, everyday, without fail.

And what of the costs of running such a massive operation?

Well, all costs are afforded through charitable contributions, donated by people who share the belief that “to feed a hungry mouth is to feed the Guru” (sikhiwiki.org). In an effort to ensure that the langar stays open, thousands of people from all different religious backgrounds donate their time, money, and food, for the betterment of humankind, for equality. 

As one Muslim volunteer put it, “It is not a question of religion. It is a question of faith.” “Here,” he said, “I feel a feeling of peace” (Polgreen).

Sikhism, I believe, is one of the world’s least understood religions. Perhaps because it’s relatively new, having been “founded in the early 16th century by Guru Nanak (1469–1539)” (Mann). But despite its youth, the religion has been able to accomplish something very few, if any other religions ever have, which is to break through the shackles of a controlling caste system and create a space of peace and equality. 

raw ingredients used in preparation of Langar (photo taken from thebetterindia.com)

Through a consistent and concentrated effort at inclusiveness, the spirit of Langar has drifted beyond the kitchen, beyond the golden temple walls, and into the hearts of all who experience it. Those who come are not only being fed food, but are offered an invitation of kindness, a chance to change oneself, and in effect, change the world.

Photo taken from sanjayausta.com

Langar has proven that working together in the spirit of oneness is far more important and effective than division: “In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of Langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community, inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind" (Wikipedia). 

When asked to describe his beliefs, one Sikh volunteer said: “There are only three things in our religion. Chant the name of God, sing religious hymns, and volunteer. I work as long as my legs allow me to stand” (Key).

Photo taken from valerioberdini.photoshelter.com

So maybe this whole change thing isn’t as overwhelming as I thought. Maybe it’s not about trying to feed all 7 billion people in the world. Maybe it’s just about cooking with kindness and letting the chapatis fall where they may, like say, in the hands of 100,000+ pilgrims hungry for change.



Sources:


Key, Sheila. (2015). World’s Largest Free Kitchen Feeds 100,000 a Day Inside a Golden Temple. http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/worlds-largest-free-kitchen-feeds-100000-a-day-in-golden-temple/

Mann, G. (2012). Sikhism. 1174-1178.

Polgreen, Lydia. (2010). A Sikh Temple Where All May Eat, and Pitch In. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/30/world/asia/30india.html

Schwartz, Emma. "Both A Vision And An Inspiration. (Cover Story)." U.S. News & World Report 143.19 (2007): 57. Military & Government Collection. Web. 13 May 2016.

Singh, Karanvir. (2016). World’s Largest Community Kitchen at Golden Temple Will Now Serve Organic Langar. http://sites.ndtv.com/cultivatinghope/project/worlds-largest-free-eatery-goes-organic/

Wikipedia contributors. "Harmandir Sahib." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 12 May. 2016. Web. 13 May. 2016.

Langar. (2015, October 7). SikhiWiki, . Retrieved 16:09, May 13, 2016 from http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Langar&oldid=111726.

Sewadar. (2007, August 11). SikhiWiki, . Retrieved 16:09, May 13, 2016 from http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Sewadar&oldid=38573.