All creatures need food to live. We all work to make a living to which food for self and family is fundamental. A few days ago a friend quoted from the Christian prayer “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread“ and asked if the Sikhs also pray for food or do we depend only on God to cater for our needs.

This is an interesting question; Gurbani says:

ਕਾਹੇ ਰੇ ਮਨ ਚਿਤਵਹਿ ਉਦਮੁ ਜਾ ਆਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਪਰਿਆ ॥ ਸੈਲ ਪਥਰ ਮਹਿ ਜੰਤ ਉਪਾਏ ਤਾ ਕਾ ਰਿਜਕੁ ਆਗੈ ਕਰਿ ਧਰਿਆ ॥੧॥ ੫ ੧੦

Why do you worry about what to do, when the Creator arranges for every situation;

He provides food even for creatures under the rocks (M: 5, SGGS, p 10).

Again:

ਨਾਨਕ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਮਤਿ ਕਰਹੁ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਤਿਸ ਹੀ ਹੇਇ ॥ ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਜੰਤ ਉਪਾਇਅਨੁ ਤਿਨਾ ਭਿ ਰੋਜੀ ਦੇਇ ॥

ਓਥੈ ਹਟੁ ਨ ਚਲਈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਕਿਰਸ ਕਰੇਇ ॥ ਸਉਦਾ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਲਏ ਨ ਦੇਇ ॥

ਜੀਆ ਕਾ ਆਹਾਰੁ ਜੀਅ ਖਾਣਾ ਏਹੁ ਕਰੇਇ ॥ ਵਿਚਿ ਉਪਾਏ ਸਾਇਰਾ ਤਿਨਾ ਭਿ ਸਾਰ ਕਰੇਇ ॥ ੨ ੯੫੫

Worry not, leave everything to God; He creates life in water and provides food there;

There are no shops there, no cultivation of land or dealings in merchandise;

Creatures live on other creatures for food; the creatures in the sea are also looked after (M: 2, SGGS, p 955).

This should not be taken to mean that we can get what we need just for asking and not work. This cannot be the intention of the Creator who works Himself to look after the creation:

ਆਸਣੁ ਲੋਇ ਲੋਇ ਭੰਡਾਰ ॥ ਜੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਸੁ ਏਕਾ ਵਾਰ ॥

ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਵੇਖੈ ਸਿਰਜਣਹਾਰੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੇ ਕੀ ਸਾਚੀ ਕਾਰ ॥ ੧ ੭

The Creator is present every where and so are the provisions;

They were provided once for all;

Having created, He looks after the creation; that is His virtue (M: 1, SGGS, p 7).

God made provision for the resources before creating life. One who realizes this prays:

ਪਹਿਲੋ ਦੇ ਤੈਂ ਰਿਜਕੁ ਸਮਾਹਾ ॥ ਪਿਛੋ ਦੇ ਤੈ​‍ਂ ਜੰਤੁ ਉਪਾਹਾ ॥ ਤੁਧੁ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਦਾਤਾ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਲਵੈ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਲਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੬॥ ੫ ੧੩੦

You first provided the wherewithal and then created the living beings;

No one comes even near You as a benefactor (M: 5, SGGS, p 130).

Whereas the Creator has arranged for the provisions, effort is still required to get them.

God has created fruit and flower plants in jungle but we must go there to benefit from them. There is fire inherent in wood and butter in milk; but they can be obtained only by effort. Similarly nature has provision for production of food items but they have to be produced and we have to buy them. This requires money which must be earned. Similarly God is present within us and must be realized. The above examples are also used as metaphors to motivate us to do that:

ਕਾਸਟ ਮਹਿ ਜਿਉ ਹੈ ਬੈਸੰਤਰੁ ਮਥਿ ਸੰਜਮਿ ਕਾਢਿ ਕਢੀਜੈ ॥ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਬਾਈ ਤਤੁ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਕਾਢਿ ਲਈਜੈ ॥੧॥ ੫ ੧੩੨3

There is fire in wood but effort is needed to use it;

God’s light is present in all; one realizes it with Guru’s teachings (M: 5, SGGS, p 1323).

So whether in the spiritual or the mundane fields effort is necessary. Gurbani therefore takes them together:

ਉਦਮੁ ਕਰੇਦਿਆ ਜੀਉ ਤੂੰ ਕਮਾਵਦਿਆ ਸੁਖ ਭੁੰਚੁ ॥ ਧਿਆਇਦਿਆ ਤੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਮਿਲੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਉਤਰੀ ਚਿੰਤ ॥੧॥ ੫ ੫੨੨

Make efforts to make a living; earn to be comfortable;

Meet the Lord through meditation and be worry-free (M: 5, SGGS, p 522).

In the hymn below the items for the body and the soul are covered together. For example while the body needs food items, the soul needs spiritual pursuits and clean conduct. Guru Nanak asks for:

ਜਤੁ ਸਤੁ ਚਾਵਲ ਦਇਆ ਕਣਕ ਕਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤਿ ਪਾਤੀ ਧਾਨੁ ॥

ਦੂਧੁ ਕਰਮੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਘੀਉ ਕਰਿ ਐਸਾ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਦਾਨੁ ॥੩॥

ਖਿਮਾ ਧੀਰਜੁ ਕਰਿ ਗਊ ਲਵੇਰੀ ਸਹਜੇ ਬਛਰਾ ਖੀਰੁ ਪੀਐ ॥

ਸਿਫਤਿ ਸਰਮ ਕਾ ਕਪੜਾ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਨਾਨਕ ਰਵਤੁ ਰਹੈ ॥੪॥੭॥ ੧ ੧੩੨੯

Self discipline, truthfulness along with rice, compassion with wheat, longing with wealth;

Effort with milk, contentment with Ghee (butter oil), I ask as benedictions;

Forgiveness and patience with a milk cow, equipoise with consuming that milk;

I ask for God’s praises and meditation along with clothes to wear (M: 1, SGGS, p 1330).

We like variety of food that is a combination of sweet and saltish; but it should be good for the body. There are similar requirements for the soul:

ਸਭਿ ਰਸ ਮਿਠੇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਾਲੋਣੇ ॥

ਖਟ ਤੁਰਸੀ ਮੁਖਿ ਬੋਲਣਾ ਮਾਰਣ ਨਾਦ ਕੀਏ ॥

ਛਤੀਹ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਭਾਉ ਏਕੁ ਜਾ ਕਉ ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰੇਇ ॥੧॥

ਬਾਬਾ ਹੋਰੁ ਖਾਣਾ ਖੁਸੀ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥

ਜਿਤੁ ਖਾਧੈ ਤਨੁ ਪੀੜੀਐ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਚਲਹਿ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ੧ ੧੬

Enjoying sweets is equivalent to relishing belief, salts to listening, sour-sweet to praising the Lord, devotional music to food-softening spices;

All types of food should remind us of the One Lord; this is realized through Divine grace;

Eating other foods, which harm the body and create evil thoughts in the mind, leads to frustration (M: 1, SGGS, p 16).

One who keeps eating food not caring if it is good causes harm to the body:

ਬਹੁ ਸਾਦਹੁ ਦੂਖੁ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ॥ ਭੋਗਹੁ ਰੋਗ ਸੁ ਅੰਤਿ ਵਿਗੋਵੈ ॥

ਹਰਖਹੁ ਸੋਗੁ ਨ ਮਿਟਈ ਕਬਹੂ ਵਿਣੁ ਭਾਣੇ ਭਰਮਾਇਦਾ ॥੭॥ ੧ ੧੦੩੪

Going only by taste causes problems; further

Indulgence causes chronic illnesses and one suffers; also remember

Obsession with pleasures does not remove suffering;

By disobeying the laws of nature one strays off the spiritual path (M: 1, SGGS, p 1034).

Humans are expected to be discriminating and not consume every thing they see, like the animals do. This succumbing to temptations is described as stealing goodness from the self and theus being treated as a thief:

ਅਨਿਕ ਰਸਾ ਖਾਏ ਜੈਸੇ ਢੋਰ ॥ ਮੋਹ ਕੀ ਜੇਵਰੀ ਬਾਧਿਓ ਚੋਰ ॥੧॥ ੫ ੧੯੦

One who is attached to food and eats anything like the animals;

Is incarcerated and treated as a thief before God (M; 5, SGGS, p 190).

Indulgence in food leads to afflictions like obesity, hypertension and diabetes. One has then to give up what once loved:

ਫਿਟੁ ਇਵੇਹਾ ਜੀਵਿਆ ਜਿਤੁ ਖਾਇ ਵਧਾਇਆ ਪੇਟੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੇ ਨਾਮ ਵਿਣੁ ਸਭੋ ਦੁਸਮਨੁ ਹੇਤੁ ॥੨॥ ੧ ੭੯੦

It is a curse to keep eating resulting in excessive weight;

(this happens by) forgetting the Master.

And the very things one loved become enemies (M: 1, SGGS, p 790).

It is well said that one should eat to live, not live to eat. Those who consume rich food contract health problems and such foods have then to be given up. We should eat in a way that we continue to eat normally for ever. Sheikh Farid says that if one eats only when hungry, all food tastes good:

ਫਰੀਦਾ ਰੋਟੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਕਾਠ ਕੀ ਲਾਵਣੁ ਮੇਰੀ ਭੁਖ ॥ ਜਿਨਾ ਖਾਧੀ ਚੋਪੜੀ ਘਣੇ ਸਹਨਿਗੇ ਦੁਖ ॥੨੮॥ ਰੁਖੀ ਸੁਖੀ ਖਾਇ ਕੈ ਠੰਢਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਪੀਉ ॥ ਫਰੀਦਾ ਦੇਖਿ ਪਰਾਈ ਚੋਪੜੀ ਨਾ ਤਰਸਾਏ ਜੀਉ ॥੨੯॥ ਫ ੧੩੭੯

I eat simple food; it tastes good when I am hungry;

Those who eat greasy food will suffer a lot; 28:

Eat simple food and drink water that cools;

Do not look at others’ rich food and be tempted: 29: (Farid, SGGS, p 1379).

Remembering God is satisfying; we then eat what is necessary and not out of greed. This is achieved in the company of devotees of God. A grateful person prays:

ਤੂ ਦਾਤਾ ਦਾਤਾਰੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਦਿਤਾ ਖਾਵਣਾ ॥ ਭਗਤ ਜਨਾ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਪਾਪ ਗਵਾਵਣਾ ॥ ੪ ੬੫੨

You are the beneficent Master; we consume what You give O Lord;

Remaining in the company of Your devotees we avoid transgressions (M: 4, SGGS, p 652).

Bhagat Kabir says we cannot do without food but also says what is enough:

ਭੂਖੇ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ॥ ਯਹ ਮਾਲਾ ਅਪਨੀ ਲੀਜੈ ॥

ਹਉ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਸੰਤਨ ਰੇਨਾ ॥ ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਿਸੀ ਕਾ ਦੇਨਾ ॥੧॥

ਮਾਧੋ ਕੈਸੀ ਬਨੈ ਤੁਮ ਸੰਗੇ ॥ ਆਪਿ ਨ ਦੇਹੁ ਤ ਲੇਵਉ ਮੰਗੇ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਦੁਇ ਸੇਰ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਚੂਨਾ ॥ ਪਾਉ ਘੀਉ ਸੰਗਿ ਲੂਨਾ ॥

ਅਧ ਸੇਰੁ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਦਾਲੇ ॥ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਦੋਨਉ ਵਖਤ ਜਿਵਾਲੇ ॥੨॥

ਖਾਟ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਚਉਪਾਈ ॥ ਸਿਰਹਾਨਾ ਅਵਰ ਤੁਲਾਈ ॥

ਊਪਰ ਕਉ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਖੀਂਧਾ ॥ ਤੇਰੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰੈ ਜਨੁ ਥਂ​‍ੀਧਾ ॥੩॥

ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਲਬੋ ॥ ਇਕੁ ਨਾਉ ਤੇਰਾ ਮੈ ਫਬੋ ॥ ਕ ੬੫੬

I ask for food because I cannot meditate when hungry;

I also ask to serve the Guru so I look to no one else;

I need a relationship with You O Lord;

such that if You do not give, I can ask You: Pause:

I ask for two pounds of flour, a half pound of butter oil, salt, and

a pound of lentils for my two meals of the day;

I ask for a four legged cot, pillow, and mattress;

I need a quilt to cover myself; so that thus satisfied I can pray;

I am not asking theses to covet; but to acknowledge that You gave them (Kabir, SGS, p 656).

As may be seen a man of God lives on minimum requirements and does not unnecessarily hoard. God has provided for our needs but we have to make efforts to get them. He knows what is required where and has arranged for it, but very few people realize this:

ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਆਪੇ ਦੇਇ ॥ ਆਖਹਿ ਸਿ ਭਿ ਕੇਈ ਕੇਇ ॥ ੧ ੫

He knows what is required where and has catered for it;

But rare are those who acknowledge this (M: 1, SGGS, 5).

People at times complain that God has forgotten them. No He does not forget any one and gives without asking what is deserved:

ਤੂੰ ਕਰਤਾ ਸਚਿਆਰੁ ਮੈਡਾ ਸਾਂਈ ॥

ਜੋ ਤਉ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋਈ ਥੀਸੀ ਜੋ ਤੂੰ ਦੇਹਿ ਸੋਈ ਹਉ ਪਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ੪ ੧੦

You are just my Creator and Master;

What pleases You happens; I get what (I deserve) and You give (M: 4, SGGS, p 10).

ਆਪਿ ਕਰੇ ਕਿਸੁ ਆਖੀਐ ਹੋਰੁ ਕਰੇ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਆਖਣ ਤਾ ਕਉ ਜਾਈਐ ਜੇ ਭੂਲੜਾ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਜੇ ਹੋਇ ਭੂਲਾ ਜਾਇ ਕਹੀਐ ਆਪਿ ਕਰਤਾ ਕਿਉ ਭੁਲੈ ॥ ਸੁਣੇ ਦੇਖੇ ਬਾਝੁ ਕਹਿਐ ਦਾਨੁ ਅਣਮੰਗਿਆ ਦਿਵੈ ॥ ਦਾਨੁ ਦੇਇ ਦਾਤਾ ਜਗਿ ਬਿਧਾਤਾ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਚੁ ਸੋਈ ॥ ਆਪਿ ਕਰੇ ਕਿਸੁ ਆਖੀਐ ਹੋਰੁ ਕਰੇ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥੪॥੧॥੪॥ ੧ ੭੬੬

God does things on His own so who else do we ask?

Reminder is necessary if someone is forgetful;

Bu this does not apply to the Creator;

He hears and watches all and gives without asking;

He is eternal and ever keeps giving;

No it is not necessary to remind Him (M:1, SGGS, p 766).

To sum up, Gurbani exhorts us to be diligent in both the spiritual and mundane fields and live in faith.