Hare Krsna.
What is the proper position to take on animal testing and research? I would like to say that I don't agree with it, I certainly don't like it. Without pharmacological science and medications, most of us would be dead, if just without immunizations, antibiotics and antivirals alone.
It's an ugly picture. Animal research is terrible, horrible thing, but I believe it to be a necessary evil.
What should the moral-ethical position of a devotee be on this subject and do we acquire karma from taking pharmaceutical medications?
Replies
Hare Krishna mataji, humble obeisances AGTSP!
A very nice and clear answer is given by HH Radhanath Swami to your question.
Question to Radhanath Swami: I’m a medical student and have to use animals for experiments. Since animal killing is not allowed in the Vedas, is the performance of my duty a sin? And if it is a sin, how does one get away from that sin?
Radhanath Swami: We should try to avoid these activities as far as possible. Sinful karma can be graded according to our motivations. If we are honestly trying to do something for the betterment of human society, by some sort of experimentation, though the sin is still there, it is definitely less than killing an innocent animal to satisfy the taste buds. We should avoid causing such violence to other living beings as far as possible. But sometimes it may be unavoidable. In any case, let us be honest whether it is actually unavoidable.
And, even if it is actually unavoidable, we should purify our hearts by acting in devotional service and cleanse our heart of these unavoidable sins by chanting God’s names, ‘‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Krishna is in the heart and he knows our motives and circumstances. If he sees our sincerity, he will certainly relieve us and forgive us of those unbecoming activities.
Hope this helps.
Your servant
Hare Krishna Madhumangala Prabhuji, please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
You are correct, it is not good. And we will get bad reaction for doing that.
For example, these days almost everything is tested on animals or uses animal ingredients :(
Soaps, soda, tooth pastes, shampoos, clothes, ...cosmetics, drugs...
But in Europe it is decreasing. There people started to accept veganism and non violence so demand for non violence products are growing. But not in US and India.
But in one lecture of HH Radhanath Swami one medical student gave a question to him. That he works in the lab and he has do many experiments on animals and he did not know if that was correct or not. Maharaja told that as much as we can we have to avoid doing that. But in order to save higher life like human life, in extreme situation we have to use animals. For example, by making a needed drug for cancer or other strong sicknesses.
IN ORDER TO SAVE THE HUMAN LIFE and only in extreme situations.
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Because of that we should distribute books and make people Devotees. If one person becomes a Devotee many lives will be also saved. Because he becomes a vegetarian first, and won't kill cows, and other animals.
Books of Srila Prabhupada will solve the problem from the root.
Your servant,
Animal testing for cosmetic use is defantly most sinful, that's torture for no other reason then self-gratification. When I shop I make a point to chose products that are animal friendly and have NOT been tested on animals. But with medications, what can you do? Even my own guru maharaj was taking meds when he was having cancer treatments. I take medicine everyday too that I know was first tested in animal trials, like most medications. I like what you said Radhanath Swami's position was, "in order to save human life and only in extreme situations".