Hare krishna dear devotees.
I would like to understand the borderline between violence and non-violence, Some people say killing animals is not acceptable, some people say even insects shouldn't be harmed. I have seen the atrocities that are commited even when growing vegetables. RIght from ploughing the field destroying trillion of life forms to slaughtering the insects feeding on plants just to feed ourselves, there is a ton of violence involved in it. Krishna says patram, pushpam, phalam. But even producing them takes a toll on lot of life forms. Some people argue what's wrong eating insects when it's not an issue killing them for cultivating veggies. Jains say doen't even harm microbes. Kindly provide reference of any text that could help me in this dilemma.
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As an ideal, ahimsa means causing no harm to any living being by thoughts, words or deeds. That is a description of affairs and relationships in the spiritual world and it is practically impossible to follow such a high standard in the material world. Even the vedic tradition admits that jivo jivasya jivanam - one creature is food for another (Bhagavata purana 1.13.47). But if that ideal was perfectly implemented and strictly followed in one's consciousness, although one may fail in following it practically, there is a boon promised, that after 12 years of following ahimsa no harm can happen to anyone in the presence of the one who successfully followed the vow of ahimsa, like described in Isaiah 11:6 : The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. This divine peace is reported as observed during the life of some saints.
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Hare Krsna
What is Ahimsa ?
. Real ahiṁsā means not checking anyone’s progressive life. The animals are also making progress in their evolutionary life by transmigrating from one category of animal life to another. If a particular animal is killed, then his progress is checked. If an animal is staying in a particular body for so many days or so many years and is untimely killed, then he has to come back again in that form of life to complete the remaining days in order to be promoted to another species of life. So their progress should not be checked simply to satisfy one’s palate. This is called ahiṁsā. ( Purport BG 16.1-3)
The above is the general understanding given by Srila Prabhupada in Purport to a shloka recited by Lord Sri Krsna in Bhagavada Gita where Lord Sri Krsna mentions Ahimsa as a divine quality.
What is borderline between violence and non-violence ?
īśāvāsyam idaḿ sarvaṁ
yat kiñca jagatyāṁ jagat
tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā
mā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanam
Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong. ( Isopanishad Shloka 1)
The Vedic literature is meant for humanity and not for cats and dogs. Cats and dogs can kill other animals for food without incurring sin, but if a man kills an animal for the satisfaction of his uncontrolled taste buds, he is responsible for breaking the laws of nature. Consequently he must be punished. The tiger does not eat rice and wheat or drink cow’s milk, because he has been given food in the shape of animal flesh.
It is wrong, however, to think that simply by becoming a vegetarian one can avoid transgressing the laws of nature. Vegetables also have life, and while it is nature’s law that one living being is meant to feed on another, for human beings the point is to recognize the Supreme Lord. Thus one should not be proud of being a strict vegetarian.
A human being is therefore required to recognize the authority of the Supreme Lord and become His devotee. He must offer everything for the Lord’s service and partake only of the remnants of food offered to the Lord. This will enable him to discharge his duty properly. In the Bhagavad-gītā (9.26) the Lord directly states that He accepts vegetarian food from the hands of a pure devotee. Therefore a human being should not only become a strict vegetarian but should also become a devotee of the Lord, offer the Lord all his food and then partake of such prasādam, or the mercy of God.
To summarise the above, every organism has been ordained a specific food by Lord Sri Krsna, the supreme origin of all creation.. For animals it is built into their consciousness and they do not violate it. For human beings, who are more inteliigent, it is recommended in scriptures. As per scriptures (BG) food for humans are - Plant based and milk based. Any deviation from this will result in sin.
Further Srila Prabhupada mentions that even vegetarian food preparation when not offered to Sri Krsna results in sin. Lord Sri Krsna confirms this in BG 3.13. When vegetarian food prepared hygenically is offered first to Sri Krsna, then the plants who were physically harmed (during ploughing, harvesting etc) will progress spiritually in their cycle of karma. Hence it is not himsa as per the undestanding given above.
RIght from ploughing the field destroying trillion of life forms to slaughtering the insects feeding on plants just to feed ourselves, there is a ton of violence involved in it.
Yes, such activity involves violence and results in sin. But killing animals is more sinful than killing plants/microbes.
Krishna says patram, pushpam, phalam. But even producing them takes a toll on lot of life forms.
The way the world is designed, one life becomes food for another life. In modern education system, this is called food cycle.
But as humans we have a responsibility towards the life we take to feed ourselves. Scriptures clearly say that agriculture involves violence. But the scriptures also give solution for this - Sacrifice. or Yagya.
annād bhavanti bhūtāni
parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ
yajñād bhavati parjanyo
yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ
All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajña [sacrifice], and yajña is born of prescribed duties. ( BG 3.14)
evaṁ pravartitaṁ cakraṁ
nānuvartayatīha yaḥ
aghāyur indriyārāmo
moghaṁ pārtha sa jīvati
My dear Arjuna, one who does not follow in human life the cycle of sacrifice thus established by the Vedas certainly leads a life full of sin. Living only for the satisfaction of the senses, such a person lives in vain.( BG 3.16)
Specifically Lord Sri Krsna Himself performed sacrifices to nullify such sins which occur knowlingly or unknowingly in our daily activities.
In another palace he found Kṛṣṇa performing the pañca-yajña sacrifice, which is compulsory for a householder. This yajña is also known as pañca-sūnā. Knowingly or unknowingly, everyone, especially the householder, commits five kinds of sinful activities. When we receive water from a water pitcher, we kill many germs that are in it. Similarly, when we use a grinding machine or eat food, we kill many germs. When sweeping a floor or igniting a fire we kill many germs, and when we walk on the street we kill many ants and other insects. Consciously or unconsciously, in all our different activities, we are killing. Therefore, it is incumbent upon every householder to perform the pañca-sūnā sacrifice to rid himself of the reactions to such sinful activities. ( SB 10.69.24)
Some people argue what's wrong eating insects when it's not an issue killing them for cultivating veggies. Jains say doen't even harm microbes.
Lord Sri Krsna is missing in the above arguments. Please read the full purport of this( Isopanishad Shloka 1)
Lord Sri Krsna is at the center of every instruction & prohibhition in the vedas, puranas etc. Any argument without addressing Lord Sri Krsna is at best incomplete and at worst inaccurate.
Hare Krsna