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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00047 May 2001

 
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Dear Bhagavatas:
It is amazing that the posting on "Beef in McDonald's French fries" 
had generated an animated discussion through numerous responses 
leading to the dietary regimen one should follow. 

I have written exhaustively on the subject in my book "Hinduism 
Rediscovered" Vide "Ch. 15: The 'Trigunas' and the Dietary regimen" 
Excerpts have been archived at "Srivaishnava.org/sgati". I am sure 
you will find answers to most of your questions on the subject. I 
would request you kindly to go through these and if you need any 
further clarifications, please feel free to correspond with me 
personally at "Sri_Ranga_Sri@xxxx"

Please go to www.Srivaishnava.org/sgati
Click on SDDS Volume 2 Table of Contents (TOC)
Go to the following issues on "Chapter 15 "Triguna and Ahara 
Niyamam"
Issue 11 Sec. 1.Trigunas 
Issue 12 Sec 2.How to find what Gunas govern a person -Lord Krishna 
diagnoses
Issue 13 "Aahaaraniyamam - Lord Krishna prescribes"
Issue 14 "What our Sastras permit/prohibit in the matter of food ? 
The "Conclusion" is reproduced here for your information:

"SECTION 5: CONCLUSION 
As already mentioned these prohibitions and restrictions are only for 
your guidance. If you desire to cultivate the Satvika Guna and 
regulate / eliminate Rajasic and Thamasic Gunas, you may choose to 
follow the instructions and if you do not follow ONLY YOU are the 
loser to that extent. 

The doctor can only help in diagnosing the disease and prescribing 
appropriate medicines. If the patient desires an expeditious and 
effective cure, the patient will have to scrupulously follow the 
instructions.

THE PATIENT IS FREE EITHER TO FOLLOW OR FLOUT THE INSTRUCTIONS, WITH 
ATTENDANT CONSEQUENCES. AND, NOW IT IS IN YOUR HANDS TO CHOOSE 
EITHER COURSE ON THE ROAD TO YOUR SPRITUAL REGENERATION OR 
DEGENERATION"
=================ON THE QUESTION OF AHIMSA:
Your attention is also invited to Chapter 13 ibid "Samanya Dharma and 
Sanatana Dharma" (Eternal Ordinary duties) where in Section 
2.2 "Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah (Non-violence), the subject has been dealt 
with at length. You will find excerpts at the same SDDS Volume 2 
Issue # 9 dated 17th January 1997. 
This, however,is reproduced here for your information.

"2.2. AHIMSA PARAMO DHARMAH 
Non Violence Is the Supreme Virtue' Says Hinduism. 

Seeing God in every living being, Hinduism inculcates veneration for 
every thing - Cows, ants etc. Even rivers are considered to be living 
beings, hence venerated as also trees as vouched in the Sastras and 
expounded scientifically by the great Indian Scientist J.C.BOSE. This 
reverence is expressed in forms of 'Ahimsa' or nonviolence to animals 
as well as humans and as a result most pious Hindus are vegetarian. 

The word 'Ahimsa' is derived from the root "Han" to kill. Or 'To 
damage'. By adding the negative prefix it means "not to kill"
There are 4 aspects of this negative connotation. 
1. Vegetarianism
2. Harmlessnes
3. Pacifism and
4. Passive resistance

On the positive aspect it means compassion (i.e.) Actual assistance 
to all living creatures who are in need. Karuna (Intelligent charity) 
Maitri (Active good deed) and Daya (Tender sympathy) are its other 
positive manifestations. 

A doubt can arise whether the principle of 'Ahimsa' so loudly 
proclaimed is not inconsistent with the sacrifice of goats, horses 
etc. referred to in the Vedas. No doubt, the Vedas did prescribe some 
animal sacrifices; it even spoke of 'Purushamedha' a human 
sacrifice. But, the concept should be viewed in the context in which 
they were so prescribed. The Upanishads which came subsequently to 
analyze and explain the Vedic texts lost no time in clarifying that 
these sacrifices were more symbolic and allegorical than referring to 
the actual sacrifice of the animals or human and that the effects of 
these sacrifices could be secured by substitute materials like Gritha 
(Ghee), Masha (Black gram) and certain other leafy vegetables. Even 
today, it may be observed that in the shradda ceremonies, Ghee, Rice, 
Black gram and Thila (sesame seeds) are used, may be as substitutes 
for the sacrifice of living beings. This view has been upheld in 
subsequent recensions and sacrifice of living beings is prohibited by 
Dharma as also by law. 

A further question can be asked whether vegetarianism is not 
also "himsa" in the sense that it has been proved that plants have 
life? It has further been proved that in the case of plants, lifeline 
runs in the trunks in some cases, roots in others and seeds in others 
and that is why Sastras have prohibited cutting the plants at their 
respective lifelines - and this has been confirmed by modern science. 

Modern Science concurs with Sastras in the view that those parts 
where the lifelines do not run, no harm is caused when those parts 
are cut. These parts correspond to say hairs on our head or the nails 
on our fingers or toes which when cut or clipped do not entail any 
pain. 

The cow is an expression of brotherhood between man and beast, of 
man's 'identity with all that lives'. The cow is referred to 
as "Gomatha" and is treated with the same respect as one would treat 
one's own mother. Modern scholars are convinced that "Milk and dung 
from cows contribute far more to Indian society than what butchering 
the scrawny beasts would accomplish"

Mahabharata states clearly that killing of a cow was the worst of all 
crimes. "All that kill, eat and permit the killing of cows rot in 
hell for as many years as there are hairs on the body of the cow so 
slain" 

The 'Panchagavya' or the five products from the cow Viz., milk, curd, 
ghee, dung and urine are deemed the most sacred amalgam that can 
purify any defilement. 

In fact, 'Ahimsa' is called the first of flowers:'Ahimsa Prathamam 
Pushpam' - Hinduism holds everything is but a spark of the same 
divinity and therefore no harm should be done to anything that is 
living. 

Lord Krishna declares 
"The wise see alike in regard to one well endowed with learning and 
humility, a Brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog - eater 
(because they know that though different outwardly in form, they have 
similar souls" 

Like Truth, 'Ahimsa' cannot be an 'absolute' one. Supposing somebody 
tries to rape a woman. Hinduism does not say that she should not 
offer any resistance. Even Mahatma Gandhi; the greatest protagonist 
of Nonviolence advised the woman to use all in her power and command 
not only to resist but go to the extent of killing the criminal, if 
she finds it necessary. He goes on to say that such an act on her 
part will not constitute violence, since it is done in pure self 
defense of her honor"
===================================================================================================================================I
 conclude with the request that any futher discussion on the subject 
may please be through private mail. Mails may be addressed 
to "Sri_ranga_Sri@xxxx" and NOT to the "Yahoogroups" address. Thanks.
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy










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