Hare Krishna Prabhus, Srimad-Bhagavatam has a wonderful statement on the subject of ³ahimsa². Nishevitenaanimittena swadharmena mahiyasaa Kriyaayogena shastena naatihimsrena nityashah SB 3.29.15 One has to execute his prescribed duties, which are glorious, without material profit. Without excessive violence, one should regularly perform one¹s devotional activities. The important phrase used here is ³naatihimsrena² means with minimum violence or sacrifice of life. Every one in the material body has to commit violence, but it should not be done beyond what is necessary. Even eating vegetables is also violence. Thus vegetarians are also committing violence against the other living entities because vegetables also have life. It is the law of nature that every living entity has to live by killing another entity. ³Jeevo jeevasya jeevanam: one living entity is the life for another living entity². But for a human being the violence should be committed only as much necessary. A human being is not to eat any thing that is not offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. ³Yajna-shistaashinah santah: one becomes freed from the sinful reactions by eating foodstuffs that are offered to Yajna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead². A devotee therefore eats only prasadam or foodstuffs offered to the Supreme Lord. Sri Krishna says, ³Patram pushpam falam toyam: when a devotee offers him foodstuffs from the vegetable kingdom with devotion, he eats that². Thus we have to commit violence; that is a natural law. But we should not commit violence extravagantly, but only as much as necessary and as ordered by the Lord, that is called Naatihimsaa. On 8/31/05 3:44 PM, "tatachar@xxxxxxx" <tatachar@xxxxxxx> wrote: > Sirs, > >>> So to say,ATTITUDE is more important than ATTITUDE< > > I meant to say > > So to say,ATTITUDE is more important than APTITUDE > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vishwanathan Nagarajan <nvc_vishwanathan@xxxxxxxxx> > To: SriRangaSri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Sent: Sun, 28 Aug 2005 15:01:31 +0100 (BST) > Subject: [SriRangaSri] does plants have life? > > > one of the yamas and niyamas is Ahimsa -non violence ( non-killing of anykind, > direct of indirect). > > so what disturbs me is if plants do have life, are we not doing violence to > them > even being a vegetarian. The reasons and benefits of being a vegetarian is > explained in several scientific ways. But spiritually it is said mainly to > observe non-killing or non-violence. then how about eating vegitables , > especailly teh plant varieties. if we think plants have life, it is equivalent > of observing violence. > > Could some on please, clear me of this Dilemma ! > > I am a non-vegetarian turned Vegetarian and abstain myself of all animal > products except milk. but my above questions puts me down all the time. i > would > appreciate somebody helping me out in this. > > Thanks in advance.. > > Vishwanathan > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://in.messenger.yahoo.com -- Vipin Kumar Chaturvedi, M.S., Ph.D. Professor Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies 3550 General Atomics Court San Diego, CA 92121 858-455-3870 (voice) 858-455-3804 (Fax) vkumar@xxxxxxxxx (email) ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/VkWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: SriRangaSri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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