Why we should not take meat - Dr Jai Maharaj, from history.

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WHY HINDUS DON'T EAT MEATBesides being an expression of compassion for animals,vegetarianism is followed for ecological and healthrationalesREASONSIn the past fifty years, millions of meat-eaters--Hindus and non-Hindus -- have made the personaldecision to stop eating the flesh of other creatures.There are five major motivations for such a decision:1. The Dharmic Law ReasonAhinsa, the law of noninjury, is the Hindu's firstduty in fulfilling religious obligations to God andGod's creation as defined by Vedic scripture.2. The Karmic Consequences ReasonAll of our actions, including our choice of food,have Karmic consequences. By involving oneself in thecycle of inflicting injury, pain and death, evenindirectly by eating other creatures, one must in thefuture experience in equal measure the sufferingcaused.3. The Spiritual ReasonFood is the source of the body's

chemistry, andwhat we ingest affects our consciousnes, emotions andexperiential patterns. If one wants to live in higherconsciousness, in peace and happiness and love for allcreatures, then he cannot eat meat, fish, shellfish,fowl or eggs. By ingesting the grosser chemistries ofanimal foods, one introduces into the body and mindanger, jealousy, anxiety, suspicion and a terriblefear of death, all of which are locked into the theflesh of the butchered creatures. For these reasons,vegetarians live in higher consciousness andmeat-eaters abide in lower consciousness.4. The Health ReasonMedical studies prove that a vegetarian diet iseasier to digest, provides a wider ranger of nutrientsand imposes fewer burdens and impurities on the body.Vegetarians are less susceptible to all the majordiseases that afflict contemporary humanity, and thuslive longer, healthier, more productive lives. Theyhave

fewer physical complaints, less frequent visitsto the doctor, fewer dental problems and smallermedical bills. Their immune system is stronger, theirbodies are purer, more refined and skin morebeautiful.5. The Ecological ReasonPlanet Earth is suffereing. In large measure, theescalating loss of species, destruction of ancientrainforests to create pasture lands for live stock,loss of topsoils and the consequent increase of waterimpurities and air pollution have all been traced tothe single fact of meat in the human diet. Nodecision that we can make as individuals or as a racecan have such a dramatic effect on the improvement ofour planetary ecology as the decision not to eat meat.HISTORYThe book FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT, VEGETARIANISM AND THEWORLD RELIGIONS, observes, "Despite popular knowledgeof meat-eating's adverse effects, the nonvegetariandiet became increasingly widespread among the

Hindusafter the two major invasions by foreign powers, firstthe Muslims and later the British. With them came thedesire to be 'civilized,' to eat as did the Saheeb.Those atually trained in Vedic knowledge, however,never adopted a meat-oriented diet, and the piousHindu still observes vegetarian principles as a matterof religious duty."That vegetarianism has always been widespread inIndia is clear from the earliest Vedic texts. Thiswas observed by the ancient traveler Megasthenes andalso by Fa-Hsien, a Chinese Buddhist monk who, in thefifth century, traveled to India in order to obtainauthentic copies of the scriptures."These scriptures unambiguously support themeatless way of life. In the MAHABHARAT, forinstance, the great warrior Bheeshm explains toYuddhishtira, eldest of the Paandav princes, that themeat of animals is like the flesh of one's own son.Similarly, the MANUSMRITI declares that

one should'refrain from eating all kinds of meat,' for sucheating involves killing and and leads to Karmicbondage (Bandh) [5.49]. Elsewhere in the Vedicliterature, the last of the great Vedic kings,Maharaja Parikshit, is quoted as saying that 'only theanimal-killer cannot relish the message of theAbsolute Truth [shrimad Bhagvatam 10.1.4].'"SCRIPTUREHe who desires to augment his own flesh by eatingthe flesh of other creatures lives in misery inwhatever species he may take his birth. MAHABHARAT115.47Those high-souled persons who desire beauty,faultlessness of limbs, long life, understanding,mental and physical strength and memory should abstainfrom acts of injury. MAHABHARAT 18.115.8The very name of cow is Aghnya ["not to bekilled"], indicating that they should never beslaughtered. Who, then could slay them? Surely, onewho kills a cow or a bull commits a heinous

crime.MAHABHARAT, SHANTIPARV 262.47The purchaser of flesh performs Hinsa (violence)by his wealth; he who eats flesh does so by enjoyingits taste; the killer does Hinsa by actually tying andkilling the animal. Thus, there are three forms ofkilling: he who brings flesh or sends for it, he whocuts off the limbs of an animal, and he who purchases,sells or cooks flesh and eats it -- all of these areto be considered meat-eaters. MAHABHARAT, ANU 115.40He who sees that the Lord of all is ever the samein all that is -- immortal in the field of mortality--he sees the truth. And when a man sees that the Godin himself is the same God in all that is, he hurtsnot himself by hurting others. Then he goes, indeed,to the highest path. BHAGVAD GEETA 13.27-28Ahinsa is the highest Dharm. Ahinsa is the bestTapas. Ahinsa is the greatest gift. Ahinsa is thehighest self-control. Ahinsa is the highestsacrifice.

Ahinsa is the highest power. Ahinsa is thehighest friend. Ahinsa is the highest truth. Ahinsais the highest teaching. MAHABHARAT 18.116.37-41What is the good way? It is the path thatreflects on how it may avoid killing any creature.TIRUKURAL 324All that lives will press palms together inprayerful adoration of those who refuse to slaughterand savor meat. TIRUKURAL 260What is virtuous conduct? It is never destrotinglife, for killing leads to every other sin. TIRUKURAL312, 321Goodness is never one with the minds of these two:one who wields a weapon and one who feasts on acreature's flesh. TIRUKURAL 253Copyright © 1993, Himalayan Academy, All RightsReserved. The information contained in this newsreport may not be republished in any form without theprior written authority of Himalayan Academy. This isan authorized reproduction.Jai MaharajOm

Shanti "Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest of life by the power of the spirit." - Aurobindo.

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