Why is Meat not a Human Food ?

June 20, 2003

Meat - Not A Human Food

Meat is not a human food. No flesh of any animal, bird, fish or egg etc. is a human food.

Meat is not only unhealthy for the body; it poisons the mind, the intellect and the soul. Eating meat is totally forbidden in the Vedic scriptures.

Rishi Manu in Manusmiriti says:

"He who does not restrain, kill or hurt the living beings, is pro-life and gets lots of happiness."

"You cannot get meat without killing, and killing does not give happiness. Therefore one should not eat meat."

"Because of the way the meat is produced, the killing and torturing the animals; one ought to stay away from eating all kinds of meat."

"Any body, who kills innocent creatures in order to get happiness; he living and even after death does not get happiness."

"He, who orders to kill animals; he who cuts the flesh; he who kills the animals; seller and buyer of animals for killing; he who cooks meat; he who serves meat and he who eats meat these are all killers and sinner.

Vedas speak of caring and protecting animals:

Yajur Veda says: Oh Humans! You do not kill sheep, cow, horse etc.

In Yajur Veda there is a prayer: O God! Protect my people and animals.

Atharva Veda says: Oh cruel man! If you kill our animals like cows, horses, etc. or humans; then we will put you to death so that you will not be able kill them again.

Mahabharta says: He who wants to live, how he can kill others? Humans should wish for others, what they wish for themselves.

Rig Veda tells: Do not kill our cows and horses.

Atharva Veda says: He, who eats raw meat, he who eats human flesh and he who eats eggs: they all ought to be destroyed altogether.

In regards to eating, Vedas talk about grains like wheat, oat rice etc., fruits and vegetables, milk, butter etc. Meat eating is not allowed at all.

Dr. Field writes, every living being knows the life’s happiness and fear of death.

He feels the pain and joy, just like you.

Same one God is the father of all living beings – animals, birds, insects and human beings.

Do the animals and birds want to be killed? No, Not at all. Don’t they feel helpless and miserable when they are being killed? Certainly, they do. Won’t they like to live their full life as we people do? Definitely, they would.

Every living being has a specific purpose for its existence. The purpose, definitely, is other than being killed and eaten by others. Let each one of them be left alone to serve that purpose.