Theos-Talk Archives (August 2004 Message tt00000)

Cream StationeryHi

As a brahmin, I am not supposed to harm anyone - so preaches my religion /
Bhagvad Gita. Whenever I feel someone is hurt, I feel guilty. The Buddhists
and Jains go a step further - They tie a cloth around their mouth and sweep
the floor before they walk so that any insect may be wiped out lest they
trample them.

But, take the case of a butcher. His business is killing & selling meat. He
does not feel guilty of the act.

Well, they even say that Jesus had fish with his disciples in his 'last
supper'. Prophet Mohamed opined that goats and chickens were produced by God
for humans to consume happily and killing them after praying God is not
wrong. Some opine that even plants have a life and plucking vegetables will
harm / hurt the plants, as much as killing a goat / hen / fish !!!

Is it not wrong to harm other souls, humans or otherwise ? If yes, why are
religions (Christianity / Islam) not disallowing the same ? In Hinduism,
vegetarianism is advocated not only to keep your system healthy (Vegetarian
foods are easily digestable & you acquire good traits by being vegetarian,
wheras non vegetarian foods kindly rakshas traits in you, so they say), but
also to refrain you from harming other souls. Is there any justification in
killing these creatures for filling up our stomach and feed the taste buds
of our tongue and gullet ? We talk of hundreds of thousands of jews, killed
by Hitler and millions of kurds, killed by Saddam Hussain. Who has the
nerve to talk about these voiceless creatures ? I feel every atma has a
right to live - not just humans ! If someone can kill some atma, in the
name of God, he is as much a saddam / Hitler. I feel Religions are
conveniently biased towards Humans alone.

A sad news is that brahmins in orissa and West Bengal states of India take
eggs and fish, saying that they are vegetarian !!!

If this norm of vegetarianism cannot be implemented strongly by religions,
well, then, all norms of living can be abolished so that people can live a
casual life, free of guilt / shame and inferiority complex. As you know,
inferiority complex is an epidemic (psychological) that spreads to other
persons easily. Atleast people can live with a good self esteem - may be, v
will track back to stone age. But then, that's how it is !!!

Welcome comments / criticisms.

Regards

Raghu



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